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Kafetzopoulos V, Kokras N, Katsaitis F, Sousa N, Leite-Almeida H, Sotiropoulos I, Dalla C. Prefrontal cortex-nucleus reuniens-hippocampus network exhibits sex-differentiated responses to stress and antidepressant treatment in rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024:10.1007/s00213-024-06667-w. [PMID: 39162717 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06667-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE Depression is a serious psychiatric disease, which is diagnosed twice as frequently in women than men. We have recently shown that lesioning or inactivation of the nucleus reuniens (RE), which interconnects the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus, promoted resilience to stress in males, exerts an antidepressant effect in the Forced Swim Test (FST) and prevents the development of behavioral and neurobiological alterations induced by the chronic mild stress model of depression. OBJECTIVES In this study, we expand our findings on the FST in female rats and we investigate whether RE lesion presents sex differences following treatment with two distinct antidepressants, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, i.e. sertraline and a tricyclic antidepressant, i.e. clomipramine. METHODS Male and female rats received either a surgical lesion of the RE or sham operation, then treated with vehicle, sertraline (10mg/kg) or clomipramine (10mg/kg) and were subjected to the FST. Activation of key brain areas of interest (PFC, Hippocampus and RE) were measured by c-Fos immunoreactivity. RESULTS RE lesion induced an antidepressant-like phenotype in both female and male rats, confirming its crucial role in the stress response. Similarly to RE lesion, sertraline treatment resulted in increased swimming and decreased immobility duration, as well as enhanced head shake frequency, in both sexes. Notably, climbing behavior was increased only following clomipramine treatment. RE area was less active in females compared to male rats and in clomipramine-treated males compared to their corresponding vehicle-group. Activation of the PFC and the CA1 hippocampal area was reduced in clomipramine-treated females, in comparison to vehicle-treated female rats. This effect was not evident in males, which exhibited less activation in the PFC and the hippocampus than females. CONCLUSION Re lesion proves equally effective in female and male rats, but sex is highlighted as a pivotal factor in behavioral and treatment response in FST, as well as in related circuit connectivity and activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Kafetzopoulos
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias St, Athens, 11527, Greece
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - N Kokras
- First Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Filippos Katsaitis
- Laboratory of Brain Exosomes & Pathology, Institute of Biosciences & Applications, NCSR Demokritos, Athens, Greece
| | - N Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center (2CA), Braga, Portugal
| | - H Leite-Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - I Sotiropoulos
- Laboratory of Brain Exosomes & Pathology, Institute of Biosciences & Applications, NCSR Demokritos, Athens, Greece
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - C Dalla
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias St, Athens, 11527, Greece.
- Second Department of Obstetrics - Gynecology, Aretaieio Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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Li J, Qin Y, Zhong Z, Meng L, Huang L, Li B. Pain experience reduces social avoidance to others in pain: a c-Fos-based functional connectivity network study in mice. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae207. [PMID: 38798004 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Pain experience increases individuals' perception and contagion of others' pain, but whether pain experience affects individuals' affiliative or antagonistic responses to others' pain is largely unknown. Additionally, the neural mechanisms underlying how pain experience modulates individuals' responses to others' pain remain unclear. In this study, we explored the effects of pain experience on individuals' responses to others' pain and the underlying neural mechanisms. By comparing locomotion, social, exploration, stereotyped, and anxiety-like behaviors of mice without any pain experience (naïve observers) and mice with a similar pain experience (experienced observers) when they observed the pain-free demonstrator with intraperitoneal injection of normal saline and the painful demonstrator with intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid, we found that pain experience of the observers led to decreased social avoidance to the painful demonstrator. Through whole-brain c-Fos quantification, we discovered that pain experience altered neuronal activity and enhanced functional connectivity in the mouse brain. The analysis of complex network and graph theory exhibited that functional connectivity networks and activated hub regions were altered by pain experience. Together, these findings reveal that neuronal activity and functional connectivity networks are involved in the modulation of individuals' responses to others' pain by pain experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiali Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Neuroscience Program, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 74 Zhongshan Second Road, Yuexiu District, 510080 Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuxin Qin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Neuroscience Program, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 74 Zhongshan Second Road, Yuexiu District, 510080 Guangzhou, China
| | - Zifeng Zhong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Neuroscience Program, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 74 Zhongshan Second Road, Yuexiu District, 510080 Guangzhou, China
| | - Linjie Meng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Neuroscience Program, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 74 Zhongshan Second Road, Yuexiu District, 510080 Guangzhou, China
| | - Lianyan Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Neuroscience Program, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 74 Zhongshan Second Road, Yuexiu District, 510080 Guangzhou, China
| | - Boxing Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Neuroscience Program, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 74 Zhongshan Second Road, Yuexiu District, 510080 Guangzhou, China
- Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, 74 Zhongshan Second Road, Yuexiu District, 510080 Guangzhou, China
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Li Y, Yang L, Li J, Gao W, Zhao Z, Dong K, Duan W, Dai B, Guo R. Antidepression of Xingpijieyu formula targets gut microbiota derived from depressive disorder. CNS Neurosci Ther 2022; 29:669-681. [PMID: 36550591 PMCID: PMC9873506 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This investigation aims to determine the antidepressant role of Xingpijieyu formula (XPJYF) mediated via gut microbiota (GM)-brain axis. METHODS We collected fecal microbiota from patients with depressive disorder (DD) and cultured microbiota in vitro. Some of microbiota were transplanted into germ-free rats with the intragastric administration of XPJYF grain at the dose of 1.533 g/kg/day. The behaviors were studied by forced swimming test, open field test, sucrose preference test, and body weight. Products of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis, neurotransmitter, and serum cytokines were investigated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a biomarker of astrocyte, was quantified using immunofluorescence. Microbiota culturing in vitro after XPJYF treatment was analyze by 16 s RNA sequencing technology. We used lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mimic activated rat primary astrocyte in vitro. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cytokines, and oxidative stress factors were determined by western blotting, and glycometabolism in astrocyte was investigated by 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) uptake, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and glucose-1-phosphate (G1P) kits. RESULTS Microbiota composition during 8 mg/ml of XPJYF (H12-8) for 12 h showed the more consistency. Lactococcus is enriched in DD-derived microbiota composition, and Biffdobacterium and Lactobacillus in H12-8 group. GLUCOSE1PMETAB-PWY and PWY-7328 of which biofunctions were dominantly encoded by Biffdobacterium were the top two of altered pathways. XPJYF improved behaviors and repressed astrocyte activation in depression rats. XPJYF elevated 2-DG uptake, ATP, glucose-1-phosphate, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and inhibited cytokines and oxidative stress in LPS-induced astrocyte. CONCLUSION XPJYF treatment targets inflammation, activation, and glycometabolim in astrocyte via gut microbiota modulation, thereby improve animal behaviors, HPA axis dysfunction, and neurotransmitter synthesis in depression rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannan Li
- Second Clinical Medical CollegeBeijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina,Department of NeurologyDongfang Hospital Beijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Lixuan Yang
- Second Clinical Medical CollegeBeijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina,Department of NeurologyDongfang Hospital Beijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Junnan Li
- Second Clinical Medical CollegeBeijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina,Department of NeurologyDongfang Hospital Beijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Wei Gao
- Department of Mental HealthTsinghua University Yuquan HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Zhonghui Zhao
- Second Clinical Medical CollegeBeijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina,Department of NeurologyDongfang Hospital Beijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Kaiqiang Dong
- Second Clinical Medical CollegeBeijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina,Department of NeurologyDongfang Hospital Beijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Wenzhe Duan
- Second Clinical Medical CollegeBeijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina,Department of NeurologyDongfang Hospital Beijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Baoan Dai
- Second Clinical Medical CollegeBeijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina,Department of NeurologyDongfang Hospital Beijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Rongjuan Guo
- Department of NeurologyDongfang Hospital Beijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina
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Thörn CW, Kafetzopoulos V, Kocsis B. Differential Effect of Dopamine D4 Receptor Activation on Low-Frequency Oscillations in the Prefrontal Cortex and Hippocampus May Bias the Bidirectional Prefrontal–Hippocampal Coupling. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911705. [PMID: 36233007 PMCID: PMC9569525 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Dopamine D4 receptor (D4R) mechanisms are implicated in psychiatric diseases characterized by cognitive deficits, including schizophrenia, ADHD, and autism. The cellular mechanisms are poorly understood, but impaired neuronal synchronization in cortical networks was proposed to contribute to these deficits. In animal experiments, D4R activation was shown to generate aberrant increased gamma oscillations and to reduce performance on cognitive tasks requiring functional prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HPC) networks. While fast oscillations in the gamma range are important for local synchronization within neuronal ensembles, long-range synchronization between distant structures is achieved by slow rhythms in the delta, theta, alpha ranges. The characteristics of slow oscillations vary between structures during cognitive tasks. HPC activity is dominated by theta rhythm, whereas PFC generates unique oscillations in the 2–4 Hz range. In order to investigate the role of D4R on slow rhythms, cortical activity was recorded in rats under urethane anesthesia in which slow oscillations can be elicited in a controlled manner without behavioral confounds, by electrical stimulation of the brainstem reticular formation. The local field potential segments during stimulations were extracted and subjected to fast Fourier transform to obtain power density spectra. The selective D4R agonist A-412997 (5 and 10 mg/kg) and antagonists L-745870 (5 and 10 mg/kg) were injected systemically and the peak power in the two frequency ranges were compared before and after the injection. We found that D4R compounds significantly changed the activity of both HPC and PFC, but the direction of the effect was opposite in the two structures. D4R agonist enhanced PFC slow rhythm (delta, 2–4 Hz) and suppressed HPC theta, whereas the antagonist had an opposite effect. Analogous changes of the two slow rhythms were also found in the thalamic nucleus reuniens, which has connections to both forebrain structures. Slow oscillations play a key role in interregional cortical coupling; delta and theta oscillations were shown in particular, to entrain neuronal firing and to modulate gamma activity in interconnected forebrain structures with a relative HPC theta dominance over PFC. Thus, the results of this study indicate that D4R activation may introduce an abnormal bias in the bidirectional PFC–HPC coupling which can be reversed by D4R antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vasilios Kafetzopoulos
- Department Psychiatry at BIDMC, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Bernat Kocsis
- Department Psychiatry at BIDMC, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +617-331-1782
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Uliana DL, Gomes FV, Grace AA. Nucleus reuniens inactivation reverses stress-induced hypodopaminergic state and altered hippocampal-accumbens synaptic plasticity. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:1513-1522. [PMID: 35488085 PMCID: PMC9205859 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01333-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The nucleus reuniens of the thalamus (RE) is a pivotal area responsible for the connectivity of the prefrontal-hippocampus pathway that regulates cognitive, executive, and fear learning processes. Recently, it was proposed that the RE participates in the pathophysiological states related to affective dysregulation. We investigated the role of RE in motivational behavioral and electrophysiological dysregulation induced by stress. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to a combination of stressors (restraint stress+footshock) for 10 days and tested one to two weeks later in the forced swim test (FST), ventral tegmental area (VTA)dopamine (DA) neuron electrophysiological activity, and hippocampal-nucleus accumbens plasticity. The RE was inactivated by injecting TTX prior to the procedures. The stress exposure increased the immobility in the FST and decreased VTA DA neuron population activity. Whereas an early long-term potentiation (e-LTP) in the ventral hippocampus-nucleus accumbens pathway was found after fimbria high-frequency stimulation in naïve animals, stressed animals showed an early long-term depression (e-LTD). Inactivation of the RE reversed the stress-induced changes in the FST and restored dopaminergic activity. RE inactivation partially recovered the stress-induced abnormal hippocampal-accumbens plasticity observed in controls. Our findings support the role of the RE in regulating affective dysregulation and blunted VTA DA system function induced by stress. Also, it points to the hippocampal-accumbens pathway as a potential neural circuit through which RE could modulate activity. Therefore, RE may represent a key brain region involved in the neurobiology of amotivational states and may provide insights into circuit dysfunction and markers of the maladaptive stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela L. Uliana
- grid.21925.3d0000 0004 1936 9000Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Felipe V. Gomes
- grid.21925.3d0000 0004 1936 9000Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA ,grid.11899.380000 0004 1937 0722Present Address: Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP Brazil
| | - Anthony A. Grace
- grid.21925.3d0000 0004 1936 9000Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
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Zhang R, Li D, Mao H, Wei X, Xu M, Zhang S, Jiang Y, Wang C, Xin Q, Chen X, Li G, Ji B, Yan M, Cai X, Dong B, Randeva HS, Liu C, Chen J. Disruption of 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A receptor and orexin receptor 1 heterodimer formation affects novel G protein-dependent signaling pathways and has antidepressant effects in vivo. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:122. [PMID: 35338110 PMCID: PMC8956632 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01886-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) heterodimers are new targets for the treatment of depression. Increasing evidence supports the importance of serotonergic and orexin-producing neurons in numerous physiological processes, possibly via a crucial interaction between 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A receptor (5-HT1AR) and orexin receptor 1 (OX1R). However, little is known about the function of 5-HT1AR/OX1R heterodimers. It is unclear how the transmembrane domains (TMs) of the dimer affect its function and whether its modulation mediates antidepressant-like effects. Here, we examined the mechanism of 5-HT1AR/OX1R dimerization and downstream G protein-dependent signaling. We found that 5-HT1AR and OX1R form constitutive heterodimers that induce novel G protein-dependent signaling, and that this heterodimerization does not affect recruitment of β-arrestins to the complex. In addition, we found that the structural interface of the active 5-HT1AR/OX1R dimer transforms from TM4/TM5 in the basal state to TM6 in the active conformation. We also used mutation analyses to identify key residues at the interface (5-HT1AR R1514.40, 5-HT1AR Y1985.41, and OX1R L2305.54). Injection of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rats with TM4/TM5 peptides improved their depression-like emotional status and decreased the number of endogenous 5-HT1AR/OX1R heterodimers in the rat brain. These antidepressant effects may be mediated by upregulation of BDNF levels and enhanced phosphorylation and activation of CREB in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex. This study provides evidence that 5-HT1AR/OX1R heterodimers are involved in the pathological process of depression. Peptides including TMs of the 5-HT1AR/OX1R heterodimer interface are candidates for the development of compounds with fast-acting antidepressant-like effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rumin Zhang
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Neurobiology Institute, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Dandan Li
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Neurobiology Institute, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Huiling Mao
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Neurobiology Institute, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Xiaonan Wei
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Neurobiology Institute, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - MingDong Xu
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Neurobiology Institute, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Shengnan Zhang
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Neurobiology Institute, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Yunlu Jiang
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Neurobiology Institute, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Chunmei Wang
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Neurobiology Institute, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Qing Xin
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Neurobiology Institute, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Xiaoyu Chen
- Department of Physiology, Shandong First Medical University, Taian, China
| | - Guorong Li
- grid.410585.d0000 0001 0495 1805School of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Bingyuan Ji
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Neurobiology Institute, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Maocai Yan
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280School of Pharmacy, Jining Medical University, Shandong, China
| | - Xin Cai
- grid.268079.20000 0004 1790 6079Department of Physiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Bo Dong
- grid.460018.b0000 0004 1769 9639Department of Cardiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Harpal S. Randeva
- grid.7372.10000 0000 8809 1613Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Chuanxin Liu
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Neurobiology Institute, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Neurobiology Institute, Jining Medical University, Jining, China. .,Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
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