Changes in landscape configuration significantly impact ecosystems and the services they provide, including disease regulation for both humans and wildlife. Land use conversion usually favors disturbed-adapted species, often known reservoirs of zoonotic parasites, thereby potentially escalating spillover events (i.e., the transmission of parasites to new hosts, including humans). While there is growing evidence indicating a higher risk of spillover in anthropogenic landscapes, the effect of landscape conversion on small mammal distribution and the intricate relationship between parasite sharing, spillover events, and co-occurrence remain open questions. Here we aim to investigate how alterations in landscape configuration influence the distribution and co-occurrence of small mammals, potential hosts of zoonotic and epizootic diseases in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. To address this, we integrated ecological network metrics and joint distribution models while accounting for phylogenetic relationships and functional traits to answer two main questions: (1) Do small mammal species considered central hosts in the transmission of parasites exhibit a higher probability of occurrence in landscapes with reduced native vegetation areas? (2) Do small mammal hosts that share a higher number of parasites have higher co-occurrence probabilities? Our results demonstrated that species identified as significant hosts in our centrality analysis displayed an increased probability of occurrence in landscapes that are both more heterogeneous and have greater agricultural activity, hence fewer natural areas. Regarding the relationship between species co-occurrence and parasite sharing, our findings indicated that although most strong co-occurrences were prevalent within groups with higher parasite fauna similarity, not all species sharing parasites had a higher probability of co-occurring. Consequently, species that do not share parasites but are likely to co-occur might have a higher potential for spillover events between them.

Understanding the strength and predictability of changes in global biodiversity is critical for quantifying how taxa will respond to global change. By analyzing the relationships in population trends among taxa exposed to both biotic and abiotic pressures, we may be able to discern these patterns, potentially facilitating the formulation of predictive frameworks for their future shifts. However, the extent to which these pressures can describe changes in abundances over large spatial and temporal scales is vastly understudied. We use two global datasets containing abundance time-series (BioTIME) and biotic interactions (GloBI) to fit a series of hierarchical models testing whether the yearly change in abundance of any given genus is associated with the yearly change in abundance of another geographically proximal genus (i.e. genus pairs) within the same study. We then use posterior predictive modeling to assess the predictive accuracy for each genus pair from the modeled output. Finally, we test how associations and predictive accuracy are influenced by site latitude, GloBI interactions, disturbance, time-series length, and taxonomic classification to assess what ecological factors explain differences in associations and/or predictability. Generally, we find that abundance changes between genus pairs tend to be neutral to weakly positively associated over time and have good predictive accuracy as long as yearly changes in abundance are not exceedingly large (<=39%). Associations and predictive accuracy across genus pairs vary systematically across ecological factors and taxonomic identity, increasing with longer time-series, towards the equator, and in disturbed habitats. Our results show that global time-series data can illustrate meaningful, albeit variable, relationships between genera and that these patterns are shaped by known ecological factors. Overall, this suggests that by incorporating broad and accessible ecological information, we can improve forecast methods to mitigate biodiversity loss in an era of global change.

One monofacial and one bifacial string of PV modules were installed over white and concrete ground surfaces, and their performance was monitored for 2.5 years. During the entire study, the PV systems and ground surface were maintained under natural conditions without human intervention (e.g., cleaning or washing). A higher rear irradiance is observed for a white surface than for a concrete surface. Additional solar irradiance results in greater power generation, and hence, greater bifacial gain. Bifacial gains of 4–15 and 4–22% are observed on concrete and white surfaces, respectively. Over 50% relative extra albedo and over 25% power generation are demonstrated on the white ground surface compared to the concrete surface, particularly in summer. The levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of the bifacial PV modules installed on the white surface is lower than that of similar modules installed on concrete, and we predict that in nine years, the LCOE of bifacial PV modules will be lower than that of their monofacial counterparts. These PV systems were monitored for a long period of time; hence, we believe that this work provides reliable information for energy researchers and industry.

Gram staining can classify bacterial species into two large groups based on cell wall differences. Our study revealed that within the same Gram group (Gram-positive or Gram-negative), subtle cell wall variations can alter staining outcomes, with the peptidoglycan layer and lipid content significantly influencing this effect. Thus, bacteria within the same group can also be differentiated by their spectra. Using hyperspectral microscopy, we identified six species of intestinal bacteria with 98.1% accuracy. Our study also demonstrated that selecting the right spectral band and background calibration can enhance the model’s robustness and facilitate precise identification of varying sample batches. This method is suitable for analyzing bacterial community pathologies.

The [2.2]paracyclophane-derived oxazole-pyrimidine ligands with planar chirality (PYMCOX) were designed, synthesized and successfully applied in nickel-catalyzed asymmetric 1,2-reduction of α,β-unsaturated ketones, affording the chiral allylic alcohols with up to 99% yield and 99% ee. Meanwhile, this reduction reaction could be conducted on gram-scale without loss of activity and enantioselectivity, and the chiral ligand could be conveniently recovered with high yield.

Indole-based atropisomers are a very important class of axially chiral compounds. However, the atroposelective synthesis of axially chiral 2-arylindole remains largely unexplored. In this study, we report the successful synthesis of atropisomeric 2-arylindoles using direct amination of indoles with p-quinonediimines in the presence of chiral phosphoric acid as a catalyst. Quinonediimine acts as an aminating reagent through formal polarity inversion of imine. The malonate group on the 2-aryl of 2-indoles was found to be essential for high enantioselectivity of the products. This could be due to the additional interaction between the ester group and the catalyst, as well as the intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Our findings provide a new strategy for the asymmetric construction of 2-arylindole atropisomers.

The domestic duck is classified as a specialist filter-feeder bird living in the water. These birds also use grazing and pecking as terrestrial feeding methods. The tongues of domestic ducks, similar to those of other Anseriformes, exhibit numerous types and shapes of mechanical papillae that serve a number of purposes when collecting food. Purpose: The current study attempts to describe the morphological characteristics of the tongue as well as the mechanical papillae’s development. In addition, the study aims to determine whether the papillae observed post-hatching exhibit similar morphology to those found in adult avian species, as well as to investigate the readiness of the tongue to fulfill its feeding function following hatching. The comprehensive examination of lingual mucosa is examined about the structural modifications necessary for this variety of feeding activities. Methods: In this study, the tongues of nine young and adult females were used. Results: The tongue had three distinct parts: the apex, which had a lingual nail on its ventral surface; the body, which exhibits numerous small and large conical papillae on its lateral sides and a lingual prominence in the caudal region; and the root, which is covered with numerous conical papillae of varying sizes. Conical, filiform, and hair-like mechanical papillae, the three types of food filtration apparatus, are present in both stages. The intra-oral transfer involves several structures, including the median groove, lingual combs, and the rostral border of the lingual prominence. The rostral border of the lingual prominence is characterized by distinct rows of conical papillae. The histological analysis demonstrated the presence of both keratinized and non-keratinized epithelium on different tongue regions. The lingual salivary glands in the rostral and caudal lingual salivary glands exhibit a pronounced periodic acid–Schiff (PAS)-positive reaction. Additionally, the yellow adipose tissue and sensory receptors, namely the Grandry and Herbst corpuscles, which collectively form the bill-tongue organ that monitors the movement of food. Research highlights, these results conclude the presence of microstructural species-specific alterations in specific tongue areas of domestic ducks’ lingual mucosa. These modifications are formed by the filtering mechanism and terrestrial feeding mechanisms such as grazing or pecking. Following hatching, the tongue of the domestic duck undergoes significant development, primarily in preparation for grazing activities. The anatomical and histological structure of the young tongue exhibited similarities to that of the adult domestic duck while also displaying certain variations that could potentially be attributed to the bird’s habitat and mode of feeding.

Understanding the impact of drought and climate factors on vegetation dynamics in China and elucidating the response of vegetation’s gross total primary productivity (GPP) to drought events in different climatic zones has been of paramount importance for predicting future climate-carbon cycle feedbacks. However, the response of vegetation dynamics to climate factors and droughts in different climatic zones, as well as their intrinsic mechanisms remains uncertain. Therefore, in this study, based on precipitation, temperature, standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI), and GPP data, we conducted a deep analysis of the response of GPP to climate factors and drought in different climate zones. The cumulative effects of drought in different climatic zones and vegetation types were explored. The results indicated significant variations in GPP across geographic distribution in China, with the highest values observed in Climate Zone VII and the lowest values in Climate Zone I. Linear regression analysis showed that the annual changes in temperature and precipitation showed a continuous upward trend. While SPEI displayed a declining trend, indicating an overall tendency towards aridification. Temperature showed a significant positive correlation with GPP in climatic zones I, IV, V, and VI, while precipitation exhibited a significant positive correlation with GPP in climatic zones I, II, and IV. About 45.10% of the vegetation showed a cumulative response to drought, with an average cumulative duration of 5.3 months. Forests had the longest cumulative duration (6 months), followed by grasslands (5.4 months), croplands (3.9 months), and shrublands (3.8 months). The cumulative response time of GPP to drought was the longest in Climate Zones I and II, while in Climate Zone VII, the cumulative response time of GPP to drought increased linearly with rising SPEI. In conclusion, the water balance gradient and vegetation characteristics were the key factors influencing the cumulative response of GPP to drought.

A document by shivani malik. Click on the document to view its contents.

A document by shivani malik. Click on the document to view its contents.

Title: Ruptured Giant Low-grade Mucocele of the Appendix and its Management: A Case ReportKey Clinical Message :Preoperative prompt imaging is crucial for a definitive diagnosis of appendiceal mucocele, and double-J stenting of the ipsilateral ureter in a large retroperitoneal cyst is recommended for easy identification and prevention of complications.Keywords :Appendix; appendiceal neoplasms; mucocele; pseudomyxoma peritonei; neoplasms; laparotomyIntroduction :Mucocele of the appendix is a well-described clinical condition of the appendix. It is a rare condition with an incidence of about 0.2-0.7 % of all appendectomies (1). The pathophysiology behind the appendiceal mucocele is an obstructive dilatation of the appendicular lumen by excess intra-luminal mucous secretions. Due to the presence of very vague presenting symptoms or even asymptomatic presentation, it is often diagnosed at an advanced clinical stage, or even misdiagnosed as acute appendicitis. It requires prompt imaging with preoperative planning and adequate surgical treatment, to avoid the rupture and spillage of the cystic content and to prevent the development of pseudomyxoma peritonei.Case Presentation :A 60-year-old hypertensive male came to the general surgery outpatient department with complaints of pain and distension in the abdomen for three years which was insidious in onset and progressive in nature. On examination, the abdomen was soft, non-tender, and distended with a vague lump felt in the right half of the abdomen (Fig. 1). There were no complaints of fever, weight loss, appetite loss, constipation, or vomiting. Laboratory investigations showed leucocytosis (13.20 x 103 /ul) with neutrophilia (9.09 x 103 /ul), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were elevated, 117.8 ng/ml.Abdominal ultrasonography showed a large intra-abdominal lobulated hypoechoic, likely cystic mass with internal echogenic areas on the right side. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a large well defined multilobulated lesion of 17x13x24 cm in the retroperitoneum on the right side along with areas of whorled calcification in the superior aspect of the lesion. This gigantic cyst was pushing the retroperitoneal organs towards the left side (Fig. 2).Because of the large size of the mass, a decision to perform an exploratory laparotomy was made. A full-length midline incision was given and the mass was excised in toto with accidental spillage of content along with the part of the cecum (Fig. 3, 4). Intraoperatively, a large retroperitoneal cystic mass of 15.5 x 12 x 20 centimetres was found in connection with the body of the appendix. The cyst was extending superiorly to the dome of the diaphragm, medially to the lateral border of the inferior vena cava and inferiorly to the pelvis. Histopathology samples of the mass and cell cytology samples of the spillage liquid were sent. Microscopic examination of the cyst wall showed flattened to undulating columnar lining epithelium which was getting morphed into papillary infoldings, exhibiting mild nuclear pleomorphism, round to oval coarsely chromatic nuclei, inconspicuous nucleoli and abundant mucinous cytoplasm. The underlying lamina propria showed moderate chronic inflammatory infiltrate and desmoplasia. Histopathological diagnosis of “Low grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm, pT4a” was made. The appendix base and part of the cecum were not involved in the tumour. The patient was discharged on a postoperative day-7 and has been followed up in the outpatient department with no reported complications for 6 months.Discussion :Mucocele was initially described by Rokitansky in 1842 (2). Most often, benign or malignant epithelial proliferation results in an obstructive dilatation of the appendix. Less frequently, inflammation or obstruction by a fecalith is the cause of mucocele formation (3). Some studies state a higher prevalence in females (1), while others confirm a higher prevalence in males (4). At our tertiary care referral centre, we have found that males above 50 years of age are more commonly affected by appendiceal mucocele.The clinical presentation of appendiceal mucocele is vague or sometimes asymptomatic. Due to this, patients often present late to the hospital. Usually delayed presentations of appendiceal mucocele are large abdominal lump, abdominal distension, acute appendicitis or acute abdomen or pseudomyxoma peritonei. Without proper in-time treatment, the whole abdomen may get involved due to perforation of the mucocele and dissemination of the mucin-producing epithelium in the peritoneal cavity, which may result in the development of pseudomyxoma peritonei. In our scenario, the patient presented to us with a large abdominal lump and abdominal distension. Ultrasound showed the classical onion skin sign suggestive of appendiceal mucocele (5). A contrast-enhanced computed tomography was performed for further characterization of the cystic mass and surgical planning. A correct diagnosis before surgery is of paramount importance for both planning the surgery and decreasing the risk of severe intraoperative and postoperative complications. The imaging techniques that can aid in the diagnosis of mucocele of the appendix are ultrasonography, computed tomography and colonoscopy.On computed tomography, a mucocele will typically manifest as a homogenous hypoattenuating material that has Hounsfield values similar to water filling the lumen of the appendix (3). A mucocele is highly likely if there is curvilinear calcification in the appendix’s wall (6). An elevated appendiceal mucocele can be seen during a colonoscopy and is called as “volcano sign” (7). A yellowish mucus discharge may be visible from this orifice (8). Histopathology is usually the standard investigation for establishing a definitive diagnosis of mucocele. Because of the risk of seeding neoplastic cells along the needle track or in the peritoneal cavity, which could produce pseudomyxoma peritonei, fine needle aspiration of an appendiceal mucocele is avoided (9).The treatment modality of choice for appendiceal mucocele is surgery. The basic guiding principle behind the surgery for an appendiceal mucocele is to retrieve the cyst intact without spillage, as a perforated appendiceal mucocele carries a higher risk of development of pseudomyxoma peritonei. The surgical method preferred for operating on the mucocele of the appendix is open surgery because of the higher risk of rupture of the mucocele laparoscopically (10). In open surgery, it is possible to do a complete in-situ manual examination of the intestines including palpation of the inflamed structure and also direct inspection of the most probable spots of mucinous tumours in the abdomen. Laparoscopic exploration does help in the confirmation of diagnosis. But now, because of the availability of high-resolution computed tomography with good diagnostic accuracy, a laparoscopic examination is seldom required.Our case showcases the importance of large size and location in the retroperitoneum of the appendiceal mucocele. Preoperative double-J stenting of the right ureter should be done in the retroperitoneal appendiceal mucocele for easy identification of the right ureter. Meticulous intraoperative handling and dissection are required to prevent the rupture of the cyst and its complications. An appendectomy, ileocecectomy or right hemicolectomy should be the only procedure performed during the initial surgery for a ruptured appendiceal mucinous lesion at non-specialized centres. Additionally, careful inspection of the abdominal cavity with documentation and biopsy of any suspicious peritoneal lesions should be done. To minimize tumour cell implantation, the surgical and abdomen wounds should be cleaned thoroughly by irrigation (11).Depending on the final detected pathology, a patient with gross peritoneal dissemination of mucin should thereafter be transferred to a specialized centre. A consensus classification developed by the Peritoneal Surface Oncology Group International has been instrumental in clearing up the ambiguity around diagnostic terminology (12).Our case was reported as “T4a low-grade mucinous neoplasm”, which should be managed with follow-up contrast-enhanced computed tomography or diagnostic laparoscopy at 6 to 12 months to look for recurrence or development of the tumour. Cytoreductive surgery/hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy can then be offered if evidence of disease is detected.Conclusion :Appendiceal mucocele, albeit a rare disease, should always be kept as a differential diagnosis when the presenting symptoms are like acute appendicitis. Clinicians should be aware that the underlying pathology behind a mucocele of the appendix can range from a mere retention cyst to malignant tumours. To correctly diagnose a mucocele pre-operatively, contrast-enhanced computed tomography abdomen should be used extensively. The importance of contrast-enhanced computed tomography and other imaging modalities increases in large-size cysts. For larger cysts located in the retroperitoneum, preoperative double-J stenting of the right ureter is recommended for easy identification. Meticulous dissection to prevent spillage and to avoid the development of pseudomyxoma peritonei is a must.Author Contributions :Hritvik Jain : Conceptualization; writing – original draft; writing – review & editing. Dheerain Gupta : Conceptualization; writing – original draft, writing – review & editing. Jyoti Jain : Writing – original draft, writing – review & editing. Mahendra Lodha : Methodology; project administration; supervision; writing – review & editing. Binit Sureka : Writing – original draft. Prakriti Pokhrel : Writing – original draft.References :(1). Singh MP.(2020) A general overview of mucocele of appendix.9(12), 5867-5871.(2). B.B., S.K., Jasuja P.(2019) Appendiceal mucocele-A rare case report.58, 21-25.(3). Demetrashvili Z, Chkhaidze M, Khutsishvili K et al.(2012) Mucocele of the Appendix: Case Report and Review of Literature.97(3), 266-269.(4). Saad EA, Elsamani EY, AbdElrahim WE et al.(2018) Surgical treatment of mucocele of the appendix.2018(6), rjy102.(5). Caspi B, Cassif E, Auslender R et al.(2004) The onion skin sign: A specific sonographic marker of appendiceal mucocele.23(1), 117-121.(6). Tirumani SH, Fraser-Hill M, Auer R et al.(2013) Mucinous neoplasms of the appendix: A current comprehensive clinicopathologic and imaging review.13(1), 14-25.(7). Mastoraki A, Sakorafas G, Vassiliu P et al.(2016) Mucocele of the Appendix: Dilemmas in Differential Diagnosis and Therapeutic Management.7(1), 86-90.(8). Pickhardt PJ, Levy AD, Rohrmann CA et al.(2003) Primary neoplasms of the appendix: Radiologic spectrum of disease with pathologic correlation.23(3), 645-662.(9). da Fonseca LM, Lacerda-Filho A, da Silva RG.(2010) Pseudomyxoma peritonei syndrome 12 months after an intact resection of malignant mucocele of the appendix: A case report.65(8), 817-818.(10). Zuzarte JC, Liu YC, Cohen AM.(1996) Fine needle aspiration cytology of appendiceal mucinous cystadenoma: A case report.40(2), 327-330.(11). Barrios P, Losa F, Gonzalez-Moreno S et al.(2016) Recommendations in the management of epithelial appendiceal neoplasms and peritoneal dissemination from mucinous tumours (pseudomyxoma peritonei).18(5), 437-448.(12). Govaerts K, Lurvink RJ, De Hingh IHJT et al.(2021) Appendiceal tumours and pseudomyxoma peritonei: Literature review with PSOGI/EURACAN clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis and treatment.47(1), 11-35.Figure Legends :Figure 1: Preoperative image of the patient’s abdomen showing fullness in left hypochondrium and left lumbar region.Figure 2: CECT abdomen figure showing the axial (left side) and coronal (right side) view. The white dashed arrow is showing the displaced colon and the black dashed arrow is pointing towards the displaced right kidney hence confirming it to be predominantly retroperitoneal in location.Figure 3: Intraoperative image showing an in-situ cystic mass occupying the entire retroperitoneum.Figure 4: Postoperative image showing an excised specimen with mucin.

IntroductionStent thrombosis (ST) is a complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with catastrophic clinical consequences and an incidence rate of 3% - 20% . Stent underexpansion and malapposition are the major causes of this complication that can be well-diagnosed and prevented by intracoronary imaging like intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) .This report presents a 60-year-old gentleman with a history of recent PCI on RCA (due to inferior NSTEMI). RCA stent thrombosis was diagnosed during staged PCI for LCX-OM which was successfully managed under the guidance of IVUS.

1 INTRODUCTIONUterine fibroids are the most common gynecologic neoplasms among women of reproductive age, affecting up to 70% of women worldwide.1 Although benign, approximately 30 percent of uterine fibroids can give rise to severe symptoms including menorrhagia, pelvic pain, frequent urination, miscarriage, or infertility.2,3 There is evidence that women with uterine fibroids have a higher risk of developing emotional distress, depression, and anxiety, which can compromise health and quality of life.4 Current treatment options for symptomatic fibroids are medical treatments (hormonal medication and progesterone receptor modulators), surgical procedures which treated bulk symptoms by decreasing uterus mass (myomectomy and hysterectomy), and non-surgical treatment methods (uterine artery embolization and HIFU).5 Despite the advancement in medical and non-surgical treatment options in the past decade, hysterectomy and myomectomy still constitute most of the uterine fibroid treatment.6 As the most minimally invasive route is recommended whenever feasible by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG),7 clinicians have been seeking for less invasive managements for uterine fibroids. HIFU is a non-invasive treatment technique, performed under guidance of diagnostic ultrasound or magnetic resonance which uses multiple high-intensity ultrasound waves and induces focal thermo-coagulation to ablate fibroid vascularity inside the body. This procedure has been widely used and achieved good clinical efficacy in the treatment of uterine fibroids over the last decades.8,9,10 Besides, studies have been shown that HIFU treatment is combined with shorter hospital stays, fewer adverse effects, and complications than traditional surgeries.11,12 However, there is still limited available data on whether HIFU affects women’s health-related quality of life or causes ovarian dysfunction at short or long term.Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) which produced by small developing, mostly antral follicles is not influenced by menstrual cycle changes. It is generally accepted that AMH is a good indicator of ovarian reserve compared with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and inhibin B (INHB) during the menstrual period.13,14,15 Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the ovarian function and quality of life in women with uterine fibroids after USgHIFU treatment.

Natural plant populations often exhibit marked differences in gene expression patterns that can reflect heterogeneity in selective pressures. Analyzing gene expression as a quantitative trait provides a unique opportunity to evaluate the underlying genomic basis of a plethora of traits and their interactions in driving adaptive evolution. We investigated patterns and processes driving expression differentiation under conditions mimicking future climates by combining common garden experiments with transcriptome-wide datasets obtained from hybrid populations of Pinus strobiformis and P. flexilis. We found strong signals of genotype-environment interactions (GEI) at the individual transcript and the co-expression module levels suggesting a marked influence of drought related variables on adaptive evolution. Overall, survival was positively associated with P. flexilis ancestry, but it exhibited an environment-specific pattern. Co-expression modules exhibiting strong associations with survival and genomic ancestry were representative of similar functional categories across both gardens. Using network topology measures, putatively adaptive garden-specific expression traits were pleiotropic and belonged to modules exhibiting high population differentiation yet low preservation across gardens. Overall, our study suggests the presence of substantial genetic variation underlying univariate and multivariate traits in novel climates that may enable populations of long-lived forest trees to respond to rapid shifts in climatic conditions in early seedling stages when mortality tends to be the highest. Our finding of pleiotropic trait architectures underlying adaptive traits, however, implies rapid adaptive responses to changing selection pressures depend on whether trait covariances align with the direction of change in selection pressures.

Monte Carlo simulations have long been a widely used method in the industry for control system validation. They provide an accurate probability measure for sufficiently frequent phenomena, but are often time-consuming and may fail to detect very rare events. Conversely, deterministic techniques such as µ or IQC-based analysis allow fast calculation of worst-case stability margins and performance levels, but in the absence of a probabilistic framework, a control system may be invalidated on the basis of extremely rare events. Probabilistic µ-analysis has therefore been studied since the 1990s to bridge this analysis gap by focusing on rare but nonetheless possible situations that may threaten system integrity. The solution adopted in this paper implements a branch-and-bound algorithm to explore the whole uncertainty domain by dividing it into smaller and smaller subsets. At each step, sufficient conditions involving µ upper bound computations are used to check whether a given requirement – related to the delay margin in the present case – is satisfied or violated on the whole considered subset. Guaranteed bounds on the exact probability of delay margin satisfaction or violation are then obtained, based on the probability distributions of the uncertain parameters. The difficulty here arises from the exponential term classically used to represent a delay, which must be replaced by a rational expression to fit into the Linear Fractional Representation (LFR) framework imposed by µ-analysis. Two different approaches are proposed and compared in this paper. First, an equivalent representation using a rational function of degree 2 with the same gain and phase as the real delay, which results into an LFR with frequency-dependent uncertainty bounds. Then, a Padé approximation, whose order should be chosen carefully to handle the trade-off between conservatism and complexity. A constructive way to derive minimal LFR from Padé approximations of any order is also provided as an additional contribution. The whole method is first assessed on a simple satellite benchmark, and its applicability to realistic problems involving a larger number of states and uncertainties is then demonstrated.

Abstract Background: Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) is a rare clinical-radiological being defined by the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) finding of a reversible lesion in the corpus callosum. The most significant neurological symptoms are disturbance of consciousness and abnormal and delirious behavior.Case presentation: A seven-year-old male patient with a history of fever and cough was admitted to our hospital due to sudden-onset bilateral blindness. His physical examination showed confusion, fever, and delirious behavior with no focal neurological and meningeal irritation signs. The electroencephalogram showed diffuse slowing in favor of mild encephalopathy. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed a signal alteration in the splenium of the corpus callosum and Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) was normal. This finding was suggestive of a reversible cytotoxic lesion. Empiric antiviral treatment was initiated and the symptoms improved completely.Conclusion: Sudden blindness was reported as an initial symptom of MERS in a few children. Until now, there is no evidence of effective treatment methods. Nevertheless, MERS diagnosis provides pediatricians with beneficial prognostic information in order to convince patients and their families about the good outcome of this disease.Keywords: Reversible encephalopathy, Bilateral blindness, Corpus callosumIntroductionTada et al. first determined the concept of mild encephalopathy/encephalitis with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) as an uncommon clinical-radiological syndrome in 2004[1, 2] which is mostly reported in East Asian populations [3]. It usually develops in children below sixteen-years-old and only occasionally in adults [4]. Infections are considered as the main trigger of the disease; the major pathogens associated with MERS are viruses, such as influenza virus (A and B) [3]. Non-infectious conditions related to reversible splenial lesions are seizures, antiepileptic drug withdrawal, metabolic disturbances, and renal or hepatic dysfunction [5]. To date, a common pathophysiological mechanism explaining selective splenial involvement has not been found. However, there are several hypotheses on MERS pathogenesis, including intramyelinic edema, hyponatremia, axonal damage, and oxidative stress [6]. MERS is typically characterized by a prodromal illness consisting of fever, cough, and digestive tract symptoms followed one to seven days later by encephalopathy [7, 8]. The neurological features of MERS include disturbance of consciousness, abnormal speech, delirious behavior, headache, agitation, disorientation, seizures, facial nerve paralysis, and nuchal rigidity; however visual disturbances are rare symptoms of this syndrome. The most common neurological symptom described in the literature is delirious behavior with altered consciousness, which may present as akinetic mutism [5, 9]. On MRI, MERS is almost always associated with a transient splenial lesion that is slightly hyperintense on T2- weighted images and isointense to slightly hypointense on T1-weighted images, and that shows reduced diffusion without contrast enhancement during the acute period of the disease. A classification of MERS based on MRI data was proposed; In MERS type 1, the lesions are limited to the splenium (ovoid or band shaped), as observed in our case report, whereas in MERS type 2 the lesions are not limited to the splenium [10, 11]. Clinical and radiological outcome is usually favorable with clinical improvement occurring within one to two days, while radiologic improvement within 10 days-4 months. Usually, raised serum inflammatory markers (white cell count and C-reactive protein) in the absence of CSF inflammation can be found in children diagnosed with MERS, supporting the hypothesis that this syndrome is an infection-associated encephalopathy rather than an encephalitis [7]. At the moment, No high-level evidence on the therapeutic approaches is available. Methylprednisolone pulse therapy and intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) are recommended for patients with infectious encephalopathy, regardless of pathogen or clinical-radiological syndromes [8]. Here we describe a case of MERS in an Iranian seven-year-old male patient, with a cytotoxic lesion in the SCC11Splenium of the corpus callosum detected by MRI and the unusual clinical presentation of acute bilateral blindness.Case presentationA previously healthy seven-year-old child was admitted to our hospital due to sudden-onset bilateral blindness. One day prior to admission, he suddenly developed a fever of 39 °C, cough, and loss of appetite. He was examined by his pediatrician and azithromycin and intravenous fluid therapy was prescribed due to suspected streptococcal pharyngitis. Although treatment with azithromycin and oral antipyretics was started, he still had a fever of 38 °C. On the day of admission, he experienced all at once a non-episodic bilateral blindness and delirium. The symptoms were continuous and therefore, he was admitted to the hospital emergency department. His family history was unremarkable. On physical examination, the patient was agitated associated with encephalopathy feature and his general condition was not good. The boy was collaborative during the medical evaluation, although his responsiveness was slightly impaired. Neither focal neurological signs nor meningeal irritation signs were observed.Chemistry panel and urine analysis showed no abnormalities except for a highly elevated level of CPK22Creatine phosphokinase (569 U/L), slightly elevated level of AST33Aspartate aminotransferase (47 U/L), and mild hyponatremia (134 mEq/L). The presence of blindness prompted an ophthalmologic evaluation, including a fundus oculi examination that was negative.On the following day, the electroencephalogram (EEG) showed diffuse slowing waves in favor of mild encephalopathy. The child’s neurologist observed mild increase in deep tendon reflex (DTR) but no significant focal neurological deficit was detected.The child was then admitted to perform a brain MRI and a lumbar puncture, in order to exclude acute cerebral vascular accident and the presence of viral encephalitis, cerebral abscesses, or other cerebral inflammatory lesions, such as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM).Brain MRI was done four hours after admission and restriction in the corpus callosum was seen in diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI), with correlation in Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC MAP), suggesting an abnormal diffusion restriction and a reversible cytotoxic lesion (Figure 1) Without any abnormal intensity in other views and T1-W.Treatment against suspected meningitis with intravenous ceftriaxone (100 mg/ Kg once a day), vancomycin (15 mg/ Kg every 6 h), acyclovir (10 mg/ Kg every 8 h) and dexamethasone (0.2 mg/Kg every 8 h) was initiated, while waiting for the results of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) search for neurotropic viruses, bacteria and fungi in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood. Antibacterial therapy was suspended because the blood and CSF44Cerebrospinal fluid culture was negative. A nasal swab for metapneumovirus virus was positive but this data did not change patient’s management.Collateral findings detected by MRI were arachnoid cyst in the posterior fossa and abnormal signal intensity in the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses. The child was in good general condition without apraxia. As a result, he was discharged after 6 days of admission and treatment with acyclovir and dexamethasone. After four days, a follow-up brain MRI was repeated, showing a complete normalization of the signal alteration in the SCC (Figure 2). The EEG was also repeated, showing a complete normalization of the pattern. The child was in good general condition, without neurological deficits.Discussion and conclusions In our case, the unusual main neurological symptom was acute bilateral blindness, which appeared after one day with symptoms suggestive of viral infection (low-grade fever, nonproductive cough). The slight metapneumovirus positivity detected by PCR in the oropharynx and nasopharynx remains a result of uncertain interpretation within the clinical picture of this patient.In this case, there are several reasons why metapneumovirus was not strongly considered in the etiology. Sometimes, a slight metapneumovirus positivity by PCR may also be found in patients without related symptoms. The seven-year-old child presented with non-specific symptoms, which could be attributed to a variety of viruses, and metapneumovirus disease usually occurs in winter and autumn. Furthermore, in this case, the PCR search for metapneumovirus in the CSF was not done.EEG abnormality was diffuse slowing in favor of mild encephalopathy and MRI imaging showed lesions limited to the splenium, which was restriction in DWI with correlation in ADC map (MERS type 1).With regard to laboratory findings, our patient had highly elevated level of CPK, slightly elevated level of AST and mild hyponatremia at hospital admission. However, this result only provides a limited contribution to the clinical presentation.Our patient was treated with intravenous therapy against suspected meningitis and herpes virus until the culture and viral PCR search for neurotropic in the blood and CSF was found to be negative. In addition, the patient received corticosteroid therapy for five days with low dose of dexamethasone. To date, there is no evidence of an effective treatment for patients with MERS, and the prognosis.In children, MERS shows a wide spectrum of clinical presentations however, visual disturbances are rare symptoms of this syndrome. Most of the MERS cases show a favorable outcome regardless of treatment. The early recognition of this condition in children with encephalopathy may limit unnecessary and potentially toxic treatments. Moreover, MERS diagnosis allows pediatricians to reassure patients’ families about the good outcome of this disease.Author contributions: Farima Farsi: writing-original draft (equal), conceptualization (equal); Shima Shekari: writing-original draft (equal), conceptualization (equal); Farah Ashrafzadeh: review and editing (equal), supervision (equal); Shima Imannezhad: review and editing (equal), visualization (equal); Ahmad Sohrab Niazi: review and editing (equal), data curation (equal); Samane Kamali: data curation (equal).Compliance with ethical standardsAcknowledgements: The authors would like to express their gratitude to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.Data availability statement: The data, supporting this study, are available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.Patient consent statement: Informed consent was taken from the patient and his family, that information about him would be published in a journal.ReferencesTada H, Takanashi J, Barkovich A, et al. Clinically mild encephalitis/ encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion. Neurology. 2004;63:1854–8.Garcia-Monco JC, Cortina IE, Ferreira E, et al. Reversible splenial lesion syndrome (RESLES): what’s in a name? J Neuroimaging. 2011;21:e1–e14.Fang Q, Chen L, Chen Q, Lin Z, Yang F. Clinically mild encephalitis/ encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion of corpus callosum in Chinese children. Brain and Development. 2017;39(4):321–6.Hoshino A, Saitoh M, Oka A, et al. Epidemiology of acute encephalopathy in Japan, with emphasis on the association of viruses and syndromes. Brain Dev. 2012;34(5):337-343.Vanderschueren G, Schotsmans K, Maréchal E, Crols R. Mild encephalitis with reversible splenial (MERS) lesion syndrome due to influenza B virus. Pract Neurol. 2018;18(5):391 –2.Chen W-X, Liu H-S, Yang S-D, Zeng S-H, Gao Y-Y, Du Z-H, et al. Reversible splenial lesion syndrome in children: retrospective study and summary of case series. Brain and Development. 2016;38(10):915 –27.Ka A, Britton P, Troedson C, Webster R, Procopis P, Ging J, et al. Mild encephalopathy with reversible splenial lesion: an important differential of encephalitis. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2015;19(3):377–82.Pan JJ, Zhao Y-Y, Lu C, Hu Y-H, Yang Y. Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion: five cases and a literature review. Neurol Sci. 2015;36(11):2043 –51.Y ıld ız AE, Mara ş Genç H, Gürka ş E, Akmaz Ünlü H, Öncel İH, Güven A. Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion in children. Diagn Interv Radiol. 2018;24(2):108 –12.Jea A, Vachhrajani S, Widjaja E, Nilsson D, Raybaud C, Shroff M, et al. Corpus callosotomy in children and the disconnection syndromes: a review. Childs Nerv Syst. 2008;24(6):685 –92.Takanashi J, Barkovich AJ, Shiihara T, Tada H, Kawatani M, Tsukahara H, et al. Widening spectrum of a reversible splenial lesion with transiently reduced diffusion. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2006;27(4):836 –8.

A document by Ashmita Yadav. Click on the document to view its contents.

A document by Paula Perlea. Click on the document to view its contents.

INTRODUCTION Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an inherited connective tissue disease that occurs following an autosomal dominant gene mutation in the fibrillin-1gene (FBN1) 1. The protein produced by this mutated gene is an essential component of most connective tissue and being structurally abnormal, results in a wide range of specific ophthalmological, skeletal, and cardiovascular abnormalities that characterize MFS 1. The disease was discovered when Antoine - Bernard Marfan diagnosed a 5-year-old named Gabrielle who presented with skeletal signs 2. Current studies estimate the prevalence of MFS at 6.5/100,00 3. Experts, in 1986, at Berlin created the first clinical criteria for diagnosing MFS known as the Berlin Nosology 2. A new criterion was detailed in 1996 (Ghent I criteria) on account of high false positive results. In 2010 the Ghent 1 criterion was modified to include specifically FBNI mutation, aortic root dilatation, and ectopic lentis as the mainstay of MFS diagnosis (Ghent II). The formulation of this nosology was essential for the avoidance of inconclusive diagnosis and differentiation from conditions presenting with similar manifestations 1, 2. Clinical manifestations of this disorder include cardiovascular, ophthalmic, musculoskeletal, craniofacial, and cutaneous abnormalities 4. Amongst the cardiovascular manifestations, aortic dilatation and mitral regurgitation from mitral valve prolapse occur frequently5, 6.In this case report we describe the incidental finding of a young African male with classic Marfan’s syndrome but initially diagnosed at the age of 23years. We further explore the barriers to early diagnosis in our part of the world.

A document by Suman Paudel. Click on the document to view its contents.

Cryogenic vacuum distillation (CVD) is a widely used technique for extracting plant water from stems for isotopic analysis, but concerns about potential isotopic biases have emerged. Here, we leverage the Cavitron centrifugation technique to extract xylem water and compare its isotopic signature to that of CVD-extracted stem water as well as source water. Conducted under field conditions in tropical northern Australia, our study spans seven tree species naturally experiencing a range of water stress levels. Our findings reveal a significant deuterium bias in CVD-extracted bulk stem water when compared to xylem water (median bias \($-14.9\textperthousand$\)), whereas xylem water closely aligned with source water (median offset \($-1.9\textperthousand$\)). We find substantial variations in deuterium bias among the seven tree species (bias ranging from -19.3 to \($-9.1\textperthousand$\)), but intriguingly, CVD-induced biases were unrelated to environmental factors such as relative stem water content and pre-dawn leaf water potential. These results imply that inter-specific differences may be driven by anatomical traits rather than tree hydraulic functioning. Additionally, our data highlight the potential to use a site-specific deuterium offset, based on the isotopic signature of local source water, for correcting CVD-induced biases.

The Bonin Islands, comprising of the Mukojima, Chichijima, and Hahajima Islands, are known for their isolated and distinctive habitats, hosting a diverse array of endemic flora and fauna. In these islands, adaptive radiation has played a remarkable role in speciation, particularly evident in the Callicarpa genus that is represented by three species: Callicarpa parvifolia and Callicarpa glabra exclusive to the Chichijima Islands, and Callicarpa subpubescens, distributed across the entire Bonin Islands. Notably, C. subpubescens exhibits multiple ecotypes, differing in leaf hair density, flowering time, and tree size. In this study, we used double-digest restriction site–associated DNA sequencing to analyze species, ecotypes and geographical variations within Callicarpa in the Bonin Islands. We aimed to determine detailed phylogenetic relationships, investigate species and ecotype diversification patterns, estimate divergence times, and explore cryptic species using genetic and phenotypic data. Genetic analysis revealed that C. parvifolia and C. glabra formed a single, distinct genetic groups. Conversely, C. subpubescens showed seven genetic groups corresponding to different ecotypes and regions, with one ecotype derived from the hybridization of two others. Phylogenetic and population demography analyses, focusing on six Chichijima and Hahajima Islands–based species/ecotypes, indicated the divergence of an ecotype adapted to tall mesic forests approximately 170 kya, whereas the other five species/ecotypes diverged nearly simultaneously around 73–77 kya. Environmental changes during the glacial period likely contributed to this process of adaptive radiation. Moreover, leaf morphology, flowering time, and genetic analyses suggested the presence of two cryptic species within C. subpubescens.

Objective: Early Infantile Epileptic Encephalopathies (EIEEs) are the most severe end of the spectrum of early-onset epilepsies which usually lead to progressive psychomotor impairment. They start with different types of severe seizures in the early infantile period which are drug-resistant and lead to progressive brain dysfunction such as intellectual disability, severe

Empty Mast Cell Syndrome, also named Post Anaphylaxis Mast Cell Anergy (PAMA), is a temporary state of loss of mast cell responsiveness after a severe immediate hypersensitivity reaction. We describe a case of PAMA after accidental re-exposure to amoxicillin in a patient who developed severe anaphylaxis to this drug three days earlier in the operating room.