Suggested Time: 50 Minutes

Solar energy is increasingly used to produce electricity in Europe, but the environmental impact of constructing and running solar parks (SP) is not yet well studied. Solar park construction requires partial vegetation removal and soil leveling. Additionally, solar panels may alter soil microclimate and functioning. In our study of three French Mediterranean solar parks, we analyzed 1) effects of solar park construction on soil quality by comparing solar park soils with those of semi-natural land cover types (pinewood and shrubland) and abandoned croplands (abandoned vineyards); 2) the effect of solar panels on soil microclimate, CO2 effluxes and vegetation. We measured 21 soil properties of physical, chemical, and microbiological soil quality in one solar park and its surroundings to calculate integrated indicators of soil quality. We surveyed soil temperature and moisture, CO2 effluxes and vegetation below and outside solar panels of three solar parks. Soil aggregate stability was reduced by SP construction resulting in a degradation of soil physical quality. Soil chemical quality and a general indicator of soil quality were lower in anthropogenic (SP and abandoned vineyards) than in semi-natural (pinewood and shrubland) land cover types. However, differences between abandoned vineyards representing the pre-construction land cover type and solar parks were not significant. Solar panels reduced the soil temperature by 10% and soil CO2 effluxes by 50% but did not affect early successional plant communities. Long-term monitoring is needed to evaluate the effects of solar panels on vegetation.

The assessment of wildlife population sizes and their trends is one of the most important research fields in conservation biology, as it is used to identify vulnerability soon enough to implement measures in threatened species, or to set up sustainable harvesting rates in exploited populations. Yet, because field work is expensive, may be difficult in terms of logistics and because some populations of the same species may be monitored by different stakeholders, population status often rely on fragmented and heterogenous information on sub-populations collected through various monitoring programs. In this context, data integration, i.e. the simultaneous analysis of different datasets in a single modelling framework allows to get unbiased and more precise trend estimates than separated analysis that in turn may lead to more adequate management policies. In this study we developed an integrated state-space model to jointly model populations growth rates from individual counts and hunting bags data for three hunted species of mountain Galliformes in Italy. We examined population trends at various spatial scales and disentangled the potential effect of game management plans from biological factors. The integration of counts and bags succeeded in improving growth rate parameter precision and in reducing proxy-specific bias by increasing the sample size and extending data series length. On a 19-year basis, all three species exhibited negative mean growth rates. We did not find strong regional patterns for Rock ptarmigan and Rock partridge, as a likely consequence of prevailing effects of local environmental conditions on population growth rate. Black grouse eastern populations exhibited lower growth rate than western populations. Our paper demonstrates that an integrated model of different index of population size of game species can provide more accurate values than separate analysis, we advocate to consider such an approach for other wildlife monitoring cases for which data is scarce.

The COVID pandemic was an acute test of public health capacities worldwide. Many will hail the successes obtained and stress the importance of the discipline. On the contrary, this commentary defends the idea that the COVID pandemic response forced public health to enter in a Faustian bargain with governments and realpolitik that threaten the very core of the discipline’s principles.

Background: Elevated red blood cell distribution width (RDW) levels were associated with mortality in patients with stable chronic obstructive lung diseases (COPD). There are limited data about RDW levels in COPD exacerbation. Aim/Objective: The association of the RDW levels with the severity of the acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) were evaluated according to admission location, (outpatient-clinic, ward and intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: Cross sectional retrospective study designed in tertiary chest dieases hospital. COPD patients admitted to hospital outpatiens-clinic, ward and ICU due to AECOPD were included. Patients demographics, RDW, C-reactive protein (CRP), biochemistry values were recorded. RDW values were subdivided below 0.11% (low), above and equal 0.15% (high) and between 0.11-0.15% (normal). Neutrophile to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to mean platelet volume (PLT-MPV) were also calculated. Recorded values were compared according to where AECOPD was treated. Results: 2771 COPD patients (33% female) and 1429 outpatients-clinic, 1156 ward and 186 ICU were enrolled in the study. The median RWD values in outpatients-clinic, ward and ICU were 0.16 (0.09-0.26), 0.07 (0.01-0.14) and 0.01 (0.00-0.07) respectively (p<0.001). In outpatient to ward and ICU, low RDW values were significantly increased (31%, 66%, 83% respectively) and high RDW values significantly decreased (54%, 24%, 10%) (p<0.001). According to attack severity, low RDW values were determined. Conclusion: Patients with AECOPD, lower RDW values should be considered carefully. Lower RDW can be used for decision of COPD exacerbation severity and follow up treatment response. What is already known about this topic; In current studies, elevated RDW levels were associated with mortality in patients with stable COPD. What does this article add; Currently , there are limited data about RDW levels in COPD exacerbation. In the present study, the association of the RDW levels according to the severity of AECOPD were evaluated due to admission location.

We reported a case with complaint of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and oral intake intolerance due to a giant thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm with contained leak and acute rupture within the circumferential mural thrombus which presented with upper gastrointestinal obstruction manifestation. The rupture led to the patient undergoing emergency aneurysm repair.

Cardiac Hydatid Cysts are uncommonly encountered entity of hydatid disease. Presentation may be with non-specific symptoms and sometimes with life threatening events. We present a rare case of a 9-year-old female who was diagnosed with a Cardiac Hydatid Cyst in the right ventricle, and underwent successful surgical excision

Spontaneous abdominal aorta thrombosis is extremely rare. Symptoms vary widely, ranging from asymptomatic to more catastrophic presentations. We report the case of a 40-year-old lady who presented with 1-week history of abdominal pain and was found to have spontaneous abdominal aorta thrombosis.

Background: The co-existence of chronic diseases (CD), a condition defined as multimorbidity (MM), is becoming a major public health issue. Understanding the general framework of MM diseases according to the well-known risk factors can assist in finding direct and indirect relationships among them. Therefore, we aimed to determine pattern and predicting risk factors of multi-morbidity in the Azar Cohort population using Structural Equation Model (SEM). Methods: In this study, the prevalence of MM in 15006 XXX cohort population was evaluated. MM was defined as the co-existence of two or more CDs. The information regarding socio-economic, demographic, sleeping habits, and physical activity were collected by questionnaires. A multi-group SEM was employed to model complex relationships between directly- and indirectly-observed variables. Results: The overall MM was seen in 28.8% of the population. The most prevalent chronic diseases were obesity, hypertension, depression, and diabetes, respectively. Obesity, depression, and diabetes were the most co-occurring CDs in our population. The SEM diagram indicated the overall effect of socio-demographic (predictors) and sleep and physical activity (mediators) on the number of CDs. The number of CDs in the active participants and those who sleep 6.6-7.3 hours/day was lower than the inactive participants and those who sleep ≤6.5 hours/day. Conclusions: According to our results, it seems that the reduction of MM is possible through promoting public health from an early age and for a wide range of socio-economic conditions, provided that the necessary support for general health is offered for the aging population.

The present paper attempts to study the causative physicochemical properties of the soils, which effectively portray its dispersive and deteriorating conditions, which have led to the formation of badlands in the Mandakini River watershed Chitrakoot area, India. Following investigations were made on the soil samples collected from the field: i) grain size distribution ii) various physicochemical properties and nutrient content of the soil. The clay minerals were detected and identified with the X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and High-Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy (HRSEM). The spatial maps of all these parameters were prepared in a GIS environment, and overlay analysis was performed. The results show that the soil has a silt loam texture with high bulk density. The low values of plastic limit, liquid limit, and plasticity index show the non-cohesive nature of the soils. Higher bulk density has decreased the porosity as well as permeability in the soils. This impact on porosity and permeability has reduced the favourable conditions for vegetation, and the soils contain low organic matter. Apart from the bulk density, the presence of calcrete and illitic clay mineral (low in content) has also reduced the permeability of the soils, further increasing runoff. The overlay analysis based on the liquid limit, plasticity index, bulk density, and drainage frequency shows that the area is thoroughly affected by badland processes. Three zones were categorized as severe, very severe, and extremely severe depending upon their conditions gully channel processes.

Inquiries into biological applications using mathematical models have been extensively examined over the years \cite{Murray:2003}. However, investigations into the existence of localised structures region has been limited and, therefore, examinations into solution types and patterns formations have not been thoroughly discussed. This study will, consequently, present the existence of localised structures region and the type of pattern formations for two predator-prey models using a system of reaction-diffusion equations with dissimilar nonlinearity functional responses for each of the two models. Linear and weakly nonlinear analysis with supporting numerical methods are the mathematical tools for the analysis. Upon applying these tool, the mathematical explorations generate a particular set of system parameter conditions for: pattern formation (spatial instability); the Belyckov-Devaney transition; the coexistent of the codimension two point and localised patterns formation. Further, the use of spectral computations and numerical simulations on each model’s system of equations will expose how the Hopf bifurcation influences the localised structures region. Consequently, this influence will unveil the rise of temporally periodic localised patterns at ‘certain’ nearby parameter values. Finally, the numerical outcomes in two dimensional space confirms the onset of intricate spatio-temporal patterns within the conformable parameter regions within one dimensional space.

Serology testing for COVID-19 is important in evaluating active immune response against SARS-CoV-2, studying the antibody kinetics, and monitoring reinfections with genetic variants and new virus strains, in particular, the duration of antibodies in virus-exposed individuals and vaccine-mediated immunity. In this work, recombinant S protein of SARS-CoV-2 was expressed in Rachiplusia nu, an important agronomic plague. One gram of insect larvae produces an amount of S protein sufficient for 150 determinations in the ELISA method herein developed. We established a rapid production process for SARS-CoV-2 S protein that showed immunoreactivity for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and was used as a single antigen for developing the ELISA method with high sensitivity (96.2%) and specificity (98.8%). Our findings provide an efficient and cost-effective platform for large-scale S protein production, and the scale-up is linear, thus avoiding the use of complex equipment like bioreactors.

Marek’s disease (MD) is a re-emerging viral disease of chicken and a serious economic threat to poultry industry worldwide. Continuous surveillance with molecular investigation is mandatory to monitor the emergence of virulent MDV strains and to devise any appropriate vaccination strategy and implement bio-security programs. In the present study, we investigated the cases of MD outbreaks in vaccinated poultry flocks. The MD outbreak was confirmed through necropsy (majorily visceral tumors), histopathology and viral gene specific PCR. The pathotypes of the field MDV strains were assessed by molecular analysis of three oncogenes -Meq, pp38 and vIL-8. The Meq sequence of the field strains analyzed in this study lacked the 59 aa unique to mild strains indicating that they are virulent strains. Mutation at position 71 and presence of five proline rich repeats in the transactivation domain, both associated with virulence were observed in these strains, however, the signature sequences specific to very virulent plus strains were absent. Phylogenetic analysis of Meq gene sequences revealed clustering of the field strains with North Indian strains and with a very virulent plus ATE 2539 strain from Hungary. Analyses of pp38 protein at positions 107 and 109 and vIL-8 protein at positions 4 and 31 showed signatures of virulence. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of oncogenes from field MDVs from vaccinated flock indicated these strains possessing molecular features of very virulent strains. Our data shows here that Meq, vIL-8 and pp38 genes can be used as markers for molecular analysis to decipher the pathotype of MDV strains. Our present study suggests evolution of virulent MDV induced by vaccination.

Aims：This study aimed to investigate the safety, feasibility and availability of perimembranous ventricular septal defect (PmVSD) closure via a left parasternal ultra-minimal trans intercostal incision in children. Methods and results：From January 2015 to January 2019, 131 children with restrictive PmVSDs were enrolled in this study and successfully done in 126 patients (96.18%). PmVSDs were occluded via an ultra-minimal trans intercostal incision (≤1 cm), and the entire occlusive process was guided and monitored by TEE. A pericardium hanging technique was employed without sternal incision. PmVSDs were closed through a short delivery sheath assembled using a concentric occluder device. All patients were followed up for a perid ranging from18 months to 24 months. Thirteen patients with PmVSD had aneurysm of membranous septum (AMS). Multistream (more than or equal to 2) PmVSDs with AMS were found in eleven cases. After the operation, mild residual shunt beside the amplatzer occluder in one patient was found and had self-healing result during the 5-month follow-up period. Five patients transferred to ventricular septal defect repair operation under direct visualization with a cardiopulmonary bypass. One reason was ventricular fibrillation when guide wire passed the PmVSD, another was device dislocation, and others were the guide wire cannot pass through the PmVSD. Conclusions：PmVSDs closure using a concentric occluder via a left parasternal ultra-minimal trans intercostal incision under TEE guidance is feasible, safe, and effective in children. This approach can be considered as an alternative treatment to open-heart surgery for restrictive PmVSDs.

The paper considers the problem of maximum efficiency for the system of distillation columns. Columns in such systems are connected in parallel or sequential way. The mixture being separated is assumed to be close to ideal one. Authors parameterize the relationship between feed flow rate and heat duties of a steady-state binary distillation column using two parameters: the reversible efficiency and the irreversibility coefficient. This relationship is later being used to solve the problems about optimal distribution of heat and feed flows within the system. The results obtained allow to estimate minimum heat energy demand for distillation of the given feed flow, maximum performance and efficiency of the system.

Microfluidic impedance cytometry is a powerful system to measure micro and nano-sized particles and is routinely used in point-of-care settings disease diagnostics and other biomedical applications. However, small objects near a sensor’s detection limit are plagued with relatively significant background noise and are difficult to identify for every case. While many data processing techniques can be utilized to reduce noise and improve signal quality, frequently they are still inadequate to push sensor detection limits. Here, we report the first demonstration of a novel signal averaging algorithm effective in noise reduction of microfluidic impedance cytometry data, improving enumeration accuracy and reducing detection limits. Our device uses a 22 μm tall microchannel and gold coplanar microelectrodes that generates an electric field, recording bipolar pulses from polystyrene microparticles flowing through the channel. In addition to outlining a modified moving signal averaging technique theoretically and with a model dataset, we also performed a compendium of characterization experiments including variations in flow rate, input voltage, and particle size. Multi-variate metrics from each experiment are compared including signal amplitude, pulse width, background noise, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Incorporating our technique resulted in improved SNR and counting accuracy across all experiments conducted, and the limit of detection improved from 5 μm to 1 μm particles without modifying microchannel dimensions. Succeeding this, we envision implementing our modified moving average technique to develop next generation microfluidic impedance cytometry devices with an expanded dynamic range and improved enumeration accuracy. This can be exceedingly useful for many biomedical applications, such as infectious disease diagnostics where devices may enumerate larger-scale immune cells alongside sub-micron bacterium in the same sample.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is the crucial enzyme in the central nervous system. It is the target of various organophosphorus nerve agents and pesticides, and the inhibition of AChE is a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of various neurological-related diseases. The Glu202 is a key residue adjacent to the catalytic His447 and plays important role in catalysis. Although the Glu202 has long been considered as negatively charged in many studies, more and more evidences support a protonated Glu202. However, Glu202 is freely accessible by solvent, and thus it seems more reasonable for Glu202 to majorly take the deprotonated state. In the present work, we carried out a series of molecular dynamics simulations with the Glu202 adopting different protonation states. Our results show that the protonated Glu202 is important in maintaining the key hydrogen bond network that supports the catalytic triad, whereas the deprotonated Glu202 results in the collapse of the key hydrogen bond network which consequently destabilizes the catalytic His447. We also notice that different protonation states of Glu202 merely alters the binding mode of ACh. However, since the catalytic His447 is disrupted if Glu202 is deprotonated, His447 can not facilitate the nucleophilic attack performed by Ser203. Therefore, the catalytic efficiency of ACh hydrolysis should be remarkably decreased if Glu202 is deprotonated. Our findings suggest that, when designing and developing highly active AChE inhibitors or proposing mechanistic hypotheses for AChE-catalyzed reactions, the protonated state of Glu202 should be considered.

When two or more amino acid mutations occur in protein systems, they can interact in a non-additive fashion termed epistasis. One way to quantify epistasis between mutation pairs in protein systems is by using free energy differences: ϵ = 𝚫𝚫G1,2 - (𝚫𝚫G1 + 𝚫𝚫G2) where 𝚫𝚫G refers to the change in the Gibbs free energy, subscripts 1 and 2 refer to single mutations in arbitrary order and 1,2 refers to the double mutant. In this study, we explore possible biophysical mechanisms that drive pairwise epistasis in both protein-protein binding affinity and protein folding stability. Using the largest available datasets containing experimental protein structures and free energy data, we derived statistical models for both binding and folding epistasis (ϵ) with similar explanatory power (R2) of 0.299 and 0.258, respectively. These models contain terms and interactions that are consistent with intuition. For example, increasing the Cartesian separation between mutation sites leads to a decrease in observed epistasis for both folding and binding. Our results provide insight into factors that contribute to pairwise epistasis in protein systems and their importance in explaining epistasis. However, the low explanatory power indicates that more study is needed to fully understand this phenomenon.

Background The findings of peripheral blood examination (PBE) in SARS-CoV2 infection in pediatrics patients have not been fully described, the reports have been done on the adult population so far. In this study we showed the characteristics in the PBE in SARS-CoV2 infection in the pediatric population. Methods Descriptive, observational, longitudinal, prospective study. Information from the medical records of pediatric patients < 17 years of age with a diagnosis of SARS-COV-2 (positive PCR test) was analyzed and peripheral blood smear examination was performed. Results 16 pediatric patients with a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 /COVID-19 were evaluated. 100% of the patients had PBE done, 62.50% (10/16) had no morphological alteration of the erythroid cell line, the erythroid changes were: anisocytosis and echinocytosis in 12.5% (2/16), in white cell line a predominance of plasmacyte lymphocytes was found in 37.5% (6/16), followed by hyposegmented neutrophils “Pelger-Huet anomaly” 31.25% (5/16), hypersegmented neutrophils 12.5% (2/16) , atypical lymphocytes 18.75% (3/16), granular lymphocytes in 6.25% (1/16), prolymphocytes in 6.25% (1/16), hyposegmented eosinophils in 12.5% (2/16). Conclusion Plasmacytoid lymphocytes and large granular lymphocyte are seen more frequently in pediatric patients with COVID-19. Abnormalities in the neutrophils with acquired Pelger-Huët anomaly (APHA) were important findings in pediatric patients with COVID-19.

Vasoplegic syndrome (VPS) is defined as systemic hypotension due to profound vasodilatation and loss of systemic vascular resistance (SVR), despite normal or increased cardiac index (CI). It occurs in 9- 44% of cardiac surgery patients after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The pathogenesis of VPS is multifactorial involving the activation of contact, coagulation, and complement systems and the activation of leukocytes. platelets and endothelial cells resulting in an imbalance in the regulation of the vascular tone; inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS] triggered by inflammatory cytokines during CPB produces nitric oxide (NO), which increases vascular levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), resulting in vasodilation. leading to postcardiac surgery VPS. Standard treatment options for severe refractory VPS are extremely limited and include vasopressor support. latest Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines also consider that the best therapeutic management of vascular hypo- responsiveness to vasopressors could be a combination of multiple vasopressors, including norepinephrine (NE) and early prescription of vasopressin. This review will address the various definitions, risk factors, pathophysiology, potential cardiac candidates, and potential therapeutic interventions for VPS following cardiac surgery focussed on the outcome. This review did not require any ethical approval or consent from the patients.

Introduction Oral anticoagulants (OAs) are not in routine use during Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Studies that compare the COVID-19 infection outcome of chronic OA users with their peers of non-OA users are available. To the best of our knowledge, none of these studies evaluated the effect of OA use on the COVID-19 related early admission laboratory parameters and/or length of the hospital stay. So, we will study these here. Methods  This retrospective study was included 2 groups; group 1 (n=62) consisted of OA users, and group 2 (n=75) of age, and sex-matched of OA non-users at the time of COVID-19 diagnosis. Early admission laboratory measures, numbers of comorbidities, length of hospital stay, and outcomes of these patients were recorded and analyzed Results Despite higher numbers of comorbidities in group 1, their serum CRP and D-dimer levels were significantly lower than the group 2. (p<0.05, all). The rate of mortality was higher in group 2 patients, but, it has not reached a statistical significance (p>0.05). Regression analysis showed that OA users (in comparison to non-OA users) had 0.980 and 0.520 times lower serum CRP and D-dimer levels, respectively.   Conclusions This study showed a beneficial effect of OA use on early admission serum CRP, and D-dimer levels, which are important prognostic predictors in COVID-19. Additionally, OA use associated with lesser hospital stay days of COVID-19 patients. These beneficial effects of OA use might help in improving the management of this infection after further dedicated studies in this field.

Applicability of undetermined coefficients methods to several fractional-stochastic models is investigated. These models are mostly generated by fractional-order derivative operators and include a fractional white noise term. Application of a polynomial chaos algorithm to stochastic Lotka-Volterra and Benney systems are also investigated. Fractional-stochastic equations considered in this paper are totally original systems which may serve as models for many scientific and engineering phenomena. It is pointed out that Galerkin type methods employed in this paper may be efficiently applied to fractional-order systems having uncertainty or a noise term.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess COVID-19 awareness, attitude, practice, and post-infection effects, as well as vaccine acceptance, among general people in North India at the end of the first COVID-19 wave in India. Method: A cross-sectional, multicentred survey took place from 20 January to 28 February 2021 in Northern India, covering 8 states, including Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, and Chandigarh to assess the KAP in the context of COVID-19. A validated questionnaire was distributed via social media (Instagram, WhatsApp), and responses were collected via a Google Form. Result: The total number of participants was n=813, out of which more than half of the responder were male (54.2%). The majority of respondents belong to the age category 18 to 29 years (66.9%) and (85.8%) of respondents come from a nuclear family. Mean (percentage) scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice were 57.91%, 60.98%, and 89.79% respectively. The vaccine acceptance in participants was quite high (70.8%), (67.7%) have a positive belief in vaccine efficacy, and (42.7%) of respondents were willing to take the vaccine at a health centre/clinic. Out of total participants (74.5%) believe that vaccines can control the spread of COVID-19. The prevalence of post-infection effects was more in females with a mean percentage of 52.94, like (94.1%) of females and (70.4%) of males. Conclusion: Although the overall KAP regarding COVID-19 disease was average and balanced in some areas (69.56% overall in all categories of KAP) in our participants. Our result finding shows that there are certain gaps in knowledge, attitude, and practice of participants which can be decreased by efficient and tailor-made health education initiatives. Due to these gaps, India is facing a second wave of COVID-19

Soliton crystal micro-combs are powerful tools as sources of multiple wavelength channels for radio frequency (RF) signal processing. They offer a compact device footprint, large numbers of wavelengths, very high versatility, and wide Nyquist bandwidths. Here, we demonstrate integral order RF signal processing functions based on a soliton crystal micro-comb, including a Hilbert transformer and first-to third-order differentiators. We compare and contrast results achieved and the tradeoffs involved with varying comb spacing, tap design methods, as well as shaping methods.