The governing topic of this article is the design and investigation of a novel negative refractive index (NRI) metamaterial (MTM) in the microwave region. This multi-band MTM is realized by employing a square ring resonator along with two triangular-shaped resonators. Here, the designed unit cell produces double negative (DNG) regions to the extent of 3.6–3.9 GHz, 6.8–7.6 GHz, 10.11–10.4 GHz, and 13.4–13.7 GHz and shows NRI properties in S-, C-, X-, and Ku-bands. Moreover, the design and performance evaluation of the 2×2 and 4×4 array configurations are investigated. Both of the structures create NRI band around S-, C-, X-, and Ku-bands. Also, the proposed MTM has an effective medium ratio of 13.8. The performance of the proposed MTM is validated by the sensor design study. Hence the proposed MTM is assigned for sensing pressure variation, for distinguishing used and unused transformer oil, and also to detect the several chemicals and chemical-water mixtures. The distinctive observation of the sensor study reveals 80 MHz frequency difference between dark and clear oil and more than 340 MHz resonance frequency shifting phenomena in X-bands for chemical sensing applications. Besides pressure sensor study exposes linear shifting of the resonances in S-, C-, X-, and Ku-bands.

The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in widespread economic, health and social disruptions. The delivery of cardiovascular care has been stifled during the pandemic in order to adhere to infection control measures as a way of protecting patients and the workforce at large. This cautious approach has been protective since individuals with COVID-19 and cardiovascular disease are anticipated to have poorer outcomes and an increased risk of death. The combination of postponing elective cardiovascular surgeries, reduced acute care and long-term cardiac damage directly resulting from COVID-19 will likely have increased the demand for cardiac care, particularly from patients presenting with more severe symptoms. The combination of increased demand and inhibited supply will likely result in huge backlog of unmet patients’ needs. The novelty, virulence and infectivity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused substantial morbidity and mortality which have necessitated modifications to the UK government’s healthcare strategy. Without improving cost efficiency, the UK’s ageing population will likely need an increasing spend on cardiac surgery simply to maintain the same level of service. However, the government’s short-term increase in spending is unsustainable especially in the face of ongoing economic uncertainty. This means that the long-term impact of COVID-19 will only increase the need to find innovative ways of delivering equivalent or superior cardiac care at a reduced unit cost.

I bioreattori a membrana (MBR) combinano il processo di degradazione biologica a fanghi attivi e il processo fisico di filtrazione con membrane, costituendo un sistema di trattamento avanzato delle acque reflue. Tra i numerosi vantaggi  di questa tecnologia, assume particolare importanza l’elevata efficienza depurativa: gli MBR garantiscono la rimozione sia di contaminanti convenzionali che di contaminanti emergenti. Tuttavia, gli MBR presentano degli svantaggi legati principalmente agli elevati costi di investimento e di gestione degli impianti e al controllo del fouling. L’introduzione dei bioreattori a membrana dinamica auto-formante (SFDMBR), basati sull’utilizzo di un materiale di supporto a pori grossolani a basso costo per la formazione di una membrana dinamica auto-formante, consente di ottenere elevate prestazioni depurative a fronte di ridotti costi di investimento. Gli elettro-bioreattori a membrana (e-MBR) combinano processi elettrochimici nei sistemi MBR, con conseguente incremento dell’efficienza depurativa e riduzione del fouling. Combinando la tecnologia SFDMBR con quella e-MBR si ottiene un sistema ibrido estremamente innovativo: l’elettro-bioreattore a membrana dinamica auto-formante (e-SFDMBR).

Objective: To evaluate of the predictive value of CD44 and ALDH1 expression for prognosis and radiotherapy(RT) response in patients with early-stage laryngeal cancer receiving RT. Materials and Methods: Forty-four patients with early-stage laryngeal cancer were included in the study. Based on retrospective chart review, the patients were divided into those with local recurrence and those without recurrence after RT. Correlation between RT response and pre-treatment immunohistochemical ALDH1 and CD44 staining was evaluated. In addition, survival times were compared between groups. Results: The mean age was found 59.8±9.0 years and 41 were male. There were 20 patients in the non-recurrent group. Immunohistochemical positivity for ALDH1 was found to be significant risk factor for RT failure (p=0.0001), whereas CD44 positivity (p=0.114) were not significant. Disease-free survival was shorter in cases with positive ALDH1 and CD44 staining (p=0.0001). Conclusion: ALDH1 positivity was identified as a significant predictor of DFS and RT sensitivity.

Trees’ total amount of nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) stores and the proportion of these stores residing as insoluble starch are vital traits for individuals living in variable environments. However, our understanding of how stores vary in response to environmental stress is poorly understood as the genetic component of storage is rarely accounted for in studies. Here, we quantified variation in NSC traits in branch samples taken from over 600 clonally transplanted black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) trees grown in two common gardens. We found heritable variation in both total NSC stores and the proportion of stores in starch (H2TNC = 0.19, H2PropStarch = 0.31), indicating a substantial genetic component of variation. In addition, we found high amounts of plasticity in both traits in response to cold temperatures and significant genotype-by-environment (GxE) interactions in the total amount of NSC stored (54% of P is GxE). This finding of high GxE indicates extensive variation across trees in their response to environment, which may explain why previous studies of carbohydrate stores’ responses to stress have failed to converge on a consistent pattern. Overall, we found high amounts of environmental and genetic variation in NSC storage concentrations, which may bolster species against future climate change.

A document by Akkan Avci. Click on the document to view its contents.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of mirabegron 50 mg/daily for JJ stent-related symptoms after ureteroscopic stone surgery. Methods: Medical records of 145 patients who were given a single daily oral dose of 50 mg of mirabegron for relieving stent-related symptoms were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic and clinical data and stone parameters were recorded. All participants completed the Turkish version of the Ureter Symptom Score Questionnaire (USSQ-T) on the postoperative seventh day, and again after at least three weeks, before JJ stent removal. The severity of stent-related symptoms was statistically compared before and after the mirabegron treatment. Results: The mean urinary symptoms score decreased significantly from 30.87 ± 9.43 to 22.61 ± 6.78 (p < 0.0001), mean body pain score decreased significantly from 21.82 ± 11.22 to 14.03 ± 7.52 (p < 0.0001), mean work performance score decreased from 10.50 ± 8.61 to 7.02 ± 6.51 (p < 0.0001), and mean general health score decreased significantly from 15.43 ± 6.50 to 11.12 ± 3.70 (p < 0.0001). The mean sexual matters score significantly decreased from 3.88 ± 3.40 to 2.48 ± 2.03 (p < 0.0001), the additional problem score decreased from 9.31 ± 4.61 to 6.51 ± 2.83 (p < 0.0001), and the overall quality of life (QoL) score decreased from 5.18 ± 1.94 to 4.23 ± 1.71 after mirabegron use (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Daily use of 50g of mirabegron significantly improved stent-related symptoms, sexual matters, and quality of life.

Introduction: Women with gestational diabetes (GDM) are at greatly increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The UK guidance recommends screening for T2DM at around 6 weeks post-partum and annually thereafter. We evaluated conformity to this guidance in two separate time periods. Methods: The proportion of tests performed within guidance was assessed using longitudinal plasma glucose and glycated haemoglobin data in two cohorts (1999-2007, n=251; 2015-2016, n=260) from hospital records on women previously diagnosed with GDM. Results: In the 1999-2007 and 2015-2016 cohorts, 59.8% and 35.0% of women had the recommended post-partum testing, respectively (p<0.001); just 13.5% and 14.2%, respectively, underwent the first annual test on time. During long-term follow-up of the 1999-2007 cohort (median follow-up: 12.3 years), the proportion of women tested in any given year averaged 34.2% over a 17-year period; there was a progressive decline in the proportion of women receiving a yearly test with time since delivery (p=0.002). Over the follow-up period, 85 women from the 1999-2007 cohort developed blood test results in the diabetic range with a median time to presumed DM diagnosis of 5.2 years (range 0.11-15.95 years). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that 18.8% of women had blood test results in the diabetes range by 5 years and 37.8% by 10 years post-partum. Conclusions: Despite high profile guidelines and a clear clinical rationale to screen women with a past diagnosis of GDM, many women did not receive adequate screening for T2DM, both in the short- and long-term. This suggests alternative approaches are needed to ensure effective follow-up of this high-risk group. To have an impact, interventions need to be tailored to a young, generally healthy group in which traditional approaches to follow-up may not be best suited.

Background and aims: The causal relationship between sarcopenia and sleep disorder in patients with chronic liver disease (CLDs) is unclear. We aimed examine the influence of sarcopenia-related factors (grip strength (GS) and muscle mass) on the progression of sleep disorder in patients with chronic liver disease (n=182, 46 cirrhotic cases, median age=64 years). Methods: Sleep quality was evaluated by the Japanese version of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-J). PSQI-J >6 points was defined as sleep disorder. In all analyzed patients, evaluation using PSQI-J questionnaire was performed twice or more during the follow-up period. Time interval from the date of baseline PSQI-J and the first confirmed date of elevation of PSQI-J score was calculated. Our primary endpoint was the elevation of PSQI-J score compared to the baseline PSQI-J score. GS decline was diagnosed with a GS of <26 kg for male and <18 kg for female. Loss of muscle mass was diagnosed by a skeletal muscle index of <7.0 kg/m2 for male and <5.7 kg/m2 for female on bioelectrical impedance analysis. Results: The median PSQI-J score was 5. PSQI-J >6 points at baseline was found in 83 patients (45.6%). In patients with GS decline (n=48), the 3-year cumulative elevation rate of PSQI-J score was 82.4%, while in patients with GS non-decline, that was 36.2% (P<0.0001). In patients with SMI decline (n=64), the 3-year cumulative elevation rate of PSQI-J score was 60.6%, while in patients with SMI non-decline, that was 43.4% (P=0.1822). On the multivariate analysis of factors associated with the elevation of PSQI-J score, only GS decline (P=0.0002) was a significant factor. Conclusions: Reduced GS rather than loss of muscle mass is independently associated with an elevated risk for the progression of sleep disorder in CLD patients.

Drying of microalgal slurry is one of the important steps of downstream processing which faces several technical challenges for cost-effective biodiesel production. In this investigation, drying of C. minutissima was carried out by a single rotary drum dryer with varied drum surface temperature and rotational speed. Application of machine learning tool classified the range of residual moisture content to be <10% (wet biomass) for high lipid recovery with an accuracy of 97%. Based on the drying time, lipid recovery, and energy consumption, drum drying at 80 °C drum surface temperature with 0.3 rpm depicted ˃90% lipid recovery as compared to the bone-dried biomass. The energy consumption of 7.328 kWh for 1 kg of dried biomass was recorded with profoundly lower drying time, thus could be recommended for drying of the microalgal slurry at industrial scale.

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysms are unusual complications of endocarditis that can be fatal if not detected and treated. As the incidence of endocarditis continues to increase, and in patients not subjected to early surgery, our case suggests long term follow up should include imaging (echocardiography and computerized axial tomography), especially in patients with ongoing and unusual symptoms, despite negative blood cultures. This can also aid in planning of the surgical approach and treatment.

Severe Aortic stenosis: Is urgent transcatheter aortic valve replacement better than Balloon aortic valvuloplasty better than?Wael Awad FRCS(C/Th)1, Mohammed Idhrees MS, MCh, FAIS2, Mohamad Bashir MD, PhD, MRCS 31. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Barts Heart Centre, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital,West Smithfield, London, UK2. Institute of Cardiac and Aortic disorders, SRM Institues for Medical Science (SIMS Hospital), India3. Department of Vascular Surgery, Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital, Haslingden Road,Blackburn, UK

Several machine learning algorithms were used to simulate the simulated moving bed (SMB) process, with the sugar separation of rebaudioside A and stevioside and enantioseparation of 1,1’-bi-2-naphthol racemate as case studies. It was found the random forest (RF) model and the deep neural network (DNN) model give satisfactory accuracy with MAEs lower than 0.19% (RF) and 0.08% (DNN). Then these two models were used to optimize the operation conditions for maximizing the feed flowrate under specific purity requirements. The RF model failed to give a set of operation conditions better than the training dataset. But the DNN model gave flowrates about 10% higher than the highest values in the training datasets, for both sugar separation and enantioseparation systems. Finally the optimized operation conditions for sugar separation were verified experimentally, with the final purities of rebaudioside A and stevioside being 99.2% and 98.8% respectively.

Objective: To investigate prevalence and epidemiological and clinical factors associated with OD and GD in COVID-19 patients according to the disease severity. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A total of 2,579 patients with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 were identified between March 22 and June 3, 2020 from 18 European hospitals. Epidemiological and clinical data were extracted. Otolaryngological symptoms, including OD and GD were collected through patient-reported outcome questionnaire and sniffin-sticks tests were carried out in a subset of patients. Results: A total of 2,579 patients were included, including 2,166 mild (84.0%), 144 moderate (5.6%) and 269 severe-to-critical (10.4%) patients. Mild patients presented an otolaryngological picture of the disease with OD, GD, nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea and sore throat as the most prevalent symptoms. The prevalence of subjective OD, GD were 73.7 and 46.8% and decrease with the severity of the disease. Females had higher prevalence of subjective OD and GD compared with males. Diabetes was associated with a higher risk to develop GD. Among the subset of patients who benefited from psychophysical olfactory evaluations, there were 75 anosmic, 43 hyposmic and 113 normosmic patients. The prevalence of anosmia significantly decreased with the severity of the disease. Anosmia or hyposmia were not associated with any nasal disorder, according to SNOT-22. Conclusion: OD and GD are more prevalent in patients with mild COVID-19 compared with individuals with moderate, severe or critical diseases. Females might have a higher risk of developing OD and GD compared with males.

Objective. This study examined the predictive ability of established Maternal Early Warning systems (MEWS) for different types of maternal morbidity, in order to discern an optimal early warning system. Design. Retrospective cohort study. Setting. Four-hospital urban academic system. Population. All patients admitted to the obstetric services of this hospital system in 2018. Methods. All patient vital signs were collected and three sets of published MEWS criteria were evaluated in relation to maternal morbidity. The test characteristics of each MEWS, as well as for heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation individually and in different combinations were compared. Main Outcome Measures. Maternal morbidity, defined as a composite of hemorrhage, infection, acute cardiac disease, and acute respiratory disease, ascertained from informatics and administrative data. Results. Of 14,597 obstetric admissions, 2,451 patients experienced composite morbidity (16.8%). The sensitivities (15.3% - 64.8%), specificities (56.8% - 96.1%), and positive predictive values (22.3% - 44.5%) of the three MEWS criteria ranged. Of patients with any morbidity, 28% met criteria for the most liberal vital sign combination, while only 2% met criteria for the most restrictive parameters, compared to 14% and 1% of patients without morbidity, respectively. Sensitivity of all vital sign combinations was low (maximum 28.2%), while specificity ranged from 86.1 – 99.3%. Conclusions. Though all MEWS criteria demonstrated poor sensitivity for maternal morbidity, permutations of the most abnormal vital signs have high specificity, suggesting that MEWS may be better implemented as a trigger tool to target more sensitive screening techniques for maternal morbidity.

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has created havoc across the globe. Although there are several controversies regarding its origin, the worldwide scientific fraternity currently indulges in developing various therapeutic strategies to combat this threat. Consequently, we aimed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of this pandemic’s global transmission landscape to get an insight into its imminent fate on global populations. For this, we have analyzed the data on daily reported COVID-19 cases for 294 days since inception, i.e., from 31 December 2019 to 19 October 2020, in 210 countries across the five continents available in the ECDC database. Additionally, we have summarised an up-to-date list of currently available/under trial 23 drugs and vaccines to provide a consolidated reference to those who have a growing interest in knowing the status of related repurposed drugs and vaccines and to become acquainted with their mechanism of actions for preventing the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 into the human host. We performed an extensive literature review to justify our findings and get the latest know-how on the COVID-19 pathogenesis. Our findings show that India is presently in the most critical condition, where the maximum COVID-19 cases (19.37%) are reported globally in the last 14 days, which has turned into a major concern. So the government should give priority to deal with this pandemic. Besides, American and European countries are also in a risky position, as they harbor 33.31% and 34.52% of total COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days, respectively. The sudden spurt in the number of COVID-19 cases in Europe due to the beginning of extensive testing probably reflects the relaxation in policies for controlling this pandemic. Nevertheless, we should make predictions on how this virus would evolve further, which might help us design a ‘magic compound’ that can prevent any likely situation.

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) is a newly emerging Lagovirus belonging to the family Caliciviridae. After its first discovery in 2010 in France, this highly pathogenic virus rapidly spread to neighboring countries and has become the dominant strain, replacing the classical RHDV1 strains. RHDV2 was first reported in North America in 2016 in Mont-Joli, Quebec, Canada and it was reported again in 2018 and 2019 on Vancouver, Island and the southeast mainland of British Columbia (BC). The whole genome sequence of the RHDV2 Quebec isolate resembled the RHDV-N11 isolate from Navarra, Spain identified in 2011 with 97% identity. The epidemiological investigation involved three hobby farms and one personal residence. In December and February 2018, high mortality was reported in first a private feral rabbit refuge and then, a large colony of feral rabbits on the Vancouver Island University Campus, Nanaimo, BC. The virus responsible showed only 93% identity to the Quebec RHDV2 isolate at the nucleotide level. Additional cases of RHDV2 on Vancouver Island and on the BC mainland affecting feral, captive domestic and commercial rabbits were reported subsequently. Vaccination was recommended to control the outbreak and an inactivated bivalent vaccine was made available to the private veterinary practices. In June 2019 an isolated RHDV2 outbreak was reported in an apartment building in Vancouver, BC. This virus showed only 97% identity to the RHDV2 isolate responsible for the BC outbreak in 2018 at the nucleotide level suggesting that it was an independent incursion. In October 2020, there are reports of partial recovery of the feral population in Nanaimo and to date there are no confirmed deaths of native rabbit species in BC.

Soil salinisation is vital factor limited crop yield in dryland oasis cropland. A film-mulched drip irrigation and subsurface pipe drainage (MDI-SPD) system has been proved its high efficiency all over the world. However, soil salt balance and simulation in time and spatial dimension are unclear in this system. Based on four-year observation data, we use HYDRUS-2D model to simulate the soil salt balance in a MDI-SPD system in western China. We conducted a set of MDI-SPD experiments three times in a field in Manas River Basin, western China: The laying depth of the subsurface pipe was 1 m, and drain spacing was 15 m. Three treatments were set at 0, 5, and 7.5 m horizontal from the subsurface pipe. Results after four years indicated that the total salt output in the irrigated area was 260.16 t, with 103.4 t salt drained by the subsurface pipe (39.74% of the total salt output in the irrigation area). Soil salt balance indicated desalination state. Soil EC response ranged from 8.33 to 11.21 dS m-1. The mineralization of subsurface pipe drainage was positively correlated with drainage flow and salt discharge, and negatively correlated with drainage discharges and time (P<0.05). If salinity leaching stops, 0−200 cm depth soil salt balance will achieve critical value in 8 years. Thus, we recommend salinity leaching once every three years. An increase in shaft drainage would also reduce the deep seepage of salt.

Abstract: In this study, land-use/cover pattern of the UNESCO world heritage site, Ngorongoro Conservation Area; is analyzed using the CA–Markov model with the help of RS and GIS. Hybrid classification techniques ware used to monitor land use/cover changes, using Landsat images for 1995, 2005 and 2016. The CA-Markov model is then used to predict the land use /cover maps for 2025 and 2035. The highest net gain from 1995-2016 observed in cultivated land (6.55%), grassland (2.68%), bare land (1.82%), bushland (0.48%) and built-up area (0.01%), and the net loss found in woodland (8.38%), forest (1.52%), wetland (1.41%), and water cover area (0.24%). However, reduction is expected in bushland (4.88%), forest (0.82%), water (0.77%) and woodland (0.07%) during 2025-2035 with increase in cultivated land (2.73%), grassland (1.19%), bare land (1.79%) and built-up area (0.14%). As per the current trend in land use management, forest cover is significantly declining; leading to the loss in the ecological values of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and its surroundings. The results of this study can be used directly by the policymakers to plan appropriate conservation schemes to endorse improved land use management practices for ecological protection of the heritage site.

To the Editor,We appreciate the interest and comments of Soriano and Ancochea1 regarding our papers 2. Further to the suggestion that “it would be of interest to repeat their statistics conducted during the first wave of COVID-19, again with the current estimates during the ongoing second wave, or later ones”, we would like to emphasize that our geographical observation was a type of anecdotal evidence that contributed to formulating a hypothesis. In a previous paper, we found that after adjusting for potentially relevant country-level confounders, there was a negative ecological association between COVID-19 mortality and the consumption of cabbage and cucumber in European countries 3. In this study, we acknowledged that “As in any ecological study, any inference from the observed association should be made at the country level, as the possibility of ecological fallacy precludes inferences at the individual level; and that further testing in properly designed individual studies would be of interest”. Indeed, what would be useful is testing the hypothesis in robust observational studies and/or clinical trials.Regarding our observation that COVID-19 could be considered as a disease of the Anthropocene 4 , other authors have recently provided a more complete description of the links between the disruption of the natural ecosystems that characterize the Anthropocene and the occurrence of zoonosis 5 6.1. Soriano J and Ancochea J. Saved by cabbage, killed by cabbage, and COVID-19. Allergy 2020; in press.2. Bousquet J, Anto JM, Czarlewski W, et al. Cabbage and fermented vegetables: from death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19. Allergy 2020. DOI: 10.1111/all.14549.3. Fonseca S, Rivas I, Romaguera D, et al. Association between consumption of vegetables and COVID-19 mortality at a country level in Europe. MedRix 2020; 10.1101/2020.07.17.201558464. O’Callaghan C and Anto J. COVID-19: The Disease of the Anthropocene.Env Res 2020; 187: 109683.doi: 109610.101016/j.envres.102020.109683. Epub 102020 May 109615.5. Morens DM and Fauci AS. Emerging Pandemic Diseases: How We Got to COVID-19. Cell 2020; 182: 1077-1092. 2020/08/28. DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.08.021.6. Roche B, Garchitorena A, Guegan JF, et al. Was the COVID-19 pandemic avoidable? A call for a ”solution-oriented” approach in pathogen evolutionary ecology to prevent future outbreaks. Ecol Lett 2020 2020/09/02. DOI: 10.1111/ele.13586.JM AntoISGlobAL, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain. IMIM (Hospital del Mar Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain. Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain. CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain.J BousquetCharité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Comprehensive Allergy Center, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Berlin, Germany. MACVIA-France, Montpellier, France.

Groundbreaking Discoveries in ImmunologyTitle : IgE sialylation: unravelling a key anaphylactic mediatorAuthors : Beatriz Moyaa, Chiara Tontinib and Alexandra Santosc, d, e, fa. Allergy Service. Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spainb. Lydia Becker Institute for Immunology and Inflammation, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UKc. Department of Women and Children’s Health (Paediatric Allergy), School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, London, UKd. Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King’s College London, London, UKe. Children’s Allergy Service, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, London, UKf. Asthma UK Centre of Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, London, UKCorrespondence to : Beatriz Moya. Allergy Service. Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, SpainEmail: drbeatrizmoya@gmail.comAbbreviations: Ig, Immunoglobulin; Fab, antigen-binding fragments; Fc, fragment crystallizable region; FcεRI, Fc epsilon receptor I; MC, mast cells.Word count: 637/1000

An intense erosive process has recently caused progressive hydrogeomorphological changes in the mouths of two large rivers belonging to the Amazon River Delta, on the estuarine coast of Amapá State, namely: Araguari and Amazonas. Consequently, Araguari River was captured by the Amazon River and it influenced the sediment and water quality dynamics when two tidal channels expanded in opposite directions; this process affected both hydrographic basins and blocked Araguari River mouth. The aim of the current study is to analyze the space-seasonal variations of hydrodynamic and water quality parameters influenced by the following factors: location (channels connected to Araguari and Amazonas rivers), seasonality (dry/rainy) and spring tidal phase (flood/ebb). The herein adopted methodological stages comprised a) flow measurement with Doppler current profiler; b) water sampling (physicochemical and suspended sediments); c) suspended solids transport estimates; and d) multivariate statistical analysis of parameters. Results have indicated significant space-seasonal variation in these parameters (p<0.05). Water balance in the dry period has shown that Urucurituba Channel absorbs 100% of Araguari River flow, distributes 29% of it in the floodplain and discharges 71% of Araguari River flow into the Amazon River. This channel received 86% of Araguari River flow and absorbed 14% of the flow deriving from the floodplain in the rainy season, which totaled 100% of its flow at Amazon River mouth- solid discharge was proportional to 107,982 t of tidal cycle-1. Multivariate analyses have shown significant variations in 90% of the investigated parameters, which were influenced by such as location, seasonality and tidal phase (p<0.05). It was possible concluding that the recent channels have significantly affected the hydrodynamics, sediment transport processes and water quality of both basins. This phenomenon is currently in intense and irreversible hydrogeomorphological evolution, and it mainly affects the Araguari River estuary

Comparisons of 3D shapes have recently been applied to diverse anatomical structures using landmarking techniques. However discerning evolutionary patterns can be challenging for structures lacking homologous landmarks. We used alpha shape analyses to quantify vaginal shape complexity in 40 marine mammal specimens including cetaceans, pinnipeds, and sirenians. We explored phylogenetic signal and the potential roles of natural and sexual selection on vaginal shape evolution. Complexity scores were consistent with qualitative observations. Cetaceans had a broad range of alpha complexities, while pinnipeds were comparatively simple and sirenians were complex. Intraspecific variation was found. Three-dimensional surface heat maps revealed that shape complexity was driven by invaginations and protrusions of the vaginal wall. Phylogenetic signal was weak and metrics of natural selection (relative neonate size) and sexual selection (relative testes size, sexual size dimorphism, and penis morphology) did not explain vaginal complexity patterns. Additional metrics, such as penile shape complexity, may yield interesting insights into marine mammal genital coevolution. We advocate for the use of alpha shapes to discern patterns of evolution that would otherwise not be possible in 3D anatomical structures lacking homologous landmarks.

Few studies have investigated the association between severity of lymphopenia and clinical outcome during chemotherapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We investigated this issue by retrospectively analyzing pediatric patients who received allogeneic-HSCT (allo-HSCT) using a newly developed parameter called the LD-index that combines both the duration and the intensity of lymphopenia. A total of 92 patients underwent allo-HSCT in our hospital from April 2007 to August 2019. The median age at HSCT was 10.3 years (range 0.4 – 28.1). The median LD-index was 9,285 (range 2,217 – 36,064). A significantly high association was observed between the LD-index and the incidence of chronic graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) (p = 0.0045). Analysis of predictive factors for chronic GvHD was carried out using univariate analysis. Lower LD-index, donor source and duration (days) of lymphopenia were found to be significant factors associated with chronic GvHD. Multivariate analysis, however, only identified an association between lower LD-index and increased incidence of chronic GvHD (p = 0.004). In conclusion, the duration and the intensity of lymphopenia after allo-HSCT have an effect on the development of chronic GvHD.