Many articles have reported that cancer patients are more susceptible to COVID-19 pneumonia and cancer patients with COVID-19 seem to be more often tend to develop severe events. In these studies of infected cancer patients, factors associated with a higher risk of developing severe events included age, baseline fragility, and anti-tumor treatment. However, specific reasons regarding why infected patients with cancer have a higher probability of severe events compared to non-cancer infected patients remain unclear. Thus, we sought to study one particular factor to determine a potential associative effect: differences in Computed tomography (CT) findings. In our study,we found that cancer patients represent a special population which multiple lobes of the lungs were more susceptible to infection by the SARS-CoV-2, and thus were more likely to be transferred from mild illness to severe, should be deserved more intensive attention during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Electrochemical ammonia synthesis is being actively studied as a low temperature, low pressure alternative to the Haber-Bosch process. This work studied iridium as the electrochemical catalyst, following a previous study of adsorption characteristics on platinum. The characteristics studied include bond energies, bond lengths, spin densities, and free and adsorbed vibrational frequencies for the molecules N2, N, NH, NH2, and NH3. Overall, these descriptive characteristics explore the use of dispersion-corrected Density Functional Theory methods that can model N2 adsorption – the key reactant for electrochemical ammonia synthesis via transition metal catalysis. Specifically, three methods were tested: hybrid B3LYP, a dispersion-corrected form B3LYP-D3, and semi-empirical B97-D3. The latter semi-empirical method was explored to increase the accuracy obtained in vibrational analysis as well as reduce computational time. Two lattice surfaces, (111) and (100), were compared. The adsorption energies are stronger on (100) and follow the trend EB3LYP > EB3LYP-D3 > EB97-D3 on both surfaces.

Pan evaporation is an important indicator of atmospheric evaporative demand, and its long-term variation is of much concern in studies of climate change. Estimation of evaporation is also important for water budgeting and yet is difficult to quantify because of the combined effects of four meteorological variables: net radiation, wind speed, atmospheric humidity, and air temperature. This work considered the temporal trends of pan evaporation and the meteorological variables that affect them for a station located in Roorkee (India). In this study, observed meteorological data at NIH observatory for the period from 1987 to 2018 was used for trend analysis of the data (rainfall, relative humidity, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, average temperature, wind speed and pan evaporation). Evaporation was also estimated using Penman method, Meyer method and other empirical equations, and compared with the observed evaporation values. Anomalies in the time series of meteorological variables were computed to find out the magnitude of rise or fall in the series. Pettitt-Mann-Whitney (PMW) test for detection of shift in the time series has been carried out, and the trend and shift in meteorological data is correlated with the same in evaporation. Based on this research, a number of conclusions are drawn: (1) minimum temperature and relative humidity have been increasing whereas maximum temperature and wind speed have been decreasing during the period 1987-2018, (2) pan evaporation series has not shown any significant trend, except during post-monsoon when it decreased, (3) significant change points (shifts) in the time series of temperature, relative humidity and wind speed may attribute the influence of fast urbanization and enhanced anthropogenic activities in Roorkee town after creation of Uttarakhand as a separate State in the year 2000.

The internal disorder of the two-dimensional confined hydrogenic atom is numerically studied in terms of the confinement radius for the 1_s_, 2_s_, 2_p_ and 3_d_ quantum states by means of the statistical Crámer-Rao complexity measure. First, the confinement dependence of the variance and the Fisher information of the position and momentum spreading of its electron distribution are computed and discussed. Then, the Crámer-Rao complexity measure (which quantifies the combined balance of the charge concentration around the mean value and the gradient content of the electron distribution) is investigated in position and momentum spaces. We found that confinement does disentangle complexity of the system for all quantum states by means of this two component measure.

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an international health crisis of a scope not seen in our lifetime. While much attention has been paid to health workers in critical care and acute areas, nurses working outside of hospitals are also significantly affected. This study sought to investigate the experience of nurses working in Australian primary health care during the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, it sought to understand the implications on their employment status, role and access to personal protective equipment.Design and Method: Nurses employed in primary health care across Australia were invited to participate in a cross-sectional online survey through social media and professional organisations. The survey tool was comprised of demographics, questions about the nurses’ employment and work role and access to personal protective equipment.Findings: Of the 637 responses received, nearly half (43.7%) reported a decrease in hours, threatened or actual loss of employment. While most respondents felt that they had sufficient knowledge about COVID-19, they expressed concern about work-related risks to themselves and their family. Most respondents described never or only sometimes having sufficient personal protective equipment in their workplace. Just over half of respondents (54.8%) felt well supported by their employer. A third of respondents (34%) perceived that care provided in their workplace was significantly or slightly worse than before the pandemic.Conclusions: This is the first study of primary health care nurses experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study findings have highlighted a concerning level of insecurity around primary health care nursing employment, as well as issues with the availability of personal protective equipment for these nurses. The perception that the pandemic has resulted in reduced quality of care needs further exploration to ensure that those with chronic conditions are supported to maintain and promote health.Clinical Relevance: Understanding the implications of COVID-19 on the primary health care nursing workforce is vital to ensure staff retention and care quality. Ensuring that the community remain healthy and supported at home is vital to both reduce the burden on the health system and reduce secondary mortality.

Background: Diagnosis of Severe Acute Respiratory Coranavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is currently based on Real-Time PCR (RT-PCR) performed on either nasopharyngeal (NPS) or oropharyngeal (OPS) swabs; saliva specimen collection can be used, too. Diagnostic accuracy of these procedures is suboptimal, and some procedural mistakes may account for it.Methods and results: The video shows how to properly collect secretions from the upper airways for non-serologic diagnosis of COVID-19 by nasopharyngeal swab (NPS), oropharyngeal swab (OPS), and deep saliva collection after throat-cleaning manoeuvre, all performed under videoendoscopic view by a trained ENT examiner.Conclusions: We recommend to perform NPS after elevation of the tip of the nose in order to reduce the risk of contamination from the nasal vestible, and to let it flow over the floor of the nasal cavity in parallel to the hard palate in order to reach the nasopharynx. Then the tip of the swab should be left in place for few seconds, and then rotated in order to achieve the largest absorption of nasopharyngeal secretions. Regards OPS, gentle anterior tongue depression should be used to avoid swab contamination from the oral cavity during collection of secretions from the posterior pharyngeal wall. These procedural tricks would enhance diagnostic reliability.

CLINICAL OUTCOME OF PEDIATRIC EWING SARCOMA AND SIGNIFICANCE OF PATHOLOGICAL NECROSIS AFTER NEOADHUVANT CHEMOTHERAPY: SINGLE INSTITUTIONAL STUDY Authors: Sindhu II, Mehreen A, Wali RM, Abubakar M Affiliation: Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Center, Lahore. Pakistan Abstract Purpose: Tumor necrosis and histopathological changes in Ewing sarcoma following neoadjuvant chemotherapy are important predictors of disease outcome. The aim of our study is to determine the clinical outcome and significance of pathological necrosis after neoadjuvant chemotherapy as it has not been reported in our country so far. Methods: Data was reviewed after IRB approval from January 2010 to December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed for patients with newly diagnosed Ewing sarcoma on histopathology and less than 20 years of age at the time of diagnosis. Results: A Total of 124 patients were included, in which 89 patients (72%) were non metastatic and 35 patients were metastatic (28%). Histopathology report after doing surgery showed Little or no (Grade 1 ) necrosis seen in 14 patients (11%) and 50-90% (Grade II) necrosis seen in 9 patients (7%), 90-99% (Grade III) necrosis seen in 8 patients (5.5%), and 100% (Grade IV) necrosis in 14 patients (11%). EFS of grade 4 necrosis was 93%, grade-3 71%, grade- 2 22% and grade-1 35%. OS of grade 4 necrosis was 93%, grade -3 75%, grade-2 25 % and grade-1 50%. EFS of Ewing sarcoma patients were 38% and OS was 38%. Conclusion: Tumor necrosis and histopathological changes after surgery has great impact on survival outcome in Ewing Sarcoma.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by severe itching and recurrent eczema-like lesions. Yet, its exact pathological mechanism remains unclear. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of TRPA1 in the pathogenesis of AD. Methods: The experimental atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions were established using 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). Mice were divided into three groups: TRPA1−/− and WT groups were treated with DNCB dissolved in a 3:1 mixture of acetone and olive oil and the negative control group was treated with 3:1 mixture of acetone and olive oil without DNCB. The treatment lasted for 21 days, after which the animals were sacrificed and their blood, ears and dorsal skin tissue samples were collected for analysis. Results: Lower dermatitis score, ear thickness, pruritus score, and epidermal hyperplasia were observed in mice in TRPA1−/− mice compared to the WT group. Besides, lower dermal mast cell infiltration, proinflammatory cytokines, Th2 cytokines and the infiltration of macrophages were observed in the TRPA1−/− mice compared to the WT group. Furthermore, we demonstrated that TRPA1 antagonist HC-030031 could alleviate AD-like symptoms and reduce the degree of epidermal hyperplasia in mice. Conclusions: TRPA1 has a crucial role during the AD pathogenesis in mice, thus could be used as a potential new target for treating patients with chronic skin inflammatory disease.

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis with and without nasal polyps (CRSwNP/ CRSsNP) is an inflammatory disease affecting the nasal and sinus mucosal lining. Here, to further characterize this heterogeneous disease, we performed an extended endotyping of CRS using the nasal tissue from CRS-patients and a new approach of expression profiling of chemokines related to Th2-type cytokine IL-5. Methods: In this case-control study, we included 66 patients with CRS (CRSwNP n=26; CRSsNP n=40) diagnosed according to the EPOS 2020 criteria. The control group (n=25) consisted of CRS-free patients scheduled for inferior turbinate surgery. The concentration of following chemokines and cytokines was determined in tissue samples obtained during routine surgery from all subjects: TARC/ CCL17, PARC/ CCL18, eotaxin/ CCL11, MCP-3/ CCL7, MIP-1α/ CCL3, IP-10/ CXCL10, ENA-78/ CCL5, and IL-5. The analysis was performed by partition-based clustering. Results: In CRS tissues, the concentration of eotaxin, TARC, total IgE, IL-5, and ECP was significantly higher than in control (p<0.005). The analysis identified seven clusters. Cluster-1 was IL-5- and inflammatory chemokines-negative (11% CRSwNP). Cluster-2 had low IL-5 concentration and elevated MCP-3/CCL7 (100% CRSsNP). Clusters -3 and -4 expressed IP-10/CXCL10 (type-1-dominated), TARC/CCL17 and eotaxin/CCL11 (both type-2-dominated) (CRSwNP 13-31%). Clusters 5-7 had high concentration of IL-5, TARC/ CCL17, PARC/ CCL18, and eotaxin/CCL11 (type-2-dominated), NP 71-100%, asthma 19-50%, N-ERD 29%. Conclusions: Our chemokine expression-based extended analysis identified distinct CRS endotype clusters, possibly impacting future diagnosis, monitoring, and biologics-based treatment of CRS.

Steroids treatment has been studied in influenza, SARS, MERS, COVID-19 and ARDS, but no clear guidelines or recommendations are available regarding the dose and the duration. In this review we summarize the studies available on steroids and influenza, SARS, MERS, COVID-19 and evaluated them according to the steroid dose, duration and beneficial and harmful effects. Steroids were not much useful in influenza infection, but have shown beneficial effects in SARS and COVID-19. Intimidate and high doses for a short duration in SARS is beneficial, especially if used after the viral replication phase. Methyl prednisolone is the preferred steroid compared to hydrocortisone and can be combined with intravenous immunoglobulin, ribavirin, quinolone plus azithromycin. Limited studies are available for COVID-19 and steroids to provide recommendations and steroids use can be harmful in critically ill patients. Delayed viral clearance, secondary bacterial infections, cardiovascular events due to fluid retention, psychosis, diabetes, avascular necrosis and osteoporosis can be side effects of steroid use.

long-range charge transfer organic compounds are remarkable for having very large hyperpolarizabilities and thus improved nonlinear optical (NLO) properties. p-nitroaniline (pNA) is known as a prototypical NLO organic material. The question answered in this work is the NLO properties of pNA will be improved by introducing an extended π-conjugation chain between the phenyl ring and the two NH2/NO2 terminal? By means of sophisticated ab initio/MP2 calculations, new derivatives of pNA with an extended π-conjugation have been designed by introducing –(CH=CH)nNH2 or –(CH=CH)nNO2 (n = 1–5) chain into pNA. The results indicate that introducing such chains results in smaller energy gaps and transition energies, which lead to a significant improvement in the hyperpolarizability (β_0). The novel pNA derivatives exhibit larger β_0 amplitudes up to 4.67 x 104 au, which is 27-fold greater than that of pNA. Moreover, with increasing the β_0 amplitude, the –(CH=CH)nNO2 chain beats the –(CH=CH)nNH2 chain. It is hoped that this study can provide a help for designing higher performance NLO materials based on pNA.

In this study, three novel sensitizers with the donor-acceptor-π-spacer-acceptor D-A’-π-A) structure were designed based on the benzothiadiazole (BTD) surrounded by two thiophenes in each side (T4) mono-functionalized by an acid phosphonic (A) T4BTD-A dye by insertion of vinyl and cyanide CN electron-withdrawing moiety in a different position. Their geometrical, electronic and photovoltaic parameters were predicted using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations, via the functional BHandH in combination with the Poples basis set 6-311G(d) for small atoms and pseudo-potential basis set LANL2DZ for Titanium atom at the chloroform solvent medium via the implicit CPCM model. Results showed that the inclusion of the C=C and the CN moieties exhibits a decrease in the HOMO–LUMO gap, and a redshift in the absorption spectra. The photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) for the T4BTD-A dye was estimated to be about 6.57 % under the standard AM 1.5G solar radiation, which is in excellent agreement with its measured value of 6.40 %, suggesting that our calculations scheme is consistent. Moreover, the predicted PCE value after elongation of T4BTD-A by C=C and CN has increased to 7.11 % and (7.82 %, 8.09 %) respectively. Our results revealed that the addition of CN electron-withdrawing moiety enhances the PCE of the studied dyes, while the position of CN moiety has a slight effect on the PCE of the studied dyes. Additionally, our calculation suggests that the CCCN1 and CCCN2 are good candidates as efficient sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cell DSSCs applications.

OBJECTIVES This study aims to report the outcomes of the combination of preoperative brachytherapy (POBT) followed by a Querleu Morrow Type A hysterectomy as an alternative to upfront surgery for early stage cervical cancer (ESCC) (2018 FIGO IA1-IB2). METHODS A single center retrospective study conducted between 2001 and 2012. After confirming the absence of pelvic node metastasis, all patients with ESCC underwent Low Dose Rate (LDR) POBT followed by Type A hysterectomy. Primary and secondary endpoints were the Disease Free Survival (DFS) and the associated morbidity respectively. RESULTS Out of the 138 patients included, complete response was found in 49.3 % and a residual tumor < 1 cm in 26 %. After a median follow up of 132 months, DFS was 93.5% and 9 recurrences occurred. In univariate analysis, we found that delaying surgery more than 52 days after POBT is associated with a significant decrease in DFS (p = 0.004). Pathological complete response was associated with an increased DFS (p = 0.03). The brachytherapy related rate of late complications was 17.3% (n=24) and the surgery related urinary tract complications rate was 6.5% (n=9), with only 2 patients (1.5%) presented grade 3 complications CONCLUSION The multimodal radio-surgical management of ESCC appears to be a reasonable alternative to upfront open radical hysterectomy particularly in patients with high risk ESCC (< 2cm associated with negative prognostic factors or for tumors measuring between 2 and 4cm). This approach is associated with low complications rate and a reasonable rate of local recurrences.

West Nile virus (WNV) is a vector-borne zoonotic disease maintained in a sylvatic cycle involving mosquito vectors and birds. To detect West Nile virus (WNV) and other flavivirus infections in wild resident and migratory birds, we tested 184 samples from 19 identified species within nine families collected during 2012-2016 from four districts in Bangladesh. We tested serum samples for the immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody to WNV using competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (c-ELISA), whereas tracheal and cloacal swabs subjected to consensus PCR for the detection of the flavivirus RNA. Overall, 11.9% (n=22; 95% CI: 0.07-0.16) samples were seropositive, including 15.9% migratory wild birds and 10.7% resident wild birds. Tufted duck showed 28.5% sero-positivity, whereas crows showed 12.5% sero-positivity. None of the swab samples was positive for flavivirus RNA infection. These study findings suggest that wild birds of Bangladesh may carry WNV. We recommend continued surveillance for early detection and to better understand the epidemiology of WNV and other flavivirus circulation in both birds and mosquitoes in Bangladesh.

Bats are a natural reservoir of many pathogenic and non-pathogenic viruses with the chance of spill over via the intermediate host and/ directly to human. The number of zoonotic and deadly viruses especially RNA viruses originated from bats is remarkable. The recent outbreak of COVID 19 or SARS-Cov-2 is the novel or new version of continuation of virus spill over the last few decades. The previous outbreaks as such MERS, SARS predominantly infect human respiratory systems with limited human to human transmission capability. The human interface with wildlife along with deforestation, urbanization, overgrown population, bush meat hunting, wildlife trade significantly increase the reassortment of bat originated virus with other intermediate host to jump in to human species. In this review, we discussed the history of bat borne pathogen and the triggering factors that impose their spill over to human for generating current and future pandemics.

Objective: To determine whether hyperglycaemia in the gestational diabetes (GDM) range independently predicts adverse pregnancy outcomes in Uganda. Design: Prospective observational cohort study. Setting:Five major hospitals in urban/semi-urban central Uganda. Sample:237 women with gestational diabetes, 2,641 normoglycaemic controls. Methods:Women were screened with oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 24-28 weeks of gestation. Cases of GDM were identified (WHO 2013 diagnostic criteria) and received standard care. Data was collected on maternal demographics, anthropometrics, prenatal management, umbilical cord c-peptide levels, and pregnancy outcomes. Participants with diabetes in pregnancy (DIP) were excluded from the analysis. Outcomes:Primary outcomes: Birthweight large for gestational age (LGA; >90th centile) and perinatal death. Secondary outcomes: Caesarean delivery, preterm birth <37 weeks, umbilical cord c-peptide concentration >90th centile (>1.35 mcg/L), and neonatal admission. Results:Women with GDM had a median of only two glucose measurements recorded in third trimester, and only one fifth received therapeutic management (mostly metformin, one participant received insulin). GDM was not independently associated with LGA (adjusted odds ratio, aOR 1.12; 95% CI 0.81-1.56) or perinatal death (aOR 0.66; 95% CI 0.26-1.66), but increased the risk of Caesarean delivery. Mid-gestational BMI of >30kg/m2 was strongly associated with LGA, and mean arterial pressure >90 mmHg was the strongest predictor of perinatal death. Conclusions:Even without active management, GDM was not associated with large birthweight or perinatal death in this population. Interventions that target blood pressure and obesity are likely to be more beneficial in improving LGA and perinatal mortality, than management of GDM. Funding:Medical Research Council Keywords:Gestational diabetes, Africa

Avian transgenesis has served as a suitable approach to generate bioreactors for the manufacturing of recombinant proteins. Production in chicken cells comes with significant advantages over other systems including providing the human-like glycosylation on target proteins. In this regard, the oviduct-specific ovalbumin promoter has been one of the ideal candidates to drive the expression of transgenes. Previous plasmid-based studies on the regulatory sequences of ovalbumin promoter have led researchers to exploit ovalbumin regulatory elements out of their native genomic context (ex situ) to direct transgene expression in the transgenic chicken bioreactors. Although the inherent limitations on the ex situ use of ovalbumin promoter have promoted the use of native ovalbumin promoter for the expression of a transgene, generation of transgenic chicken is relatively difficult, inefficient, and time-consuming. To overcome these obstacles, in this study we show that CRISPR-mediated deletion of some distal ovalbumin promoter sequences in a non-oviduct cell can lead to the significant expression of the ovalbumin gene, and also a knocked-in reporter, in an estrogen-independent manner. These findings overcome the limitation of cloned promoters, where the promoter regulatory sequences have to be taken out of their cis context and also their native spatial nuclear organization into a plasmid.

Viruses, including the recent, COVID-19-causing SARS-CoV-2 rely on their host for re-production. Here, we made use of genomic and structural information from SARS-CoV-2 and related viruses to create a biomass function capturing the stoichiometric amino and nucleic acid requirements of SARS-CoV-2. By incorporating this function into a stoichiometric metabolic model of the human cell and applying metabolic flux balance analysis, we identified host-based metabolic perturbations inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 reproduction. Our results highlight reactions in the central metabolism, as well as amino acid and nucleotide biosynthesis pathways. By incorporating host cellular maintenance into the model based on available protein expression data from human lung cells, we find that only few of these metabolic perturbations are able to selectively inhibit virus reproduction without significantly affecting host maintenance. Key reactions that are able to do so are found in metabolic junctions in amino acid biosynthesis pathways and in mitochondrial metabolite shuttles. We note that some of the catalysing enzymes of such reactions have demonstrated interactions with existing drugs, which can be used for experimental testing of the presented predictions. The developed computational approach offers a platform for rapid, experimentally testable generation of drug predictions against existing and emerging viruses based on their biomass requirements and their host’s metabolism.

Background: In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a rapid increase in telemedicine visits. Otolaryngology patient satisfaction with these visits has not yet been extensively studied using a validated survey. Methods: All patients who had telemedicine visits with three head and neck surgeons, by phone or video-based platform, between March 25, 2020 and April 24, 2020. Retrospective chart reviews were conducted to determine demographic, disease and treatment information. Patients who had a video visit were contacted by telephone and, if they could be reached and consented, were administered the Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ).Results: 100 surveys were completed. The average score across all questions was 6.01 on a scale from 1-7, where 7 indicated the highest level of patient agreement. The highest scores were for questions related to satisfaction with telehealth (6.29), while the lowest were related to reliability (4.86). Conclusions: Patients are generally highly satisfied with telemedicine.

Background: Cobalt has been associated with allergic contact dermatitis and occupational asthma. However, the link between skin exposure and lung responses to cobalt is currently unknown. We investigated the effect of prior dermal sensitization to cobalt on pulmonary physiological and immunological responses after subsequent challenge with cobalt via the airways. Methods: BALB/c mice received epicutaneous applications (25 μl/ear) with 5% CoCl2*6H2O (Co) or the vehicle (Veh) dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) twice; they then received oropharyngeal challenges with 0.05% CoCl2*6H2O or saline five times, thereby obtaining four groups: Veh/Veh, Co/Veh, Veh/Co and Co/Co. To detect early respiratory responses non-invasively, we performed sequential in vivo micro-computed tomography (µCT). One day after the last challenge, we assessed airway hyper-reactivity (AHR) to methacholine, inflammation in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and dendritic cells (DCs) in lung, and serum IgE. Result: Compared with the Veh/Veh-group, the Co/Co-group showed increased µCT-derived lung response, increased AHR to methacholine, mixed neutrophilic and eosinophilic inflammation, elevated monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and elevated keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC) in BAL. Flow cytometry in the Co/Co-group demonstrated increased DC, type 1 and type 2 conventional DC (cDC1/cDC2), monocyte-derived DC, increased ILC group 2 and NCR-ILC group 3. The Veh/Co-group showed only increased AHR to methacholine and elevated MCP-1 in BAL, whereas the Co/Veh-group showed increased cDC1 and ILC2 in lung. Conclusion: We conclude that dermal sensitization to cobalt may increase the susceptibility of the lungs to inhaling cobalt. Mechanistically, this enhanced susceptibility involves changes in pulmonary DCs and ILCs.

Russeting occurs via the epidermal suberin accumulation model in the phenol-ester protection system in pears, especially under excessive rainfall. To clarify the role of rain in the russeting mechanism, we applied multi-omics (transcriptome, metabolome, and proteome) integrated analysis from three colored pear cultivars grown under two rainfall conditions, including a no rain control (C) and a rain-abundant (R) treatment. Broad alterations occurred in 29 overlapping differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in the response to stress and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Three overlapping differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and seven differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were identified among the three comparison groups. Cross-comparison of mRNA and protein data revealed co-expression of DEGs and DEPs. Suberin and phenylpropane were markedly enhanced, while cutin biosynthesis and fatty acid elongation were depressed in russet pears under R. In russet pears, the triacontane associated with wax composition was abruptly missing. Moreover, The PpyHHT1 (103966555) gene and encoded protein HHT1 (694406379), which acts as a ‘bridge’ between phenol- and ester- polymerization, had significantly upregulated expression. Collectively, we provide a comprehensive model of the molecular russeting mechanism, which provides powerful insight into russeting and shows the plasticity of plant defenses to cope with the harsh natural environment.

Much has been discussed about the curve of COVID-19 as it ravages through our countries, our cities, our homes. Politicians readily refer to it in addressing the various nations of the world. They ask us to “flatten the curve to save lives” 1,2. Effectively, the way to flatten the curve is to abide by social distancing measures.Nevertheless, even among medical specialists, there are common misconception about the curve and how it affects population outcomes. Understanding the fundamental characteristics of a problem can allow us to see the problem with more clarity. Herein, I aim to provide a simple understanding of the various population dynamics at play. We will review how principles such as the area under the curve and thethreshold of capacity can be conceptualized.The discussion will begin as rudimentary. However, it will add gentle layers of complexity. Hopefully, by the end, it will provide the reader a sense of insight.

Our pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship program set out to create a case-based learning curriculum for common hematologic malignancies that would apply principles of adult learning theory and improve fellows’ retention of information in a supportive, goal-oriented learning environment. A framework we employed in developing this curriculum is that of “flow theory,” which parallels many of the tenets of adult learning theory. After implementing this curriculum, which we call “the unknown case,” the percentage of fellows correctly identifying common hematopathologic diagnoses improved from 50% to 85%.

A local outbreak of initially unknown cause pneumonia was detected in Wuhan (Hubei, China) in December 2019 and a novel coronavirus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was quickly found to be causing it. Since then, the epidemic has spread to all of China’s mainland provinces as well as 58 other countries and territories, with more than 87,137 confirmed cases around the globe, including 79,968 from China, 7,169 from other countries as of 1 March 2020, as stated by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the COVID-19 situation report - 41. In response to this current public health emergency, this study done a statistical analysis and visualized reported cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) based on the open data collection provided by Johns Hopkins University. Where the location and number of confirmed infected cases have been shown, there have also been deaths, recovered cases and comparisons of the growth rates between the Globe countries. This was intended to provide researchers, public health officials and the general public with exposure to the epidemic.