The interplay between environmental suitability, dispersal and biotic interactions induces spatial patterns of species’ co-abundance. Existing statistical frameworks that infer the underlying interactions from these patterns either ignore the species response to the environment or they fail to account for the asymmetric nature of interactions. Here, we propose a framework that (a) models pair-wise associations as directed influences from a source to a target species, parameterized with two species-specific latent variables: the response of the target species to the community, and the effect of the source species on the community; and (b) jointly fits these associations with a habitat suitability model through a conditional abundance model. Using both simulated and empirical data, we demonstrate the ability of the framework to recover known associations and highlight the properties of the learned association networks. Our framework should now pave the way for getting more accurate pictures of interspecific dependencies from empirical data.

Background: The novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) is spread through aerosol and fine droplets, and poses many challenges to medical practitioners. Otolaryngologists are at an exceptionally high-risk, due to common aerosol-generating procedures such as tracheostomy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical guidelines for tracheostomy in reference to SARS-CoV-2 and provide a collective summary of recommendations.Methods: Literature review was performed. Articles reporting clinical practice guidelines for tracheostomy in the context of SARS-CoV-2 were included.Results: Tracheostomies are a common surgical procedure performed by otolaryngologists. There may be expanding indications in the COVID-19 patient population. Ventilation using a tracheostomy has many potential benefits and a summary of recommendations for tracheostomy (elective or emergent) and tracheostomy management in COVID-19 positive patients are detailed within this article. Conclusions: In patients testing positive for COVID-19, this summary of recommendations serves as a guideline along with institutional protocols.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has put healthcare workers at risk when exposed to aerosolized viral particles during upper airway mucosal surgery. The objective of this review was to discuss topical preparations that could be utilized preoperatively to help to decrease viral load and potentially reduce the risks of viral transmission. Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE database review of articles studying topical preparations with virucidal activity against coronaviruses. Results: Povidone – Iodine (PVP-I) solutions ranging from 0.23% to 7% have been found to demonstrate highly effective virucidal activity against a broad range of viruses including several coronaviruses responsible for recent epidemics: SARS-CoV-1, MERS-CoV.

Resource competition among central-place foragers often leads to space partitioning, even if individuals do not show signs of direct agonistic interactions. Using simple individual-based simulations, we show that individual-level spatial awareness and memory of resource availability are sufficient to cause spatial segregation in the foraging ranges of colonial animals. The shapes of the foraging distributions are governed by commuting costs, the emerging distribution of depleted resources, and the fidelity of foragers to their colonies. A spatial imbalance between resource requirement and resource availability in one region can propagate through the landscape and lead to non-trivial space-use patterns elsewhere. Interestingly, while better spatial memory increases segregation between neighbouring colonies, it can lower the average intake rate of the population, suggesting a potential trade-off between an individual strive for optimality and population growth rates.

The occurrence of hepatoblastoma is infrequent in children older than 5 years. Therefore, clinicians need to consider hepatoblastoma even in school-aged children or adolescents.

TDP2 encodes a 5′-tyrosyl DNA phosphodiesterase that is required for the efficient repair of double-strand breaks (DSBs) induced by the abortive activity of TOP2. To date, only two homozygous variants in TDP2 have been reported in five patients from three unrelated pedigrees with spinocerebellar ataxia 23 (SCAR23). By whole-exome sequencing, we identified a novel TDP2 splice-site variant (c.636+3_636+6del) in two Italian siblings (aged 39 and 43) showing progressive ataxia, intellectual disability, speech delay, refractory seizures, and various physical anomalies. The variant caused exon 5 skipping with consequent nonsense-mediated mRNA decay and defective repair of TOP2-induced DSBs, as demonstrated by the functional assays performed on the patients’ fibroblasts. Our findings further support the pathogenic role of biallelic loss-of-function variants of TDP2 in SCAR23 pathogenesis. Considering the adult age of our patients and their extensive follow-up, our study delineates in more detail the clinical phenotype related to the loss of TDP2 activity.

Background: His bundle pacing (HBP) has evolved as the most physiological form of pacing but associated with limitations. Recently left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) is emerging as an effective alternative strategy for HBP. Objectives: Our study was designed to assess the feasibility, efficacy, electrophysiological parameters and mid-term outcomes of LBBP in Indian population Methods: All patients requiring permanent pacemaker implantation for symptomatic bradycardia and heart failure were prospectively enrolled. Echocardiography, QRS duration, pacing parameters, Left bundle(LB) potentials, paced QRS duration and peak left ventricular activation time (pLVAT) recorded. Results: LBBP was successful in 93 out of 99 patients (94% acute success). Mean age 62.6 ± 13 yrs. Male 59%, diabetes 69%, coronary artery disease 65%. Follow up duration 4.8 months (range1-12 months). Indication for pacing were atrioventricular (AV) block 43%, cardiac resynchronization therapy 40%, AV node ablation 4%. LB potential noted in 37 patients (40%). QRS duration reduced from 144.38 ±34.6ms at baseline to 110.8 ±12.4ms after LBBP (p value 0.0001). Pacing threshold was 0.59 ± 0.22V and sensed R wave 14.14 ± 7.19 mV and it remained stable during follow up. Lead depth in the septum was 9.62 mm. LV ejection fraction increased from 44.96 % to 53.3 % after LBBP (p value 0.0001). One died due to respiratory tract infection on follow up Conclusion: LBBP is a safe and effective strategy (94% acute success) of physiological pacing. The pacing parameters remained stable over a period of 12 months follow up. LBBP can effectively overcome the limitations of HBP

The outbreak of COVID-19 has become a health concern worldwide. Chinese government has taken rapid response including quarantining and gathering cancellation, and people under quarantine are expected to be negatively affected [1-3]. In order to assess the psychological impact on those pregnant women residing in an unspecified area, we did a cross-sectional e-survey of anxiety and depression, emotional response to COVID-19, and attitude to media emission among pregnant women in Shanghai during February 24th to March 11th, 2020.The outbreak of COVID-19 was begun around January 22nd 2020, when the diagnosed case in China was 571 and nine cases in Shanghai. According to the Chinese national report, during this survey period from February 24th to March 11th, national diagnosed case number were 77658 to 80793, and that number in Shanghai were 335 to 344. Primary outcome was anxiety and depression self-evaluation by Generalized anxiety disorder screener (GAD-7) [4] and Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) [5], respectively. The Institutional Review Board of Obstetrics and Gynecological Hospital of Fudan University approved the project, and signed informed consent was obtained.Among 688 pregnant women completing the survey, 80% women were of younger than 35 years old, and of university degree or above (P<0.05). A total of 136 (19.8%) and 174 (25.3%) women were of anxious (Generalized anxiety disorder screener, GAD-7 scale ≥4) [4] and depressive (Edinburgh postnatal depression scale, EPDS scale ≥9) [5] mode, respectively. Anxiety and depression among pregnant women were associated with heavy work hours, having higher income, worries about infection and being influenced by media information and preferring more media information access (P<0.05) (Table 1). In logistic regression analysis, those women impacting less by media reports were at a lower risk of anxiety (P=0.001, 95%CI: 0.222-0.659), and those preferring more media access were at higher risk of depression (P=0.007, 95%CI: 1.181-2.800).This psychological survey among pregnant women in unspecified COVID-19 epidemic areas in China indicated that, proper media information is beneficial for relieving anxious and depressive mode. In unspecified areas such as Shanghai, anxiety and depression among pregnant women did not undergo a rise. More importantly, those women most influenced by media reporting were more likely being anxious, and therefore, timely media support is called for reliving anxiety and depression caused by concerns about COVID-19 among pregnant women.

In this theoretical study, we investigate the electronic potential energy curves, spectroscopic parameters, vibrational energy levels and transition dipole moments for the diatomic dications BeRb2+, BeCs2+ and SrRb2+. We consider an ab initio approach based on the use of non-empirical pseudopotentials and parameterized l dependent polarization potentials. Results show that 1-22Σ+ for BeRb2+, 1-52Σ+ for BeCs2+ and 1-32Σ+ for SrRb2+ are repulsive. While the 32Σ+ for BeRb2+, 42Σ+ for BeCs2+ and 42Σ+ for SrRb2+ are metastable states. These states can accommodate some vibrational energy levels. Interesting avoided crossings between some 2+ states are localized and examined. Until now no experimental and theoretical studies have been made for each system. Consequently, we discuss our results by comparing with some data of similar systems. Besides, the transition dipole moments of the ground state to a few excited states are computed and presented. The information associated with the electronic structures, spectroscopic parameters as well as the transition properties that provide in this paper is anticipated to serve as guidelines for further experimental and theoretical researches for each diatomic dication considered in this work.

Cohesive soils present difficulties in construction projects because of usually contain expansive clay minerals. However, the engineering properties of cohesive soils can be stabilized by using various techniques. The aim of the research is to discover the influences of using hydrated lime on the consistency, compaction, and shear strength properties of clayey soil samples from Sulaimnai city, northern Iraq. The proportions of added hydrated lime are 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10% to the natural soil sample. The results yielded considerable effects of hydrated lime on the engineering properties of the treated soil sample and developed its strength. The soil’s liquid limit, plasticity index, and optimum moisture content were decreased with the increase of hydrated lime percent. While the soil’s plastic limit and maximum dry density were increased. Also, the soil’s unconfined compressive strength was significantly increased with the hydrated lime content increase. The oedometer test results produced a notable decrease in the compressibility characteristics of the lime-treated soil sample. Hence, hydrated lime is successfully contributed and can be considered as an effective material to improve the strength, compressibility and consistency properties of the cohesive soils in Sulaimani city.

Sickle cell anaemia(SCA) is a recognized cause of heart failure and pulmonary hypertension(PHT). However, the impact of PHT of right ventricular(RV) function has not been well elucidated. Objective To determine the impact of PHT on right ventricular function in patients with SCA. Methods Cases were adults with SCA with PHT. Controls were SCA patients without pulmonary hypertension. All patients were recruited in steady-state. Echocardiography was done for cases and controls. Measures of RV function used were RV fractional area change (RV FAC), peak tricuspid annular systolic velocity (Sʹ) and Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE). Pulmonary hypertension was estimated from Tricuspid regurgitation jet velocities. Right atrial pressure was estimated using the ratio of the Trans tricuspid early diastolic velocity to the early tissue doppler diastolic velocity of the tricuspid annulus. Values >35mmHg were said to have PHT. Results Out of 86 patients, there were 36 people with SCA that had tricuspid regurgitation- 11 with PHT, 25 without PHT. The mean values of RV systolic function- RV FAC (0.41SD0.1 vs 0.41SD0.1; p= 0.999), Sʹ (16.5SD5.1 vs 15.9SD4.3; p= 0.116) and TAPSE (30.7SD5 vs 29.7SD4.3; p=0.389) were not significantly different between cases and controls respectively. Trans tricuspid E/A ratio (1.49SD0.4 vs 1.61SD0.4; p=0.381) was essentially the same between both groups while the early trans tricuspid deceleration time showed a trend towards being shorter in those with PHT (194.1SD35.1vs 223.3SD53.6; p=0.084). Conclusion: The prevalence of PHT was 12.8% in SCA patients. There is no significant impact of PHT on RV function in SCA.

Background Application of genetically modified non-pathogenic bacteria expressing specific anti-tumor proteins under certain conditions specific to tumors is an effective approach for selective targeting of tumors. We developed here, for the first time, a novel spatiotemporal cancer targeted therapy applying engineered E. coli bacteria with capability of expressing cardiac peptides under hypoxic conditions of tumor. Method E. coli BW25133 was transformed with construction of co-expressing cardiac hormones and GFP. Bacteria bearing constructs were then IV administered in mice bearing tumors and then tumor localization, as well as tumor proliferation, invasion and angiogenesis biomarkers (Ki-67, VEGFR, CD31and MMP9), changes in cytokine profile, suppression of tumor growth and survival were analyzed. Results IV Administered bacteria bearing constructs could specifically localize at tumor site and express cardiac peptides under hypoxic conditions. Administration of bacteria significantly enhanced survival rate, suppressed tumor progression and lowered expression levels of MMP-9, VEGFR2, CD31and Ki67 as potent markers for angiogenesis, tumor proliferation and metastasis. Furthermore, applied bacteria resulted in significant reduction in the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, GC-SF, IL-12 and TNF-α proinflammatory cytokines, whereas increasing IL-10, IL-17A and INF-γ cytokines. Conclusion Overall, administration of E. coli bearing cardiac hormone expression construct could effectively suppress tumor growth, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis while enhancing survival rate in mice model of breast cancer.

Urea hydrolysis is widely used in agriculture, environment and other engineering fields, among which urease contained in beans can catalyze urea hydrolysis. The urea hydrolysis activity of legume plant leaching solution(LPLS) was investigated, including soybeans, black beans, mung beans, red beans as well as soybean hulls, soybean leaves, soybean stems and soybean pods. For the high urea hydrolysis activity and economic efficiency, soybean is most suitable for agricultural engineering and other fields than other beans and soybean-related parts extract. The urea hydrolysis activity increases with the concentration of LPLS, while decreases gradually with reaction time. When the heating temperature reaches 25, 35, 45, 55 and 65 ℃, the urea hydrolysis activity is steady and the enzyme activity is high. Enzyme activity decreases after 65 ° C (i.e.75, 90 ° C). Meanwhile, the soaking time of LPLS has a little effect on the urea hydrolysis activity compared with other factors. These results make a positive contribution to domestic production urease experimental basis.

A 70-year-old male presented with a neglected slow growing anal wart for many years with bleeding.A deep core biopsy of the tumor confirmed a high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and carcinoma in situ.

Doubling Time (DT) is typically calculated for growth curves that show exponential growth, such as the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases day by day. DT represents the time it takes before the number of COVID-19 cases, in a certain country or area, doubles. Throughout the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, DT values are continually changing. These changes are influenced by the measures that are recommended by the health authorities and implemented by governments. After the government-imposed shutdowns of Nordic Countries that were announced around the 12th of March 2020, we followed the development of the DT in the region. Governments put in place measures never before experienced during peace time; working from home, closed schools and kindergartens, travel bans and social distancing. We conducted analyses to evaluate the effectiveness of these measures. Does it work? The initial set of results following the shutdown are encouraging, demonstrating a trend towards slower growth; however, this could be reversed if the measures that are in place now are abandoned too early. Premature optimism can be very costly. In this report we describe a method for monitoring the epidemic in real time and evaluating the effectiveness of the implemented measures.

In this work we emphasise the use of singularity analysis in obtaining analytic solutions for equations for which standard Lie point symmetry analysis fails to make any lucid decision. We study the higher-dimensional Kadomtsev-Petviashvili, Boussinesq and Kaup-Kupershmidt Equations in a more general sense. With higher-order equations there can be a commensurate number of resonances and, when consistency for the full equation is examined, at each resonance the constant of integration is supposed to vanish from the expression so that it remains arbitrary, but if there is an instance of this not happening, the consistency can be partially established by giving the offending constant the value from the defining equation. If consistency is otherwise not compromised, the equation can be said to be partially integrable, ie, integrable on a surface of the complex space. Furthermore we propose an approach which is meant to magnify the scope of singularity analysis for equations admitting higher values for resonances or positive leading-order exponent.

Bones, lymph nodes, lungs, or liver, are the common metastatic sites for prostate cancer. However, prostate adenocarcinoma metastasis to the mandible is very rare. In this case report we present a case of a 64-year-old man with poorly differentiated prostate cancer and metastasis to the mandible.

Stab wounds are commonly seen in the emergency room of community hospitals especially in developing countries. The uniqueness of the case to be reported here was that the patient walked in the ER retaining the inflicting weapon in the wound over his back.

Accurately estimating abundance is a critical component of monitoring and recovery of rare and elusive species. Spatial capture-recapture (SCR) models are an increasingly popular method for robust estimation of ecological parameters. We provide a maximum likelihood analytical framework to assess results from empirical studies to inform SCR sampling design, using both simulated and empirical data from non-invasive genetic sampling of seven boreal caribou populations (Rangifer tarandus caribou) which varied in range size and estimated population density. We use simulated population data with varying levels of clustered distributions to quantify the impact of non-independence of detections on density estimates, and empirical datasets to explore the influence of varied sampling intensity on the relative bias and precision of density estimates. Simulations revealed that clustered distributions of detections did not significantly impact relative bias or precision of density estimates. The empirical genotyping success rate was 95.1%. Empirical results indicated that reduced sampling intensity had a greater impact on density estimates in smaller ranges. The number of captures and spatial recaptures were strongly correlated with precision, but not relative bias. The best sampling designs did not differ with estimated population density but differed between large and small ranges. We provide an efficient framework implemented in R to estimate the detection parameters required when designing SCR studies. The framework can be used when designing a monitoring program to minimize effort and cost while maximizing effectiveness, which is critical for informing wildlife management and conservation.

Afforestation has been implemented on a large scale in the Loess Plateau of China since 1999. This paper aimed to judge the influence of plantation tree types on soil aggregate stability and carbon stocks. The results showed that : (1)the content of soil organic matter and macro-aggregates, the water stability of aggregates were significantly higher in P. tabuliformis plantation compared with R. pseudoacacia and M. pumila plantations, conversely, the content of soil calcium carbonate in P. tabuliformis plantation was the lowest; (2) the content of soil organic matter and organic carbon density were significantly negatively correlated with soil depth, while soil carbonate calcium and in-organic carbon density fluctuated with the increasing of soil depth; (3) compared with topsoil, subsoil was important carbon sink because there were more in-organic carbon; (4) Aggregate organic carbon increased while inorganic carbon decreased with the increasing of aggregate size respectively. We concluded that: (1) R. pseudoacacia played a more important role in soil carbon sequestration compared with P. tabuliformis; while P. tabuliformis was more beneficial to improve soil organic matter and soil structure; (2) subsoil and in-organic carbon were important carbon sinks compared with topsoil and organic carbon; (3) the bigger water stable aggregates having the higher content of soil organic matter and the lower carbonate calcium.

Palm-pressed fiber oil (PPFO) is unique as it contains higher amount of carotenoids, vitamin E (tocotrienols & tocopherols) and other phytonutrients (squalene and sterols) as compared to crude palm oil (CPO). However, crude PPFO has high phosphorus content and free fatty acid (FFA) and at the same time low in deterioration of bleachability index (DOBI) that requires specific refining steps for achieving a good quality oil properties. The physical refining pilot plant scale was developed, involved a combination of step including wet and acid degumming and bleaching followed by high vacuum deacidification. The optimum refining conditions comprises wet degumming using 5.0 wt/wt% of distilled water at 90°C for 20 min, acid degumming using 0.5 wt% of phosphoric acid at 90°C for 10 min, bleaching using 1.0 wt% of natural bleaching earth at 105°C for 20 min, and deacidification at 160°C and 0.001 mmHg. A significant reduction of phosphorus content of 97% (from 633±83 ppm to 11±2 ppm) and FFA of 91% (from 5.30±0.19% to 0.35 ± 0.09%) were achieved in the pilot scale study. The DOBI value of refined red PPFO improved from 2.02 ± 0.18 to 2.68 ± 0.04. Besides, the carotenoids (986±55 ppm) and vitamin E (1075±64 ppm) in refined red PPFO were preserved by applying the mild temperature of deacidification. The pilot scale results establish a significant contribution to the feasibility of the refined red palm-pressed oil.

We report a case of 41-year-old woman who presented with chest tightness and shortness of breath. Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) showed left ventricular (LV) pseudo-aneurysm of the inferior wall with preserved LV systolic function. Coronary angiogram was normal. Surgical repair of the pseudo-aneurysm with a pericardial patch was performed, and pathological results confirmed rupture of an isolated congenital LV diverticulum.as the most likely etiology.

Objective: To review studies published with pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 and analyze the evolution of them and also of the newborn in order to learn about this pathology in pregnant women. Search strategy: Systematic review in the PUBMED and GOOGLE Scholar databases until March 30, 2020. This research was extended to the references of such articles. Selection criteria: Observational studies that examined maternal and perinatal outcomes of pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 are published. Data collection and analysis: Data about study characteristics, maternal y perinatal outcomes variable extracted. Main results: We found 14 publications regarding a total of 83 pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 and results of 84 newborns. The average gestational age was 37 weeks. The most common symptom was fever, and 30% of the pregnant women had lymphopenia on admission to hospital. Cesarean section was performed in 89% of the patients; 70% of them were indicated by SARS-CoV-2. The most common obstetric complication was premature rupture of membranes in 9.6% of them. The need for ventilation support was low. The use of antivirals, corticosteroids, and drugs for the pathology management was scarce, except for antibiotics. Preterm birth was 25%, perinatal mortality was low, and there was no maternal death. There was no evidence of vertical transmission. Conclusion: Maternal and perinatal morbidity-mortality is lower than in other known respiratory diseases. Currently, it appears to be no benefit from antivirals and other drugs, beyond the general support of the disease, and vertical transmission of the virus has not been demonstrated.

Trade-offs exist between the point of early detection and the future cost of controlling any invasive species. Finding optimal levels of early detection, with post-border active surveillance, where time, space and randomness are explicitly considered, is computationally challenging. We use a stochastic programming model to find the optimal level of surveillance and predict damages, easing the computational challenge by combining the Sample Average Approximation approach and parallel processing techniques. The model is applied to the case of Asian Papaya Fruit Fly (PFF), a highly destructive pest, in Queensland, Australia. To capture the non-linearity in PFF spread, we use an agent-based model, which is calibrated to a highly detailed land-use raster map (50m×50m) and weather-related data, validated against a historical outbreak. We find that current surveillance levels are less than optimal.