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This work examines some aspects related to the existence of negative mass. The requirement for the partition function to converge leads to two distinct approaches. Initially, convergence is achieved by assuming a negative absolute temperature, which results in an imaginary partition function and complex entropy. Subsequently, convergence is maintained by keeping the absolute temperature positive while introducing an imaginary velocity. This modification leads to a positive partition function and real entropy. It seems the utilization of imaginary velocity may yield more plausible physical results compared to the use of negative temperature, at least for the partition function and entropy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we use the Gouy–Stodola theorem to calculate the entropy production rate in the inflationary epoch of the universe. This theorem allows us the simple calculation of entropy and entropy production rate occasioned by the decaying of the inflaton scalar field. Both the entropy and entropy production rate achieve large values, agreeing with the expected values present in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insecticide resistance survey is an in-situ biomonitoring method to assess potential impact of pesticides that exhibit direct economic consequences when leading to control failure of insect pest species. Nonetheless, the latter phenomenon is frequently neglected. Their spatial dependence and mapping are also seldom considered and when complexes of related pest species are involved, such as the rice stink bugs from the Neotropics, Oebalus poecilus, and O. ypsilongriseus, the scenario is even worst. Insecticide use is common against both species, particularly with the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam, and despite suspicion of a shift in O. poecilus historical dominance and complaints of control failure, the role of this insecticide in this context was never tested. Thus, we screened populations from both species for thiamethoxam resistance within rice fields from central Brazil. The levels of thiamethoxam resistance and control failure likelihood were recorded and their spatial dependence was tested and geographically mapped. The thiamethoxam potency was similar between species, which also exhibited overlapping levels of resistance. Thus, this insecticide does not seem involved in eventual shifts in species dominance and the occurrence of O. ypsilongriseus is frequent. Thiamethoxam resistance was detected in both species, nearly half of the populations of O. poecilus and about a third of O. ypsilongriseus, but at low levels (< ten-fold). As a consequence, the risk of control failure with thiamethoxam was also low. Spatial dependence was significant for both species and phenomena (i.e., thiamethoxam resistance and control failure), prevailing in about the same area and likely reflecting the local pattern of insecticide use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many remote sensing‐based evapotranspiration (RSBET) algorithms have been proposed in the past decades and evaluated using flux tower data, mainly over North America and Europe. Model evaluation across South America has been done locally or using only a single algorithm at a time. Here, we provide the first evaluation of multiple RSBET models, at a daily scale, across a wide variety of biomes, climate zones, and land uses in South America. We used meteorological data from 25 flux towers to force four RSBET models: Priestley–Taylor Jet Propulsion Laboratory (PT‐JPL), Global Land Evaporation Amsterdam Model (GLEAM), Penman–Monteith Mu model (PM‐MOD), and Penman–Monteith Nagler model (PM‐VI). ET was predicted satisfactorily by all four models, with correlations consistently higher (R2>0.6) for GLEAM and PT‐JPL, and PM‐MOD and PM‐VI presenting overall better responses in terms of percent bias (−10

Background: There is increasing interest in studying psychotic symptoms in non-clinical populations, with the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences-Positive scale (CAPE-P15) being one of the self-screening questionnaires used most commonly for this purpose. Further research is needed to evaluate the ability of the scale to accurately identify and classify positive psychotic experiences (PE) in the general population. Aim: To provide psychometric evidence about the accuracy of the CAPE-P15 for detecting PE in a sample of Chilean adolescents from the general population and classifying them according to their PE severity levels. Method: We administered the CAPE-P15 to a general sample of 1594 students aged 12 to 19. Based on Item Response Theory (IRT), we tested the accuracy of the instrument using two main parameters: difficulty and discrimination power of the 15 items. Results: We found that the scale provides very accurate information about PE, particularly for high PE levels. The items with the highest capability to determine the presence of the latent trait were those assessing perceptual anomalies (auditory and visual hallucinations), bizarre experiences (a double has taken the place of others; being controlled by external forces), and persecutory ideation (conspiracy against me). Conclusions: The CAPE-P15 is an accurate and suitable tool to screen PE and to accurately classify and differentiate PE levels in adolescents from the general population. Further research is needed to better understand how maladaptive psychological mechanisms influence relationships between PE and suicidal ideation (SI) in the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: How cigarette smoke (CS) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) infection and severity is controversial. We investigated the effects of COPD and CS on the expression of SARS-CoV-2 entry receptor ACE2 in vivo in COPD patients and controls and in CS-exposed mice, and the effects of CS on SARS-CoV-2 infection in human bronchial epithelial cells in vitro.Methods: We quantified: (1) pulmonary ACE2 protein levels by immunostaining and ELISA, and both ACE2 and/or TMPRSS2 mRNA levels by RT-qPCR in two independent human cohorts; and (2) pulmonary ACE2 protein levels by immunostaining and ELISA in C57BL/6 WT mice exposed to air or CS for up to 6 months. The effects of CS exposure on SARS-CoV-2 infection were evaluated after in vitro infection of Calu-3 cells and differentiated human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs), respectively.Results: ACE2 protein and mRNA levels were decreased in peripheral airways from COPD patients versus controls but similar in central airways. Mice exposed to CS had decreased ACE2 protein levels in their bronchial and alveolar epithelia versus air-exposed mice. CS treatment decreased viral replication in Calu-3 cells, as determined by immunofluorescence staining for replicative double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and western blot for viral N protein. Acute CS exposure decreased in vitro SARS-CoV-2 replication in HBECs, as determined by plaque assay and RT-qPCR.Conclusions: ACE2 levels were decreased in both bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells from COPD patients versus controls, and from CS-exposed versus air-exposed mice. CS-pre-exposure potently inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro. These findings urge to investigate further the controversial effects of CS and COPD on SARS-CoV-2 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the Pomeranchuk theorem, one constructs the δ (s) parameter to measure the difference between experimental data for the particle–particle and particle–antiparticle total cross-section at same energy. The experimental data for the proton–proton and proton–antiproton total cross-section were used to show that, at the same energy, this parameter tends to zero as the collision energy grows. Furthermore, one assumes a classical description for the total cross-section, dividing it into a finite number of non-interacting disjoint cells, each one containing a quark–antiquark pair subject to the confinement potential. Near the minimum of the total cross-section, one associates δ (s) with the entropy generated by these cells, analogously to the X Y -model. Using both the Quigg–Rosner and Cornell confinement potentials and neglecting other energy contributions, one can calculate the internal energy of the hadron. One obtains that both the entropy and internal energy possess the same logarithmic dependence on the spatial separation between the pairs in the cell. The Helmholtz free energy is used to estimate the transition temperature, which is far from the temperature widely related to the Quark–Gluon Plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, one uses a damped potential to present a description of the running coupling constant of QCD in the confinement phase. Based on a phenomenological perspective for the Debye screening length, one compares the running coupling obtained here with both the Brodsky–de Téramond–Deur and the Richardson approaches. The results seem to indicate the model introduced here corroborate the Richardson approach. Moreover, the Debye screening mass in the confinement phase depends on a small parameter, which tends to vanish in the nonconfinement phase of QCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Saber, Ciencia y Libertas is the property of Saber, Ciencia y Libertad and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of a new marker, pentraxin, as a prognostic marker in septic shock patients. Materials and methods: Single-centre prospective observational study that included all consecutive patients 18 years or older who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with septic shock. Serum levels of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP) and pentraxin (PTX3) were measured on ICU admission. Results: Seventy-five septic shock patients were included in the study. The best predictors of in-hospital mortality were the severity scores: SAPS II (AUC = 0.81), SOFA (AUC = 0.79) and APACHE II (AUC = 0.73). The ROC curve for PTX3 (ng/mL) yielded an AUC of 0.70, higher than the AUC for PCT (0.43) and CRP (0.48), but lower than lactate (0.79). Adding PTX3 to the logistic model increased the predictive capacity in relation to SAPS II, SOFA and APACHE II for in-hospital mortality (AUC 0.814, 0.795, and 0.741, respectively). In crude regression models, significant associations were found between in-hospital mortality and PTX3. This positive association increased after adjusting for age, sex and immunosuppression: adjusted OR T3 for PTX3 = 7.83, 95% CI 1.35–45.49, linear P trend = 0.024. Conclusion: Our results support the prognostic value of a single determination of plasma PTX3 as a predictor of hospital mortality in septic shock patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) is frequently treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Despite the efforts, long-term outcomes are poor, and novel therapies have been introduced to improve results. Biomarkers are needed to detect early treatment failure and plan future follow-up and therapies. Our aim is to evaluate the role of dynamics of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with locally advanced NSCLC treated with CRT. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients diagnosed with LA-NSCLC receiving definitive CRT at our center from 2010 to 2015. Baseline and post-treatment NLR were collected from our center database. NLR was dichotomized (threshold = 4) and patients were divided into two groups based on the variation from baseline to post-treatment NLR. The prognostic role and association with response were examined with logistic regression and multivariate Cox regression model, respectively. Results: Ninety-two patients were included. Our analysis shows that NLR after treatment is associated with response to treatment [OR in the multivariate analysis 4.94 (1.01–24.48); p value = 0.048]. Furthermore, NLR and ECOG are independent prognostic factors for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Specifically, PFS was 25.79 months for the good prognosis group and 12.09 for the poor prognosis group [HR 2.98 (CI 95% = 1.74–5.10), p < 0.001]; and OS was 42.94 months and 18.86 months, respectively [HR 2.81 (CI 95% = 1.62–4.90), p < 0.001]. Conclusion: Dynamics of NLR have a prognostic value in stage III NSCLC treated with definitive CRT. Pre- and post-CRT NLR should be evaluated in prospective clinical trials involving consolidation treatment with immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the stability of antioxidant and color characteristics of minimally processed avocado puree during the storage is still unknown. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of adding natural extracts on the antioxidant capacity, color and consumer acceptance of avocado purees. Avocado pulp (x1: 90–100%) was mixed with lemon (x2: 0–10%) and onion (x3: 0–5%) extracts following a constrained mixture design. Total phenolic compounds, reducing power, antioxidant capacity, color and consumer acceptance were measured at the beginning and after seven days of storage (4 °C). At the beginning of the storage, both reducing power and antioxidant capacity were affected by the proposed formulations, showing their maximum values (710 ± 9.0 mg AAE/100 g and 170.4 ± 8.6 Trolox/100 g, respectively) with the highest lemon extract level. Tested formulations did not exhibit a significant color difference among them (p > 0.05), showing values of L* = 70.1 ± 2.3, a* = − 21.7 ± 2.0 and b* = 52.1 ± 4.2. Reducing power was significantly affected after storage (p < 0.05). Moreover, a browning process was detected in all formulations, with a lesser effect on avocado puree formulated with 90, 5 and 5% and 90, 7.5 and 2.5% of x1, x2, and x3, respectively, showing a total color change between 18.1 and 23.5 with respect to their initial state. The formulation x1: 90% x2: 7.5%, and x3: 2.5% was the best accepted by the consumers at the beginning and end of the storage. The mixture design is an adequate tool for obtaining a natural avocado puree with high antioxidant properties and sensory acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, one discusses the effects of Tsallis entropy on the radial pressure distribution in the proton. Using a damped confinement potential the pressure distribution is obtained from the Tsallis entropy approach, being the entropic-index ω connected with the proton temperature concerning some transition temperature. Then, the approach allows the study of the proton thermal evolution up to the Quark–Gluon Plasma regime. The von Laue stability condition, arising from the pressure distribution results in positive and negative energy regions. An analogy between the results for the radial pressure distribution and the proton–proton and the antiproton–proton total cross-section is performed. The negative energy region is identified with the odderon exchange while the positive represents the pomeron exchange dominance above some transition energy s c . The hollowness effect is also discussed in terms of the results obtained and the proposed analogy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is a prevalent inflammatory skin disease of dogs worldwide. Certain breeds such as the West Highland White Terriers (WHWT) are predisposed to suffer from CAD. Microbial dysbiosis is known to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of the disease, which is similar to its human counterpart, atopic dermatitis (AD). To date, no large cohort-study has been conducted in a predisposed dog breed to study the impact of the early-life microbiota on the development of CAD, as well as the possible implication of factors such as hygiene and access to the outdoors. In this study skin samples of 143 WHWT, including 109 puppies up to three weeks old and 34 parent dogs, from 17 breeders, were subjected to 16S rRNA gene and ITS2 amplicon sequencing to disclose the bacterial and fungal oral and skin microbiota, respectively. The oral samples served as a control group to confirm differences between haired and mucosal surfaces. The cutaneous microbiota differed between sample sites and age of the dogs. The season of sampling, geographical origin as well as hygiene status of the household and the access to the outdoors shaped the skin microbiota of the puppies significantly. However, we found that the individual early-life microbiota did not predispose for the later development of CAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, one proposes the use of a damped confinement potential to mimic the proton internal energy. The internal pressure is calculated taking into account the occurrence of a phase transition in the p p and p ̄ p total cross-section. The model predicts the inversion of the positive and negative pressure regions depending on the squared energy s 0 , where the total cross-section achieves its minimum value. Considering energies below the phase transition, the expected results are in accordance with the recent proton internal pressure measurement. For energies above s 0 , the model predicts a negative pressure region near the center of the hadron surrounded by a positive pressure region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Smartchronic is a non-profit collaborative Spanish project for developing a platform to improve and optimize the management of chronic patients based on artificial intelligence tools. Smartchronic platform models the frailty states from patients' data from electronic health records to predict and simulate their evolution and associated care pathways. This platform has incorporated a non-invasive, continuous monitoring mobile health application (mHealth app) for patient self-reporting variables. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) could help enriching the information obtained in routine clinical practice to assess frailty and used for predictive analytics. Objectives: To design an mHealth app for smartphones for continuous and non-invasive monitoring of chronic patients by collecting relevant variables for frail patients. Methods: Phase 1 involved a literature review to identify dimensions and variables related to the patient frailty that could be collected with smartphones as PROs or passive sensors. The search strategy focused on frailty-related terms, dimensions and variables, and mHealth terms. Phase 2 involved five healthcare professionals (HCPs; primary care, internal medicine, geriatrics and nursing) and five chronic older patients. HCPs ordered identified dimensions and variables through an ad-hoc questionnaire according to their importance degree for assessing patient frailty in clinical practice. Through phone semi-structured interviews patients identified those dimensions and variables that matter to patients. Phase 3, based on the HCPs' and patients' opinions a mHealth app prototype was designed and the app was developed and integrated to Smartchronic platform. Phase 4, undertook a pilot study with older patients to prove app usability. The study was approved by the Ethical Clinical Research Committee of La FE Hospital-Valencia (Reference 2020-138-1). Results: In phase 1, following dimensions were identified in the literature review: physical function, mood, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), cognitive function, nutritional status, social function, symptoms and sleep quality. For each dimension, variables and tools (PROs or passive sensors) to collect them were registered. During phase 2, five dimensions were identified by HCPs and patients as important and feasible to collect: physical function, nutritional status, HRQoL, symptoms and sleep quality. Identified variables were: number of daily steps measured by smartphoneaccelerometer (physical function); weight entered by the patient and appetite level determined by a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (nutritional status); EQ-5D questionnaire (HRQoL); VAS for pain, fatigue, hearing and sight (symptoms); and quality and hours of sleep measured by a Likert-scale (sleep quality). In phase 3, according to these variables the app was developed. Phase 4 is currently underway. Conclusions: Involving clinicians and patients is essential in the design and development as recipients of the potential benefits. Our methodology has allowed us to develop an app that easily collects outcomes that matter to patients. This new tool has been integrated into the Smartchronic platform and could support HCPs to assess patient frailty and to improve the care of frail patients. Limitations: In phases 2 and 5 the small sample of participants may limit the generalization of results, however app usability in more chronic patients is being tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: The social networks of people who inject drugs (PWID) have long been studied to understand disease transmission dynamics and social influences on risky practices. We illustrate how PWID can be active agents promoting HIV, HCV, and overdose prevention.Recent Findings: We assessed drug users’ connections and interactions with others at risk for HIV/HCV in three cities: New York City (NYC), USA (n = 539); Pereira, Colombia (n = 50); and St. Petersburg, Russia (n = 49). In all three cities, the majority of participants’ network members were of a similar age as themselves, yet connections across age groups were also present. In NYC, knowing any opioid user(s) older than 29 was associated with testing HCV-positive. In NYC and St. Petersburg, a large proportion of PWID engaged in intravention activities to support safer injection and overdose prevention; in Pereira, PWID injected, had sex, and interacted with other key groups at risk.Summary: People who use drugs can be active players in HIV/HCV and overdose risk- reduction; their networks provide them with ample opportunities to disseminate harm reduction knowledge, strategies, and norms to others at risk. Local communities could augment prevention programming by empowering drug users to be allies in the fight against HIV and facilitating their pre-existing health-protective actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tecné, Episteme y Didaxis is the property of Universidad Pedaggica Nacional and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Herein we describe the high yield synthesis of a highly crystalline cobalt(ii) MOF with a novel zwitterionic ligand made up of 3,3′,4,4′-BPTC and 1,4-cyclohexanediamine, obtained in situ during the hydrothermal synthesis. The compound with the molecular formula C46H38N4O14Co·2H2O has a molecular mass of 965.7783 g mol−1, a triclinic crystalline system (a = 5.86 Å, b = 9.28 Å, c = 19.92 Å, α = 83.93°, β = 88.01°, γ = 78.59), it is thermally stable up to 300 °C and presents structural stability before and after removing the solvent molecules from its pores. This novel material showed catalytic properties in an electrophilic substitution reaction of indoles and aldehydes allowing the syntheses of bis(indolyl)methanes in high yields under mild reaction conditions and can be reused at least once with the same catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we determined the critical stages and the key factors of mortality for Planococcus citri (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Brazilian coffee plantations using a life table to understand the role of natural biological control on its population. Predators, parasitoids, rainfall, sunlight, physiological disturbances and fungal diseases were collectively responsible for 98.79% in the total mortality of P. citri. Predators belonging to the Chrysopidae, Syrphidae, Dolichopodidae and Coccinellidae families were the most important mortality factors in the early developmental stages of P. citri (i.e. eggs and 1st and 2nd instar nymphs), whereas predators belonging to the Coccinellidae and Chrysopidae families were the most important mortality factors for the last instars (i.e. 3rd instars and adults) for P. citri. The generalist predators Harmonia axyridis, Chrysoperla genanigra and Chrysoperla externa were the key mortality factors for P. citri. The third nymph stage was considered the critical life stage (i.e. the life stage that most influences population size). Our results show that generalist predators and climatic factors are important sources of natural mortality of P. citri governing the population dynamics of this pest in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a previous work a novel parametrization was proposed for the and total cross-sections. Here, results are presented for the updated analysis with taking into account the recent data from accelerator experiments as well as from cosmic ray measurements. The analytic parametrizations suggested within axiomatic quantum field theory (AQFT) provide the quantitative description of energy dependence of global scattering observables with robust values of fit parameters. Based on the fit results the estimations are derived for the total cross-section and the parameter in elastic scattering at various up to energy frontier PeV which can be useful for present and future hadron colliders as well as for cosmic ray measurements at ultra-high energies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To determine the diagnostic performance of two patient-side tests (RDT-1: Test-it™ and RDT-2 Witness®Lepto) in the early diagnosis of canine leptospirosis. Methods Retrospective study of 108 dogs with leptospirosis and 53 controls. Leptospirosis was diagnosed based on compatible clinical and clinicopathologic signs and either a single microscopic agglutination test titre_ >800 (n=49), seroconversion (n=53), positive urine real time PCR (RT-PCR) (n=1), evidence of spirochaetes in silver-stained tissues (n=1) or a combination of these (n=4). Leptospirosis was excluded in dogs with a convincing alternative diagnosis and single microscopic agglutination testing titres _<200 (n=46) or lack of seroconversion (n=7). Indices of diagnostic accuracy of the rapid diagnostic tests were calculated by comparing admission rapid diagnostic test results to the final disease status. Results Rapid diagnostic test-1 was performed in 118 dogs, rapid diagnostic test-2 in 69 dogs and both tests in 26 dogs. Weak positive results occurred frequently representing 22·6% (rapid diagnostic test-1) and 32·3% (rapid diagnostic test-2) of all positive tests in dogs with leptospirosis. If weak positive rapid diagnostic tests were considered positive, rapid diagnostic test-1 and rapid diagnostic test-2 had sensitivities of 82 and 76%, specificities of 91 and 100%, positive predictive values of 94% and 100% and negative predictive values of 73% and 74%, respectively. There were some technical problems with rapid diagnostic test-1. Clinical Significance The diagnostic performance of the rapid diagnostic tests is similar to that reported for the microscopic agglutination test. Both can support a diagnosis of leptospirosis with high specificity but leptospirosis cannot be excluded based on a negative admission test result. Both RDTs are useful in conjunction with other confirmatory tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The usage of rigorous analyses based on contemporary methods to enhance psychometric properties of screening questionnaires aimed to address psychotic-like experiences (PLE) is currently being encouraged. The Brief Self-Report Questionnaire for Screening Putative Pre-psychotic States (BQSPS) is a recently created tool addressing PLE beyond attenuated positive symptoms (APS). Its psychometric properties as a screening tool for first step assessment seems to be adequate, but further research is needed to evaluate certain validity aspects, particularly its dimensionality, internal structure, and psychometric properties in different populations. We assessed the reliability, construct validity, and criterion validity of BQSPS in two samples: 727 adolescents aged 13–18 years, and 245 young adults aged 18–33 years. We used exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The original four-factor structure was not replicated. The best fit in adolescents was obtained by a structure of three-correlated factors: social anxiety (SA), negative symptoms (NS), and positive symptoms (PS). This structure was confirmed in young adult subjects. The three-factor model reached a predictive capability with suicidality as external criterion. PLE are represented by a three-factor structure, which is highly stable between adolescent and young-adult samples. Although the BQSPS seems to be a valid tool for screening PLE, its psychometric properties should be improved to obtain a more accurate measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meeting Summary The 24th annual symposium of the International Isotope Society's United Kingdom Group took place at the Møller Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge, UK on Friday 6th November 2015. The meeting was attended by 77 delegates from academia and industry, the life sciences, chemical, radiochemical and scientific instrument suppliers. Delegates were welcomed by Dr Ken Lawrie (GlaxoSmithKline, UK, chair of the IIS UK group). The subsequent scientific programme consisted of oral presentations, short 'flash' presentations in association with particular posters and poster presentations. The scientific areas covered included isotopic synthesis, regulatory issues, applications of labelled compounds in imaging, isotopic separation and novel chemistry with potential implications for isotopic synthesis. Both short-lived and long-lived isotopes were represented, as were stable isotopes. The symposium was divided into a morning session chaired by Dr Rebekka Hueting (University of Oxford, UK) and afternoon sessions chaired by Dr Sofia Pascu (University of Bath, UK) and by Dr Alan Dowling (Syngenta, UK). The UK meeting concluded with remarks from Dr Ken Lawrie (GlaxoSmithKline, UK). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, one presents a naive parametrization to and total cross-sections. The main goal of this parametrization is to study the possible fractal structure present in the total cross-section. The result of the fitting procedure shows two different fractal dimensions: a negative (low-energies) and a positive (high-energies). The negative fractal dimension represents the emptiness of the total cross-section structure and the positive represents the filling up process with the energy increase. Hence, the total cross-section presents a multifractal behavior. At low-energies, the odderon exchange may be associated with the negative fractal dimension and at high-energies, the pomeron may be associated with the positive fractal dimension. Therefore, the exchange of odderons and pomerons may be viewed as a transition from a less well-defined to a more well-defined internal structure, depending on the energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of nanoparticles on fish health is still a matter of debate, since nanotechnology is quite recent. In this study, freshwater benthonic juvenile fish Prochilodus lineatus were exposed through water to three concentrations of TiO (0.1, 1, and 10 μg l) and ZnO (7, 70, and 700 μg l) nanoparticles, as well as to a mixture of both (TiO 1 μg l + ZnO 70 μg l) for 5 and 30 days. Nanoparticle characterization revealed an increase of aggregate size in the function of concentration, but suspensions were generally stable. Fish mortality was high at subchronic exposure to 70 and 700 μg l of ZnO. Nanoparticle exposure led to decreased acetylcholinesterase activity either in the muscle or in the brain, depending on particle composition (muscle-TiO 10 μg l; brain-ZnO 7 and 700 μg l), and protein oxidative damage increased in the brain (ZnO 70 μg l) and gills (ZnO 70 μg l and mixture) but not in the liver. Exposed fish had more frequent alterations in the liver (necrosis, vascular congestion, leukocyte infiltration, and basophilic foci) and gills (hyperplasia and epithelial damages, e.g., epithelial disorganization and epithelial loss) than the control fish. Thus, predicted concentrations of TiO and ZnO nanoparticles caused detectable effects on P. lineatus that may have important consequences to fish health. But, these effects are much more subtle than those usually reported in the scientific literature for high concentrations or doses of metal nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on tinea capitis (TC) is a common paediatric dermatophytosis with an increasing incidence worldwide. It mentions clinical history and examination along with trichoscopic images with a non-polarized light videodermoscope and decrease in perifollicular scaling, diffuse scaling, comma hairs and black dots was additionally noted. It also mentions trichoscopy is also useful for monitoring response to treatment.

Transverse testicular ectopia (TTE) is a rare congenital anomaly in which both testes descend through the same inguinal canal. The most frequent clinical presentation is undescended testis (UDT) with ipsilateral inguinal hernia and contralateral non-palpable testis. This condition is often diagnosed during surgery and is frequently associated with other anomalies. There is controversy in the surgical management of TTE. Considerations for TTE repair include avoiding damage to the testes or vas deferens and detection of other congenital anomalies. Frequently, the vas deferens and testicular tissues are joined, and dissection of these structures can cause damage. In this article, we report four patients with TTE, describe the surgical approach made in each case, and provide a review of the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Routine administration of G-CSF following autologous hematopoietic SCT (ASCT) expedites ANC recovery and reduces hospitalization by 1-2 days; it has no impact on febrile neutropenia, infections, morbidity, mortality, event-free survival or OS. To determine whether delayed G-CSF dosage could result in equivalent ANC recovery and thereby improve cost effectiveness, we deferred the administration of G-CSF until WBC recovery had begun. A total of 117 patients with multiple myeloma received ASCT from January 2005 to September 2012. Of these, 52 were in the conventional dosing group (CGD) and received G-CSF from Day +7 for a median of five doses. In the deferred dosing group (DGD), 65 patients received G-CSF from median day 14 post transplant for a median of zero doses. There was no difference between groups in the incidence or duration of febrile neutropenia, duration of grade III mucositis, weight gain, rash, engraftment syndrome or early death (100 days). The DGD group had a significantly longer time to neutrophil engraftment than the CGD group (15 days vs 12 days; P<0.0001), a longer period of severe neutropenia (<100/μL; 8 days vs 6 days; P<0.0001), longer treatment with intravenous antibiotics (7 days vs 5 days; P=0.016) and longer hospital stay (19 days vs 17 days; P=<0.0001). Although the cost of G-CSF was lower in the DGD group (mean $308 vs $2467), the additional hospitalization raised the median total cost of ASCT in this group by 17%. There was, however, no adverse effect of deferred dosing on the rate of febrile neuropenic episodes or Day 100 survival, so that deferred dosing of G-CSF may be suitable for patients receiving ASCT as outpatients, for whom longer hospital stay would not be an offsetting cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete genome of a novel bipartite begomovirus (genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae) was cloned from a severely diseased yellow Peruvian chili pepper ( Capsicum baccatum cv. Pendulum) plant collected in the department of La Libertad, Northern Peru and full-length sequenced. The two genomic components share a common region of 156 nucleotides with a 100% sequence identity. Analysis of the genome organisation and phylogenetic comparisons revealed that the virus is a typical New World begomovirus. The closest related begomovirus, an isolate of Tomato yellow vein streak virus ( ToYVSV), shared only 76.8% nucleotide sequence identity for the DNA-A component. Therefore, following species demarcation criteria of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, this virus isolate belongs to a new begomovirus species for which the name pepper leafroll virus ( PepLRV) is proposed. Pepper plants infected with the cloned PepLRV isolate developed leaf roll symptoms similar to those observed in field-infected plants suggesting this virus as the causal agent of the disease syndrome observed in the field. Widespread occurrence of PepLRV throughout Peru was demonstrated, infecting plants of diverse cultivated species such as tomato, pepper, common and pallar beans, and of the weed species Nicandra physaloides. Low genetic diversity was observed among PepLRV isolates present in this country with no evident geographical or temporal structure of the population, typical of a recent founder effect. This is the first report of a begomovirus infecting pepper and bean crops in Peru. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]