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Abnormal dystrophin proteins (Dps) in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are known to alter retinal electrophysiology, but their repercussion on visual functions have not been investigated in detail. In the present study we investigated whether different Dps influence vision by measuring psychophysical dark-adapted visual thresholds driven by cone and rod photoreceptors in DMD patients with different genetic backgrounds. Control group comprised 28 healthy volunteers (mean age=17.9±6.5 years). DMD groups were 29 patients (mean age=14.9±4.4 years) divided in three genetic groups depending on presumable affected Dps: group 1 (only Dp427 affected), group 2 (Dp427+Dp260+Dp140 affected) and group 3 (all Dps affected). Visual detection thresholds to 625-nm (red, cone-driven) and 527-nm (green, rod-dominated) flashes of 2° were measured during dark adaptation after 1-minute exposure to a bleaching light (3000 cd/m2). Initially, 8 minutes of interleaved 625-nm and 527-nm thresholds were measured. After an additional 5 minutes of dark-adaptation, a second set of threshold measurements to 527-nm stimuli was performed during the subsequent 6 minutes. Control thresholds were -1.7 ± 0.4 (cone) and -4.2 ± 0.2 (rod) log cd/m². Affected Dp427 alone (group 1) was not sufficient to alter visual thresholds (p = 0.28 cone and p = 0.48 rod) while affected Dp427+Dp260+Dp140 (group 2) caused elevated rod thresholds (-3.4 ± 0.9 log cd/m², p < 0.01). Interestingly, patients with presumable alteration of all retinal Dps (Dp427+Dp260+Dp140+Dp71, group 3) showed visual thresholds similar to controls (cone: -2.4 ± 1.4 and rod: -3.9 ± 0.4 log cd/m², p = 0.99). Affected retinal dystrophins are associated with alterations of the visual detection thresholds in DMD patients besides their well-known associations with retinal electrophysiology. It is worthy to highlight that the visual thresholds of the patients with all Dps affected (presumably) were similar to control thresholds despite the alteration of Dp260+Dp140. We speculate that compensatory mechanisms may be operating in the retina of DMD patients presumably lacking all Dps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The modelling of chlorine residual in water supply systems is of great importance in managing disinfectant concentrations throughout the network. First order decay kinetics are currently often used to describe both bulk and wall chlorine consumption. However, more complex approaches have been proposed, namely a parallel, two-reactant second order decay model (2R model) that has been reported as yielding better accuracy for simulating chlorine bulk decay in laboratory tests. The recent EPANET Multi-Species Extension (EPANET MSX) brought enhanced capabilities for the simulation of chlorine residuals in water supply systems, including the use of the 2R model or any other formulation. In the current paper, the performance of the 2R model as well as of first and nth order decay kinetics was assessed for full scale modelling of chlorine in a transmission system. Results have shown that a similar level of accuracy can be achieved with the three tested kinetic models, provided that a good calibration of the wall decay coefficient is accomplished. Although with improved modelling capabilities, the use of the stand- alone EPANET MSX was less user-friendly than normal EPANET application by the lack of a graphical interface allowing for the visualization of chlorine concentration profiles along the system. The use of the 3D-enabled Epanet Java web application circumvented such limitations. This tool together with a better characterization and estimation of the bulk and wall decay components allow for a more practical and accurate modelling of chlorine in water supply systems, while taking advantage of EPANET MSX's enhanced capabilities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Response surface methodology was used to model and optimise the production of ethyl butyrate, catalysed by Rhizopus oryzae lipase immobilised in a hydrophilic polyurethane foam. Experiments were carried out following a central composite rotatable design, as a function of reaction temperature (T: 22–38°C) initial butyric acid concentration (A: 0.031–0.619M) and initial molar ratio ethanol/acid (MR; 0.257–2.443). After 48h reaction time, the production of ethyl butyrate could be fitted to a surface described by a second-order polynomial model. A maximum ethyl butyrate concentration of 0.106M, corresponding to 47% conversion into ester and a productivity of 2.21μmole/mLh, is expected at initial reaction conditions of T, A and MR of 33°C, 0.225M and 1.637, respectively. This maximum was experimentally confirmed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Newton method is one of the most powerful tools used to solve systems of nonlinear equations. Its set-valued generalization, considered in this work, allows one to solve also nonlinear equations with geometric constraints and systems of inequalities in a unified manner. The emphasis is given to systems of linear inequalities. The study of the well-posedness of the algorithm and of its convergence is fulfilled in the framework of modern variational analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cordierite foams were produced using the polymer foam replication method. The effects of both the structure of the polymeric foam template and the slurry''s solid loads on the compressive strength and the sintered structure of the ceramic foam were evaluated in order to achieve the optimal manufacturing conditions. The compressive strengths of cordierite foams were measured at room temperature. Polyurethane (PU) foams were used as templates. Aqueous ceramic suspensions were prepared with solids weight fraction ranging from 50 to 65%. The effects of both the PU density and the solids volume fraction on porosity and strength of the developed cordierite foams were evaluated. The cordierite foams produced are of semiclosed-cell type. Some impregnation difficulties were experienced with increasing of the PU density. The compressive strength of the cordierite foams increased (from 0.1 to 2MPa) with increasing solids volume fraction. These data are in agreement with the predictions of the model developed by Gibson and Ashby. However, the exponent of the model was half of the measured one (≈3) over the range of relative densities investigated (80–90%). Such discrepancy might be related to several factors such as the morphological differences in the structural unit of the developed foams with respect to a cubic open-cell foam or to the mixture of both open and closed cells or to the presence of non-periodic cells. In addition, it was found that the compressive strengths depended on the cell size for foams of similar relative densities and generally decreased with increasing of the cell size, which deviates from the theoretical predictions. When the starting polymeric substrate contained a higher fraction of closed cell windows, however, the ceramic material present on the cellular structure was not only distributed on the struts but also filled the cell walls. This contributed to an increase of the relative density of the cordierite foams and consequently to higher compressive strengths. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A genome-wide association study for morphometric traits was conducted in 184 Quarter Horses, 120 from a racing population, and 64 from a cutting population, which were genotyped using the Illumina EquineSNP50 chip. Association analysis was performed with 42,058 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (after quality control) using Qxpak5 software. The following traits were measured: weight (W), rump length (RL), and body length (BL). These morphometric traits are important for the best performance in race and cutting events. For weight, three SNPs associated (P < .0001) were found on chromosomes (Equus caballus autosomes [ECA]) 2 and 3. For rump length, eight SNPs associated (P < .0001) were found on ECA 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 21, and 26. On ECA 3 and ECA 8, two SNPs were associated (P < .0001) with body length. So, a total of 13 important chromosomal regions were identified with Q values of 0.53 (SNPs for W), 0.40 (SNPs for RL), and 0.99 (SNPs for BL). Positional and functional candidate genes emerging from this study were WWOX and AAVPR1A. Further studies are required to confirm these associations in other populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has spread worldwide, leading governments to implement mitigation measures. Understanding the reluctance to adhere to non-pharmacological interventions might help promote adherence to these measures. This study aimed to identify factors associated with non-adherence to the first lockdown in Portugal. Cross-sectional study. This study used data from a Portuguese community-based survey entitled 'COVID-19 Barometer: Social Opinion'. Data were collected on risk perception, health status and social experiences using a snowball sampling technique. The event of interest corresponded to participants who reported not staying home during the lockdown period, serving as a proxy for non-adherence to lockdown. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with non-adherence to the first lockdown. Responses from 133,601 individual questionnaires that were completed during the first week of the first lockdown in 2020 were analysed. A minority of participants (5.6%) reported non-adherence to lockdown (i.e. leaving home for reasons other than essential situations). Working in the workplace was the factor with the strongest association of non-adherence to the lockdown. Several other factors were also associated with non-adherence to the first lockdown; namely, being a man, being a student, having a low level of education, having a low income, living alone or with a high-infection-risk professional (e.g. doctor, nurse, pharmaceutical, health technician, firefighter, police officer, military, essential services worker), perceiving the risk of getting COVID-19 to be high, not having social support in case of infection, feeling agitated, sad or anxious every day, and considering the preventive measures to be unimportant or inadequate. Non-adherence to lockdown was associated with socio-economic, trust and perception factors. Future research should investigate the mechanisms underlying these associations to help identify the population groups who are most at risk of non-adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Structured triacylglycerols, containing medium chain fatty acids, were produced by acidolysis of virgin olive oil with caprylic or capric acid, at a molar ratio of olive oil:fatty acid of 1:2, at 45°C for 24h, in solvent-free media or in n-hexane, catalysed by Thermomyces lanuginosa (Lipozyme TL IM), Rhizomucor miehei (Lipozyme RM IM) and Candida antarctica (Novozym 435) immobilised lipases. Incorporations were always greater for capric than for caprylic acid. For both acids, higher incorporations were always attained in solvent-free media: the highest caprylic acid incorporations were obtained with Novozym 435 (25.5mol%) and Lipozyme RM IM (25.7mol%), while similar capric acid incorporations were obtained with all biocatalysts (27.1–30.4mol%). After 10 repeated uses of Lipozyme RM IM, the same incorporation level of capric acid was obtained at the end of each 23h batch. However, with caprylic acid, a first-order deactivation was observed (half-life time, t 1/2 =299h). During acidolysis with both acids, Novozym 435 (t 1/2 =217h, for caprylic, t 1/2 =225h, for capric acid) and Lipozyme TL IM (t 1/2 =50.4h, for caprylic; t 1/2 =47.2h, for capric acid) presented first-order deactivation. All biocatalysts presented 1,3-regioselectivity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Ethyl butyrate is a fruity flavor ester widely used in food and pharmaceutical products. The synthesis of ethyl butyrate in n-hexane, catalyzed by Candida rugosa lipase immobilized in two hydrophilic polyurethane foams (“HYPOL FHP 2002” and “HYPOL FHP 5000”) was performed. In this study, the effects of (i) the immobilization supports, (ii) the initial substrate concentrations and (iii) the water content of the system, on the activity and operational stability of C. rugosa lipase in both foams, during the esterification in continuous packed-bed reactor (PBR) and in repeated batches, were investigated. When low substrate concentrations were used, no deactivation was observed for both biocatalysts, along the continuous 30-d PBR operation. Conversely, under high substrate concentrations, a fast deactivation of the biocatalysts was observed. In consecutive batches, the deactivation was faster for the lipase in the less hydrophilic foam (“FHP 5000”) with a half-life of 53h against 170.3h for the other counterpart. Water molecules in the microenvironment did not present a deactivation effect on the biocatalysts. The low operational stability can be ascribed to the inhibitory effect of ethanol, which tends to accumulate inside the foams. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

For a selection of nine commercially available superabsorbent polymers, the absorption capacity was evaluated for the principal absorption-inhibition constituent of OMW, mineral salts and for phytotoxic-components, the phenolic compounds. A double exponential model was established for electrical conductivities ranging 4.2–25,000 μS cm-1. For solutions of phenolic compounds ranging 0–0.5 g l-1, a distribution coefficient near unit was achieved, while for OMW, the phenolic compounds were concentrated inside the gel as the distribution coefficient was 1.4. Correction of OMW pH towards neutrality was found to increase the absorption capacity by up to 35%. The phytotoxicity was assessed by the germination of Lepidium sativum. Inhibition in plant growth occurred for all OMW dilutions without superabsorbent polymers application. For 5% of OMW (COD 5 g l-1 and 200 ppm of phenolic compounds) immobilised in PNa2 (1 g l-1), plant growth was promoted being observed a 120% growth germination, thus indicating that olive mill wastewater detoxification occurred. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Non-gambling specialist services, such as primary care, alcohol and other drug use, and mental health services, are well placed to enhance the identification of people with gambling problems and offer appropriate generalist first level interventions or referral. Given time and resource demands, many of these clinical services may only have the capacity to administer very short screening instruments. This systematic review was conducted to provide a resource for health service providers and researchers in identifying the most accurate brief (1–5 item) screening instruments to identify problem and at-risk gambling for their specific purposes and populations. A systematic search of peer-reviewed and grey literature from 1990 to 2019 identified 25 articles for inclusion. Meta-analysis revealed five of the 20 available instruments met criteria for satisfactory diagnostic accuracy in detecting both problem and at-risk gambling: Brief Problem Gambling Screen (BPGS-2), NODS-CLiP, Problem Gambling Severity Index-Short Form (PGSI-SF), NODS-PERC, and NODS-CLiP2. Of these, the NODS-CLiP and NODS-PERC have the largest volume of diagnostic data. The Lie/Bet Questionnaire and One-Item Screen are also promising shorter options. Because these conclusions are drawn from a relatively limited evidence base, future studies evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of existing brief instruments across settings, age groups, and timeframes are needed. • Review is a valuable resource for health service providers and researchers. • Identification of most accurate (1–5 item) problem gambling screening instruments. • Diagnostic accuracy across settings, age groups, and instrument timeframes explored. • Five instruments satisfactorily detected both problem and at-risk gambling. • These are BPGS (2-item), NODS-CLiP, PGSI-Short Form, NODS-PERC, and NODS-CLiP2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]