ABSTRACT
Two meteorite pieces have been recovered in Italy, near the town of Cavezzo (Modena), on 2020 January 4th. The associated fireball was observed on the evening of New Year’s Day 2020 by eight ...all-sky cameras of the PRISMA fireball network, a partner of FRIPON. The computed trajectory had an inclination angle of approximately 68° and a velocity at infinity of 12.8 km s−1. Together with the relatively low terminal height, estimated as 21.5 km, those values were indicating the significant possibility of a meteorite dropping event, as additionally confirmed by the non-zero residual total mass. The strewn-field was computed taking into account the presence of two bright light flashes, revealing that the meteoroid had been very likely subject to fragmentation. Three days after the event, two samples, weighing 3.1 and 52.2 g, were collected as a result of a dedicated field search and thanks to the involvement of the local people. The two pieces were immediately recognized as freshly fallen fragments of meteorite. The computed orbital elements, compared with the ones of known Near-Earth Asteroids from the NEODyS database, are compatible with one asteroid only; 2013 VC10. The estimated original mass of the meteoroid, 3.5 kg, and size, approximately 13 cm, is so far the smallest among the current 35 cases in which meteorites were recovered from precise strewn-field computation thanks to observational data. This result demonstrates the effectiveness of accurate processing of fireball network data even on challenging events generated by small size meteoroids.
Essentials
Direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) are used for stroke and venous thromboembolism prevention.
We report a new assay that measures anti‐factor Xa DOAC levels in plasma and whole blood.
...Rivaroxaban and apixaban can be accurately quantified below trough levels.
The ease and accuracy of the assay demonstrate its potential for point‐of‐care applications.
Background
Rivaroxaban and apixaban are the most commonly used anti‐factor (F) Xa direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC), with indications for prevention of stroke in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation as well as treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolism. However, lacking is accessibility to a detection method that is able to quantify low levels of anti‐FXa DOACs.
Objective
We report a new assay that measures anti‐FXa DOAC levels in plasma and whole blood.
Methods
This is achieved by the use of a prothrombin derivative that is labeled with a fluorescent probe (Flu‐II), which then acts as the macromolecular substrate to measure residual FXa activity. The Flu‐II cleavage is then initiated by the addition of a solution containing FXa, FVa, and phospholipid vesicles composed of 75% PC and 25% PS (PCPS) vesicles with calcium, in the presence of hirudin to prevent feedback activity by the native thrombin generated. The Flu‐II cleavage is monitored by fluorescence in real time where the initial rate of fluorescence change is inversely proportional to DOAC levels.
Results
In plasma systems, the assay demonstrates dose‐response between 0 and 5 nmol/L rivaroxaban and between 0 and 10 nmol/L apixaban. Corn trypsin inhibitor did not affect this assay. With individual plasma samples, the assay showed excellent consistency and reproducibility. From 2 μL of whole blood, the assay showed dose‐response between 0 and 2 nmol/L of DOACs in the final mixture of 100 μL, thus representing up to 100 nmol/L in circulating blood.
Conclusion
The assay is ideal for rapidly and accurately measuring DOAC levels in plasma and blood, demonstrating its potential for point‐of‐care applications.
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FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a relatively common complication in patients with liver cirrhosis, but might also occur in absence of an overt liver disease. Several causes, either local or systemic, ...might play an important role in PVT pathogenesis. Frequently, more than one risk factor could be identified; however, occasionally no single factor is discernable. Clinical examination, laboratory investigations, and imaging are helpful to provide a quick diagnosis, as prompt treatment might greatly affect a pa...
The aim of this work was to study the efficiency of microcosms-scale floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) in the N and P removal from a synthetic runoff effluent and to evaluate the effluent tolerance ...of Typha domingensis. Each FTW consisted of a raft constructed with a plastic net where T. domingensis plants were installed. In order to evaluate the plant role, reactors with FTWs and without FTWs (controls) were used. P and N additions were carried out as follows: 5 mg L−1 P (P5 and P5-control); 10 mg L−1 N (N10 and N10-control); 5 mg L−1 P + 10 mg L−1 N (P5N10 and P5N10-control). Also, a biological control (B-control) without contaminant addition was used. The removal of soluble reactive phosphorus and total phosphorus were significantly higher in the FTWs than in the controls. Ammonium and nitrate concentrations were not significantly different between FTWs and controls at the end of the experiment. However, nitrate concentrations showed significant differences between FTWs and controls during the experiment. N and P were mainly accumulated in plant tissues and not in the sediment. Plants tolerated the effluent conditions and showed a positive growth rate. The use of FTWs is a promising strategy for the sustainable treatment of water bodies affected by runoff waters.
Display omitted
•Treatment of synthetic runoff effluent was evaluated with T. domingensis FTWs.•P was efficiently removed by FTWs and plants tolerated the effluent conditions.•Nitrate removal was higher in FTWs than in the controls along the experiment.•N and P were mainly accumulated in plant tissues and not in the sediment.•FTWs are a promising strategy to treat water bodies affected by runoff.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Several sets of reference regions have been used in the literature for the regional synthesis of observed and modelled climate and climate change information. A popular example is the series of ...reference regions used in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Adaptation (SREX). The SREX regions were slightly modified for the Fifth Assessment Report of the IPCC and used for reporting subcontinental observed and projected changes over a reduced number (33) of climatologically consistent regions encompassing a representative number of grid boxes. These regions are intended to allow analysis of atmospheric data over broad land or ocean regions and have been used as the basis for several popular spatially aggregated datasets, such as the Seasonal Mean Temperature and Precipitation in IPCC Regions for CMIP5 dataset.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
In a cluster-randomized trial, villages were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to use a salt substitute (75% sodium chloride and 25% potassium chloride by mass) or regular salt. Among persons who had a history ...of stroke or were 60 years of age or older and had hypertension, rates of stroke, major cardiovascular events, and death were lower with the salt substitute, which had no apparent serious adverse effects.
Complex I couples the free energy released from quinone (Q) reduction to pump protons across the biological membrane in the respiratory chains of mitochondria and many bacteria. The Q reduction site ...is separated by a large distance from the proton-pumping membrane domain. To address the molecular mechanism of this long-range proton-electron coupling, we perform here full atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, free energy calculations, and continuum electrostatics calculations on complex I from Thermus thermophilus. We show that the dynamics of Q is redox-state-dependent, and that quinol, QH₂, moves out of its reduction site and into a site in the Q tunnel that is occupied by a Q analog in a crystal structure of Yarrowia lipolytica. We also identify a second Q-binding site near the opening of the Q tunnel in the membrane domain, where the Q headgroup forms strong interactions with a cluster of aromatic and charged residues, while the Q tail resides in the lipid membrane. We estimate the effective diffusion coefficient of Q in the tunnel, and in turn the characteristic time for Q to reach the active site and for QH₂ to escape to the membrane. Our simulations show that Q moves along the Q tunnel in a redox-state-dependent manner, with distinct binding sites formed by conserved residue clusters. The motion of Q to these binding sites is proposed to be coupled to the proton-pumping machinery in complex I.
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BFBNIB, NMLJ, NUK, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
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