A deadly cascade
A catastrophic landslide in Uttarakhand state in India on February 2021 damaged two hydropower plants, and more than 200 people were killed or are missing. Shugar
et al.
describe the ...cascade of events that led to this disaster. A massive rock and ice avalanche roared down a Himalayan valley, turning into a deadly debris flow upstream from the first of the two hydropower plants. The sequence of events highlights the increasing risk in the Himalayas caused by increased warming and development.
Science
, abh4455, this issue p.
300
A cascade of events starting with a massive avalanche eventually triggered a deadly debris flow in the Indian Himalaya.
On 7 February 2021, a catastrophic mass flow descended the Ronti Gad, Rishiganga, and Dhauliganga valleys in Chamoli, Uttarakhand, India, causing widespread devastation and severely damaging two hydropower projects. More than 200 people were killed or are missing. Our analysis of satellite imagery, seismic records, numerical model results, and eyewitness videos reveals that ~27 × 10
6
cubic meters of rock and glacier ice collapsed from the steep north face of Ronti Peak. The rock and ice avalanche rapidly transformed into an extraordinarily large and mobile debris flow that transported boulders greater than 20 meters in diameter and scoured the valley walls up to 220 meters above the valley floor. The intersection of the hazard cascade with downvalley infrastructure resulted in a disaster, which highlights key questions about adequate monitoring and sustainable development in the Himalaya as well as other remote, high-mountain environments.
The domestication of taurine cattle initiated ~10 000 years ago in the Near East from a wild aurochs (Bos primigenius) population followed by their dispersal through migration of agriculturalists to ...Europe. Although gene flow from wild aurochs still present at the time of this early dispersion is still debated, some of the extant primitive cattle populations are believed to possess the aurochs-like primitive features. In this study, we use genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms to assess relationship, admixture patterns and demographic history of an ancient aurochs sample and European cattle populations, several of which have primitive features and are suitable for extensive management. The principal component analysis, the model-based clustering and a distance-based network analysis support previous works suggesting different histories for north-western and southern European cattle. Population admixture analysis indicates a zebu gene flow in the Balkan and Italian Podolic cattle populations. Our analysis supports the previous report of gene flow between British and Irish primitive cattle populations and local aurochs. In addition, we show evidence of aurochs gene flow in the Iberian cattle populations indicating wide geographical distribution of the aurochs. Runs of homozygosity (ROH) reveal that demographic processes like genetic isolation and breed formation have contributed to genomic variations of European cattle populations. The ROH also indicate recent inbreeding in southern European cattle populations. We conclude that in addition to factors such as ancient human migrations, isolation by distance and cross-breeding, gene flow between domestic and wild-cattle populations also has shaped genomic composition of European cattle populations.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Immense work has been conducted in the field of thermoresponsive polymers specifically of lower critical solution temperature (LCST) type, but upper critical solution temperature (UCST) type polymers ...remain a significantly unexplored domain. However, in recent years, UCST polymers have attracted increased attention as evidenced by the rise in publications in the same domain, and therefore, this review is an attempt to compile the reported UCST-type polymers. Unlike LCST, UCST polymers are insoluble at low temperature but solubilize in a given solvent as the temperature increases. The synthesis approaches and applications of reported UCST polymers are discussed in this article. Emphasis has been given to the polymers exhibiting UCST behavior in aqueous medium, due to the obvious advantage of their wide applicability. It is quite apparent from this study that the attempts to synthesize novel polymers and copolymers exhibiting UCST has faced an upsurge, but their application part still requires considerable attention.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Travel distance to abortion services varies widely in the US. Some evidence shows travel distance affects use of abortion care, but there is no national analysis of how abortion rate changes with ...travel distance.
To examine the association between travel distance to the nearest abortion care facility and the abortion rate and to model the effect of reduced travel distance.
This cross-sectional geographic analysis used 2015 data on abortions by county of residence from 1948 counties in 27 states. Abortion rates were modeled using a spatial Poisson model adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, marital status, educational attainment, household poverty, nativity, and state abortion policies. Abortion rates for 3107 counties in the 48 contiguous states that were home to 62.5 million female residents of reproductive age (15-44 years) and changes under travel distance scenarios, including integration into primary care (<30 miles) and availability of telemedicine care (<5 miles), were estimated. Data were collected from April 2018 to October 2019 and analyzed from December 2019 to July 2020.
Median travel distance by car to the nearest abortion facility.
US county abortion rate per 1000 female residents of reproductive age.
Among the 1948 counties included in the analysis, greater travel distances were associated with lower abortion rates in a dose-response manner. Compared with a median travel distance of less than 5 miles (median rate, 21.1 range, 1.2-63.6 per 1000 female residents of reproductive age), distances of 5 to 15 miles (median rate, 12.2 range, 0.5-23.4 per 1000 female residents of reproductive age; adjusted coefficient, -0.05 95% CI, -0.07 to -0.03) and 120 miles or more (median rate, 3.9 range, 0-12.9 per 1000 female residents of reproductive age; coefficient, -0.73 95% CI, -0.80 to -0.65) were associated with lower rates. In a model of 3107 counties with 62.5 million female residents of reproductive age, 696 760 abortions were estimated (mean rate, 11.1 range, 1.0-45.5 per 1000 female residents of reproductive age). If abortion were integrated into primary care, an additional 18 190 abortions (mean rate, 11.4 range, 1.1-45.5 per 1000 female residents of reproductive age) were estimated. If telemedicine were widely available, an additional 70 920 abortions were estimated (mean rate, 12.3 range, 1.4-45.5 per 1000 female residents of reproductive age).
These findings suggest that greater travel distances to abortion services are associated with lower abortion rates. The results indicate which geographic areas have insufficient access to abortion care. Modeling suggests that integrating abortion into primary care or making medication abortion care available by telemedicine may decrease unmet need.
Acute liver injury is frequently associated with oxidative stress. Here, we investigated the therapeutic potential of carbon monoxide releasing molecule A-1 (CORM A-1) in oxidative stress-mediated ...liver injury. Overnight-fasted mice were injected with acetaminophen (APAP; 300 mg/kg; intraperitoneally) and were sacrificed at 4 and 12 h. They showed elevated levels of serum transaminases, depleted hepatic glutathione (GSH) and hepatocyte necrosis. Mice injected with CORM A-1 (20 mg/kg) 1 h after APAP administration, had reduced serum transaminases, preserved hepatic GSH and reduced hepatocyte necrosis. Mice that received a lethal dose of APAP (600 mg/kg), died by 10 h; but those co-treated with CORM A-1 showed a 50% survival. Compared to APAP-treated mice, livers from those co-treated with CORM A-1, had upregulation of Nrf2 and ARE genes (HO-1, GCLM and NQO-1). APAP-treated mice had elevated hepatic mRNA levels of inflammatory genes (Nf-κB, TNF-α, IL1-β and IL-6), an effect blunted in those co-treated with CORM A-1. In tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-treated HepG2 cells, CORM A-1 augmented cell viability, reduced oxidative stress, activated the nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) and anti-oxidant response element (ARE) genes. The molecular docking profile of CO in the kelch domain of Keap1 protein suggested that CO released from CORM A-1 mediated Nrf2 activation. Collectively, these data indicate that CORM A-1 reduces oxidative stress by upregulating Nrf2 and related genes, and restoring hepatic GSH, to reduce hepatocyte necrosis and thus minimize liver injury that contributes to an overall improved survival rate.
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•CORM A-1 treatment improved cell viability and intracellular oxidative stress.•CORM A-1 induced Nrf2 translocation in HepG2 cells and APAP induced hepatotoxicity.•CORM A-1 prevented APAP induced hepatic necrosis and improved survival rate.•CO docks with Keap1 protein as evidenced by docking studies.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Aims: To compare the vitamin D status of 34 children, 9–24 months old, living in an area of Delhi renowned for high levels of atmospheric pollution (Mori Gate), with a comparable age matched group of ...children from a less polluted (Gurgaon) area of the city. Methods: Serum concentrations of calcium, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) were measured. Haze scores, regarded as a surrogate marker of solar UVB radiation reaching ground level, were measured in both areas. Results: Mean 25(OH)D of children in the Mori Gate area was 12.4 (7) ng/ml, compared with 27.1 (7) ng/ml in children living in the Gurgaon area (p < 0.001). The median ALP (p < 0.05) and mean PTH (p < 0.001) concentrations were higher in children living in the Mori Gate area than in the Gurgaon area. The mean haze score in the Mori Gate area (2.1 (0.5)) was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than in the Gurgaon area (2.7 (0.4)), indicating less solar UVB reaching the ground in Mori Gate. Conclusion: We suggest that children living in areas of high atmospheric pollution are at risk of developing vitamin D deficiency rickets and should be offered vitamin D supplements.
We have recently shown that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) develop contractile fatigue of their quadriceps muscle following endurance exercise. Pulmonary rehabilitation ...can produce physiological adaptations in patients with COPD. We hypothesized that if pulmonary rehabilitation induces physiological adaptations in the exercising muscle, it should become more fatigue resistant. Twenty one patients with COPD, mean age 69.9 +/- 1.9 yr, FEV(1) 45 +/- 4% predicted, participated in an 8-wk outpatient, supervised pulmonary rehabilitation exercise program. Quadriceps contractile fatigue was detected by a fall in quadriceps twitch force postexercise. Twitch force was measured during magnetic stimulation of the femoral nerve. Because potentiated twitches may be more sensitive at detecting fatigue, both unpotentiated (TwQu) and potentiated (TwQp) twitches were obtained before and 10, 30, and 60 min after constant load cycle exercise. Prerehabilitation, during constant load exercise, patients exercised at 37 +/- 4 W for 11.2 +/- 1.8 min. Prerehabilitation, TwQu fell significantly postexercise down to a minimum value of 82.5 +/- 3.1% of the baseline preexercise value (p < 0.001). Similarly, prerehabilitation, TwQp fell significantly postexercise down to a minimum value of 73.9 +/- 3.9% of baseline (p < 0.001). Postrehabilitation, for the same intensity and duration of exercise, TwQu was not significantly different from baseline at any time postexercise. Postrehabilitation, TwQp fell significantly postexercise but the fall in TwQp with exercise was significantly less postrehabilitation compared with prerehabilitation (p < 0.001). In conclusion, pulmonary rehabilitation resulted in increased fatigue resistance of the quadriceps muscle in patients with COPD.
Purpose
Aims of this study are to evaluate the current terminology and assess the influence of the latest proposals on the terminology used for Achilles tendon-related disorders in both daily ...practice and literature.
Methods
(1) All orthopedic surgeons experienced in the field of foot and ankle surgery of the Ankleplatform Study Group were invited to participate in this survey by email. They were requested to fill out a survey on terminology in six typical cases with Achilles tendon-related disorders. (2) A systematic literature search of Achilles tendon-related disorders was performed in eight foot and ankle journals in Medline, Embase (Classic) from 2000 to 2016. All extracted terms were counted and compared to the terminology proposals, based on anatomic location, symptoms, clinical findings and histopathology.
Results
(1) In total, 141 of the 283 (50%) orthopedic surgeons responded to the survey. In five out of six cases with Achilles tendon-related disorders, the majority gave an answer according to latest proposals. (2) An overview of terminology used for Achilles tendon-related disorders from 2000 to 2016 shows an increase in use of terminology according to the latest proposals based on anatomic location, symptoms, clinical findings and histopathology.
Conclusion
The revised terminology for Achilles tendon-related disorders based on anatomic location, symptoms, clinical findings and histopathology is used by the majority of orthopedic surgeons and is increasingly used in the literature. However, the indistinct Haglund eponyms are still frequently used in Achilles tendon-related terminology.
Level of evidence
Level IV.
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EMUNI, FSPLJ, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Acute liver failure (ALF) is a clinical condition caused by various etiologies resulting in the loss of metabolic, biochemical, synthesizing, and detoxifying functions of the liver. In most ...irreversible liver damage cases, orthotropic liver transplant (OLT) remains the only available treatment. To study the therapeutic potential of a treatment for ALF, its prior testing in an animal model of ALF is essential. In the current study, an ALF model in rats was developed by combining 70% partial hepatectomy (PHx) and injections of acetaminophen (APAP) that provides a therapeutic window of 48 h. The median and left lateral lobes of the liver were removed to excise 70% of the liver mass and APAP was given 24 h postsurgically for 2 days. Survival in ALF-induced animals was found to be severely decreased. The development of ALF was confirmed by altered serum levels of the enzymes alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP); changes in prothrombin time (PT); and assessment of the international normalized ratio (INR). Study of the gene expression profile by qPCR revealed an increase in expression levels of genes involved in apoptosis, inflammation, and in the progression of liver injury. Diffused degeneration of hepatocytes and infiltration of immune cells was observed by histological evaluation. The reversibility of ALF was confirmed by the restoration of survival and serum levels of ALT, AST, and ALP after intrasplenic transplantation of syngeneic healthy rat hepatocytes. This model presents a reliable alternative to the available ALF animal models to study the pathophysiology of ALF as well as to evaluate the potential of a novel therapy for ALF. The use of two different approaches also makes it possible to study the combined effect of physical and drug-induced liver injury. The reproducibility and feasibility of current procedure is an added benefit of the model.
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