In 2019, a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is transmitted via the airborne route, caused a new pandemic namely, "coronavirus disease 2019" (COVID-19). ...Although the effectiveness of face masks to prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is debated, no study has evaluated the virus-blocking efficacy of masks used by patients. We aimed to evaluate this efficacy of masks used by SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals. Data, masks used, and nasopharyngeal swab samples were obtained from these patients. Forty-five paired samples of nasopharyngeal swabs and masks were obtained and processed; the majority of masks were woven. Viral RNAs were amplified using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and detected only on the inner parts of masks. Median viral load (VL) values of swabs and masks were 1.954x106 and 2,51x103, respectively. Statistically, there was a difference of approximately 1000 RNA copies/mL between swabs and masks and no significant difference in VL values among different types of masks. There were statistically significant differences in VL values between men and women and between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Our findings suggest the blocking of virus transmission by different types of masks and reinforce the use of masks by both infected and non-infected individuals.
•A generalized short-term unit commitment approach for multi-energy systems is proposed.•The proposal integrates a multi-period nonlinear optimal gas and AC power flows approach into the unit ...commitment problem.•The co-optimization approach directly determines the operation state of both the natural gas and electricity systems.•The proposed approach determines the reactive power dispatch and the amount of gas to be supplied to the thermal units.
This paper proposes a generalized short-term unit commitment approach for optimizing the hourly thermal generation scheduling by considering the existing interdependence between natural gas and electricity infrastructures. This generalized approach is formulated as a mixed-integer nonlinear optimization problem where a multi-period optimal gas and alternating current power flow model is incorporated into the thermal unit commitment problem. Contrary to all other proposals that ignore the reactive power dispatch and alternating current electricity network constraints for solving the unit commitment problem that considers the integrated electricity-natural gas system, the proposed solution approach simultaneously co-optimizes the active and reactive power scheduling and dispatch, while taking into account the set of physical and operational constraints associated with each infrastructure. This set of constraints includes reactive power generation limits, nodal voltage magnitude limits and dynamic gas flow constraints. The solution is obtained by decomposing this generalized optimization problem into two mutually connected optimization subproblems: one spatially separable related to the unit commitment problem and the other temporally separable associated with the unified co-optimization of both energy systems, which are sequentially solved until the same hourly generation dispatch in both subproblems is obtained. Hence, this solution is optimal for the unit commitment problem and the optimal gas and power flow problem. Study cases on two multi-energy systems are presented to numerically illustrate the suitability and main characteristics of the proposed approach.
For almost a century, it has been recognized that influenza A virus (IAV) infection can promote the development of secondary bacterial infections (SBI) mainly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae ...(Spn). Recent observations have shown that IAV is able to directly bind to the surface of Spn. To gain a foundational understanding of how direct IAV-Spn interaction alters bacterial biological fitness we employed combinatorial multiomic and molecular approaches.
Here we show IAV significantly remodels the global transcriptome, proteome and phosphoproteome profiles of Spn independently of host effectors. We identified Spn surface proteins that interact with IAV proteins (hemagglutinin, nucleoprotein, and neuraminidase). In addition, IAV was found to directly modulate expression of Spn virulence determinants such as pneumococcal surface protein A, pneumolysin, and factors associated with antimicrobial resistance among many others. Metabolic pathways were significantly altered leading to changes in Spn growth rate. IAV was also found to drive Spn capsule shedding and the release of pneumococcal surface proteins. Released proteins were found to be involved in evasion of innate immune responses and actively reduced human complement hemolytic and opsonizing activity. IAV also led to phosphorylation changes in Spn proteins associated with metabolism and bacterial virulence. Validation of proteomic data showed significant changes in Spn galactose and glucose metabolism. Furthermore, supplementation with galactose rescued bacterial growth and promoted bacterial invasion, while glucose supplementation led to enhanced pneumolysin production and lung cell apoptosis.
Here we demonstrate that IAV can directly modulate Spn biology without the requirement of host effectors and support the notion that inter-kingdom interactions between human viruses and commensal pathobionts can promote bacterial pathogenesis and microbiome dysbiosis.
Systemic inflammatory response remains a poorly understood cause of morbidity and mortality after traumatic injury. Recent nonhuman primate (NHP) trauma models have been used to characterize the ...systemic response to trauma, but none have incorporated a critical care phase without the use of general anesthesia. We describe the development of a prolonged critical care environment with sedation and ventilation support, and also report corresponding NHP biologic and inflammatory markers.
Eight adult male rhesus macaques underwent ventilation with sedation for 48-96 hours in a critical care setting. Three of these NHPs underwent "sham" procedures as part of trauma control model development. Blood counts, chemistries, coagulation studies, and cytokines/chemokines were collected throughout the study, and histopathologic analysis was conducted at necropsy.
Eight NHPs were intentionally survived and extubated. Three NHPs were euthanized at 72-96 hours without extubation. Transaminitis occurred over the duration of ventilation, but renal function, acid-base status, and hematologic profile remained stable. Chemokine and cytokine analysis were notable for baseline fold-change for Il-6 and Il-1ra (9.7 and 42.7, respectively) that subsequently downtrended throughout the experiment unless clinical respiratory compromise was observed.
A NHP critical care environment with ventilation support is feasible but requires robust resources. The inflammatory profile of NHPs is not profoundly altered by sedation and mechanical ventilation. NHPs are susceptible to the pulmonary effects of short-term ventilation and demonstrate a similar bioprofile response to ventilator-induced pulmonary pathology. This work has implications for further development of a prolonged care NHP model.
Previous studies on genetics of hoary bats produced differing conclusions on the timing of their colonization of the Hawaiian Islands and whether or not North American (Aeorestes cinereus) and ...Hawaiian (A. semotus) hoary bats are distinct species. One study, using mtDNA COI and nuclear Rag2 and CMA1, concluded that hoary bats colonized the Hawaiian Islands no more than 10,000 years ago based on indications of population expansion at that time using Extended Bayesian Skyline Plots. The other study, using 3 mtDNA and 1 Y-chromosome locus, concluded that the Hawaiian Islands were colonized about 1 million years ago. To address the marked inconsistencies between those studies, we examined DNA sequences from 4 mitochondrial and 2 nuclear loci in lasiurine bats to investigate the timing of colonization of the Hawaiian Islands by hoary bats, test the hypothesis that Hawaiian and North American hoary bats belong to different species, and further investigate the generic level taxonomy within the tribe. Phylogenetic analysis and dating of the nodes of mtDNA haplotypes and of nuclear CMA1 alleles show that A. semotus invaded the Hawaiian Islands approximately 1.35 Ma and that multiple arrivals of A. cinereus occurred much more recently. Extended Bayesian Skyline plots show population expansion at about 20,000 years ago in the Hawaiian Islands, which we conclude does not represent the timing of colonization of the Hawaiian Islands given the high degree of genetic differentiation among A. cinereus and A. semotus (4.2% divergence at mtDNA Cytb) and the high degree of genetic diversity within A. semotus. Rather, population expansion 20,000 years ago could have resulted from colonization of additional islands, expansion after a bottleneck, or other factors. New genetic data also support the recognition of A. semotus and A. cinereus as distinct species, a finding consistent with previous morphological and behavioral studies. The phylogenetic analysis of CMA1 alleles shows the presence of 2 clades that are primarily associated with A. semotus mtDNA haplotypes, and are unique to the Hawaiian Islands. There is evidence for low levels of hybridization between A. semotus and A. cinereus on the Hawaiian Islands, but it is not extensive (<15% of individuals are of hybrid origin), and clearly each species is able to maintain its own genetic distinctiveness. Both mtDNA and nuclear DNA sequences show deep divergence between the 3 groups (genera) of lasiurine bats that correspond to the previously recognized morphological differences between them. We show that the Tribe Lasiurini contains the genera Aeorestes (hoary bats), Lasiurus (red bats), and Dasypterus (yellow bats).
Introduction
The objective was to determine whether closer adherence to the alternative Mediterranean Diet (aMED) was associated with altered cognitive function.
Methods
Observational analyses of ...participants (n = 7,756) enrolled in two randomized trials of nutritional supplements for age‐related macular degeneration: Age‐Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) and AREDS2.
Results
Odds ratios for cognitive impairment, in aMED tertile 3 (vs 1), were 0.36 (P = .0001) for Modified Mini‐Mental State (<80) and 0.56 (P = .001) for composite score in AREDS, and 0.56 for Telephone Interview Cognitive Status‐Modified (<30) and 0.48 for composite score (each P < .0001) in AREDS2. Fish intake was associated with higher cognitive function. In AREDS2, rate of cognitive decline over 5 to 10 years was not significantly different by aMED but was significantly slower (P = .019) with higher fish intake.
Discussion
Closer Mediterranean diet adherence was associated with lower risk of cognitive impairment but not slower decline in cognitive function. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) haplotype did not influence these relationships.
The recent advent of Lu3Al5O12:Ce optical ceramics marks a turning point in scintillator material technology. Because of their lower preparation temperature, brightness, and robustness such materials ...can now compete with single crystals. Their further scintillation efficiency optimization includes the thorough control of the defects responsible for optical and scintillation losses. The choice of sintering agent appears critical to achieve both high optical transparency and scintillation performance. In this work, the optical investigations coupled with X‐ray absorption near‐edge spectroscopy evidence the beneficial role of MgO sintering agent. Mg2+ co‐dopants in ceramics drive the partial conversion of Ce3+ to Ce4+. The Ce4+ center, however, does not impair the scintillation performance due to its capability to positively influence the scintillation process. The importance of simultaneous application of such co‐doping and annealing treatment is also demonstrated. With 0.3 at% Mg, our ceramics display a light yield of ≈25000 photons/MeV with short 1 μs shaping time, a relative fast component intensity as high as 60%, and very low afterglow. Such performances are better than those of the isostructural single crystals ever reported. We discuss the role of co‐doping and annealing in the scintillation mechanism that make such combined treatments a positive strategy for material engineering.
The synergistic effect of Mg co‐doping and air‐annealing on LuAG:Ce,Mg ceramicsis studied. Significantly improved scintillation properties and reduced afterglow intensities are obtained. The relation between Mg content and spectral properties is discussed and correlated with the physical mechanisms occuring in the scintillation process.
Bulk single crystals of multicomponent garnet scintillators Lu3–x Gd x Ga y Al5–y O12:Ce exhibit much improved scintillation properties in optimized composition islands (x = 2–3, y = 2–3) compared ...to the simple Lu3Al5O12:Ce one. Namely, a much higher light yield, less intense slow component in the scintillation response, and better energy resolution have been achieved. This work shows that comparable enhancement of the scintillation performance can be reached also in the case of epitaxial garnet films of similar composition though the nature of trapping states acting in the transfer stage of the scintillation mechanism may be different. This is the first time that excellent scintillation properties were reproduced in epitaxial films. Lu3–x Gd x Ga y Al5–y O12:Ce samples were grown by liquid phase epitaxy from BaO-B2O3–BaF2 flux and quantitatively compared with top performance bulk crystals as concerns light yield, energy resolution, scintillation decay, and afterglow characteristics. Reported characteristics point to the potential of such thin film scintillators in high resolution two-dimensional imaging and particle beam diagnostics.
Recent molecular studies have clarified the overarching taxonomy of capuchin monkeys, but intraspecific genetic diversity remains unexplored for most capuchin species. One example is Sapajus ...nigritus, the southernmost capuchin monkey, found in Brazil and Argentina; its phenotypic diversity has been recognized as two geographic subspecies, but the intraspecific genetic structure of this taxon is poorly known. Here, we sampled across most of this species' geographic distribution, producing a newly sequenced data set for genetic analyses that included 78 individuals from 14 populations. We investigated the intraspecific diversity, genetic structure, and evolutionary history using three mitochondrial markers. Our results indicated that S. nigritus populations exhibited high levels of genetic structure. We found strong support for two monophyletic clades within this species with a deep phylogenetic split, and clear separation from other related taxa. Vicariance events seem to have played a prevalent role in shaping S. nigritus genetic differentiation. The Paraíba do Sul River may have driven the deep divergence between southern and northern clades, whereas the Tietê River may have had a weaker, more recent effect on the divergence of populations within the southern clade.
A review of research and development of Lu3Al5O12 (LuAG)-based single crystal scintillators is presented. Crystals of this type have been prepared by the micro-pulling down method at the initial ...stage of material screening and by Czochralski or Bridgman methods to obtain higher quality and larger size single crystals afterward. Several different activators, namely Ce3+, Pr3+, Yb3+ and Sc3+ have been reported in the literature and such doped LuAG single crystals have been extensively studied to understand a number of issues, including: the scintillation mechanism, underlying energy transfer and trapping processes including the nature and role of material defects involved in the scintillation process and their relation to manufacturing technology. Significant improvements in the understanding of aluminum garnet scintillators lead to the discovery of multicomponent garnet single crystal scintillators in 2011, which are described. These materials gave rise to new class of ultraefficient complex oxide scintillators, the light yield of which considerably exceeds the values achieved for the best Ce-doped orthosilicate scintillators.
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