Purpose
Over the course of COVID-19 pandemic, evidence has accumulated that SARS-CoV-2 infections may affect multiple organs and have serious clinical sequelae, but on-site clinical examinations with ...non-hospitalized samples are rare. We, therefore, aimed to systematically assess the long-term health status of samples of hospitalized and non-hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals from three regions in Germany.
Methods
The present paper describes the COVIDOM-study within the population-based cohort platform (POP) which has been established under the auspices of the NAPKON infrastructure (German National Pandemic Cohort Network) of the national Network University Medicine (NUM). Comprehensive health assessments among SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals are conducted at least 6 months after the acute infection at the study sites Kiel, Würzburg and Berlin. Potential participants were identified and contacted via the local public health authorities, irrespective of the severity of the initial infection. A harmonized examination protocol has been implemented, consisting of detailed assessments of medical history, physical examinations, and the collection of multiple biosamples (e.g., serum, plasma, saliva, urine) for future analyses. In addition, patient-reported perception of the impact of local pandemic-related measures and infection on quality-of-life are obtained.
Results
As of July 2021, in total 6813 individuals infected in 2020 have been invited into the COVIDOM-study. Of these, about 36% wished to participate and 1295 have already been examined at least once.
Conclusion
NAPKON-POP COVIDOM-study complements other Long COVID studies assessing the long-term consequences of an infection with SARS-CoV-2 by providing detailed health data of population-based samples, including individuals with various degrees of disease severity.
Trial registration
Registered at the German registry for clinical studies (DRKS00023742).
To study the molecular abnormalities involved in the multistage development of cervical carcinoma (CC), we investigated the presence of oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) sequences, loss of ...heterozygosity (LOH), and microsatellite alterations at several genes/loci at 3p (3p14.2 at the FHIT gene, 3p14.3-21.1, 3p21, and 3p22-24.2), 9p21, RB and P53, and P53 gene point mutations in precisely microdissected archival tissues from 20 CCs and their accompanying precursor lesions (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, CIN; n = 40) and normal epithelia (n = 20). In all HPV-positive cases (90% of CCs), HPV sequences were detected as the earliest appearing molecular change or simultaneously with other changes. LOH at any 3p region was found in 70% of CCs, and 3p14.2 (FHIT gene/FRA3B fragile site) (56%) and 3p21 (57%) were the most frequent 3p sites of loss. LOH at some 3p region was in the CIN I stage, and the 3p deletions in precursor CIN lesions were smaller than the 3p losses found in the associated invasive CC. LOH at the other regions studied and P53 gene mutations were less frequent and later events. Microsatellite alterations were detected in 35% of CCs, and identical abnormalities were detected in the associated precursor lesions. Although infection with oncogenic HPV strains is the earliest and most frequent molecular event, progressive deletions at one or more 3p regions (particularly at 3p14.2, and 3p21) are also frequent events occurring early in the pathogenesis of CC.
Chemosensory dysfunction (CD) has been reported as a common symptom of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but it is not well understood whether and for how long changes of smell, taste and chemesthesis persist in ...infected individuals.
Unselected adult residents of the German federal state of Schleswig-Holstein with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-test-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were invited to participate in this large cross-sectional study. Data on the medical history and subjective chemosensory function of participants were obtained through questionnaires and visual analogue scales (VAS). Olfactory function (OF) was objectified with the Sniffin Sticks test (SST), including threshold (T), discrimination (D) and identification (I) test as well as summarized TDI score, and compared to that in healthy controls. Gustatory function (GF) was evaluated with the suprathreshold taste strips (TS) test, and trigeminal function was tested with an ampoule containing ammonia.
Between November 2020 and June 2021, 667 infected individuals (mean age: 48.2 years) were examined 9.1 months, on average, after positive PCR testing. Of these, 45.6% had persisting subjective olfactory dysfunction (OD), 36.2% had subjective gustatory dysfunction (GD). Tested OD, tested GD and impaired trigeminal function were observed in 34.6%, 7.3% and 1.8% of participants, respectively. The mean TDI score of participants was significantly lower compared to healthy subjects. Significant associations were observed between subjective OD and GD, and between tested OD and GD.
Nine months after SARS-CoV-2 infection, OD prevalence is significantly increased among infected members of the general population. Therefore, OD should be included in the list of symptoms collectively defining Long-COVID.
The aim of the present work was to develop 3D discrete element models capable of simulating the observed flow of glass beads (simple glass spheres) and maize grains (represented as a combination of ...spheres) during their discharge from a small model silo. A preliminary model for each material was constructed based on values for variables measured in the laboratory or taken from the literature. The ability of the models to predict the flow of these materials was then tested by comparing their results with observed discharge flows. Three variables were recorded for this: the mean bulk density at the end of the filling phase, the discharge rate and the flow pattern. The comparison of the results for the last of these variables required the discharge process be filmed using a high speed camera in order to more easily recognise the details of the flow. The preliminary model for the glass beads made very reasonable predictions, but that for the maize grains required calibration. This involved modifying the values of the friction properties of the material until a model capable of making acceptable predictions was obtained. The results obtained highlighted the influence of friction properties on the characteristics of the discharge flow. Finally, some of the numerical results provided by the models were analysed in order to describe the flow characteristics and the behaviour of the discharge rate in more detail.
► Procedure for calibrating and validating 3D DEM models for silo discharge. ► Properties of materials (glass beads and maize grains) were experimentally measured. ► The influence of friction on bulk density, discharge rate and flow pattern was analysed. ► The flow pattern and the discharge rate were numerically analysed in detail.
► Different material properties required in DEM simulations have been determined. ► Its experimental determination is difficult and there is very little information. ► Three different materials, ...glass beads, maize grains and olives, were considered. ► The apparatuses and experimental procedures were described. ► The difficulties arising with each of them were also discussed and described.
The discrete element method (DEM) is a numerical technique specifically designed for the simulation of the mechanical behavior of granular materials (e.g., granular food or pharmaceutical products). To make full use of the potential of this technique, values relating to certain microscopic properties of the material under study must be known, yet the literature contains little information in this respect. Indeed, some of the values required are difficult to obtain experimentally, and there are no standardized procedures in place for their determination. The present work reports the experimental determination of values for several of the microscopic properties – the particle density, modulus of elasticity, particle–wall coefficient of restitution, particle–particle coefficient of restitution, and the particle–wall coefficient of friction – of maize grains and olives, required for use in DEM simulations. To make preliminary evaluation of the assay procedures, glass beads, a better known material, was also used. The apparatuses and experimental protocols employed are explained, the difficulties arising with each described, and the results obtained discussed.
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► By SEM, H. contortus exposed to tannin rich materials showed structural damage. ► Changes were found in the cuticle including aggregated material in the buccal area. ► Changes in ...the female reproductive system were found in vitro but not in vivo. ► The structural changes might affect worm motility, nutrition and reproduction.
The structural changes induced in adult Haemonchus contortus after in vitro and in vivo contact with a tannin-rich (TR) plant, either tzalam (Lysiloma latisiliquum) or sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia), were assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All the worms used in the study were adult females. The Haemonchus adult worms were obtained from the abomasum of infected donor goats. Adult H. contortus were kept in contact with the extracts of TR plants for 24h for the in vitro assays and were compared to worms maintained in PBS (control). For the in vivo studies, the adult H. contortus parasites were obtained from artificially infected goats. All the goats were fed a tannin-free diet until D27 post-infection when infection was patent. On D28 some goats were fed fodder of one of the TR plants for seven consecutive days. Thus, their H. contortus were in contact with TR fodder within the gastrointestinal tract. The control worms were obtained from goats fed only a tannin-free diet. In the in vitro assays and in vivo studies, the SEM observations revealed structural alterations in the worms after contact with TR plants when compared to the control worms (i.e.: longitudinal and transversal folds and thicker cuticular ridges, material aggregates around the buccal capsule and/or vulva or anus). The main changes concerned the cuticle and the buccal area. The structural changes found in the worms exposed to TR plants might affect their motility and nutrition with possible consequences on their reproduction, as suggested by previous in vivo trials.
•Multiple sclerosis: the second cause of neurological disability in young adults.•Depression is present in up to 50% of people with multiple sclerosis.•Physical limitations and mood disorders ...influence perception on quality of life.•Quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis must worries health personnel.
The aim of this work was to evaluate the quality of life of patients with multiple sclerosis and its association with depressive symptoms and physical health.
A total of 117 patients clinically diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) were studied. The MSQOL-54 scale was applied. The depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), while degree of physical disability was evaluated with the EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale). The results of these last two instruments were associated with MSQOL-54 to determine its influence on the perception of quality of life.
We evaluated 65 women (56%) and 52 men (44%), with a mean age of 35 years, a mean age of 27 years at the time of diagnosis, and a mean evolution of 8 years. 88% of the patients showed the relapsing-remitting subtype; 42% had paid employment; 29% of the studied patients required help to perform daily activities; 75% took disease-modifying medications. They obtained on average a score of 3.62 ± 2.30 on the EDSS and 11.5 ± 9.21 on the BDI. The general average in MSQOL-54 was 64.67 ± 17.52.
Quality of life, in patients with multiple sclerosis is an issue that worries health personnel, it is essential to implement strategies for reducing the impact of the disease on patients' lives, mainly through the application of programs aimed to decrees depression and improve social support.
According to diet‐regulation hypotheses, animals select food to regulate the intake of macronutrients or maximise energy feeding efficiency. Specifically, the nutrient balance model proposes that ...foraging is primarily a process of balancing multiple nutrients to achieve a nutritional intake target, while the energy maximisation model proposes that foraging aims to maximise energy.
Here, we evaluate the adjustment of fruit diets (the fruit‐derived component of the diets) to nutritional and energy intake targets, characterising the nutrient balance and energy maximisation strategies across fruit‐eating bird species with different fruit‐handling behaviours (‘gulpers’, which swallow whole fruits, and ‘mashers’, which process the fruit in the beak) in subtropical Andean forests. Food‐handling behaviour determines the food intake rate and, consequently, influences animal efficiency to obtain nutrients and energy.
We used extensive field data from the diet of fruit‐eating birds to test how species adjust their food intake. We used nutritional geometry to explore macronutrient balance and the effectiveness framework to explore energy‐acquisition effectiveness.
Observed diets showed a good fit with predictions of a diet balanced in macronutrient proportions. With few exceptions, diets clustered near an optimal macronutrient mixture and did not differ from each other in terms of maximising energy intake. Moreover, when comparing our results with a random diet based on local fruit availability, birds tended to fit better to the nutritional target, and less to the energy target, than expected from a random diet. Fruit‐handling behaviour did not affect the ability of bird species to reach a nutritional target but it affected species energy acquisition, which was lower in mashers than in gulpers.
This study explores for the first time different diet‐regulation strategies in wild fruit‐eating birds, and supports the argument that the diet reflects a specific regulation of macronutrients. Understanding why birds select fruits is a complex question requiring multiple considerations. The nutrient balance model explains the relevance of nutrient composition in the fruit selection by fruit‐eating birds, although it is still necessary to determine its relative importance with respect to other dietary drivers.
Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Resumen
De acuerdo con las hipótesis de regulación de la dieta, los animales seleccionan alimentos para regular la ingesta de macronutrientes o maximizar la eficiencia energética. Específicamente, el modelo de equilibrio de nutrientes propone que la búsqueda de alimento es un proceso de equilibrio de múltiples nutrientes para lograr un objetivo de ingesta nutricional, mientras que el modelo de maximización de energía propone que la búsqueda de alimento tiene como objetivo maximizar la energía.
Evaluamos el ajuste de las dietas de frutos (el componente de la dieta derivado de frutos) a los objetivos de ingesta nutricional y energético, caracterizando el equilibrio de nutrientes y las estrategias de maximización de energía en especies de aves que comen frutos con diferentes comportamientos (‘tragadores’, que tragan frutos enteros, y ‘machacadores’, que procesan el fruto en el pico) en bosques andinos subtropicales. El comportamiento de manipulación de los alimentos determina la tasa de ingesta de pulpa y, en consecuencia, influye en la eficiencia de los animales para obtener nutrientes y energía.
Utilizamos una extensa base de datos de la dieta de aves frugívoras para probar cómo ajustan las especies su ingesta de alimentos. Usamos geometría nutricional para explorar el equilibrio de macronutrientes y el marco conceptual de efectividad para explorar la efectividad de la adquisición de energía.
Las dietas observadas se ajustaron mejor a las predicciones de una dieta equilibrada en sus proporciones de macronutrientes. Salvo pocas excepciones, las dietas se agruparon cerca de una mezcla óptima de macronutrientes y no se diferenciaron entre sí en términos de maximizar la ingesta energética. Además, al comparar nuestros resultados con una dieta al azar basada en la disponibilidad local de frutos, las dietas se ajustaron mejor al objetivo nutricional y menos al objetivo de energía comparado a una dieta aleatoria. El comportamiento de manipulación del fruto no afectó la capacidad de las aves para alcanzar un objetivo nutricional, pero sí afectó su adquisición de energía, la que fue menor en los machacadores.
Este estudio explora por primera vez diferentes estrategias de regulación de la dieta en aves silvestres que comen frutos y respalda el argumento de que la dieta refleja una regulación específica de macronutrientes. Comprender por qué las aves eligen frutos es una cuestión compleja que requiere múltiples consideraciones. El modelo de balance de nutrientes explica la relevancia de la composición nutricional en la selección de frutos por parte de aves frugívoras, aunque todavía es necesario determinar su importancia relativa con respecto a otros determinantes de la dieta.
Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Bird foraging behaviour is a major factor involved in mutualistic interactions of fleshy-fruited plants. Despite much research, we still lack quantified demonstrations of how fruit display traits ...affect fruit removal behaviour. Although the fruit crop size hypothesis proposes a general mechanism for fruit trait selection, it overlooks the fact that distinctive bird behaviours in a bird assemblage would have different effects on fruit crop size. Here, we show that the relevance of fruit crop size for bird fruit consumption is driven by two basic components of fruit foraging behaviour: fruit handling and residence time. We assessed bird fruit-eating behaviour (fruit consumption, fruit handling and residence time) and its relationship with fruit crop size, taking into account body size and spatial focal context (conspecific neighbour density and distance to the forest edge from individual plants) in a population of Vassobia breviflora (Solanaceae) in Tucumán, Argentina. At the assemblage level, fruit consumption was positively related to fruit crop size and residence time, and the interaction between fruit crop size and residence time depended on fruit-handling behaviour. At the functional group level, both gulpers and pulp consumers showed a positive relationship between fruit consumption and residence time. However, gulpers showed a negative interaction between fruit crop size and residence time, while pulp consumers showed no interaction. At the species level, fruit consumption by Turdus rufiventris (gulper) was positively related to fruit crop size, whereas fruit consumption by Thraupis sayaca and Zonotrichia capensis (pulp consumers) depended positively on residence time. Essentially, gulpers spent short residence times in plants with larger fruit crops, whereas pulp consumers spent long residence times in plants regardless of fruit crop size. The segregation between fruit-eating behaviours and their relationship with fruit crop size suggests that bird functional groups (i.e. gulpers and pulp consumers) would shape fruit display traits with different intensities.
The production of biomass pellets and briquettes from agroforestry residues has increased rapidly in recent years. The design of machines, equipment and the infrastructure necessary for the handling, ...trans port and storage of these products has been an engineering challenge since, when moving, biomass does not usually flow as easily as other granular materials. The discrete element method （DEM） provides a means of studying the handling and silo discharge behaviour of granular solids as well as the distribution of the pressures exerted by such materials in silos. However, the development of such models requires certain properties of the particles in question to be known. The present work experimentally determines the true density, Young＇s modulus of elasticity （axial and radial）, the particleparticle restitution coeffi cient and the particlewall friction coefficientall variables that must be known in the construction of DEM modelsfor briquettes made from maize stalk, maize stalk plus pine wood chips, rice husk, vine shoots, raoe straw, cereal straw and sawdust olus cereal straw.
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