Introduction
On March 11th, 2020, the WHO declared the SARS‐Cov‐2 pandemic. Syndromes have been detected in relation to COVID‐19 such as encephalitis, acute necrotizing hemorrhagic encephalopathy and ...cerebrovascular complications. There are also cases of peripheral nervous system involvement.
Methods
Our case would be the 3rd patient with MFS associated with COVID‐19 as far as we know.
Results
We present a 51 years old female diagnosed with MFS two weeks after COVID‐19. RTPCR to SARS‐CoV‐2 was negative but IgG was positive.
Conclusion
Most of the cases were mild or moderate with typical signs and symptoms. All were treated with IV immunoglobulin with good response in most cases. Despite the short evolution time of the cases surviving the current pandemic, the description of cases of post‐infectious neurological syndromes suggests that this is probably not an infrequent complication in the subacute stage of Covid‐19 disease.
Context. Accretion of gas from the intergalactic medium is required to fuel star formation in galaxies. We have recently suggested that this process can be studied using host galaxies of gamma-ray ...bursts (GRBs). Aims. Our aim is to test this possibility by studying in detail the properties of gas in the closest galaxy hosting a GRB (980425). Methods. We obtained the first ever far-infrared (FIR) line observations of a GRB host, namely Herschel/PACS resolved C ii 158 μm and O i 63 μm spectroscopy, and an APEX/SHeFI CO(2–1) line detection and ALMA CO(1–0) observations of the GRB 980425 host. Results. The GRB 980425 host has elevated C ii/FIR and O i/FIR ratios and higher values of star formation rates (SFR) derived from line (C ii, O i, Hα) than from continuum (UV, IR, radio) indicators. C ii emission exhibits a normal morphology, peaking at the galaxy centre, whereas O i is concentrated close to the GRB position and the nearby Wolf-Rayet region. The high O i flux indicates that there is high radiation field and high gas density at these positions, as derived from modelling of photo-dissociation regions. The C ii/CO luminosity ratio of the GRB 980425 host is close to the highest values found for local star-forming galaxies. Indeed, its CO-derived molecular gas mass is low given its SFR and metallicity, but the C ii-derived molecular gas mass is close to the expected value. Conclusions. The O i and H i concentrations and the high radiation field and density close to the GRB position are consistent with the hypothesis of a very recent (at most a few tens of Myr ago) inflow of atomic gas triggering star formation. In this scenario dust has not had time to build up (explaining high line-to-continuum ratios). Such a recent enhancement of star formation activity would indeed manifest itself in high SFRline/SFRcontinuum ratios because the line indicators are sensitive only to recent (≲10 Myr) activity, whereas the continuum indicators measure the SFR averaged over much longer periods (~100 Myr). Within a sample of 32 other GRB hosts, 20 exhibit SFRline/SFRcontinuum> 1 with a mean ratio of 1.74 ± 0.32. This is consistent with a very recent enhancement of star formation that is common among GRB hosts, so galaxies that have recently experienced inflow of gas may preferentially host stars exploding as GRBs. Therefore GRBs may be used to select a unique sample of galaxies that is suitable for the investigation of recent gas accretion.
Seventeen Middle Pleistocene crania from the Sima de los Huesos site (Atapuerca, Spain) are analyzed, including seven new specimens. This sample makes it possible to thoroughly characterize a Middle ...Pleistocene hominin paleodeme and to address hypotheses about the origin and evolution of the Neandertals. Using a variety of techniques, the hominin-bearing layer could be reassigned to a period around 430,000 years ago. The sample shows a consistent morphological pattern with derived Neandertal features present in the face and anterior vault, many of which are related to the masticatory apparatus. This suggests that facial modification was the first step in the evolution of the Neandertal lineage, pointing to a mosaic pattern of evolution, with different anatomical and functional modules evolving at different rates.
The unexpectedly high flux of cosmic-ray positrons detected at Earth may originate from nearby astrophysical sources, dark matter, or unknown processes of cosmic-ray secondary production. We report ...the detection, using the High-Altitude Water Cherenkov Observatory (HAWC), of extended tera–electron volt gamma-ray emission coincident with the locations of two nearby middle-aged pulsars (Geminga and PSR B0656+14). The HAWC observations demonstrate that these pulsars are indeed local sources of accelerated leptons, but the measured tera–electron volt emission profile constrains the diffusion of particles away from these sources to be much slower than previously assumed. We demonstrate that the leptons emitted by these objects are therefore unlikely to be the origin of the excess positrons, which may have a more exotic origin.
Aim: Mediterranean terrestrial ecosystems serve as reference laboratories for the investigation of global change because of their transitional climate, the high spatiotemporal variability of their ...environmental conditions, a rich and unique biodiversity and a wide range of socio-economic conditions. As scientific development and environmental pressures increase, it is increasingly necessary to evaluate recent progress and to challenge research priorities in the face of global change. Location: Mediterranean terrestrial ecosystems. Methods: This article revisits the research priorities proposed in a 1998 assessment. Results: A new set of research priorities is proposed: (1) to establish the role of the landscape mosaic on fire-spread; (2) to further research the combined effect of different drivers on pest expansion; (3) to address the interaction between drivers of global change and recent forest management practices; (4) to obtain more realistic information on the impacts of global change and ecosystem services; (5) to assess forest mortality events associated with climatic extremes; (6) to focus global change research on identifying and managing vulnerable areas; (7) to use the functional traits concept to study resilience after disturbance; (8) to study the relationship between genotypic and phenotypic diversity as a source of forest resilience; (9) to understand the balance between storage and water resources; (10) to analyse the interplay between landscape-scale processes and biodiversity conservation; (11) to refine models by including interactions between drivers and socio-economic contexts; (12) to understand forest-atmosphere feedbacks; (13) to represent key mechanisms linking plant hydraulics with landscape hydrology. Main conclusions: (1) The interactive nature of different global change drivers remains poorly understood. (2) There is a critical need for the rapid development of regional-and global-scale models that are more tightly connected with largescale experiments, data networks and management practice. (3) More attention should be directed to drought-related forest decline and the current relevance of historical land use.
Surfactant‐templating is a versatile method to introduce tailored intracrystalline mesoporosity in zeolites. This method has been proven to be extremely effective to finely control both the amount of ...mesoporosity and the size of their mesopores, while maintaining the main features of the original zeolite, such as crystallinity, acidity, and hydrothermal stability. By building on the knowledge generated during the last 30 years in the field of amorphous mesoporous materials, the surfactant‐templating method has been successfully applied to develop intracrystalline mesoporosity into a variety of zeolite structures including FAU, BEA, MOR, LTL, and MFI. The improvement in both the textural and diffusional properties of the zeolite results in excellent catalytic performances in different industrially relevant processes, ranging from fluid catalytic cracking to the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients. As a result of the excellent catalytic performances shown by the surfactant‐templated mesoporous Y zeolite, this is currently being used in several refineries, being the first industrial and large‐scale application of hierarchical zeolites. In this progress report, the literature regarding the surfactant‐templating method in zeolites is critically reviewed.
This review provides a critical overview of the progress, current challenges, and future opportunities of surfactant‐templated zeolites, highlighting (i) the importance of fine‐tuning the synthetic parameters for the development of intracrystalline mesoporosity in zeolites, (ii) the advanced in situ techniques currently available for the characterization of their hierarchical architecture, and (iii) both their current and potential applications in catalysis and beyond.
Background
The main objective of this study was to describe the inflammatory status of adolescents with Down syndrome (DS) and their relationship with adiposity.
Methods
Ninety‐five adolescents with ...DS (44.2% girls) and a control group of 113 adolescents (47.8% girls), aged between 11 and 18 years old, from the UP & DOWN study were included in this substudy. Serum C‐reactive protein, C3 and C4 complement factors, total proteins, interleukin‐6, tumour necrosis factor‐α, insulin, cortisol, leptin, adiponectin, galactin‐3 and visfatin were analysed; homeostatic model assessment index was calculated. In order to evaluate adiposity, we measured the following body fat variables: weight, height, waist circumference and skinfold thicknesses. Birth weight was obtained by questionnaire. In addition, body mass index, waist‐to‐height ratio (WHtR) and body fat percentage (BF%) were calculated.
Results
Down syndrome group showed higher levels of body mass index, WHtR, waist circumference, BF% and lower birth weight than controls (P < 0.001). In the general linear model in the total sample, WHtR was positively associated with C3 and C4 (P < 0.001) as well as with leptin levels (P = 0.015). BF% was positively associated with total proteins (P = 0.093) and leptin levels (P < 0.001). DS was positively associated with total proteins (P < 0.001), C3 (P = 0.047) and C4 (P = 0.019). Despite the higher levels of adiposity found in DS group, no direct association was found between BF% and leptin levels, comparing with the control group.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that abdominal obesity should be controlled in adolescents because of its relationship with acute phase‐inflammatory biomarkers but especially in DS adolescents who may show a peculiar metabolic status according to their relationship between adiposity and inflammatory biomarkers.
Zeolite interconversion is a widely used strategy due to its unique advantages in the synthesis of some zeolites. By using a long-chain quaternary amine as both a structure-directing agent and ...porogen, we have produced superior catalysts, which we named Hybrid Zeolites, as their structures are made of building units of different zeolite types. The properties of these materials can be conveniently tuned, and their catalytic performance can be optimized simply by stopping the interconversion at different times. For cracking the 1,3,5-triisopropylbenzene, Hybrid Zeolites made of FAU and MFI units show a 5-fold increase in selectivity towards the desired product, that is, 1,3-diisopropylbenzene, compared to the commercial FAU, and a 7-fold increase in conversion at constant selectivity compared to MFI zeolite.
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) isolates are classified in two different genotypes, based on genomic heterogeneity: type 1, which comprises European type isolates, and ...type 2, which includes North American type isolates. It is believed that members of both genotypes differ in some biological properties including pathogenicity, however extensive studies comparing isolates of both genotypes have never been carried out. The objective of the present study was to compare the pathogenic properties of six different PRRSV isolates, three of type 1 and three of type 2, in a young pig infection model. For this purpose, a total of 105 3-week-old piglets were divided in 7 groups of 15 animals that were exposed on day 0 of the experiment to one of the six isolates tested or were mock infected (negative control group). Clinical signs and rectal temperatures were recorded daily and blood samples were taken on days 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21 of the experiment. On days 7, 14 and 21 post-inoculation five animals per group were sacrificed, macroscopic lung lesions were evaluated and different tissue samples were collected to determine viral organic distribution. The results obtained indicate that type 2 isolates are more pneumovirulent than type 1 isolates, as demonstrated by the recording of respiratory clinical signs only in pigs exposed to type 2 viruses and by the severity of macroscopic and microscopic lung lesions in those pigs. However, no clear differences could be established between genotypes in systemic clinical signs or viral load and viral distribution after challenge. These results support the general idea that type 2 isolates induce more severe respiratory disease than type 1 isolates.
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•Growing cruciferous vegetables under conventional or organic conditions does not guarantee a higher content in beneficial compounds.•60–78 % of the glucosinolates initially present ...in the leaves of this plant species would be capable of reaching human enterocytes.•Ca, Cu, Se and Zn bioaccessibility in green tissues of cruciferous was also high.•Glucosinolates and trace elements bioaccessibility of cruciferous seeds were extremely low (below 1%).•Cruciferous could be included as a part of a balanced, healthy diet.
Green tissues and seeds from cruciferous vegetables growing in conventional and ecological conditions (Brassica carinata; Brassica rapa; Eruca vesicaria and Sinapis alba) were analyzed to determine their contents of glucosinolates, isotihiocyanates (ITCs) and inorganic micronutrients (Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Se and Zn), and the bioaccessibility of these compounds. Regarding total contents and bioaccessibility values of these compounds, no clear difference was found between the organic and conventional systems. Glucosinolates bioaccessibility present in green tissues were high, with values around 60–78%. In additon, it was quantified in bioaccessible fraction ITCs concentrations such as Allyl – ITC; 3 – Buten – 1 – yl – ITC and 4 – Penten – 1 – yl – ITC. Trace elements bioaccessibility in green tissues was also high for Ca (2.26–7.66 mg/g), Cu (0.60–2.78 µg/g), Se (9.93–74.71 µg/Kg) and Zn (12.98–20.15 µg/g). By contrast, the bioaccessibility of glucosinolates and trace elements in cruciferous seeds was extremely low. With the exception of Cu, these bioaccessibility percentages did not exceed 1% in most cases.