Health-Related Quality of Life and Disability among Older People with Chronic Kidney Disease

Background Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) has been characterised into five stages with CKD5 defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of < 15ml/min/1.73m2 and includes those receiving renal replacement therapy (RRT) (dialysis and transplantation) or those who are eligible for RRT but are not receiving treatment. In New Zealand (NZ) approximately 1000 individuals commence dialysis each year, with the majority aged between 65-74 years. Māori experience a two-fold higher rate of CKD5 compared to non-Māori. CKD5 has a potential to have a negative effect on an individual’s health-related quality of life (HRQoL). CKD5 is associated with disability. Little research has been completed to understand the impact of HRQoL on disability in people aged ≥65 years with CKD5. Aims The aims of the Health and Disability Study (H&D Study) presented in this thesis are to describe cross-sectional associations between HRQoL and disability among a cohort of older New Zealanders with CKD5, and to determine which factors at recruitment, including HRQoL, have the potential predict disability outcomes 12 months later; and to describe the HRQoL and disability outcomes for an older Māori cohort with CKD5. Methods A rapid review was completed to identify important models of HRQoL and disability, with a scoping review completed to identify existing research investigating HRQoL and disability in CKD patients. The dialysis outcomes in those aged ≥65 study (DOS65+ Study) was an “accelerated longitudinal” cohort which aimed to determine the HRQoL of those aged ≥65 years with CKD5, to aid in developing evidence-based guidelines for the management of CKD5 in older adults. This study analysed the baseline characteristics of the 225 participants in the DOS65+ Study to determine associations between HRQoL (EQ-5D-3L) and disability (WHODAS 2.0). Participants who were followed to 12 months (n=156) were analysed using modified Poisson regression with robust standard errors to identify which factors at recruitment, including HRQoL, predict disability outcomes 12 months later. Descriptive analyses were used to describe the Māori cohort (n=49) and their outcomes. Results Of the 223 participants analysed at baseline, those with 3 or more comorbidities were more likely to be disabled as were those with moderate-severe problems with the EQ-5D-3L dimensions of mobility, self-care, usual activities and anxiety/depression. The multivariable analyses indicate that those disabled at baseline were at an 86% higher risk of being disabled at 12 months. The HRQoL dimensions of self-care and mobility at baseline predicted disability at 12 months by 31% and 38% respectively. Dialysis vintage of ≥2 years was associated with lower disability. Within the Māori cohort, HRQoL and disability at baseline appear important in predicting disability at 12 months, however this result is limited due to small sample size. Discussion and Conclusion Issues with EQ-5D-3L mobility, self-care and disability at baseline predict disability at 12 months in this cohort. The EQ-5D-3L and WHODAS 2.0 allow for patients to determine how they perceive their HRQoL and disability which may be important in improving patients’ clinical experiences and therefore outcomes. Patient participation in assessing these HRQoL components and baseline disability could help with CKD5 education and planning for RRT

Hymn to the heroes of Malta

Ġabra ta’ poeżiji u proża li tinkludi: Alla fil-ħolqien ta’ Ġużè Agius Bonello – Is-sena u l-bniedem ta’ Ġużè Ellul-Mercer – Li tiżra’ taħsad ta’ Vic. Apap – Huwa ta’ Gino Muscat-Azzopardi – Żewġ friefet ta’ Vincent Caruana – Iċ-ċagħka ta’ Ġużè Borg – Warda midbiela ta’ C. Gauci – It-tfajla tas-sulfarini ta’ Albert M. Cassola – L-aħħar traduzzjoni ta’ May Butcher qabel ma mietet – Hymn to the heroes of Malta.N/

Influenza virus NS1 protein binds cellular DNA to block transcription of antiviral genes

Influenza NS1 protein is an important virulence factor that is capable of binding double-stranded (ds) RNA and inhibiting dsRNA-mediated host innate immune responses. Here we show that NS1 can also bind cellular dsDNA. This interaction prevents loading of transcriptional machinery to the DNA, thereby attenuating IAV-mediated expression of antiviral genes. Thus, we identified a previously undescribed strategy, by which RNA virus inhibits cellular transcription to escape antiviral response and secure its replication. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Molards as an analogue for ejecta-ice interactions on Mars

International audience&lt;p&gt;The 125-km-diameter Hale impact crater is located in the southern hemisphere of Mars and has been dated to 1 Ga (Early to Middle Amazonian; Jones et al., 2011). It is thought to have penetrated the martian cryosphere, because it hosts landforms indicating volatile mobilisation post-impact: its ejecta are lobate and bear channels, and the interior is pervasively pitted and hosts alluvial fans (Collins-May et al. 2020; El-Maarry et al., 2013; Jones et al., 2011; Tornabene et al., 2012). Here, we test the hypothesis that conical mounds found within the ejecta are &amp;#8220;molards&amp;#8221; by comparing them to terrestrial analogues. Molards are conical mounds of debris resulting from the degradation of blocks of ice-rich material which have been mobilised by a landslide and are found in periglacial environments (Morino et al., 2019).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Our study area (240x180 km) is in the South-East part of the Hale impact crater ejecta (36&amp;#176;&amp;#8211;39&amp;#176;S, 36&amp;#176;&amp;#8211;31&amp;#176;W). We analyse the spatial and topographic distribution of the conical mounds using orbital images from 25 cm/pixel to 15 m/pixel and measure their height, width and slope using 1 m/pixel elevation data. We then compare them to conical mounds on the deposits of the 2010 Mount Meager debris avalanche, Canada (Roberti et al. 2017) and of the 2000 Paatuut landslide in western Greenland (Dahl-Jensen et al. 2004).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The conical mounds of the Hale impact crater are located at the distal boundary of the thickest part of the ejecta blanket, which reflects the spatial distribution of mounds along the distal parts of the terminal lobe of the Mount Meager debris avalanche. Furthermore, mounds in the Hale impact crater have comparable shapes and flank slopes to molards in the Mount Meager and Paatuut case studies, but are one order of magnitude bigger. This size difference is consistent with the flow-depth that transported the blocks also being one order of magnitude bigger than on Earth.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We infer that conical mounds near the Hale impact crater are a result of fragmented blocks of ice-cemented regolith produced by the impact and transported by the ejecta flows, and finally degraded into cones of debris (molards) by the loss of interstitial ice. Our interpretation supports the prevailing hypothesis that the Hale impact event penetrated the martian cryosphere and further provides important constraints on the rheology of martian ejecta deposits that can be tested by future studies and in other locations on Mars.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We acknowledge financial support for the PERMOLARDS project from French National Research Agency (ANR-19-CE01-0010).&lt;/p&gt

Permafrost molards as an analogue for ejecta-ice interactions at Hale Crater, Mars

When the Hale impact crater penetrated the martian cryosphere 1Ga, landforms indicating post-impact volatile mobilisation were generated. We have found landforms in the ejecta blanket of Hale Crater similar to ‘permafrost molards’ found in periglacial environments on Earth, and probably related to the past or present presence of volatiles at/near the surface. Permafrost molards are conical mounds of debris associated with landslide deposits, resulting from the degradation of blocks of ice-rich material mobilised by a landslide in periglacial terrains. Here we analyse the spatial and topographic distribution of conical mounds around the Hale crater at regional and local scales, and compare them to those of molards on the deposits of the Mount Meager debris avalanche in Canada. Hale Crater's conical mounds are located at the distal boundary of the thickest ejecta blanket, which is the closest to the main crater. We observe a similar spatial arrangement of molards along the distal parts of the terminal lobe of the Mount Meager debris avalanche. We then compare the morphology and morphometrics of the conical mounds on Hale Crater to those of terrestrial molards on the Paatuut and Niiortuut rock avalanches in western Greenland. We find that morphology and setting of conical mounds within Hale Crater ejecta are consistent with the formation pathway of molards on Earth. We infer that they originated from blocks of ice-cemented regolith that were produced by the Hale-crater-forming impact, transported by the ejecta flows, and finally degraded to cones of debris (molards) on loss of the interstitial ice. The similarities in distribution between the ejecta flows of Hale and Mount Meager debris avalanche on Earth suggest that the mounds resulted from the rheological separation of the ejecta flows, with a relatively fluid-poor phase that allowed the volatile-rich blocks to survive transport. This supports the prevailing hypothesis that the Hale impact event penetrated the martian cryosphere, providing important constraints on the rheology of martian ejecta deposits

Investigation of activation energies for dissociation of host-guest complexes in the gas phase using low-energy collision induced dissociation

International audienceA low-energy collision induced dissociation CID (low-energy CID) approach that can determine both activation energy and activation entropy has been used to evaluate gas-phase binding energies of host-guest (H-G) complexes of a heteroditopic hemicryptophane cage host (Zn(II)@1) with a series of biologically-relevant guests. In order to use this approach, preliminary calibration of the effective temperature of ions undergoing resonance excitation is required. This was accomplished by employing blackbody infrared radiative dissociation (BIRD) which allows direct measurement of activation parameters. Activation energies and pre-exponential factors were evaluated for more than 10 host-guest (H-G) complexes via the use of low-energy CID. The relatively long residence time of the ions inside the linear ion trap (maximum of 60 s) allowed the study of dissociations with rates below 1 s-1. This possibility, along with the large size of the investigated ions, ensures the fulfilment of rapid energy exchange (REX) conditions, and as a consequence, accurate application of the Arrhenius equation. Compared to the BIRD technique, low-energy CID allows access to higher effective temperatures, thereby permitting one to probe more endothermic decomposition pathways. Based on the measured activation parameters, guests bearing a phosphate (-OPO3 2-) functional group were found to bind more strongly with the encapsulating cage than those having a sulfonate (-SO3-) group; however, the latter ones make stronger bonds than those with a carboxylate (-CO2-) group. In addition, it was observed that the presence of trimethylammonium (-N(CH3)3 +) or phenyl groups in the guest's structure, improves the strength of host-guest interactions. The use of this technique is very straightforward, and it does not require any instrumental modifications. Thus, it can be applied to other H-G chemistry studies where comparison of bond dissociation energies is of paramount importance

Lil ommi

Ġabra ta’ poeżiji u proża li tinkludi: Innu tas-Soċjetà tad-Duttrina Nisranija - M.U.S.E.U.M. ta’ Dun Karm – Ħġejjeġ ta’ Wallace Gulia – Maskarata ta’ Ġużè Chetcuti – Misterju ta’ Ġużi Abela – Lill-kewkba żahrija ta’ Val. V. Barbara – Dawk il-ġarar tal-brandy ta’ J. E. Busuttil – Marida ta’ Vincent Caruana – Meta jdur ir-riħ! ta’ Ivo Muscat-Azzopardi – Lill-Madonna tat-taraġ ta’ Dun Frans Camilleri – Fid-dar ta’ John Keats ta’ Anġ. Dougall – A legend traduzzjoni ta’ May Butcher mir-Russu ta’ A. Pleshcheief – Leġġenda – Għeluq is-sena mill-mewt ta’ missieri ta’ Clo. Gauci – Ġirien Marju ta’ Ġeraldu Azzopardi – Innu tat-tfal tad-duttrina ta’ Val. V. Barbara – Lil Anton Buttigieg, poeta Malti ta’ Dun Pawl Cauchi – Misserijietna ta’ M. Agius – Fir-razzett ta’ Katarin ta’ A. Buttigieg – Lil ommi ta’ Vincenzo Ungaro.N/

Development and Capabilities of ISS Flow Boiling and Condensation Experiment

An experimental facility to perform flow boiling and condensation experiments in long duration microgravity environment is being designed for operation on the International Space Station (ISS). This work describes the design of the subsystems of the FBCE including the Fluid subsystem modules, data acquisition, controls, and diagnostics. Subsystems and components are designed within the constraints of the ISS Fluid Integrated Rack in terms of power availability, cooling capability, mass and volume, and most importantly the safety requirements. In this work we present the results of ground-based performance testing of the FBCE subsystem modules and test module which consist of the two condensation modules and the flow boiling module. During this testing, we evaluated the pressure drop profile across different components of the fluid subsystem, heater performance, on-orbit degassing subsystem, heat loss from different modules and components, and performance of the test modules. These results will be used in the refinement of the flight system design and build-up of the FBCE which is manifested for flight in late 2017-early 2018