SARS-CoV-2 modulates virus receptor expression in placenta and can induce trophoblast fusion, inflammation and endothelial permeability

SARS-CoV-2 is a devastating virus that induces a range of immunopathological mechanisms including cytokine storm, apoptosis, inflammation and complement and coagulation pathway hyperactivation. However, how the infection impacts pregnant mothers is still being worked out due to evidence of vertical transmission of the SARS-CoV-2, and higher incidence of preeclampsia, preterm birth, caesarian section, and fetal mortality. In this study, we assessed the levels of the three main receptors of SARS-CoV-2 (ACE2, TMPRSS2 and CD147) in placentae derived from SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative mothers. Moreover, we measured the effects of Spike protein on placental cell lines, in addition to their susceptibility to infection. SARS-CoV-2 negative placentae showed elevated levels of CD147 and considerably low amount of TMPRSS2, making them non-permissive to infection. SARS-CoV-2 presence upregulated TMPRSS2 expression in syncytiotrophoblast and cytotrophoblast cells, thereby rendering them amenable to infection. The non-permissiveness of placental cells can be due to their less fusogenicity due to infection. We also found that Spike protein was capable of inducing proinflammatory cytokine production, syncytiotrophoblast apoptosis and increased vascular permeability. These events can elicit pre-eclampsia-like syndrome that marks a high percentage of pregnancies when mothers areinfected with SARS-CoV-2. Our study raises important points relevant to SARSCoV- 2 mediated adverse pregnancy outcomes

Search for Gravitational Waves from Intermediate Mass Binary Black Holes

We present the results of a weakly modeled burst search for gravitational waves from mergers of non-spinning intermediate mass black holes (IMBH) in the total mass range 100--450 solar masses and with the component mass ratios between 1:1 and 4:1. The search was conducted on data collected by the LIGO and Virgo detectors between November of 2005 and October of 2007. No plausible signals were observed by the search which constrains the astrophysical rates of the IMBH mergers as a function of the component masses. In the most efficiently detected bin centered on 88+88 solar masses, for non-spinning sources, the rate density upper limit is 0.13 per Mpc^3 per Myr at the 90% confidence level.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures: data for plots and archived public version at https://dcc.ligo.org/cgi-bin/DocDB/ShowDocument?docid=62326, see also the public announcement at http://www.ligo.org/science/Publication-S5IMBH

CMS physics technical design report : Addendum on high density QCD with heavy ions

Peer reviewe

Practice patterns and 90-day treatment-related morbidity in early-stage cervical cancer

To evaluate the impact of the Laparoscopic Approach to Cervical Cancer (LACC) Trial on patterns of care and surgery-related morbidity in early-stage cervical cancer

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

A state observer for the Virgo inverted pendulum

International audienceWe report an application of Kalman filtering to the inverted pendulum (IP) of the Virgo gravitational wave interferometer. Using subspace method system identification techniques, we calculated a linear mechanical model of Virgo IP from experimental transfer functions. We then developed a Kalman filter, based on the obtained state space representation, that estimates from open loop time domain data, the state variables of the system. This allows the observation (and eventually control) of every resonance mode of the IP mechanical structure independently

Preserving and comunicating unique depositional geometries through photogrammetric techniques: the Agolla case study (Umbria-Marche Apennines)

Conserving geological heritage is pivotal in improving the fruition of geological resources. Preserving significant geological outcrops is even compelling when the site concerned quickly undergoes natural processes of geological and environmental evolution. An efficient and not expensive tool to ward and communicate geological features is represented by photogrammetry and 3D models, with the possibility to create large-shared database. A paradigmatic case is represented by the Jurassic Agolla outcrop (Umbria-Marche Apennines, Italy). The Umbria-Marche Basin displays a well-known Jurassic stratigraphy, controlled by an Early Jurassic extensional phase, which caused the fragmentation of a huge carbonate platform (“Calcare Massiccio”, Hettangian). Tectonics produced the drowning of the benthic factory and a complex submarine paleo-topography characterized by structural highs and lows (with consequent thickness and facies variations of the syn- and post-rift deposits). The pre-rift “Calcare Massiccio” was exposed along the horst-block margins forming morphological escarpments affected by episodic failures. The resulting rock-fall deposits (paleobreccia), topographically higher with respect to the basin floor, could represent preferential sites to host condensed facies (epi-breccia deposits) before being definitively sealed by the basin-fill deposits. The studied outcrop is a paleobreccia made of markedly angular “Calcare Massiccio” blocks (> 1 m longer axis). The boulders are draped by fossil-rich epi-breccia pelagites belonging to the “Bugarone” Group (late Kimmeridgian in age), in turn covered by the “Calcari a Saccocoma e Aptici” Fm. passing upward to the “Maiolica” Fm (late Tithonian). Taking into account the uniqueness of such outcrops and their importance in reconstructing the basin architecture, 3D models were performed. In these models, the sedimentological and paleontological details are faithfully reproduced, as well as the stratigraphic relationships between different litostratigraphic units are emphasized. The obtained model can be used to objectively convey to the scientific community raw data used for inferences and geological reconstructions. A shared database (in which to upload the obtained interactive models) could represents a fundamental tool for communication and exchange of punctual geological information, providing to all users the possibility to analyse the ‘digital outcrop’ from any perspective or angulation in a three-dimensional space. In conclusion, 3D photogrammetry proved to be an effective and powerful tool in preserving, fairly and over time, information with regional or global significance