Ultra High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy of Matrix Mineral Grains in CM Chondrites: Preaccretionary or Parent Body Aqueous Processing?

CM chondrites are highly hydrated meteorites associated with a parent asteroid that has experienced significant aqueous processing. The meteoritic evidence indicates that these non-differentiated asteroids are formed by fine-grained minerals embedded in a nanometric matrix that preserves chemical clues of the forming environment. So far there are two hypothesis to explain the presence of hydrated minerals in the content of CM chondrites: one is based on textural features in chondrule-rim boundaries [1-3], and the other ‘preaccretionary’ hypothesis proposes the incorporation of hydrated phases from the protoplanetary disk [4-6]. The highly porous structure of these chondrites is inherited from the diverse materials present in the protoplanetary disk environment. These bodies were presumably formed by low relative velocity encounters that led to the accretion of silicate-rich chondrules, refractory Ca- and Al-rich inclusions (CAIs), metal grains, and the fine-grained materials forming the matrix. Owing to the presence of significant terrestrial water in meteorite finds [7], here we have focused on two CM chondrite falls with minimal terrestrial processing: Murchison and Cold Bokkeveld. Anhydrous carbonaceous chondrite matrices are usually represented by highly chemically unequilibrated samples that contain distinguishable stellar grains. Other chondrites have experienced hydration and chemical homogeneization that reveal parent body processes. We have studied CM chondrites because these meteorites have experienced variable hydration levels [8-10]. It is important to study the textural effects of aqueous alteration in the main minerals to decipher which steps and environments promote bulk chemistry changes, and create the distinctive alteration products. It is thought that aqueous alteration has particularly played a key role in modifying primordial bulk chemistry, and homogenizing the isotopic content of fine-grained matrix materials [7, 11, 12]. Fortunately, the mineralogy produced by parent-body and terrestrial aqueous alteration processes is distinctive [5, 11]

Ultra High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy of Matrix Mineral Grains in CM Chondrites: Preaccretionary or Parent Body Aqueous Processing?

CM chondrites are highly hydrated meteorites associated with a parent asteroid that has experienced significant aqueous processing. The meteoritic evidence indicates that these non-differentiated asteroids are formed by fine-grained minerals embedded in a nanometric matrix that preserves chemical clues of the forming environment. So far there are two hypothesis to explain the presence of hydrated minerals in the content of CM chondrites: one is based on textural features in chondrule-rim boundaries [1-3], and the other ‘preaccretionary’ hypothesis proposes the incorporation of hydrated phases from the protoplanetary disk [4-6]. The highly porous structure of these chondrites is inherited from the diverse materials present in the protoplanetary disk environment. These bodies were presumably formed by low relative velocity encounters that led to the accretion of silicate-rich chondrules, refractory Ca- and Al-rich inclusions (CAIs), metal grains, and the fine-grained materials forming the matrix. Owing to the presence of significant terrestrial water in meteorite finds [7], here we have focused on two CM chondrite falls with minimal terrestrial processing: Murchison and Cold Bokkeveld. Anhydrous carbonaceous chondrite matrices are usually represented by highly chemically unequilibrated samples that contain distinguishable stellar grains. Other chondrites have experienced hydration and chemical homogeneization that reveal parent body processes. We have studied CM chondrites because these meteorites have experienced variable hydration levels [8-10]. It is important to study the textural effects of aqueous alteration in the main minerals to decipher which steps and environments promote bulk chemistry changes, and create the distinctive alteration products. It is thought that aqueous alteration has particularly played a key role in modifying primordial bulk chemistry, and homogenizing the isotopic content of fine-grained matrix materials [7, 11, 12]. Fortunately, the mineralogy produced by parent-body and terrestrial aqueous alteration processes is distinctive [5, 11]

Sequence analysis of ORF94 in different white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) isolates of Iran

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a pathogen that causes high mortality in shrimp culture in the whole world. Sequence analysis of WSSV has shown similarity of WSSV isolates in different countries with exception of a few variable genomic loci. This study investigated the sequence variation of some Iranian WSSV isolates and previously identified isolates. Samples were collected during target surveillance and were feed, broodstock, post-larvae, artemia, crabs, and wild and cultured shrimp of northern Persian Gulf (Boushehr and Khuzestan provinces). The open reading frame (ORF) 94 sequence of different Iranian WSSV isolates were amplified using specific primers from positive samples. The ORFs 94 sequence of positive samples were sequenced and registered in the Gene Bank and then compared to other WSSV isolates. The number of repeat units in ORF94 showed that WSSV isolates were varied in number. There are SNPs (G and T) in position 48 of RUs that varies in different Boushehr and Khuzestan isolates. Also these sequences were compared to Gene Bank WSSV isolates and showed a high similarity (>90%) to Southeast Asian countries. To our knowledge this is the first report of sequence analysis in Iranian WSSV isolates applications

Multiple current reversals in forced inhomogeneous ratchets

Transport properties of overdamped Brownian paricles in a rocked thermal ratchet with space dependent friction coefficient is studied. By tuning the parameters, the direction of current exhibit multiple reversals, both as a function of the thermal noise strength as well as the amplitude of rocking force. Current reversals also occur under deterministic conditions and exhibits intriguing structure. All these features arise due to mutual interplay between potential asymmetry,noise, driving frequency and inhomogeneous friction.Comment: 6 figure

IFNL4 ss469415590 polymorphism is associated with unfavourable clinical and immunological status in HIV-infected individuals

AbstractThe IFNL4 ss469415590 polymorphism, in high linkage disequilibrium with the IL28B rs12979860 variant, has been associated with hepatitis C virus clearance. We evaluated whether ss469415590 is associated with clinical and immunovirological parameters in human immunodeficiency virus-infected subjects. We found an independent association of the IFNL4 ss469415590 polymorphism with higher prevalence of AIDS-defining illnesses and lower CD4 T cell numbers. These results suggest the existence of common host defence mechanisms against different viral infections

Evolution of the use of corticosteroids for the treatment of hospitalised COVID-19 patients in Spain between March and November 2020: SEMI-COVID national registry

Objectives: Since the results of the RECOVERY trial, WHO recommendations about the use of corticosteroids (CTs) in COVID-19 have changed. The aim of the study is to analyse the evolutive use of CTs in Spain during the pandemic to assess the potential influence of new recommendations. Material and methods: A retrospective, descriptive, and observational study was conducted on adults hospitalised due to COVID-19 in Spain who were included in the SEMI-COVID- 19 Registry from March to November 2020. Results: CTs were used in 6053 (36.21%) of the included patients. The patients were older (mean (SD)) (69.6 (14.6) vs. 66.0 (16.8) years; p < 0.001), with hypertension (57.0% vs. 47.7%; p < 0.001), obesity (26.4% vs. 19.3%; p < 0.0001), and multimorbidity prevalence (20.6% vs. 16.1%; p < 0.001). These patients had higher values (mean (95% CI)) of C-reactive protein (CRP) (86 (32.7-160) vs. 49.3 (16-109) mg/dL; p < 0.001), ferritin (791 (393-1534) vs. 470 (236- 996) µg/dL; p < 0.001), D dimer (750 (430-1400) vs. 617 (345-1180) µg/dL; p < 0.001), and lower Sp02/Fi02 (266 (91.1) vs. 301 (101); p < 0.001). Since June 2020, there was an increment in the use of CTs (March vs. September; p < 0.001). Overall, 20% did not receive steroids, and 40% received less than 200 mg accumulated prednisone equivalent dose (APED). Severe patients are treated with higher doses. The mortality benefit was observed in patients with oxygen saturation </=90%. Conclusions: Patients with greater comorbidity, severity, and inflammatory markers were those treated with CTs. In severe patients, there is a trend towards the use of higher doses. The mortality benefit was observed in patients with oxygen saturation </=90%

Trends and outcome of neoadjuvant treatment for rectal cancer: A retrospective analysis and critical assessment of a 10-year prospective national registry on behalf of the Spanish Rectal Cancer Project

Introduction: Preoperative treatment and adequate surgery increase local control in rectal cancer. However, modalities and indications for neoadjuvant treatment may be controversial. Aim of this study was to assess the trends of preoperative treatment and outcomes in patients with rectal cancer included in the Rectal Cancer Registry of the Spanish Associations of Surgeons. Method: This is a STROBE-compliant retrospective analysis of a prospective database. All patients operated on with curative intention included in the Rectal Cancer Registry were included. Analyses were performed to compare the use of neoadjuvant/adjuvant treatment in three timeframes: I)2006–2009; II)2010–2013; III)2014–2017. Survival analyses were run for 3-year survival in timeframes I-II. Results: Out of 14, 391 patients, 8871 (61.6%) received neoadjuvant treatment. Long-course chemo/radiotherapy was the most used approach (79.9%), followed by short-course radiotherapy ± chemotherapy (7.6%). The use of neoadjuvant treatment for cancer of the upper third (15-11 cm) increased over time (31.5%vs 34.5%vs 38.6%, p = 0.0018). The complete regression rate slightly increased over time (15.6% vs 16% vs 18.5%; p = 0.0093); the proportion of patients with involved circumferential resection margins (CRM) went down from 8.2% to 7.3%and 5.5% (p = 0.0004). Neoadjuvant treatment significantly decreased positive CRM in lower third tumors (OR 0.71, 0.59–0.87, Cochrane-Mantel-Haenszel P = 0.0008). Most ypN0 patients also received adjuvant therapy. In MR-defined stage III patients, preoperative treatment was associated with significantly longer local-recurrence-free survival (p < 0.0001), and cancer-specific survival (p < 0.0001). The survival benefit was smaller in upper third cancers. Conclusion: There was an increasing trend and a potential overuse of neoadjuvant treatment in cancer of the upper rectum. Most ypN0 patients received postoperative treatment. Involvement of CRM in lower third tumors was reduced after neoadjuvant treatment. Stage III and MRcN + benefited the most

Measurements of differential production cross sections for a Z boson in association with jets in pp collisions at root s=8 TeV

Peer reviewe

Search for leptophobic Z ' bosons decaying into four-lepton final states in proton-proton collisions at root s=8 TeV

Peer reviewe