An Atypical Presentation of Cystic Echinococcosis

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is an infection caused by the Echinococcus granulosus tapeworm. CE generally manifests in the liver, but it may present in any organ. These patients often first present to the emergency department. Mortality over 10 years is significant for those who go undiagnosed. We report the case of a 34-year-old patient who immigrated from Yemen six years earlier. She presented with acute onset dysuria, suprapubic pain, and fever. Imaging revealed a primary multicystic mass on the right renal pole with a secondary lesion in the right hepatic lobe. On further investigation, the patient’s serum was positive for echinococcus antibodies

Demystifying Water Microbiomes in Engineered Ecosystems: From Drinking Water Distribution Systems to Saline Activated Sludge

Asala will defend her PhD on April 8, 2025, at 14:30 in the Aula of the Academy Building, presenting her research on the integration of machine learning with meta-omics datasets to advance our understanding of microbial dynamics wastewater microbiomes. While these advancements have provided valuable insights, applying them to optimize treatment processes remains a challenge. Her thesis addresses this gap by exploring the operational applicability of meta-omics data in water and wastewater treatment, leveraging machine learning approaches to bridge the divide between theory and practice.A comprehensive literature review first synthesizes current applications of data-driven metagenomics in drinking water distribution systems (DWDS), highlighting microbial community dynamics and knowledge gaps. Next, a case study on microbiomes in saline activated sludge is presented, providing a detailed metatranscriptomic dataset from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and insights into microbial functions. The thesis introduces the innovative Diversity-Informed Valuation of Ecosystem Functioning (DIVE) framework, which links microbial community structure to ecosystem functionality, extending biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) theory to wastewater microbiomes.Additionally, recursive feature elimination (RFE) with machine learning models is applied to identify operational parameters that influence microbial diversity and treatment efficiency. Analysis of microbiome composition and metabolic diversity reveals functional redundancy in saline activated sludge bacteriota as a key factor in system performance. Furthermore, stress response genes in saline activated sludge are analyzed to elucidate microbial adaptation mechanisms under extreme conditions.The findings of this research provide a framework for microbiome-informed optimization of wastewater treatment, with broader implications for microbial ecosystem management and bioremediation

Characterisation of ATI 718Plus produced by wire-arc additive manufacturing process: microstructure and properties

ATI 718Plus is a γ'-strengthened variant of the extensively used Alloy 718 which was developed in a bid to enhance the operating temperatures of Alloy 718, in aero-engines and power-plants. To facilitate the application of this alloy, several studies have been performed to investigate the microstructure and properties of ATI 718Plus produced by using the conventional processes that are used to manufacture Alloy 718. However, there is the lack of detailed information on the microstructure and associated properties of the ATI 718Plus produced by additive manufacturing (AM). This research work is therefore carried out to comprehensively characterise the microstructure and the corresponding properties of ATI 718Plus produced by wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM), which is a low-cost but high deposition AM technique. Extensive segregation of the alloying elements is observed in WAAM ATI 718Plus. Alloying elements like Nb, Ti, and Mo significantly partitioned into the interdendritic regions of the deposit promoting the formation of secondary phase particles, identified as the detrimental Laves phase and MC-type carbides. The segregation of Nb and Ti also prompted the inhomogeneous precipitation of strengthening phase (γ' and γ" precipitates) within the deposit. In the as-processed condition, WAAM ATI 718Plus display an inferior dynamic impact resistance compared to the wrought ATI 718Plus. This is attributed to the presence of solidification constituents and the inhomogeneous distribution of the strengthening phase precipitates. Similarly, WAAM ATI 718Plus, in the as-processed condition, exhibits a significantly lower hot corrosion resistance in comparison to the wrought alloy. The depletion of Nb and Mo in the dendrite core regions, decreases the local corrosion resistance of the alloy, leading to accelerated degradation of the as-processed alloy. Based on the understanding accrued from electron microscopy and spectroscopy techniques and in corroboration with thermodynamic calculations, post-deposition heat treatment is developed to improve the microstructure of the additive manufactured alloy. The post-deposition heat treatment comprises a homogenisation treatment prior to the application of the standard heat treatment and aging. A significant improvement is observed in the dynamic impact response and the hot corrosion resistance after subjecting the WAAM ATI 718Plus to the newly developed post deposition heat treatment procedure.October 201

A sequence-independent strategy for amplification and characterisation of episomal badnavirus sequences reveals three previously uncharacterised yam badnaviruses

Yam (Dioscorea spp.) plants are potentially hosts to a diverse range of badnavirus species (genus Badnavirus, family Caulimoviridae), but their detection is complicated by the existence of integrated badnavirus sequences in some yam genomes. To date, only two badnavirus genomes have been characterised, namely, Dioscorea bacilliform AL virus (DBALV) and Dioscorea bacilliform SN virus (DBSNV). A further 10 tentative species in yam have been described based on their partial reverse transcriptase (RT)-ribonuclease H (RNaseH) sequences, generically referred to here as Dioscorea bacilliform viruses (DBVs). Further characterisation of DBV species is necessary to determine which represent episomal viruses and which are only present as integrated badnavirus sequences in some yam genomes. In this study, a sequence-independent multiply-primed rolling circle amplification (RCA) method was evaluated for selective amplification of episomal DBV genomes. This resulted in the identification and characterisation of nine complete genomic sequences (7.4–7.7 kbp) of existing and previously undescribed DBV phylogenetic groups from Dioscorea alata and Dioscorea rotundata accessions. These new yam badnavirus genomes expand our understanding of the diversity and genomic organisation of DBVs, and assist the development of improved diagnostic tools. Our findings also suggest that mixed badnavirus infections occur relatively often in West African yam germplasm

HIV/AIDS and the teaching and learning of anatomy

A research paper on the teaching of HIV/AIDS to medical students using "virtual, computer aided anatomy" instead of real cadavers at the Zimbabwe Medical Teaching Hospital.Anatomy, a word derived from the Greek words “ava” (across) and “tomin” (section), is the study of the composition of the body by cutting and separating its structures one from the other in order to examine their shapes, relations and connections to one another. Therefore, most lecturers involved in medical education will agree that dissection of human cadavers is the best method of teaching and learning anatomy. This method allows one to personally dissect the cadaver. During this process, one sees, touches and handles anatomical structures. This experience leads to a better understanding and long term remembrance of the subject. In addition to this, the observations made on several cadavers enable the student and the teacher to appreciate the presence of variations of the human structure; an experience which assists medical practitioners in physical diagnosis

Synthesis of a redox-active NNP-type pincer ligand and its application to electrocatalytic CO\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e reduction with first-row transition metal complexes

© 2019 Talukdar, Issa and Jurss. We report the synthesis of a rigid phosphine-substituted, redox-active pincer ligand and its application to electrocatalytic CO2 reduction with first-row transition metal complexes. The tridentate ligand was prepared by Stille coupling of 2,8-dibromoquinoline and 2-(tributylstannyl)pyridine, followed by a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling with HPPh2. Complexes were synthesized from a variety of metal precursors and characterized by NMR, high-resolution mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and cyclic voltammetry. Formation of bis-chelated metal complexes, rather than mono-chelated complexes, was favored in all synthetic conditions explored. The complexes were assessed for their ability to mediate electrocatalytic CO2 reduction, where the cobalt complex was found to have the best activity for CO2-to-CO conversion in the presence of water as an added proton source

Effects of road transportation on excitability scores of pigs administered with ascorbic acid during the hot-dry season

This study was carried out in order to determine the effect of eight-hour road transportation on the excitability scores of pigs administered ascorbic acid (AA) during the hot-dry season in Northern Nigeria. Thirteen experimental pigs were administered with AA orally at 100 mg/kg, while ten control pigs were given only distilled water orally. Excitability score of each pig was determined 30 min before and immediately after transportation by a single ‘blind’ observer during weighing. An excitability score of 4 indicated the highest excitability. Percent excitability of experimental and control pigs with each score was also determined. Post-transportation, an increase in the percentage of experimental pigs with excitability score of 4 was recorded (38.5 to 69.2%), while a decrease was obtained in the control pigs (40.0 to 10%). Road transportation decreased the excitability scores and percent excitability in control pigs with high scores. In conclusion, administration of AA increased the nervous excitability of pigs transported by road during the hot-dry season in northern Nigeria