Acceptability of hygiene, face covering and social distancing interventions to prevent exacerbations in people living with airways diseases

Interventions to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 have been associated with substantial reductions in exacerbations of airways diseases, likely through reduced transmission of other respiratory viruses. We surveyed 4442 people with airways disease (asthma=3627, bronchiectasis=258, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease=557) to gauge attitudes and intentions towards continuing such measures after the COVID-19 pandemic. 47% intended to continue wearing a face mask in indoor public spaces, and 61% thought everyone should be required to do so during the ‘influenza season. Women, those with bronchiectasis, and older people were generally more cautious. Respiratory virus infection control measures should be considered in clinical guidelines and public health recommendations

In situ measurements of HCN and CH3CN over the Pacific Ocean: Sources, sinks, and budgets

We report the first in situ measurements of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and methyl cyanide (CH3CN, acetonitrile) from the Pacific troposphere (0-12 km) obtained during the NASA Transport and Chemical Evolution over the Pacific (TRACE-P) airborne mission (February-April 2001). Mean HCN and CH3CN mixing ratios of 243 ± 118 (median 218) ppt and 149 ± 56 (median 138) ppt, respectively, were measured. These in situ observations correspond to a mean tropospheric HCN column of 4.2 × 1015 molecules cm-2 and a CH3CN column of 2.5 × 1015 molecules cm-2. This is in good agreement with the 0-12 km HCN column of 4.4 (±0.6) × 1015 molecules cm-2 derived from infrared solar spectroscopic observations over Japan. Mixing ratios of HCN and CH3CN were greatly enhanced in pollution outflow from Asia and were well correlated with each other as well as with known tracers of biomass combustion (e.g., CH3Cl, CO). Volumetric enhancement (or emission) ratios (ERs) relative to CO in free tropospheric plumes, likely originating from fires, were 0.34% for HCN and 0.17% for CH3CN. ERs with respect to CH3Cl and CO in selected biomass burning (BB) plumes in the free troposphere and in boundary layer pollution episodes are used to estimate a global BB source of 0.8 ± 0.4 Tg (N) yr-1 for HCN and 0.4 ± 0.1 Tg (N) yr-1 for CH3CN. In comparison, emissions from industry and fossil fuel combustion are quite small (<0.05 Tg (N) yr-1). The vertical structure of HCN and CH3CN indicated reduced mixing ratios in the marine boundary layer (MBL). Using a simple box model, the observed gradients across the top of the MBL are used to derive an oceanic loss rate of 8.8 × 10-15 g (N) cm-2 s-1 for HCN and 3.4 × 10-15 g (N) cm-2 s-1 for CH3CN. An air-sea exchange model is used to conclude that this flux can be maintained if the oceans are undersaturated in HCN and CH3CN by 27% and 6%, respectively. These observations also correspond to an open ocean mean deposition velocity (vd) of 0.12 cm s-1 for HCN and 0.06 cm s-1 for CH3CN. It is inferred that oceanic loss is a dominant sink for these cyanides and that they deposit some 1.4 Tg (N) of nitrogen annually to the oceans. Assuming loss to the oceans and reaction with OH radicals as the major removal processes, a mean atmospheric residence time of 5.0 months for HCN and 6.6 months for CH3CN is calculated. A global budget analysis shows that the sources and sinks of HCN and CH3CN are roughly in balance but large uncertainties remain in part due to a lack of observational data from the atmosphere and the oceans. Pathways leading to the oceanic (and soil) degradation of these cyanides are poorly known but are expected to be biological in nature

Direct observation of delithiation as the origin of analog memristance in LixNbO2

The discovery of analog LixNbO2 memristors revealed a promising new memristive mechanism wherein the diffusion of Li+ rather than O2- ions enables precise control of the resistive states. However, directly correlating lithium concentration with changes to the electronic structure in active layers remains a challenge and is required to truly understand the underlying physics. Chemically delithiated single crystals of LiNbO2 present a model system for correlating lithium variation with spectroscopic signatures from operando soft x-ray spectroscopy studies of device active layers. Using electronic structure modeling of the x-ray spectroscopy of LixNbO2 single crystals, we demonstrate that the intrinsic memristive behavior in LixNbO2 active layers results from field-induced degenerate p-type doping. We show that electrical operation of LixNbO2-based memristors is viable even at marginal Li deficiency and that the analog memristive switching occurs well before the system is fully metallic. This study serves as a benchmark for material synthesis and characterization of future LixNbO2-based memristor devices and suggests that valence change switching is a scalable alternative that circumvents the electroforming typically required for filamentary-based memristors

Cutaneous Fusarium infection in a renal transplant recipient: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Fungal infections in the immunocompromised host are fairly common. Of the mycoses, <it>Fusarium </it>species are an emerging threat. <it>Fusarium </it>infections have been reported in solid organ transplants, with three reports of the infection in patients who had received renal transplants. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of an isolated cutaneous lesion as the only form of infection.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a 45-year-old South Indian man who presented with localized cutaneous <it>Fusarium </it>infection following a renal transplant.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In an immunocompromised patient, even an innocuous lesion needs to be addressed with the initiation of prompt treatment.</p

Underdeveloped RPE Apical Domain Underlies Lesion Formation in Canine Bestrophinopathies

Canine bestrophinopathy (cBest) is an important translational model for BEST1-associated maculopathies in man that recapitulates the broad spectrum of clinical and molecular disease aspects observed in patients. Both human and canine bestrophinopathies are characterized by focal to multifocal separations of the retina from the RPE. The lesions can be macular or extramacular, and the specific pathomechanism leading to formation of these lesions remains unclear. We used the naturally occurring canine BEST1 model to examine factors that underlie formation of vitelliform lesions and addressed the susceptibility of the macula to its primary detachment in BEST1-linked maculopathies

The extraordinary evolutionary history of the reticuloendotheliosis viruses

The reticuloendotheliosis viruses (REVs) comprise several closely related amphotropic retroviruses isolated from birds. These viruses exhibit several highly unusual characteristics that have not so far been adequately explained, including their extremely close relationship to mammalian retroviruses, and their presence as endogenous sequences within the genomes of certain large DNA viruses. We present evidence for an iatrogenic origin of REVs that accounts for these phenomena. Firstly, we identify endogenous retroviral fossils in mammalian genomes that share a unique recombinant structure with REVs—unequivocally demonstrating that REVs derive directly from mammalian retroviruses. Secondly, through sequencing of archived REV isolates, we confirm that contaminated Plasmodium lophurae stocks have been the source of multiple REV outbreaks in experimentally infected birds. Finally, we show that both phylogenetic and historical evidence support a scenario wherein REVs originated as mammalian retroviruses that were accidentally introduced into avian hosts in the late 1930s, during experimental studies of P. lophurae, and subsequently integrated into the fowlpox virus (FWPV) and gallid herpesvirus type 2 (GHV-2) genomes, generating recombinant DNA viruses that now circulate in wild birds and poultry. Our findings provide a novel perspective on the origin and evolution of REV, and indicate that horizontal gene transfer between virus families can expand the impact of iatrogenic transmission events

Rapid synthesis and enhancement in down conversion emission properties of BaAl2O4:Eu2+,RE3+ (RE3+=Y, Pr) nanophosphors

[EN] BaAl2O4:Eu2+,RE3+ (RE3+=Y, Pr) down conversion nanophosphors were prepared at 600 °C by a rapid gel combustion technique in presence of air using boron as flux and urea as a fuel. A comparative study of the prepared materials was carried out with and without the addition of boric acid. The boric acid was playing the important role of flux and reducer simultaneously. The peaks available in the XPS spectra of BaAl2O4:Eu2+ at 1126.5 and 1154.8 eV was ascribed to Eu2+(3d5/2) and Eu2+(3d3/2) respectively which confirmed the presence of Eu2+ ion in the prepared lattice. Morphology of phosphors was characterized by tunneling electron microscopy. XRD patterns revealed a dominant phase characteristics of hexagonal BaAl2O4 compound and the presence of dopants having unrecognizable effects on basic crystal structure of BaAl2O4. The addition of boric acid showed a remarkable change in luminescence properties and crystal size of nanophosphors. The emission spectra of phosphors had a broad band with maximum at 490–495 nm due to electron transition from 4f65d1 → 4f7 of Eu2+ ion. The codoping of the rare earth (RE3+=Y, Pr) ions help in the enhancement of their luminescent properties. The prepared phosphors had brilliant optoelectronic properties that can be properly used for solid state display device applications.The authors gratefully recognize the financial support from the University Grant Commission (UGC), New Delhi [MRP-40-73/2011(SR)] and the European Commission through Nano CIS project (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IRSES ref. 269279).Singh, D.; Tanwar, V.; Simantilke, AP.; Marí, B.; Kadyan, PS.; Singh, I. (2016). Rapid synthesis and enhancement in down conversion emission properties of BaAl2O4:Eu2+,RE3+ (RE3+=Y, Pr) nanophosphors. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics. 27(3):2260-2266. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-015-4020-1S22602266273J.S. Kim, P.E. Jeon, J.C. Choi, H.L. Park, S.I. Mho, G.C. Kim, Appl Phys Lett 84, 2931 (2004)D. Jia, D.N. Hunter, J Appl Phys 100, 1131251 (2006)H. Aizawa, T. Katsumata, J. Takahashi, K. Matsunaga, S. Komuro, T. Morikawa, E. Toba, Rev Sci Instrum 74, 1344 (2003)C.N. Xu, X.G. Zheng, M. Akiyama, K. Nonaka, T. Watanabe, Appl Phys Lett 76, 179 (2000)C. Feldmann, T. Justel, C.R. Ronda, P.J. Schmidt, Adv Funct Mater 13, 511 (2004)P.J. Saines, M.M. Elcombe, B.J. Kennedy, J Solid State Chem 179, 613 (2006)R. Sakai, T. Katsumata, S. Komuro, T. Morikawa, J Lumin 85, 149 (1999)T. Aitasalo, P. Deren, J Solid State Chem 171, 114 (2003)S. Nakamura, T. Mukai, M. Senoh, J Appl Phys 76, 8189 (1994)S.H.M. Poort, G. Blasse, J Lumin 72, 247 (1997)P. Mingying, H. Guangyan, J Lumin 127, 735 (2007)X. Linjiu, H. Mingrui, T. Yanwen, C. Yongjie, K. Tomoaki, Z. Liqing, W. Ning, Jap J Applied Physics 46, 5871 (2007)T. Aitasalo, J. Hölsä, H. Jungner, M. Lastusaari, J. Niittykoski, J Phys Chem B 110, 4589 (2006)R. Stefani, L.C.V. Rodrigues, C.A.A. Carvalho, M.C.F.C. Felinto, H.F. Brito, M. Lastusaari, J. Hölsä, Opt Mater 31, 1815 (2009)M. Peng, G. Hong, J Lumin 127, 735 (2007)V. Singh, V. Natarajan, J.J. Zhu, Opt Mater 29, 1447 (2007)X.Y. Chen, C. Ma, X.X. Li, C.W. Shi, X.L. Li, D.R. Lu, J Phys Chem C 113, 2685 (2009)A.J. Zarur, J.Y. Ying, Nature 403, 65 (2000)J. Chen, F. Gu, C. Li, Cry Growth Des 8, 3175 (2008)J. Zhang, M. Yang, H. Jin, X. Wang, X. Zhao, X. Liu, L. Peng, Mater Res Bull 47, 247 (2012)P. Maślankiewicz, J. Szade, A. Winiarski, Ph Daniel, Cryst Res Technol 40, 410 (2005)Y.J. Chen, G.M. Qiu, Y.B. Sun et al., J Rare Earths 20, 50 (2002)F.C. Palilla, A.K. Levine, M.R. Tomkus, J Electrochem Soc 115, 642 (1968)J. Niittykoski, T. Aitasalo, J. Holsa, H. Jungner, M. Lastusaari, M. Parkkinen, M. Tukia, J Alloys Compd 374, 108 (2004)A. Nag, T.R.N. Kutty, J Alloys Compd 354, 221 (2003)D. Haranath, P. Sharma, H. Chander, J Phys D Appl Phys 38, 371 (2005

Spanish medical students’ attitudes and views towards Mental Health and Psychiatry: a multicentric cross-sectional study.

Objective The aim of this study is to investigate the attitudes towards mental illness and psychiatry among fifth year Spanish medical students. Methods The study included 171 students from three medical schools located in different areas of Spain: Cádiz; UCA (n= 113), Madrid; San Pablo-CEU (n=22), and Barcelona; UAB (n=36). They responded, prior to their undergraduate medical course in psychiatry, to the AMI questionnaire to measure the attitudes towards mental illness and to Balon’s adapted questionnaire to investigate their view towards psychiatry. Results The students (93.4 %) had a positive attitude towards mental illness (AMI). Attitudes towards psychiatry were fairly positive with a few negative views, specifically regarding the role of psychiatrists (items 11 and 13) and the prestige of the specialty (item 16). There were some statistically significant differences between the three medical schools in the perception of psychiatry as a medical discipline. A better attitude towards mental illness was associated with a better view of the overall merits of psychiatry. Conclusions Findings suggest that Spanish medical students do not have a negative attitude towards mental illness and they have a good perception of psychiatry, although there are still some misconceptions about this specialty. These student’s attitudes could favor an appropriate management of patients suffering from mental illness