Alcohol‐Associated Liver Disease Before and After COVID‐19 – An Overview and Call for Ongoing Investigation

The Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exacted a heavy toll on patients with alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). The collective burden of ALD and AUD was large and growing prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. There is accumulating evidence that this pandemic has had a large direct effect on these patients and is likely to produce indirect effects via delays in care, psychological strain, and increased alcohol use. Now a year into the pandemic, it is important that clinicians fully understand the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with ALD and AUD. To fill existing gaps in knowledge, the scientific community must set research priorities for patients with ALD regarding their risk of COVID-19, prevention/treatment of COVID-19, changes in alcohol use during the pandemic, best use of AUD treatments in the COVID-19 era, and downstream effects of this pandemic on ALD. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has already inflicted disproportionate harms on patients with ALD and ongoing, focused research efforts will be critical to better understand the direct and collateral effects of this pandemic on ALD

Unexpected elevated alanine aminotransferase, asparte aminotransferase levels and hepatitis E virus infection among persons who work with pigs in accra, ghana

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several studies have suggested that elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and asparte aminotransferase (AST) may be markers of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection. Thus, individuals with elevated ALT and AST may have ongoing subclinical infection of HEV. We estimated the prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies and serum ALT and AST levels among persons who work with pigs in Accra, Ghana.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Three hundred and fifty- persons who work with pigs provided blood samples for unlinked anonymous testing for the presence of antibodies to HEV, ALT and AST levels. The median age of participants was 32.85 ± 11.38 years (range 15-70 years). HEV seroprevelance was 34.84%. Anti-HEV IgG was detected in 19.26% while anti-HEV IgM was detected in 15.58% of the persons who tested positive. On multivariate analysis, the independent determinants of HEV infection were, being employed on the farm for less than six months [odds ratio (OR) 8.96; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 5.43-14.80], having piped water in the household and/or on the farm (OR 13.33; 95% CI 5.23-33.93) and consumption of alcohol (OR 4.91: 95% CI 2.65-9.10). Levels >3× the expected maximum were found for both ALT and AST among individuals who tested positive for anti-HEV IgG (ALT, 210.17 ± 11.64 U/L; AST, 127.18 ± 11.12 U/L) and anti-HEV IgM (ALT, 200.97 ± 10.76 U/L; AST, 120.00 ± 15.96 U/L).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Consistent with similar studies worldwide, the results of our studies revealed a high prevalence of HEV infection, ALT and AST values in pig handlers.</p

A Three-Stage Colonization Model for the Peopling of the Americas

Background: We evaluate the process by which the Americas were originally colonized and propose a three-stage model that integrates current genetic, archaeological, geological, and paleoecological data. Specifically, we analyze mitochondrial and nuclear genetic data by using complementary coalescent models of demographic history and incorporating nongenetic data to enhance the anthropological relevance of the analysis. Methodology/Findings: Bayesian skyline plots, which provide dynamic representations of population size changes over time, indicate that Amerinds went through two stages of growth &lt;40,000 and &lt;15,000 years ago separated by a long period of population stability. Isolation-with-migration coalescent analyses, which utilize data from sister populations to estimate a divergence date and founder population sizes, suggest an Amerind population expansion starting &lt;15,000 years ago. Conclusions/Significance: These results support a model for the peopling of the New World in which Amerind ancestors diverged from the Asian gene pool prior to 40,000 years ago and experienced a gradual population expansion as they moved into Beringia. After a long period of little change in population size in greater Beringia, Amerinds rapidly expanded into the Americas &lt;15,000 years ago either through an interior ice-free corridor or along the coast. This rapid colonization of the New World was achieved by a founder group with an effective population size of &lt;1,000–5,400 individuals. Our model presents a detailed scenario for the timing and scale of the initial migration to the Americas, substantially refines th

Meiosis genes in Daphnia pulex and the role of parthenogenesis in genome evolution

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Thousands of parthenogenetic animal species have been described and cytogenetic manifestations of this reproductive mode are well known. However, little is understood about the molecular determinants of parthenogenesis. The <it>Daphnia pulex </it>genome must contain the molecular machinery for different reproductive modes: sexual (both male and female meiosis) and parthenogenetic (which is either cyclical or obligate). This feature makes <it>D. pulex </it>an ideal model to investigate the genetic basis of parthenogenesis and its consequences for gene and genome evolution. Here we describe the inventory of meiotic genes and their expression patterns during meiotic and parthenogenetic reproduction to help address whether parthenogenesis uses existing meiotic and mitotic machinery, or whether novel processes may be involved.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We report an inventory of 130 homologs representing over 40 genes encoding proteins with diverse roles in meiotic processes in the genome of <it>D. pulex</it>. Many genes involved in cell cycle regulation and sister chromatid cohesion are characterized by expansions in copy number. In contrast, most genes involved in DNA replication and homologous recombination are present as single copies. Notably, <it>RECQ2 </it>(which suppresses homologous recombination) is present in multiple copies while <it>DMC1 </it>is the only gene in our inventory that is absent in the <it>Daphnia </it>genome. Expression patterns for 44 gene copies were similar during meiosis <it>versus </it>parthenogenesis, although several genes displayed marked differences in expression level in germline and somatic tissues.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We propose that expansions in meiotic gene families in <it>D. pulex </it>may be associated with parthenogenesis. Taking into account our findings, we provide a mechanistic model of parthenogenesis, highlighting steps that must differ from meiosis including sister chromatid cohesion and kinetochore attachment.</p

The James Webb Space Telescope Mission

Twenty-six years ago a small committee report, building on earlier studies, expounded a compelling and poetic vision for the future of astronomy, calling for an infrared-optimized space telescope with an aperture of at least $4m$. With the support of their governments in the US, Europe, and Canada, 20,000 people realized that vision as the $6.5m$ James Webb Space Telescope. A generation of astronomers will celebrate their accomplishments for the life of the mission, potentially as long as 20 years, and beyond. This report and the scientific discoveries that follow are extended thank-you notes to the 20,000 team members. The telescope is working perfectly, with much better image quality than expected. In this and accompanying papers, we give a brief history, describe the observatory, outline its objectives and current observing program, and discuss the inventions and people who made it possible. We cite detailed reports on the design and the measured performance on orbit.Comment: Accepted by PASP for the special issue on The James Webb Space Telescope Overview, 29 pages, 4 figure

Templated non-oxide sol-gel preparation of well-ordered macroporous (inverse opal) Ta3N5 films

Reactions of Ta(NMe2)5 and n-propylamine are shown to be an effective system for sol-gel processing of Ta3N5. Ordered macroporous films of Ta3N5 on silica substrates have been prepared by infiltration of such a sol into close-packed sacrificial templates of cross-linked 500 nm polystyrene spheres followed by pyrolysis under ammonia to remove the template and crystallize the Ta3N5. Templates with long-range order were produced by controlled humidity evaporation. Pyrolysis of a sol-infiltrated template at 600 °C removes the polystyrene but does not crystallize Ta3N5, and X-ray diffraction shows nanocrystalline TaN plus amorphous material. Heating at 700 °C crystallizes Ta3N5 while retaining a high degree of pore ordering, whereas at 800 °C porous films with a complete loss of order are obtained

Measuring the Elemental Composition of Phobos: The Mars‐moon Exploration with GAmma rays and NEutrons (MEGANE) Investigation for the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) Mission

The Mars‐moon Exploration with Gamma rays and NEutrons (MEGANE) investigation will use gamma‐ray and neutron spectroscopy to measure the elemental composition of Mars\u27 moon Phobos. MEGANE is part of the Japanese Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission that will make comprehensive remote sensing measurements of both of Mars\u27 moons Phobos and Deimos. MMX will also return to Earth regolith samples of Phobos. The science goals of the MEGANE investigation mirror those of the MMX mission. MEGANE will use elemental composition measurements to determine if Phobos is a captured asteroid or the end result of a giant impact event on Mars, study Phobos surface processes, provide reconnaissance to support the sample site selection, and supply compositional context for the returned samples. To accomplish its measurements, MEGANE will use a high‐purity Ge gamma‐ray spectrometer (GRS), and a neutron spectrometer (NS) that consists of two 3He gas proportional neutron sensors. The GRS derives heritage from similar instruments from NASA\u27s MESSENGER mission and the Psyche mission that is currently in development; the NS is based on similar instruments used for NASA\u27s Lunar Prospector and Psyche missions