Phylogeography of cliff racer (Platyceps rhodorachis Jan, 1865) from Punjab, Pakistan

The present study reports the existence of cliff racer, Platyceps rhodorachis from the plains of Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 10 specimens were captured during the field surveys from June to September, 2018 from different sites of Punjab. Platyceps rhodorachis was identify on the basis of morphology and confirmed through COI gene sequences. The obtained DNA sequences have shown reliable and exact species identification. Newly produced DNA sequences of Platyceps rhodorachis were submitted to GenBank and accession numbers were obtained (MK936174.1, MK941839.1 and MT790210.1). N-J tree based on COI sequences of Platyceps rhodorachis clearly separated as out-group with other members of family Colubridae based on p-distance. The intra-specific genetic variation ranges from 12% to 18%. The DNA sequences of Platyceps rhodorachis kashmirensis, Platyceps rhodorachis ladacensis, Platyceps ventromaculatus, Platyceps ventromaculatus bengalensis and Platyceps ventromaculatus indusai are not available at NCBI to validate their taxonomic positions. In our recommendations, a large scale molecular based identification of Pakistan’s herpetofauna is required to report more new or subspecies from country.S. Malika, A. Javida, Hamidullahb, M. A. Iqbalc, A. Hussaina, S. M. Bukharia, A. L. Chaberd, F. Hemmatzadehd, N. Ismate, A. Alif, S. M. Azamg, G. Mustafaa, S. Hussaina, U. Ahmada, A. Ahmadh, and W. Ali

Hamiltonian dynamics and Noether symmetries in Extended Gravity Cosmology

We discuss the Hamiltonian dynamics for cosmologies coming from Extended Theories of Gravity. In particular, minisuperspace models are taken into account searching for Noether symmetries. The existence of conserved quantities gives selection rule to recover classical behaviors in cosmic evolution according to the so called Hartle criterion, that allows to select correlated regions in the configuration space of dynamical variables. We show that such a statement works for general classes of Extended Theories of Gravity and is conformally preserved. Furthermore, the presence of Noether symmetries allows a straightforward classification of singularities that represent the points where the symmetry is broken. Examples of nonminimally coupled and higher-order models are discussed.Comment: 20 pages, Review paper to appear in EPJ

Kinetics of immersion nucleation driven by surface tension

Immersion nucleation is the nuclei formation mechanism for wet granulation systems where the liquid drops are large relative to the primary particles. The process of immersion nucleation has been examined in many studies, however the kinetics of nuclei formation are not well understood, and there is a distinct lack of experimentally validated models for this process. A kinetic model has been proposed by Hounslow et al. (2009) which describes surface tension driven immersion nucleation. This paper presents the results from a series of experiments measuring the kinetics of immersion nucleation, and these results are compared with the model predictions. Drops of model liquids (aqueous HPMC solution and silicone oil) are placed on static powder beds of zeolite and lactose. Nuclei granules are carefully excavated at different times and the change in granule mass with time is measured. As predicted by Hounslow et al.'s model, the granule mass increases with the square root of time to a maximum granule size at a time tmax after an initial adjustment period. The critical packing factor is shown to be a function of powder properties, and not dependent on the liquid properties. The model captures well the measured effects of liquid and powder properties. However, the kinetics of the nucleation process are much slower than predicted by the model. It is believed this is due to continued percolation of the liquid within the powder bed, after the liquid drop is fully immersed. This secondary liquid movement may have an important effect on granule growth kinetics, and influence final granule product properties

Analysis of transcription factors key for mouse pancreatic development establishes NKX2-2 and MNX1 mutations as causes of neonatal diabetes in man

notes: PMCID: PMC3887257This is a freely-available open access publication. Please cite the published version which is available via the DOI link in this record.Understanding transcriptional regulation of pancreatic development is required to advance current efforts in developing beta cell replacement therapies for patients with diabetes. Current knowledge of key transcriptional regulators has predominantly come from mouse studies, with rare, naturally occurring mutations establishing their relevance in man. This study used a combination of homozygosity analysis and Sanger sequencing in 37 consanguineous patients with permanent neonatal diabetes to search for homozygous mutations in 29 transcription factor genes important for murine pancreatic development. We identified homozygous mutations in 7 different genes in 11 unrelated patients and show that NKX2-2 and MNX1 are etiological genes for neonatal diabetes, thus confirming their key role in development of the human pancreas. The similar phenotype of the patients with recessive mutations and mice with inactivation of a transcription factor gene support there being common steps critical for pancreatic development and validate the use of rodent models for beta cell development.Wellcome TrustDiabetes UKEuropean Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013

EPIdemiology of Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury (EPIS-AKI) : Study protocol for a multicentre, observational trial

More than 300 million surgical procedures are performed each year. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after major surgery and is associated with adverse short-term and long-term outcomes. However, there is a large variation in the incidence of reported AKI rates. The establishment of an accurate epidemiology of surgery-associated AKI is important for healthcare policy, quality initiatives, clinical trials, as well as for improving guidelines. The objective of the Epidemiology of Surgery-associated Acute Kidney Injury (EPIS-AKI) trial is to prospectively evaluate the epidemiology of AKI after major surgery using the latest Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) consensus definition of AKI. EPIS-AKI is an international prospective, observational, multicentre cohort study including 10 000 patients undergoing major surgery who are subsequently admitted to the ICU or a similar high dependency unit. The primary endpoint is the incidence of AKI within 72 hours after surgery according to the KDIGO criteria. Secondary endpoints include use of renal replacement therapy (RRT), mortality during ICU and hospital stay, length of ICU and hospital stay and major adverse kidney events (combined endpoint consisting of persistent renal dysfunction, RRT and mortality) at day 90. Further, we will evaluate preoperative and intraoperative risk factors affecting the incidence of postoperative AKI. In an add-on analysis, we will assess urinary biomarkers for early detection of AKI. EPIS-AKI has been approved by the leading Ethics Committee of the Medical Council North Rhine-Westphalia, of the Westphalian Wilhelms-University Münster and the corresponding Ethics Committee at each participating site. Results will be disseminated widely and published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at conferences and used to design further AKI-related trials. Trial registration number NCT04165369

Pathways to care for people for dementia: an international multi-centre study

Objective: the aim of the present study was to characterize the clinical pathways that people with dementia (PwD) in different countries follow to reach specialized dementia care. Methods: we recruited 548 consecutive clinical attendees with a standardized diagnosis of dementia, in 19 specialized public centers for dementia care in 15 countries. The WHO “Encounter Form”, a standardized schedule that enables data concerning basic socio-demographic, clinical and pathways data to be gathered, was completed for each participant. Results: the median time from the appearance of the first symptoms to the first contact with specialist dementia care was 56 weeks. The primary point of access to care was the general practitioners (55.8%). Psychiatrists, geriatricians and neurologists represented the most important second point of access. In about a third of cases, PwD were prescribed psychotropic drugs (mostly antidepressants and tranquillizers). Psychosocial interventions (such as psychological counselling, psychotherapy and practical advice) were delivered in less than 3% of situations. The analyses of the ‘pathways diagram’ revealed that the path of PwD to receiving care is complex, diverse across countries, and that there are important barriers to clinical care. Conclusions: the study of pathways followed by PwD to reach specialized care has implications for the subsequent course and the outcome of dementia. Insights into local differences in the clinical presentations and the implementation of currently available dementia care are essential to develop more tailored strategies for these patients, locally, nationally and internationally

Search for heavy resonances decaying to a top quark and a bottom quark in the lepton+jets final state in proton–proton collisions at 13 TeV

A search is presented for narrow heavy resonances decaying to a top quark and a bottom quark using data collected by the CMS experiment at √s = 13TeV in 2016. The data set analyzed corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1. Final states that include a single lepton (e, μ), multiple jets, and missing transverse momentum are analyzed. No evidence is found for the production of a W′ boson, and the production of right-handed W′ bosons is excluded at 95% confidence level for masses up to 3.6 TeV depending on the scenario considered. Exclusion limits for W′ bosons are also presented as a function of their coupling strength to left- and right-handed fermions. These limits on a W′ boson decaying via a top and a bottom quark are the most stringent published to date