Jet Effects on Cylindrical Afterbodies Housing Sonic and Supersonic Nozzles which Exhaust Against a Supersonic Stream at Angles of Attack from 90 to 180

Jet effects on cylindrical afterbodies housing sonic and supersonic nozzle

Characterization of a Si(Li) Compton polarimeter for the hard x-ray regime, using synchrotron radiation.

BACKGROUND: Buruli ulcer (BU), caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans (M. ulcerans), is a necrotizing skin disease found in more than 30 countries worldwide. BU incidence is highest in West Africa; however, cases have substantially increased in coastal regions of southern Australia over the past 30 years. Although the mode of transmission remains uncertain, the spatial pattern of BU emergence in recent years seems to suggest that there is an environmental niche for M. ulcerans and BU prevalence. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Network analysis was applied to BU cases in Victoria, Australia, from 1981-2008. Results revealed a non-random spatio-temporal pattern at the regional scale as well as a stable and efficient BU disease network, indicating that deterministic factors influence the occurrence of this disease. Monthly BU incidence reported by locality was analyzed with landscape and climate data using a multilevel Poisson regression approach. The results suggest the highest BU risk areas occur at low elevations with forested land cover, similar to previous studies of BU risk in West Africa. Additionally, climate conditions as far as 1.5 years in advance appear to impact disease incidence. Warmer and wetter conditions 18-19 months prior to case emergence, followed by a dry period approximately 5 months prior to case emergence seem to favor the occurrence of BU. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The BU network structure in Victoria, Australia, suggests external environmental factors favor M. ulcerans transmission and, therefore, BU incidence. A unique combination of environmental conditions, including land cover type, temperature and a wet-dry sequence, may produce habitat characteristics that support M. ulcerans transmission and BU prevalence. These findings imply that future BU research efforts on transmission mechanisms should focus on potential vectors/reservoirs found in those environmental niches. Further, this study is the first to quantitatively estimate environmental lag times associated with BU outbreaks, providing insights for future transmission investigations

Comparison of Stimulant-Related Presentations to Victorian Emergency Departments Prepandemic and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction Victoria, Australia, holds the unenviable record for the longest number of lockdown days in the world (262
 days) and some of the most rigid restrictions. The purpose of this study was to determine whether changes
 in harmful drug use occurred during the pandemic by comparing stimulant-related presentations to
 Victorian emergency departments before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods
 A retrospective analysis of data from the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit was undertaken for two time
 periods, March 2019 to September 2019 and March 2020 to September 2020. Results The proportion of people presenting to an ED who used
 methylamphetamine/methamphetamine/amphetamine significantly increased from 2019 to 2020.
 Conversely, there was a significant reduction in ED presentations among people who used 3,4-
 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and ecstasy during the study period. Conclusions The proportion of people presenting to an ED who used
 methylamphetamine/methamphetamine/amphetamine significantly increased from 2019 to 2020.
 Conversely, there was a significant reduction in ED presentations among people who used 3,4-
 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and ecstasy during the study period

Antibodies to Henipavirus or Henipa-Like Viruses in Domestic Pigs in Ghana, West Africa

Henipaviruses, Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV), have Pteropid bats as their known natural reservoirs. Antibodies against henipaviruses have been found in Eidolon helvum, an old world fruit bat species, and henipavirus-like nucleic acid has been detected in faecal samples from E. helvum in Ghana. The initial outbreak of NiV in Malaysia led to over 265 human encephalitis cases, including 105 deaths, with infected pigs acting as amplifier hosts for NiV during the outbreak. We detected non-neutralizing antibodies against viruses of the genus Henipavirus in approximately 5% of pig sera (N = 97) tested in Ghana, but not in a small sample of other domestic species sampled under a E. helvum roost. Although we did not detect neutralizing antibody, our results suggest prior exposure of the Ghana pig population to henipavirus(es). Because a wide diversity of henipavirus-like nucleic acid sequences have been found in Ghanaian E. helvum, we hypothesise that these pigs might have been infected by henipavirus(es) sufficiently divergent enough from HeVor NiV to produce cross-reactive, but not cross-neutralizing antibodies to HeV or NiV

Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome Transmission Risk in Brazil

Background: Hantavirus disease in humans is rare but frequently lethal in the Neotropics. Several abundant and widely distributed Sigmodontinae rodents are the primary hosts of Orthohantavirus and, in combination with other factors, these rodents can shape hantavirus disease. Here, we assessed the influence of host diversity, climate, social vulnerability and land use change on the risk of hantavirus disease in Brazil over 24 years. Methods: Landscape variables (native forest, forestry, sugarcane, maize and pasture), climate (temperature and precipitation), and host biodiversity (derived through niche models) were used in spatiotemporal models, using the 5570 Brazilian municipalities as units of analysis. Results: Amounts of native forest and sugarcane, combined with temperature, were the most important factors influencing the increase of disease risk. Population at risk (rural workers) and rodent host diversity also had a positive effect on disease risk. Conclusions: Land use change—especially the conversion of native areas to sugarcane fields—can have a significant impact on hantavirus disease risk, likely by promoting the interaction between the people and the infected rodents. Our results demonstrate the importance of understanding the interactions between landscape change, rodent diversity, and hantavirus disease incidence, and suggest that land use policy should consider disease risk. Meanwhile, our risk map can be used to help allocate preventive measures to avoid disease.publishedVersio

A transient homotypic interaction model for the influenza A virus NS1 protein effector domain

Influenza A virus NS1 protein is a multifunctional virulence factor consisting of an RNA binding domain (RBD), a short linker, an effector domain (ED), and a C-terminal 'tail'. Although poorly understood, NS1 multimerization may autoregulate its actions. While RBD dimerization seems functionally conserved, two possible apo ED dimers have been proposed (helix-helix and strand-strand). Here, we analyze all available RBD, ED, and full-length NS1 structures, including four novel crystal structures obtained using EDs from divergent human and avian viruses, as well as two forms of a monomeric ED mutant. The data reveal the helix-helix interface as the only strictly conserved ED homodimeric contact. Furthermore, a mutant NS1 unable to form the helix-helix dimer is compromised in its ability to bind dsRNA efficiently, implying that ED multimerization influences RBD activity. Our bioinformatical work also suggests that the helix-helix interface is variable and transient, thereby allowing two ED monomers to twist relative to one another and possibly separate. In this regard, we found a mAb that recognizes NS1 via a residue completely buried within the ED helix-helix interface, and which may help highlight potential different conformational populations of NS1 (putatively termed 'helix-closed' and 'helix-open') in virus-infected cells. 'Helix-closed' conformations appear to enhance dsRNA binding, and 'helix-open' conformations allow otherwise inaccessible interactions with host factors. Our data support a new model of NS1 regulation in which the RBD remains dimeric throughout infection, while the ED switches between several quaternary states in order to expand its functional space. Such a concept may be applicable to other small multifunctional proteins

Use of Vesicular - Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM) as Biofertilizer for Horticultural Plants in Developing Countries

Mycorrhiza is the product of an association between a fungus and plant root. Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) is formed by the symbiotic association between certain phycomycetous fungi and angiosperm roots. The fungus colonizes the root cortex forming a mycelial network and characteristic vesicles (bladder-like structures) and arbuscules (branched finger-like hyphae). The mycelia are aseptate or septate ramifying intercellularly thus causing little damage to tissues. The arbuscules are the most characteristic structures, formed intracellularly and probably having an absorptive function. The vesicles are terminal swellings of hyphae formed inter and intracellularly having a storage function. There are six genera of fungi belonging to Endogonaceae which have been shown to form mycorrhizal associations: Glomus, Gigaspora, Acaulospora, Entrophospora Sclerocystis and Scutellospora. These are mainly identified by their characteristic spores and sporocarps which are formed mostly in the soil surrounding the roots and rarely inside the roots. The identification of VAM fungi directly from roots has been difficult. One of the striking features of VAM fungi is their very wide host range which includes angiosperm species belonging to almost all the families. Even the roots of some aquatic plants are colonized by VAM fungi

CO hydrogenation catalyzed by alumina-supported osmium: Particle size effects

Alumina-supported catalysts were prepared by conventional aqueous impregnation with [H2OsCl6] and by reaction of organoosmium clusters {[Os3(CO)12], [H4Os4(CO)12], and [Os6(CO)18]} with the support. The catalysts were tested for CO hydrogenation at 250-325 [deg]C and 10 atm, the products being Schulz-Flory distributions of hydrocarbons with small yields of dimethyl ether. The fresh and used catalysts were characterized by infrared spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The catalyst prepared from [H2OsCl6] had larger particles of Os (~70 A). The cluster-derived catalysts initially consisted of molecular clusters on the support; the used catalysts contained small Os aggregates (typically 10-20 A in diameter). The catalytic activity for hydrocarbon formation increased with increasing Os aggregate size, but the activity for dimethyl ether formation was almost independent of aggregate size. The hydrocarbon synthesis was evidently catalyzed by the Os aggregates, and the ether synthesis was perhaps catalyzed by mononuclear Os Complexes.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/25555/1/0000097.pd

Healthcare expenditure on Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians at high risk of cardiovascular disease

Background: In spite of bearing a heavier burden of death, disease and disability, there is mixed evidence as to whether Indigenous Australians utilise more or less healthcare services than other Australians given their elevated risk level. This study analyses the Medicare expenditure and its predictors in a cohort of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians at high risk of cardiovascular disease. Methods: The healthcare expenditure of participants of the Kanyini Guidelines Adherence with the Polypill (GAP) pragmatic randomised controlled trial was modelled using linear regression methods. 535 adult (48% Indigenous) participants at high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) were recruited through 33 primary healthcare services (including 12 Aboriginal Medical Services) across Australia. Results: There was no significant difference in the expenditure of Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants in non-remote areas following adjustment for individual characteristics. Indigenous individuals living in remote areas had lower MBS expenditure ($932 per year P< 0.001) than other individuals. MBS expenditure was found to increase with being aged over 65 years ($128, p=0.013), being female ($472, p=0.003), lower baseline reported quality of life ($102 per 0.1 decrement of utility p=0.004) and a history of diabetes ($324, p=0.001), gout ($631, p=0.022), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ($469, p=0.019) and established CVD whether receiving guideline-recommended treatment prior to the trial ($452, p=0.005) or not ($483, p=0.04). When controlling for all other characteristics, morbidly obese patients had lower MBS expenditure than other individuals (-$887, p=0.002). Conclusion: The findings suggest that for the majority of participants, once individuals are engaged with a primary care provider, factors other than whether they are Indigenous determine the level of Medicare expenditure for each person. Trial Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN 126080005833347

Reconstructing CNV genotypes using segregation analysis: combining pedigree information with CNV assay

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Repeated blocks of genome sequence have been shown to be associated with genetic diversity and disease risk in humans, and with phenotypic diversity in model organisms and domestic animals. Reliable tests are desirable to determine whether individuals are carriers of copy number variants associated with disease risk in humans and livestock, or associated with economically important traits in livestock. In some cases, copy number variants affect the phenotype through a dosage effect but in other cases, allele combinations have non-additive effects. In the latter cases, it has been difficult to develop tests because assays typically return an estimate of the sum of the copy number counts on the maternally and paternally inherited chromosome segments, and this sum does not uniquely determine the allele configuration. In this study, we show that there is an old solution to this new problem: segregation analysis, which has been used for many years to infer alleles in pedigreed populations.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Segregation analysis was used to estimate copy number alleles from assay data on simulated half-sib sheep populations. Copy number variation at the Agouti locus, known to be responsible for the recessive self-colour black phenotype, was used as a model for the simulation and an appropriate penetrance function was derived. The precision with which carriers and non-carriers of the undesirable single copy allele could be identified, was used to evaluate the method for various family sizes, assay strategies and assay accuracies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using relationship data and segregation analysis, the probabilities of carrying the copy number alleles responsible for black or white fleece were estimated with much greater precision than by analyzing assay results for animals individually. The proportion of lambs correctly identified as non-carriers of the undesirable allele increased from 7% when the lambs were analysed alone to 80% when the lambs were analysed in half-sib families.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>When a quantitative assay is used to estimate copy number alleles, segregation analysis of related individuals can greatly improve the precision of the estimates. Existing software for segregation analysis would require little if any change to accommodate the penetrance function for copy number assay data.</p