Three-centre cluster structure in 11C and 11B

Studies of the 16O(9Be,alpha 7Be)14C, 7Li(9Be,alpha 7Li)5He and 7Li(9Be,alpha alpha t)5He reactions at E(beam)=70 and 55 MeV have been performed using resonant particle spectroscopy techniques. The 11C excited states decaying into alpha+7Be(gs) are observed between 8.5 and 13.5 MeV. The alpha+7Li(gs), alpha+7Li*(4.652 MeV) and t+8Be(gs) decays of 11B excited states between 9 and 19 MeV are observed. The decay processes are used to indicate the possible three-centre 2alpha+3He (2alpha+3H) cluster structure of observed states. This cluster structure is more prominent in the positive-parity states, where two rotational bands with large deformations are suggested. Excitations of some of the observed T=1/2 resonances coincide with the energies of previously measured T=3/2 isobaric analogs of the 11Be states,indicating that these states may have mixed isospin.Comment: Contribution for the proceedings of the NUSTAR'05: NUclear STructure, Astrophysics and Reactions, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK; accepted for publication in Journal of Physics

Autisme et stress familial : le burn-out parental Défier les barrières sociales pour des perspectives d’épanouissement personnel - regard de psychologie positive

Le mot « autiste » prend son origine de la langue grecque, (autos) signifie soi-même. Il a été employé en 1911 par le psychiatre suisse Eugen Bleuler pour qualifier les patients schizophrènes repliés sur eux-mêmes. L'autisme est un trouble neuro-développemental, caractérisé par des altérations de la communication verbale et non verbale, pendant les relations sociales et lors des comportements et des activités à caractère restreint et répétitif [1]. Ces symptômes apparaissent avant l’âge de 3 ans et sont regroupés sous l’appellation       « triade autistique » et plus précisément des anomalies de comportement.        L'autisme est considéré comme un problème de santé publique. Plusieurs facteurs sont à l'origine de trouble, y compris ceux qui sont de nature génétique.      Les études génétiques des formes mono géniques du trouble du spectre autistique (TSA) ont identifié la fonction synaptique comme l'une des voies moléculaires des troubles neuro-développementaux sous-jacents [2]. Plusieurs gènes sont mis en cause, notamment les gènes des neuroligines, des protéines d'adhésion post-synaptiques des cellules impliquées dans la maturation du système nerveux et la plasticité des réseaux neuronaux [3]

Structure of 12Be: intruder d-wave strength at N=8

The breaking of the N=8 shell-model magic number in the 12Be ground state has been determined to include significant occupancy of the intruder d-wave orbital. This is in marked contrast with all other N=8 isotones, both more and less exotic than 12Be. The occupancies of the 0 hbar omega neutron p1/2-orbital and the 1 hbar omega, neutron d5/2 intruder orbital were deduced from a measurement of neutron removal from a high-energy 12Be beam leading to bound and unbound states in 11Be.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

ACE2 polymorphisms impact COVID-19 severity in obese patients

A strong association between obesity and COVID-19 complications and a lack of prognostic factors that explain the unpredictable severity among these patients still exist despite the various vaccination programs. The expression of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the main receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), is enhanced in obese individuals. The occurrence of frequent genetic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ACE2 is suggested to increase COVID-19 severity. Accordingly, we hypothesize that obesity-associated ACE2 polymorphisms increase the severity of COVID-19. In this study, we profiled eight frequently reported ACE2 SNPs in a cohort of lean and obese COVID-19 patients (n = 82). We highlight the significant association of rs2285666, rs2048683, rs879922, and rs4240157 with increased severity in obese COVID-19 patients as compared to lean counterparts. These co-morbid-associated SNPs tend to positively correlate, hence proposing possible functional cooperation to ACE2 regulation. In obese COVID-19 patients, rs2285666, rs879922, and rs4240157 are significantly associated with increased blood nitrogen urea and creatinine levels. In conclusion, we highlight the contribution of ACE2 SNPs in enhancing COVID-19 severity in obese individuals. The results from this study provide a basis for further investigations required to shed light on the underlying mechanisms of COVID-19 associated SNPs in COVID-19 obese patients

Evaluation of the Prevalence and Correlated Factors for Decreased Bone Mass Density among Pre- and Post-menopausal Educated Working Women in Saudi Arabia

Most of the previous studies on osteoporosis have focused on post-menopausal women, and more research is needed to evaluate its prevalence in pre-menopausal women. This study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence and correlated factors for decreased bone mass density among pre- and post-menopausal women. This was a cross-sectional study carried out in Applied Medical Sciences College under King Saud University. All pre- and post-menopausal women working there were invited to participate in the study. Measurement of bone mass density was done by quantitative ultrasound densitometry. One-fourth of the pre-menopausal females had osteopaenia. There was a significant correlation between having osteoporosis and increasing age, fertility period, parity, menopausal duration, gynaecological age, and presence of comorbidity, especially hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Pre-menopausal females had high prevalence of osteopaenia (24.8%), and it is recommended to implement health education campaigns demonstrating the preventive measures of osteoporosis

4He decay of excited states in 14C

A study of the 7Li(9Be,4He 10Be)2H reaction at E{beam}=70 MeV has been performed using resonant particle spectroscopy techniques and provides the first measurements of alpha-decaying states in 14C. Excited states are observed at 14.7, 15.5, 16.4, 18.5, 19.8, 20.6, 21.4, 22.4 and 24.0 MeV. The experimental technique was able to resolve decays to the various particle bound states in 10Be, and provides evidence for the preferential decay of the high energy excited states into states in 10Be at ~6 MeV. The decay processes are used to indicate the possible cluster structure of the 14C excited states.Comment: accepted for publication in PR

Reaction mechanisms for weakly-bound, stable nuclei and unstable, halo nuclei on medium-mass targets

An experimental overview of reactions induced by the stable, but weakly-bound nuclei 6Li, 7Li and 9Be, and by the exotic, halo nuclei 6He, 8B, 11Be and 17F on medium-mass targets, such as 58Ni, 59Co or 64Zn, is presented. Existing data on elastic scattering, total reaction cross sections, fusion processes, breakup and transfer channels are discussed in the framework of a CDCC approach taking into account the breakup degree of freedom.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, Invited Talk given by C. Beck to the 10th International Conference on Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions, August 16-21, 2009 Beijing, China; Paper submitted to the NN2009 Proceedings, Nuclear Physics A (to be published

Associations between genetic variants in the vitamin d metabolism pathway and severity of covid-19 among uae residents

Vitamin D has many effects on cells in the immune system. Many studies have linked low vitamin D status with severity of COVID-19. Genetic variants involved in vitamin D metabolism have been implicated as potential risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes. This study investigated how genetic variations in humans affected the clinical presentation of COVID-19. In total, 646 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were divided into two groups: noncritical COVID-19 (n = 453; 70.12%) and a critical group (n = 193; 29.87%). Genotype data on the GC, NADSYN1, VDR, and CYP2R1 genes along with data on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were compiled in patients admitted to a major hospital in the United Arab Emirates between April 2020 and January 2021. We identified 12 single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with the critical COVID-19 condition: rs59241277, rs113574864, rs182901986, rs60349934, and rs113876500; rs4944076, rs4944997, rs4944998, rs4944979, and rs10898210; and rs11574018 and rs11574024. We report significant associations between genetic determinants of vitamin D metabolism and COVID-19 severity in the UAE population. Further research needed to clarify the mechanism of action against viral infection in vitamin D deficiency. These variants could be used with vaccination to manage the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and could be particularly valuable in populations in which vitamin D deficiency is common

SARS-CoV-2 Switches 'on' MAPK and NFκB Signaling via the Reduction of Nuclear DUSP1 and DUSP5 Expression

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and NF-kappaB (NF-κB) pathway regulate many cellular processes and are essential for immune cells function. Their activity is controlled by dual-specificity phosphatases (DUSPs). A comprehensive analysis of publicly available gene expression data sets of human airway epithelial cells (AECs) infected with SARS-CoV-2 identified DUSP1 and DUSP5 among the lowest induced transcripts within these pathways. These proteins are known to downregulate MAPK and NF-κB pathways; and their lower expression was associated with increased activity of MAPK and NF-κB signaling and enhanced expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α. Infection with other coronaviruses did not have a similar effect on these genes. Interestingly, treatment with chloroquine and/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs counteracted the SARS-CoV-2 induced reduction of DUSP1 and DUSP5 genes expression. Therapeutically, impeding this evasion mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 may help control the exaggerated activation of these immune regulatory pathways during a COVID-19 infection