Temperature dependent orbital degree of freedom in a bilayer manganite by magnetic Compton scattering

We have measured temperature-dependent magnetic Compton profiles (MCPs) from a single crystal of La$_{1.2}$Sr$_{1.8}$Mn$_2$O$_7$. The MCPs, which involved the scattering of circularly polarized x-rays, are in general related to the momentum density of all the unpaired spins in the system. Nevertheless, we show that when the x-ray scattering vector lies along the [110] direction, the number of magnetic electrons of a specific symmetry, i.e. $d$-electrons of $x^2-y^2$ symmetry, yield a distinct signature in the MCP, allowing us to monitor substantial changes in the occupancy of the $d_{x^2-y^2}$ states over the investigated temperature range of 5-200K. This study indicates that magnetic Compton scattering can provide a powerful window on the properties of specific magnetic electrons in complex materials.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Attitudes Toward Mental Illness: A Study Among Law Enforcement Officers in the South and Southwest United States

Ashley Montano Brooke Barfield The objective of the current study was to evaluate factors that may affect law enforcement officer’s attitudes toward the mentally ill. Through the use of a self-administered questionnaire officers in California, Colorado and Florida reported their perceptions of mental illness, specialized training they received, and any personal or family experiences with mental illness. Our findings suggest officers that reported having a parent who is mentally ill were more likely to have positive attitudes in comparison to officers who did not have these relationships. We also found limited support for a gender difference in attitudes towards mental illness with female officers reporting more positive attitudes. Although we did find some significant results in support of our hypotheses we believe our sample size of 93 active LEOs needs to be greatly expanded to draw solid conclusions

Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infection associated cell entry proteins ACE2, CD147, PPIA, and PPIB in datasets from non SARS-CoV-2 infected neuroblastoma patients, as potential prognostic and infection biomarkers in neuroblastoma

SARS-CoV-2 viral contagion has given rise to a worldwide pandemic. Although most children experience minor symptoms from SARS-CoV-2 infection, some have severe complications including Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children. Neuroblastoma patients may be at higher risk of severe infection as treatment requires immunocompromising chemotherapy and SARS-CoV-2 has demonstrated tropism for nervous cells. To date, there is no sufficient epidemiological data on neuroblastoma patients with SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, we evaluated datasets of non-SARS-CoV-2 infected neuroblastoma patients to assess for key genes involved with SARS-CoV-2 infection as possible neuroblastoma prognostic and infection biomarkers. We hypothesized that ACE2, CD147, PPIA and PPIB, which are associated with viral-cell entry, are potential biomarkers for poor prognosis neuroblastoma and SARS-CoV-2 infection. We have analysed three publicly available neuroblastoma gene expression datasets to understand the specific molecular susceptibilities that high-risk neuroblastoma patients have to the virus. Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) GSE49711 and GEO GSE62564 are the microarray and RNA-Seq data, respectively, from 498 neuroblastoma samples published as part of the Sequencing Quality Control initiative. TARGET, contains microarray data from 249 samples and is part of the Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) initiative. ACE2, CD147, PPIA and PPIB were identified through their involvement in both SARS-CoV-2 infection and cancer pathogenesis. In-depth statistical analysis using Kaplan-Meier, differential gene expression, and Cox multivariate regression analysis, demonstrated that overexpression of ACE2, CD147, PPIA and PPIB is significantly associated with poor-prognosis neuroblastoma samples. These results were seen in the presence of amplified MYCN, unfavourable tumour histology and in patients older than 18 months of age. Previously, we have shown that high levels of the nerve growth factor receptor NTRK1 together with low levels of the phosphatase PTPN6 and TP53 are associated with increased relapse-free survival of neuroblastoma patients. Interestingly, low levels of expression of ACE2, CD147, PPIA and PPIB are associated with this NTRK1-PTPN6-TP53 module, suggesting that low expression levels of these genes are associated with good prognosis. These findings have implications for clinical care and therapeutic treatment. The upregulation of ACE2, CD147, PPIA and PPIB in poor-prognosis neuroblastoma samples suggests that these patients may be at higher risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Importantly, our findings reveal ACE2, CD147, PPIA and PPIB as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for neuroblastoma

The Exonuclease Activity of hPMC2 is Required for Transcriptional Regulation of The QR Gene and Repair of Estrogen-Induced Abasic Sites

We have previously reported that the expression of antioxidative stress enzymes is upregulated by trans-hydroxytamoxifen (TOT) in breast epithelial cell lines providing protection against estrogen-induced DNA damage. This regulation involves Estrogen Receptor β (ERβ) recruitment to the Electrophile Response Element (EpRE) and a novel protein, human homolog of Xenopus gene which Prevents Mitotic Catastrophe (hPMC2). We have also demonstrated that ERβ and hPMC2 are required for TOT-dependent recruitment of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) and Topoisomerase IIβ (Topo IIβ) to the EpRE. Sequence analysis reveals that the C-terminus of hPMC2 encodes a putative exonuclease domain. Using in vitro kinetic assays, we found that hPMC2 is a 3\u27-5\u27 non-processive exonuclease that degrades both single-stranded and double-stranded substrates. Mutation of two conserved carboxylate residues drastically reduced the exonuclease activity of hPMC2, indicating the relative importance of the catalytic residues. Western blot analysis of breast cancer cell lines for Quinone Reductase (QR) levels revealed that the intrinsic exonuclease activity of hPMC2 was required for TOT-induced QR upregulation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays also indicated that hPMC2 was involved in the formation of strand breaks observed with TOT treatment and is specific for the EpRE-containing region of the QR gene. We also determined that the transcription factor NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) is involved in the specificity of hPMC2 for the EpRE. In addition, we determined that the catalytic activity of hPMC2 is required for repair of abasic sites that result from estrogen-induced DNA damage. Thus, our study provides a mechanistic basis for transcriptional regulation by hPMC2 and provides novel insights into its role in cancer prevention

Bi-Legendrian manifolds and paracontact geometry

We study the interplays between paracontact geometry and the theory of bi-Legendrian manifolds. We interpret the bi-Legendrian connection of a bi-Legendrian manifold M as the paracontact connection of a canonical paracontact structure induced on M and then we discuss many consequences of this result both for bi-Legendrian and for paracontact manifolds. Finally new classes of examples of paracontact manifolds are presented.Comment: to appear in Int. J. Geom. Meth. Mod. Phy

Comparison Process of Blood Heavy Metals Absorption Linked to Measured Air Quality Data in Areas with High and Low Environmental Impact

Air pollution is a problem shared by the entire world population, and researchers have highlighted its adverse effects on human health in recent years. The object of this paper was the relationship between the pollutants' concentrations measured in the air and the quantity of pollutant itself inhaled by the human body. The area chosen for the study has a high environmental impact given the significant presence on the territory of polluting activities. The Acerra area (HI) has a waste-to-energy plant and numerous industries to which polluting emissions are attributed. This area has always been the subject of study as the numbers of cancer patients are high. A survey on male patients to evaluate the heavy metals concentrations in the blood was conducted in the two areas and then linked to its values aero-dispersed. Using the air quality data measured by the monitoring networks in two zones, one with high environmental impact (HI) and one with low environmental impact (LI), the chronicle daily intake (CDI) of pollutants inhaled by a single person was calculated. The pollutants considered in this study are PM10 and four heavy metals (As, Cd, Ni, Pb) constituting the typical particulates of the areas concerned. The CDI values calculated for the two zones are significantly higher in the HI zone following the seasonal pollution trend

Assessing Authentically – Learnings From Marketing Educators

This paper demonstrates the importance and role of authentic assessments, that replicate industry practice, within Higher Education marketing programmes. We answer the call from employers, that students need to gain much-needed employability skills, and we illustrate how such assessments can be created to enable the development of employability skills. We provide an overview of four case studies, to illustrate different forms of authentic assessments, the theory which was used to underpin the designs, the skills developed during the assessments, and the outcomes of the assessments. As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced a move to online assessments, it is timely that we reflect on the value of authentic assessments and adjust our practice

AB0125 EXPRESSION OF INTERFERON TYPE I- AND TYPE II-INDUCED GENES IN PATIENTS WITH SJÖGREN'S SYNDROME WITH AND WITHOUT EXTRAGLANDULAR INVOLVEMENT

Background:It is well known that Sjögren's syndrome (SjS) is characterized by an upregulation of interferon (IFN)-induced genes. Namely, IFN type I signature has been reported in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and in salivary glands of patients with this disease. However, few data are available on possible variability of IFN-induced gene upregulation in different clinical phenotypes of SjS.Objectives:To verify whether upregulation of IFN-induced genes is comparable in patients with SjS characterized by different clinical phenotypes, i.e., patients with systemic extraglandular manifestations (EGMs) versus patients with a disease limited to glandular features (GFs) and with widespread pain (WP).Methods:The study population was composed by 11 patients with SjS and EGMs (1 male, age range 18-78 years), and 10 patients with only GFs and WP (all females, age range 46-81 years), all classified according to ACR-EULAR criteria. The prevalence of anti-SSA(Ro) antibodies was 11/11 and 8/10, respectively. Lip biopsy was positive in all cases. Six healthy normal subjects were also included in the study as control population.Four IFN type I- and 5 IFN type II-induced genes were chosen for the study on the basis of previous literature data. Total RNA from each patient and control was isolated from purified PBMCs, followed by cDNA preparation and real time quantitative-PCR (RQ-PCR) analysis, using specific primer/probe sets. For calculation of relative expression, all samples were normalised against expression of a household gene (beta actin). A further normalization was performed against the mean value of relative expression obtained in the normal controls. Final fold change values were determined from the double-normalised values using the 2−ΔΔCT method (Applied Biosystems).Results:Fold change values of gene expression of both IFN type I- and type II-induced genes in PBMCs were different in the two clinical phenotypes of SjS. Fold change values of IFN type I-induced genes appeared strongly higher in patients with EGM, and some of them only moderately increased in those with only GF and WP. The expression of some of IFN type II-induced genes were slightly increased in patients belonging to both clinical phenotypes. Results are detailed in the table.Table.Fold change values of gene expression in patients with SjS plus EGMs, in patients with disease limited to GF and WP, and in controls.GeneMX1IFIT1IFT3IFI44IDO1GRP1MIGIP-10P2RY14SjS-EGMs85.938.524.440.425.18.34.51.55.5SJS-GF-WP4.21.72.04.84.11.20.60.31.3Controls2.11.61.11.51.41.31.51.31.4Legend. IFN type I-induced genes: MIX, IFN-induced GTP binding protein 1; IFIT1, IFN-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 1; IFIT3, IFN-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 3; IFI44, IFN-induced protein 44.IFN type II-induced genes: IDO1, indolamine-deoxygenase 1; GBP1, guanylate binding protein 1; MIG, C-X-C chemokine 9 (CXCL9); IP-10, C-X-C chemokine 10 (CXCL10); P2RY14, purinergic receptor 14.Conclusion:The present data indicate that IFN type I- and, to a lesser degree, type II-induced genes are upregulated in patients with SjS, but this phenomenon is consistently stronger in patients with systemic EGMs. In patients with only GFs IFN-induced gene upregulation is milder in PBMCs, and then probably more restricted to the exocrine target tissues.Disclosure of Interests:Nicoletta Del Papa: None declared, Claudio Vitali: None declared, Maurizio Lorini: None declared, Vincenzo Carbonelli: None declared, Wanda Maglione: None declared, Francesca Pignataro: None declared, Antonina Minniti: None declared, Nicola Montano: None declared, Roberto Caporali Consultant of: AbbVie; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; Lilly; Merck Sharp & Dohme; Celgene; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Pfizer; UCB, Speakers bureau: Abbvie; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Celgene; Lilly; Gilead Sciences, Inc; MSD; Pfizer; Roche; UC