DNA multigene characterization of Fasciola hepatica and Lymnaea neotropica and its fascioliasis transmission capacity in Uruguay, with historical correlation, human report review and infection risk analysis

Fascioliasis is a highly pathogenic zoonotic disease emerging in recent decades, in part due to the effects of climate and global changes. South America is the continent presenting more numerous human fascioliasis endemic areas and the highest Fasciola hepatica infection prevalences and intensities known in humans. These serious public health scenarios appear mainly linked to altitude areas in Andean countries, whereas lowland areas of non-Andean countries, such as Uruguay, only show sporadic human cases or outbreaks. To understand this difference, we characterized F. hepatica from cattle and horses and lymnaeids of Uruguay by sequencing of ribosomal DNA ITS-2 and ITS-1 spacers and mitochondrial DNA cox1, nad1 and 16S genes. Results indicate that vectors belong to Lymnaea neotropica instead of to Lymnaea viator, as always reported from Uruguay. Our correlation of fasciolid and lymnaeid haplotypes with historical data on the introduction and spread of livestock species into Uruguay allow to understand the molecular diversity detected. We study the life cycle and transmission features of F. hepatica by L. neotropica of Uruguay under standardized experimental conditions to enable a comparison with the transmission capacity of F. hepatica by Galba truncatula at very high altitude in Bolivia. Results demonstrate that although L. neotropica is a highly efficient vector in the lowlands, its transmission capacity is markedly lower than that of G. truncatula in the highlands. On this baseline, we review the human fascioliasis cases reported in Uruguay and analyze the present and future risk of human infection in front of future climate change estimations

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Broadband Multi-wavelength Properties of M87 during the 2017 Event Horizon Telescope Campaign

Abstract: In 2017, the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) Collaboration succeeded in capturing the first direct image of the center of the M87 galaxy. The asymmetric ring morphology and size are consistent with theoretical expectations for a weakly accreting supermassive black hole of mass ∼6.5 × 109 M ⊙. The EHTC also partnered with several international facilities in space and on the ground, to arrange an extensive, quasi-simultaneous multi-wavelength campaign. This Letter presents the results and analysis of this campaign, as well as the multi-wavelength data as a legacy data repository. We captured M87 in a historically low state, and the core flux dominates over HST-1 at high energies, making it possible to combine core flux constraints with the more spatially precise very long baseline interferometry data. We present the most complete simultaneous multi-wavelength spectrum of the active nucleus to date, and discuss the complexity and caveats of combining data from different spatial scales into one broadband spectrum. We apply two heuristic, isotropic leptonic single-zone models to provide insight into the basic source properties, but conclude that a structured jet is necessary to explain M87’s spectrum. We can exclude that the simultaneous γ-ray emission is produced via inverse Compton emission in the same region producing the EHT mm-band emission, and further conclude that the γ-rays can only be produced in the inner jets (inward of HST-1) if there are strongly particle-dominated regions. Direct synchrotron emission from accelerated protons and secondaries cannot yet be excluded

Ternary mass transfer in liquid-liquid extraction

Abstract—Isothermal interphase mass transfer measurements were carried with the partially miscible Type I system glycerol (1)-water (2)-acetone (3) in a modified batch Lewis extraction cell. Three types of experiments were performed: (A)in which the acetone-rich phase was saturated and the initial glycerol-rich phase composition lay on the extension of the corresponding tie-line, (B)in which the glycerol-rich phase was saturated and the initial acetone-rich phase composition lay on the extension of the corresponding tie-line and (C) in which initially both the acetone-rich and glycerol-rich phases were unsaturated. The equilibration trajectory was monitored in both phases by sampling at suitable intervals. In experiments A and B rectilinear equilibration trajectories were obtained while in the experiment C the approach towards equilibrium was highly curvilinear in the composition space. A theoretical model, based on irreversible thermodynamics and allowing for diffusional coupling between species transfers, is developed to simulate the three types of experiments above. The matrix of equilibration rate constants, in either fluid phase, is re-constructed by determining the eigenvectors and eigenvalues from experimental observations. It is found that both matrices of rate constants in the acetone-rich and glycerol-rich phases have extremely large off-diagonal elements. It is stressed in the discussions that the experimental results cannot be explained, even qualitatively, without inclusion of these off-diagonal contributions. Some interesting mass transfer phenomena in the region of the plait point are pointed out and the need for a fundamental irreversible thermodynamics approach to interphase mass transfer is emphasised. It is concluded that rigorous mass transfer formulations, allowing for diffusional coupling, will be required to be incorporated into design of extractors involving highly non-ideal liquid mixtures

Liquid-liquid equilibrium in tihe system glycerol - water - acetone at 25°C

Liquid - liquid equilibrium for the glycerol - water - acetone system has been determined at 25°C and the data were correlated using UNIQUAC and NRTL models with good accuracy. The plait point of the system was determined from thermodynamic stability considerations; the value obtained agrees reasonably well with that obtained from the conventional Hand plot

Water desorption from resorcinol-formaldehyde hydrogels and adsorption in the resulting xerogels

Water desorption isotherms of resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) hydrogels and subsequent water adsorption isotherms of the resulting xerogels are determined using the static gravimetric method, at various temperatures. Isotherms obtained from samples synthesized at various pH are compared. Two different mechanisms are involved in RF hydrogels water desorption. At large relative humidity the capillary tension resulting from water removal induces a macroscopic shrinkage of the gel, whereas at low humidity water is evaporated with no network deformation. These two mechanisms are analyzed using a plastic deformation model and the Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer (GAB) model, respectively. Adsorption isotherms of RF xerogels are analyzed using the GAB model

Water desorption isotherms of resorcinol-formaldehyde and carbon xerogels

peer reviewe

Promoting effect of ceria on the performance of NiPd/CeO2-Al2O3 catalysts for the selective hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene in the presence of 1-butene

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