Ten millennia of hepatitis B virus evolution

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been infecting humans for millennia and remains a global health problem, but its past diversity and dispersal routes are largely unknown. We generated HBV genomic data from 137 Eurasians and Native Americans dated between ~10,500 and ~400 years ago. We date the most recent common ancestor of all HBV lineages to between ~20,000 and 12,000 years ago, with the virus present in European and South American hunter-gatherers during the early Holocene. After the European Neolithic transition, Mesolithic HBV strains were replaced by a lineage likely disseminated by early farmers that prevailed throughout western Eurasia for ~4000 years, declining around the end of the 2nd millennium BCE. The only remnant of this prehistoric HBV diversity is the rare genotype G, which appears to have reemerged during the HIV pandemic

Postoperative complications after procedure for prolapsed hemorrhoids (PPH) and stapled transanal rectal resection (STARR) procedures

Procedure for prolapsing hemorrhoids (PPH) and stapled transanal rectal resection for obstructed defecation (STARR) carry low postoperative pain, but may be followed by unusual and severe postoperative complications. This review deals with the pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of adverse events that may occasionally be life threatening. PPH and STARR carry the expected morbidity following anorectal surgery, such as bleeding, strictures and fecal incontinence. Complications that are particular to these stapled procedures are rectovaginal fistula, chronic proctalgia, total rectal obliteration, rectal wall hematoma and perforation with pelvic sepsis often requiring a diverting stoma. A higher complication rate and worse results are expected after PPH for fourth-degree piles. Enterocele and anismus are contraindications to PPH and STARR and both operations should be used with caution in patients with weak sphincters. In conclusion, complications after PPH and STARR are not infrequent and may be difficult to manage. However, if performed in selected cases by skilled specialists aware of the risks and associated diseases, some complications may be prevented

Phylogeography of the second plague pandemic revealed through analysis of historical Yersinia pestis genomes

The second plague pandemic, caused by Yersinia pestis, devastated Europe and the nearby regions between the 14th and 18th centuries AD. Here we analyse human remains from ten European archaeological sites spanning this period and reconstruct 34 ancient Y. pestis genomes. Our data support an initial entry of the bacterium through eastern Europe, the absence of genetic diversity during the Black Death, and low within-outbreak diversity thereafter. Analysis of post-Black Death genomes shows the diversification of a Y. pestis lineage into multiple genetically distinct clades that may have given rise to more than one disease reservoir in, or close to, Europe. In addition, we show the loss of a genomic region that includes virulence-related genes in strains associated with late stages of the pandemic. The deletion was also identified in genomes connected with the first plague pandemic (541–750 AD), suggesting a comparable evolutionary trajectory of Y. pestis during both events. © 2019, The Author(s)

Analysis of 3800-year-old Yersinia pestis genomes suggests Bronze Age origin for bubonic plague

The origin of Yersinia pestis and the early stages of its evolution are fundamental subjects of investigation given its high virulence and mortality that resulted from past pandemics. Although the earliest evidence of Y. pestis infections in humans has been identified in Late Neolithic/Bronze Age Eurasia (LNBA 5000-3500y BP), these strains lack key genetic components required for flea adaptation, thus making their mode of transmission and disease presentation in humans unclear. Here, we reconstruct ancient Y. pestis genomes from individuals associated with the Late Bronze Age period (~3800 BP) in the Samara region of modern-day Russia. We show clear distinctions between our new strains and the LNBA lineage, and suggest that the full ability for flea-mediated transmission causing bubonic plague evolved more than 1000 years earlier than previously suggested. Finally, we propose that several Y. pestis lineages were established during the Bronze Age, some of which persist to the present day. © 2018 The Author(s)

The Crucial Role Of Molecular Ions In The Radial Contraction Of Argon Microwave-sustained Plasma Jets At Atmospheric Pressure

Fourteen ions (Ar+, Ar2+, ArH+, H2O +, H+(H2O), H+(H2O) 2, O+, O2+, OH+, NO+, N2+, N +, Ar2+, N4+) were detected, by mass-resolved ion-energy measurements when the discharge was operated at 50 W and fluxes of 2.5 and 5.0 slm. The crucial role of three molecular ions (Ar2+, ArH+, H2O +) during the radial contraction, from diffuse (r = (750 ± 50) μm) to contracted plasma jet (r = (500 ± 50) μm), and the relationship between power, gas flow and molecular ions production were pointed out. Ion energy distributions for Ar2+, ArH+ and H2O + exhibit their maxima at high-energies due to low-energy threshold for three-body collision reactions. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.595-5968386Moisan, M., Zakrzewski, Z., (1991) J. Phys. D Appl. Phys., 24, p. 1025Jankowski, K., Reszke, E., (2013) J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 28, p. 1196Kudela, J., Odrobina, I., Kando, M., (1998) Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., 37, p. 4169Cahng, J.-S., (2001) Sci. Technol. Adv. Mater., 2, p. 571Levaton, J., Ricard, A., Henriques, J., Silva, H.R.T., Amorim, J., (2006) J. Phys. D Appl. Phys., 39, p. 3285Purevdorj, D., Igura, N., Ariyada, O., Hayakawa, I., (2002) Lett. Appl. Microbiol., 37, p. 1008Golubovskii, Y.B., Nekuchaev, V., Gorchakov, S., Uhrlandt, D., (2011) Plasma Sources Sci. Technol., 20, p. 053002Kenty, C., (1962) Phys. Rev. e, 126, p. 1235Massey, J.T., (1965) J. Appl. Phys., 36, p. 373Kabouzi, Y., Calzada, M.D., Moisan, M., Tran, K.C., Trassy, C., (1965) J. Appl. Phys., 91, p. 361Varey, R.H., Smalley, J., Richards, P.H., Gozna, C.F., Swift-Hook, D.T., (1971) J. Phys. D Appl. Phys., 4, p. 1520Daniels, P.G., Franklin, R.N., Snell, J., (1990) J. Phys. D Appl. Phys., 23, p. 823Yu Baranov, V., Ul'Yanov, K.N., (1969) Sov. Phys. Tech. Phys., 14, p. 176Golubovskii, Y.B., Sonneburg, R., (1979) Sov. Phys. Tech. Phys., 24, p. 173Golubovskii, Y.B., Sonneburg, R., (1979) Sov. Phys. Tech. Phys., 24, p. 177Golubovskii, Yu.B., Lange, H., Maiorov, V.A., Porokhova, I.A., Sushkov, V.P., (2003) J Phys. D, 36, p. 694Petrov, G.M., Ferreira, C.M., (1999) Phys. Rev. e, 59, p. 3571Castanos-Martínez, E., Moisan, M., (2011) IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci., 39, p. 2192Lukác, P., Mikus, O., Morva, I., Zábudlá, J., Trnovec, Z., Morvová, M., (2011) Plasma Sources Sci. Technol., 20, p. 055012Castanos-Martínez, E., Moisan, M., Kabouzi, Y., (2009) J. Phys. D Appl. Phys., 42, p. 012003Ridenti, M.A., Souza-Corrêa, J.A., Amorim, J., (2014) J. Phys. D Appl. Phys., 47, p. 045204Benedikt, J., Hecimovic, A., Ellerweg, D., Von Keudell, A., (2012) J. Phys. D Appl. Phys., 45, p. 403001Bruggeman, P., Iza, F., Lauwers, D., Gonzalvo, Y.A., (2010) J. Phys. D Appl. Phys, 43, p. 012003Hamers, E.A.G., Van Sark, W.G.J.H.M., Bezemer, J., Goeddheer, W.J., Van De Weg, W.F., (2010) Int. J. Mass Spectrom. Ion Process., 43, p. 012003Lukác, P., Mikus, O., Morva, I., Zábudlá, Z., Trnovec, J., Morvová, M., (2011) Plasma Sources Sci. Technol., 20, p. 055012Massey, J.T., Cannon, S.M., (1965) J. Appl. Phys., 36, p. 361Castanos-Martínez, E., Kabouzi, Y., Makasheva, K., Moisan, M., (2004) Phys. Rev. e, 70, p. 066405Amorim, J., Oliveira, C., Souza-Corrêa, J.A., Ridenti, M.A., (2013) Plasma Process. Polym., 10, p. 670Bundaleska, N., Tatarova, E., Dias, F.M., Lino Da Silva, M., Ferreira, C.M., Amorim, J., (2014) J. Phys. D Appl. Phys., 47, p. 05520

Optimisation of energy absorbing liner for equestrian helmets. Part I: Layered foam liner

The energy absorbing foam liner used in safety helmets was optimised using finite element modelling. Computational simulations of certification standard tests were carried out to obtain the best performing configurations of helmet liner. For each test condition, the best configuration of helmet liner was identified. Two alternative designs were considered: the first was composed of three layers of different foam density, the second was a conventional liner of one single uniform density. The observed reduction in peak acceleration for the best performing helmet liners in various test conditions are directly related to the contact area, the distribution of material stresses and the dissipated plastic energy density (DPED). Peak linear accelerations are shown to be lowered by increasing the contact areas of the inner and outer surfaces of the energy absorbing liner, or by varying the foam density through the thickness of the liner to ensure that the foam absorbs energy plastically when the stress reaches the late plateau stage of the foam stress–strain curve.Deposited by bulk importAM

Repeated leftover serosurvey of sars-cov-2 igg antibodies in greece, may to august 2020

A serosurvey of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was conducted in Greece between May and August 2020. It was designed as a cross-sectional survey and was repeated at monthly intervals. The leftover sampling methodology was used and a geographically stratified sampling plan was applied. Of 20,110 serum samples collected, 89 (0.44%) were found to be positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, with higher seroprevalence (0.35%) observed in May 2020. The highest seroprevalence was primarily observed in the “30–49” year age group. Females presented higher seroprevalence compared to males in May 2020 (females: 0.58% VS males: 0.10%). This difference reversed during the study period and males presented a higher proportion in August 2020 (females: 0.12% VS males: 0.58%). Differences in the rate of seropositivity between urban areas and the rest of the country were also observed during the study period. The four-month infection fatality rate (IFR) was estimated to be 0.47%, while the respective case fatality rate (CFR) was at 1.89%. Our findings confirm low seroprevalence of COVID-19 in Greece during the study period. The young adults are presented as the most affected age group. The loss of the cumulative effect of seropositivity in a proportion of previous SARS-CoV-2 infections was indicated. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland