Genomic Characterization of Host Factors Related to SARS-CoV-2 Infection in People with Dementia and Control Populations: The GR@ACE/DEGESCO Study

Emerging studies have suggested several chromosomal regions as potential host genetic factors involved in the susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease outcome. We nested a COVID-19 genome-wide association study using the GR@ACE/DEGESCO study, searching for susceptibility factors associated with COVID-19 disease. To this end, we compared 221 COVID-19 confirmed cases with 17,035 individuals in whom the COVID-19 disease status was unknown. Then, we performed a meta-analysis with the publicly available data from the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative. Because the APOE locus has been suggested as a potential modifier of COVID-19 disease, we added sensitivity analyses stratifying by dementia status or by disease severity. We confirmed the existence of the 3p21.31 region (LZTFL1, SLC6A20) implicated in the susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and TYK2 gene might be involved in COVID-19 severity. Nevertheless, no statistically significant association was observed in the COVID-19 fatal outcome or in the stratified analyses (dementia-only and non-dementia strata) for the APOE locus not supporting its involvement in SARS-CoV-2 pathobiology or COVID-19 prognosis

Multiancestry analysis of the HLA locus in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases uncovers a shared adaptive immune response mediated by HLA-DRB1*04 subtypes

Across multiancestry groups, we analyzed Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) associations in over 176,000 individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) versus controls. We demonstrate that the two diseases share the same protective association at the HLA locus. HLA-specific fine-mapping showed that hierarchical protective effects of HLA-DRB1*04 subtypes best accounted for the association, strongest with HLA-DRB1*04:04 and HLA-DRB1*04:07, and intermediary with HLA-DRB1*04:01 and HLA-DRB1*04:03. The same signal was associated with decreased neurofibrillary tangles in postmortem brains and was associated with reduced tau levels in cerebrospinal fluid and to a lower extent with increased Aβ42. Protective HLA-DRB1*04 subtypes strongly bound the aggregation-prone tau PHF6 sequence, however only when acetylated at a lysine (K311), a common posttranslational modification central to tau aggregation. An HLA-DRB1*04-mediated adaptive immune response decreases PD and AD risks, potentially by acting against tau, offering the possibility of therapeutic avenues

Впровадження бізнес-культури для мексиканських МСП проти глобалізації 4.0

Businesses carried out worldwide have been influenced by the phenomenon of Globalization 4.0. has allowed us to make various changes in all aspects and activities of the human being in different countries where an essential interdependence of markets was reflected. However, they allow reflection on all economic activities. In the particular case of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), this phenomenon creates an uncertain environment and opens the opportunity to develop a competitive environment and identify challenges and opportunities. Many elements are considered incident factors caused by Globalization 4.0 that affect Mexican SMEs. This work shows what factors affect the economic aspects and how the cultural factor is significant; the challenge of teamwork, cooperation, unity, and management of existing resources is also considered. Although Mexico has an influential business culture, it is not implemented in these companies; some seem unaware of a situation limiting their participation in conducting international business and improving their global competitiveness. This article shows the results of qualitative research based on the grounded theory proposed by Glaser and Strauss in 1967; the results obtained show how it is necessary to develop cultural aspects so that SMEs can achieve development and permanence over time. Globalization 4.0 is a phenomenon that affects international companies and represents actions and strategies to have an advantage over other companies, but what happens with SMEs is different; these types of companies do not have economic resources, and globalization 4.0 becomes a disadvantage. In our study, 80 % of SMEs do not have a business culture and are not prepared for globalization 4.0, and we also found that time is wasted on bad practices in 35 % of Mexican SMEs; training was lacking in 32 % of educational cases.На бізнес, який провадиться у всьому світі, вплинув феномен Глобалізації 4.0, який дозволив внести різні зміни в усі сторони та види діяльності людини у різних країнах, де є істотна взаємозалежність ринків. Однак вони дають змогу відобразити всю економічну діяльність. У конкретному випадку малих та середніх підприємств (МСП) це явище створює невизначене середовище та відкриває можливість для створення конкурентного середовища та виявлення проблем та можливостей. Багато елементів вважаються випадковими факторами, викликаними Глобалізацією 4.0, які торкаються мексиканських МСП. У цій роботі показано, які чинники впливають на економічні аспекти та яке значення має культурний фактор; також розглядається проблема командної роботи, співробітництва, єдності та управління наявними ресурсами. Хоча у Мексиці існує впливова ділова культура, вона застосовується у цих компаніях; деякі, здається, не знають про ситуацію, що обмежує їхню участь у веденні міжнародного бізнесу та підвищує їхню глобальну конкурентоспроможність. У цій статті представлені результати якісного дослідження, заснованого на обґрунтованій теорії, запропонованій Глейзером та Штраусом у 1967 р.; отримані результати показують, як необхідно розвивати культурні аспекти, щоб МСП могли досягти розвитку та стійкості з часом. Глобалізація 4.0 – це явище, яке зачіпає міжнародні компанії і є діями і стратегіями, спрямованими на отримання переваги перед іншими компаніями, але те, що відбувається з МСП, відрізняється; ці типи компаній не мають економічних ресурсів, і Глобалізація 4.0 стає недоліком. У даному дослідженні 80 % МСП не мають ділової культури та не готові до Глобалізації 4.. Також виявлено, що 35 % мексиканських МСП витрачають час на неправильні методи; навчання було відсутнє у 32 % навчальних випадків

Layer-by-layer assembly of polymersomes and polyelectrolytes on planar surfaces and microsized colloidal particles

Hybrid polyelectrolyte multilayer systems were fabricated on top of planar surfaces and colloidal particles via layer by layer (LbL) assembly of polystyrene sulphonate (PSS) and polybenzyl methacrylate-block-poly(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (PBzMA-b-PDMAEMA) polymersomes. Polymersomes were prepared by self assembly of PBzMA-b-PDMAEMA copolymer, synthesised by group transfer polymerisation. Polymersomes display a diameter of 270 nm and a shell thickness of 11 nm. Assembly on planar surfaces was followed by means of the Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (QCM-D) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Detailed information on the assembly mechanism and surface topology of the polymersome/polyelectrolyte films was thereby obtained. The assembly of polymersomes and PSS on top of silica particles of 500 nm in diameter was confirmed by ζ-potential measurements. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that polymersome/PSS coated silica particles increase in total diameter up to 3–5 μm. This hints toward the formation of densely packed polymersome layers. In addition, CLSM showed that polymersome/PSS films exhibit a high loading capacity that could potentially be used for encapsulation and delivery of diverse chemical species. These results provide an insight into the formation of multilayered films with compartmentalised hydrophilic/hydrophobic domains and may lead to the successful application of polymersomes in surface-engineered colloidal systems.Fil: Coustet, Marcos Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Irigoyen, Joseba. Centro de Investigación Cooperativa en Biomateriales. San Sebastián; EspañaFil: Alonso Garcia, Teodoro. Centro de Investigación Cooperativa en Biomateriales. San Sebastián; EspañaFil: Murray, Richard A.. Centro de Investigación Cooperativa en Biomateriales. San Sebastián; EspañaFil: Romero, Gabriela. Centro de Investigación Cooperativa en Biomateriales. San Sebastián; EspañaFil: Cortizo, Maria Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Knoll, Wolfgang. Austrian Institute of Technology. Viena; AustriaFil: Azzaroni, Omar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Moya, Sergio Eduardo. Centro de Investigación Cooperativa en Biomateriales. San Sebastián; Españ

MR dynamic-susceptibility-contrast perfusion metrics in the presurgical discrimination of adult solitary intra-axial cerebellar tumors

Adult solitary intra-axial cerebellar tumors are uncommon. Their presurgical differentiation based on neuroimaging is crucial, since management differs substantially. Comprehensive full assessment of MR dynamic-susceptibility-contrast perfusion-weighted imaging (DSC-PWI) may reveal key differences between entities. This study aims to provide new insights on perfusion patterns of these tumors and to explore the potential of DSC-PWI in their presurgical discrimination.Albert Pons-Escoda and Carles Majos acknowledge a grant from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI20/00360). Pablo Gago-Ferrero acknowledges a Ramón y Cajal grant (RYC2019-027913-I). The authors want to acknowledge Pilar Lopez-Ubeda, PhD, from HT Medica. She participated in retrospective patient recruitment through advanced natural language processing methods. The authors thank CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya for institutional support.Peer reviewe

A Coffee Berry Borer (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) Bibliography

Native to Africa, the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), has gradually invaded most coffee-growing areas worldwide. Adult females colonize the coffee berry and oviposit within galleries in the coffee seeds. Larvae and adults consume the seeds, resulting in drastic reductions in yields and quality, negatively affecting the income of approximately 20 million coffee-growing families (~100 million people) in ~80 countries, with losses surpassing more than $500 million annually (Vega et al. 2015). It has become evident that the coffee berry borer scientific community could greatly benefit from having access to a bibliography of the literature related to the insect. Such an information source would allow scientists to find out what research areas have been explored throughout the many coffee berry borer-infested countries after more than 100 years of research on the topic. It could also help to direct lead future research efforts into novel areas, and away from topics and ideas that have been thoroughly investigated in the past

Inhibition of mild steel corrosion in HCI solution using chitosan

The efficiency of chitosan (a naturally occurring polymer) as a corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in 0.1 M HCl, was investigated by gravimetric, electrochemical and spectroscopic measurements (SEM observations and UV-visible analysis). The polymer was found to inhibit corrosion even at a very low concentration. Inhibition efficiency increases with a rise in temperature up to 96 % at 60°C and then drops to 93% at 70°C, while it slightly increases with an increase in chitosan concentration. Polarization curves indicate that chitosan functions as a mixed inhibitor, affecting both cathodic and anodic corrosion reactions. Impedance results indicate that chitosan was adsorbed on the metal/solution interface. Adsorption of chitosan at the mild steel surface is found to be in agreement with Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. Chemical adsorption is the proposed mechanism for corrosion inhibition considering the trend of protection efficiency with temperature. Calculated kinetic and thermodynamic parameters corroborate the proposed mechanism.Fil: Umoren, Saviour E.. University of Uyo. Faculty of Science; Nigeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico la Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Banera, Mauro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico la Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Alonso Garcia, Teodoro. Biosurfaces Unit, Cic BIOMAGUNE; EspañaFil: Gervasi, Claudio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico la Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Mirifico, Maria Virginia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico la Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentin