An Experimental Investigation of Electrical Conductivities in Biopolymers

Tuberculosis is a devastating infectious disease causing many deaths worldwide. Recent investigations have implicated neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in the host response to tuberculosis. The aim of the current study was to obtain evidence for NETs release in the circulation during human tuberculosis. For this we measured the plasma concentrations of nucleosomes in conjunction with neutrophil elastase, in 64 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and 32 healthy controls. Patients with active tuberculosis had elevated plasma levels of nucleosomes and elastase when compared with local healthy blood donors. Furthermore nucleosome and elastase levels showed a positive correlation. These findings provide the first evidence for the release of NETs in the circulation of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis

Long-term passive acoustic recordings track the changing distribution of North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) from 2004 to 2014

© The Author(s), 2017. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Scientific Reports 7 (2017): 13460, doi:10.1038/s41598-017-13359-3.Given new distribution patterns of the endangered North Atlantic right whale (NARW; Eubalaena glacialis) population in recent years, an improved understanding of spatio-temporal movements are imperative for the conservation of this species. While so far visual data have provided most information on NARW movements, passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) was used in this study in order to better capture year-round NARW presence. This project used PAM data from 2004 to 2014 collected by 19 organizations throughout the western North Atlantic Ocean. Overall, data from 324 recorders (35,600 days) were processed and analyzed using a classification and detection system. Results highlight almost year-round habitat use of the western North Atlantic Ocean, with a decrease in detections in waters off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina in summer and fall. Data collected post 2010 showed an increased NARW presence in the mid-Atlantic region and a simultaneous decrease in the northern Gulf of Maine. In addition, NARWs were widely distributed across most regions throughout winter months. This study demonstrates that a large-scale analysis of PAM data provides significant value to understanding and tracking shifts in large whale movements over long time scales.This research was funded and supported by many organizations, specified by projects as follows: Data recordings from region 1 were provided by K. Stafford and this research effort was funded by the National Science Foundation #NSF-ARC 0532611. Region 2 data were provided by D. K. Mellinger and S. Nieukirk, funded by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) and the Office of Naval Research (ONR) #N00014–03–1–0099, NOAA #NA06OAR4600100, US Navy #N00244-08-1-0029, N00244-09-1-0079, and N00244-10-1-0047

Characterization of the ATP4 ion pump in Toxoplasma gondii

The Plasmodium falciparum ATPase PfATP4 is the target of a diverse range of antimalarial compounds, including the clinical drug candidate cipargamin. PfATP4 was originally annotated as a Ca2+ transporter, but recent evidence suggests that it is a Na+ efflux pump, extruding Na+ in exchange for H+. Here we demonstrate that ATP4 proteins belong to a clade of P-type ATPases that are restricted to apicomplexans and their closest relatives. We employed a variety of genetic and physiological approaches to investigate the ATP4 protein of the apicomplexan Toxoplasma gondii, TgATP4. We show that TgATP4 is a plasma membrane protein. Knockdown of TgATP4 had no effect on resting pH or Ca2+, but rendered parasites unable to regulate their cytosolic Na+ concentration ([Na+]cyt). PfATP4 inhibitors caused an increase in [Na+]cyt and a cytosolic alkalinization in wild type, but not in TgATP4-knockdown, parasites. Parasites in which TgATP4 was knocked down or disrupted exhibited a growth defect, attributable to a reduced viability of extracellular parasites. Parasites in which TgATP4 had been disrupted showed reduced virulence in mice. These results provide evidence for ATP4 proteins playing a key, conserved role in Na+ regulation in apicomplexan parasites

Finite element modeling of 3D turning of titanium

The finite element modeling and experimental validation of 3D turning of grade two commercially pure titanium are presented. The Third Wave AdvantEdge machining simulation software is applied for the finite element modeling. Machining experiments are conducted. The measured cutting forces and chip thickness are compared to finite element modeling results with good agreement. The effects of cutting speed, a limiting factor for productivity in titanium machining, depth of cut, and tool cutting edge radius on the peak tool temperature are investigated. This study explores the use of 3D finite element modeling to study the chip curl. Reasonable agreement is observed under turning with small depth of cut. The chip segmentation with shear band formation during the Ti machining process is investigated. The spacing between shear bands in the Ti chip is comparable with experimental measurements. Results of this research help to guide the design of new cutting tool materials and coatings and the studies of chip formation to further advance the productivity of titanium machining.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45846/1/170_2005_Article_2511.pd

Maternal and Child Health Services in the Context of the Ebola Virus Disease: Health Care Workers’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices in Rural Guinea

The objective of this study was to document maternal and child health care workers‘ knowledge, attitudes and practices on service delivery before, during and after the 2014 EVD outbreak in rural Guinea. We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study in ten health districts between October and December 2015, using a standardized self-administered questionnaire. Overall 299 CHWs (94% response rate) participated in the study, including nurses/health technicians (49%), midwives (23%), managers (16%) and physicians (12%). Prior to the EVD outbreak, 87% of CHWs directly engaged in managing febrile cases within the facility, while the majority (89% and 63%) referred such cases to another facility and/or EVD treatment centre during and after the EVD outbreak, respectively. Compared to the period before the EVD outbreak when approximately half of CHWs (49%) reported systematically measuring body temperature prior to providing any care to patients, most CHWs reported doing so during (98%) and after the EVD outbreak (88%). The main challenges encountered were the lack of capacity to screen for EVD cases within the facility (39%) and the lack of relevant equipment (10%). The majority (91%) of HCWs reported a decrease in the use of services during the EVD outbreak while an increase was reported by 72% of respondents in the period following the EVD outbreak. Infection prevention and control measures established during the EVD outbreak have substantially improved self-reported provider practices for maternal and child health services in rural Guinea. However, more efforts are needed to maintain and sustain the gain achieved.Key words: Maternal and child health, practices, Ebola, Guine

A rapid assessment framework for food system shocks: lessons learned from COVID-19 in the Indo-Pacific region

The frequency and severity of shocks to food systems is accelerating globally, exemplified by the current COVID-19 outbreak. In low- and middle-income countries, the impacts have exacerbated existing food system vulnerabilities and poverty. Governments and donors must respond quickly, but few tools are available that identify interventions to build food system resilience, or emerging opportunities for transformation. In this paper we reflect on the application of a systems-based rapid assessment which we applied across 11 Indo-Pacific countries in May-July 2020. Our approach was shaped by three design parameters: the integration of key informants’ perspectives engaged remotely within the countries, applicability to diverse food systems and COVID-19 experiences across the region, and the consideration of food systems as complex systems. For the rapid assessment we adopted an analytical framework proposed by Allen and Prosperi (2016). To include a development lens, we added the analysis of vulnerable groups and their exposure, impacts, recovery potential and resilience, and pro-poor interventions. We concluded that the framework and approach facilitated integration and triangulation of disparate knowledge types and data to identify priority interventions and was sufficiently flexible to be applied across food systems, at both national, sub-national and commodity scales. The step-wise method was simple and enabled structured inquiry and reporting. Although the systems concepts appeared more easily transferrable to key informants in some countries than others, potentially transformational interventions were identified, and also some risks of maladaptation. We present a refined framework that emphasises analysis of political, economic and institutional drivers of exposure and vulnerability, the constraints that they pose for building recovery potential and resilience, and trade-offs amongst winners and losers inherent in proposed interventions

Differential Expression Profile and Genetic Variants of MicroRNAs Sequences in Breast Cancer Patients

The technology available for cancer diagnosis and prognosis is not yet satisfactory at the molecular level, and requires further improvements. Micro RNAs (miRNAs) have been recently reported as useful biomarkers in diseases including cancer. We performed a miRNA expression profiling study using peripheral blood from breast cancer patients to detect and identify characteristic patterns. A total of 100 breast cancer patients and 89 healthy patients were recruited for miRNA genotyping and expression profiling. We found that hs-miR-196a2 in premenopausal patients, and hs-miR-499, hs-miR-146a and hs-miR-196a2 in postmenopausal patients, may discriminate breast cancer patients from healthy individuals. In addition, we found a significant association between two microRNA polymorphisms (hs-miR-196a2 and hs-miR-499) and breast cancer risk. However, no significant association between the hs-miR-146a gene and breast cancer risk was found. In summary, the study demonstrates that peripheral blood miRNAs and their expression and genotypic profiles can be developed as biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer

Tyrosine kinase chromosomal translocations mediate distinct and overlapping gene regulation events

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Leukemia is a heterogeneous disease commonly associated with recurrent chromosomal translocations that involve tyrosine kinases including BCR-ABL, TEL-PDGFRB and TEL-JAK2. Most studies on the activated tyrosine kinases have focused on proximal signaling events, but little is known about gene transcription regulated by these fusions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Oligonucleotide microarray was performed to compare mRNA changes attributable to BCR-ABL, TEL-PDGFRB and TEL-JAK2 after 1 week of activation of each fusion in Ba/F3 cell lines. Imatinib was used to control the activation of BCR-ABL and TEL-PDGFRB, and TEL-JAK2-mediated gene expression was examined 1 week after Ba/F3-TEL-JAK2 cells were switched to factor-independent conditions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Microarray analysis revealed between 800 to 2000 genes induced or suppressed by two-fold or greater by each tyrosine kinase, with a subset of these genes commonly induced or suppressed among the three fusions. Validation by Quantitative PCR confirmed that eight genes (Dok2, Mrvi1, Isg20, Id1, gp49b, Cxcl10, Scinderin, and collagen Vα1(Col5a1)) displayed an overlapping regulation among the three tested fusion proteins. Stat1 and Gbp1 were induced uniquely by TEL-PDGFRB.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results suggest that BCR-ABL, TEL-PDGFRB and TEL-JAK2 regulate distinct and overlapping gene transcription profiles. Many of the genes identified are known to be involved in processes associated with leukemogenesis, including cell migration, proliferation and differentiation. This study offers the basis for further work that could lead to an understanding of the specificity of diseases caused by these three chromosomal translocations.</p

A prospective study of the importance of enteric fever as a cause of non-malarial febrile illness in patients admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh

BACKGROUND: Fever is a common cause of hospital admission in Bangladesh but causative agents, other than malaria, are not routinely investigated. Enteric fever is thought to be common. METHODS: Adults and children admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital with a temperature of ≥38.0 °C were investigated using a blood smear for malaria, a blood culture, real-time PCR to detect Salmonella Typhi, S. Paratyphi A and other pathogens in blood and CSF and an NS1 antigen dengue ELISA. RESULTS: We enrolled 300 febrile patients with a negative malaria smear between January and June 2012: 156 children (aged ≤15 years) and 144 adults with a median (interquartile range) age of 13 (5-31) years and median (IQR) illness duration before admission of five (2-8) days. Clinical enteric fever was diagnosed in 52 patients (17.3 %), lower respiratory tract infection in 48 (16.0 %), non-specific febrile illness in 48 (16.0 %), a CNS infection in 37 patients (12.3 %), urinary sepsis in 23 patients (7.7 %), an upper respiratory tract infection in 21 patients (7.0 %), and diarrhea or dysentery in 21 patients (7.0 %). Malaria was still suspected in seven patients despite a negative microscopy test. S. Typhi was detected in blood by culture or PCR in 34 (11.3 %) of patients. Of note Rickettsia typhi and Orientia tsutsugamushi were detected by PCR in two and one patient respectively. Twenty-nine (9 %) patients died during their hospital admission (15/160 (9.4 %) of children and 14/144 (9.7 %) adults). Two of 52 (3.8 %) patients with enteric fever, 5/48 (10.4 %) patients with lower respiratory tract infections, and 12/37 (32.4 %) patients with CNS infection died. CONCLUSION: Enteric fever was confirmed in 11.3 % of patients admitted to this hospital in Bangladesh with non-malaria fever. Lower respiratory tract and CNS infections were also common. CNS infections in this location merit more detailed study due to the high mortality