Introduction: The use of high resolution ultrasonography (US) became a very important tool in nail assessment. This study evaluated nails clinical and ultrasound measurements in the psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients and control groups. Methods: A cross sectional study was performed and 44 patients with PsA, 10 health individuals and 6 hand osteoarthritis patients (OA) were selected. PsA patients were included when filling the CASPAR criteria. Results: spectral Doppler (sD) was analyzed in 208 nail beds. Nail plates appearance on gray scale (GS) showed loss of the normal three-layered appearance in 89 nails (45.9%). Power Doppler (PD) signal was detected in 189 nail beds (92.2%), showing inflammatory activity in most of the patients and nails examined. Resistance index (RI) measured was significantly lower in PsA patients as compared with controls group in both longitudinal and transverse planes (p<0.001). The nail enthesitis was observed when RI values below 0.4, characterizing 100% sensitivity and 96% specificity (p<0.01). Conclusions: Nail US measurements presented statistical significance in PsA patients, in studies future could show many inflammatory situations, as treatment assessment.

Objective: The aim of the present study is to assess interactions between the moral sensitivity of physicians and satisfaction of patients. Materials and Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional research performed on physicians and patients in Tehran, Iran. The physicians were selected through census method, and patients were selected using quota sampling for equally selecting each physician from each work shift. Data were collected through a standard questionnaire of the physicians’ moral sensitivity for decision-making and a researcher-made patient satisfaction questionnaire. Data were analyzed by the SPSS software version 23. Ethical Considerations: The study received ethical approval by Ethics Committee of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. After explaining the objectives of the study, all participants completed and signed the written consent form. Results: The mean score for physicians’ moral sensitivity was 91.6±0.63 (out of 100) which shows a high level of moral sensitivity. The highest scores were related to the domain of “honesty and benevolence” and the lowest score was related to the domain of “The level of career knowledge”. The average patient satisfaction was 61.97±3.55 out of the total score (23-115) which shows a moderate level of satisfaction with the highest scores in the domain of “professionalism” and the lowest scores were related to the domain of “Technical Quality of Care”. According to the results, physician moral sensitivity and patient satisfaction are correlated (r= 0.611). Conclusion: Regarding the observed relationship between physicians’ moral sensitivity and patients’ satisfaction, it is suggested that improving patient satisfaction, adopting appropriate strategies like performing periodic evaluation of this phenomenon and providing some codified training in this regard are required to increase the level of moral sensitivity of physicians and provide high-quality care

Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase non-receptor type 11 (PTPN11; encoding protein SHP2) is an important protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) in the human body and plays an important role in regulating cell proliferation and differentiation. Overexpression of SHP2 will promote the development of cancer diseases, so research on SHP2 inhibitors has become one of the popular targets for the treatment of cancer. Recent studies have shown that combining SHP099 (an allosteric site 1 inhibitor) with SHP844 (an allosteric site 2 inhibitor) will enhance pharmacological pathway inhibition in cells. This study uses molecular dynamics simulations to explore the inhibition mechanism of SHP099 and SHP844 on SHP2 protein. The result shows that the interactions of allosteric site 1 (THR108-TRP112, LEU236-GLN245), allosteric site 2 (GLN79-GLN87, LEU262-GLN269), P-loop (HIS458-ARG465), and Q-loop (ARG501-THR507) are obviously enhanced in SHP2-SHP099-SHP844 system, which makes the fluctuation of residues more stable and the active site more difficult to be exposed. Meanwhile, residue GLU110 (allosteric site 1), ARG265 (allosteric site 2), and ARG501 (Q-loop) are speculated to be the key residues that led to the SHP2 protein in auto-inhibition conformation. This study provides an idea that help people to understand the mechanism of inhibition of the combining SHP099 with SHP844 on the SHP2.

Initially, Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus is strikingly thought to be manifested by respiratory illness such as cough, chest tightness, and dysponea. Therefore, we are presenting a confirmed case of COVID-19 who developed acute pancreatitis-a rare manifestation during disease process without any known aggravating factors

Multiple myeloma had been an incurable hematological malignancy, recent advances in novel anti-neoplastic agents, including carfilzomib (CFZ), have improved the prognosis. CFZ has been reported to have cardiotoxic effects. Notably, the incidence of peripheral blood eosinophilia was not described. This is the first report of eosinophilia developing after CFZ.

Diets containing different crude protein levels (16%, 14%, and 12%) were created to feed Bamei pigs in order to study the effect of these compositions on intestinal colonies. Therefore, 27 healthy Bamei pigs of similar weight (20.99 kg±0.16 kg) were selected and randomly divided into three groups for microbial diversity analysis. The results of this study show that microbial diversities and abundances in Bamei pig jejunum and caecum samples after feeding with different dietary protein levels were significantly different. Dietary crude protein level exerted no significant effect on the Shannon index for cecum microbes in these pigs, while Simpson, ACE, and Chao1 indices for group I were all significantly higher than those of either the control group or group II (P < 0.05). Indeed, data show that microbial diversities and abundances in the 14% protein level group were higher than those in either the 16% or 12% groups. Dominant bacteria present in jejunum and cecum samples given low-protein diets were members of the phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Data show that as dietary crude protein level decreases, representatives of the microbial flora genus Lactobacillus in jejunum and cecum samples gradually increases. Values for the KEGG functional prediction of microbial flora at different dietary protein levels also shows that genes of jejunum and cecum microorganisms were mainly enriched in the ‘metabolism’ pathway, and indicate that low protein diets increase intestinal metabolic activity. Therefore, we recommend that Bamei pig dietary protein levels are reduced 2% from their existing level of 16% crude protein. We also suggest that essential synthetic amino acids (AA) are added to optimize this ideal protein model as this will increase intestinal flora diversity in these pigs and enhance health. These changes will have a positive effect in promoting the healthy growth of Bamei pigs.

Increasing rate of pollution is a matter of global concern nowadays. One of the major sources of pollution is found to be the combustion products of diesel engine containing hazardous gases like carbon mono oxide, carbon di oxide, unburnt hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen. NOx reduction from exhaust of diesel engines is the topic of research for automobile Manufacturers nowdays. Lean NOx trap was used for a long time for this purpose but it was not successful. Then SCR technology came into existence which was found to be the very effective Technology for reduction of nitrogen oxides from diesel engine exhaust. This paper involves the study of a better NOx reduction technology called solid selective catalyst reduction (SSCR). After analysis the results of various experiments it is concluded that NOx reduction efficiency of about 95% can be easily achieved using SSCR system.

In this work, we develop two generic mixed-integer linear programming formulations for scheduling of multipurpose batch plants using the unit-specific event-based modelling approach. While related non-recycling production and consumption tasks are allowed to take place at the same event points but in different real time in the first model, they are not allowed in the second model. We also introduce the concept of indirect and direct material transfer, which allows to conditionally align the operational sequence of related production and consumption tasks. Processing units are able to hold materials previously produced over multiple event points. The computational results demonstrate that the proposed models do not require a task to span over multiple event points to generate the optimal solution. As a result, the proposed models are able to generate the same or better solutions with up to one order of magnitude less computational time compared to the existing models.

The present study depicts the hydrodynamics along with the mixing characteristics inside a millichannel-based serpentine fixed-bed device to attain the particular demands of the fabrication of the miniature adsorption devices. Residence Time Distribution (RTD) analyses were accomplished to analyze the velocity distribution inside the packed bed geometry. The operating variables effect the hydrodynamics, mixing, and the lead adsorption characteristics, which were pronounced clearly in the present context. Depending on the results obtained in the experiment, the new correlations were proposed. The parametric effects on the lead ions adsorption were studied in the same millichannel geometry packed with the graphene oxide (GO) coated glass beads. Thomas model was utilized to investigate the kinetics of the adsorptive removal process. The regeneration study of the said millichannel-based fixed-bed device was also executed.

A Salinity Gradient Flow Battery (SGFB) is a novel type of battery that utilizes the selective ion-transition across ion exchange membranes to produce Donnan potential and stores energy in the form of salinity gradient power (SGP). Nevertheless, the commercialization of SGFB had been halted because of the low charging-discharging efficiency due to the relatively high ohmic solution resistance in the low salinity solution. By considering the contribution of supporting ions in a redox flow battery (RFB), we proposed an “Ion-plus SGFB” system by internally-integrating the RFB and SGFB system for the breakthrough of SGFB recycling efficiency. The supporting ions in the salinity solutions overcome the trade-off limitation between Donnan potential and internal-resistance without sacrificing on the SGP, and increase the power density to 1.15 W cm-2 which is two times higher than control system (0.45 W cm-2). The novel designed system is environmental-friendly and gentle for ion exchange membrane

This study investigated some physiological features in a 20-year-old ‘Italia’ vineyard cropped in Apulia, Italy. Five vines with brown-wood-streaking associated to Phaeoacremonium minimum (sin. Pm. aleophilum) and Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (BWSV), five with brown-wood-streaking and white-rot caused by Fomitiporia mediterranea (BWSWRV) and five healthy vines (HV) were surveyed. Bleeding xylem sap (BXS) collected at bud-break, symptomless and symptomatic leaves taken during stretched-out leaves, fruit setting, cluster closing and bunch ripening phenological phases were characterized. BXS from HV showed the highest total ascorbic acid level, while BWSWRV had the highest viscosity coefficient, glutathione concentration and growth regulators activity. Low fresh and dry weight, total chlorophyll concentration and the hight leaf surface, hydrogen peroxide and cell membranes damage were detected in leaves of diseased vines. Symptomless and symptomatic leaves of BWSV and BWSWRV exhibited low concentrations of ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione and redox state; moderate levels of dehydroascorbic acid and oxidized glutathione. Higher dehydroascorbate reductase and low ascorbate free radical reductase and glutathione reductase activities were showed by leaves collected from diseased vines. However, no differences were detected in ascorbate peroxidase activity. The decrease of oxidative status alters cell membranes integrity and could contribute to cell death and symptoms development on leaves.

A document by Laura Badina, written on Authorea.

This report presents real-time endoscopic observations of an unusual flat gastric lesion that would appear upon inflation of the stomach and disappear upon deflation of the stomach. Although there are some reports regarding the evaluation of gastric blood flow, little has been reported about real-time color changes in gastric lesions.

We report a case of immunotherapy associated myopericarditis in a patient treated with Nivolumab/Ipilimumab. We furthermore performed a comprehensive literature review regarding the biological mechanisms of cancer immunity, the pathophysiology behind immunotherapy related adverse effects (irAEs), current guideline, and the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors to the recurrent irAEs.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a highly contagious disease with a rapid increase in cases and mortality all over the world. We report a neonate born to the pregnant woman with COVID tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection just 24 hours after its birth.

The purpose of this report was to describe the reverse-taper lock connection and two-stage implant treatment. The reverse-taper lock connection was designed to be narrow and strong, the superstructure could be attached by friction force. The two-stage implant allows removal of the infected upper part in the event of peri-implantitis.

Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a common acquired vascular tumor and may appear mostly as a solitary lesions. Multiple disseminated PGs are a very rare form and mostly are seen after traumas such as burn. We presented a new case with multiple PGs secondary to scald burn due to oil.

The study was carried out with cavitated charcoal that were introduced into loamy sand and clay at rates of 1.76%, 3.5%, 7.0%, and 14.0%. The highest introduction rate of the material (14.0%) increased the content of total carbon (CTot) by 197% in the loamy sand and by 19% in the clay compared to that in the control treatments. The application of cavitated charcoal did not significantly change the total content of heavy metals. Regardless of the element and the soil used, the application of cavitated charcoal reduced the content of the CaCl2-extracted forms of heavy metals. Following the application of cavitated charcoal, the loamy sand soil presented an even lower content of the most mobile forms of the studied elements. It should also be noted that regardless of the soil texture, mobile forms of the elements decreased with the increased cavitated charcoal rate. The respiratory activity values of the soils into which cavitated charcoal was introduced were low, which indicates a large number of dormant microorganisms. Additionally, the results of dehydrogenase and urease activity indicated the low metabolic activity of the microbial population in the soils, especially with the relatively high rates (7.0% and 14.0%) of cavitated charcoal. However, the cavitated charcoal used in the study showed a significant, positive effect on the amount of biomass Sorghum saccharatum (L.), and its application significantly reduced the heavy metal content in the biomass of Sorghum saccharatum (

African swine fever is a highly contagious fatal infectious disease of pigs with a worldwide occurrence and economic importance. Two adult large white boars from two farms in Jos North, Plateau State-Nigeria kept under intensive management system were diagnosed of African swine fever between the last week of July and the first week of August 2019 at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital University of Jos. In both cases the farmers complained of sudden deaths of pigs. At post mortem examination carcasses grossly showed splenomegaly, hemorrhagic lymphadenitis, and hepatomegaly with severe congestion. The kidneys were enlarged and had generalized petechiae and blood clot in the pelvis.The heart was moderately enlarged.On microscopy, the spleen and lymph nodes, showed severe lymphocytic depletion, haemorrhage and severe haemosiderosis. The liver was severely congested with focal coagulative necrosis of the hepatocytes. The kidneys were severely congested and showed renal tubular necrosis with few tubular protein casts. Tissue samples were confirmed to be positive for ASFV by polymerase chain reaction and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolate belonged to genotype-I. Sequences obtained were compared and deposited in the GenBank and were accessioned MN888693 and MN888694. Keywords: African swine fever; laboratory; diagnosis; smallholder farms; pig; Nigeria

A new Respirovirus, Porcine parainfluenzavirus type 1 (PPIV-1) was first identified in 2013 in Hong Kong and later in the USA. Here, we report the first detection of PPIV-1 outside these two regions. Our research group has analyzed 15–15 (3–3 piglets from five litters) nasal swab samples obtained from three-week-old piglets originating from 22 Hungarian farms altogether from which only one farm was found to be positive. Subsequently, 20–20 nasal swab samples were obtained from 2, 4, 6 and 8-week-old piglets of this farm. Virus detection by qRT-PCR showed that although all investigated age groups were positive to PPIV-1, higher number of infected animals and higher viral loads were found among 4-year-old animals. Based on the phylogenetic analyses of partial F and L genes, the 3 Hungarian strains are almost identical and are highly similar to the very first PPIV-1 genome submitted from Hong Kong in 2013, whereas the overall genetic difference compared to the recently described North American isolates was around 10%.

To improve the bending fatigue life of gears, a novelty method of the ultrasonic rolling strengthening is proposed to process tooth roots of the spur cylindrical gears . The variations in the residual stress, surface hardness and the depth of hardened layer of the tooth root were studied. Subsequently, the bending fatigue experiments of the single tooth were performed, and the relationship among the surface residual stress σ, surface hardness Hv, the depth of the hardened layer δ and the bending fatigue life was investigated. The results exhibit that the tensile residual stress located on the tooth roots is converted to the residual compressive stress. Compared with the unreinforced condition, the bending fatigue strength of the strengthened gears is increased by 2 times, and its fatigue life is extended by 15 times.

Local adaptation to temperature is essential for woody plants to against changeable climate and safely survive the winter. To uncover the specific molecular mechanism of low temperature adaptation in woody plants, we performed selective-sweep analysis and genome-wide association study (GWAS) on a wild woody plant naturally distributed in different climate zones and latitudes. We sequenced a core collection of 134 accessions selected from 494 paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera L.), phenotyped the accessions in high latitudes of 40º N for two overwintering traits. We further performed genome-phenotype and genome-environment associations, and genome-wide scans for temperature selection. The population structure analysis indicated that accessions showed forceful geographic distribution patterns because of the adaptation to local climate. We detected 75 selective regions possibly undergone temperature selection and identified 14 trait-associated SNPs corresponded to 16 candidate genes. Meanwhile, low temperature adaptation was also supported by other three SNPs with values lower than threshold but harboring different primary genotype among geographic groups. Overall, we propose a possible network of cold signal perception and responses in woody plants, some genes are considered unique to woody plants while others have been studied in herbs, which highlighting a key hit for studying the specific molecular mechanism of low temperature adaptation or overwintering in woody plants.

Pigs (Sus scrofa) may be important surveillance targets for risk assessment and risk-based control planning against emerging zoonoses. Pigs have high-contact rates with humans and other animals, transmit similar pathogens as humans including CoVs, and serve as reservoirs and intermediate hosts for notable human pandemics. Wild and domestic pigs both interface with humans and each other but have unique ecologies that demand different surveillance strategies. Three fundamental questions shape any surveillance program: where, when, and how can surveillance be conducted to optimize the surveillance objective? Using theory of mechanisms of zoonotic spillover and data on risk factors, we propose a framework for determining where surveillance might begin initially to maximize a detection in each host species at their interface. We illustrate the utility of the framework using data from the United States. We then discuss variables to consider in refining when and how to conduct surveillance. Recent advances in accounting for opportunistic sampling designs and in translating serology samples into infection times provide promising directions for extracting spatio-temporal estimates of disease risk from typical surveillance data. Such robust estimates of population-level disease risk allow surveillance plans to be updated in space and time based on new information (adaptive surveillance) thus optimizing allocation of surveillance resources to maximize the quality of risk assessment insight.

Catheter ablation involving the left ventricle increases risk of damage to the mitral valve or chordae tendineae which can lead to acute mitral regurgitation. This may place the patient in danger whether using a transaortic approach or transseptal approach. Here we report a case diagnosed as ablation catheter entrapment by chordae of the mitral valve during radiofrequency ablation monitored by periprocedural transesophageal echocardiogram. The entrapped ablation catheter was smoothly removed by open surgery and no damage to the mitral valve complex was detected. Removal of an entrapped catheter by blinded traction is associated with damage to the mitral valve complex.