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Internal dynamic processes and contemporaneous deformation may produce multiple magmatic fabrics and structures during the crystallization of granitic plutons. Here we report the case of the Tavares pluton (Borborema Province, northeastern Brazil), a ∼160 km2 NE-SW elongate pluton bounded in the north and southeast by dextral and sinistral shear zones, respectively. A remarkable feature of this pluton is the occurrence of numerous elliptical flow-related structures delineated by mafic schlieren resulting from the interaction of dioritic and granitic melts. We analyzed airborne geophysical data, conducted a field and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) study at the pluton scale, and detailed the magnetic fabric of two elliptical structures. The pluton has a well-developed magmatic foliation defined by the shape preferred orientation of K-feldspar megacrysts and planar concentrations of mafic minerals. The foliation trajectories are concentric and inwardly dipping, indicating a lopolith shape for the pluton. NE-trending magmatic shear zones and faults attest to sinistral shearing before complete crystallization. The dominant AMS fabric at pluton scale, represented by NE-to NNE-trending magnetic foliations with steep dips associated with lineations of moderate to shallow plunges, is consistent with the sinistral strain regime. In contrast, the magnetic foliation and lineation in the two elliptical structures dip moderately to the east, with the magnetic foliation commonly transecting the orientation of the mafic schlieren. We relate this latter fabric to regional contraction, characterized by top-to-the-west tectonic transport in the country rocks, during pluton construction. We propose that (i) tectonic overpressure due to regional compression assisted progressive pluton inflation by floor subsidence, generating the concentric magmatic fabric, and (ii) a small component of noncoaxial shear during bulk contraction led to sinistral shearing in the late stages of crystallization. We found no evidence for shear zone-controlled pluton emplacement. Instead, (i) the SE-bounding sinistral shear zone is restricted to the pluton vicinity, suggesting nucleation due to thermal softening of country rocks by the pluton, and (ii) magmatic foliations and lineations that could be related to the N-bounding dextral shear zone are absent. Also, the available geochronological data suggest that emplacement of the Tavares pluton predated by several tens of millions of years the intrusion of well-documented syn-transcurrence plutons in the Borborema Province. Therefore, the spatial association of the Tavares pluton with strike-slip shear zones is not strong enough evidence to assume a shear zone control on pluton emplacement. • Field and AMS data reveal multiple fabrics in the Tavares pluton. • The pluton was intruded during regional contraction. • Space-making for pluton growth occurred by floor depression. • Sinistral shearing took place at the advanced stages of pluton crystallization. • Bounding shear zones did not control magma ascent and emplacement [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The aim of this study is to measure the changes induced by fampridine on the spatiotemporal parameters of walk in patients with multiple sclerosis, as well as balance, endurance, physical activity and quality of life. Material/patients and methods This is a prospective monocentric preliminary study. Different evaluations were done at D0 and D14 from initiation of fampridine treatment: timed 25 feet walk (T25FW) as usually evaluated, iWalk (instrumented 6 minute walk test), iSway (instrumented balanced test) and iTUG (instrumented timed up and go test). The instrumentation included APDM ® Mobility Lab sensors. Another ambulatory accelerometry evaluation was implemented with Actigraph ® sensors and quality of life was assessed with SEP-59 survey. Results Twelve patients were included. The results showed: decrease of T25FW (12.1 ± 6.2 s to 10.7 ± 4.9 s, P = 0.003), increase of walking perimeter (239.0 ± 92.2 m to 281.9 ± 130.8 m, P = 0.015), increase of cadence at iWalk (89.2 ± 9.7 steps/min to 98.1 ± 12.9, P = 0.03) and significant decrease of support time during half-turn. Other parameters tend to improve, such as double support time, stride length or ambulatory energy consumption. Intergroup comparisons did not find any significant difference, but some parameters appear to be more favorable in the responder group. Finally, SEP-59 finds significant improvements in most psychological dimensions, unlike physical dimensions. Discussion, conclusion Fampridine appears to induce changes on other aspects than velocity, which will have to be evaluated later with statistically more robust evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Central African Republic (CAR) suffers a protracted conflict and has the second lowest human development index in the world. Available mortality estimates vary and differ in methodology. We undertook a retrospective mortality study in the Ouaka prefecture to obtain reliable mortality data. Methods: We conducted a population-based two-stage cluster survey from 9 March to 9 April, 2020 in Ouaka prefecture. We aimed to include 64 clusters of 12 households for a required sample size of 3636 persons. We assigned clusters to communes proportional to population size and then used systematic random sampling to identify cluster starting points from a dataset of buildings in each commune. In addition to the mortality survey questions, we included an open question on challenges faced by the household. Results: We completed 50 clusters with 591 participating households including 4000 household members on the interview day. The median household size was 7 (interquartile range (IQR): 4—9). The median age was 12 (IQR: 5—27). The birth rate was 59.0/1000 population (95% confidence interval (95%-CI): 51.7—67.4). The crude and under-five mortality rates (CMR & U5MR) were 1.33 (95%-CI: 1.09—1.61) and 1.87 (95%-CI: 1.37–2.54) deaths/10,000 persons/day, respectively. The most common specified causes of death were malaria/fever (16.0%; 95%-CI: 11.0–22.7), violence (13.2%; 95%-CI: 6.3–25.5), diarrhoea/vomiting (10.6%; 95%-CI: 6.2–17.5), and respiratory infections (8.4%; 95%-CI: 4.6–14.8). The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) was 2525/100,000 live births (95%-CI: 825—5794). Challenges reported by households included health problems and access to healthcare, high number of deaths, lack of potable water, insufficient means of subsistence, food insecurity and violence. Conclusions: The CMR, U5MR and MMR exceed previous estimates, and the CMR exceeds the humanitarian emergency threshold. Violence is a major threat to life, and to physical and mental wellbeing. Other causes of death speak to poor living conditions and poor access to healthcare and preventive measures, corroborated by the challenges reported by households. Many areas of CAR face similar challenges to Ouaka. If these results were generalisable across CAR, the country would suffer one of the highest mortality rates in the world, a reminder that the longstanding "silent crisis" continues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]