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Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a malignant tumor comprising 5–10% of all soft tissue sarcomas. SS has distinct characteristics, such as a predilection for young adults and relatively slow growth compared to other soft tissue sarcomas. Some patients with SS experience long-standing pain at the tumor site before the development of a palpable mass. Herein, we report the case of a 39-year-old woman with SS in the upper arm who presented with pain for > 20 years. The tumor detected on magnetic resonance imaging at 17 years was an SS. To the best of our knowledge, no English-language reports on imaging study-based identification of SS, which was undiagnosed for > 20 years, are known in the literature. This report discusses the imaging features of this latent lesion and the volume-doubling time of this unusual tumor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we proposed a mathematical model for the study of tuberculosis treatment with latent treatment, taking into account the 3HP and 1HP. The model is constructed using a fractional order derivative in the Caputo sense to take advantage of the memory effect. The aim is to compare the impact on tuberculosis, whether we keep the therapies that are applied to latent tuberculosis, use of once-weekly isoniazid-rifapentine for 12 weeks (3HP), or use of isoniazid and rifapentine once a day for 28 days (1HP). We presented the basic properties of the model and found the basic reproduction number. We performed computational simulations with different fractional orders to study the behavior of the model. We studied the variation of parameters associated with new latent therapies and different treatments for active tuberculosis in the basic reproduction number. We found that the implementations have a positive impact, as the basic reproduction number remains less than unity. We showed that both implementations enable positive results because they reduce active tuberculosis in the population. The 1HP results were better and showed that the duration of treatment positively influences adherence to therapy.

A three‐step synthetic route is established for the synthesis of a phosphorus‐containing ε‐caprolactam derivative, starting from cyclohex‐2‐enone and diphenylphosphinous chloride, followed by a Beckmann rearrangement. 2D NMR spectroscopy reveals that the phosphorus moiety is selectively localized at the 4‐position of the caprolactam ring. Different amounts of the phosphorus‐containing comonomer are systematically incorporated into polyamide 6 by anionic ring‐opening copolymerization with ε‐caprolactam at elevated temperatures. Polymerization reactions are initiated by a latent, CO2 protected N‐heterocyclic carbene in the presence of N‐acetyl caprolactam and MgCl2. The phosphorus content is determined by inductively‐coupled plasma‐optical emission spectroscopy (ICP‐OES) analysis. Limiting oxygen indices up to 23.5 are found for polymers containing ≈1 wt.‐% of phosphorus. The thermal properties of the copolymers are determined and compared to those of polyamide 6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Switching one's focus of attention between to-be-remembered items in working memory (WM) is critical for cognition, but the mechanisms by which this is accomplished are unclear. A long-term memory (LTM) account suggests that switching attention away from an item, and passively retaining and reactivating such "latent" items back into the focus of attention involves episodic LTM retrieval processes, even for delays of only a few seconds. We tested this hypothesis using a two-item, double-retrocue WM task that requires participants to switch attention away from and reactivate items followed by subsequent LTM tests for reactivated items from the initial WM task (vs. continuously retained or untested control items). We compared performance on these tests between older adults (a population with LTM deficits) and young adults with either full (Experiment 1) or divided (Experiment 2) attention during the WM delay periods. The effects of reactivating latent items, as well as ageing and divided attention, had significant effects on WM performance, but did not interact with or systematically affect subsequent LTM for reactivated versus control items on item-, location-, or associative-recognition memory judgements made with either high or low confidence. Experiment 3 confirmed that these effects did not depend on whether or not young participants were warned about the subsequent LTM tests before performing the WM task. These dissociations between WM and LTM are inconsistent with the LTM account of latent WM; they are more consistent with the dynamic processing model of WM (Current Directions in Psychological Science). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New insights into intractable industrial challenges can be revealed by framing them in terms of natural science. One intractable industrial challenge is that creative production can be much more financially expensive and time consuming than standardized production. Creative products include a wide range of goods that have one or more original characteristics. The scaling up of creative production is hindered by high financial production costs and long production durations. In this paper, creative production is framed in terms of interactions between entropy and complexity during progressions from emergent pragmatics to action semantics. An analysis of interactions between entropy and complexity is provided that relates established practice in creative production to organizational survival in changing environments. The analysis in this paper is related to assembly theory, which is a recent theoretical development in natural science that addresses how open-ended generation of complex physical objects can emerge from selection in biology. Parallels between assembly practice in industrial production and assembly theory in natural science are explained through constructs that are common to both, such as assembly index. Overall, analyses reported in the paper reveal that interactions between entropy and complexity underlie intractable challenges in creative production, from the production of individual products to the survival of companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous gammaherpesvirus etiologically associated with benign and malignant diseases. Since the pathogenic mechanisms of EBV are not fully understood, understanding EBV genetic diversity is an ongoing goal. Therefore, the present work describes the genetic diversity of the lytic gene BZLF1 in a sampling of 70 EBV-positive cases from southeastern Brazil. Additionally, together with the genetic regions previously characterized, the aim of the present study was to determine the impact of viral genetic factors that may influence EBV genetic diversity. Accordingly, the phylogenetic analysis of the BZLF1 indicated two main clades with high support, BZ-A and BZ-B (PP > 0.85). Thus, the BZ-A clade was the most diverse clade associated with the main polymorphisms investigated, including the haplotype Type 1 + V3 (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the multigene phylogenetic analysis (MLA) between BZLF1 and the oncogene LMP1 showed specific clusters, revealing haplotypic segregation that previous single-gene phylogenies from both genes failed to demonstrate. Surprisingly, the LMP1 Raji-related variant clusters were shown to be more diverse, associated with BZ-A/B and the Type 2/1 + V3 haplotypes. Finally, due to the high haplotypic diversity of the Raji-related variants, the number of DNA recombination-inducing motifs (DRIMs) was evaluated within the different clusters defined by the MLA. Similarly, the haplotype BZ-A + Raji was shown to harbor a greater number of DRIMs (p < 0.001). These results call attention to the high haplotype diversity of EBV in southeast Brazil and strengthen the hypothesis of the recombinant potential of South American Raji-related variants via the LMP1 oncogene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of basalt and S‐glass fiber‐reinforced poly(dicyclopentadiene) via ring‐opening metathesis polymerization using a thermally latent pre‐catalyst, that is, Mo(N‐3,5‐Me2‐C6H3)(= CH‐(2‐MeO‐C6H4))(IMes)(OTf)2 (1, IMes = 1,3‐dimesitylimidazol‐2‐ylidene; OTf = SO3CF3) is reported. Complementarily, the non‐latent first‐generation Grubbs initiator RuCl2(PPh3)2(CHPh) (2) is used. 2 can be rendered latent by the addition of ppm amounts of triphenylphosphine (PPh3). Both 1 and 2/PPh3 allow the realization of thermally latent single‐component systems with sufficient pot life that do not require pre‐mixing of the individual components shortly before use. The prepared fiber matrix composites are characterized in terms of mechanical, thermal, and chemical stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main challenge in the management of Tuberculosis (TB) is diagnosing quickly and accurately, especially Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI). LTBI detection was carried out using the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) and Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA). In TB endemic areas, these two examinations have limitations, so current research is directed at finding specific antigens for the diagnosis of LTBI. One of the potential proteins is Antigen 85A (Ag85A) Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) encoded by Fibronectin-binding protein A (FbpA). The Ag85 complex induces the proliferation of T-cells and interferongamma in most healthy individuals infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium leprae, and BCG-vaccinated mice, making it a potential antigen. This study aims to clone and produce recombinant protein Ag85A from Mtb in Escherichia coli BL21. The methods used were ligation to the pET-32a expression vector, transformation to Escherichia coli BL21, and production of protein by IPTG induction. Characterization of recombinant clones by colony PCR and sequencing. The results obtained were that the fbpA gene isolated from Mtb clinical isolate had been amplified, and the PCR product was 900 bp. The production of Antigen 85A has been successfully carried out and produces 44 kDa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Many studies were done earlier to understand the role of climatic, environmental, and sociodemographic factors in the transmission, spread, and viability of SARS-CoV-2. Objectives: While there are principal climatic factors that influence the transmission and spread, specific factors such as latitude and water body mass are not critically examined. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the role of latitude and heat flux from water body mass in coastal environs on the resurgence and incidence of COVID. Methodology: A study was conducted examining the cases reported per million population, latitude degrees, and coastline length in two criteria groups (n = 120 and 10) spanning five geographic continental regions. The collected data were statistically analyzed to validate the three prepositions of the study. Findings: The cases reported per million population were least in countries lying below 25˚-degree latitude, and countries in this range have the mean highest coastline length. Our analysis in the n = 120 group reveals a moderate relationship among rises in cases with latitude degrees (r = 0.425, p < 0.01, n =120) but is associated negatively with coastline length. From the top countries having the longest coastline length, the association among the variables reveals a weak relationship exists between cases and latitude (r = 0.356, p = 0.312, n = 10), while no correlation is observed with coastline length. Novelty:A rise in the incidence rate and the global resurgence of cases can be explained by previous researchers considering climatic variables and socio-demographic factors. However, other parameters, such as the latent heat of evaporation from water body mass in coastal zones in different latitudinal countries, on the incidence and resurgence patterns are examined in this study. Observations indicate that the disease incidence trend is not similar across all countries and that no single factor fully influences the rise in cases. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2023-07-05-024 Full Text: PDF

Abstract Background Lung cancer screening in high-risk populations with low-dose computed tomography is supported by international associations and recommendations. Overdiagnosis is considered a risk of screening with associated harms. The aim of this paper is to determine the prevalence of subclinical lung cancer diagnosed post-mortem to better understand the reservoir of subclinical lung cancer. Methods We searched EMBASE, PubMed, and MEDLINE databases from inception until March 2022 with no language restrictions. We considered all studies with ≥100 autopsies in adults. Two reviewers independently assessed eligibility of studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias of included studies. We performed a meta-analysis using a random-effects model for prevalence of subclinical lung cancer diagnosed post-mortem with sensitivity and subgroup analyses. Results A total of 13 studies with 16 730 autopsies were included. Pooled prevalence was 0.4% (95% CI 0.20 to 0.82%, I2 = 84%, tau2 = 1.19, low certainty evidence,16 730 autopsies). We performed a sensitivity analysis excluding studies which did not specify exclusion of children in their cohort, with a pooled prevalence of subclinical lung cancer of 0.87% (95% CI 0.48 to 1.57%, I2 = 71%, tau2 = 0.38, 6998 autopsies, 8 studies). Conclusions This is the first published systematic review to evaluate the prevalence of post-mortem subclinical lung cancer. Compared to autopsy systematic reviews in breast, prostate and thyroid cancers, the pooled prevalence is lower in lung cancer for subclinical cancer. This result should be interpreted with caution due to the included studies risk of bias and heterogeneity, with further high-quality studies required in target screening populations.

Abstract Grapevine downy mildew (GDM) caused by Plasmopara viticola is a recurrent disease of wine grapes in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (Ningxia) of northwestern China. However, the primary infectious pathogen in this region has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, a multiplex real-time PCR assay was utilized to quantify P. viticola in soil, leaf residues, and asymptomatic leaf samples from ten commercial vineyards in two consecutive years to better understand the epidemiological significance of overwintering primary inoculum and its inoculum potential before the appearance of the first visual GDM symptoms. The DNA primers and multiplex real-time PCR assays that had been established exhibited specificity towards P. viticola within the test samples. The majority of the asymptomatic leaves (60%), leaf residues (80%), and soil samples (100%) tested positive for P. viticola. In addition, the amount of primary inoculum of P. viticola was found to be lower in soil than in leaf residues. The area under the disease progress curve in terms of the molecular disease index (AUDPC-MDI) was used to evaluate the overall latent P. viticola infection in asymptomatic leaves. Asymptomatic leaves were found to have different levels of P. viticola infection, and high AUDPC-MDIs correlated with a high AUDPC in terms of disease index (AUDPC-DI), with a significant correlation relationship between them (P

Ostreid herpesvirus 1 (OsHV-1) is one of the most economically important pathogens of Pacific oysters. Understanding the pathogenesis of this virus is critical to developing tools to control outbreaks on shellfish farms. OsHV-1 is genetically related to vertebrate herpesviruses, which have a lytic and a latent stage, with the latent stage capable of being reactivated to the lytic stage. Here, OsHV-1 latency in Pacific oysters was investigated in experimentally and naturally infected oysters. Lytic infection in one-year-old oysters injected with the Tomales Bay strain of OsHV-1 was detectable between 1 and 4 days post-injection (dpi) but was not detectable after 5 dpi. The injected oysters shed 1 × 102 to 1 × 104 DNA copies/ml into the water during the 4-day acute phase. Lytic shedding was not detectable in two-year-old oysters injected similarly with the same strain of OsHV-1; however, the OsHV-1 genome was detectable by qPCR in the adductor muscle, gill, mantle, and hemocytes within the first 3 dpi, after which it became undetectable. No OsHV-1 was detectable in the adductor muscle, gill, or mantle from experimentally infected oysters on days 15 and 21 post-injection or from oysters sampled 9 months after surviving an OsHV-1 mortality event; however, OsHV-1 DNA could be detected in hemocytes of both experimentally infected oysters at 21 dpi and naturally infected oysters using nested PCR. In addition, lytic viral gene transcription was detectable in hemocytes of experimentally infected oysters between 1 and 21 dpi and in hemocytes of naturally infected oysters. Furthermore, OsHV-1 reactivation from latency was induced in experimentally infected oysters at 21 dpi and in naturally infected oysters 12 months after an OsHV-1 outbreak.

Women without complications have lower obstetric intervention if they remain at home in early labour but many women report dissatisfaction in doing this. Using self-efficacy theory as an underpinning framework, a web-based intervention was co-created with women who had previously used maternity services. The intervention provides early labour advice, alongside the videoed, real experiences of women. The pragmatic, randomised control trial aimed to evaluate the impact of the web-based intervention on women's self-reported experiences of early labour. Low-risk, nulliparous, pregnant women (140) were randomised. The intervention group (69) received the web-based intervention antenatally to use at their own convenience and the control group (71) received usual care. Data were collected at 7–28 days postnatally using an online version of the Early Labour Experience Questionnaire (ELEQ). The primary outcome was the ELEQ score. Secondary, clinical outcomes such as labour onset, augmentation and mode of birth were collected from the existing hospital system. There were no statistically significant differences in the ELEQ scores between trial arms. Women in the intervention group were significantly more likely to progress spontaneously in labour without the need for labour augmentation (39.1 %) compared to the control group (21.1 %) (OR 2.41, CI 95 %; 1.14–5.11). Although the L -TEL Trial found no statistically significant differences in the primary outcome, the innovative intervention to support women during latent phase labour was positively received by women. Web-based resources are a cost effective, user-friendly and accessible way to provide women with education. A larger trial is needed to detect differences in clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uniqueness of human fingerprint plays the most prominent role in forensic investigation as a physical evidence Which is useful for criminal identification. With its unique features no two fingerprints have ever been found to be identical. In legal cases the identification of such print established the relationship between crime scene and the culprit. Generally, there are three types of fingerprint is to be found visible print, plastic print and latent print ( invisible print) which has been taken in account for identification. There is no such crucial method is used for decipher the visible print and plastic print because they are easily visible to naked eye but in case of latent print the process for enhancement is necessary for the latent fingerprint to be observed by naked eye. The most encountered fingerprint is the latent fingerprint which is unconsciously left by perpetrators at any surface. For visualizing such prints Various method have been reported for the development of latent fingerprint on different surfaces. This present study introducing a new visualizing agent for the development of latent fingerprint by using Carbon Powder on various non-porous & porous surface through the powdering method. Here we use candle flame to collect black carbon mass and turn it into powder which is used for obtaining latent fingerprints. By the application of these powder it is observed that it gives a clear ridge on various surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fingerprints are a vital and unique identity of a person. These are impressions left by the friction ridges of a human finger on contact with any surface. The primary advantage of a fingerprint is that it does not change over time. Fingerprint identification is a method of identification using the impression formed by the minute ridges seen on the fingertips. Fingerprints have certain individual characteristics that are unique. Fingerprints are most generally recovered from crime scenes. Such prints are obtained when natural oils and perspiration (sweat) existing between the fingertip ridges are transferred to the surface by any contact. Fingerprints are invisible and are much harder to detect and preserve. These prints are obtained by physical and chemical methods. In this paper, my research focuses on detecting latent fingerprints or invisible fingerprints using ophthalmic fiber glass powder on different surfaces. Here I used the ophthalmic fiber glass and turned it into powder which is used for obtaining latent fingerprints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of heterogeneous epidemic models assume exponentially distributed sojourn times in infectious states, which may not be practical in reality and could affect the dynamics of the epidemic. This paper investigates the potential discrepancies between exponential and non-exponential distribution models in analyzing the transmission patterns of infectious diseases and evaluating control measures. Two SEIHR models with multiple subgroups based on different assumptions for latency are established: Model Ⅰ assumes an exponential distribution of latency, while Model Ⅱ assumes a gamma distribution. To overcome the challenges associated with the high dimensionality of GDM, we derive the basic reproduction number ($ R_{0} $) of the model theoretically, and apply numerical simulations to evaluate the effect of different interventions on EDM and GDM. Our results show that considering a more realistic gamma distribution of latency can change the peak numbers of infected and the timescales of an epidemic, and GDM may underestimate the infection eradication time and overestimate the peak value compared to EDM. Additionally, the two models can produce inconsistent predictions in estimating the time to reach the peak. Our study contributes to a more accurate understanding of disease transmission patterns, which is crucial for effective disease control and prevention.

Background: Lung cancer screening in high-risk populations with low-dose computed tomography is supported by international associations and recommendations. Overdiagnosis is considered a risk of screening with associated harms. The aim of this paper is to determine the prevalence of subclinical lung cancer diagnosed post-mortem to better understand the reservoir of subclinical lung cancer. Methods: We searched EMBASE, PubMed, and MEDLINE databases from inception until March 2022 with no language restrictions. We considered all studies with ≥100 autopsies in adults. Two reviewers independently assessed eligibility of studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias of included studies. We performed a meta-analysis using a random-effects model for prevalence of subclinical lung cancer diagnosed post-mortem with sensitivity and subgroup analyses. Results: A total of 13 studies with 16 730 autopsies were included. Pooled prevalence was 0.4% (95% CI 0.20 to 0.82%, I2 = 84%, tau2 = 1.19, low certainty evidence,16 730 autopsies). We performed a sensitivity analysis excluding studies which did not specify exclusion of children in their cohort, with a pooled prevalence of subclinical lung cancer of 0.87% (95% CI 0.48 to 1.57%, I2 = 71%, tau2 = 0.38, 6998 autopsies, 8 studies). Conclusions: This is the first published systematic review to evaluate the prevalence of post-mortem subclinical lung cancer. Compared to autopsy systematic reviews in breast, prostate and thyroid cancers, the pooled prevalence is lower in lung cancer for subclinical cancer. This result should be interpreted with caution due to the included studies risk of bias and heterogeneity, with further high-quality studies required in target screening populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fine-quality fingerprint replicas can be created by processing the snapshots of latent marks left on a smartphone screen. • New dataset created with the total unawareness of the victim, photographing the screen during everyday use of the device. • State-of-the-art FPAD systems are efficients against the novel set of ScreenSpoof-based images. • Deep investigation of some sensors and materialscharacteristics that constitute an open issue for modern PADs. Using mobile devices, people leave latent fingerprints on the screen that can be photographed and used as a mold to fabricate high-quality spoofs. In this paper, we analysed the threat level of realistic attacks using snapshot pictures of latent fingerprints against presentation attack detection systems. Our evaluation compares a semi-consensual acquisition, given by a voluntary pressure of the finger on the screen, with a completely non-consensual one, given by the normal use of the device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The timing of the establishment of the HIV latent viral reservoir (LVR) is of particular interest, as there is evidence that proviruses are preferentially archived at the time of antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation. Quantitative viral outgrowth assays (QVOAs) were performed using Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) collected from Ugandans living with HIV who were virally suppressed on ART for >1 year, had known seroconversion windows, and at least two archived ART-naïve plasma samples. QVOA outgrowth populations and pre-ART plasma samples were deep sequenced for the pol and gp41 genes. The bayroot program was used to estimate the date that each outgrowth virus was incorporated into the reservoir. Bayroot was also applied to previously published data from a South African cohort. In the Ugandan cohort (n  = 11), 87.9 per cent pre-ART and 56.3 per cent viral outgrowth sequences were unique. Integration dates were estimated to be relatively evenly distributed throughout viremia in 9/11 participants. In contrast, sequences from the South African cohort (n  = 9) were more commonly estimated to have entered the LVR close to ART initiation, as previously reported. Timing of LVR establishment is variable between populations and potentially viral subtypes, which could limit the effectiveness of interventions that target the LVR only at ART initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grapevine downy mildew (GDM) caused by Plasmopara viticola is a recurrent disease of wine grapes in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (Ningxia) of northwestern China. However, the primary infectious pathogen in this region has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, a multiplex real-time PCR assay was utilized to quantify P. viticola in soil, leaf residues, and asymptomatic leaf samples from ten commercial vineyards in two consecutive years to better understand the epidemiological significance of overwintering primary inoculum and its inoculum potential before the appearance of the first visual GDM symptoms. The DNA primers and multiplex real-time PCR assays that had been established exhibited specificity towards P. viticola within the test samples. The majority of the asymptomatic leaves (60%), leaf residues (80%), and soil samples (100%) tested positive for P. viticola. In addition, the amount of primary inoculum of P. viticola was found to be lower in soil than in leaf residues. The area under the disease progress curve in terms of the molecular disease index (AUDPC-MDI) was used to evaluate the overall latent P. viticola infection in asymptomatic leaves. Asymptomatic leaves were found to have different levels of P. viticola infection, and high AUDPC-MDIs correlated with a high AUDPC in terms of disease index (AUDPC-DI), with a significant correlation relationship between them (P < 0.01). Additionally, a well-correlated relationship was observed between the disease progress in the previous year and the MDIs of leaf residues and asymptomatic leaves in the following year, as well as the AUDPC-DI (Spearman's correlation coefficient ρ = 0.643, 0.498, and 0.595, respectively) (P < 0.01). These findings provide valuable information for quantifying the primary infection of P. viticola in commercial vineyards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A key question for any psychopathological diagnosis is whether the condition is continuous or discontinuous with typical variation. The primary objective of this study was to use a multi-method approach to examine the broad latent categorical versus dimensional structure of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Method: Data were aggregated across seven independent samples of participants with ASD, other neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD), and non-ASD/NDD controls (aggregate Ns = 512-16,755; ages 1.5-22). Scores from four distinct phenotype measures formed composite "indicators" of the latent ASD construct. The primary indicator set included eye gaze metrics from seven distinct social stimulus paradigms. Logistic regressions were used to combine gaze metrics within/across paradigms, and derived predicted probabilities served as indicator values. Secondary indicator sets were constructed from clinical observation and parent-report measures of ASD symptoms. Indicator sets were submitted to taxometric- and latent class analyses. Results: Across all indicator sets and analytic methods, there was strong support for categorical structure corresponding closely to ASD diagnosis. Consistent with notions of substantial phenotypic heterogeneity, the ASD category had a wide range of symptom severity. Despite the examination of a large sample with a wide range of IQs in both genders, males and children with lower IQ were over-represented in the ASD category, similar to observations in diagnosed cases. Conclusions: Our findings provide strong support for categorical structure corresponding closely to ASD diagnosis. The present results bolster the use of well-diagnosed and representative ASD groups within etiologic and clinical research, motivating the ongoing search for major drivers of the ASD phenotype. Despite the categorical structure of ASD, quantitative symptom measurements appear more useful for examining relationships with other factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Melioidosis, caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei , may be considered a neglected tropical disease that remains underdiagnosed in many geographical areas. Travellers can act as the sentinels of disease activity, and data from imported cases may help complete the global map of melioidosis. Methods A literature search for imported melioidosis for the period 2016–22 was performed in PubMed and Google Scholar. Results In total, 137 reports of melioidosis associated with travel were identified. The majority were males (71%) and associated with exposure in Asia (77%) (mainly Thailand, 41%, and India, 9%). A minority acquired the infection in the Americas–Caribbean area (6%), Africa (5%) and Oceania (2%). The most frequent comorbidity was diabetes mellitus (25%) followed by underlying pulmonary, liver or renal disease (8, 5 and 3%, respectively). Alcohol/tobacco use were noted for seven and six patients, respectively (5%). Five patients (4%) had associated non-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related immunosuppression, and three patients (2%) had HIV infection. One patient (0.8%) had concomitant coronavirus disease 19. A proportion (27%) had no underlying diseases. The most frequent clinical presentations included pneumonia (35%), sepsis (30%) and skin/soft tissue infections (14%). Most developed symptoms <1 week after return (55%), and 29% developed symptoms >12 weeks after. Ceftazidime and meropenem were the main treatments used during the intensive intravenous phase (52 and 41% of patients, respectively) and the majority (82%) received co-trimoxazole alone/combination, for the eradication phase. Most patients had a favourable outcome/survived (87%). The search also retrieved cases in imported animals or cases secondary to imported commercial products. Conclusions As post-pandemic travel soars, health professionals should be aware of the possibility of imported melioidosis with its diverse presentations. Currently, no licensed vaccine is available, so prevention in travellers should focus on protective measures (avoiding contact with soil/stagnant water in endemic areas). Biological samples from suspected cases require processing in biosafety level 3 facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the development and testing under lab-controlled conditions of a hybrid sensible–latent thermal energy storage (TES) system for domestic hot water (DHW) provision in residential buildings. The TES system's design is based, for the first time in the literature, on a commercial tank-in-tank architecture integrating a macro-encapsulated commercial phase change material (PCM) inside the external tank to guarantee the safe provision of DHW and increase overall energy storage density at a reasonable cost. The PCM is a salt hydrate with a nominal melting temperature of 58 °C. The overall tank-in-tank TES volume is about 540 dm3. Almost one tenth of this volume is occupied by the PCM macro-capsules. The developed TES system was comparatively tested against the same configuration operated as a sensible TES. The obtained results showed the ability of the PCM to increase the thermal inertia inside the external tank, thus guaranteeing the quite stable provision of heat to the integral DHW tank during the stand-by periods. This effect was confirmed by the PCM's ability to achieve an energy storage capacity up to 16% higher than the reference sensible TES system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although thermosets and various biopolymers cannot be softened without being decomposed, the vast majority of thermoplastics are believed to exhibit thermal transitions solely related to physical alterations of their structure—a behavior typical of low molecular weight substances. In this study, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Thermogravimetry (TGA) were used to study the softening of four common non-hydrogen-bonded thermoplastic polymers (polypropylene, polypropylene-grafted-maleic anhydride, poly(vinyl chloride) and polystyrene) along with a hydrogen-bonded polymer as a reference, namely, poly(vinyl alcohol). It is shown that the softening of these polymers is a thermochemical transition. Based on fundamental concepts of statistical thermodynamics, it is proposed that the thermal transition behavior of all kinds of polymers is qualitatively the same: polymers cannot be softened without being decomposed (in resemblance with their incapability to boil) and the only difference between the various types of polymers is quantitative and lies in the extent of decomposition during softening. Decomposition seems to reach a local maximum during softening; however, it is predicted that polymers constantly decompose even at room temperature and, by heating, (sensible) decomposition is not initiated but simply accelerated. The term "latent decomposition" is proposed to describe this concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed a kinetic model attempting to describe the rheological changes observed during crosslinking of blends of epoxide‐ and anhydride‐functionalized polyethylene using the activatable imidazolium catalyst EMIC. The model incorporated first‐order formation of an active initiator from a latent state followed by initiation of the crosslinking reaction and continued propagation by an active crosslinking end group. Because the formation of a crosslink does not consume an active end group, the post‐initiation crosslinking reaction assumes a first‐order dependence in crosslinkable functionality. Application of the model to data generated from rheological studies exploring the effects of initiator and anhydride loading was met with moderate success. While curvature in the rheological plots modeled very well, capturing the active initiator formation and early cure, some data sets did not model well at higher degrees of cure. Extraction of modeled parameters Ginf, ki, and kp from fits showed that the initiation rate constant ki was linearly dependent on the anhydride loading. We believe that this indicates the presence of an independent initiation pathway that destroys latency in the system. Additionally, it was found that the modeled value for the plateau modulus, Ginf, showed a remarkably linear dependence on initiator loading. This relationship indicates that the ultimate degree of crosslinking in a system is determined by the sequence length of the crosslinking reaction and how many crosslinking cascades initiate based on the initiator loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: SARS-CoV-2 infection in immunocompromised hosts is challenging, and prolonged viral shedding can be a common complication in these patients. We describe the clinical, immunological, and virological course of a patient with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, who developed the status of long-term asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 carrier for more than 7 months. Methods: Over the study period, the patient underwent 20 RT-PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 detection on nasopharyngeal swabs. In addition, viral cultures and genetic investigation of SARS-CoV-2 were performed. As for immunological assessment, serological and specific T-cell testing was provided at different time points. Results: Despite the patient showing a deep drug-induced B and T adaptive immunity impairment, he did not experience COVID-19 progression to severe complications, and the infection remained asymptomatic during the follow-up period, but he was not able to achieve viral clearance for more than 7 months. The infection was finally cleared by SARS-CoV-2-specific monoclonal antibody treatment, after that remdesivir and convalescent plasma failed in this scope. The genetic investigations evidenced that the infection was sustained by multiple viral subpopulations that had apparently evolved intra-host during the infection. Conclusion: Our case suggests that people with highly impaired B- and T-cell adaptive immunity can prevent COVID-19 progression to severe complications, but they may not be able to clear SARS-CoV-2 infection. Immunocompromised hosts with a long-term infection may play a role in the emergence of viral variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis (TB) in kidney transplant (KT) recipients is an important opportunistic infection with higher incidence and prevalence than in the general population and is associated with important morbidity and mortality. We performed an extensive literature review of articles published between 1 January 2000 and 15 June 2022 to provide an evidence-based review of epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of TB in KT recipients. We included all studies which reported epidemiological and/or outcome data regarding active TB in KT, and we approached the diagnostic and treatment challenges according to the current guidelines. Prevalence of active TB in KT recipients ranges between 0.3–15.2%. KT recipients with active TB could have a rejection rate up to 55.6%, a rate of graft loss that varies from 2.2% to 66.6% and a mortality rate up to 60%. Understanding the epidemiological risk, risk factors, transmission modalities, diagnosis and treatment challenges is critical for clinicians in providing an appropriate management for KT with TB. Among diagnostic challenges, which are at the same time associated with delay in management, the following should be considered: atypical clinical presentation, association with co-infections, decreased predictive values of screening tests, diverse radiological aspects and particular diagnostic methods. Regarding treatment challenges in KT recipients with TB, drug interactions, drug toxicities and therapeutical adherence must be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented which expresses the views on the treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and the associated adverse events (AEs). It mentions the importance of LTBI treatment to prevent future active tuberculosis cases, discusses different LTBI treatment regimens, and provides a systematic review and meta-analysis of AEs associated with these regimens. The authors recommend 4 months of daily rifampicin (4R) as the preferred option due to its low incidence of AEs.

This study investigates gamers’ learning styles and knowledge acquisition behavioural patterns. It argues that gamers usually have different characteristics transforming themselves to gain distinctive competencies. In other words, this study mitigates gamers’ mechanistically distinctive attitudes and behaviours, enhancing their cognitive combat readiness, that they are on convergent learning style, tacit-latent, and kinetic-active knowledge acquisitions. Methodologically, it uses a field-experimental design using the “Clash Royale” game. Then, this research measures playing performances by average decks’ score, card collection, battle deck combinations, and the usage of gold and gems. Moreover, it collects gamer respondents using a purposive sampling method by identifying them on social media and then challenging them to play. This research finds that gamers acquire new knowledge to enhance their capabilities with convergent learning styles and familiarity with the tacit-latent and kinetic-active knowledge types. Thus, it demonstrates its attitude and behavioural validities because their inner motives construct themselves always to win the game matches genuinely. Hence, it explains that gamers generally are brilliant young individuals whose impact is to create their tactically contemporary style due to the learning cycle ending in that convergent style. Likewise, these gamers simultaneously seek flexibility to enhance the game kinetically or elastically. The authors reveal that gamers’ mental models show their learning styles and knowledge acquisition behaviours explained by their strong personalities, such as curious, workaholic, prestigious, and hedonic emotions.

IntroductionCoronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease first appeared in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Subsequently, the pandemic spread rapidly throughout the entire world. The number of people who died from COVID-19 is rising daily due to the growing number cases. This retrospective study aims to classify patients with hepatosteatosis (HS) who had COVID-19, depending on additional disease characteristics and to compare survival times and death rates.Material and methodsThe study included 433 individuals with COVID-19 and HS at Amasya University Sabuncuoglu Serefeddin Education and Research Hospital. Additional disease characteristics of patients with HS were analyzed using latent class analysis (LCA) and the patients were divided into two groups.ResultsThe study results indicate that the survival time of the first group, which was formed as a result of the LCA, was significantly lower than that of the second group (p = 0.038). The rate of diabetes, coronary artery disease, chronic rhythm disorder, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic kidney disease was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (respectively p < 0.001; p < 0.001; p < 0.001; p < 0.001; p = 0.015).DiscussionIn patients with HS, the presence of diabetes, coronary artery disease, chronic rhythm problem, COPD, and chronic renal disorders contributes to an increase in death rates due to COVID-19.

Background: Varicella zoster virus (VZV) has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and vaccination against shingles, caused by VZV, has been found to decrease the risk of AD/dementia. VZV might reside latently in brain, and on reactivation might cause direct damage leading to AD, as proposed for herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), a virus strongly implicated in AD. Alternatively, shingles could induce neuroinflammation and thence, reactivation of HSV-1 in brain.Objective: To investigate these possibilities by comparing the effects of VZV and HSV-1 infection of cultured cells, and the action of VZV infection on cells quiescently infected with HSV-1.Methods: We infected human-induced neural stem cell (hiNSC) cultures with HSV-1 and/or VZV and sought the presence of AD-related phenotypes such as amyloid-β (Aβ) and P-tau accumulation, gliosis, and neuroinflammation.Results: Cells infected with VZV did not show the main AD characteristics, Aβ and P-tau accumulation, which HSV-1 does cause, but did show gliosis and increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, suggesting that VZV's action relating to AD/dementia is indirect. Strikingly, we found that VZV infection of cells quiescently infected with HSV-1 causes reactivation of HSV-1 and consequent AD-like changes, including Aβ and P-tau accumulation.Conclusion: Our results are consistent with the suggestion that shingles causes reactivation of HSV1 in brain and with the protective effects against AD of various vaccines, as well as the decrease in herpes labialis reported after certain types of vaccination. They support an indirect role for VZV in AD/dementia via reactivation of HSV-1 in brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a hierarchical representation of latent contextual information that captures contextual situations in which users are recommended particular items. We also introduce an algorithm that converts unstructured latent contextual information into structured hierarchical representations. In addition, we present two general context-aware recommendation algorithms that extend collaborative filtering (CF) approaches and utilize structured and unstructured latent contextual information. In particular, the first algorithm utilizes structured latent contexts and the second one combines the structured and the unstructured latent contextual representations. By using latent contextual information in a recommendation model, we capture and represent both the structure of the latent context in the form of a hierarchy and the values of contextual variables in the form of an unstructured vector. We tested the two proposed methods with two CF-based methods on several context-rich datasets under different experimental settings. We show that using hierarchical latent contextual representations leads to significantly better recommendations than the baselines for the datasets having high- and medium-dimensional contexts. Although this is not the case for the low-dimensional contextual data, the hybrid approach, combining structured and unstructured latent contextual information, significantly outperforms other baselines across all the experimental settings and dimensions of contextual data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma (AITL) is the most common peripheral T cell lymphoma encountered in Europe. It is a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with a poor prognosis. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) virus is detected in more than 90% of biopsies, especially in large B lymphocytes. To date, the role of EBV in this pathology is still debated. The aim of our study was to analyze whole viral genomes in AITL compared to other EBV-associated lymphomas. We observed that two viral strains were mainly found in AITL, one of which appeared to be associated with poor post-diagnosis survival. Furthermore, the virus was found to be clonal and latent in all cases of AITL; for one biopsy, the virus was both latent and most likely replicative, depending on the cells. On the whole, these results support a role for EBV in AITL. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma (AITL), a peripheral T lymphoma of poor prognosis in at least 90% of cases. The role of EBV in this pathology is unknown. Using next-generation sequencing, we sequenced the entire EBV genome in biopsies from 18 patients with AITL, 16 patients with another EBV-associated lymphoma, and 2 controls. We chose an EBV target capture method, given the high specificity of this technique, followed by a second capture to increase sensitivity. We identified two main viral strains in AITL, one of them associated with the mutations BNRF1 S542N and BZLF1 A206S and with mutations in the EBNA-3 and LMP-2 genes. This strain was characterized in patients with short post-diagnosis survival. The main mutations found during AITL on the most mutated latency or tegument genes were identified and discussed. We showed that the virus was clonal in all the AITL samples, suggesting that it may be involved in this pathology. Additionally, EBV was latent in all the AITL samples; for one sample only, the virus was found to be latent and probably replicative, depending on the cells. These various elements support the role of EBV in AITL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latent fingerprints play a pivotal role in the forensics for the investigation of the crimes. Mostly, latent fingerprints found at the crime scene are partial prints. Thus, fingerprint features required for identifying the latent fingerprint is not always available. Approaches for reconstructing the partial latent fingerprints to fill the missing area is highly probabilistic. As a result, numerous false features may be extracted during feature extraction, which can affect the identification accuracy. Thus, the paper aims to propose a hybrid framework for identifying partial latent fingerprints using minutiae points (level 2) and pores (level 3), which could increase the identification accuracy. Results are evaluated on the CSRC Latent Fingerprint Touch-less Database created using Reflected Ultra Violet Imaging System (RUVIS), which shows improvement in the Rank-k identification accuracy when similarity scores of both minutiae and pores are combined. Moreover, an analysis of the identification accuracy for the number of minutiae points available in the partial latent fingerprints shows that pores could help in identifying partial latent fingerprints that have less than 5 minutiae points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Cryptococcus is one of the major fungal pathogens infecting the lungs. Pulmonary cryptococcal infection is generally considered a community-acquired condition caused by inhalation of dust contaminated with fungal cells from the environment. Here, we report a case developing pulmonary cryptococcosis 3 months after hospital admission, which has rarely been reported before. Case presentation A 73-year-old female patient who was previously immunocompetent experienced persistent dry cough for 2 weeks, 3 months after admission. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed a new solitary pulmonary nodule developed in the upper lobe of the left lung. Staining and culture of expectorated sputum smears were negative for bacteria, acid-fast bacilli, or fungus. The patient then underwent biopsy of the lesion. Histopathology findings and a positive serum cryptococcal antigen titer (1:8) indicated pulmonary cryptococcosis. Daily intravenous 400 mg fluconazole was administered initially followed by oral fluconazole therapy. Follow-up chest CT after 3 months of antifungal therapy showed complete disappearance of the pulmonary nodule. Respiratory symptoms of the patient also resolved. A complete investigation excluded the possibility of a patient-to-patient transmission or primarily acquiring the infection from the hospital environment. Based on the patient’s history of exposure to pigeons before admission and recent steroid and azathioprine use after admission for the treatment of myasthenic crisis, reactivation of a latent pulmonary cryptococcal infection acquired before admission, in this case, is impressed. Conclusions Although rarely reported, pulmonary cryptococcal infection should be included in the differential diagnosis of hospitalized patients with respiratory symptoms, especially in those with predisposing risk factors. Chest image studies and further surgical biopsy are needed for confirmation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The classification of marine animals as protected species makes data and information on them to be very important. Therefore, this led to the need to retrieve and understand the data on the event counts for stranded marine animals based on location emergence, number of individuals, behavior, and threats to their presence. Whales are generally often stranded in very shallow areas with sloping sea floors and sand. Data were collected in this study on the incidence of stranded marine animals in 20 provinces of Indonesia from 2015 to 2019 with the focus on animals such as Balaenopteridae, Delphinidae, Lamnidae, Physeteridae and Rhincodontidae. METHODS:Multivariate latent generalized linear model was used to compare several distributions to analyze the diversity of event counts. Two optimization models including Laplace and Variational approximations were also applied. RESULTS: The best theta parameter in the latent multivariate latent generalized linear latent variable model was found in the Akaike Information Criterion, Akaike Information Criterion Corrected and Bayesian Information Criterion values, andthe information obtained was used to create a spatial cluster. Moreover, there was a comprehensive discussion on ocean-atmosphere interaction and the reasons the animals were stranded. CONCLUSION: The changes in marine ecosystems due to climate change, pollution, overexploitation, changes in sea use, and the existence of invasive alien species deserve serious attention.

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) continues to be responsible for the loss of millions of young productive lives worldwide, with a disproportionate burden being borne by the underdeveloped and economically disadvantaged strata of society. There is an urgent need to develop approaches to identify RHD in its early stages and reverse it before it can cause significant valvular damage. This is especially relevant for the developing world where advanced cardiac surgery is inaccessible to many. Research over the last decade has made it possible to diagnose subclinical or latent RHD through systematic echocardiographic screening using standardized criteria, which can pick up early disease better compared to clinical screening alone. Furthermore, initial studies show promise that timely institution of penicillin prophylaxis can lead to regression of such latent disease. This brief review summarizes the current state of the field in this regard and outlines some of the challenges in translating this concept from benchside to public health policy.

As antibiotic resistance grows more frequent for common bacterial infections, alternative treatment strategies such as phage therapy have become more widely studied in the medical field. While many studies have explored the efficacy of antibiotics, phage therapy, or synergistic combinations of phages and antibiotics, the impact of virus competition on the efficacy of antibiotic treatment has not yet been considered. Here, we model the synergy between antibiotics and two viral types, temperate and chronic, in controlling bacterial infections. We demonstrate that while combinations of antibiotic and temperate viruses exhibit synergy, competition between temperate and chronic viruses inhibits bacterial control with antibiotics. In fact, our model reveals that antibiotic treatment may counterintuitively increase the bacterial load when a large fraction of the bacteria are antibiotic resistant, and both chronic and temperate phages are present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Given that tuberculosis infection is present in one-quarter of the world's population and is more likely to convert to tuberculosis, especially at a young age, its diagnosis and prevention is an important part of the World Health Organization's (WHO) program. The aim of this study is to evaluate the frequency of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in different age groups of family members of pulmonary tuberculosis patients in two provinces of Iran with a high prevalence of tuberculosis during 18 months. Materials and Methods: Family members of confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis patients were followed up as a retrospective and prospective study in the cities of Gorgan and Zabol at 0, 3, 12 and 18 months after the starting the study. LTBI was diagnosed by using the QuantiFERON test kit and the Tuberculin skin test (TST). Results: The number of LTBI cases based on QFT or TST was 354 (52.99%) in the whole study and 33.33% in children under 5 years old. Positive cases of TST, QFT and LTBI in the age group over 18 years were significantly different with 5 to 18 years and less than 5 years, while there was no significant difference between the age groups of less than 5 years and 5 to 18 years. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that most cases of infection occur before the diagnosis of the index case or in the first phase of study, and there is no significant difference between the diagnosis with TST or QFT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese morphological awareness is conceptualized as a multidimensional construct but there is a lack of understanding of how its dimensions are related. Latent change score modeling was used to examine the bivariate relationships of two facets of oral morphological awareness, namely morpheme and structure awareness in Chinese children in grades one through three. Two hundred and three children in China completed morpheme (homonym awareness) and structure awareness (lexical compounding) tasks across the three grades (M = 6.66, SD =.30 at the first time point). Results indicated that growth in structure awareness was predicted in part by previous levels of morpheme awareness, suggesting that morpheme awareness leads the growth of structure awareness. Educational implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Brazil is a country with a high burden of tuberculosis (TB). The immunomodulatory effect of biological therapies is associated with an increased risk of infection. This study evaluated the frequency of TB infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) after the use of biologic agents in a single center of rheumatology. Methods: In this observational study, 161 consecutive adult patients with RA, JIA, AS, and PsA using biological therapy were followed up during 55 months to evaluate the occurrence of TB infection throughout treatment. All patients were screened for latent TB infection (LTBI), and TB disease was excluded before introduction of biological therapy. Patients with LTBI received prophylaxis with isoniazid before the start of biological treatment. Results: Of 161 patients on biologics, 31 (19.25%) had positive tuberculin skin test (TST) and received LTBI treatment. Eleven (6.8%) cases of TB were detected in patients on biologics, six (54.5%) had AS, one had PsA (9.09%), two had RA (18.18%), and two had JIA (18.18%). Regarding the use of different biologics, six (54.5%) patients received adalimumab, three (27.2%) infliximab, one (9.09%) etanercept, and one (9.09%) tocilizumab. Conclusion: In this study, the frequency of TB infection among 161 patients on biologics, during 55 months of follow-up, was 6.8%. Compared with the national registry of patients receiving biologics (BiobadaBrasil — January 01, 2009 to May 31, 2013), a higher incidence of TB (6.8 versus 0.44%) was found in this sample of patients receiving biological therapy. This study highlights that in a country with high TB burden, the possibility of TB infection in a patient receiving biological therapy should always be considered, even after prophylaxis with isoniazid.