Identification of SARS-CoV-2 P.1-related lineages in Brazil provides new insights about the mechanisms of emergence of Variants of Concern

Abstract One of the most remarkable features of the SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VOC) is the unusually large number of mutations they carry. However, the specific factors that drove the emergence of such variants since the second half of 2020 are not fully resolved. In this study, we described a new SARS-CoV-2 lineage provisionally designated as P.1-like-II that, as well as the previously described lineage P.1-like-I, shares several lineage-defining mutations with the VOC P.1 circulating in Brazil. Reconstructions of P.1 ancestor sequences demonstrate that the entire constellation of mutations that define the VOC P.1 did not accumulate within a single long-term infected individual, but was acquired by sequential addition during interhost transmissions. Our evolutionary analyses further estimate that P.1-ancestors strains carrying half of the P.1-lineage-defining mutations, including those at the receptor-binding domain of the Spike protein, circulated cryptically in the Amazonas state since August 2020. This evolutionary pattern is consistent with the hypothesis that partial human population immunity acquired from natural SARS-CoV-2 infections during the first half of 2020 might have been the major driving force behind natural selection that allowed VOCs' emergence and worldwide spread. These findings also support a long lag-time between the emergence of variants with key mutations of concern and expansion of the VOC P.1 in Brazil.

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Anti-membrane and anti-spike antibodies are long-lasting and together discriminate between past COVID-19 infection and vaccination

10.1101/2021.11.02.21265750 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Maya F Amjadi ◽

Ryan R Adyniec ◽

Srishti Gupta ◽

S Janna Bashar ◽

Aisha M Mergaert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Personal Health ◽

Specific Marker ◽

Receptor Binding Domain ◽

Rapid Loss ◽

Past Infection ◽

Population Immunity ◽

One Year ◽

Antibody Tests ◽

Individual Healthcare

The consequences of past COVID-19 infection for personal health and long-term population immunity are only starting to be revealed. Unfortunately, detecting past infection is currently a challenge, limiting clinical and research endeavors. Widely available anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests cannot differentiate between past infection and vaccination given vaccine-induced anti-spike antibodies and the rapid loss of infection-induced anti-nucleocapsid antibodies. Anti-membrane antibodies develop after COVID-19, but their long-term persistence is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that anti-membrane IgG is a sensitive and specific marker of past COVID-19 infection and persists at least one year. We also confirm that anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) Ig is a long-lasting, sensitive, and specific marker of past infection and vaccination, while anti-nucleocapsid IgG lacks specificity and quickly declines after COVID-19. Thus, a combination of anti-membrane and anti-RBD antibodies can accurately differentiate between distant COVID-19 infection, vaccination, and naive states to advance public health, individual healthcare, and research goals.

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Determinants of Capital Structure within the Context of Corporate Governance in Egypt

International Journal of Business and Management ◽

10.5539/ijbm.v13n8p26 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 26 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hanaa A. El-Habashy

Keyword(s):

Corporate Governance ◽

Capital Structure ◽

Emerging Economy ◽

Managerial Ownership ◽

Listed Firms ◽

Western Countries ◽

Specific Factors ◽

The Impact ◽

The Capital Structure

This study aims to investigate the characteristics of corporate governance that impact the capital structure decisions in listed firms in Egypt, to test the efficiency of the research results conducted in the developed Western countries in an emerging economy. A sample of 240 observations from the most active non-financial companies collected in the period 2009-2014 was used for hypothesis testing. Multiple regression models (OLS) were used for data analysis. Seven variables are used in measuring the attributes of corporate governance; they are the managerial ownership, institutional shareholding, shares owned by a large block, board size, board composition, separation of CEO/Chair positions and audit type. Four ratios were calculated for measuring the capital structure, they are long-term and short-term debt to assets, total debt to assets and debt to equity. The results suggest that corporate governance attributes have a significant impact on the capital structure decisions of listed Egyptian companies. In addition, firm-specific factors such as profitability, tangibility, growth opportunities, corporate tax, firm size and non-debt tax shields influence the choice of capital structure in Egypt. The results showed the same relationship with what was obtained in developed Western countries. The paper offers some contribution in the literature and helps to understand the impact of corporate governance on Egypt's capital structure as an emerging economy.

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Between Foragers and Farmers: Climate Change and Human Strategies in Northwestern Patagonia

Quaternary ◽

10.3390/quat3020017 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 17

Author(s):

Adolfo F. Gil ◽

Ricardo Villalba ◽

Fernando R. Franchetti ◽

Clara Otaola ◽

Cinthia C. Abbona ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Population ◽

Probability Distributions ◽

Southern Annular Mode ◽

Population Based ◽

Hunter Gatherers ◽

Temperature And Precipitation ◽

N Isotopes ◽

Wild Resources ◽

C And N

In this paper we explore how changes in human strategies are differentially modulated by climate in a border area between hunter-gatherers and farmers. We analyze multiple proxies: radiocarbon summed probability distributions (SPDs), stable C and N isotopes, and zooarchaeological data from northwestern Patagonia. Based on these proxies, we discuss aspects of human population, subsistence, and dietary dynamics in relation to long-term climatic trends marked by variation in the Southern Annular Mode (SAM). Our results indicate that the farming frontier in northwestern Patagonia was dynamic in both time and space. We show how changes in temperature and precipitation over the last 1000 years cal BP have influenced the use of domestic plants and the hunting of highest-ranked wild animals, whereas no significant changes in human population size occurred. During the SAM positive phase between 900 and 550 years cal BP, warmer and drier summers are associated with an increase in C4 resource consumption (maize). After 550 years cal BP, when the SAM changes to the negative phase, wetter and cooler summer conditions are related to a change in diet focused on wild resources, especially meat. Over the past 1000 years, there was a non-significant change in the population based on the SPD.

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Efficacy of cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy in the treatment of chronic fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis – a literature review

Aktualności Neurologiczne ◽

10.15557/an.2021.0005 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 36-40

Author(s):

Justyna Wiśniowska ◽

◽

Kamilla Puławska ◽

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Chronic Fatigue ◽

Research Groups ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Short Term ◽

Behavioural Model ◽

Cognitive Behavioural ◽

The Central Nervous System ◽

Specific Factors

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms seen in patients with multiple sclerosis. Cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy can be a non-pharmacological approach for these patients. Van Kessel and Moss-Morris developed a cognitive-behavioural model to explain multiple sclerosis-related fatigue (2006). According to this model, inflammatory and demyelinating factors present in the central nervous system trigger fatigue, while cognitive interpretation, anxiety, or depressive symptoms and resting lifestyle are maintaining factors. Based on the cognitive-behavioural model of fatigue in multiple sclerosis, a protocol encompassing 8 treatment sessions was developed. For over 10 years, studies have been conducted to verify the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy in the treatment of fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis. The so far obtained results show that cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy has a moderate short-term effect on reducing fatigue, while the effect size in the long-term is small. The obtained results were undoubtedly influenced by several factors: the heterogeneity of the procedures used, the size of the research groups, and the large number of disease-related intermediary variables. Further research should be conducted to identify specific factors responsible for the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy in the treatment of fatigue and to assess the long-term effects of therapy.

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Family Burden and Coping among Caregivers of Schizophrenia

International Journal of Indian Psychology ◽

10.25215/0404.022 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

Author(s):

S. Geetha ◽

Dr. M. V. Sudhakaran

Keyword(s):

Human Population ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Subjective Burden ◽

Short Term ◽

Care Giving ◽

Primary Caretakers ◽

Schizophrenic Patients ◽

Coping Scale ◽

And Coping

Schizophrenia is a strict mental disorder affecting about human population. Being chronic and often incapacitating, it extracts tremendous cost from patients, caregivers and society. Caregivers of patients with schizophrenia face stress and emotional hardship and are frequently forced to assume lifelong care-taking roles. Subjective burden refers to the caregivers’ short term and long term reactions to the patient’s symptoms and behaviors, and the care giving task resulting from it. Perceived distress and interpersonal strain are examples. It refers to the extent to which the care giver feels he or she is burdened. This study aims to conducted for analysis the burden and coping among caregivers of schizophrenia. This study conducted with 30 Schizophrenic patients and 30 primary caretakers of the patients, totally 60 samples were studied. The result shows that there is association between burden assessment schedules of caregiver with that of caregivers coping scale. It revealed statistical significance. Low coping score seen in caregiver who had high burden score. Lower burden score seen in caregivers who had high coping level.

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Challenges for Diadromous Fishes in a Dynamic Global Environment

Challenges for Diadromous Fishes in a Dynamic Global Environment ◽

10.47886/9781934874080.ch14 ◽

2009 ◽

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Salmon ◽

Regional Scale ◽

Geographical Location ◽

Stream Temperature ◽

Climate Change Scenarios ◽

Spatial And Temporal Patterns ◽

Specific Factors ◽

Thermal Variability

<em>Abstract</em>.-In this paper, we develop logistic stream temperature models for 17 selected sites in northeastern North America and evaluate the potential changes from warming climate under two scenarios (low and medium-high emissions). Classification of the magnitude of the (1) long-term (1980-2002) and (2) annual thermal regimes allowed examination of the relative spatial and temporal patterns of instream thermal variability across the 17 sites. At the regional scale, the classification identified three broad groups of rivers (cool, intermediate, and warm) reflecting geographical location and moderated by site-specific factors. The interannual classification identified four thermal year types reflecting increasing magnitude and variability in the annual thermal regime. The dominance of thermal year types and the frequency of occurrence indicated significant variability between years for all sites and within thermal regions. Under the two climate change scenarios, stream temperatures in the 17 sites are projected to increase by 2050. However, there are regional differences with intermediate and warm region rivers projected to be more affected, particularly under the medium-high emissions scenario. More significantly, the duration of weeks when temperatures exceed 20°C (taken as a threshold of thermal stress for Atlantic salmon <em>Salmo salar</em>) is projected to increase with variability in response between river groups. We comment on the ecological significance of these potential future increases in stream temperature and duration for Atlantic salmon in the region.

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Ensembles for wellbeing

10.1093/oso/9780198860761.003.0024 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 191-199

Author(s):

Gunter Kreutz ◽

Michael Bonshor

Keyword(s):

Research Literature ◽

Instrumental Ensemble ◽

Choral Singing ◽

Adverse Health Effects ◽

Ensemble Performance ◽

Amateur Musicians ◽

Musical Engagement ◽

Specific Factors ◽

Underlying Mechanisms

The value of ensemble music-making for wellbeing is addressed in this chapter, with an emphasis on amateur musicians. Previous research on musical development over the lifespan suggests that long-term engagement might be motivated by individual wellbeing benefits. Although negative health implications are also noted, amateur musicians report fewer adverse health effects associated with musical participation compared with their professional counterparts. However, the research literature on amateur musicians has tended to focus on choir members, raising questions as to whether the predominantly positive implications of choral singing also apply to instrumental ensemble performance. Recent studies have begun to fill this research gap, but there is still uncertainty with respect to the specific factors contributing to wellbeing and health in amateur ensembles. In conclusion, tentative models to foster hypothesis-driven research are needed as well as a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms that connect long-term musical engagement and wellbeing.

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Association of Site-specific and Participant-specific Factors with Retention of Children in a Long-term Pediatric HIV Cohort Study

American Journal of Epidemiology ◽

10.1093/aje/kwn072 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 167 (11) ◽

pp. 1375-1386 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

P. L. Williams ◽

R. Van Dyke ◽

M. Eagle ◽

D. Smith ◽

C. Vincent ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Pediatric Hiv ◽

Site Specific ◽

Specific Factors

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Effects of remarriage after widowhood on long-term fitness in a monogamous historical human population

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology ◽

10.1007/s00265-013-1630-6 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 68 (1) ◽

pp. 135-143 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Jenni E Pettay ◽

Anna Rotkirch ◽

Alexandre Courtiol ◽

Markus Jokela ◽

Virpi Lummaa

Keyword(s):

Human Population

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Sustainable Development

Encyclopedia of Social Work ◽

10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.1051 ◽

2013 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Dorothy N. Gamble

Keyword(s):

Cultural Adaptation ◽

Human Population ◽

Social Systems ◽

Well Being ◽

Human Populations ◽

Human Relationships ◽

Drought Conditions ◽

Clean Air ◽

Living Species

This entry describes how the viability of long-term human social systems is inextricably linked to human behavior, environmental resources, the health of the biosphere, and human relationships with all living species. New ways of thinking and acting in our engagement with the biosphere are explored, with attention to new ways of measuring well-being to understand the global relationships among human settlements, food security, human population growth, and especially alternative economic efforts based on prosperity rather than on growth. The challenge of social work is to engage in socioecological activities that will prevent and slow additional damage to the biosphere while at the same time helping human populations to develop the cultural adaptation and resilience required to confront increasing weather disasters; displacement resulting from rising seas; drought conditions that severely affect food supplies; the loss of biodiversity, soils, forests, fisheries, and clean air; and other challenges to human social organizations.

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