Chest Radiographic Findings in High-risk Covid-19 Pneumonia Patients

Background/ objectivesThe severity of Covid-19 pneumonia has shown a positive association with co-existing risk factors. However, the exact nature of lung involvement in high-risk Covid-19 patients is yet to be resolved. Therefore, we evaluated the CXR features, temporal progression, and the factors associated with CXR severity in high-risk patients.MethodsChest X-rays (n=289) of Covid-19 infected high-risk adults (n=228) treated at the Base Hospital Homagama were evaluated to record CXR features, their temporal progression, CXR severity score and the patient outcomes. ResultsThe studies patients (48.2% men) were in mean age(SD) of 59(15) years. The most frequent CXR features were patchy ground-glass opacities (49%; GG) and patchy consolidations (42%; CON). They showed bilateral (100%) involvement, superoinferior gradient (100%) and diffuse (27%), peripheral (18%) or perihilar (10%) distribution. CON was the predominant opacity among the non-survivors and GG among the survivors (χ2=14.73; p=0.001). Right lung predominant (28%) asymmetrical lung involvement was more frequent than bilateral symmetrical (16%) or left lung predominance (7%). Progression into fatal disease was significantly higher when the lung involvement is asymmetrical: right predominance: ODDs:0.502; p=0.023; left predominance: ODDs:0.268; p=0.002. The CXRs were frequently normal in early (66%) and progressive (56%; χ2=36.64; p<0.001) stages than in peak or resolving stages. The predictors of CXR severity included age (β:0.140; 95% CI:0.041–0.233; p=0.004), male gender (β:4.140; 95% CI:1.452–6.481; p=0.003), and disease day (β:0.622; 95% CI:0.301–0.942; p<0.001). ConclusionThis study decoded the CXR features of Covid-19 pneumonia in a high-risk cohort while describing their associations.

Context-dependent relationships between locus coeruleus firing patterns and coordinated neural activity in the anterior cingulate cortex

Ascending neuromodulatory projections from the locus coeruleus (LC) affect cortical neural networks via the release of norepinephrine (NE). However, the exact nature of these neuromodulatory effects on neural activity patterns in vivo is not well understood. Here we show that in awake monkeys, LC activation is associated with changes in coordinated activity patterns in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). These relationships, which are largely independent of changes in firing rates of individual ACC neurons, depend on the type of LC activation: ACC pairwise correlations tend to be reduced when ongoing (baseline) LC activity increases but enhanced when external events evoke transient LC responses. Both relationships covary with pupil changes that reflect LC activation and arousal. These results suggest that modulations of information processing that reflect changes in coordinated activity patterns in cortical networks can result partly from ongoing, context-dependent, arousal-related changes in activation of the LC-NE system.

Pattern of Morphological Anomalies of Uterus as Observed by Modern Investigation Techniques

Background: Due to the high prevalence and possible impact on the reproductive health of the of woman, congenital uterine malformation of female genital tract is a challenge for the therapeutic decision-making process. The current study aimed to evaluate the morphological anomalies of the uterus as observed by modern investigation techniques. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was done in Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagnoor, Karimnagar, Telangana state. Women who were infertile and anxious to conceive and women were subjected to 2D ultrasound Screening followed by Hysterosalpingography. Those women who were fertile and found to have uterine anomalies and needed reconfirmation of the provisional diagnosis were subjected to Hysterosalpingography. Results: Out of n=300 cases studied n=288 (96%) were with normal uterine anatomy and n=12 (4%) cases were detected with uterine malformations as seen by USG. N=5 (40.5%) had a Bicornuate Uterus. While uterus didelphys and unicornuate uterus were seen in n=2 (16.67%) each. Arcuate uterus, uterine septum, uterine Aplasia/Hypoplasia were seen in n=1(8.33%) women each respectively. Conclusion: Due to the psychological consequences associated with infertility, the effects of uterine anomalies on the life of women are very important. It is critical to know the exact nature of the anomaly, to plan for the most appropriate treatment modality. As most of these anomalies cannot be rectified by medical management, they need surgical correction. For optimal results, it is important to know the exact type of anomaly for surgical correction. The 2D USG can be recommended as the basic modality to evaluate uterine anomalies. HSG/MRI may be used to delineate detail of anomalies if initially detected by the 2D scan.

The Mediator Role of Feelings of Guilt in the Process of Burnout and Psychosomatic Disorders: A Cross-Cultural Study

Burnout was recently declared by WHO as an “occupational phenomenon” in the International Classification of Diseases 11th revision (ICD-11), recognizing burnout as a serious health issue. Earlier studies have shown that feelings of guilt appear to be involved in the burnout process. However, the exact nature of the relationships among burnout, guilt and psychosomatic disorders remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediator role of feelings of guilt in the relationship between burnout and psychosomatic disorders, and perform a cross-cultural validation of the multi-dimensional model by Gil-Monte in two samples of teachers (Portuguese vs. Spanish). The study sample was composed of 1,266 teachers, 1,062 from Spain, and 204 from Portugal. Burnout was measured by the Spanish Burnout Inventory. Hypotheses were tested together in a path model. The results obtained provide empirical evidence for the mediator role of guilt in the relationship between the Burnout syndrome and psychosomatic disorders in the sample of teachers from Spain and Portugal, and they contribute to the empirical validation of the model by Gil-Monte. The results indicate that guilt should be incorporated as a symptom of burnout in order to identify individuals affected by burnout and profiles or types of burnout to differentiate it from other pathologies like depression.

Rootstock-Mediated Genetic Variance in Cadmium Uptake by Juvenile Cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) Genotypes, and Its Effect on Growth and Physiology

Grafting typically offers a shortcut to breed tree orchards throughout a multidimensional space of traits. Despite an overwhelming spectrum of rootstock-mediated effects on scion traits observed across several species, the exact nature and mechanisms underlying the rootstock-mediated effects on scion traits in cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) plants often remain overlooked. Therefore, we aimed to explicitly quantify rootstock-mediated genetic contributions in recombinant juvenile cacao plants across target traits, specifically cadmium (Cd) uptake, and its correlation with growth and physiological traits. Content of chloroplast pigments, fluorescence of chlorophyll a, leaf gas exchange, nutrient uptake, and plant biomass were examined across ungrafted saplings and target rootstock × scion combinations in soils with contrasting levels of Cd. This panel considered a total of 320 progenies from open-pollinated half-sib families and reciprocal full-sib progenies (derived from controlled crosses between the reference genotypes IMC67 and PA121). Both family types were used as rootstocks in grafts with two commercial clones (ICS95 and CCN51) commonly grown in Colombia. A pedigree-based best linear unbiased prediction (A-BLUP) mixed model was implemented to quantify rootstock-mediated narrow-sense heritability (h2) for target traits. A Cd effect measured on rootstocks before grafting was observed in plant biomass, nutrient uptake, and content of chloroplast pigments. After grafting, damage to the Photosystem II (PSII) was also evident in some rootstock × scion combinations. Differences in the specific combining ability for Cd uptake were mostly detected in ungrafted rootstocks, or 2 months after grafting with the clonal CCN51 scion. Moderate rootstock effects (h2&gt; 0.1) were detected before grafting for five growth traits, four nutrient uptake properties, and chlorophylls and carotenoids content (h2 = 0.19, 95% CI 0.05–0.61, r = 0.7). Such rootstock effects faded (h2&lt; 0.1) when rootstock genotypes were examined in soils without Cd, or 4 months after grafting. These results suggest a pervasive genetic conflict between the rootstock and the scion genotypes, involving the triple rootstock × scion × soil interaction when it refers to Cd and nutrient uptake, early growth, and photosynthetic process in juvenile cacao plants. Overall, deepening on these findings will harness early breeding schemes of cacao rootstock genotypes compatible with commercial clonal scions and adapted to soils enriched with toxic levels of Cd.

Electrostatic images and T-matrices for simple geometries

<p>This thesis is concerned with electrostatic boundary problems and how their solutions behave depending on the chosen basis of harmonic functions and the location of the fundamental singularities of the potential. The first part deals with the method of images for simple geometries where the exact nature of the image/fundamental singularity is unknown; essentially a study of analytic continuation for Laplace's equation in 3 dimensions. For the sphere, spheroid and cylinder, new deductions are made on the location of the images of point charges and their linear or surface charge densities, by using different harmonic series solutions that reveal the image. The second part looks for analytic expressions for the T-matrix for electromagnetic scattering of simple objects in the low frequency limit. In this formalism the incident and scattered fields are expanded on an orthogonal basis such as spherical harmonics, and the T-matrix is the transformation between the coefficients of these series, providing the general solution of any electromagnetic scattering problem by a given particle at a given wavelength. For the spheroid, bispherical system and torus, the natural basis of harmonic functions for the geometry of the scatterer are used to determine T-matrix expressed in that basis, which is then transformed onto a basis of canonical spherical harmonics via the linear relationships between different bases of harmonic functions.</p>

Electrostatic images and T-matrices for simple geometries

<p>This thesis is concerned with electrostatic boundary problems and how their solutions behave depending on the chosen basis of harmonic functions and the location of the fundamental singularities of the potential. The first part deals with the method of images for simple geometries where the exact nature of the image/fundamental singularity is unknown; essentially a study of analytic continuation for Laplace's equation in 3 dimensions. For the sphere, spheroid and cylinder, new deductions are made on the location of the images of point charges and their linear or surface charge densities, by using different harmonic series solutions that reveal the image. The second part looks for analytic expressions for the T-matrix for electromagnetic scattering of simple objects in the low frequency limit. In this formalism the incident and scattered fields are expanded on an orthogonal basis such as spherical harmonics, and the T-matrix is the transformation between the coefficients of these series, providing the general solution of any electromagnetic scattering problem by a given particle at a given wavelength. For the spheroid, bispherical system and torus, the natural basis of harmonic functions for the geometry of the scatterer are used to determine T-matrix expressed in that basis, which is then transformed onto a basis of canonical spherical harmonics via the linear relationships between different bases of harmonic functions.</p>

Social Engagement and Depressive Symptoms Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in India

Social networks and family support are known to have benefits for many older adults globally, and India is no exception. However, the exact nature of the impact of these factors on depression in the Indian population remains largely unexplored. Considering the aging Indian population and changing socio-cultural landscape, it is important to identify the role of social engagement and neighborhood factors in the mental health needs of these older adults. To address this need, this study aimed to identify predictors of depressive symptoms among individuals aged 45+ years from four states in India. Data were taken from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI) pilot survey in 2010, focusing on the influence social activities, family factors and neighborhood satisfaction variables have on depressive symptomatology. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted and found that residing in a southern state (Karnataka and Kerala) (β=.178, p&lt;0.05); lower life satisfaction (β= -.261, p&lt;0.05); having more living children (β=.110, p&lt;0.05), less frequently or never visiting friends and relatives (β=.079, p&lt;0.05) and not liking the neighborhood (β=.072, p&lt;0.05) were predictors of depressive symptoms. These findings are consistent with limited extant literature on the importance of family and social engagement as predictors of depressive symptoms in this population. Future research should focus on qualitatively examining the interaction between depressive symptoms and social engagement within this population, thereby helping develop targeted interventions, measure outcomes and long term, community engagement-based prevention programs.

Duties and Responsibilities of Staff Nurse- A Study

Nursing has come a very, very long way in the past century. However, some of the challenges highlighted by nurse leaders in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s, still face the profession a century later even though their exact nature might be somewhat different. Throughout the history of nursing, most of the challenges can be linked to the gender and class barriers faced by women in society and the ever-present economic demands of the healthcare industry.The Staff Nurse is the first level professional Nurse in the hospital set up. Therefore by appearance and by word she will be professional at all time. Taking a walk through the history of nursing, the shortage of nurses appears to have been a problem from the time when the value of trained nurses in hospitals and the community was recognized. From the mid-1800’s, when scientific developments in Western medicine increasingly led to successful treatment, hospitals changed from places where the sick and destitute were cared for to institutions where the ill were admitted for treatment. The time was ripe when Florence Nightingale introduced formal training of nurses, and since then, it appears that the demand for qualified nurses increased exponentially. The objective of obtaining state registration for nurses was the priority issue for nurse activists from the 1880’s. At the Chicago World’s Fair, British nurses introduced the nurse leaders from all over the world to the idea of state registration for nurses as well as the issue of standards for nurse training schools, which would satisfy a requirement to introduce registration. The struggle for state registration was at the time also the main driving force behind the establishment of nursing organizations in various countries. Keywords: Staff Nurse, Hospital Stress, Tolerance Adjustment, Florence Nightigale. Demand, Shipt System.

Disentangling genetic feature selection and aggregation in transcriptome-wide association studies

The success of transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS) has led to substantial research towards improving the predictive accuracy of its core component of Genetically Regulated eXpression (GReX). GReX links expression information with genotype and phenotype by playing two roles simultaneously: it acts as both the outcome of the genotype-based predictive models (for predicting expressions) and the linear combination of genotypes (as the predicted expressions) for association tests. From the perspective of machine learning (considering SNPs as features), these are actually two separable steps—feature selection and feature aggregation—which can be independently conducted. In this work, we show that the single approach of GReX limits the adaptability of TWAS methodology and practice. By conducting simulations and real data analysis, we demonstrate that disentangled protocols adapting straightforward approaches for feature selection (e.g., simple marker test) and aggregation (e.g., kernel machines) outperform the standard TWAS protocols that rely on GReX. Our development provides more powerful novel tools for conducting TWAS. More importantly, our characterization of the exact nature of TWAS suggests that, instead of questionably binding two distinct steps into the same statistical form (GReX), methodological research focusing on optimal combinations of feature selection and aggregation approaches will bring higher power to TWAS protocols.