Clinical and Immunological Assessment of Patients with Sars-Cov-2 Infections

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) induced coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has presented humanity with unprecedented challenges. Severe disease is associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), use of mechanical ventilation, ICU stay and prolonged hospitalization, The role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 disease is still unclear, which imposes limitations on identifying potential immunotherapy that can improve care for acute and chronic phases of COVID-19 in conjunction with current therapies. Research efforts are ongoing for more than 1 year to identify key immunological mechanisms involved in the disease process. While insightful, this knowledge is still incomplete and can be complemented with the assessment of immune response kinetics. Such assessment will help with the identification of early interventional modalities of immune cell regulation. With these considerations in mind, we aimed to assess several parameters of immune system regulation during the current medical care of patients with COVID-19. Methods: This is a pre-clinical prospective cohort study which involved laboratory-based assessments of blood samples obtained from COVID-19 patients and healthy volunteers. The study population was divided into three cohorts. Our first cohort included 18 years and older COVID-19 patients with respiratory complaints, oxygen (O2) saturations of less than or equal to 92 and pulmonary infiltrates on an imaging study or who were critically ill and required ventilatory support. Second cohort included 18 years and older COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized and did not require ventilatory support. Third cohort included participants with no prior diagnosis of COVID-19, or any recent viral respiratory symptoms including fever, cough or shortness of breath for the last 2 weeks. Patients with an established diagnosis of cancer or immunologic disorders were excluded. Blood specimens were collected over the period of hospitalization: specimen number 1 on day 1-3 of hospitalization, specimen number 2 on days 3-4 of hospitalization, specimen number 3 on days 5-7 of hospitalization, and specimen number 4 on 7-30 days after discharge. We performed capillary electrophoresis for serology and automated ELISA for cytokine measurement. We collected clinical data on patient demographic, clinical characteristics such as presence of any acute and chronic comorbidities and serum inflammatory markers C-Reactive Protein, D-Dimer and Ferritin. Results: We had 15 patients in cohort 1, 10 in cohort 2 and 15 in cohort 3. Patients in cohort 1 were older and had higher comorbidities. Males constituted a substantially high percentage of patients in cohort 1 and 2 (60% and 70% respectively). Patients had similar BMI in cohort 1 and 2. Total antibody levels were highest in cohort 1 but an upward trend over the course of hospitalization was noted in all cohorts. Most interesting pattern was noted in the context of antibodies against spike protein S1 receptor-binding domain (S1RBD) where patients in cohort 2 developed minimal S1RBD antibodies. Cohort 1 on average had higher levels of Interleukin 6(IL-6), Interleukin 8(IL-8), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) and other inflammatory cytokines except Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) compared to Cohort 2. Remarkable difference in CXCL-10 levels was noted between the groups and healthy volunteers had the lowest levels. No significant difference in IFN-gamma was noted between cohorts and the levels quickly depleted over the course of the infection. Conclusion: Our analysis confirms that neutralizing antibodies do not correlate with lessened COVID-19 disease severity. Severe COVID-19 infection is secondary to ineffective innate immunity associated with immune overshoot. CXCL10 serves as a major component in triggering the cytokine storm that is a hallmark of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Our findings show an association between high levels of CXCL10 and more severe COVID-19 infection. There does not seem to be any significant correlation with disease severity and IFN-gamma levels. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

New opabiniid diversifies the weirdest wonders of the euarthropod lower stem group

Once considered ‘weird wonders’ of the Cambrian, the emblematic Burgess Shale animals Anomalocaris and Opabinia are now recognized as lower stem-group euarthropods. Anomalocaris and its relatives (radiodonts) had a worldwide distribution and survived until at least the Devonian, whereas - despite intense study - Opabinia remains the only formally described opabiniid to date. Here we reinterpret a fossil from the Wheeler Formation of Utah as a new opabiniid, KUMIP 314087. By visualizing the sample of phylogenetic topologies in treespace, our results fortify support for the position of KUMIP 314087 beyond the nodal support traditionally applied. Our phylogenetic evidence expands opabiniids to multiple Cambrian Stages spanning approximately five million years. Our results underscore the power of treespace visualization for resolving imperfectly preserved fossils and expanding the known diversity and spatiotemporal ranges within the euarthropod lower stem group.Additional noteThis work contains a new biological name. New names in preprints are not considered available by the ICZN. To avoid ambiguity, the new biological name is not included in this preprint, and the specimen number (KUMIP 314087) is used as a placeholder.Abstract FigureCover image.Artistic reconstruction of the new opabiniid from the Wheeler Formation, Utah, USA (Cambrian: Drumian). Artwork by F. Anthony.

Pengaruh jarak nozzle penyemprot terhadap kemampukerasan baja komersil dengan metode jominy test

Steel is the material most widely used in the industry. To avoid wear and tear on steel, it is necessary to do heat treatment to improve the mechanical properties of the steel according to its application in the field. The increase in hardenability in metals can be determined by doing a hardenability test, namely the Jominy test method. The Jominy test is a method to determine the hardness value of metal using ASTM standards. This research was conducted with varying the distance of the nozzle of the sprayer to the lower end of the specimen, namely 10 mm, 12.5 mm, and 14 mm with a long spraying time of 15 minutes. The heat treatment process at temperature of 780oC and 90 minutes holding time. The averagehardness value of specimen number one (10 mm spraying distance) is 45.43 kgf, specimen number two (12.5 mm spraying distance) is 45.68 kgf, and specimen number three (14 mm spraying distance) is 44.31 kgf. The highest hardness value was specimen number two, there was an increase of 1.87 kgf (4.02%), according to ASTM standards where the spraying distance was 12.5 mm.Keywords: Steel, spraying distance, Jominy test.

An Investigation of Effect of Tin (Sn) on Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Gray Cast Iron

As the tensile strength of gray cast iron is low, it is tried to increase tensile strength by testing various alloying elements. The most preferred of these alloying elements was the copper element. However, it is known that copper increases both hardness and tensile strength by enhancing perlite ratio in microstructure. On the other hand, when tin (Sn) is used in trace amounts compared to copper, it has similar effects on hardness and tensile strength of cast iron. In this study, adding tin element of 0,03-0,06-0,09-0,12-0,15 % by weight in gray cast iron, its effect on tensile strength was investigated and the appearance of the fracture surfaces was examined. It was compared with two different gray cast irons containing 0.4% copper element and free of alloying elements. According to the tensile strength results, the highest tensile strength was observed to be 195 N / mm2 in the specimen number 6 containing 0,12% Sn. The lowest tensile strength was determined as 157 N / mm2 in the specimen number 1 which did not contain alloying elements. In SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) images, it is seen that the samples generally exhibit a brittle rupture behaviour. In some of the specimens with the addition of tin and copper, regional ductile rupture behaviours were observed.

Selection of a lectotype for Brachycrus laticeps mooki Schultz and Falkenbach (Mammalia, Artiodactyla, Merycoidodontidae)

In 1968 Schultz and Falkenbach described a new oreodont subspecies, Brachycrus laticeps mooki, from a locality 11 km (7 miles) southeast of Fort Logan, Meagher County, Montana. As a holotype for this new taxon, Schultz and Falkenbach (1968:369) designated both American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) specimen number 21321 (a skull) and AMNH 21322 (a left ramus). Although the citation of two separate catalog numbers as a holotype is highly unusual, Schultz and Falkenbach believed that the specimens cataloged under both numbers represent only a single individual. The use of the term ‘holotype’ was appropriate, therefore, although it would have been more common practice to place elements believed to represent a single individual under a single catalog number. Schultz and Falkenbach did not give a justification for their opinion that AMNH 21321 and AMNH 21322 represent the same individual, although they stated this belief in two publications (1941 and 1968).

Ethnomedicine used for Asthma by tribes of Papikondalu forest, Andhra Pradesh, India

<p>The present study represents the information about the treatment of asthma disease by the tribes of Papikondalu forest, Andhra Pradesh, India. A total of 17 medicinal plant species belonging to 17 genera and 14 families were recorded. The documented medicinal plants were labeled alphabetically with their voucher specimen number, family name, vernacular names, parts used and mode of administration. The documented of these medicinal plants against asthma reveals that these ethnic people are still dependent on local vegetation for their life care. Thus, this type of ethnomedicinal study appears to be useful for the research on medicinal plants for the betterment of mankind.</p>

New records of ascomycetes (Ascomycota) from the Tula Region

This paper is the next one in the series of publications devoted to fungal diversity of the Tula Region. The checklist contains data on 94 species and includes data on location, habitat, substrate and voucher specimen number. 85 species are recorded for the first time for the Tula Region. The record of Otidea flavidobrunneola is the first for Russia.