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Greater Mekong Subregion East–West Economic Corridor Towns Development Project: Environmental Monitoring Report (July-December 2019)

Environmental monitoring reports describe the environmental issues or mitigation measures of a project. This document dated May 2020 is provided for the ADB project 43319-022 in the Lao People's Democratic Republic.




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Greater Mekong Subregion Health Security Project: Lao PDR Procurement Plan

Procurement plans describe and update the procurement of major goods, works and consulting services either ongoing or expected to take place related to a project or program. This document dated 15 November 2019 is provided for the ADB project 48118-002 in the Lao People's Democratic Republic.




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IHC seeks explanation over delay in enforcing 2002 police reforms in capital

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Athar Minallah on Friday converted the matter relating to delay in administration of justice into public interest litigation and sought reports from the interior secretary, the chief commissioner of Islamabad and judges of trial courts working within the IHC’s jurisdiction.

Chief Justice Minallah asked the police, district administration and federal government to explain why police reforms could not be enforced in the federal capital even though the law had been promulgated some 18 years ago.

The court framed six questions to be answered by these authorities, including why Police Order 2002 could not be implemented in Islamabad; why proper investigation training was not imparted to investigation officers; whether the code of criminal procedure 1898 and Qanoon-i-Shahadat [Evidence Act] of 1984 were still applicable; whether the state was responsible for delay in administration of justice and whether victims of delayed justice could seek remedy from any forum.

The court appointed criminologist Dr Shoaib Suddle, Kamaluddin Tippu, director general of the National Police Bureau, superintendent of Adiala Jail and vice chairmen of the Pakistan Bar Council and Islamabad Bar Council as amici curiae in the matter.

Further hearing was adjourned to May 14.

During the hearing, the inspector general of Islamabad police submitted a report on the problems arising during investigation of crimes which hindered administration of justice.

In the report, the IG said that the investigation officer (IO) of a case had to pay Rs5,000 parcel fee from his own pocket to send evidence to a forensic laboratory for analysis.

“There should not be any laboratory fee or it should be responsibility of the district administration [to pay the fee],” he said.

The IG noted that it took around two months to send evidence to laboratory for analysis. “An IO should be given the authority to send evidence to a laboratory without waiting for the approval of high officials,” he suggested.

Similarly, he said, an IO paid Rs15,000 for preparation of a sketch of a suspect believed to have committed a crime. “Such a sketch should be prepared within two days.”

The report said that plaintiffs did not cooperate with police after registration of first information reports.

The absence of a forensic laboratory in Islamabad, lawyers’ strikes and deployment of police personnel for special duties also delayed investigation process and subsequently trials, the report said.

Earlier, acquitting a murder suspect Chief Justice Minallah had observed that the existing criminal justice system had failed to deliver and it was on the verge of collapse.

The court had observed that the existing criminal justice system failed to prevent and prosecute crime and it was perpetuating miscarriages of justice.

It had noted that low-paid investigating officers did not have sufficient resources to visit the crime scene when a crime was reported, let alone sending the sealed samples and arranging the payment of the fee to a laboratory for conducting forensic examinations.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2020




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Kyrgyz Republic: CAREC Corridor 1 (Bishkek–Torugart Road) Project 3

The Bishkek–Torugart road serves several important functions. It is part of the CAREC Corridor 1(c) extending from Troitsk in the Russian Federation to Kashi in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the PRC, and is the shortest route from Bishkek to Kashi. It is the only north–south trunk road in the central Kyrgyz Republic connecting Naryn oblast, the poorest of the Kyrgyz Republic’s seven oblasts, and the city of Naryn to the rest of the country. It is the only road providing direct access to Issyk Kul Lake region, which is one of Central Asia’s well-known tourist destinations.




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Uzbekistan: Samarkand Solar Power Project

In 2005, the energy sector emitted 88% of Uzbekistan’s 200 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas emissions. With the high solar irradiance and abundant land for solar development of Uzbekistan, solar energy was deemed as the most suitable resource that could quickly bridge the energy supply–demand gap, diversify the generation mix, and reduce emissions.




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Managing Climate Adaptive Water Resources in the Aral Sea Basin in Uzbekistan

ADB is proposing a project to deliver climate adaptive solutions for water resources management and modernize outdated irrigation and drainage systems within the Amu Darya and selected reaches of the Zarafshan irrigation system.




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Addressing Gaps in HIV Prevention in the Greater Mekong Subregion

ADB's $5 million HIV/AIDS prevention project for the Greater Mekong Subregion helped the Lao PDR and Viet Nam reach high risk and vulnerable people in border region economic corridors.




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3353-VIE: The Second Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Corridor Towns Development Project [Package SP2]




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29 SEZ developers including TCS, Parsvnath Infra & Unitech Infracon seek more time to implement projects

NEW DELHI: As many as 29 special economic zone developers including Tata Consultancy ServicesBSE -0.20 %, Parsvnath Infra and Navi Mumbai SEZ Pvt Ltd have sought more time from the government for implementing their projects. The inter-ministerial Board of Approval (BoA) chaired by Commerce Secretary S R Rao will consider these requests at its meeting on November 8. Posco-India Pvt Ltd, Unitech Infracon and Lodha Dwellers have also requested additional time for project implementation from the BoA, according to the agenda note of the meeting. The developers have cited reasons like global meltdown and fluctuating market conditions for delay in completion of projects. TCS, which is setting up IT/ITES zone […]




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JBL has big discounts on audio tech for Earth Week




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JBL geluid én gemakkelijk muziek streamen: Maak kennis met de JBL® Link Portable en Link Music

Van knallende baslijnen tot vloeiende gitaarsolo’s, JBL introduceert de JBL Link Portable en Link Music. Ze zijn net zo handig als ze mooi zijn, de speakers zijn voorzien van 360 graden JBL’s kenmerkende sound, Wifi- en Bluetooth-connectiviteit en ingebouwde Chromecast en Google assistent.




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100 Millionen tragbare Lautsprecher: JBL stellt neuen Rekord auf

HARMAN International, eine hundertprozentige Tochtergesellschaft von Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., die sich auf vernetzte Technologien für Automobil-, Konsum- und Unternehmensmärkte konzentriert, freut sich, dass seine Marke JBL den enormen Meilenstein von 100 Millionen weltweit ausgelieferten tragbaren Lautsprechern erreicht hat. JBL festigt damit seine Position als Marktführer für tragbare Audiogeräte und als prägende Kraft der Branche. JBL verschiebt die Grenzen des Möglichen immer weiter und erweckt Musik so zum Leben, dass sie für Zuhörer an jedem Ort fühlbar wird. Heute ist JBL nicht nur auf der ganzen Welt die treibende Kraft hinter der Leistung von Musikern und Sportlern, sondern sorgt auch für den perfekten Klang bei Veranstaltungen und in Automobilen. Außerdem ist JBL mit einem aktuellen Anteil von 34,2 Prozent auch Marktführer bei tragbaren Lautsprechern.




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Engineers Week 2020: Developing Tomorrow’s STEM Leaders

Comprising 50% of our global employee population, engineers are behind many of HARMAN’s market-leading connected technologies and innovations. Our engineers work hard each and every day to connect the world through state-of-the-art products and...




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Greek shops running out of stock

Greece's organization for medium and small businesses says the country risks product shortages as early as May, as businesses face liquidity problems and foreign suppliers will only accept cash for imports. Ciara Lee reports.




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US money market assets increased in latest week: iMoneyNet

U.S. money market fund assets increased by $72.69 billion to $4.652 trillion in the week ended April 28, the Money Fund Report said on Wednesday.




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US money market assets increased in latest week: iMoneyNet

U.S. money market fund assets increased by $37.80 billion to $4.690 trillion in the week ended May 5, the Money Fund Report said on Wednesday.




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U.S. stock funds shed $10.8 million in week: Lipper

U.S.-based stock funds posted $10.8 billion in outflows in the week ended ON Wednesday, according to Lipper.




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UPDATE 3-Mexico to unveil economic restart next week after coronavirus lockdown

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Friday he aims to present plans next week to reopen the economy, as key sectors like carmaking look to begin business again after over a month of quarantine measures to curb the coronavirus outbreak.




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Photos of the week

Our top photos from the past week.




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Photos of the week

Our top photos from the past week.




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Photos of the week

Our top photos from the past week.




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Why countries should start weekly covid-19 testing for key workers

Many countries are focusing coronavirus testing on people who have covid-19 symptoms. But regularly testing all essential workers would have more of an impact




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3.2 million more Americans seek jobless benefits

Millions more Americans sought unemployment benefits last week, suggesting layoffs broadened from consumer-facing industries to other segments of the economy and could remain elevated even as many parts of the country start to reopen. This report produced by Yahaira Jacquez.




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3.2 million more Americans seek jobless benefits

Millions more Americans sought unemployment benefits last week, suggesting layoffs broadened from consumer-facing industries to other segments of the economy and could remain elevated even as many parts of the country start to reopen. This report produced by Yahaira Jacquez.




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The Surprising Benefits of Weekend Workouts

Title: The Surprising Benefits of Weekend Workouts
Category: Health News
Created: 5/3/2019 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/3/2019 12:00:00 AM




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Costs Would Keep 1 in 7 Americans From Seeking COVID-19 Treatment

Title: Costs Would Keep 1 in 7 Americans From Seeking COVID-19 Treatment
Category: Health News
Created: 4/28/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/29/2020 12:00:00 AM




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COMMENTARY: COVID-19 Diary Week 3: I've Never Been More Emotionally Exhausted

After a week seeing cancer patients with COVID-19 as the inpatient consult attending, Don Dizon finds himself more emotionally exhausted than he's ever been before.




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Open Access Week 2018 and PMC

Collaboration with publishers and funders to ensure the openness and preservation of the scientific record is one of PMC’s core principles. Open Access Week offers an opportunity to celebrate some of the recent outcomes of these collaborations:

  • In July 2018, the PMC corpus of publicly accessible articles hit 5 million articles.
  • In May 2018, the PMC Open Access Subset surpassed the 2 million article mark.
  • The Author Manuscript Collection now includes more than 500,000 papers for text mining.
  • The PMC and Research Funder Policy page underwent an update in September 2018 to increase transparency around funder support in PMC for publishers, authors, and the public.
  • Funder policy support in PMC has been extended to the US Department of Homeland Security, in addition to several new US private research funders via the Health Research Alliance.

In FY2018 more than 200 new journals committed to archiving their complete contents in PMC, to be made publicly accessible in 12 months or less.




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Sometimes You Seek the Spotlight. Sometimes it Finds You.

For decades, government, health systems, universities, foundations, exceptional individuals, and thought leaders across North Carolina have been testing, implementing, modifying, and just plain trying new ways of improving the way we seek, receive, and experience health care.

More recently, North Carolina has been striving to not simply address the cost, efficiency, and value that are so frustratingly elusive in health care, but also recognizing that we simply need to improve the health of our residents. We have looked to interventions both compatible with and beyond health care to do this.

The National Academy of Medicine, formerly the National Institute of Medicine, since 2016 has boldly laid out Vital Directions in Health Care, focusing on 19 priority issues and recommendations for health policy to better achieve health and well-being for all Americans. They have taken their show on the road, beyond the halls of Congress and think tanks and universities to the people on the ground in states across the country to present, discuss, listen, and learn how policy recommendations come to life.

This issue of the journal highlights the National Academy of Medicine bringing its spotlight to North Carolina last November, an acknowledgment that states are often where policy is put into action, and that North Carolina has been a leader in innovating, planning, implementing, and evaluating again and again to get better and better results for our residents. Pull your chair up to the edge of the stage for a good read in the glow of the spotlight.




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RNA Interference-Based Screen Reveals Concerted Functions of MEKK2 and CRCK3 in Plant Cell Death Regulation

A wide variety of intrinsic and extrinsic cues lead to cell death with unclear mechanisms. The infertility of some death mutants often hurdles the classical suppressor screens for death regulators. We have developed a transient RNA interference (RNAi)-based screen using a virus-induced gene silencing approach to understand diverse cell death pathways in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). One death pathway is due to the depletion of a MAP kinase (MAPK) cascade, consisting of MAPK kinase kinase 1 (MEKK1), MKK1/2, and MPK4, which depends on a nucleotide-binding site Leu-rich repeat (NLR) protein SUMM2. Silencing of MEKK1 by virus-induced gene silencing resembles the mekk1 mutant with autoimmunity and defense activation. The RNAi-based screen toward Arabidopsis T-DNA insertion lines identified SUMM2, MEKK2, and Calmodulin-binding receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase 3 (CRCK3) to be vital regulators of RNAi MEKK1-induced cell death, consistent with the reports of their requirement in the mekk1-mkk1/2-mpk4 death pathway. Similar with MEKK2, overexpression of CRCK3 caused dosage- and SUMM2-dependent cell death, and the transcripts of CRCK3 were up-regulated in mekk1, mkk1/2, and mpk4. MEKK2-induced cell death depends on CRCK3. Interestingly, CRCK3-induced cell death also depends on MEKK2, consistent with the biochemical data that MEKK2 complexes with CRCK3. Furthermore, the kinase activity of CRCK3 is essential, whereas the kinase activity of MEKK2 is dispensable, for triggering cell death. Our studies suggest that MEKK2 and CRCK3 exert concerted functions in the control of NLR SUMM2 activation and MEKK2 may play a structural role, rather than function as a kinase, in regulating CRCK3 protein stability.




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Promoter-Proximal Chromatin Domain Insulator Protein BEAF Mediates Local and Long-Range Communication with a Transcription Factor and Directly Activates a Housekeeping Promoter in Drosophila [Gene Expression]

BEAF (Boundary Element-Associated Factor) was originally identified as a Drosophila melanogaster chromatin domain insulator-binding protein, suggesting a role in gene regulation through chromatin organization and dynamics. Genome-wide mapping found that BEAF usually binds near transcription start sites, often of housekeeping genes, suggesting a role in promoter function. This would be a nontraditional role for an insulator-binding protein. To gain insight into molecular mechanisms of BEAF function, we identified interacting proteins using yeast two-hybrid assays. Here, we focus on the transcription factor Serendipity (Sry-). Interactions were confirmed in pull-down experiments using bacterially expressed proteins, by bimolecular fluorescence complementation, and in a genetic assay in transgenic flies. Sry- interacted with promoter-proximal BEAF both when bound to DNA adjacent to BEAF or > 2-kb upstream to activate a reporter gene in transient transfection experiments. The interaction between BEAF and Sry- was detected using both a minimal developmental promoter (y) and a housekeeping promoter (RpS12), while BEAF alone strongly activated the housekeeping promoter. These two functions for BEAF implicate it in playing a direct role in gene regulation at hundreds of BEAF-associated promoters.




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Profile of Xiaowei Zhuang, winner of the 2020 Vilcek Prize in Biomedical Science [Profiles]

In 2006, the New York City-based Vilcek Foundation created an annual prize program for foreign-born biomedical scientists who have made major contributions to their fields while living and working in the United States. The founders, themselves immigrants from Czechoslovakia, established the program to raise public awareness of the indispensable role...




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In This Issue [This Week in PNAS]

Conserving biodiverse habitats Contextual habitat intactness for biodiversity. Dark shades indicate high intactness, and colors indicate levels of human influence (Blue = wilderness, Green = low disturbance, Orange = modified, Pink = highly modified). Natural habitat loss contributes to biodiversity loss, and by some estimates nearly half a million species...




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Abnormal Fetal Echocardiogram at 33 Weeks Gestation




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Case 2: Mysterious Hyperkalemia in a Premature Infant of 25 Weeks Gestation




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Pathogenesis and Management of Indirect Hyperbilirubinemia in Preterm Neonates Less Than 35 Weeks: Moving Toward a Standardized Approach

Premature infants have a higher incidence of indirect hyperbilirubinemia than term infants. Management of neonatal indirect hyperbilirubinemia in late preterm and term neonates has been well addressed by recognized, consensus-based guidelines. However, the extension of these guidelines to the preterm population has been an area of uncertainty because of limited evidence. This leads to variation in clinical practice and lack of recognition of the spectrum of bilirubin-induced neurologic dysfunction (BIND) in this population. Preterm infants are metabolically immature and at higher risk for BIND at lower bilirubin levels than their term counterparts. Early use of phototherapy to eliminate BIND and minimize the need for exchange transfusion is the goal of treatment in premature neonates. Although considered relatively safe, phototherapy does have side effects, and some NICUs tend to overuse phototherapy. In this review, we describe the epidemiology and pathophysiology of BIND in preterm neonates, and discuss our approach to standardized management of indirect hyperbilirubinemia in the vulnerable preterm population. The proposed treatment charts suggest early use of phototherapy in preterm neonates with the aim of reducing exposure to high irradiance levels, minimizing the need for exchange transfusions, and preventing BIND. The charts are pragmatic and have additional curves for stopping phototherapy and escalating its intensity. Having a standardized approach would support future research and quality improvement initiatives that examine dose and duration of phototherapy exposure with relation to outcomes.




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Coseismic and monsoon-triggered landslide impacts on remote trekking infrastructure, Langtang Valley, Nepal

In 2015, the Mw 7.8 Gorkha earthquake struck Nepal, triggering thousands of landslides across the central and eastern Himalayas. These landslides had many adverse effects, including causing widespread damage to low-grade transport routes (e.g. tracks, footpaths) in rural regions that depend on tourism for survival. Langtang Valley is a glacial–periglacial landscape located 60 km north of Kathmandu. It is one of the most popular trekking regions in Nepal and has been severely affected by Gorkha earthquake-triggered and monsoon-triggered landsliding. Here, qualitative and quantitative observations from fieldwork and remote sensing are used to describe the materials and geomorphology of the landslides across Langtang Valley, and to quantify the extent to which coseismic and monsoon-triggered landslides have affected Langtang's trekking infrastructure. The dominant bedrock materials involved within Langtang landslides are found to be a range of gneisses and intruded leucogranites. In total, 64 landslides are found to have intersected trekking paths across Langtang, with coseismic and monsoon-triggered landslides having an impact on c. 3 km and 0.8 km of path respectively. It is observed that the practice of reconstructing paths through unstable landslide deposits is leaving the trekking infrastructure across Langtang increasingly vulnerable to future failure.




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Cordycepin Inhibits Cancer Cell Proliferation and Angiogenesis through a DEK Interaction via ERK Signaling in Cholangiocarcinoma [Gastrointestinal, Hepatic, Pulmonary, and Renal]

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a malignant tumor that arises from the epithelial cells of the bile duct and is notorious for its poor prognosis. The clinical outcome remains disappointing, and thus more effective therapeutic options are urgently required. Cordycepin, a traditional Chinese medicine, provides multiple pharmacological strategies in antitumors, but its mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we reported that cordycepin inhibited the viability and proliferation capacity of CCA cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and colony formation assay. Flow cytometry and Hoechst dye showed that cordycepin induced cancer cell apoptosis via extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 deactivation. Moreover, cordycepin significantly reduced the angiogenetic capabilities of CCA in vitro as examined by tube formation assay. We also discovered that cordycepin inhibited DEK expression by using Western blot assay. DEK serves as an oncogenic protein that is overexpressed in various gastrointestinal tumors. DEK silencing inhibited CCA cell viability and angiogenesis but not apoptosis induction determined by Western blot and flow cytometry. Furthermore, cordycepin significantly inhibited tumor growth and angiogenic capacities in a xenograft model by downregulating the expression of DEK, phosphorylated ERK1/2 CD31 and von Willebrand factor (vWF). Taken together, we demonstrated that cordycepin inhibited CCA cell proliferation and angiogenesis with a DEK interaction via downregulation in ERK signaling. These data indicate that cordycepin may serve as a novel agent for CCA clinical treatment and prognosis improvement.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Cordycepin provides multiple strategies in antitumors, but its mechanisms are not fully elucidated, especially on cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). We reported that cordycepin inhibited the viability of CCA cells, induced apoptosis via extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 deactivation and DEK inhibition, and reduced the angiogenetic capabilities of CCA both in vivo and in vitro.




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Epidemiological features and medical care-seeking process of patients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China

Background

We aimed to investigate the epidemiological and clinical features, and medical care-seeking process of patients with the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China, to provide useful information to contain COVID-19 in other places with similar outbreaks of the virus.

Methods

We collected epidemiological and clinical information of patients with COVID-19 admitted to a makeshift Fangcang hospital between 7 and 26 February, 2020. The waiting time of each step during the medical care-seeking process was also analysed.

Results

Of the 205 patients with COVID-19 infection, 31% had presumed transmission from a family member. 10% of patients had hospital-related transmission. It took as long as a median of 6 days from the first medical visit to receive the COVID-19 nucleic acid test and 10 days from the first medical visit to hospital admission, indicating early recognition of COVID-19 was not achieved at the early stage of the outbreak, although these delays were shortened later. After clinical recovery from COVID-19, which took a mean of 21 days from illness onset, there was still a substantial proportion of patients who had persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Conclusions

The diagnostic evaluation process of suspected patients needs to be accelerated at the epicentre of the outbreak and early isolation of infected patients in a healthcare setting rather than at home is urgently required to stop the spread of the virus. Clinical recovery is not an appropriate criterion to release isolated patients and as long as 4 weeks' isolation for patients with COVID-19 is not enough to prevent the spread of the virus.




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Functional Characterization of COG1713 (YqeK) as a Novel Diadenosine Tetraphosphate Hydrolase Family [Article]

Diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A) is a dinucleotide found in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In bacteria, its cellular levels increase following exposure to various stress signals and stimuli, and its accumulation is generally correlated with increased sensitivity to a stressor(s), decreased pathogenicity, and enhanced antibiotic susceptibility. Ap4A is produced as a by-product of tRNA aminoacylation, and is cleaved to ADP molecules by hydrolases of the ApaH and Nudix families and/or by specific phosphorylases. Here, considering evidence that the recombinant protein YqeK from Staphylococcus aureus copurified with ADP, and aided by thermal shift and kinetic analyses, we identified the YqeK family of proteins (COG1713) as an unprecedented class of symmetrically cleaving Ap4A hydrolases. We validated the functional assignment by confirming the ability of YqeK to affect in vivo levels of Ap4A in B. subtilis. YqeK shows a catalytic efficiency toward Ap4A similar to that of the symmetrically cleaving Ap4A hydrolases of the known ApaH family, although it displays a distinct fold that is typical of proteins of the HD domain superfamily harboring a diiron cluster. Analysis of the available 3D structures of three members of the YqeK family provided hints to the mode of substrate binding. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the occurrence of YqeK proteins in a consistent group of Gram-positive bacteria that lack ApaH enzymes. Comparative genomics highlighted that yqeK and apaH genes share a similar genomic context, where they are frequently found in operons involved in integrated responses to stress signals.

IMPORTANCE Elevation of Ap4A level in bacteria is associated with increased sensitivity to heat and oxidative stress, reduced antibiotic tolerance, and decreased pathogenicity. ApaH is the major Ap4A hydrolase in gamma- and betaproteobacteria and has been recently proposed as a novel target to weaken the bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Here, we identified the orphan YqeK protein family (COG1713) as a highly efficient Ap4A hydrolase family, with members distributed in a consistent group of bacterial species that lack the ApaH enzyme. Among them are the pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. By identifying the player contributing to Ap4A homeostasis in these bacteria, we disclose a novel target to develop innovative antibacterial strategies.




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Improving mental health in autistic young adults: a qualitative study exploring help-seeking barriers in UK primary care

BackgroundAutistic people are at increased risk of developing mental health problems. To reduce the negative impact of living with autism in a non-autistic world, efforts to improve take-up and access to care, and support in early years, which will typically start with a GP appointment, must be grounded in the accounts of autistic young adults.AimTo explore how autistic young adults understand and manage mental health problems; and to consider help seeking as a focus.Design and settingA cross-sectional, qualitative study. Autistic participants were purposively selected to represent a range of mental health conditions including anxiety and depression. A subsample were recruited from a population cohort screened for autism in childhood. The study concerns access to primary care.MethodNineteen autistic young adults without learning disabilities, aged 23 or 24 years, were recruited. In-depth, semi-structured interviews explored how they understood and managed mental health problems. Data were analysed thematically.ResultsYoung adults preferred self-management strategies. Multiple factors contributed to a focus on self-management, including: beliefs about the aetiology of mental health difficulties and increased vulnerability with the context of a diagnosis of autism, knowledge of self-management, and a view that formal support was unavailable or inadequate. Families had limited awareness of professional support.ConclusionYoung autistic adults without learning disabilities, and their families, may hold erroneous beliefs about autism and mental health. This may affect help seeking and contribute to an exacerbation of symptoms. GPs need to be alert to the fact that autistic young adults in their care may be experiencing mental health difficulties but may not recognise them as such.




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"ERS International Congress 2019: highlights from Best Abstract awardees". Lorna E. Latimer, Marieke Duiverman, Mahmoud I. Abdel-Aziz, Gulser Caliskan, Sara M. Mensink-Bout, Alberto Mendoza-Valderrey, Aurelien Justet, Junichi Omura, Karthi Srika




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BRAF V600E-mutated metastatic pediatric Wilms tumor with complete response to targeted RAF/MEK inhibition [RESEARCH REPORT]

Wilms tumor (WT) is the most common renal malignancy of childhood and accounts for 6% of all childhood malignancies. With current therapies, the 5-yr overall survival (OS) for children with unilateral favorable histology WT is greater than 85%. The prognosis is worse, however, for the roughly 15% of patients who relapse, with only 50%–80% OS reported in those with recurrence. Herein, we describe the extended and detailed clinical course of a rare case of a child with recurrent, pulmonary metastatic, favorable histology WT harboring a BRAF V600E mutation. The BRAF V600E mutation, commonly found in melanoma and other cancers, and previously undescribed in WT, has recently been reported by our group in a subset of epithelial-predominant WT. This patient, who was included in that series, presented with unilateral, stage 1, favorable histology WT and was treated with standard chemotherapy. Following the completion of therapy, the patient relapsed with pulmonary metastatic disease, that then again recurred despite an initial response to salvage chemotherapy and radiation. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) on the metastatic pulmonary nodule revealed a BRAF V600E mutation. After weighing the therapeutic options, a novel approach with dual BRAF/MEK inhibitor combination therapy was initiated. Complete radiographic response was observed following 4 months of therapy with dabrafenib and trametinib. At 12 months following the start of BRAF/MEK combination treatment, the patient continues with a complete response and has experienced minimal treatment-related side effects. This represents the first case, to our knowledge, of effective treatment with BRAF/MEK molecularly targeted therapy in a pediatric Wilms tumor patient.




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The Impact of One-week Dietary Supplementation with Kava on Biomarkers of Tobacco Use and Nitrosamine-based Carcinogenesis Risk among Active Smokers

Tobacco smoking is the primary risk factor for lung cancer, driven by the addictive nature of nicotine and the indisputable carcinogenicity of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) as well as other compounds. The integration of lung cancer chemoprevention with smoking cessation is one potential approach to reduce this risk and mitigate lung cancer mortality. Experimental data from our group suggest that kava, commonly consumed in the South Pacific Islands as a beverage to promote relaxation, may reduce lung cancer risk by enhancing NNK detoxification and reducing NNK-derived DNA damage. Building upon these observations, we conducted a pilot clinical trial to evaluate the effects of a 7-day course of kava on NNK metabolism in active smokers. The primary objective was to compare urinary total 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL plus its glucuronides, major metabolites of NNK) before and after kava administration as an indicator of NNK detoxification. Secondary objectives included determining kava's safety, its effects on DNA damage, tobacco use, and cortisol (a biomarker of stress). Kava increased urinary excretion of total NNAL and reduced urinary 3-methyladenine in participants, suggestive of its ability to reduce the carcinogenicity of NNK. Kava also reduced urinary total nicotine equivalents, indicative of its potential to facilitate tobacco cessation. Plasma cortisol and urinary total cortisol equivalents were reduced upon kava use, which may contribute to reductions in tobacco use. These results demonstrate the potential of kava intake to reduce lung cancer risk among smokers.




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Công ty CP TV - TM - DV Địa ốc Hoàng Quân MeKong




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New investment waves push housing prices in Mekong Delta provinces

The constantly increasing number of new real estate projects which have been implemented in the Mekong Delta region has led to the rising land price and strong fluctuation in the local property market.




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Apara Ekadashi 2020: जानें अपरा एकादशी की तारीख, मुहूर्त और व्रत विधि

Apara Ekadashi 2020: ज्येष्ठ कृष्ण पक्ष की एकादशी तिथि को अपरा एकादशी अथवा अचला एकादशी के नाम से जाना जाता है। अपरा एकादशी पर्व 18 मई को पड़ रही है।




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Podcast 37: How to Pivot to Digital Education – With Ashish Rangnekar

WELCOME TO EPISODE 37 OF THE TALENTED LEARNING SHOW! Learn how trade associations and training companies are now pivoting to total digital education due to […]

The post Podcast 37: How to Pivot to Digital Education – With Ashish Rangnekar appeared first on e-Learning Feeds.





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David Kelly’s Curated L&D Content for the Week of 5/4/20

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, this week’s resources continue to have the dual focus of providing resources that can help us navigate this […]

The post David Kelly’s Curated L&D Content for the Week of 5/4/20 appeared first on e-Learning Feeds.