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Vaccination represents one of the fundamentals in the fight against SARS-CoV-2. Myocarditis has been reported as a rare but possible adverse consequence of different vaccines, and its clinical presentation can range from mild symptoms to acute heart failure. We report a case of a 29-year-old man who presented with fever and retrosternal pain after receiving SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and laboratory data revealed typical findings of acute myocarditis.
A case of Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) of the lung in a patient with a history of breast cancer
(2019)
Background: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare progressive cystic and nodular disease of the lung characterized by smooth muscle cell proliferation. LAM predominantly affects young premenopausal women. This report is of a case of LAM presenting in a 47-year-old woman with a past history of breast cancer and discusses the possibility of an association between the two conditions.
Case report: A 47-year-old woman presented as an emergency with an exacerbation of a four-month history of shortness of breath and dry cough. Her symptoms began following the start of anti-hormonal treatment with letrozole and goserelin acetate for a moderately differentiated (grade 2) invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast (pT2, pN0, M0) which was positive for expression of estrogen receptor (ER+), progesterone receptor (PR+), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2+). Until the previous four months, she had breast-conserving treatment with radiotherapy and tamoxifen therapy. Following hospital admission, she was found to be in type I respiratory failure. Chest X-ray, lung computed tomography (CT), and positron-emission tomography (PET) showed diffuse cystic and nodular lung lesions, consistent with a diagnosis of LAM, and antihormonal therapy was discontinued. She developed pericarditis that was treated with the anti-inflammatory agent, colchicine. Treatment with letrozole and sirolimus improved her respiratory symptoms.
Conclusions: A rare case of LAM is presented in a woman with a recent history of breast cancer. Because both tumors were hormone-dependent, this may support common underlying gene associations and signaling pathways between the two types of tumor.
Quotes are great source of knowledge, wisdom and insight. They help us to learn through forerunners and pathfinders who pioneered certain paths in life that we are yet to travel. They are great tools to reinforce and reaffirm what we already know but do not understand, or what we do and react to in our daily basis but do not make a philosophy out of it. It is such ignored realities or less attended to histories and discoveries which when they become words uttered by famous or successful people they become quotes, references and philosophy enough to help us accept it, or an idea, we apply it and see transformations in our lives. Quotes discover a philosophy, strengthen a belief or ideology, create a driving force in people to pursue their dreams. They are an effective weapon to uphold or dismiss certain philosophies in our midst. They are sophisticated way or simple art of using few words to mean a lot. A Case of Love and Hate is a book to give you insights, uphold and dismiss certain philosophies or notions in our midst, be it politically, socially and economically. To achieve this complex task, difficult and great piece of art, the author Cecil Jones Myondela (Chenjerai Mhondera) committed himself to intense focus, long term diligence, and effort. Success in every field requires a definite goal, burning desire to go after it and determination to do whatever it takes in order to succeed. The book of Quotes themed A Case of Love and Hate, Volume 1 is a product of such a bitter struggle, endurance and resilience by the author- on ground and in world of literature. To understand Mugabe, this is the book! To understand Zimbabwe, this is the book! To understand Africa, this is the book! Do not resist your chance to understand and keep in line with a Revolution in Africa!
The subject of this paper is a recent comic movie version of Dante's "Comedy": a 2007 puppet and toy theatre adaptation of the "Inferno" directed by Sean Meredith. It is certainly not the first time that Dante and his theatre of hell appear in this kind of environment. Mickey Mouse has followed Dante's footsteps and very recently a weird bunch of prehistoric animals went a similar path: in part three of the blockbuster "Ice Age" (2009), a new, lippy guide character named Buck uses several Dante quotes and the whole strange voyage can be described as a Dantesque descent into dinosaur hell. In the following pages Ronald de Rooy argues that Meredith's version of Dante's "Inferno" is not only funny and entertaining, but that it is also surprisingly innovative if we compare it to other literature and movies which project Dante's hell or parts of it onto the modern metropolis.
A candidate gene cluster for the bioactive natural product gyrophoric acid in lichen-forming fungi
(2022)
Natural products of lichen-forming fungi are structurally diverse and have a variety of medicinal properties. Despite this, they a have limited implementation in industry, because the corresponding genes remain unknown for most of the natural products. Here we implement a long-read sequencing and bioinformatic approach to identify the biosynthetic gene cluster of the bioactive natural product gyrophoric acid (GA). Using 15 high-quality genomes representing nine GA-producing species of the lichen-forming fungal genus Umbilicaria, we identify the most likely GA cluster and investigate cluster gene organization and composition across the nine species. Our results show that GA clusters are promiscuous within Umbilicaria, with only three genes that are conserved across species, including the PKS gene. In addition, our results suggest that the same cluster codes for different but structurally similar NPs, i.e., GA, umbilicaric acid and hiascic acid, bringing new evidence that lichen metabolite diversity is also generated through regulatory mechanisms at the molecular level. Ours is the first study to identify the most likely GA cluster, and thus provides essential information to open new avenues for biotechnological approaches to producing and modifying GA and similar lichen-derived compounds. We show that bioinformatics approaches are useful in linking genes and potentially associated natural products. Genome analyses help unlocking the pharmaceutical potential of organisms such as lichens, which are biosynthetically diverse but slow growing, and difficult to cultivate due to their symbiotic nature.
At a site in the Bolivian Chiquitano region composed by a mosaic of pastureland and primary Chiquitano Dry Forest (CDF) we conducted a camera-trapping study to (1) survey the mammals, and (2) compare individual Jaguar numbers with other Chiquitano sites. Therefore, we installed 13 camera stations (450 ha polygon) over a period of six months. On 1,762 camera-days and in 1,654 independent capture events, we recorded 24 mammalian species that represent the native fauna of large and medium-sized mammals including apex-predators (Puma, Jaguar), meso-carnivores (Ocelot, Jaguarundi, Margay), and large herbivores (Tapir, Collared and White lipped Peccary). We identified six adult Jaguars and found indications of successful reproductive activity. Captures of Jaguars were higher in CDF than in altered habitats. In summary, we believe that (1) the mammal species richness, (2) the high capture numbers of indicator species, and (3) the high capture numbers of Jaguar indicate that our study area has a good conservation status. Future efforts should be undertaken to keep this, and monitoring programs in this region are necessary to further evaluate the potential importance of the Chiquitano region as a possible key region for mammals, especially Jaguars, in South America.
We present a higher-order call-by-need lambda calculus enriched with constructors, case-expressions, recursive letrec-expressions, a seq-operator for sequential evaluation and a non-deterministic operator amb that is locally bottom-avoiding. We use a small-step operational semantics in form of a single-step rewriting system that defines a (nondeterministic) normal order reduction. This strategy can be made fair by adding resources for bookkeeping. As equational theory we use contextual equivalence, i.e. terms are equal if plugged into any program context their termination behaviour is the same, where we use a combination of may- as well as must-convergence, which is appropriate for non-deterministic computations. We show that we can drop the fairness condition for equational reasoning, since the valid equations w.r.t. normal order reduction are the same as for fair normal order reduction. We evolve different proof tools for proving correctness of program transformations, in particular, a context lemma for may- as well as mustconvergence is proved, which restricts the number of contexts that need to be examined for proving contextual equivalence. In combination with so-called complete sets of commuting and forking diagrams we show that all the deterministic reduction rules and also some additional transformations preserve contextual equivalence.We also prove a standardisation theorem for fair normal order reduction. The structure of the ordering <=c a is also analysed: Ω is not a least element, and <=c already implies contextual equivalence w.r.t. may-convergence.
We present a higher-order call-by-need lambda calculus enriched with constructors, case-expressions, recursive letrec-expressions, a seq-operator for sequential evaluation and a non-deterministic operator amb that is locally bottom-avoiding. We use a small-step operational semantics in form of a single-step rewriting system that defines a (nondeterministic) normal order reduction. This strategy can be made fair by adding resources for bookkeeping. As equational theory we use contextual equivalence, i.e. terms are equal if plugged into any program context their termination behaviour is the same, where we use a combination of may- as well as must-convergence, which is appropriate for non-deterministic computations. We show that we can drop the fairness condition for equational reasoning, since the valid equations w.r.t. normal order reduction are the same as for fair normal order reduction. We evolve different proof tools for proving correctness of program transformations, in particular, a context lemma for may- as well as mustconvergence is proved, which restricts the number of contexts that need to be examined for proving contextual equivalence. In combination with so-called complete sets of commuting and forking diagrams we show that all the deterministic reduction rules and also some additional transformations preserve contextual equivalence.We also prove a standardisation theorem for fair normal order reduction. The structure of the ordering <=c a is also analysed: Ω is not a least element, and <=c already implies contextual equivalence w.r.t. may-convergence.
We present a higher-order call-by-need lambda calculus enriched with constructors, case-expressions, recursive letrec-expressions, a seq-operator for sequential evaluation and a non-deterministic operator amb, which is locally bottom-avoiding. We use a small-step operational semantics in form of a normal order reduction. As equational theory we use contextual equivalence, i.e. terms are equal if plugged into an arbitrary program context their termination behaviour is the same. We use a combination of may- as well as must-convergence, which is appropriate for non-deterministic computations. We evolve different proof tools for proving correctness of program transformations. We provide a context lemma for may- as well as must- convergence which restricts the number of contexts that need to be examined for proving contextual equivalence. In combination with so-called complete sets of commuting and forking diagrams we show that all the deterministic reduction rules and also some additional transformations keep contextual equivalence. In contrast to other approaches our syntax as well as semantics does not make use of a heap for sharing expressions. Instead we represent these expressions explicitely via letrec-bindings.
A call on art investments
(2010)
The art market has seen boom and bust during the last years and, despite the downturn, has received more attention from investors given the low interest environment following the financial crisis. However, participation has been reserved for a few investors and the hedging of exposures remains dificult. This paper proposes to overcome these problems by introducing a call option on an art index, derived from one of the most comprehensive data sets of art market transactions. The option allows investors to optimize their exposure to art. For pricing purposes, non-tradability of the art index is acknowledged and option prices are derived in an equilibrium setting as well as by replication arguments. In the former, option prices depend on the attractiveness of gaining exposure to a previously non-traded risk. This setting further overcomes the problem of art market exposures being dificult to hedge. Results in the replication case are primarily driven by the ability to reduce residual hedging risk. Even if this is not entirely possible, the replication approach serves as pricing benchmark for investors who are significantly exposed to art and try to hedge their art exposure by selling a derivative. JEL Classification: G11, G13, Z11
I present a new business cycle model in which decision making follows a simple mental process motivated by neuroeconomics. Decision makers first compute the value of two different options and then choose the option that offers the highest value, but with errors. The resulting model is highly tractable and intuitive. A demand function in level replaces the traditional Euler equation. As a result, even liquid consumers can have a large marginal propensity to consume. The interest rate affects consumption through the cost of borrowing and not through intertemporal substitution. I discuss the implications for stimulus policies.
The most frequently used boundary-layer turbulence parameterization in numerical weather prediction (NWP) models are turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) based-based schemes. However, these parameterizations suffer from a potential weakness, namely the strong dependence on an ad-hoc quantity, the so-called turbulence length scale. The physical interpretation of the turbulence length scale is difficult and hence it cannot be directly related to measurements or large eddy simulation (LES) data. Consequently, formulations for the turbulence length scale in basically all TKE schemes are based on simplified assumptions and are model-dependent. A good reference for the independent evaluation of the turbulence length scale expression for NWP modeling is missing. Here we propose a new turbulence length scale diagnostic which can be used in the gray zone of turbulence without modifying the underlying TKE turbulence scheme. The new diagnostic is based on the TKE budget: The core idea is to encapsulate the sum of the molecular dissipation and the cross-scale TKE transfer into an effective dissipation, and associate it with the new turbulence length scale. This effective dissipation can then be calculated as a residuum in the TKE budget equation (for horizontal sub-domains of different sizes) using LES data. Estimation of the scale dependence of the diagnosed turbulence length scale using this novel method is presented for several idealized cases.
Im Mai 2008 verwüstete der Sturm Nargis über Myanmar/Burma hinweg, 140.000 Menschen wurden getötet. Das autokratisch regierte Land wies jedoch Katastrophenhilfe als innere Einmischung zurück und verweigerte die Einfuhr von Medikamenten und Lebensmitteln. Der französische Außenminister Kouschner drängte angesichts dieser Situation die UN zum Handeln, auf Grundlage der Responsibility to Protect (kurz R2P).
Dieser Akt der Versicherheitlichung steht allerdings im Kontrast zur Medienberichterstattung, wie Gabi Schlag in diesem Papier untersucht. Besonders das Bildmaterial aus dem Katastrophengebiet erzählt eine andere Geschichte. Die Photos der Berichterstattung von BBC.com zum Thema bilden ein visuelles Narrativ, welches keine Hilfsbedürftigkeit suggeriert, sondern kontrolliertes, besonnenes Vorgehen der lokalen Kräfte. Dieser Kontrast verweist auf die sprichwörtliche Macht der Bilder, welche die jeweiligen Bedingungen von Handlungsmöglichkeiten vorstrukturieren.
A bryophyte checklist of the Ecological Reserve of Gurjaú (08º10’00'’-08º15’00"S; 35º02’30"- 35º05’00"W), a remnant of the Atlantic Forest in the State of Pernambuco, has been compiled. The Reserve covers an area of approximately 1362 ha, including several forest fragments of diverse sizes and stages of conservation. Specimens collected during the years 2000 and 2001, and voucher specimens from the UFP Herbarium at the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) were analyzed. Bryophytes were collected on live and dead trunks, rocks, leaves and soil. The studied bryoflora is composed of 53 species of liverworts, 37 species of mosses and one hornwort. Among the twenty-three registered families, Lejeuneaceae (41 spp.) was the most representative one with the highest generic and specific richness, which confirms its status as predominant in tropical rain forests. Fissidens (7 spp.), Lejeunea and Cheilolejeunea (6 spp.), and Calymperes (4 spp.) were the most representative genera. The studied bryoflora is predominantly composed of species of neotropical distribution, widely spread throughout Brazil. The presence of an endemic species of the Atlantic Forest, Vitalianthus bichlerianus (Pôrto & Grolle) Schust. & Giancotti, and some other exclusively Brazilian species, e.g., Riccardia regnellii (Ängstr.) Hell have been recorded from the site.
A Brutal State of Affairs analyses the transition from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe and challenges Rhodesian mythology. The story of the BSAP, where white and black officers were forced into a situation not of their own making, is critically examined. The liberation war in Rhodesia might never have happened but for the ascendency of the Rhodesian Front, prevailing racist attitudes, and the rise of white nationalists who thought their cause just. Blinded by nationalist fervour and the reassuring words of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and army commanders, the Smith government disregarded the advice of its intelligence services to reach a settlement before it was too late. By 1979, the Rhodesians were staring into the abyss, and the war was drawing to a close. Salisbury was virtually encircled, and guerrilla numbers continued to grow. A Brutal State of Affairs examines the Rhodesian legacy, the remarkable parallels of history, and suggests that Smith's Rhodesian template for rule has, in many instances, been assiduously applied by Mugabe and his successors.
Consumers purchase energy in many forms. Sometimes energy goods are consumed directly, for instance, in the form of gasoline used to operate a vehicle, electricity to light a home, or natural gas to heat a home. At other times, the cost of energy is embodied in the prices of goods and services that consumers buy, say when purchasing an airline ticket or when buying online garden furniture made from plastic to be delivered by mail. Previous research has focused on quantifying the pass-through of the price of crude oil or the price of motor gasoline to U.S. inflation. Neither approach accounts for the fact that percent changes in refined product prices need not be proportionate to the percent change in the price of oil, that not all energy is derived from oil, and that the correlation of price shocks across energy markets is far from one. This paper develops a vector autoregressive model that quantifies the joint impact of shocks to several energy prices on headline and core CPI inflation. Our analysis confirms that focusing on gasoline price shocks alone will underestimate the inflationary pressures emanating from the energy sector, but not enough to overturn the conclusion that much of the observed increase in headline inflation in 2021 and 2022 reflected non-energy price shocks.
Dry rainforests are those communities that have floristic and structural affinities to mesic rainforests and occur in parts of eastern and northern Australia where rainfall is comparatively low and often highly seasonal. The dry rainforests of the western slopes of New South Wales are poorly-understood compared to other dry rainforests in Australia, due to a lack of regional scale studies. This paper attempts to redress this by deriving a broad floristic and structural typology for this vegetation type. Phytogeographical analysis followed full floristic surveys conducted on 400 m2 plots located within dry rainforest across the western slopes of NSW. Cluster analysis and ordination of 208 plots identified six floristic groups. Unlike in some other regional studies of dry rainforest these groups were readily assigned to Webb structural types, based on leaf size classes, leaf retention classes and canopy height. Five community types were described using both floristic and structural data: 1) Ficus rubiginosa–Notelaea microcarpa notophyll vine thicket, 2) Ficus rubiginosa–Alectryon subcinereus–Notelaea microcarpa notophyll vine forest, 3) Elaeodendron australe–Notelaea microcarpa–Geijera parviflora notophyll vine thicket, 4) Notelaea microcarpa– Geijera parviflora–Ehretia membranifolia semi-evergreen vine thicket, and 5) Cadellia pentastylis low microphyll vine forest. Floristic groupings were consistent with those described by previous quantitative studies which examined smaller portions of this study area. There was also general agreement between the present analytical study and a previous intuitive classification of dry rainforest vegetation throughout the study area, but little concurrence with a continental scale floristic classification of rainforest.
Does an increase in the cover/abundance of Callitris glaucophylla or Callitris endlicheri affect the number of species recorded in plots (species density) or do other factors such as altitude or logging, fire or grazing history have greater explanatory power? This was tested using survey data from 1351 plots from northern New South Wales. Altitude was found to have the greatest explanatory power in predicting the number of species per plot. Increasing cover/abundance of Callitris glaucophylla was found to be positively correlated with increasing species density. Fire was found to have a minor negative effect on species density in Callitris glaucophylla stands and grazing a small positive correlation in Callitris endlicheri stands.
New World species of the histerid beetle genus Xestipyge Marseul (Coleoptera: Histeridae: Dendrophilinae: Paromalini) are reviewed, and X. skelleyi, new species, is described. A dichotomous key and illustrations are provided as identification means for the now five included species from the Western Hemisphere.