Rituximab as Treatment for Lupus Nephritis: Data From the Peruvian ALMENARA Lupus Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the response to rituximab (RTX) as treatment for lupus nephritis (LN) in a Latin American Lupus cohort. METHODS: The medical records from LN patients from a single-center cohort spanning between January 2012 and December 2020 were reviewed. Demographic factors (age at diagnosis and baseline, gender), disease duration, previous and concomitant treatments, serum creatinine, and 24-hour proteinuria (24-HP) levels at baseline, and 6th and 12th months were obtained. Complete response (CR) or responder status was defined according to the LUNAR, AURORA-1, and BLISS-LN trials. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients received RTX as induction treatment; 32 (88.9%) were women. Their age at baseline and disease duration were 32.6 (11.7) and 7.6 (6.5) years, respectively. The time between renal biopsy and RTX use was 2.64 (4.41) years. At baseline, serum creatinine and 24-HP levels were 1.5 (1.5) mg/dL and 3.4 (2.8) g, respectively. At months 6 and 12, serum creatinine levels were 1.6 (1.6) and 1.6 (1.5) mg/dL, and 24-HP were 2.2 (2.2) and 1.6 (1.5) g, respectively. According to LUNAR and AURORA-1 criteria, CR at 6th and 12th months were 6/34 (17.6%) and 8/30 (26.7%) and 6/34 (17.6%) and 7/31 (22.6%) patients, respectively. According to BLISS-LN criteria, responders at 6th and 12th months were 9/34 (26.5%) and 10/31 (32.3%) patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CR and responder status were reached in less than one third of LN patients treated with RTX, regardless of the criteria used to define them. However, serum creatinine levels did not increase, and there was a decrease in proteinuria levels during the follow-up.

Synthesis of silver-palladium Janus nanoparticles using co-sputtering of independent sources: experimental and theorical study.

Janus-type nanoparticles are important because of their ability to combine distinct properties and functionalities in a single particle, making them extremely versatile and valuable in various scientific, technological, and industrial applications. In this work, bimetallic silver-palladium Janus nanoparticles were obtained for the first time using the inert gas condensation technique. In order to achieve this, an original synthesis equipment built by Mantis Ltd. was modified by the inclusion of an additional magnetron in a second chamber, which allowed us to use two monometallic targets to sputter the two metals independently. With this arrangement, we could find appropriate settings at room temperature to promote the synthesis of bimetallic Janus nanoparticles. The structural properties of the resulting nanoparticles were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the chemical composition was analyzed by TEM energy dispersive spectroscopy (TEM-EDS), which, together with structural analysis, confirmed the presence of Janus-type nanostructures. Results of molecular dynamics and TEM simulations show that the differences between the crystalline structures of the Pd and Ag regions observed in the TEM micrographs can be explained by small mismatches in the orientations of the two regions of the particle. A density functional theory structural aims to understand the atomic arrangement at the interface of the Janus particle.

Variable Energy and Ultrasound-based Liposculpture of the Arms: Multicenter and Multidevice Study.

Incorporation of new technologies to assist the liposuction procedure is becoming increasingly common. These technologies allow for a softer technique, balanced shaping, elimination of excess adipose tissue, and skin tightening. Some of these technologies include ultrasound (US; US-assisted liposculpture, VASER-assisted liposuction), power suction (power-assisted liposuction), radiofrequency (RF; RF-assisted lipolysis), and laser (laser-assisted liposuction). In addition, some of these devices have been shown to reduce the incidence of hematomas/inflammation and shorten recovery time. We report our experience in high-definition liposculpture of the arms in addition to new technologies to improve skin retraction, comparing their results in terms of complications, satisfaction score, and aesthetic outcomes. We included patients with mild-to-moderate arm dermatochalasis (Duncan classification) fat deposits in the upper extremities who were considered candidates for third-generation US-assisted liposculpture, power-assisted liposuction, RF-assisted lipolysis/skin tightening, and laser-assisted liposuction. A total of 683 consecutive patients met the inclusion criteria for the study. Most of them were women (n = 605, 88%). Fat grafting was performed in 80 patients (11.7%). A significant portion of the patients were secondary cases (n = 223, 33%). Age ranged from 18 to 70 years (median = 38 years). BMI ranged from 17.8 to 34.8 kg/m2 (mean = 24.3 kg/m2). RF-assisted and laser-assisted high-definition liposculpture of the arms are both effective and reproducible techniques for patients who seek an athletic and slim arm contour. A low rate of complications and high satisfaction index support our findings.

Major facilitator superfamily efflux pumps in human pathogens: Role in multidrug resistance and beyond.

The major facilitator superfamily (MFS) of proteins constitutes a large group of related solute transporters found across all known living taxa of organisms. The transporters of the MFS contain an extremely diverse array of substrates, including ions, molecules of intermediary metabolism, and structurally different antimicrobial agents. First discovered over 30 years ago, the MFS represents an important collection of integral membrane transporters. Bacterial microorganisms expressing multidrug efflux pumps belonging to the MFS are considered serious pathogens, accounting for alarming morbidity and mortality numbers annually. This review article considers recent advances in the structure-function relationships, the transport mechanism, and modulation of MFS multidrug efflux pumps within the context of drug resistance mechanisms of bacterial pathogens of public health concerns.

Challenges and opportunities in access to care for systemic lupus erythematosus patients across Europe and worldwide.

SLE presents significant challenges for patients and health-care professionals (HCPs), both across Europe and worldwide. Improving health-care outcomes for patients with SLE requires a comprehensive understanding of patient disease pathways. In particular, the geographical distance between SLE patients and specialized care centres, combined with the scarcity of rheumatologists, exacerbates delays in diagnosis and management. Also, the initial SLE symptoms can often be non-specific, and providing guidelines for primary HCPs and other non-specialists is extremely important. Improvement in access to treatment is also important, with several recently approved therapies for SLE not being available in several European countries and many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Furthermore, in the LMICs in which these treatments are available, they are not always covered by the health-care system, making their access almost impossible for those of lower socio-economic status. A number of provisions are already in place within the European Union, to improve access to care for patients with rare and complex diseases, including those with SLE. In particular, European Reference Networks (ERNs), such the ERN for Autoimmune Diseases ReCONNET, are virtual networks involving HCPs across Europe with the aim of improving the care of patients with rare and complex diseases that require highly specialized treatment and a concentration of knowledge and resources. In addition, lupus patient organizations such as Lupus Europe play a crucial role in raising awareness of SLE and advocating for improved access to care. Together, we can work towards a future where all people living with lupus receive the comprehensive and timely care they deserve.

Colostrum Replacement and Serum IgG Concentrations in Beef Calves Delivered by Elective Cesarean Section.

Assistance during calving and cesarean section (C-section) are important risk factors for the failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) in beef calves, which increases the risk of morbidity and mortality in beef calves during the preweaning period. Colostrum replacement recommendations for beef calves, and especially for those delivered by C-section, are unavailable. The objective of this study was to determine whether or not colostrum replacement or supplementation with a commercially available product could increase serum IgG concentrations in beef calves delivered by elective C-section, compared to beef calves that nursed colostrum naturally. An elective C-section was performed in 32 pregnant beef cows and first-calf heifers. Immediately after delivery, newborn calves were randomly assigned to one of three different treatment groups. Group A calves (n = 7) were fed one packet of a commercial colostrum replacer (CR) product providing 60 g of IgG within 30 min of life. A second packet of the same CR was fed at 6 h of life. Group B calves (n = 13) were fed the same CR at the same frequency as group A; however, these calves were reunited with their dams after the second CR feeding to allow additional nursing of maternal colostrum. Group C calves (n = 12) were united with their dams immediately after surgery without colostrum intervention. Serum IgG levels at 48 h of life were greater in group C calves and in calves born to multiparous cows. Based on the results of this study, neither colostrum replacement nor supplementation result in higher serum IgG concentrations in beef calves delivered by elective C-section compared with natural nursing.

Prevalence and target attainment of traditional cardiovascular risk factors in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a cross-sectional study including 3401 individuals from 24 countries.

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterised by increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality risk. We aimed to examine the prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and their control in an international survey of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. METHODS: In this multicentre, cross-sectional study, cardiovascular risk factor data from medical files of adult patients (aged ≥18) with SLE followed between Jan 1, 2015, and Jan 1, 2020, were collected from 24 countries, across five continents. We assessed the prevalence and target attainment of cardiovascular risk factors and examined potential differences by country income level and antiphospholipid syndrome coexistence. We used the Systemic Coronary Risk Evaluation algorithm for cardiovascular risk estimation, and the European Society of Cardiology guidelines for assessing cardiovascular risk factor target attainment. People with lived experience were not involved in the research or writing process. FINDINGS: 3401 patients with SLE were included in the study. The median age was 43·0 years (IQR 33-54), 3047 (89·7%) of 3396 patients were women, 349 (10.3%) were men, and 1629 (48·1%) of 3390 were White. 556 (20·7%) of 2681 patients had concomitant antiphospholipid syndrome. We found a high cardiovascular risk factor prevalence (hypertension 1210 [35·6%] of 3398 patients, obesity 751 [23·7%] of 3169 patients, and hyperlipidaemia 650 [19·8%] of 3279 patients), and suboptimal control of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure [target of <130/80 mm Hg], BMI, and lipids) in the entire SLE group. Higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors but a better blood pressure (target of <130/80 mm Hg; 54·9% [1170 of 2132 patients] vs 46·8% [519 of 1109 patients]; p<0·0001), and lipid control (75·0% [895 of 1194 patients] vs 51·4% [386 of 751 patients], p<0·0001 for high-density lipoprotein [HDL]; 66·4% [769 of 1158 patients] vs 60·8% [453 of 745 patients], p=0·013 for non-HDL; 80·9% [1017 of 1257 patients] vs 61·4% [486 of 792 patients], p<0·0001 for triglycerides]) was observed in patients from high-income versus those from middle-income countries. Patients with SLE with antiphospholipid syndrome had a higher prevalence of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, and significantly lower attainment of BMI and lipid targets (for low-density lipoprotein and non-HDL) than patients with SLE without antiphospholipid syndrome. INTERPRETATION: High prevalence and inadequate cardiovascular risk factor control were observed in a large multicentre and multiethnic SLE cohort, especially among patients from middle-income compared with high-income countries and among those with coexistent antiphospholipid syndrome. Increased awareness of cardiovascular disease risk in SLE, especially in the above subgroups, is urgently warranted. FUNDING: None.

The Lupus Foundation of America-Rapid Evaluation of Activity in Lupus Clinician-Reported Outcome Predicts Damage in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Data From the Almenara Lupus Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive value of the LFA-REAL ClinRO (Lupus Foundation of America Rapid Evaluation of Activity in Lupus clinician-reported outcome) on damage accrual in systemic lupus erythematosus patients. METHODS: Data from a prevalent lupus cohort were used. The LFA-REAL ClinRO includes 9 domains: mucocutaneous (global and 3 subdomains), musculoskeletal (global and 2 subdomains), cardiorespiratory, neuropsychiatric, renal, hematological, constitutional, vasculitis, and other (it allows for other or rare manifestations). For each domain, a 0- to 100-mm visual analog scale is used, and global domains are included except for the mucocutaneous and musculoskeletal domains where the subdomains are included; it allows for 3 manifestations under "other," so the score ranges from 0 to 1400 (sum of 14 in the visual analog scale). Damage was assessed with the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology damage index. Generalized estimating equations were performed, being the outcome the increase in the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology damage index; confounders from the previous visit were included; adjusted multivariable models were done. Incidence rate ratios per 10-unit increase in the LFA-REAL ClinRO were reported. Similar models were performed to evaluate the impact of the SLEDAI-2K (SLE Disease Activity Index) and physician global assessment on damage to determine which measure would better predict damage accrual. RESULTS: Three-hundred thirty-one patients and 1425 visits were included, 1.9 (SD 1.2) years of follow-up. Disease duration at baseline was 10.7 (7.4) years. The mean LFA-REAL ClinRO was 18.2 (SD 30.7). During the follow-up visits, 63 (17.9%) patients accrued damage once; 4 (1.1%) accrued damage twice. The LFA-REAL ClinRO was predictive of damage accrual even after adjustment for possible confounders (incidence rate ratio 1.10 (95% confidence interval 1.04-1.16; p < 0.001). Similar results were obtained using the SLEDAI-2K and the physician global assessment. CONCLUSION: The LFA-REAL ClinRO is predictive of damage accrual, even after adjusting for possible confounders.

Low Disease Activity Early in the Course of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), remission and low disease activity (LDA) have been shown to be protective of damage accrual, mortality, and flares; they have also been shown to be associated with a better health-related quality of life.1 However, the large majority of published studies include patients with long-standing disease.

Physicochemical and Mechanical Properties of Non-Isocyanate Polyhydroxyurethanes (NIPHUs) from Epoxidized Soybean Oil: Candidates for Wound Dressing Applications.

Only 0.1% of polyurethanes available on the market are from renewable sources. With increasing concern about climate change, the substitution of monomers derived from petrochemical sources and the application of eco-friendly synthesis processes is crucial for the development of biomaterials. Therefore, polyhydroxyurethanes have been utilized, as their synthesis route allows for the carbonation of vegetable oils with carbon dioxide and the substitution of isocyanates known for their high toxicity, carcinogenicity, and petrochemical origin. In this study, polyhydroxyurethanes were obtained from carbonated soybean oil in combination with two diamines, one that is aliphatic (1,4-butadiamine (putrescine)) and another that is cycloaliphatic (1,3-cyclohexanobis(methylamine)). Four polyhydroxyurethanes were obtained, showing stability in hydrolytic and oxidative media, thermal stability above 200 °C, tensile strength between 0.9 and 1.1 MPa, an elongation at break between 81 and 222%, a water absorption rate up 102%, and contact angles between 63.70 and 101.39. New formulations of bio-based NIPHUs can be developed with the inclusion of a cycloaliphatic diamine (CHM) for the improvement of mechanical properties, which represents a more sustainable process for obtaining NIPHUs with the physicochemical, mechanical, and thermal properties required for the preparation of wound dressings.

The Structure of Carbon Dioxide at the Air-Water Interface and its Chemical Implications.

The efficient reduction of CO2 into valuable products is a challenging task in an international context marked by the climate change crisis and the need to move away from fossil fuels. Recently, the use of water microdroplets has emerged as an interesting reaction media where many redox processes which do not occur in conventional solutions take place spontaneously. Indeed, several experimental studies in microdroplets have already been devoted to study the reduction of CO2 with promising results. The increased reactivity in microdroplets is thought to be linked to unique electrostatic solvation effects at the air-water interface. In the present work, we report a theoretical investigation on this issue for CO2 using first-principles molecular dynamics simulations. We show that CO2 is stabilized at the interface, where it can accumulate, and that compared to bulk water solution, its electron capture ability is larger. Our results suggest that reduction of CO2 might be easier in interface-rich systems such as water microdroplets, which is in line with early experimental data and indicate directions for future laboratory studies. The effect of other relevant factors which could play a role in CO2 reduction potential is discussed.

Epicardial adipose tissue defined by initial polytrauma CT of mechanically ventilated trauma patients: retrospective single-center cohort study to predict short-term outcomes.

PURPOSE: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) detected by computed tomography (CT) is associated with morbidity and mortality in patients with COVID-19 and other critical care patient cohorts, whereas their prognostic relevance in trauma patients remains unclear. The present study explored associations with four potential short-term outcomes in trauma patients. METHODS: All consecutive trauma patients requiring emergency tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation before initial whole-body CT imaging at a level-1 trauma center over a 12-year period (2008-2019) were reanalyzed for this study. EAT was measured semiquantitatively in initial CT and analyzed regarding associations with 24-hour and 30-day mortality using Cox proportional hazard models. In survivors, associations of EAT with intensive care unit length of stay (ICU LOS) and mechanical ventilation duration were analyzed using linear regression analyses. RESULTS: Four hundred fifty-five patients (74.7% male) with a median age of 49 years, and a median injury severity score (ISS) of 26 points were analyzed. In univariable analysis, EAT index was significantly associated with 24-hour and 30-day mortality (p = 0.007, and p = 0.013, respectively). After adjustment for significant predictors age, body mass index, and ISS, no significant associations were confirmed (p = 0.622, and p = 0.903, respectively). In a subanalysis of 353 survivors, EAT index was significantly associated with ICU LOS and mechanical ventilation duration in univariable analyses (p = 0.031, and p = 0.014, respectively), but not in multivariable analyses (p = 0.81 and p = 0.46, respectively). CONCLUSION: EAT index was associated with short-term outcomes in severely injured trauma patients, which not remained significant in multivariable analysis, suggesting that its prognostic capability is limited.

Youth Pitcher Fatigue: Medial Elbow Laxity, Ultrasonographic Assessment of Flexor-Pronator Mass Energy Depletion, and Association With Pitch Count.

Background: Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries in youth pitchers continue to be concerning despite the institution of pitch count limits. Flexor-pronator mass fatigue can lead to diminished dynamic stability, resulting in greater stress on the UCL. Purpose/Hypothesis: To evaluate fatigue of the flexor-pronator mass by assessing changes in medial elbow laxity; noninvasively characterizing alterations in muscle glycogen; and identifying changes in subjective fatigue, strength, range of motion (ROM), pitching velocity, and accuracy with increasing pitches thrown by youth pitchers to their recommended 75-pitch count limit. It was hypothesized that, with increased pitches, medial elbow laxity would increase and that the glycogen content of the flexor-pronator mass would decrease. Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: Healthy male pitchers aged 10 years (n = 22) threw 3 sets of 25 pitches with 12 minutes between sets (3 timepoints). Bilateral ulnohumeral joint gapping was measured by applying a standardized valgus force and utilizing ultrasound imaging. Relative changes in muscle glycogen in the bilateral flexor carpi radialis (FCR), and the flexor digitorum superficialis/flexor carpi ulnaris (FDS/FCU) muscles were measured with ultrasound software and recorded as fuel percentiles. Additional measures obtained included subjective fatigue, strength, ROM, velocity, and accuracy. Results: There were no differences in medial elbow joint-line gapping between the throwing and nonthrowing arms or between timepoints. The throwing arm demonstrated a significant decline in fuel percentile of the FCR from baseline to after 75 pitches (P = .05). There were no differences across timepoints for FDS/FCU fuel percentile values. Fatigue measurements for both arms were significantly higher at all timepoints compared with baseline (P≤ .03). Grip strength of the dominant arm after 75 pitches was decreased significantly compared with after 25 pitches (P = .02). Conclusion: Although an increase in medial elbow joint gapping was not demonstrated within the recommended 75 pitch count limit in 10-year-olds, a relative decrease in glycogen stores of the flexor-pronator mass did occur, as well as a decrease in grip strength, with increasing subjective fatigue. Clinical Relevance: This study provides a foundation for further objective testing of physiologic changes that occur with pitching to better guide pitch count limits and improve the safety of young athletes.

Calibration-free parallel transmission of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal cord at 7T.

PURPOSE: To address the limitations of spinal cord imaging at ultra-high field (UHF) due to time-consuming parallel transmit (pTx) adjustments. This study introduces calibration-free offline computed universal shim modes that can be applied seamlessly for different pTx RF coils and spinal cord target regions, substantially enhancing spinal cord imaging efficiency at UHF. METHODS: A library of channel-wise relative B 1 + $$ {B}_1^{+} $$ maps for the cervical spinal cord (six datasets) and thoracic and lumbar spinal cord (nine datasets) was constructed to optimize transmit homogeneity and efficiency for these regions. A tailored B0 shim was optimized for the cervical spine to enhance spatial magnetic field homogeneity further. The performance of the universal shims was validated using absolute saturation based B 1 + $$ {B}_1^{+} $$ mapping and high-resolution 2D and 3D multi-echo gradient-recalled echo (GRE) data to assess the image quality. RESULTS: The proposed universal shims demonstrated a 50% improvement in B 1 + $$ {B}_1^{+} $$ efficiency compared to the default (zero phase) shim mode. B 1 + $$ {B}_1^{+} $$ homogeneity was also improved by 20%. The optimized universal shims achieved performance comparable to subject-specific pTx adjustments, while eliminating the need for lengthy pTx calibration times, saving about 10 min per experiment. CONCLUSION: The development of universal shims represents a significant advance by eliminating time-consuming subject-specific pTx adjustments. This approach is expected to make UHF spinal cord imaging more accessible and user-friendly, particularly for non-pTx experts.

Triplet State Radical Chemistry: Significance of the Reaction of 3SO2 with HCOOH and HNO3.

The triplet excited states of sulfur dioxide can be accessed in the UV region and have a lifetime large enough that they can react with atmospheric trace gases. In this work, we report high level ab initio calculations for the reaction of the a3B1 and b3A2 excited states of SO2 with weak and strong acidic species such as HCOOH and HNO3, aimed to extend the chemistry reported in previous studies with nonacidic H atoms (water and alkanes). The reactions investigated in this work are very versatile and follow different kinds of mechanisms, namely, proton-coupled electron transfer (pcet) and conventional hydrogen atom transfer (hat) mechanisms. The study provides new insights into a general and very important class of excited-state-promoted reactions, opening up interesting chemical perspectives for technological applications of photoinduced H-transfer reactions. It also reveals that atmospheric triplet chemistry is more significant than previously thought.

Nicotine Impairs Smooth Muscle cAMP Signaling and Vascular Reactivity.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine nicotine's impact on receptor-mediated cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) synthesis in vascular smooth muscle (VSM). We hypothesize that nicotine impairs ß adrenergic-mediated cAMP signaling in VSM, leading to altered vascular reactivity. METHODS: The effects of nicotine on cAMP signaling and vascular function were systematically tested in aortic VSM cells and acutely isolated aortas from mice expressing the cAMP sensor TEpacVV (Camper), specifically in VSM (e.g., CamperSM). RESULTS: Isoproterenol (ISO)-induced ß-adrenergic production of cAMP in VSM was significantly reduced in cells from second-hand smoke (SHS)-exposed mice and cultured wild-type VSM treated with nicotine. The decrease in cAMP synthesis caused by nicotine was verified in freshly isolated arteries from a mouse that had cAMP sensor expression in VSM (e.g., CamperSM mouse). Functionally, the changes in cAMP signaling in response to nicotine hindered ISO-induced vasodilation, but this was reversed by immediate PDE3 inhibition. CONCLUSIONS: These results imply that nicotine alters VSM ß adrenergic-mediated cAMP signaling and vasodilation, which may contribute to the dysregulation of vascular reactivity and the development of vascular complications for nicotine-containing product users.

Sex-based Differences in Heart Failure Biomarkers.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Differences in HF biomarker levels by sex may be due to hormonal, genetic, and fat distribution differences. Knowledge of these differences is scarce, and it is not well established whether they may affect their usefulness in the management of HF. RECENT FINDINGS: The different biomarker profiles in women and men have been confirmed in recent studies: in women, markers of cardiac stretch and fibrosis (NP and galectin-3) are higher, whereas in men, higher levels of markers of cardiac injury and inflammation (cTn and sST2) are found. The use of new biomarkers, together with growing evidence that a multimarker approach can provide better risk stratification, raises the question of building models that incorporate sex-specific diagnostic criteria. More and more research are being devoted to understanding sex-related differences in HF. The aim of this review is to review the dynamics of HF biomarkers according to sex and in different situations, to learn whether these sex differences may affect their use in the diagnosis and follow-up of HF patients.

Polyelectrolytes for Environmental, Agricultural, and Medical Applications.

In recent decades, polyelectrolytes (PELs) have attracted significant interest owing to a surge in research dedicated to the development of new technologies and applications at the biological level. Polyelectrolytes are macromolecules of which a substantial portion of the constituent units contains ionizable or ionic groups. These macromolecules demonstrate varied behaviors across different pH ranges, ionic strengths, and concentrations, making them fascinating subjects within the scientific community. The aim of this review is to present a comprehensive survey of the progress in the application studies of polyelectrolytes and their derivatives in various fields that are vital for the advancement, conservation, and technological progress of the planet, including agriculture, environmental science, and medicine. Through this bibliographic review, we seek to highlight the significance of these materials and their extensive range of applications in modern times.

Effects of major storms over a spit-tidal flat interaction system (Punta Rasa-Samborombón, Argentina).

Sandy coastal areas are very dynamic systems in which morphological changes occur over different time scales from hours to decades. However, it has been widely reported that major storms are the main responsible of the most significant changes in short to medium time scales. Major storms have been defined using a variety of environmental variables, but they are normally associated with high values of wave height, duration, return period and direction. Here, we aim to characterize types of major storms and to categorize associated morphological impacts over a complex coastal system. The study site, known as Punta Rasa, is located in the Samborombón bay in the outer part of the Río de La Plata estuary (Argentina) and corresponds to a zone of interaction between a large sandy spit and a backwash tidal flat system. Methods combine statistics of wave climate time-series, analysis of wave energy using nearshore numerical modelling (SWAN) and comparison of pre- and post-storm morphological changes by means of shoreline change detection and satellite images derived indexes (CoastSat Toolkit and NDWI index respectively). Results allowed to characterize four types of major storms impacting the study area: High-Energy Storms (HES), defined by an average storm wave below the 1 % exceedance (>2.6 m), Long-Lived Storms (LLS) represented by an exceedance of the 1 % of Du (>60 h), Storm Groups (SG) in which storm return period is <6 days and Northeastern moderate storms (NMS) defined by their eastern, onshore oriented direction. Under HES and NMS storms erosional areas are dominant over depositional, causing shoreline retreat, a growth of the end-spit and the increase on sand deposition on the back-barrier areas. Under LLS and SG storms, the morphological impact varies alongshore, with multiple erosional hotspots found along the shoreline accompanied by a general flattens of the end-spit system.

Seroprevalence of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus in Wild Pigs (Sus scrofa) in 17 States in the USA.

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are among the most detrimental invasive species in the USA. They are damaging to crops and agriculture, pose a public health risk as reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens, and may also spread disease to livestock. One pathogen identified in wild pigs is bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), a virus that causes an economically important disease of cattle (Bos taurus and Bos indicus). We sought to determine the BVDV seroprevalence in wild pigs in 17 states across the US and to determine whether age category, sex, or location were associated with a positive antibody titer. Serum samples from 945 wild pigs were collected from 17 US states. Virus neutralization assays were performed to determine antibody titers against BVDV-1b and BVDV-2a. Total BVDV seroprevalence for the study area was 5.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.11-8.89). Seroprevalence across all evaluated states was determined to be 4.4% (95% CI, 2.48-6.82) for BVDV-1b and 3.6% (95% CI, 1.54-5.60) for BVDV-2a. The seroprevalence for individual states varied from 0% to 16.7%. There was no statistical difference in median antibody titer for BVDV-1b or BVDV-2a by sex or age category. State seroprevalences for both BVDV-1b and BVDV-2a were associated with wild pig population estimates for those states.