Workplace change within the COVID-19 context: The new (next) normal.

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the current status of the workplace, its evolution during COVID-19, and the impact of the pandemic on the new (next) normal. This follows previous research about changes in the workplace influenced by the pandemic. Documents, publications, and surveys from numerous sources have been analysed to discover more about the experience of employees and organizations with remote working and the advantages and disadvantages of accessing the workplace during the pandemic and in the new (next) normal. The paper has two objectives, the first of which is to explore some indicators based on available data sources that can help to understand and, in some way, measure the workplace changes in the context of COVID-19. The second is to extend the previous analysis, using the same timeline framework, by studying the workplace during and after COVID-19. Structure: First, the introduction explains the main basis of the research and the principal data sources, outlining what is known, what is new, and the aim of the paper. Then the research methodology is explained, along with the criteria by which the datasets were selected, and the results for the indicators outcomes. Finally, the concluding section highlights the findings obtained, their implications, the limitations of the study, and suggested future lines of research. Findings: The analysis provides insight into to employees' and organizations' experience with remote working and the advantages and disadvantages of accessing the workplace during the pandemic. The indicators identified can allow a better understanding of the environment and, especially, a deeper knowledge of the new normal situation under COVID-19. Discussion: In previous studies, certain strategic categories were identified in the process of reimagining the workplace after COVID-19. Those strategic categories supported the conclusion that there were several common company policies which, translated into practical action, could help in people's engagement with their work. These policies can be summarized as redesigning the physical space of the workplace, work flexibility, family reconciliation, and health security. The study of these policies, based on data analysis, may open up different research paths and allow us to establish models directly related to employee satisfaction. Originality: The paper continues a previous line of research on the situation in the workplace by incorporating certain indicators that allow its measurement and, above all, its evolution over time, especially during the time of the new (next) normal, and by investigating the current status and future evolution of the workplace in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis of the data made possible the identification of patterns within the available literature regarding recent events and, especially, their influence on the workplace. This has led to the development of indicators in a range of categories. Practical implications: The revolution initiated by COVID-19 has changed the way companies and employees work, which has involved a constant reinvention of the way they operate and provoked previously unseen actions and profound changes in the workplace. Therefore, the idea of the workplace will never again be what it was expected to be was before COVID-19, and it will be very different from that in the new (next) normal.The strategic categories and their indicators developed here are considered important for people's engagement with their workplaces and organizations. The processes adopted by firms must facilitate the redesign of the workplace in accordance with the new forms of work and not act as a mere copy or transfer of the usual approaches to remote work. Providing answers to the questions involved, and deepening the classifications of the categories we develop, can help us understand how people can be connected with the newest forms of workplaces. Some categories and their associated indicators are relevant in remote work and home office environments created by COVID-19. Given that the research started within a pandemic that has not yet ended, while we now know a lot more, the near-term future is uncertain.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in bivalve mollusks and marine sediments.

The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater pose the question of whether this new pandemic virus could be released into watercourses and potentially continue to finally reach coastal waters. In this study, we employed two bivalve molluscan species from the genus Ruditapes as sentinel organisms to investigate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 signals in the marine coastal environment. Estuarine sediments from the natural clam banks were also analyzed. Viral RNA was detected by RT-qPCR, targeting IP4, E and N1 genomic regions. Positive samples were also subjected to a PMAxx-triton viability RT-qPCR assay in order to discriminate between intact and altered capsids, obtaining indirect information about the viability of the virus. SARS-CoV-2 RNA traces were detected in 9/12 clam samples by RT-qPCR, from which 4 were positive for two different target regions. Viral quantification ranged from

Screening Circulating Tumor Cells as a Noninvasive Cancer Test in 3388 Individuals from High-Risk Groups (ICELLATE2).

Cancer is known to spread up to 12 years before clinical symptoms occur, but few screening tests exist. Early detection would give the opportunity for early treatment, potentially improving prognosis. To this end, 3388 subjectively healthy individuals of age 45 to 80 who had been exposed to cancer risk factors were screened for the occurrence of circulating tumor cells in their blood. Presence of circulating tumor cells is a suspicious finding indicative of spreading cancer, since cancer metastasizes by way of the blood and offers the opportunities to (a) follow up the individual clinically based on established guidelines for early detection of cancer and (b) evaluate the cells further analytically. 107 individuals showed one or more circulating tumor cells in a 7.5 ml blood sample, which constitutes a positive circulating tumor cell test, based on the iCellate IsoPic™ laboratory test. That number compares favorably with the cancer incidence per 100,000 people/year that is 157.1 in Peru, given that a high-risk group of individuals was screened and that the screening results would be expected to correspond to an accumulated incidence of up to 12 years. The present findings therefore identify screening for circulating tumor cells as a promising new test.

Benzo(a)pyrene induces hepatic AKR1A1 mRNA expression in tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus).

AKR1A1 or aldehyde reductase is a member of the aldo-keto reductases superfamily that is evolutionarily conserved among species. AKR1A1 is one of the five AKRs (AKR1A1 and 1C1-1C4) implicated in the metabolic benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) activation to reactive BaP 7,8-dione. BaP is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) widely distributed in aquatic ecosystems and its metabolic activation is necessary to produce its toxic effects. Although the presence of AKR1A1 in fish has been reported, its tissue distribution in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and AKR1A1 inducibility by BaP are not known yet. Moreover, cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) mRNA expression in fish has been used as a PAH biomarker of effect. Therefore, BaP effects on AKR1A1 and CYP1A gene expressions in tilapia, a species of commercial interest, were investigated by real-time RT-PCR. A partial AKR1A1 cDNA was identified, sequenced and compared with AKR1A1 reported sequences in the GenBank DNA database. Constitutive AKR1A1 mRNA expression was detected mainly in liver, similarly to that of CYP1A. BaP exposure resulted in statistically significant AKR1A1 and CYP1A mRNA induction in liver (20- and 120-fold, respectively) at 24 h. On the other hand, ethoxyquin (EQ) was used as control inducer for AKR1A1 mRNA. Interestingly, EQ also induced CYP1A mRNA levels in tilapia liver. Our results suggest that teleost AKR1A1, in addition to CYP1A, are inducible by BaP. The mechanism of AKR1A1 induction by BaP and its role in fish susceptibility to BaP toxic effects remains to be elucidated.

Minimally invasive automated de-epithelization by precise ArF excimer laser ablation.

OBJECTIVE: Development of a robotic ArF excimer laser device with a three-dimensional (3D) pattern scanning sensor for the controlled de-epithelization of live mouse and xenografted epidermis. SIGNIFICANCE: The animal model could be adapted to humans for automated, minimally invasive de-epithelization of cutaneous areas and therefore is of interest for cutaneous gene therapy research. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ablation thresholds of mouse, porcine, and human skin were measured by acoustic detection methods. These ablation thresholds were used as initial parameters for dosimetry measurements. De-epithelization of live mouse and xenografted epidermis was performed by laser ablation (ArF excimer laser, λ = 193 nm, t(p) = 20 nsec). The rectangular shape of the laser spot and a robotic arm displacement incorporating a three-dimensional patter scanning sensor allowed a polygonal tile floor irradiation of a 2-cm-diameter area. Ablated epidermis was subjected to histology. RESULTS: SCID and nude mouse skin did not entirely reflect the de-epithelization of human skin because abundant pockets of dermal keratinocytes persist in the outer root sheath of hair and cysts providing competitive foci of re-epithelization. Automated de-epithelization of human and porcine skin xenografts resulted in precise removal of keratinocytes with subcellular precision, providing a smooth live surface where epidermal transplants might engraft with little endogenous competition from residual outer root sheath from rare hairs. CONCLUSIONS: The displacement of the ArF excimer laser devices allows reproducible, smooth, and damage-free ablation of epidermal areas in the animal model.

Synthesis of 1,5-diarylpyrazol-3-propanoic acids towards inhibition of cyclooxygenase-1/2 activity and 5-lipoxygenase-mediated LTB4 formation.

A set of 25 derivatives of 3-[1-(6-substituted-pyridazin-3-yl)-5-(4-substituted-phenyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl]propanoic acids has been synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro cyclooxygenase-1/2 (COX-1/ 2) inhibitory activity using assays with purified COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes as well as for their 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO)-mediated LTB4 formation inhibitory activity using an assay with activated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL). Among the synthesized compounds, especially 4g showed COX-1 (IC50 = 1.5 microM) and COX-2 (IC50 = 1.6 microM) inhibitory activity, whereas compounds 4 b and 4 f resulted in the inhibition of 5-LO-mediated LTB4 formation at 14 microM and 12 microM IC50 values, respectively, without any significant inhibition on COX isoforms.

Synthesis, biological evaluation, and docking studies of novel heterocyclic diaryl compounds as selective COX-2 inhibitors.

Three novel series of diaryl heterocyclic derivatives bearing the 2-oxo-5H-furan, 2-oxo-3H-1,3-oxazole, and 1H-pyrazole moieties as the central heterocyclic ring were synthesized and their in vitro inhibitory activities on COX-1 and COX-2 isoforms were evaluated using a purified enzyme assay. The 2-oxo-5H-furan derivative 6b was identified as potent COX inhibitor with selectivity toward COX-1 (COX-1 IC(50)=0.061 microM and COX-2 IC(50)=0.325 microM; selectivity index (SI)=0.19). Among the 1H-pyrazole derivatives, 11b was found to be a potent COX-2 inhibitor, about 38 times more potent than Rofecoxib (COX-2 IC(50)=0.011 microM and 0.398 microM, respectively), but showed no selectivity for COX-2 isoform. Compound 11c demonstrated strong and selective COX-2 inhibitory activity (COX-1 IC(50)=1 microM, COX-2 IC(50)=0.011 microM; SI= approximately 92). Molecular docking studies of compounds 6b and 11b-d into the binding sites of COX-1 and COX-2 allowed to shed light on the binding mode of these novel COX inhibitors.

Spinal extradural arachnoid cysts in lymphedema-distichiasis syndrome.

PURPOSE: Lymphedema-distichiasis syndrome is characterized by the presence of lower limb lymphedema and supernumerary eyelashes arising from the Meibomian glands. Spinal extradural arachnoid cysts have been observed in some families but their true frequency is unknown. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of spinal extradural arachnoid cysts in lymphedema distichiasis syndrome. METHODS: We collected clinical information from all 45 living members of a complete family of 48 members and performed molecular analysis of the FOXC2 gene in 30 individuals. We obtained spinal magnetic resonance imaging from all family members with a FOXC2 gene mutation. RESULTS: Twelve family members carried a mutation in the FOXC2 gene and had clinical features of lymphedema-distichiasis syndrome. Of these, 58% (seven individuals) had extradural arachnoid cysts. DISCUSSION: We suggest that a follow-up protocol for lymphedema-distichiasis syndrome families should include spinal magnetic resonance imaging for all affected members so that the timing of surgery for removal of these cysts can be optimized.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 4,5-diphenyloxazolone derivatives on route towards selective COX-2 inhibitors.

A series of 3-unsubstituted/substituted-4,5-diphenyl-2-oxo-3H-1,3-oxazole derivatives were prepared as selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors. Among the synthesized compounds, 4-(4-phenyl-3-methyl-2-oxo-3H-1,3-oxazol-5-yl)benzensulfonamide (compound 6) showed selective COX-2 inhibition with a selectivity index of >50 (IC(50)COX-1=>100 microm, IC(50)COX-2=2 microm) in purified enzyme (PE) assay. Compound 6 also exhibited selective COX-2 inhibition in human whole blood assay. Molecular docking studies showed that 6 can be docked into the COX-2 binding site thus providing the molecular basis for its activity.