Siderophore-based biosensors and nanosensors; new approach on the development of diagnostic systems

Publication date: 15 October 2018
Source:Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Volume 117
Author(s): Rahim Nosrati, Sadegh Dehghani, Bahareh Karimi, Meysam Yousefi, Seyed Mohammad Taghdisi, Khalil Abnous, Mona Alibolandi, Mohammad Ramezani
Siderophores are small organic compounds secreted by microorganisms under iron-depleted conditions which enhance the uptake of iron. Siderophores can play vital roles in ecology, agriculture, bioremediation, biosensor, and medicine. In recent years, the concept of siderophore-based biosensing devices has opened new horizons in high precision detection of various metal ions especially the iron, microorganisms, phosphopeptides, antibiotics as well pesticides. Once combined with nanomaterials, nano-scale siderophore systems provide powerful analytical platforms for detection of low concentration of metal ions and numerous pathogens. In this article, a brief overview of general aspects of siderophore is firstly discussed. In addition, a clear and concise review of recent advances of siderophore-based biosensors (siderosensor) and nanosensors are mainly discussed herein. Subsequently, future perspectives and challenges of siderophore-based sensors are discussed briefly.



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Risk of operating on the wrong site: how to avoid a never event

Joy C Edlin<br />May 7, 2018; 2018:bcr-2017-223704-bcr-2017-223704<br />Images in...

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Correlation of IDH1 and B7H3 expression with prognosis of CRC patients

Publication date: Available online 2 June 2018
Source:European Journal of Surgical Oncology
Author(s): Jingyi Wu, Fang Wang, Xingxiang Liu, Ting Zhang, Fen Liu, Xiaosong Ge, Yong Mao, Dong Hua
BackgroundB7H3 is an immuno-stimulatory glycoprotein that is overexpressed in cancer. However, its functional contributions to cancer development and progression are not well understood. In several reports, it was demonstrated that B7H3 reprograms lipid metabolism and regulates glucose metabolism. Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1), a metabolic enzyme in the TCA cycle, its reaction product is involved in lipid synthesis. Thus, we aimed to identify a novel marker to predict the prognosis of CRC patients and to investigate the relationship between IDH1 and B7H3.MethodsWe analyzed IDH1 and B7H3 expression levels in 225 CRC specimens by immunochemistry. Moreover, in vitro studies were performed to demonstrate the correlation between IDH1 and B7H3.ResultsAmong 225 tissues, the positive rates of IDH1 and B7H3 were 37.8% (85/225) and 87.6% (197/225), respectively. In CRC samples, IDH1 significantly correlated with B7H3 expression (P = 0.044). Moreover, multivariate analyses revealed that high expression of both B7H3 and IDH1 and a high tumor grade were related to the prognosis of CRC patients. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that patients with co-expression of IDH1 and B7H3 had a poor overall survival. In SW480B7H3-EGFP cells, which highly express B7H3, IDH1 was up-regulated. Similarly, knockdown of B7H3 expression in Caco-2-shB7-H3 contributed to reduced IDH1 levels.ConclusionsAlthough IDH1 and B7H3 cannot be used as independent prognostic factors, co-expression of IDH1 and B7H3 significantly correlated with the prognosis of CRC patients and may serve as a combined predictive marker. Thus, the correlation between IDH1 and B7H3 has been proven in vivo and in vitro.



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Herbicides in vineyards reduce grapevine root mycorrhization and alter soil microorganisms and the nutrient composition in grapevine roots, leaves, xylem sap and grape juice

Abstract

Herbicides are increasingly applied in vineyards worldwide. However, not much is known on potential side effects on soil organisms or on the nutrition of grapevines (Vitis vinifera). In an experimental vineyard in Austria, we examined the impacts of three within-row herbicide treatments (active ingredients: flazasulfuron, glufosinate, glyphosate) and mechanical weeding on grapevine root mycorrhization; soil microorganisms; earthworms; and nutrient concentration in grapevine roots, leaves, xylem sap and grape juice. The three herbicides reduced grapevine root mycorrhization on average by 53% compared to mechanical weeding. Soil microorganisms (total colony-forming units, CFU) were significantly affected by herbicides with highest CFUs under glufosinate and lowest under glyphosate. Earthworms (surface casting activity, density, biomass, reproduction) or litter decomposition in soil were unaffected by herbicides. Herbicides altered nutrient composition in grapevine roots, leaves, grape juice and xylem sap that was collected 11 months after herbicide application. Xylem sap under herbicide treatments also contained on average 70% more bacteria than under mechanical weeding; however, due to high variability, this was not statistically significant. We conclude that interdisciplinary approaches should receive more attention when assessing ecological effects of herbicides in vineyard ecosystems.

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The effect of anthropogenic activities on the phosphorus-buffering intensity of the two contrasting rivers in northern China

Abstract

The phosphorus (P)-buffering ability of suspended particulate matter (SPM) from the Ziya River Mainstream (ZRM) and the Luanhe River (LR) of northern China was investigated in this study. Forty samples of SPM from the ZRM and LR were collected in October and November of 2016. The ZRM has slow flow and poor water quality, while the LR has fast flow and reasonably good water quality. Under a scanning electron microscope, the SPM from the ZRM had a more complex microstructure than that from the LR, perhaps because of the slower flow and heavier pollution in the ZRM. P fractions in both SPM and water samples were determined using standard measurement and testing program methods. The equilibrium P concentration was used to determine the influence of SPM on soluble reactive P (SRP) concentrations. These SRP fractions were used to evaluate the P-buffering intensity of the two rivers. Differences in SPM microstructure resulted in the SPM from ZRM having a stronger P-buffering ability than the LR, making SPM an effective vector for SRP. Anthropogenic activities likely contributed to the differences in both microstructures of the SPM and P-buffering intensity of the rivers. A conceptual model was developed to show how anthropogenic activities influence the P-buffering intensity of the two rivers. As far as we know, this is the first time that the P-buffering intensity has been compared between two rivers that have been severely impacted by anthropogenic activities. Our findings provide an important reference for similar rivers worldwide.

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Is skewed income distribution good for environmental quality? A comparative analysis among selected BRICS countries

Abstract

A large number of studies have examined the linkage between income inequality and environmental quality at the individual country levels. This study attempts to examine the linkage between the two factors for the individual BRICS economies from a comparative perspective, which is scarce in the literature. It examines the selected countries (Brazil, India, China and South Africa) by endogenising the patterns of primary energy consumption (coal use and petroleum use), total primary energy consumption, economic growth, and urbanisation as key determining factors in CO₂ emission function. The long-run results based on ARDL bounds testing revealed that income inequality leads to increase in CO₂ emissions for Brazil, India and China, while the same factor leads to reduction in CO₂ emissions for South Africa. However, it observes that while coal use increases CO₂ emissions for India, China and South Africa, it has no effect for Brazil. In contrast, the use of petroleum products contributes to CO₂ emissions in Brazil, while the use of the same surprisingly results in reduction of carbon emissions in South Africa, India and China. The findings suggest that given the significance of income inequality in environmental pollution, the policy makers in these emerging economies have to take into consideration the role of income inequality, while designing the energy policy to achieve environmental sustainability.

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Reply to the letter to the editor by Swarthout et al. (2018): Comments for Mertens et al. (2018), Glyphosate, a chelating agent—relevant for ecological risk assessment?

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Phthalate exposure as a risk factor for hypertension

Abstract

Phthalates are ubiquitous in environment. Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Phthalate exposure is associated with hypertension in multiple studies. This review aims to summarize the scientific literature on associations between phthalate exposure and hypertension and discuss the mechanisms in the relationship. We identified and reviewed original articles published to March 2018, using PubMed and Web of Science to search the terms "phthalate(s)," "phthalic acid," "blood pressure," "high blood pressure," "hypertension," "prehypertension," and "cardiovascular disease." Findings were summarized based on the relevance to the themes, including presentation of main phthalates and their major metabolites as well as associations of phthalate exposure with blood pressure in epidemiological and experimental studies. We identified ten population-based investigations and five toxicological experiments. Epidemiological data underscored a possible correlation between phthalate exposure and hypertension in adults, whereas individual study in children stands on the opposite. Experimental studies mainly targeted the increasing effect of phthalates on blood pressure. This review suggested some underlying mechanisms of phthalate-associated hypertension. Considering the current evidence, phthalate might be risk factors of hypertension. However, the effect of phthalate exposure in early life on blood pressure in later life or adulthood is still unclear. Well-designed longitudinal and molecular mechanism studies are indispensable.

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Spent MgO-carbon refractory bricks as a material for permeable reactive barriers to treat a nickel- and cobalt-contaminated groundwater

Abstract

Spent magnesia (MgO)-carbon refractory bricks were repurposed as a permeable reactive barrier reactive media to treat a nickel (5 mg l⁻¹)- and cobalt (0.3 mg l⁻¹)-contaminated groundwater. MgO has been used for decades as a heavy metal precipitating agent as it hydrates and buffers the pH in a range of 8.5–10 associated with the minimum solubility of various divalent metals. The contaminated groundwater site's conditions are typical of contaminated neutral drainage with a pH of 6 as well as high concentrations of iron (220 mg l⁻¹) and sulphates (2500 mg l⁻¹). Using synthetic contaminated water, batch and small-scale column tests were performed to determine the treatment efficiency and longevity. The increase and stabilization of the pH at 10 observed during the tests are associated with the hydration and dissolution of the MgO and promoted the removal not only of a significant proportion of the contaminants but also of iron. During the column test, this accumulation of precipitates over time clogged and passivated the MgO resulting in a loss of chemical performance (pH lowering, metal breakthrough) after 210 pore volumes of filtration. Precipitation also affected the hydraulic conductivity values which dropped from 2.3·10⁻³ to 4.2·10⁻⁴ m s⁻¹ at the end of test. Saturation indices and XRD analyses suggest the precipitates formed are likely composed of goethite as well as iron, cobalt and nickel hydroxides. Recycled MgO-C refractory bricks were demonstrated to be an efficient reactive material for the removal of Co and Ni, but careful considerations should be taken of the potential clogging and passivation phenomena given particular physicochemical conditions.

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Tracheostomy: Experience at Tertiary Hospital

Abstract

An attempt was made to find indications of tracheostomy procedure and its complications in the modern era of medicine with refined surgical techniques at a tertiary hospital. A retrospective study of 240 patients, who had undergone tracheostomy, was done during the period from January 2013 to April 2017 at Govt. Medical College Hospital. Various details of all participants such as age and sex of patients, detailed history of the current disease, and detailed information about tracheostomy and complications were recorded. In the present study, the most common indication for tracheostomy was prolonged ventilation due to Organophosphorus poisoning and Snake bite. The complication rate for tracheostomy procedure was 11.5%. The most common complication was tubal occlusion (7.5%) followed by Granulations around stoma (2.5%), Tracheal stenosis (1.25%), tracheoesophageal fistula (0.4%). No death was occurred during the tracheostomy procedure. The morbidity and mortality due to tracheostomy are reduced definitely. Tracheostomy Complications can be prevented by refined surgical techniques, use of high volume low pressure cuffed tracheostomy tubes and attentive post-operative nursing care. Yet complications of tracheomalacia and tracheal stenosis call for further improvement.

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Evaluation of Role of Mitomycin C in the Cases of Nasolacrimal Duct Blockage Undergoing Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy

Abstract

Dacryocystorhinostomy is a common surgical procedure done for the treatment of obstruction of the lacrimal sac or nasolacrimal duct. Adjunctive use of a wound healing inhibitor like Mitomycin C is considered to minimize the risk of complications and increase the success rate of endoscopic endonasal DCR. The current study is aimed to compare the results of endoscopic DCR without silicon stents with or without Mitomycin C and to see for any complications resulting from the surgery. This was a prospective study carried out in the department of Otorhinolaryngology at Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi from February 2015 to September 2017. Out of the 30 patients who were included in the study, 15 underwent endoscopic DCR without the application of Mitomycin C (Group I) and the remaining 15 with application of Mitomycin C without using stents (Group II). The main criteria for success were the resolution of epiphora and patency on lacrimal irrigation. Success rate in Group I was 86.67% as compared to Group II where the success rate was 93.33%. There were two failures in Group I (13.33%) whereas one failure in Group II (6.66%). More complications were noted in Group I (granulations 13.33%, synechiae 13.33%, persistent epiphora 13.33%) than in Group II (granulations 13.33%, synechiae 6.67%, persistent epiphora 6.67%). To conclude, we have found topical Mitomycin C as a safe and effective means of preventing adhesions and ostium closures in patients undergoing endoscopic DCR.

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Targeted reversal and phosphorescence lifetime imaging of cancer cell metabolism via a theranostic rhenium(I)-DCA conjugate

Publication date: September 2018
Source:Biomaterials, Volume 176
Author(s): Jing Yang, Qian Cao, Hang Zhang, Liang Hao, Danxia Zhou, Zhenji Gan, Zhiwei Li, Ye-Xiang Tong, Liang-Nian Ji, Zong-Wan Mao
Cancer cell metabolism is quite different from normal cells. Targeting cancer metabolism and untuning the tumor metabolic machine has emerged as a promising strategy for cancer therapy. We have developed a multi-functional Re-dca conjugate (Re-dca 2) by conjugating the metabolic modulator dichloroacetate (DCA) to mitochondria-targeted rhenium(I) complex, allowing its efficient penetration into cancer cells and selective accumulation in mitochondria, thus achieving the cancer cell metabolism reversal from glycolysis to glucose oxidation at pharmacologically relevant DCA doses. Mechanism studies confirm the inhibition effect of Re-dca 2 on the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) and capture the metabolic reversal window in Re-dca 2 treated NCI-1229 cells at the early stage of drug treatment, resulting in selective killing of malignant cells cocultured with normal cells, significant inhibition of cancer cell metastasis and invasion, as well as excellent anti-angiogenesis activities in zebrafish embryos. By comparison, DCA-free Re(I) analogue is also investigated under the same conditions. Although this analogue also exhibits cytotoxicity due to the Re(I) core, metabolic reversal is not induced by this analogue and its anti-metastasis activity is much lower than Re-dca 2, indicating the synergistic effect of Re(I) core and DCA moiety on cancer therapy. In vivo anti-cancer investigations also indicate that the mitochondria-targeted Re-dca 2 can effectively inhibit the tumor growth without affecting the body weight of nude mice, and the therapeutic effect is much better than the DCA-free Re(I) analogue 2a. Simultaneously, the O2-sensitive phosphorescent lifetimes of Re-dca 2 can be utilized for PLIM imaging of intracellular oxygen consumption, thus reflecting the Re-dca 2 induced glycolysis-to-glucose oxidation reversal at the early drug treatment stage. The excellent phosphorescence of Re-dca 2 can also be utilized for real-time tracking of mitochondrial morphological changes during treatment. In a word, rational design of phosphorescent metallodrug and metabolic modulator conjugates for synergistic treatment is a promising strategy for simultaneous untuning and tracking tumor metabolic machine, thus providing new clues for cancer therapy and mechanisms.

Graphical abstract

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The study of relationships between pKa value and siRNA delivery efficiency based on tri-block copolymers

Publication date: September 2018
Source:Biomaterials, Volume 176
Author(s): Lili Du, Changrong Wang, Lingwei Meng, Qiang Cheng, Junhui Zhou, Xiaoxia Wang, Deyao Zhao, Jianhua Zhang, Liandong Deng, Zicai Liang, Anjie Dong, Huiqing Cao
Tri-block copolymers have exhibited great potentials in small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapeutics. To reveal structure-activity relationships, we here synthesized a series of tri-block copolymers with different hydrophobic segments, PEG-PAMA-P(C6Ax-C7Ay-DPAz-DBAm) (EAAS) and PEG-PDAMAEMA-P(C6Ax-C7Ay-DPAz-DBAm) (EDAS), termed from EAASa to EAASh and EDASa to EDASh, with pKa ranging from 5.2 to 7.0. Our data showed that the better gene silencing efficiency was located in pKa of 5.8–6.2, which was contributed from higher endosomal escape observed with confocal images and hemolysis assay. EAASc, the leader polymer, showed excellent gene knockdown at w/w ratio of 14.5 on HepG2 (89.94%), MDA-MB-231 (92.45%), 293A (83.06%), and Hela cells (80.27%), all better than lipofectamine 2000. Besides, EAASc mediated effective gene silencing in tumor when performed peritumoral injection. This work found out that polymers with pKa ranging from 5.8 to 6.2 were efficient in siRNA delivery, which provided an optimization strategy for siRNA delivery systems, especially for tri-block copolymers.



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Anthropogenic CO 2 emissions from a megacity in the Yangtze River Delta of China

Abstract

Anthropogenic CO₂ emissions from cities represent a major source contributing to the global atmospheric CO₂ burden. Here, we examined the enhancement of atmospheric CO₂ mixing ratios by anthropogenic emissions within the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), China, one of the world's most densely populated regions (population greater than 150 million). Tower measurements of CO₂ mixing ratios were conducted from March 2013 to August 2015 and were combined with numerical source footprint modeling to help constrain the anthropogenic CO₂ emissions. We simulated the CO₂ enhancements (i.e., fluctuations superimposed on background values) for winter season (December, January, and February). Overall, we observed mean diurnal variation of CO₂ enhancement of 23.5~49.7 μmol mol⁻¹, 21.4~52.4 μmol mol⁻¹, 28.1~55.4 μmol mol⁻¹, and 29.5~42.4 μmol mol⁻¹ in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively. These enhancements were much larger than previously reported values for other countries. The diurnal CO₂ enhancements reported here showed strong similarity for all 3 years of the study. Results from source footprint modeling indicated that our tower observations adequately represent emissions from the broader YRD area. Here, the east of Anhui and the west of Jiangsu province contributed significantly more to the anthropogenic CO₂ enhancement compared to the other sectors of YRD. The average anthropogenic CO₂ emission in 2014 was 0.162 (± 0.005) mg m⁻² s⁻¹ and was 7 ± 3% higher than 2010 for the YRD. Overall, our emission estimates were significantly smaller (9.5%) than those estimated (0.179 mg m⁻² s⁻¹) from the EDGAR emission database.

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A novel diindolylmethane analog, 1,1-bis(3’-indolyl)-1-(p-chlorophenyl) methane, inhibits the tumor necrosis factor-induced inflammatory response in primary murine synovial fibroblasts through a Nurr1-dependent mechanism

Publication date: September 2018
Source:Molecular Immunology, Volume 101
Author(s): Maryam F. Afzali, Katriana A. Popichak, Lindsey H. Burton, Anna L. Klochak, William J. Wilson, Stephen Safe, Ronald B. Tjalkens, Marie E. Legare
The progression of rheumatoid arthritis involves the thickening of the synovial lining due to the proliferation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and infiltration by inflammatory cells. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in progression of the disease. Under rheumatoid conditions, FLS express the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-recognition complex (TNFR1, TNFR2, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1), which induces local macrophage activation and leads to downstream nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling. The NF-κB-regulated inflammatory gene, cyclooxygenase (COX), increases synthesis of prostaglandins that contribute to the propagation of inflammatory damage within the joint. Because the nuclear orphan receptor, NR4A2 (Nurr1), can negatively regulate NF-κB-dependent inflammatory gene expression in macrophages, we postulated that activation of this receptor by the Nurr1 ligand 1,1-bis(3'-indolyl)-1-(p-chlorophenyl) methane (C-DIM12) would modulate inflammatory gene expression in synovial fibroblasts by inhibiting NF-κB. Treatment with C-DIM12 suppressed TNFα-induced expression of adhesion molecules and NF-κB regulated genes in primary synovial fibroblasts including vascular adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), PGE2 and COX-2. Immunofluorescence studies indicated that C-DIM12 did not prevent translocation of p65 and stabilized nuclear localization of Nurr1 in synovial fibroblasts. Knockdown of Nurr1 expression by RNA interference prevented the inhibitory effects of C-DIM12 on inflammatory gene expression, indicating that the anti-inflammatory effects of this compound are Nurr1-dependent. Collectively, these data suggest that this receptor may be a viable therapeutic target in RA.



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A novel diindolylmethane analog, 1,1-bis(3’-indolyl)-1-(p-chlorophenyl) methane, inhibits the tumor necrosis factor-induced inflammatory response in primary murine synovial fibroblasts through a Nurr1-dependent mechanism

Publication date: September 2018
Source:Molecular Immunology, Volume 101
Author(s): Maryam F. Afzali, Katriana A. Popichak, Lindsey H. Burton, Anna L. Klochak, William J. Wilson, Stephen Safe, Ronald B. Tjalkens, Marie E. Legare
The progression of rheumatoid arthritis involves the thickening of the synovial lining due to the proliferation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and infiltration by inflammatory cells. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in progression of the disease. Under rheumatoid conditions, FLS express the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-recognition complex (TNFR1, TNFR2, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1), which induces local macrophage activation and leads to downstream nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling. The NF-κB-regulated inflammatory gene, cyclooxygenase (COX), increases synthesis of prostaglandins that contribute to the propagation of inflammatory damage within the joint. Because the nuclear orphan receptor, NR4A2 (Nurr1), can negatively regulate NF-κB-dependent inflammatory gene expression in macrophages, we postulated that activation of this receptor by the Nurr1 ligand 1,1-bis(3'-indolyl)-1-(p-chlorophenyl) methane (C-DIM12) would modulate inflammatory gene expression in synovial fibroblasts by inhibiting NF-κB. Treatment with C-DIM12 suppressed TNFα-induced expression of adhesion molecules and NF-κB regulated genes in primary synovial fibroblasts including vascular adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), PGE2 and COX-2. Immunofluorescence studies indicated that C-DIM12 did not prevent translocation of p65 and stabilized nuclear localization of Nurr1 in synovial fibroblasts. Knockdown of Nurr1 expression by RNA interference prevented the inhibitory effects of C-DIM12 on inflammatory gene expression, indicating that the anti-inflammatory effects of this compound are Nurr1-dependent. Collectively, these data suggest that this receptor may be a viable therapeutic target in RA.



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Preparation and Application of a Monoclonal Antibody Against Chicken TRIM62

Monoclonal Antibodies in Immunodiagnosis and Immunotherapy, Ahead of Print.


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Generation of Rat Monoclonal Antibodies Specific for DZIP3

Monoclonal Antibodies in Immunodiagnosis and Immunotherapy, Ahead of Print.


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Morphological and ultrastructural changes in the placenta of the diabetic pregnant Egyptian women

Publication date: Available online 2 June 2018
Source:Acta Histochemica
Author(s): Nabila Yousef Abdelhalim, Mohammed Hany Shehata, Hanan Nabih Gadallah, Walaa Mohamed Sayed, Aref Ali Othman
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disease in which the body fails to produce enough insulin or increased tissue resistance to insulin. The diabetes may have profound effects on placental development and function. This study was designed to detect the placental changes in pregnancy associated with DM comparing these changes with normal placenta. The study was carried out on sixty full-term placentae; divided into three equal groups; control group (group I): placentae of normal pregnancy, uncontrolled diabetes (group II): placentae from pregnant women whose blood glucose is poorly controlled during pregnancy. Controlled diabetes (group III): includes placentae from diabetic women whose blood glucose is controlled during pregnancy. The placentae from group II tend to be heavier and exhibited immaturity of villi, villous edema, fibrosis, excessive syncytial knots formation and infarctions. In addition to, fibrinoid necrosis, increased thickness of vasculosyncytial membrane, syncytial basement membrane, microvillous abnormalities and vascular endothelial changes were demonstrated. The syncytial multivesicular knots were present in placentae of group II. The nuclei within these syncytial knots display condensed chromatin, either dispersed throughout the nucleus or in the form of dense peripheral clumps with and numerous cytoplasmic vacuoles. The syncytial basement membrane showed focal areas of increase in its thickness and irregularity. Villous cytotrophoblasts showed increased number and activity in the form of numerous secretory granules, abundant dilated RER, larger distorted mitochondria. Villous vessels showed various degrees of abnormalities in the form of endothelial cell enlargement, folding, thickening and protrusion of their luminal surfaces into vascular lumen making it narrower in caliber. In placentae of group III, most of these abnormalities decreased. In most of placentae of group III, the VSM appeared nearly normal in thickness and showed nearly normal composition of one layer of syncytiotrophoblastic cells, one layer of smooth, regular capillary endothelium and the space between them. Mild microvillous abnormalities were noted in few placentae as they appeared short and blunted with mild decrease in their number per micron. The electron picture of syncytial knots appeared nearly normal containing aggregations of small, condensed hyperchromatic nuclei, minimal vacuoles could be seen in the cytoplasm of syncytial knots. Syncytial basement membrane appeared regular and nearly normal in its thickness and composition coming in direct contact with fetal blood capillaries but mild abnormalities were noted in the basement membrane in few placentae as increased its thickness and deposition of fibers or fibrinoid. Regarding cytotrophoblasts in the terminal villi of placentae with controlled diabetes, these cells appeared nearly normal. They were scattered beneath the syncytium and were active containing mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum, free ribosomes and a large nucleus with fine dispersed chromatin. The vascular ultrastructural pattern in terminal villi of placentae of this group showed no significant abnormalities and was normally distributed in the villous tree. The luminal surface of the vascular endothelium appeared regular smooth in the majority of placentae of this group. The endothelial cells appeared connected to each other with tight junctions. It could be concluded that whether if long-term diabetes is controlled or not, placentae of diabetic mother showed a variety of significant histological structural changes seen more frequently than in the placentae of pregnant women without diabetes.



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Association of telomere length with general cognitive trajectories: a meta-analysis of four prospective cohort studies

Publication date: September 2018
Source:Neurobiology of Aging, Volume 69
Author(s): Yiqiang Zhan, Mark S. Clements, Rosebud O. Roberts, Maria Vassilaki, Brooke R. Druliner, Lisa A. Boardman, Ronald C. Petersen, Chandra A. Reynolds, Nancy L. Pedersen, Sara Hägg
To investigate the association of telomere length (TL) with trajectories of general cognitive abilities, we used data on 5955 participants from the Sex Differences in Health and Aging Study and the Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging in Sweden, and the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, and the Health and Retirement Study in the United States. TL was measured at baseline, while general cognitive ability was assessed repeatedly up to 7 occasions. Latent growth curve models were used to examine the associations. One standard deviation increase of TL was associated with 0.021 unit increase (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.001, 0.042) of standardized mean general cognitive ability. After controlling for sex, the point estimate remained similar (0.019) with a wider CI (95% CI: −0.002, 0.039). The association was attenuated with adjustment for educational attainment (0.009, 95% CI: −0.009, 0.028). No strong evidence was observed for the association of TL and decline in general cognitive ability. Longer TL was associated with higher general cognitive ability levels in the age-adjusted models but not in the models including all covariates, nor with cognitive decline.



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Histologic heterogeneity of triple negative breast cancer: A National Cancer Centre Database analysis

Publication date: July 2018
Source:European Journal of Cancer, Volume 98
Author(s): Matthew N. Mills, George Q. Yang, Daniel E. Oliver, Casey L. Liveringhouse, Kamran A. Ahmed, Amber G. Orman, Christine Laronga, Susan J. Hoover, Nazanin Khakpour, Ricardo L.B. Costa, Roberto Diaz
BackgroundTriple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive disease, but recent studies have identified heterogeneity in patient outcomes. However, the utility of histologic subtyping in TNBC has not yet been well-characterised. This study utilises data from the National Cancer Center Database (NCDB) to complete the largest series to date investigating the prognostic importance of histology within TNBC.MethodsA total of 729,920 patients (pts) with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), metaplastic breast carcinoma (MBC), medullary breast carcinoma (MedBC), adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) or apocrine breast carcinoma (ABC) treated between 2004 and 2012 were identified in the NCDB. Of these, 89,222 pts with TNBC that received surgery were analysed. Kaplan–Meier analysis, log-rank testing and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression were utilised with overall survival (OS) as the primary outcome.ResultsMBC (74.1%), MedBC (60.6%), ACC (75.7%), ABC (50.1%) and ILC (1.8%) had significantly different proportions of triple negativity when compared to IDC (14.0%, p < 0.001). TNBC predicted an inferior OS in IDC (p < 0.001) and ILC (p < 0.001). Lumpectomy and radiation (RT) were more common in MedBC (51.7%) and ACC (51.5%) and less common in MBC (33.1%) and ILC (25.4%), when compared to IDC (42.5%, p < 0.001). TNBC patients with MBC (HR 1.39, p < 0.001), MedBC (HR 0.42, p < 0.001) and ACC (HR 0.32, p = 0.003) differed significantly in OS when compared to IDC.Conclusion(s)Our results indicate that histologic heterogeneity in TNBC significantly informs patient outcomes and thus, has the potential to aid in the development of optimum personalised treatments.



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The chiral nature of the enhanced interrogation programme

Publication date: Available online 2 June 2018
Source:Aggression and Violent Behavior
Author(s): Myles Balfe
The United States suffered a catastrophic attack on September 11th 2001. The response to these killings, by the United States and its allies, was extremely forceful. As part of this response, US security institutions, and the health professionals who worked for them, developed an 'enhanced interrogation', or torture, programme to acquire intelligence from detainees in their custody. The enhanced interrogation programme has been described as a 'conflicted' phenomenon. This article considers in detail precisely why the enhanced interrogation programme, and the role of health professionals in it, can be said to be conflicted. The article identifies a number of reasons, including: the ambiguous and divided nature of the violence used in it; the dual roles that health professionals played in the enhanced interrogation initiative as healers and interrogators; professional division over the programme's ethics and effectiveness; the serious and negative impacts that the programme had on interrogators as well as detainees; and its split legacies. Underlying these individual reasons is the sense that the enhanced interrogation initiative was 'doubled', something that often pulled in two opposing dimensions simultaneously, and could be interpreted in divergent ways. The article concludes with a reiteration of the reasons why torture is ethically and effectively wrong.



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Synthesis of Sulfadiazinyl acyl/aryl thiourea derivatives as calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase inhibitors, Pharmacokinetic properties, Lead optimization, Lineweaver-Burk plot evaluation and Binding analysis

Publication date: Available online 2 June 2018
Source:Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry
Author(s): Sajid-ur-Rehman, Aamer Saeed, Gufran Saddique, Pervaiz Ali Channar, Fayaz Ali Larik, Qamar Abbas, Mubashir Hassan, Hussain Raza, Tanzeela Abdul Fattah, Sung-Yum Seo
To seek the new medicinal potential of sulfadiazine drug, the free amino group of sulfadiazine was exploited to obtain acyl/aryl thioureas using simple and straightforward protocol. Acyl/aryl thioureas are well recognized bioactive pharmacophore containing moieties. A new series (4a-4j) of sulfadiazine derived acyl/aryl thioureas was synthesized and characterized through spectroscopic and elemental analysis. The synthesized derivatives 4a-4j were subjected to calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase (CIAP) activity. The derivative 4a-4j showed better inhibition potential compared to standard monopotassium phosphate (MKP). The compound 4c exhibited higher potential in the series with IC50 0.251±0.012µM (standard KH2PO4 4.317±0.201µM). Lineweaver-Burk plots revealed that most potent derivative 4c inhibition CIAP via mixed type pathway. Pharmacological investigations showed that synthesized compounds 4a-4j obey Lipinsk's rule. ADMET parameters evaluation predicted that these molecule show significant lead like properties with minimum possible toxicity and can serve as templates in drug designing. The synthetic compounds show none mutagenic and irritant behavior. Molecular docking analysis showed that compound 4c interacts with Asp273, His317 and Arg166 amino acid residues.

Graphical abstract

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Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel biphenyl-4-carboxamide derivatives as orally available TRPV1 antagonists

Publication date: Available online 2 June 2018
Source:Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry
Author(s): Hiromasa Oka, Koichi Yonezawa, Akio Kamikawa, Kazuhiro Ikegai, Norio Asai, Shohei Shirakami, Satoshi Miyamoto, Toshihiro Watanabe, Tetsuo Kiso, Yukihiro Takemoto, Seiji Tamura, Takahiro Kuramochi
A new series of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) antagonists were designed and synthesized from N-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(piperidin-1-ylmethyl)biphenyl-4-carboxamide hydrochloride (8). SAR studies identified (R)-N-(1-methyl-2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-7-quinolyl)-2-[(2-methylpyrrolidin-1-yl)methyl]biphenyl-4-carboxamide hydrochloride (ASP8370, 7), as a compound with high aqueous solubility, satisfactory stability in human liver microsomes, and reduced CYP3A4 inhibition. ASP8370 was selected as a clinical development candidate with significant ameliorative effects on neuropathic pain. SAR studies also revealed the structural mechanisms underlying the switching between TRPV1 antagonism and agonism.

Graphical abstract

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Implementation of enhanced cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT-E) for adults with anorexia nervosa in an outpatient eating-disorder unit at a public hospital

Abstract

Background

Anorexia nervosa (AN) in adults is difficult to treat, and no current treatment is supported by robust evidence. A few studies, most of which were performed by highly specialized research units, have indicated that enhanced cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT-E) for eating disorders can be effective. However, the dropout rate is high and the evidence from non-research clinical units is sparse.

Methods

This quality assessment project implemented CBT-E in an outpatient setting at a public hospital. Forty-four patients with AN started therapy. Each patient received at least 40 sessions of CBT-E over a 12-month period. Their body mass index (BMI) was recorded at baseline and after 3, 6 and 12 months. Reasons for not starting therapy or for leaving therapy prematurely were recorded.

Results

Half (n = 22) of the 44 patients who started outpatient CBT-E did not complete the treatment. In the remaining sample there was a large (and statistically significant) weight gain after 12 months. The percentage of patients achieving the target BMI of > 18.5 kg/m² was 36.4, 50.0 and 77.3% after 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively.

Conclusions

This quality assessment project shows that it is possible to establish effective CBT-E in an outpatient eating-disorder unit at a public hospital. Although half of the patients did not complete CBT-E, the remaining patients achieved a significant increase in BMI at 1 year after the start of therapy.

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The Common Clinical Presentation of Patients Selected for Septoplasty in Northern Saudi Arabia

Background. Nasal septal deviation (NSD) plays a critical role in nasal obstruction symptoms, aesthetic look of the nose, increased nasal resistance, and occasionally snoring. Septoplasty is the most common method for correction of deviated nasal septum (DNS). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the association between initial clinical presentations of patients selected for septoplasty and demographical characteristics in Northern Saudi Arabia. Methodology. Archives related to all patients selected for septoplasty between 2012 and 2017 were retrieved from ENT Department at King Khalid Hospital in Hail, Northern Saudi Arabia. Only adults over 18 years of age were included in this study. Results. With regard to the clinical presentations, almost all patients presented with variable degrees of nasal congestions, nasal blockages, breathing troubles, sleeping troubles, and exercise problems. Conclusion. Nasal obstruction is prevalent in Northern Saudi Arabia with peaks being in the years 2016 and 2014 with the most etiological factor being DNS.

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Medium- and Large-Sized Autologous Breast Reconstruction using a Fleur-de-lys Profunda Femoris Artery Perforator Flap Design: A Report Comparing Results with the Horizontal Profunda Femoris Artery Perforator Flap

J reconstr Microsurg
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1649508

Background The volume of the profunda femoris artery perforator (PAP) flap limits its indications to small- and medium-sized breast reconstructions after modified radical mastectomy for cancer. We report a modified PAP flap design, including not only a vertical extension that increases its volume but also the skin surface, which suits larger breasts requiring immediate or delayed breast reconstructions and compare the results with our horizontal skin paddle PAP flap experience. Patients and Methods In our center between November 2014 and November 2016, 51 consecutive patients underwent a PAP flap breast reconstruction following breast cancer. A retrospective analysis on the collected data was performed to compare 34 patients with a bra cup smaller than C who underwent 41 horizontal PAP flap procedures, with those (n = 17) of a bra cup greater than or equal to C who underwent 21 fleur-de-lys PAP flap procedures. Demographic, anthropometric, flap and surgical characteristics, postoperative complication rates, and hospital stay were compared between the two groups. Results The average flap weight was 480 g (range: 340–735 g) for the fleur-de-lys PAP flap group compared with 222 g (range: 187–325 g) for the horizontal PAP flap procedure (p < 0.001). The mean flap dimensions were 25 × 18 cm for the fleur-de-lys PAP flap group compared with 25 × 7 cm in the horizontal PAP flap group. No flap failure was observed in the fleur-de-lys PAP flap group compared with two flap failures secondary to venous thrombosis in the horizontal PAP flap group (NS). Three patients (14%) experienced delayed healing at the donor site compared with four patients (10%) in the horizontal PAP flap group (NS). Conclusion The fleur-de-lys skin paddle design not only allows an increase of the horizontal PAP flap volume, but also increases the skin surface, with an acceptable donor site morbidity. For medium- or large-sized breasts, the fleur-de-lys PAP flap seems to be ideal when a DIEP flap-based reconstruction is contraindicated.
[...]

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Article in Thieme eJournals:
Table of contents  |  Abstract  |  Full text

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Effect of particle size on particulate matter emissions during biosolid char combustion under air and oxyfuel conditions

Publication date: 15 November 2018
Source:Fuel, Volume 232
Author(s): Sui Boon Liaw, Xujun Chen, Yun Yu, Mário Costa, Hongwei Wu
In an industrial scale furnace, solid fuels can be fired in a wide range of particle sizes. This study aims to investigate the effect of the particle size on particulate matter (PM) emissions during combustion under air and oxyfuel (30% O2/70% CO2) conditions. Biosolid chars prepared from the pyrolysis of three different biosolid particle sizes at 1300 °C were burned in a drop tube furnace. The experimental results indicate that a shift from small to large char particles leads to >55% reduction in PM1–10 emission when combustion occurs in air, likely due to less intense char fragmentation experienced by the large char particles. Such a reduction originates from a decrease in Mg, Ca, P, Si, Al and some trace elements (V, Co, Cu, Zn and Mn) release as PM1–10. In contrast, PM1 emission is not affected by the char particle size. However, under oxyfuel conditions, the PM1–10 emission from the small char particles is ∼65% of that released during combustion in air. In addition, the PM1–10 emission from large char particles only reduced by ∼27% when compared to that from small char particles. This observation is likely to result from the coalescence of ash particles to form PM with particle sizes >10 µm due to the increase surface mobility caused by repeated formation and decomposition of CaCO3 in the ash.



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Photophysicochemical properties and photodynamic therapy activity of highly water-soluble Zn(II) phthalocyanines

Publication date: 5 October 2018
Source:Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, Volume 203
Author(s): David O. Oluwole, Fatma Aslıhan Sarı, Earl Prinsloo, Edith Dube, Abdulcelil Yuzer, Tebello Nyokong, Mine Ince
The syntheses of two zinc(II) phthalocyanines (ZnPcs) having either imidazole (ZnPc 1) or pyridiloxy (ZnPc 2) moieties as their macrocycle substituents are reported. Quaternization of the ZnPcs with methyl iodide afforded water soluble cationic phthalocyanines. The photophysical, photochemical properties and photodynamic therapy (PDT) activity of the ZnPcs were studied in solution. The fluorescence quantum yield and lifetime of ZnPc 1 were higher as compared to ZnPc 2. ZnPc 2 afforded higher triplet state (ΦT) and singlet oxygen quantum yields (ΦΔ) in comparison to ZnPc 1. The PDT activity of ZnPcs was investigated against human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF–7). The two compounds afforded a very minimal in vitro dark cytotoxicity with 85% viable cells at concentration ≤80 μM. On irradiation of the cells having the ZnPcs, ≥50% cell death was recorded for ZnPc 1 which was also evidenced by the cells photo–micrograph.

Graphical abstract

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A novel mutation in the proopiomelanocortin (POMC) gene of a Hispanic child: metformin treatment shows a beneficial impact on the body mass index

Journal Name: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Issue: Ahead of print


https://ift.tt/2kHu1W0

Impact of a group-based treatment program on adipocytokines, oxidative status, inflammatory cytokines and arterial stiffness in obese children and adolescents

Journal Name: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Issue: Ahead of print


https://ift.tt/2HfveNg

Genetic analysis of three families with X-linked dominant hypophosphatemic rickets

Journal Name: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Issue: Ahead of print


https://ift.tt/2kK1Xl9

Clinical and molecular genetic characterization of two patients with mutations in the phosphoglucomutase 1 (PGM1) gene

Journal Name: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Issue: Ahead of print


https://ift.tt/2szKUFK

Frontmatter

Journal Name: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume: 31
Issue: 6
Pages: i-iv

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Congenital hypothyroidism

Journal Name: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume: 31
Issue: 6
Pages: 595-596

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The etiologies and incidences of congenital hypothyroidism before and after neonatal TSH screening program implementation: a study in southern Thailand

Journal Name: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume: 31
Issue: 6
Pages: 609-617

https://ift.tt/2J94YtX

Current status of the congenital hypothyroidism neonatal screening program in Adana Province, Turkey

Journal Name: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume: 31
Issue: 6
Pages: 619-624

https://ift.tt/2sHM4PN

Risk of hypoglycemia in youth with type 2 diabetes on insulin

Journal Name: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume: 31
Issue: 6
Pages: 625-630

https://ift.tt/2kKvlI0

Metabolic risk factors in adolescent girls with type 1 diabetes

Journal Name: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume: 31
Issue: 6
Pages: 631-635

https://ift.tt/2sHLP7l

Definition of reference ranges for β-isomerized carboxy-terminal telopeptide collagen type I for children and adolescents

Journal Name: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume: 31
Issue: 6
Pages: 637-640

https://ift.tt/2kH0qw6

Brown adipose tissue in young adults who were born preterm or small for gestational age

Journal Name: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume: 31
Issue: 6
Pages: 641-647

https://ift.tt/2sBBrxN

Predictors of bone maturation, growth rate and adult height in children with central precocious puberty treated with depot leuprolide acetate

Journal Name: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume: 31
Issue: 6
Pages: 655-663

https://ift.tt/2J3PuHv

Initial presentations and associated clinical findings in patients with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Journal Name: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume: 31
Issue: 6
Pages: 671-673

https://ift.tt/2sAJhI5

Cardiac examination in children with Laron syndrome undergoing mecasermin therapy

Journal Name: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume: 31
Issue: 6
Pages: 675-679

https://ift.tt/2kLMTmW

Exertional rhabdomyolysis in carbonic anhydrase 12 deficiency

Journal Name: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume: 31
Issue: 6
Pages: 697-699

https://ift.tt/2szKLCc

Inhibition of biofilm formation by Cd2+ on Bacillus subtilis 1JN2 depressed its biocontrol efficiency against Ralstonia wilt on tomato

Publication date: Available online 2 June 2018
Source:Microbiological Research
Author(s): Wei Yang, Haixia Yan, Ji Zhang, Yuming Gao, Wei Xu, Jinshan Shang, Yuming Luo
Bacillus subtilis 1JN2 can serve as an effective biocontrol agent against Ralstonia wilt on tomato, but the efficiency of control depends on the levels of heavy metals in the rhizosphere soil. Here, we investigated how the heavy metal Cd²⁺ affects the biocontrol efficacy of B.subtilis 1JN2 on Ralstonia wilt. We found that low Cd²⁺ content of 2 mM or lower had no effects on the biofilm formation of 1JN2, while media containing 3 mM or higher Cd²⁺ levels inhibited biofilm formation. Interestingly, high concentration of Cd²⁺ (5 mM) showed inhibition of B.subtilis 1JN2 cell growth. We next tested the effects of Cd²⁺ on the colonization of 1JN2 by supplementing artificial Cd²⁺ in the tomato rhizosphere in a greenhouse setting. We found that 3 mM Cd²⁺ in the tomato rhizosphere inhibited the colonization of B.subtilis 1JN2, Only 10³ CFU/mL 1JN2 was detected one week post treated with 10⁷ CFU/mL but 10⁵ CFU/mL could be detected without Cd²⁺ in the soil. The presence of Cd²⁺ had no effect on the colonization of Ralstonia solanacearum on tomato, but the biocontrol efficacy against Ralstonia wilt by 1JN2 decreased 54.2% when the soil contained 3 mM Cd²⁺ compared to the control without Cd²⁺. Taken together, we found that the failure of biofilm formation of Bacillus subtilis 1JN2 that affected by Cd²⁺ lead to the decrease of its biocontrol efficacy against Ralstonia wilt on tomato.



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Converting environmental risks to benefits by using spent coffee grounds (SCG) as a valuable resource

Abstract

Coffee is perhaps one of the most vital ingredients in humans' daily life in modern world. However, this causes the production of million tons of relevant wastes, i.e., plastic cups, aluminum capsules, coffee chaff (silver skin), and spent coffee grounds (SCG), all thrown untreated into landfills. It is estimated that 1 kg of instant coffee generates around 2 kg of wet SCG; a relatively unique organic waste stream, with little to no contamination, separated directly in the source by the coffee shops. The produced waste has been under researchers' microscope as a useful feedstock for a number of promising applications. SCG is considered a valuable, nutrients rich source of bioactive compounds (e.g., phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, lipids, chlorogenic and protocatechuic acid, melanoidins, diterpenes, xanthines, vitamin precursors, etc.) and a useful resource material in other processes (e.g., soil improver and compost, heavy metals absorbent, biochar, biodiesel, pellets, cosmetics, food, and deodorization products). This paper aims to provide a holistic approach for the SCG waste management, highlighting a series of processes and applications in environmental solutions, food industry, and agricultural sector. Thus, the latest developments and approaches of SCG waste management are reviewed and discussed.

https://ift.tt/2Jl2BTU

Nanostructured catalysts applied to degrade atrazine in aqueous phase by heterogeneous photo-Fenton process

Abstract

SBA-15 and KIT-6 materials have been synthesized and modified with iron salts by the wet impregnation method with different metal loadings. The different mesostructures obtained were characterized by N₂ adsorption–desorption at 77 K, X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed reduction, and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. These iron-containing mesostructured materials have been successfully tested for the heterogeneous photo-Fenton degradation of aqueous solutions of dangerous herbicides, such as atrazine, using UV–visible light irradiation, at room temperature and close to neutral pH. The results showed that the Fe/SBA-15 (10%) and Fe/KIT-6 (5%) catalysts exhibited the highest activities. However, the Fe/KIT-6 (5%) catalyst with minor Fe loading than Fe/SBA-15 (10%) presented a higher degradation of atrazine (above 98% in a reaction time of 240 min). Therefore, the interconnectivity of the cage-like mesopores had an important influence on the catalytic activity, favoring probably mass-transfer effects. Thus, the high performance of these materials indicates that the heterogeneous via of photo-Fenton process can also be efficiently employed to treat wastewaters containing pollutants such as herbicides, in order to reduce them to simplest and less toxic molecules.

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Bismuth vanadate-based semiconductor photocatalysts: a short critical review on the efficiency and the mechanism of photodegradation of organic pollutants

Abstract

The number of publications on photocatalytic bismuth vanadate-based materials is constantly increasing. Indeed, bismuth vanadate is gaining stronger interest in the photochemical community since it is a solar-driven photocatalyst. However, the efficiency of BiVO₄-based photocatalyst under sunlight is questionable: in most of the studies investigating the photodegradation of organic pollutants, only few works identify the by-products and evaluate the real efficiency of BiVO₄-based materials. This short review aims to (i) present briefly the principles of photocatalysis and define the photocatalytic efficiency and (ii) discuss the formation of reactive species involved in the photocatalytic degradation process of pollutants and thus the corresponding photodegradation mechanism could be determined. All these points are developed in a comprehensive discussion by focusing especially on pure, doped, and composite BiVO₄. Therefore, this review exhibits a critical overview on different BiVO₄-based photocatalytic systems with their real efficiency. This is a necessary knowledge for potential implementation of BiVO₄ materials in environmental applications at larger scale than laboratory conditions.

https://ift.tt/2Jq5brL

Thromboelastometry-guided hemostatic therapy for hemorrhagic shock in the postoperative period of vascular surgery: a case report

Hemorrhagic shock is a medical emergency that often complicates vascular surgery and can lead to death. Hemorrhagic shock is characterized by hypoperfusion and hemodynamic abnormalities leading to the collapse...

https://ift.tt/2LdbWdN

Neuroendocrine and immune disequilibrium as a probable link between metabolic syndrome and carcinogenesis

Publication date: Available online 2 June 2018
Source:Medical Hypotheses
Author(s): Mariyana G. Hristova
Numerous investigations prove a higher incidence of carcinogenesis in metabolic syndrome (MetS). They indicate the important role of obesity, elevated inflammatory biomarkers, hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia as well. Elevated plasma insulin and free insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels stimulate cell proliferation. The present publication considers the role of neuroendocrine and immune disequilibrium in MetS as a reason for transition to carcinogenesis. It emphasizes the role of hormonal disbalance, i.e. hyperleptinemia, hyperinsulinemia, hypercortisolemia, hypercatecholaminemia, hyperestrogenemia and hyperandrogenemia in MetS. It is presumed that these important components modify cellular microenvironment towards carcinogenesis. The interactions between neurotrophins, leptin, and mast cells and the alterations in the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-adrenal axis in MetS are discussed. It is assumed that they are the consequence of inflammatory distress followed by hormonal and immune disbalance at a central level as well as of enlarged adipose tissue and changed adipocyte microenvironment leading, finally, to carcinogenesis.



https://ift.tt/2JqPaBZ

Japanese translation, cross-cultural adaption and multicentre validation of the Zurich chronic middle ear inventory (ZCMEI-21-Jap)

In the assessment of chronic otitis media (COM) and its treatment, patient-reported outcomes are becoming increasingly important. The aim of the present study was to translate and validate the Zurich chronic middle ear inventory (ZCMEI-21) in Japanese in order to provide the first Japanese-language instrument for measuring health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in COM.

https://ift.tt/2JatkiB

Japanese translation, cross-cultural adaption and multicentre validation of the Zurich chronic middle ear inventory (ZCMEI-21-Jap)

Publication date: Available online 2 June 2018
Source:Auris Nasus Larynx
Author(s): David Bächinger, Daiki Takagi, Hiroyuki Yamada, Masato Teraoka, Masahiro Okada, Jun Hyodo, Christof Röösli, Alexander M. Huber, Naohito Hato
ObjectiveIn the assessment of chronic otitis media (COM) and its treatment, patient-reported outcomes are becoming increasingly important. The aim of the present study was to translate and validate the Zurich chronic middle ear inventory (ZCMEI-21) in Japanese in order to provide the first Japanese-language instrument for measuring health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in COM.MethodsThe ZCMEI-21 was translated into Japanese according to published guidelines. In order to assess validity, the ZCMEI-21-Jap total score was compared to a question directly addressing HRQoL as well as the five-level version of the EQ-5D questionnaire, a generic measure of HRQoL.ResultsDemographic data and validity were assessed in a total of 91 COM patients. The ZCMEI-21-Jap total and subscale scores were well comparable to those of the original validation study. Cronbach's α of the ZCMEI-21-Jap was 0.85, indicating an excellent internal consistency. The ZCMEI-21-Jap total score showed a strong correlation (r=0.68, p<0.0001) to the question directly addressing HRQoL and, as expected, only a moderate correlation to the EQ-5D scores (r=0.49, p<0.0001 for descriptive system score and r=0.44, p<0.0001 for VAS score).ConclusionWe successfully translated the ZCMEI-21 into Japanese and were able to obtain sufficient information during the validation process for the use of the ZCMEI-21-Jap to quantify HRQoL in patients with COM. With the current study, we aim to take a step forward towards an international standardization of reporting HRQoL in COM.



https://ift.tt/2srU6wM

Practical guidelines for clinical magnetoencephalography – Another step towards best practice

Publication date: Available online 2 June 2018
Source:Clinical Neurophysiology
Author(s): Arjan Hillebrand, William Gaetz, Paul L. Furlong, Alida A. Gouw, Cornelis J. Stam




https://ift.tt/2LQukKC

Comprehensive evaluation of EMG and biopsy findings supported by computer simulations – preliminary study

Publication date: Available online 2 June 2018
Source:Clinical Neurophysiology
Author(s): Ewa Zalewska, Anna Kaminska, Biruta Kierdaszuk, Elżbieta Szmidt-Salkowska, Małgorzata Gawel
ObjectiveThe aim was to compare muscle fiber diameters obtained from standard muscle biopsy and from computer simulations based on recorded motor unit potentials (MUPs).MethodsElectromyography (EMG) and muscle biopsy were performed in 14 patients with a suspicion of a neuromuscular disorder. Histograms of the simulated muscle fiber diameters (SMFDs) were compared with those from the biopsy. Results. The values of the SMFDs were similar to those in the muscle biopsy for the same patient (p=0.05) in all 14 cases.ConclusionsComprehensive evaluation of EMG and biopsy findings supported by computer simulations may help resolve the discrepancy between the assessment of muscle by EMG and biopsy by explaining different results obtained with these two methods.SignificanceEvaluation of the SMFDs that are comparable to biopsy findings extends the amount of information available from EMG.



https://ift.tt/2JaCkEv

Global Burden of Cancer, 1990 to 2016

This systematic analysis evaluates the cancer burden over time at the global and national levels measured in incidence, mortality, years lived with disability, years of life lost, and disability-adjusted life-years.

https://ift.tt/2st1Qyp

Defining Survivorship Trajectories Across Patients With Solid Tumors

This cohort study uses Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data to determine high- and low-risk periods for 68 cancer types that could define when survivorship care might best be overseen by oncologists and when to transition to primary care physicians.

https://ift.tt/2JbkiSH

New Business Models to Accelerate Innovation in Pediatric Oncology Therapeutics

This review discusses the problems associated with funding for development of drug therapy to treat cancer in children and proposes a financial model to address the challenges.

https://ift.tt/2J8MuJG

Boosting the catalytic activity of natural magnetite for wet peroxide oxidation

Abstract

This work explores the modification of naturally occurring magnetite by controlled oxidation (200–400 °C, air atmosphere) and reduction (300–600 °C, H₂ atmosphere) treatments with the aim of boosting its activity in CWPO. The resulting materials were fully characterized by XRD, XPS, TGA, TPR, SEM, and magnetization measurements, allowing to confirm the development of core-shell type structures. The magnetite core of the solid remained unchanged upon the treatment whereas the Fe(II)/Fe(III) ratio of the shell was modified (e.g. 0.42, 0.11 and 0.63 values were calculated for pristine Fe₃O₄, Fe₃O₄-O400, and Fe₃O₄-R400, respectively). The performance of the catalysts was tested in the CWPO of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) (5 mg L⁻¹) under ambient conditions and circumneutral pH (pH₀ = 5), using the stoichiometric dose of H₂O₂ (25 mg L⁻¹) and a catalyst load of 1 g L⁻¹. The key role of the ferrous species on the mineral shell was evidenced. Whereas the oxidation of magnetite led to significantly slower degradation rates of the pollutant, its reduction gave rise to a dramatic increase, achieving the complete removal of SMX in 1.5 h reaction time with the optimum catalyst (Fe₃O₄-R400) compared to the 3.5 h required with the pristine mineral. A reaction mechanism was proposed for SMX degradation, and a kinetic equation based on the Eley-Rideal model was accordingly developed. This model successfully fitted the experimental results. The stability of Fe₃O₄-R400 was evaluated upon five sequential runs. Finally, the versatility of the catalytic system was proved in real environmentally relevant water matrices.

https://ift.tt/2HdQFOO

CFD modeling of a UV-A LED baffled flat-plate photoreactor for environment applications: a mining wastewater case

Abstract

The use of ultraviolet light in photoreactors for wastewater treatment has become popular as an alternative of known chemical oxidative substances. UV LED light represents cheaper, robust, and versatile alternative to traditional UV lamps. In this study, it was designed and evaluated a photoreactor with an approach of chemical fluid dynamics (CFD) and experimental validation. The evaluation consisted of (1) CFD velocity profile analysis, (2) characterization of the average light distribution with potassium ferrioxalate actinometry, (3) degradation of a typical recalcitrant metallic cyanocomplex Fe(CN)₆³⁻, and (4) scavenger effect analysis in the photodegradation using potassium persulfate. Actinometrical essay concluded that the system was able to receive 1.93 μE/s. The reactor operated under turbulent regime and best result for Fe(CN)₆³⁻ degradation was obtained at 4 h of operation, using 5-W UV-A LEDs, with pH ~ 7 and 10 mM de S₂O₈²⁻. Baffled photoreactor demonstrated to be useful for this type of illumination and wastewater treatment.

https://ift.tt/2ssYnQp

Wintertime characteristic of peroxyacetyl nitrate in the Chengyu district of southwestern China

Abstract

Atmospheric concentrations of peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) were measured in Ziyang in December 2012 to provide basic knowledge of PAN in the Chengyu district and offer recommendations for air pollution management. The PAN pollution was relatively severe in Ziyang in winter, with the maximum and average PAN concentrations of 1.61 and 0.55 ppbv, respectively, and a typical single-peak diurnal trend in PAN and theoretical PAN lost by thermal decomposition (TPAN) were observed. PAN and O₃ concentrations were correlated (R² = 0.52) and the ratios of daily maximum PAN to O₃ ([PAN]/[O₃] ratio) ranged from 0.013 to 0.108, with an average of 0.038. Both acetone and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) were essential for producing the acetylperoxy radicals (PA) and subsequently PAN in Ziyang in winter, and PAN concentrations at the sampling site exhibited more sensitivity to volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations than nitrogen oxide (NO_x) levels. Therefore, management should focus on reducing VOCs emissions, in particular those that produce acetone and MEK through photolysis and oxidizing reactions. In addition, the influence of relative humidity (RH) on the heterogeneous reactions between PAN and PM_2.5 in the atmospheric environment may have led to the strong correlation between observed PM_2.5 and PAN in Ziyang in winter. Furthermore, a typical air pollution event was observed on 17–18 December 2012, which Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) and PSCF simulations suggest that it was caused by the local formation and the regional transport of polluted air masses from Hanzhong, Nanchong, and Chengdu.

https://ift.tt/2srJaPI

In vitro comparison of an Er:YAG laser-activated bleaching system with different light-activated bleaching systems for color change, surface roughness, and enamel bond strength

Abstract

To compare an Er:YAG laser-activated bleaching system with different light-activated in-office bleaching systems for color change, surface roughness, and post-bleaching enamel bond strength. 51 enamel slabs were prepared from the sound buccal enamel of extracted bovine teeth. The teeth were randomly divided into three groups according to different light-activated office bleaching systems (n = 17): diode laser (Epic, Biolase) (940 nm, 7 W, continuous mode), Er:YAG laser (LightWalker, Fotona) (2940 nm, 50 mJ, 10 Hz, 1000 μs), and LED (Radii Plus) (440–480 nm, 1500 mW/cm²). All systems were used with their compatible bleaching agents according to manufacturers' recommendations. The tooth color and surface roughness (Ra) were assessed at baseline and after bleaching using a spectrophotometer and a surface profilometer, respectively. The color change was determined by the CIE L*a*b* system (ΔE, ΔL*, Δa*, Δb*). Kruskal-Wallis test was used for color change whereas Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon tests were used to analyze the roughness data. For shear bond strength test (SBS), composite cylinders were bonded on bleached enamel samples 14 days after bleaching procedures and stored in water (37 °C). Specimens were then debonded with a universal testing machine at 1 mm/min and data were analyzed by using Kruskal-Wallis test. All the tested bleaching systems were effective on color change (ΔE > 3.3) and produced similar color change (p > 0.05). There were no significant differences among the Ra values of the groups neither at baseline nor after bleaching (p > 0.05). However, comparing the baseline and after bleaching Ra values, a significant increase was observed for all tested groups (p < 0.05). Significant differences were also found among all systems for SBS (p < 0.05). The highest values were obtained in Er:YAG group, whereas the LED group revealed the lowest values (p < 0.05). All tested bleaching systems were effective on tooth whitening, whereas they all led to an increase on surface roughness. Although the current Er:YAG laser-activated bleaching system did not differ from other tested bleaching systems according to color change and surface roughness, it appears to provide better results in terms of SBS.

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A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence and phenotype of adult-onset atopic dermatitis

Publication date: Available online 2 June 2018
Source:Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Author(s): Harrison H. Lee, Kevin R. Patel, Vivek Singam, Supriya Rastogi, Jonathan I. Silverberg
BackgroundPrevious studies found conflicting results about whether atopic dermatitis (AD) begins in adulthood.ObjectiveTo determine rates, predictors and phenotypical differences of adult-onset AD.MethodsA systematic review was performed of all published observational studies in MEDLINE, EMBASE, GREAT, LILACS, Cochrane Library, and Scopus that analyzed the age of AD onset beyond 10 years of age. Two reviewers performed study title/abstract review and data abstraction. Pooled meta-analysis of the proportion of adult-onset AD was performed using random-effects weighting (I²=99.3%).ResultsOverall, 25 studies met inclusion criteria. Seventeen studies reported age of AD-onset past 16 years and had sufficient data for meta-analysis. The pooled proportion (95% CI) of adult-onset AD was 26.1% (16.5-37.2%). Similar results were found in sensitivity analyses by diagnostic method for AD, study region, and gender. Phenotypical differences were observed across studies for adult vs. child onset AD, including higher rates of foot dermatitis and personal history of atopy, but lower rates of flexural lesions and other signs and symptoms.LimitationsCharacteristics of adult- vs. child-onset AD were not commonly reported.ConclusionsAD is not only a disease of childhood. One in 4 adults with AD report adult-onset disease. Adult-onset AD was associated with distinct clinical characteristics.



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Folliculitis Decalvans: Effectiveness of Therapies and Prognostic Factors In A Multicenter Series of 60 Patients With Long-Term Follow-Up

Publication date: Available online 2 June 2018
Source:Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Author(s): L. Miguel-Gómez, A.R. Rodrigues-Barata, A. Molina-Ruiz, A. Martorell-Calatayud, P. Fernández-Crehuet, R. Grimalt, D. Barco, S. Arias-Santiago, C. Serrano-Falcón, F.M. Camacho, D. Saceda-Corralo, P. Jaén-Olasolo, S. Vañó-Galván




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REPLY to MS#JAAD-D-18-00380

Publication date: Available online 2 June 2018
Source:Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Author(s): Samir Arbache




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Reply to: comment on “Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy for chronic recalcitrant interdigital candidiasis of toe-spaces – an uncontrolled pilot study”

Publication date: Available online 2 June 2018
Source:Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Author(s): Vijay Zawar, Manoj Pawar, R Raghunatha Reddy, Antonio Chuh




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About melanocyte activation in idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis by 5-fluorouracil tattooing

Publication date: Available online 2 June 2018
Source:Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Author(s): Carlos Gustavo Wambier




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Influence of age and marital status on stage at diagnosis and survival of patients with Merkel cell carcinoma: a SEER based cohort study

Publication date: Available online 2 June 2018
Source:Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Author(s): Michael A. Liu, Jannett Nguyen, Jane A. Driver




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Engineering cationic defects in transparent tin oxide superlattices

Publication date: 5 October 2018
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 155
Author(s): Zhemi Xu, Adnan Younis, Claudio Cazorla, Jiabao Yi, Dewei Chu, Sean Li
The lack of understanding in engineering cation defects in metal oxides has impeded the development of high performance, and transparent electronic devices. Through studying the formation energy of various cationic defects in Mn-doped SnO2 via simulation, we found Mn³⁺ cations occupy the interstitial sites of SnO2 nanocrystals, and we proved that such defects can be engineered to significantly improve resistive switching performance of tin oxide-based devices. With this finding, a new solution-processed approach has been developed to synthesize Mn-doped SnO2 nanocrystals with a self-assembly technique for high quality transparent Mn-doped SnO2 thin film fabrication. Defect migration behavior of the Mn-doped SnO2 thin film was studied by building a metal-oxide-metal sandwich device. The effects of cationic defects, such as Mn interstitials, on the charge transport behavior were further studied to reveal the underlying mechanism. This study provides new insights into the design and engineering of defects in transparent oxides for high-density data storage applications.

Graphical abstract

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Interfacial characteristic and mechanical performance of maraging steel-copper functional bimetal produced by selective laser melting based hybrid manufacture

Publication date: 5 October 2018
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 155
Author(s): Chaolin Tan, Kesong Zhou, Wenyou Ma, Liu Min
A combination of selective laser melting (SLM) additive manufacture and subtractive process was explored to produce maraging steel‑copper bimetal. Relationships among laser parameter, interfacial characteristic and mechanical performance are elucidated. A metallurgical bonded interface with a 30–40 μm inter-diffusion region is formed. Gradient submicro grains with strong 〈111〉 orientation exhibit at the interface, which owe to high cooling rate and temperature gradient caused by high thermal conductive copper. A selected region of the interface was extracted by focused ion beam (FIB) for interfacial bonding analysis. The bonding mechanism is revealed and illustrated in detail. Interfacial intense Marangoni flows pull the copper toward the molten pool of maraging steel and the liquid maraging steel penetrates into the melting copper, which contributes to interfacial bonding. The bonding strength of hybrid processed bimetals are evaluated. Fracture in tensile is not present at the interface but on the copper side. The highest flexural strength reaches 557 MPa, which is slightly higher than that of the copper. Effects of parameter on fracture behaviors are also elucidated. This hybrid manufacture increases the productivity and functionality of the direct SLM-produced part, and provides a new approach for producing high-performance functional dissimilar bimetals based on laser additive manufacture.

Graphical abstract

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HEY1 is expressed independent of NOTCH1 and is associated with poor prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Publication date: July 2018
Source:Oral Oncology, Volume 82
Author(s): Eleni M. Rettig, Justin A. Bishop, Nishant Agrawal, Christine H. Chung, Rajni Sharma, Fernando Zamuner, Ryan J. Li, Wayne M. Koch, Joseph A. Califano, Theresa Guo, Daria A. Gaykalova, Carole Fakhry
ObjectivesNotch signaling is frequently altered in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, the nature and clinical implications of this dysregulation are not well understood. We previously described an association of transcriptionally active NOTCH1 Intracellular Domain (NICD1) immunohistochemical (IHC) expression pattern with high-risk pathologic characteristics. Here we further characterize Notch signaling in HNSCC.Materials and methodsIHC expression patterns and clinicopathologic associations of Notch pathway molecules were evaluated among 78 tumors with known NOTCH1 mutation status. IHC was performed for JAG1, a NOTCH1 activating ligand, and HEY1, an NICD1 transcriptional target and Notch pathway activation marker. IHC pattern and H-score (% staining × intensity) were recorded and compared to clinicopathologic characteristics and survival. Survival was analyzed using Kaplan Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models (HR).ResultsJAG1 and NICD1 expression patterns were highly concordant among tumors without truncating NOTCH1 mutations (p < 0.001), but were dissimilar among tumors with truncating NOTCH1 mutations (p = 0.24). There was evidence for JAG1-independent NOTCH1 activation among seven tumors, all with wild-type NOTCH1. HEY1 expression was associated with neither JAG1 nor NICD1 expression, but was associated with NOTCH1 mutation status (p = 0.03). Twelve (16%) tumors expressed HEY1 but not NICD1. Higher HEY1 H-score was significantly associated with worse overall (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.0, 95% CI = 1.0–4.2) and disease-specific (aHR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.4–7.9) survival, whereas JAG1 and NICD1 expression were not associated with survival.ConclusionsThese findings suggest both NOTCH1-dependent and -independent HEY1 regulation, and imply a previously unrecognized prognostic role for HEY1 in HNSCC.



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Cover Figure

Publication date: June 2018
Source:Cortex, Volume 103





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Editorial Board

Publication date: June 2018
Source:Cortex, Volume 103





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Impact of 3DVAR assimilation of surface PM2.5 observations on PM2.5 forecasts over China during wintertime

Publication date: August 2018
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 187
Author(s): Shuzhuang Feng, Fei Jiang, Ziqiang Jiang, Hengmao Wang, Zhe Cai, Lin Zhang
Data assimilation is one of the effective ways to improve model predictions. In this study, surface fine particulate matter (PM2.5) observations during 16 December 2015 to 15 January 2016 over China are assimilated in a regional air quality forecasting system using the three-dimensional variational (3DVAR) method. Two parallel experiments with and without data assimilation (DA) are conducted. The results show that 3DVAR can significantly reduce the uncertainties of the initial PM2.5 fields and improve the subsequent PM2.5 forecasts at a certain extent. The influences of DA on both analysis and forecast fields are different in different areas. Overall, the root-mean-square error of analysis field could be reduced by at least 50%, and the correlation coefficient could be improved to more than 0.9. Less improvement appears in the North China Plain. For forecast field, similar with previous studies, the DA is effective only within a certain forecast time. On average, the benefits of DA could last more than 48 h over China. Much longer benefits (>24 h) are found in Sichuan basin, Xinjiang, southern China and part of northern China. In the first 24 h, there are more than half of Chinese cities with their daily mean PM2.5 hit rates increasing greater than 10%. The duration of DA benefits are mainly affected by weather condition and emission intensity. The areas with longer DA benefits generally have more stable weather condition and/or weaker emission intensity. The absence of heterogeneous reactions in chemical transport models may also has negative effects on the durations. In addition, we found that the assimilated observation information could transport along with the air masses, and the downwind areas generally have better DA benefits, indicating that when doing air quality forecasting using nested domains, we should conduct the DA in the largest domain rather than the innermost one.



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Ammonia emissions from biomass burning in the continental United States

Publication date: August 2018
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 187
Author(s): Casey D. Bray, William Battye, Viney P. Aneja, Daniel Q. Tong, Pius Lee, Youhua Tang
This study quantifies ammonia (NH3) emissions from biomass burning from 2005 to 2015 across the continental US (CONUS) and compares emissions from biomass burning with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Emissions Inventory (NEI), the Fire Inventory from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (FINN) and the Global Fire Emissions Database (GFED). A statistical regression model was developed in order to predict NH3 emissions from biomass burning using a combination of fire properties and meteorological data. Satellite data were used to evaluate the annual fire strength and frequency as well as to calculate the total NH3 emissions across the CONUS. The results of this study showed the total fire number has decreased, while the total yearly burn area and the average fire radiative power has increased. The average annual NH3 emissions from biomass burning from this study, on a national scale, were approximately 5.4e8 ± 3.3e8 kg year⁻¹. When comparing the results of this study with other emission inventories, it was found that ammonia emissions estimated by the NEI were approximately a factor of 1.3 lower than what was calculated in this study and a factor of 1.1 lower than what was modeled using the statistical regression model for 2010–2014. The calculated NH3 emissions from biomass burning were a factor of 5.9 and a factor of 13.1 higher than the emissions from FINN and the GFED, respectively. The modeled NH3 emissions from biomass burning were a factor of 5.0 and a factor of 11.1 higher than the emissions from FINN and the GFED, respectively. As the climate continues to change, the pattern (frequency, intensity and magnitude) of fires across the US will also change, leading to changes in NH3 emissions. The statistical regression model developed in this study will allow prediction of NH3 emissions associated with climate change.



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Parameterization of dust flux emitted by convective turbulent dust emission (CTDE) over the Horqin Sandy Land area

Publication date: August 2018
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 187
Author(s): Tingting Ju, Xiaolan Li, Hongsheng Zhang, Xuhui Cai, Yu Song
A new convective turbulent dust emission (CTDE) empirical parameterization scheme was developed and validated using the observational data of dust concentrations and meteorological parameters over the Horqin Sandy Land area. Moreover, different CTDE schemes were compared and discussed. The statistical results from the observations in 2016 showed that the proportion of dust emission fluxes emitted by CTDE is 27% for all dust emission which indicates that the significance of CTDE events for the contribution of atmospheric dust aerosols. In addition, dust emission fluxes emitted by CTDE constituted up to 78% of the total dust emission fluxes due to direct aerodynamic entrainment, which verified that CTDE is indeed the most important and major form of aerodynamic entrainment dust emission. A new CTDE empirical parameterization scheme (Fmod=2.93×w∗1.5, where w∗ is the convective velocity scale), was established and validated based on nine typical CTDE events observed at the Horqin site in 2016, and the model predictions of the new CTDE scheme were in a good agreement with the observations both in magnitude and variation. The results of the model predictions using the MK14 scheme and Li scheme were also good, but their schemes exaggerated the impact of shear-driven turbulence, which caused discrepancies between the new empirical parameterization scheme and the MK14 scheme. Moreover, effects of soil moisture on CTDE were investigated in this study, and the results showed that there was no obvious relationship between soil moisture content and Fobs during CTDE events. This finding was likely because only dust particles in the upper few millimeters of the soil surface, where soil moisture content was relatively low in semi-arid region, can be emitted into the atmosphere during CTDE events due to weak wind speeds. In addition, compared with the saltation-bombardment and/or aggregation-disintegration dust emission (SADE) event, the process of a CTDE event may be aerodynamic lift limitation, not supply limitation.



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Impact on air quality of cruise ship emissions in Naples, Italy

Publication date: August 2018
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 187
Author(s): F. Murena, L. Mocerino, F. Quaranta, D. Toscano
The Municipality of Naples, with about 1 million residents and about 3 million people living in the surroundings, suffers, as for many a city, from low air quality, as demonstrated by the concentration level of pollutants measured by fixed monitoring stations of the Regional Air Quality Network. The port of Naples is among the most important ports in the Mediterranean sea with a large traffic of passengers and goods. Therefore, it contributes to atmospheric pollution of the nearby urban area with ship emissions. Public authorities need to know the contribution of different sources of atmospheric pollutants to put effective environmental policies into practice. In this article, a bottom-up methodology has been developed to assess the amount of atmospheric pollutants emitted by cruise ships traffic and its impact on the atmospheric pollution in Naples. A detailed description of in-port activities of cruise ships has been applied to calculate emission rates of NOx and SOx by using standard procedures corrected and integrated by real data to better evaluate actual engine power applied and fuel consumption. Considered activities include: navigation in port both at arrival and departure; maneuvering for berthing and unmooring and hoteling at berth. The study covers all cruise ship calls during the year 2016. The impact of cruise ship emissions on the urban area has been assessed by using the Gaussian puff model CALPUFF, thus obtaining contour maps of 1-h and year average values. Finally, in order to assess the contribution of cruise ship emissions to air quality, simulations have been compared with concentrations measured at fixed monitoring stations and during a monitoring campaign.

Graphical abstract

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Investigation of ambient aerosol effective density with and without using a catalytic stripper

Publication date: August 2018
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 187
Author(s): Yue Lin, Roya Bahreini, Stephen Zimmerman, Emmanuel A. Fofie, Akua Asa-Awuku, Kihong Park, Seung-Bok Lee, Gwi-Nam Bae, Heejung S. Jung
Size-resolved effective densities of ambient aerosols in Riverside, CA were determined over 4 periods during 2015–2016. A DMA-CPMA-CPC technique was used to measure effective density for particles with selected diameters of 50, 70, 101 and 152 nm. A catalytic stripper (CS) was used alternately to remove the volatile fraction of aerosol before density measurements. Aerosol non-refractory composition measurement was conducted in June 2016 campaign to understand the effect of chemical composition on particle density. The average densities for particles over all the measurement campaigns over BP mode (i.e. bypassing the CS) were 1.17 g/cm³ at 50 nm and 1.25–1.28 g/cm³ at 70, 101 and 152 nm. The average density after CS conditioning (CS mode) showed a decreasing trend from 1.22 g/cm³ to 1.04 g/cm³, with increase in the selected size, and a mass fractal dimension (Df) of 2.85. Both the BP and CS mode particles showed the lowest effective density at 6–9 am and highest density at 11 a.m.-3 pm. The diurnal variation of density for both modes became more intensive as particle size increased. The variation was also more intense for the CS mode compared to the BP mode. Organic aerosol and ammonium nitrate mass in the size range of density measurements correlated well positively (R² = 0.78) and negatively (R² = 0.62), respectively with BP mode effective density. The study provides an update to the aerosol density profiles of a well-known receptor site (Riverside, CA) and investigates the transformation of particles in different seasons. The effective density profiles will be used in a follow-up study to better estimate the respiratory-deposited ambient aerosol mass.



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PM2.5 source allocation in European cities: A SHERPA modelling study

Publication date: August 2018
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 187
Author(s): P. Thunis, B. Degraeuwe, E. Pisoni, M. Trombetti, E. Peduzzi, C.A. Belis, J. Wilson, A. Clappier, E. Vignati
Many European cities suffer from poor air quality and still exceed the European standards prescribed by the Air Quality Directive, and the guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). This is especially the case for PM2.5, focus of this work. While international, national and local level actions to reduce air pollution have undoubtedly resulted in an overall improvement of the air quality over the years, there are still problems, which are localised in specific regions and many cities. A key issue is to determine at which scale to act in order to abate these remaining air pollution problems most effectively. Central to this, for cities, is a quantitative assessment of the different origins of air pollution (urban, regional, national and transboundary) to support the design of efficient, effective air quality plans, which are a legal obligation for countries and regions whenever exceedances occur.The "Screening for High Emission Reduction Potentials for Air quality" tool (SHERPA) is used in this work to quantify the origins of air pollution in cities and regions, both from a spatial (urban, country…) and sectoral (transport, residential, agriculture…) perspectives. For PM2.5 we conclude that (1) for many cities, local actions at the city scale are an effective means of improving air quality in that city; (2) the target sectors and scales to abate air pollution are city specific, even for cities that are located in the same country. Consequently, it is important to take into account these city-specific circumstances when designing air quality plans and (3) for many cities, sectoral measures addressing agriculture at country or EU scale would have a clear benefit on urban air quality.



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Short-term effect of tropospheric ozone on daily mortality in Spain

Publication date: August 2018
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 187
Author(s): Julio Díaz, Cristina Ortiz, Isabel Falcón, Coral Salvador, Cristina Linares
BackgroundStudies that seek to link the impact of ozone with mortality display a number of uncertainties. This study sought to ascertain the functional relationship between ozone and mortality, and analyse its short-term impact on daily natural-, respiratory- and circulatory-cause mortality in Spain.MethodsWe analysed data on daily natural- (ICD 10: A00-R99), respiratory- (ICD 10: J00-J99) and circulatory-cause mortality (ICD 10: I00-I99) for each of Spain's 52 provinces across the period 2000–2009. We calculated the impact of ozone on mortality by reference to relative risks (RRs) using generalised linear models, and performed an overall meta-analysis. Attributable mortality was calculated on the basis of RRs.ResultsA quadratic relationship was observed and the existence of a threshold value identified in 33 of the 46 monitoring stations judged to be valid for ozone data, this threshold value was located above the 80^th percentile. The overall RRs for 10 μg/m³ increases in concentrations of the O3 threshold value were as follows: 1.033 (95%CI: 1.023–1.044) for natural causes; 1.089 (95%CI: 1.058–1.120) for respiratory causes; and 1.025 (95%CI: 1.018–1.033) for mortality circulatory causes. The annual total of natural-cause ozone-attributable deaths was 499 (95%CI: 277–717), 126 of which (95%CI: 54–194) were due to respiratory causes and 167 (95%CI: 39–293) to circulatory causes.ConclusionsHigh ozone concentrations display a quadratic relationship with daily mortality. While this effect is more pronounced in respiratory causes, there is also a short-term effect on natural- and circulatory-cause mortality.



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Numerical analysis of pollutant dispersion around elongated buildings: An embedded large eddy simulation approach

Publication date: August 2018
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 187
Author(s): H. Foroutan, W. Tang, D.K. Heist, S.G. Perry, L.H. Brouwer, E.M. Monbureau
High fidelity, scale-resolving numerical simulations of flow and pollutant dispersion around several elongated isolated buildings are presented in this paper. The embedded large eddy simulation (ELES) is used to model flow and concentration fields for six test cases with various source-building geometries. Specifically, the influence of building aspect ratio, wind direction, and source location is examined with these cases. Results obtained from the present ELES model are evaluated using available wind tunnel measurements, including those of streamwise and spanwise velocities, turbulent kinetic energy, and streamwise, lateral, and spanwise pollutant concentrations. Comparisons indicate that the ELES provides realistic representations of the flow and concentration fields observed in wind tunnel experiments, and captures several complex phenomena including the lateral shift and enhanced descent of the plume for rotated/elongated buildings. Furthermore, the ELES provides a means to study the advective and turbulent concentration fluxes, plume shapes, and geometry of vortical structures that is used to examine turbulent transport of pollutants around buildings. We investigate the enhancement of vertical and lateral plume spread as the building aspect ratio is increased. In addition, through the study of advective and turbulent concentration fluxes, we shed light on the physics behind higher ground-level concentrations observed for rotated buildings.



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Temporal variations in the distribution and sea-to-air flux of marine isoprene in the East China Sea

Publication date: August 2018
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 187
Author(s): Jian–Long Li, Xing Zhai, Hong–Hai Zhang, Gui–Peng Yang
Marine isoprene concentrations in the East China Sea were measured during two oceanographic cruises: one from October 10, 2013 to November 21, 2013 and another from May 16, 2014 to June 13, 2014. Mean (range) isoprene concentrations in the surface water in the study area were 32.85 (16.31–108.2) pmol L⁻¹ in late spring and 26.83 (11.22–42.13) pmol L⁻¹ in autumn. The isoprene concentrations showed seasonal variation and were higher in late spring, which could be attributable to terrigenous diluted water and seasonal variations of phytoplankton structure. Isoprene and chlorophyll a (Chl-a) concentrations were significantly correlated in late spring and autumn even under complex hydrographic conditions. Isoprene and Chl-a concentrations also exhibited similar variations during a 25 h period and remained high during daytime. Analysis of depth profiles indicated that isoprene concentrations in the water column peaked at the surface layer and gradually decreased with increasing depth. The atmospheric concentration of isoprene (average: 53.4 ppt; range: 14.8–141 ppt) was high in the onshore area but low in the offshore area in late spring. The mean sea-to-air fluxes of isoprene in the East China Sea were 36.12 (late spring) and 48.34 (autumn) nmol m⁻² d⁻¹. Results revealed the substantial isoprene emission from surface seawater, which was also a net source of atmospheric isoprene during the study period.



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Characteristics of airborne particle number size distributions in a coastal-urban environment

Publication date: August 2018
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 186
Author(s): Doreena Dominick, Stephen R. Wilson, Clare Paton-Walsh, Ruhi Humphries, Elise-Andree Guérette, Melita Keywood, Dagmar Kubistin, Ben Marwick
Particle number size distributions are among the most important parameters in trying to understand the characteristics of particle population. Atmospheric particles were measured in an interaction of mixed environments in the Southeastern coastal city of Wollongong, Australia, during a comprehensive field campaign known as Measurements of Urban, Marine and Biogenic Air (MUMBA). MUMBA ran in summer season between 21^st December 2012 and 15^th February 2013. Particle number concentrations measured during this campaign were indicative of the interplay between marine environments and urban air which met the objective of this campaign. Particle number size distributions ranging from 14 nm to 660 nm in diameter, as measured by Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) in this study, were grouped using Principal Component Analysis. Based on strong component loadings (value ≥ 0.75), three different factors were identified (i) Small Factor (NS): 15 nm < Dp < 50 nm, (ii) Medium Factor (NM): 60 nm < Dp < 150 nm and (iii) Large Factor (NL): 210 nm < Dp < 450 nm. The three factors describe 89% of the dataset cumulative variance. Particles in this region are dependent upon the interaction between the sources, and cannot be viewed as a simple mixture of biogenic and anthropogenic sources associated with various mechanical processes. The particles observed in the morning were found to be influenced by combustion emissions, presumably primarily from traffic, which is most obvious in NL. The particle population during the day was found to be influenced by a mixture of marine sources and secondary aerosols production initiated by photochemical oxidation. The local steel works and the urban environment were the major contributors of particles at night. Secondary organic aerosols were identified in this study by the mass ratio of organic carbon to elemental carbon (OC/EC). Biogenic sources influenced secondary organic aerosols formation as a moderate correlation (R² = 0.6) was observed between secondary organic aerosols mass and biogenic isoprene. The processes described in this paper are likely repeated at other coastal urban environments worldwide.



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Bayesian inference for the genetic control of water deficit tolerance in spring wheat by stochastic search variable selection

Abstract

Drought is the main abiotic stress seriously influencing wheat production. Information about the inheritance of drought tolerance is necessary to determine the most appropriate strategy to develop tolerant cultivars and populations. In this study, generation means analysis to identify the genetic effects controlling grain yield inheritance in water deficit and normal conditions was considered as a model selection problem in a Bayesian framework. Stochastic search variable selection (SSVS) was applied to identify the most important genetic effects and the best fitted models using different generations obtained from two crosses applying two water regimes in two growing seasons. The SSVS is used to evaluate the effect of each variable on the dependent variable via posterior variable inclusion probabilities. The model with the highest posterior probability is selected as the best model. In this study, the grain yield was controlled by the main effects (additive and non-additive effects) and epistatic. The results demonstrate that breeding methods such as recurrent selection and subsequent pedigree method and hybrid production can be useful to improve grain yield.

https://ift.tt/2srCW2b

Applicability of radon emanometry in lithologically discontinuous sites contaminated by organic chemicals

Abstract

The applicability of radon (²²²Rn) measurements to delineate non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPL) contamination in subsoil is discussed at a site with lithological discontinuities through a blind test. Three alpha spectroscopy monitors were used to measure radon in soil air in a 25,000-m² area, following a regular sampling design with a 20-m² grid. Repeatability and reproducibility of the results were assessed by means of duplicate measurements in six sampling positions. Furthermore, three points not affected by oil spills were sampled to estimate radon background concentration in soil air. Data histograms, Q-Q plots, variograms, and cluster analysis allowed to recognize two data populations, associated with the possible path of a fault and a lithological discontinuity. Even though the concentration of radon in soil air was dominated by this discontinuity, the characterization of the background emanation in each lithological unit allowed to distinguish areas potentially affected by NAPL, thus justifying the application of radon emanometry as a screening technique for the delineation of NAPL plumes in sites with lithological discontinuities.

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