Profitability and meat quality of fast-, medium- and slow-growing meat-type chicken genotypes as affected by growth and length of rearing.

The study aimed to evaluate the profitability, meat quality, and carcass parameters of fast-, medium-, and slow-growing meat-type chicken genotypes of Bangladesh. Nine hundred DOCs were randomly allocated to 6 treatments: T1 = commercial broilers, T2 = CPF-3 (central poultry farm-3), T3 = cockerel, T4 = sonali, T5 = NDD (non-descriptive desi), and T6 = hilly, having 5 replications of 30 chicks each. Birds were reared under complete confinement until their respective market ages (commercial broilers = 35 d; CPF-3 = 45 d; cockerel = 56 d, and hilly = 77 d; sonali = 63 d and NDD = 77 d) and fed commercial broiler diets. Net returns, meat quality, growth, and carcass yield were measured. NDD and hilly showed significantly the highest profitability and superior meat quality. Commercial broilers exhibited the highest final body weight (2355.59 g/b) followed by hilly (1241 g/b) and NDD (1006 g/b), while CPF-3 (860.21 g/b), cockerel (915.49 g/b), and sonali (788.43 g/b) had lower final body weights at their respective market ages. Commercial broilers had the highest carcass weight and dressing yields, followed by hilly and cockerel, and lower in sonali, CPF-3, and NDD. The study concluded that rearing slow- or medium-growing NDD and hilly is superior to fast-growing commercial broilers or CPF-3 regarding profitability, and meat quality. The results of current findings help small-scale farmers in choosing a suitable meat-type chicken that yields better profitability and also for the consumers who wish to pay a fair price for the birds, considering the meat quality specific to each chicken genotype.

Recent advances in Zr and Hf-based MXenes and their hetero-structure as novel anode materials for Ca-ion batteries: theoretical insights from DFT approach.

Recently, MXenes have been widely investigated for use as electrodes in various ion storage batteries. In this study, Zr2N, Hf2N and ZrHfN were explored as potential anode materials for Ca-ion batteries. AIMD simulations predict higher structural stability for our proposed MXenes at a temperature of 300 K. The adsorption energies at the most favourable adsorption sites are 1.31, 1.33 and 1.27 eV for Zr2N, Hf2N and ZrHfN, respectively. During the adsorption process, a significant amount of charge transfer occurs from the Ca atom to the nanosheets. DOS and PDOS analyses reveal that the adsorption of Ca atoms enhances the conductivity of the nanosheets. Moreover, the low diffusion barriers are found to be 0.076, 0.073 and 0.097 eV when the Ca atom migrates from its favourable adsorption site to a nearby site on Zr2N, Hf2N and ZrHfN nanosheets, resulting in high charging rates. The theoretical capacities of Zr2N, Hf2N and ZrHfN nanosheets are 1034, 561 and 707 mA h g-1, respectively. All the results from this study suggest that our proposed nanosheets can be potential anode materials for Ca-ion batteries. Among them, the Zr2N nanosheet shows superior anodic properties for Ca-ion batteries, which is also confirmed by specific capacity, diffusion barrier and open circuit voltage calculations.

Restoring adiponectin via rosiglitazone ameliorates tissue wasting in mice with lung cancer.

AIM: To investigate systemic regulators of the cancer-associated cachexia syndrome (CACS) in a pre-clinical model for lung cancer with the goal to identify therapeutic targets for tissue wasting. METHODS: Using the Kras/Lkb1 (KL) mouse model, we found that CACS is associated with white adipose tissue (WAT) dysfunction that directly affects skeletal muscle homeostasis. WAT transcriptomes showed evidence of reduced adipogenesis, and, in agreement, we found low levels of circulating adiponectin. To preserve adipogenesis and restore adiponectin levels, we treated mice with the PPAR-γ agonist, rosiglitazone. RESULTS: Rosiglitazone treatment increased serum adiponectin levels, delayed weight loss, and preserved skeletal muscle and adipose tissue mass, as compared to vehicle-treated mice. The preservation of muscle mass with rosiglitazone was associated with increases in AMPK and AKT activity. Similarly, activation of the adiponectin receptors in muscle cells increased AMPK activity, anabolic signaling, and protein synthesis. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that PPAR-γ agonists may be a useful adjuvant therapy to preserve tissue mass in lung cancer.

A model for the noninvasive, habitat-inclusive estimation of upper limit abundance for synanthropes, exemplified by M. fascicularis.

Accurately estimating population sizes for free-ranging animals through noninvasive methods, such as camera trap images, remains particularly limited by small datasets. To overcome this, we developed a flexible model for estimating upper limit populations and exemplified it by studying a group-living synanthrope, the long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis). Habitat preference maps, based on environmental and GPS data, were generated with a maximum entropy model and combined with data obtained from camera traps, line transect distance sampling, and direct sightings to produce an expected number of individuals. The mapping between habitat preference and number of individuals was optimized through a tunable parameter ρ (inquisitiveness) that accounts for repeated observations of individuals. Benchmarking against published data highlights the high accuracy of the model. Overall, this approach combines citizen science with scientific observations and reveals the long-tailed macaque populations to be (up to 80%) smaller than expected. The model's flexibility makes it suitable for many species, providing a scalable, noninvasive tool for wildlife conservation.

XPS valence band observable light-responsive system for photocatalytic acid Red114 dye decomposition using a ZnO-Cu2O heterojunction.

ZnO-Cu2O composites were made as photocatalysts in a range of different amounts using an easy, cheap, and environment-friendly coprecipitation method due to their superior visible light activity to remove pollutants from the surrounding atmosphere. X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) have demonstrated that ZnO-Cu2O catalysts are made of highly pure hexagonal ZnO and cubic Cu2O. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has confirmed that there is a substantial interaction between the two phases of the resultant catalyst. The optical characterizations of the synthesized ZnO-Cu2O composite were done via UV-vis reflectance spectroscopy. Due to the doping on ZnO, the absorption range of the ZnO-Cu2O catalyst is shifted from the ultraviolet to the visible region due to diffuse reflection. The degradation efficiency is affected by the Ratio of ZnO: Cu2O and ZnO-Cu2O composite with a proportion of 90:10 exhibited the most prominent photocatalytic activity on Acid Red 114, with a pseudo-first-order rate constant of 0.05032 min-1 that was 6 and 11 times greater than those of ZnO and Cu2O, respectively. The maximum degradation efficiency is 97 %. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the composite is caused by the synergistic interaction of ZnO and Cu2O, which improves visible light absorption by lowering band gap energy and decreasing the rate at which the electron-hole pairs recombine. The scavenging experiment confirmed that hydroxyl radical was the dominant species for the photodegradation of Acid Red 114. Notably, the recycling test demonstrated the ZnO-Cu2O photocatalyst was highly stable and recyclable. These results suggest that the ZnO-Cu2O mix might be able to clean up environmental pollutants when it meets visible light.

Lipid nanoparticle mediated small interfering RNA delivery as a potential therapy for Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition that exhibits a gradual decline in cognitive function and is prevalent among a significant number of individuals globally. The use of small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules in RNA interference (RNAi) presents a promising therapeutic strategy for AD. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have been developed as a delivery vehicle for siRNA, which can selectively suppress target genes, by enhancing cellular uptake and safeguarding siRNA from degradation. Numerous research studies have exhibited the effectiveness of LNP-mediated siRNA delivery in reducing amyloid beta (Aß) levels and enhancing cognitive function in animal models of AD. The feasibility of employing LNP-mediated siRNA delivery as a therapeutic approach for AD is emphasized by the encouraging outcomes reported in clinical studies for other medical conditions. The use of LNP-mediated siRNA delivery has emerged as a promising strategy to slow down or even reverse the progression of AD by targeting the synthesis of tau phosphorylation and other genes linked to the condition. Improvement of the delivery mechanism and determination of the most suitable siRNA targets are crucial for the efficacious management of AD. This review focuses on the delivery of siRNA through LNPs as a promising therapeutic strategy for AD, based on the available literature.

Bioenergy-producing two-stage septic tank and floating wetland for onsite wastewater treatment: Circuit connection and external aeration.

This study designed a two-stage, electrode-integrated septic tank-floating wetland system and assessed their pollutant removal performances under variable operational conditions. The two-stage system achieved mean organic, nitrogen, phosphorus, and coliform removal percentages of 99, 78, 99, and 97%, respectively, throughout the experimental run. The mean metals (chromium, cadmium, nickel, copper, zinc, lead, iron, and manganese) removal percentages ranged between 81 and 98%. Accumulated sludge, filler media, and the hanging root mass contributed to pollutant removals by supporting physicochemical and biological pathways. The mean effluent organic concentration and coliform number across the two-stage system were 20 mg/L and 1682 CFU/100 mL, respectively, during the closed-circuit protocol, which was beneath the open-circuit-based performance profiles, i.e., 32 mg/L and 2860 CFU/100 mL, respectively. Effluent organic, nitrogen, phosphorus, metals, and coliform number ranges across the two-stage system were 9-17 mg/L, 13-24 mg/L, 1-1.5 mg/L, 0.001-0.2 mg/L, and 1410-2270 CFU/100 mL, respectively during intermittent and continuous aeration periods. The air supply rate differences influenced pollutant removal depending on the associated removal mechanisms. The non-aeration phase produced higher effluent pollutant concentrations than the aeration periods-based profiles. The overall mean power density production of the septic tank ranged between 107 and 596 mW/m3; 110 and 355 mW/m3 with the floating wetland. The bioenergy production capacity of the septic tank was positively correlated to external air supply rates. This study demonstrates the potential application of the novel bioenergy-producing septic tank-floating wetland system for wastewater treatment in decentralized areas.

A prospective review of the health-promoting potential of Jing Si Herbal Tea.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has gained considerable attention over the past few years for its multicomponent, multitarget, and multi-pathway approach to treating different diseases. Studies have shown that TCMs as adjuvant therapy along with conventional treatment may benefit in safely treating various disorders. However, investigations on finding effective herbal combinations are ongoing. A novel TCM formula, "Jing Si Herbal Tea (JSHT)," has been reported recently for their health-promoting effects in improving overall body and mental health. JSHT is a combination of eight herbs recognized in Chinese herbal pharmacopoeia for their anti-viral, anti-aging, and anti-cancer properties as well as protective effects against cardiovascular, metabolic, neural, digestive, and genitourinary diseases. Thus, to better understand the beneficial effects of the ingredients of JSHT on health, this review intends to summarize the preclinical and clinical studies of the ingredients of JSHT on human health and diseases, and possible therapeutic effects with the related mode of actions and future prospects for their application in complementary therapies.

Institutional capacity assessment in the lens of implementation research: Capacity of the local institutions in delivering WASH services at Cox's Bazar district, Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: The influx of Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMNs) has left the Southwest coastal district of Cox's Bazar with one of the greatest contemporary humanitarian crises, stressing the existing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) resources and services. This study aimed to assess the existing capacity of local institutions involved in delivering WASH services and identify relevant recommendations for intervention strategies. METHODS: We used a qualitative approach, including interviews and capacity assessment workshops with institutions engaged in WASH service delivery. We conducted five key informant interviews (KII) with sub-district level officials of the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) and Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) to have a general idea of WASH service mechanisms. Seven capacity assessment workshops were organized with the relevant district and sub-district level stakeholders from August 2019 to September 2019. These workshops followed three key areas: i) knowledge of policy, organizational strategy, guidelines, and framework; ii) institutional arrangements for service delivery such as planning, implementation, coordination, monitoring, and reporting; and iii) availability and management of human, financial and infrastructural resources. Data were categorized using thematic content analysis. RESULTS: The majority of stakeholders lacked awareness of national WASH policies. Furthermore, the top-down planning approaches resulted in activities that were not context-specific, and lack of coordination between multiple institutions compromised the optimal WASH service delivery at the local level. Shortage of human resources in delivering sustainable WASH services, inadequate supervision, and inadequate evaluation of activities also required further improvement, as identified by WASH stakeholders. CONCLUSION: Research evidence suggests that decision-makers, donors, and development partners should consider learning from the WASH implementers and stakeholders about their existing capacity, gaps, and opportunities before planning for any WASH intervention in any particular area.

Challenges in the profitability of small-scale broiler farming by avoiding injudicious use of drugs and additives.

The aim of the current study was to determine the present scenario of injudicious use of drugs and additives in small-scale broiler operations and whether broilers can be produced successfully and profitably without the injudicious use of drugs and additives. First, a survey was undertaken in relation to farmers' basic information and general management methods in commercial broilers, with special attention given to the usage of medications and additives in drinking water. Second, based on the survey data, an experimental trial was carried out to compare the growth performance and economic profitability of rearing broilers with and without the use of said drugs and additives. A total of 540 broiler DOCs were allotted into three treatments: T1 = self-formulated feed (SFF) with judicious use of drugs and additives; T2 = commercial feed with judicious use of drugs and additives (JUDA) and T3 = commercial feed with injudicious use of drugs and additives (InJUDA), with six replications (30 birds/replication) in each. The results showed that the farmers used a variety of drugs and additives in 35 days of broiler rearing; however, the farmers usually did not consult with veterinary practitioners, instead relying on and being instructed by local dealers and medicine company representatives. Although the medications and additives account for almost 6-8% of total production costs, the experimental trial clearly demonstrated that the broilers kept with either JUDA or InJUDA showed statistically (p < 0.05) similar BW (2181.93 g & 2222.53 g/bird), BWG (2110.0 g & 2129.91 g/bird), and FCR (1.62 & 1.57, respectively), whereas broilers in the SFF group showed significantly lower growth performances (BW = 1799.31 g/bird, BWG = 1746.19 g/bird, and FCR = 1.93, respectively). The net profit per kg bird in the JUDA group was substantially (p < 0.05) greater (BDT- 27.34/-), followed by the SFF group (BDT- 25.56/) and the InJUDA group (BDT- 24.49/-). Taken together, these findings suggest that profitable broiler farming is possible without the injudicious use of drugs and additives.

Removal from the wild endangers the once widespread long-tailed macaque.

In 2022, long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis), a once ubiquitous primate species, was elevated to Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. In 2023, recognizing that the long-tailed macaque is threatened by multiple factors: (1) declining native habitats across Southeast Asia; (2) overutilization for scientific, commercial, and recreational purposes; (3) inadequate regulatory mechanisms; and (4) culling due to human-macaque conflicts, a petition for rulemaking was submitted to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to add the species to the US Endangered Species Act, the nation's most effective law to protect at risk species. The long-tailed macaque remains unprotected across much of its geographical range despite the documented continual decline of the species and related sub-species and the recent IUCN reassessment. This commentary presents a review of the factors that have contributed to the dramatic decline of this keystone species and makes a case for raising the level of protection they receive.

Point-of-care detection devices for wound care and monitoring.

Healthcare resources are heavily burdened by infections that impede the wound-healing process. A wide range of advanced technologies have been developed for detecting and quantifying infection biomarkers. Finding a timely, accurate, non-invasive diagnostic alternative that does not require a high level of training is a critical step toward arresting common clinical patterns of wound health decline. There is growing interest in the development of innovative diagnostics utilizing a variety of emerging technologies, and new biomarkers have been investigated as potential indicators of wound infection. In this review, we summarize diagnostics available for wound infection, including those used in clinics and still under development.

Polysaccharides polymers for glaucoma treatment-a review.

One of the major challenges in preventing glaucoma progression is patient compliance with medication regimens. Since conventional ophthalmic dosage forms have numerous limitations, researchers have been intensively working on developing polymers-based delivery systems for glaucoma drugs. Specifically, research and development efforts have increased using polysaccharide polymers such as sodium alginate, cellulose, ß-cyclodextrin, hyaluronic acid, chitosan, pectin, gellan gum, galactomannans for sustained release to the eye to overcome treatment challenges, showing promise in improving drug release and delivery, patient experience, and treatment compliance. In the recent past, multiple research groups have successfully designed sustained drug delivery systems, promoting the efficacy as well as the feasibility of glaucoma drugs with single/combinations of polysaccharides to eliminate the drawbacks associated with the glaucoma treatment. Naturally available polysaccharides, when used as drug vehicles can increase the retention time of eye drops on the ocular surface, leading to improved drug absorption and bioavailability. Additionally, some polysaccharides can form gels or matrices that can release drugs slowly over time, providing sustained drug delivery and reducing the need for frequent dosing. Thus, this review aims to provide an overview of the pre-clinical and clinical studies of polysaccharide polymers applied for glaucoma treatment along with their therapeutic outcomes.

Evaluation of occupational health and safety intervention for the waste and sanitation workers in Bangladesh during COVID-19.

Waste and sanitation workers in South-Asian countries are vulnerable to injuries and diseases, including COVID-19. In Bangladesh, an intervention was implemented during COVID-19 to lower these workers' occupational health risks through training and PPE distribution. We assessed how the intervention affected their occupational health behaviors using a randomized cluster trial in 10 Bangladeshi cities, including seven intervention and three control areas. We conducted 499 surveys (Control-152, Intervention-347) and 47 structured observations (Control:15, Intervention:32) at baseline and 499 surveys (Control:150, Intervention:349) and 50 structured observations (Control:15, Intervention:35) at endline. To evaluate the impact of intervention at the endline, we used the difference in difference (DID) method. Compared to control, workers from intervention areas were more likely to have increased knowledge of using/maintaining PPEs (adjusted DID: 21%, CI: 8, 33), major COVID-19 transmission causes (adjusted DID: 27%, CI: 14, 40), and preventive measures (adjusted DID: 12%, CI: -0.6, 25), and improved attitude about using PPEs (adjusted DID: 36%, CI: 22, 49), washing PPEs (adjusted DID: 20%, CI: 8, 32). The intervention was more likely to improve workers' self-reported practice of taking adequate precautions after getting back from work (adjusted DID: 37%, CI: 27, 47) and changing/cleaning masks every day (adjusted DID: 47%, CI: 0.03, 94), and observed practices of maintaining coughing etiquette (DID: 20%, CI: 0.2, 40) at workplace and handwashing before wearing PPEs (DID: 27%, CI: 2, 52), after finishing work (DID: 31%, CI: -7, 69) & during work intervals (DID: 30%, CI: -33, 93). There was not much improvement in observed practices of mask use (DID: 1%, CI: -40, 42), handwashing before meals (DID: 2%, CI: -61, 65), and after toilet (DID: 7%, CI: -41, 55). This intervention has improved the knowledge, attitude and practice of the workers about critical occupational risk mitigation, which may be replicated in similar settings. Future interventions need to address occupational health-related injuries and health complications, introduce regular health checkups/insurance for the workers, create a balance between the quality and comfort of the PPEs and ensure a mechanism to ensure a regular supply of PPEs.

A machine learning-based generalized approach for predicting unauthorized immigration flow considering dynamic border security nexus.

Unauthorized immigration has been a long-standing and contentious challenge for developed and developing countries. Numerous continually evolving push and pull factors across international borders, such as economy, employment, population density, unrest, corruption, and climate have driven this migration. Large-scale pandemics such as COVID-19, causing further instability in countries' financial well-being, can initiate or alter emigration flow from different countries. In light of such a complex confluence of factors, climate change, and demographic shifts in migrant communities, it is high time to shift toward machine learning-reinforced generalized approaches from the traditional parametric approaches based on migrant community-specific localized surveys. To our best knowledge, no literature has explored the nonparametric approach and developed a comprehensive database independent of localized surveys to analyze unauthorized migration. This article fills this gap by deploying nine nonparametric machine learning algorithms for predicting unauthorized immigration flow considering the dynamic border security nexus. This framework considers the Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average model as the null model. The proposed novel framework removes the dependency on localized survey-based studies and provides a more cost-effective, faster, and big data-friendly approach. This study finds the Bayesian Additive Regression Tree model as the best predictive model.

Prevalence of heavy menstrual bleeding and associations with physical health and wellbeing in low-income and middle-income countries: a multinational cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Data on the prevalence of heavy menstrual bleeding in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) are scarce. We aimed to assess the validity of a scale to measure heavy menstrual bleeding and calculate its prevalence in southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, and to examine associations between heavy menstrual bleeding and health outcomes. METHODS: Between Aug 2, 2021 and June 14, 2022, we surveyed 6626 women across ten cities (Meherpur and Saidpur, Bangladesh; Warangal, Narsapur, and Tiruchirappalli, India; Kathmandu, Nepal; Dakar, Senegal; Nairobi, Kenya; Kampala, Uganda; and Lusaka, Zambia), including questions on demographics, health, and the SAMANTA scale, a six-item measure of heavy menstrual bleeding. We conducted confirmatory factor analysis to assess construct validity of the SAMANTA scale, calculated the prevalence of heavy menstrual bleeding, and used regression analyses to examine associations of heavy menstrual bleeding with health outcomes. FINDINGS: 4828 women were included in the final analytic sample. Factor analysis indicated a one-factor model representing heavy menstrual bleeding. In the pooled analytic sample, 2344 (48·6%) of 4828 women were classified as experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding, and the prevalence was lowest in Dakar (126 [38·3%] of 329 women) and Kampala (158 [38·4%] of 411 women) and highest in Kathmandu (326 [77·6%] of 420 women). Experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding was significantly associated with feeling tired or short of breath during the menstrual period (risk ratio 4·12 (95% CI 3·45 to 4·94) and reporting worse self-rated physical health (adjusted odds ratio 1·27, 95% CI 1·08 to 1·51), but was not associated with subjective wellbeing (ß -3·34, 95% CI -7·04 to 0·37). INTERPRETATION: Heavy menstrual bleeding is highly prevalent and adversely impacts quality of life in women across LMIC settings. Further attention is urgently needed to understand determinants and identify and implement solutions to this problem. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, United States Agency for International Development, National Institutes of Health.

The proteasome regulates body weight and systemic nutrient metabolism during fasting.

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and the autophagy-lysosome pathway are the primary means of degradation in mammalian tissues. We sought to determine the individual contribution of the UPS and autophagy to tissue catabolism during fasting. Mice were overnight fasted for 15 h before regaining food access ("Fed" group, n = 6) or continuing to fast ("Fast" group, n = 7) for 3 h. In addition, to investigate the effects of autophagy on systemic metabolism and tissue degradation, one group of mice was fasted for 18 h and treated with chloroquine ("Fast + CLQ" group, n = 7) and a fourth group of mice was treated with bortezomib ("Fast + Bort" group, n = 7) to assess the contribution of the UPS. Body weight, tissue weight, circulating hormones and metabolites, intracellular signaling pathways, and protein synthesis were investigated. Fasting induced the loss of body weight, liver mass, and white adipose tissue in the Fast and the Fast + CLQ group, whereas the Fast + Bort group maintained tissue and body weight. Fasting reduced glucose and increased ß hydroxybutyrate in the circulation of all mice. Both changes were most profound in the Fast + Bort group compared with the other fasting conditions. Molecular signaling indicated a successful inhibition of hepatic UPS with bortezomib and an upregulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. The latter was further supported by an increase in hepatic protein synthesis with bortezomib. Inhibition of the UPS through bortezomib blocks body weight loss and tissue catabolism during an acute overnight fast in mice. The effects were likely mediated through a combined effect of the drug on biomolecule degradation and synthesis.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Bortezomib treatment prevents tissue and body weight loss during fasting. The loss of proteasome activity with bortezomib exacerbates fasting-induced ketogenesis. During fasting, bortezomib increases AMPK and PI3K/AKT signaling in the liver, which promotes protein synthesis.

TIMP1 is an early biomarker for detection and prognosis of lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer remains the major cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Early stages of lung cancer are characterized by long asymptomatic periods that are ineffectively identified with the current screening programs. This deficiency represents a lost opportunity to improve the overall survival of patients. Serum biomarkers are among the most effective strategies for cancer screening and follow up. METHODS: Using bead-based multiplexing assays we screened plasma and tumours of the KrasG12D/+; Lkb1f/f (KL) mouse model of lung cancer for cytokines that could be used as biomarkers. We identified tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP1) as an early biomarker and validated this finding in the plasma of lung cancer patients. We used immunohistochemistry (IHC), previously published single-cell RNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq data to assess the source and expression of TIMP1in the tumour. The prognostic value of TIMP1 was assessed using publicly available human proteomic and transcriptomic databases. RESULTS: We found that TIMP1 is a tumour-secreted protein with high sensitivity and specificity for aggressive cancer, even at early stages in mice. We showed that TIMP1 levels in the tumour and serum correlate with tumour burden and worse survival in mice. We validated this finding using clinical samples from our institution and publicly available human proteomic and transcriptomic databases. These data support the finding that high tumour expression of TIMP1 correlates with an unfavorable prognosis in lung cancer patients. CONCLUSION: TIMP1 is a suitable biomarker for lung cancer detection.

Medical Waste Incineration Fly Ash as a Mineral Filler in Dense Bituminous Course in Flexible Pavements.

Medical waste incineration fly ash (MWIFA) contains heavy metals that are toxic by nature and pose numerous health risks. The paper deals with the suitability of MWIFA as a mineral filler in the bituminous layer as an alternative to conventional stone dust (SD) through an appropriate combination of engineering and environmental assessments. Engineering parameters, such as Marshall stability, stability loss, flow, unit weight, air voids (Va), voids filled with asphalt (VFA), and voids in the mineral aggregate (VMA) of the asphalt mixtures, were evaluated with varying filler ratios, from 2% to 10%. All parameters for both fillers at optimum bitumen content satisfied the Marshall Mix Design criteria. The optimum bitumen contents of all filler ratios were within the standard limit recommended by the Bangladesh Roads and Highways Department. It was found that mixes prepared with MWIFA can resist moisture effects, making them durable in the monsoon. The mixes with 5.5% MWIFA as mineral filler performed the best, whereas 9% SD filler was required to achieve similar performance. The environmental test results show no environmental restriction on stabilizing the MWIFA into paving mixtures. The mobility of heavy metals (As, Pb, Cu, Cr, Ni, Cd, Hg, and Zn) from the asphalt-MWIFA mix was insignificant. The cumulative concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Zn, Cu, and Pb) from long-term leaching tests were far below the Dutch regulatory limit (U1). MWIFA can be considered an eco-friendly and sustainable mineral filler for the dense bituminous pavement layer.