Vehicle-cycle and life-cycle analysis of medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks in the United States.

Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles account for a substantial portion (25 %) of transport-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States. Efforts to reduce these emissions focus primarily on diesel hybrids, hydrogen fuel cells, and battery electric vehicles. However, these efforts ignore the high energy intensity of producing lithium (Li)-ion batteries and the carbon fiber used in fuel-cell vehicles. Here, we conduct a life-cycle analysis to compare the impacts of the vehicle manufacturing cycle for Class 6 (pickup-and-delivery, PnD) and Class 8 (day- and sleeper-cab) trucks with diesel, electric, fuel-cell, and hybrid powertrains. We assume that all trucks were manufactured in the US in 2020 and operated over 2021-2035, and we developed a comprehensive materials inventory for all trucks. Our analysis reveals that common systems (trailer/van/box, truck body, chassis, and lift-gates) dominate the vehicle-cycle GHG emissions (64-83 % share) of diesel, hybrid, and fuel-cell powertrains. Conversely, propulsion systems (lithium-ion batteries and fuel-cell systems) contribute substantially to these emissions for electric (43-77 %) and fuel-cell powertrains (16-27 %). These vehicle-cycle contributions arise from the extensive use of steel and aluminum, the high energy/GHG intensity of producing lithium-ion batteries and carbon fiber, and the assumed battery replacement schedule for Class 8 electric trucks. A switch from the conventional diesel powertrain to alternative electric and fuel-cell powertrains causes an increase in vehicle-cycle GHG emissions (by 60-287 % and 13-29 %, respectively) but leads to substantial GHG reductions when considering the combined vehicle- and fuel-cycles (Class 6: 33-61 %, Class 8: 2-32 %), highlighting the benefits of this shift in powertrains and energy supply chain. Finally, payload variation significantly influences the relative life-cycle performance of different powertrains, while LIB cathode chemistry has a negligible effect on BET life-cycle GHGs.

Discriminating early-stage diabetic retinopathy with subjective and objective perimetry.

Introduction: To prevent progression of early-stage diabetic retinopathy, we need functional tests that can distinguish multiple levels of neural damage before classical vasculopathy. To that end, we compared multifocal pupillographic objective perimetry (mfPOP), and two types of subjective automated perimetry (SAP), in persons with type 2 diabetes (PwT2D) with either no retinopathy (noDR) or mild to-moderate non-proliferative retinopathy (mmDR). Methods: Both eyes were assessed by two mfPOP test methods that present stimuli within either the central ±15° (OFA15) or ±30° (OFA30), each producing per-region sensitivities and response delays. The SAP tests were 24-2 Short Wavelength Automated Perimetry and 24-2 Matrix perimetry. Results: Five of eight mfPOP global indices were significantly different between noDR and mmDR eyes, but none of the equivalent measures differed for SAP. Per-region mfPOP identified significant hypersensitivity and longer delays in the peripheral visual field, verifying earlier findings. Diagnostic power for discrimination of noDR vs. mmDR, and normal controls vs. PwT2D, was much higher for mfPOP than SAP. The mfPOP per-region delays provided the best discrimination. The presence of localized rather than global changes in delay ruled out iris neuropathy as a major factor. Discussion: mfPOP response delays may provide new surrogate endpoints for studies of interventions for early-stage diabetic eye damage.

MEN4, the MEN1 Mimicker: A Case Series of three Phenotypically Heterogenous Patients With Unique CDKN1B Mutations.

CONTEXT: Germline CDKN1B pathogenic variants result in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 4 (MEN4), an autosomal dominant hereditary tumor syndrome variably associated with primary hyperparathyroidism, pituitary adenoma, and duodenopancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. OBJECTIVE: To report the phenotype of 3 unrelated cases each with a unique germline CDKN1B variant (of which 2 are novel) and compare these cases with those described in the current literature. DESIGN/METHODS: Three case studies, including clinical presentation, germline, and tumor genetic analysis and family history. SETTING: Two tertiary University Hospitals in Sydney, New South Wales, and 1 tertiary University Hospital in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. OUTCOME: Phenotype of the 3 cases and their kindred; molecular analysis and tumor p27kip1 immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Family A: The proband developed multiglandular primary hyperparathyroidism, a microprolactinoma and a multifocal nonfunctioning duodenopancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. Family B: The proband was diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism from a single parathyroid adenoma. Family C: The proband was diagnosed with a nonfunctioning pituitary microadenoma and ectopic Cushing's syndrome from an atypical thymic carcinoid tumor. Germline sequencing in each patient identified a unique variant in CDKN1B, 2 of which are novel (c.179G > A, p.Trp60*; c.475G > A, p.Asp159Asn) and 1 previously reported (c.374_375delCT, p.Ser125*). CONCLUSIONS: Germline CDKN1B pathogenic variants cause the syndrome MEN4. The phenotype resulting from the 3 pathogenic variants described in this series highlights the heterogenous nature of this syndrome, ranging from isolated primary hyperparathyroidism to the full spectrum of endocrine manifestations. We report the first described cases of a prolactinoma and an atypical thymic carcinoid tumor in MEN4.

Environmental profile of thermoelectrics for applications with continuous waste heat generation via life cycle assessment.

Over the past few decades, rigorous efforts have been undertaken to develop novel thermoelectrics (TEs) with high conversion efficiencies. However, poor TE device efficiencies and use of scarce and toxic constituent elements in major TEs raises valid questions about their ecological effectiveness. We evaluate this efficacy by investigating environmental performance of seven TE modules, spanning five different TEs, on a diverse range of impacts (including toxicity and scarcity) over their life cycle (cradle-to-grave). Exhaustive inventory is developed for all modules, particularly their production and end-of-life stages, in the first-ever exercise of its kind till date, to assess their benefits for applications involving constant waste heat emission. Three end-of-life scenarios are considered to determine ecological benefits and pitfalls of recycling TEs, a first in LCA literature on thermoelectrics. The results show the dominance of specific constituent elements and large processing-related electricity consumption on impacts caused by production for all modules. Over their life cycle, TE modules are seen to exhibit large positive environmental benefits, barring some exceptions, highlighting their substantial eco-credentials independent of the TE used. Also, barring circular economy approach in some cases, no end-of-life treatment is observed to significantly influence modular environmental impacts. Subsequent calculations show ecological benefits from TEs to be comparable with those from commonly used renewables like solar and wind energy, with the findings repeated under scenario-based sensitivity analysis despite 50% reduction in conversion efficiency and 15% lowering in usage duration, further validating their ecofriendly potential. Simultaneously, two key challenges that hinder large-scale application of TEs - marginal ecological benefits (even on converting high fraction of waste heat to electricity) and high costs - are pointed out. This work concludes by highlighting the urgent need for addressing major negative contributors to production-related impacts of this platform to boost its prospects for commercial application and transform its ecofriendly potential into reality.

Androgens.

Androgen abuse is the most potent and prevalent form of sports doping detected. It originated from the early years of the Cold War as an epidemic confined to drug cheating within elite power sports. In the decades following the end of the Cold War, it has become disseminated into an endemic based within the illicit drug subcultures serving recreational abusers seeking cosmetic body sculpting effects. Within sports, both direct androgen abuse (administration of androgens), as well as indirect androgen abuse (administration of nonandrogenic drugs to increase endogenous testosterone), is mostly readily detectable with mass spectrometry-based anti-doping urine tests. The ongoing temptation of fame and fortune and the effectiveness of androgen abuse in power sports continue to entice cheating via renewed approaches aiming to exploit androgens. These require ongoing vigilance, inventiveness in anti-doping science, and targeting coaches as well as athletes in order to build resilience against doping and maintain fairness in elite sport. The challenge of androgen abuse in the community among recreational abusers has barely been recognized and effective approaches remain to be developed.