Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines mediate the progression of severe anemia in malaria-infected children: A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Severe Plasmodium falciparum malarial anemia is still the principal cause of death in children in underdeveloped countries. An imbalance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines is associated with malaria progression. This study evaluated circulating levels of selected inflammatory cytokines among malaria-infected children in Ghana. METHODS: This case-control study was conducted at Tamale Teaching Hospital, Ghana. One hundred and twenty children with malaria and 60 controls, aged 12-144 months were selected from April to July, 2023 for the study. Malaria was diagnosed through microscopy, full blood count was measured using hematology analyzer, and cytokines were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Malaria-infected children had higher tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (p < .001), interferon-gamma (IFN-É£) (p < .001), interleukin (IL)-1ß (p < .001), IL-6 (p < .001), granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) (p < .001), and IL-10 (p < .001) levels than controls. Participants with high parasitemia had raised TNF-α (p < .001), IFN-É£ (p < .001), IL-1ß (p < .001), IL-6 (p < .001), GM-CSF (p < .001), and IL-10 (p < .001), but reduced IL-3 (p < .001) and TGF-ß (p < .001) than those with low parasitemia. Severe malarial anemic children had elevated TNF-α (p < .001), IFN-É£ (p < .001), IL-1ß (p < .001), IL-6 (p < .001), GM-CSF (p < .001), and IL-10 (p < .001), but lower IL-3 (p < .001) and TGF-ß (p < .001) than those with uncomplicated malaria. CONCLUSION: Parasite density was the principal predictor of the cytokine levels, as parasitemia positively associated with IL-10, GM-CSF, IL-6, IL-1ß, IFN-É£, and TNF-α, but negatively associated with IL-3 and TGF-ß. Malaria is associated with enhanced secretion of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in Ghanaian children. Inflammatory cytokines may be involved in the development of severe malarial anemia in children. However, IL-3 and TGF-ß may offer protection against severe malarial anemia.

Impact of Warm Ischemia Time on Donation After Circulatory Death Kidney Transplant Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Efforts to address the shortage of donor organs include increasing the use of renal allografts from donors after circulatory death (DCD). While warm ischemia time (WIT) is thought to be an important factor in DCD kidney evaluation, few studies have compared the relationship between WIT and DCD kidney outcomes, and WIT acceptance practices remain variable. METHODS: We conducted a single-center retrospective review of all adult patients who underwent deceased donor kidney transplantation from 2000 to 2021. We evaluated the impact of varied functional warm ischemia time (fWIT) in controlled DCD donors by comparing donor and recipient characteristics and posttransplant outcomes between high fWIT (>60 min), low fWIT (≤60 min), and kidneys transplanted from donors after brain death (DBD). RESULTS: Two thousand eight hundred eleven patients were identified, 638 received low fWIT DCD, 93 received high fWIT DCD, and 2080 received DBD kidneys. There was no significant difference in 5-year graft survival between the DCD low fWIT, high fWIT, and DBD groups, with 84%, 83%, and 83% of grafts functioning, respectively. Five-year patient survival was 91% in the low fWIT group, 92% in the high fWIT group, and 90% in the DBD group. An increase in kidney donor risk index (KDRI) (HR 3.37, 95% CI = 2.1-5.7) and high CIT compared to low CIT (HR 2.12, 95% CI = 1.4-3.1) have higher hazard ratios for 1-year graft failure. CONCLUSIONS: Increased acceptance of kidneys from selected DCD donors with prolonged fWIT may present an opportunity to increase kidney utilization while preserving outcomes. Our group specifically prioritizes the use of kidneys from younger donors, with lower KDPI, and without acute kidney injury, or risk factors for underlying chronic kidney disease.

A Survey of United States Transplant Center Donation After Circulatory Death Kidney Transplant Practices in the Modern Era.

BACKGROUND: The mismatch between the number of patients awaiting kidney transplantation and the supply of donor organs has contributed to the increase in kidney transplantation from donors after circulatory death (DCD). Persistently long waiting times have led the transplant community to continue to explore the use of expanded- criteria DCD kidneys. In parallel, advances in organ preservation strategies have contributed to an overall increase in DCD organ transplantation and are altering the transplant landscape. Some of these techniques may improve kidney allograft outcomes and affect how DCD kidneys are used. We aimed to better understand practices in accepting DCD kidney offers in the modern era. METHODS: Directors of 196 US kidney transplant centers were emailed a link to an online survey over a 5-week period. RESULTS: Forty-eight out of the 364 directors (13%) responded, with all United Network for Organ Sharing regions represented. Definitions of warm ischemia time (WIT) used in DCD kidney evaluation varied widely among the respondents. The maximum total WIT limit varied, with 19 (39.6%) <60-minute responses, followed by 16 (33%) <90-minute responses, and 10 (20.8%) <120-minute responses. CONCLUSIONS: Despite increasing DCD kidney transplantation volumes in the United States, there are no standardized procurement biopsy practices, organ procurement organization preoperative protocols, or consensus definition or limits of WIT. Agreement on terminology may facilitate rapid clinical communication, efficiency of organ allocation and utilization, recording of data, research, and improvements in policy.

Contributions of genetic variation in astrocytes to cell and molecular mechanisms of risk and resilience to late onset Alzheimer's disease.

Reactive astrocytes are associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and several AD genetic risk variants are associated with genes highly expressed in astrocytes. However, the contribution of genetic risk within astrocytes to cellular processes relevant to the pathogenesis of AD remains ill-defined. Here we present a resource for studying AD genetic risk in astrocytes using a large collection of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from deeply phenotyped individuals with a range of neuropathological and cognitive outcomes. IPSC lines from forty-four individuals were differentiated into astrocytes followed by unbiased molecular profiling using RNA sequencing and tandem mass tag-mass spectrometry. We demonstrate the utility of this resource in examining gene- and pathway-level associations with clinical and neuropathological traits, as well as in analyzing genetic risk and resilience factors through parallel analyses of iPSC-astrocytes and brain tissue from the same individuals. Our analyses reveal that genes and pathways altered in iPSC-derived astrocytes from AD individuals are concordantly dysregulated in AD brain tissue. This includes increased prefoldin proteins, extracellular matrix factors, COPI-mediated trafficking components and reduced proteins involved in cellular respiration and fatty acid oxidation. Additionally, iPSC-derived astrocytes from individuals resilient to high AD neuropathology show elevated basal levels of interferon response proteins and increased secretion of interferon gamma. Correspondingly, higher polygenic risk scores for AD are associated with lower levels of interferon response proteins. This study establishes an experimental system that integrates genetic information with a heterogeneous set of iPSCs to identify genetic contributions to molecular pathways affecting AD risk and resilience.

Association of tumor growth rate with overall survival and recurrence among patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Delay in time to treatment initiation (TTI) is associated with worsened survival outcomes in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). It is unclear whether this is due to tumor growth or an increased risk of metastatic disease. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study at one academic center included patients with LSCC who underwent radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy between 2005 and 2017. We examined the association between tumor growth rate (TGR) and survival outcomes. RESULTS: Among 105 patients (mean age, 63.8 ± 11.1 years; 72% male), the threshold between "slow-growing" and "fast-growing" tumors was >0.036 mL/day (survival) and >0.082 mL/day (recurrence). Faster growth was associated with worse overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio, 1.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94-4.13) and increased recurrence (odds ratio, 9.10; 95% CI, 2.40-34.4). CONCLUSIONS: TGR >0.036 mL/day during TTI was associated with decreased OS, and >0.082 mL/day was associated with increased recurrence. Tumor measurement in patients experiencing delay may identify those who could benefit from escalated therapy.

Deceased donor kidney function and branched chain amino acid metabolism during ex vivo normothermic perfusion.

Current kidney perfusion protocols are not optimized for addressing the ex vivo physiological and metabolic needs of the kidney. Ex vivo normothermic perfusion may be utilized to distinguish high-risk kidneys to determine suitability for transplantation. Here, we assessed the association of tissue metabolic changes with changes in a kidney injury biomarker and functional parameters in eight deceased donor kidneys deemed unsuitable for transplantation during a 12-hour ex vivo normothermic perfusion. The kidneys were grouped into good and poor performers based on blood flow and urine output. The mean age of the deceased kidney donors was 43 years with an average cold ischemia time of 37 hours. Urine output and creatinine clearance progressively increased and peaked at six hours post-perfusion among good performers. Poor performers had 71 ng/ml greater (95% confidence interval 1.5, 140) urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin at six hours compared to good performers corresponding to peak functional differences. Organ performance was distinguished by tissue metabolic differences in branched chain amino acid metabolism and that their tissue levels negatively correlated with urine output among all kidneys at six hours. Tissue lipid profiling showed poor performers were highlighted by the accumulation of membrane structure components including glycerolipids and sphingolipids at early perfusion time points. Thus, we showed that six hours is needed for kidney function recovery during ex vivo normothermic perfusion and that branched chain amino acid metabolism may be a major determinant of organ function and resilience.

Nitrophenol Reduction with Silver Oxide Nanostructures as a Sustainable Approach to Environmental Remediation.

We propose silver oxide as a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to noble metals for the catalytic reduction of nitroaromatics. In the present investigation, we adopt a facile and green synthetic route for the synthesis of silver oxide nanostructures. The prepared nanostructures were found to crystallize in the cuprite phase and exhibit absorbance across the entire visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum. The catalytic potential of the silver oxide was evaluated by following the kinetics of nitrophenol reduction under ambient conditions and is observed to follow pseudo-first order kinetics with the apparent rate constant k a p p = 4 . 24 × 10 - 3 ${{k}_{app}=4.24\ \times {10}^{-3}}$ s-1 at minimum concentration of the catalyst. We attribute the observed catalytic activity to the freshly generated catalytic surface featuring a partially reduced form of silver oxide during reaction. The findings highlight the efficacy of silver oxide in mitigating the environmental pollution originating from the recalcitrant nitroarenes.

An 'activator-repressor' loop controls the anthocyanin biosynthesis in red-skinned pear.

The color of red-skinned pear (Pyrus spp.) is primarily attributed to accumulation of anthocyanins, which provide nutritional benefits for human health and are closely associated with the commercial value of fruits. Here, we reported the functional characterization of a R2R3-MYB repressor PyMYB107, which forms an 'activator-repressor' loop to control anthocyanin accumulation in the red-skinned pear. PyMYB107 overexpression inhibited anthocyanin biosynthesis in both pear calli and fruits, while virus-induced gene silencing of PyMYB107 increased anthocyanin accumulation in pear fruits. Furthermore, ectopic expression of PyMYB107 decreased anthocyanin accumulation in tomato, strawberry and tobacco. PyMYB107 can competitively bind to PybHLH3 with PyMYB10/MYB114, thereby suppressing the transcriptional activation of key anthocyanin biosynthesis genes, PyANS and PyUFGT. Site-directed mutagenesis showed that mutations within the R3 domain and EAR motif of PyMYB107 eliminated its repressive activity. Additionally, PyMYB107 exhibited a comparable expression pattern to PyMYB10/MYB114 and was transcriptionally activated by them. Our finding advanced comprehension of the repression mechanism underlying anthocyanin accumulation, providing valuable molecular insights into improving quality of pear fruits.

New record of Gracilariaphuquocensis (Gracilariaceae, Rhodophyta) in the Philippines.

While reliance on morphology has been at the expense of clearly distinguishing gracilarioid species, molecular data have proven to be more reliable in discriminating between taxa. Gracilariaphuquocensis was originally described, based on materials collected from Vietnam. Since it was described in 2020, there have been no further reports of this species. Meanwhile, a question has been raised as to whether the identity of a rhodophyte gracilarioid alga collected from the Philippines that has been referred to as an unidentified species of Gracilaria, could be G.phuquocensis. Based on comparative morpho-anatomical features and a molecular phylogeny based on rbcL gene sequences, establishing the identity of the Philippine material has led to the finding of the new record of G.phuquocensis outside its type locality. In addition to the discovery of G.phuquocensis in the Philippines, the species here is also identified as a newly-reported host for the adelphoparasite resembling Gracilariababae.

WGS of intrauterine E. coli from cows with early postpartum uterine infection reveals a non-uterine specific genotype and virulence factors.

Escherichia coli has been attributed to playing a major role in a cascade of events that affect the prevalence and severity of uterine disease in cattle. The objectives of this project were to (i) define the association between the prevalence of specific antimicrobial resistance and virulence factor genes in E. coli with the clinical status related to uterine infection, (ii) identify the genetic relationship between E. coli isolates from cows with diarrhea, with mastitis, and with and without metritis, and (iii) determine the association between the phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistance identified on the E. coli isolated from postpartum cattle. Bacterial isolates (n = 148) were obtained from a larger cross-sectional study. Cows were categorized into one of three clinical groups before enrollment: metritis, cows with purulent discharge, and control cows. For genomic comparison, public genomes (n = 130) from cows with diarrhea, mastitis, and metritis were included in a genome-wide association study, to evaluate differences between the drug classes or the virulence factor category among clinical groups. A distinct E. coli genotype associated with metritis could not be identified. Instead, a high genetic diversity among the isolates from uterine sources was present. A virulence factor previously associated with metritis (fimH) using PCR was not associated with metritis. There was moderate accuracy for whole-genome sequencing to predict phenotypic resistance, which varied depending on the antimicrobial tested. Findings from this study contradict the traditional pathotype classification and the unique intrauterine E. coli genotype associated with metritis in dairy cows.IMPORTANCEMetritis is a common infectious disease in dairy cattle and the second most common reason for treating a cow with antimicrobials. The pathophysiology of the disease is complex and is not completely understood. Specific endometrial pathogenic Escherichia coli have been reported to be adapted to the endometrium and sometimes lead to uterine disease. Unfortunately, the specific genomic details of the endometrial-adapted isolates have not been investigated using enough genomes to represent the genomic diversity of this organism to identify specific virulence genes that are consistently associated with disease development and severity. Results from this study provide key microbial ecological advances by elucidating and challenging accepted concepts for the role of Intrauterine E. coli in metritis in dairy cattle, especially contradicting the existence of a unique intrauterine E. coli genotype associated with metritis in dairy cows, which was not found in our study.

The Response of Growth and Transcriptome Profiles of Tea Grey Blight Disease Pathogen Pestalotiopsis theae to the Variation of Exogenous L-Theanine.

Tea grey blight disease is one of the most destructive diseases that infects tea and is caused by the pathogen Pestalotiopsis theae (Sawada) Steyaert. L-theanine is a unique non-protein amino acid of the tea plant. Different concentrations of L-theanine exhibit significant inhibitory effects on the growth and sporulation ability of the pathogen causing tea grey blight disease. To understand the effect mechanism of L-theanine on P. theae, transcriptome profiling was performed on the pathogenic mycelium treated with three different concentrations of L-theanine: no L-theanine treatment (TH0), 20 mg/mL theanine treatment (TH2), and 40 mg/mL theanine treatment (TH4). The colony growths were significantly lower in the treatment with L-theanine than those without L-theanine. The strain cultured with a high concentration of L-theanine produced no spores or only a few spores. In total, 2344, 3263, and 1158 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected by RNA-sequencing in the three comparisons, Th2 vs. Th0, Th4 vs. Th0, and Th4 vs. Th2, respectively. All DEGs were categorized into 24 distinct clusters. According to GO analysis, low concentrations of L-theanine primarily affected molecular functions, while high concentrations of L-theanine predominantly affected biological processes including external encapsulating structure organization, cell wall organization or biogenesis, and cellular amino acid metabolic process. Based on KEGG, the DEGs of Th2 vs. Th0 were primarily involved in pentose and glucuronate interconversions, histidine metabolism, and tryptophan metabolism. The DEGs of Th4 vs. Th0 were mainly involved in starch and sucrose metabolism, amino sugar, and nucleotide sugar metabolism. This study indicated that L-theanine has a significant impact on the growth and sporulation of the pathogen of tea grey blight disease and mainly affects amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and cellular structure-related biosynthesis processes of pathogenic fungi. This work provides insights into the direct control effect of L-theanine on pathogenic growth and also reveals the molecular mechanisms of inhibition of L-theanine to P. theae.

Cell subtype-specific effects of genetic variation in the Alzheimer's disease brain.

The relationship between genetic variation and gene expression in brain cell types and subtypes remains understudied. Here, we generated single-nucleus RNA sequencing data from the neocortex of 424 individuals of advanced age; we assessed the effect of genetic variants on RNA expression in cis (cis-expression quantitative trait loci) for seven cell types and 64 cell subtypes using 1.5 million transcriptomes. This effort identified 10,004 eGenes at the cell type level and 8,099 eGenes at the cell subtype level. Many eGenes are only detected within cell subtypes. A new variant influences APOE expression only in microglia and is associated with greater cerebral amyloid angiopathy but not Alzheimer's disease pathology, after adjusting for APOEε4, providing mechanistic insights into both pathologies. Furthermore, only a TMEM106B variant affects the proportion of cell subtypes. Integration of these results with genome-wide association studies highlighted the targeted cell type and probable causal gene within Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, educational attainment and Parkinson's disease loci.

Person-specific differences in ubiquitin-proteasome mediated proteostasis in human neurons.

BACKGROUND: Impairment of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) has been implicated in abnormal protein accumulation in Alzheimer's disease. It remains unclear if genetic variation affects the intrinsic properties of neurons that render some individuals more vulnerable to UPS impairment. METHODS: Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons were generated from over 50 genetically variant and highly characterized participants of cohorts of aging. Proteomic profiling, proteasome activity assays, and Western blotting were employed to examine neurons at baseline and in response to UPS perturbation. RESULTS: Neurons with lower basal UPS activity were more vulnerable to tau accumulation following mild UPS inhibition. Chronic reduction in proteasome activity in human neurons induced compensatory elevation of regulatory proteins involved in proteostasis and several proteasome subunits. DISCUSSION: These findings reveal that genetic variation influences basal UPS activity in human neurons and differentially sensitizes them to external factors perturbing the UPS, leading to the accumulation of aggregation-prone proteins such as tau. HIGHLIGHTS: Polygenic risk score for AD is associated with the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) in neurons. Basal proteasome activity correlates with aggregation-prone protein levels in neurons. Genetic variation affects the response to proteasome inhibition in neurons. Neuronal proteasome perturbation induces an elevation in specific proteins involved in proteostasis. Low basal proteasome activity leads to enhanced tau accumulation with UPS challenge.

Emergence and Genomic Characterization of a spa Type t4407 ST6-SCCmec Type IVa Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strain Isolated from Al-Karak Hospital, Jordan.

Background and Objectives: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major concern in Jordanian hospitals in terms of infection control. The purpose of this study was to identify the resistance patterns of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from surfaces of critical locations within the Al-Karak Governmental Hospital in 2019. Additionally, the study aimed to conduct whole-genome sequencing on the isolates. Materials and Methods: In February 2019, fourteen S. aureus strains were isolated from surfaces in critical sites in the Al-Karak Governmental Hospital. These isolates underwent antibiogram testing to determine their resistance profile. Genome sequencing using the Illumina MiSeq platform was applied to the extracted DNA from these isolates. The genomic data, including coding sequences, were analyzed to identify lineage, resistance genes, and plasmids. Results: The antibiogram results revealed that 11 of the 14 isolates were resistant to oxacillin, 6 to linezolid, and 1 to rifampicin, while none showed resistance to chloramphenicol. Eleven isolates were identified as MRSA, with a novel spa type (t4407) not previously reported in Jordan. High-quality sequencing data were obtained for only one isolate, i.e., A29, the genome showed 2,789,641 bp with a 32.7% GC content and contained 2650 coding sequences. Genomic analysis indicated the ST6 lineage, mecA gene (SCCmec type IVa(2B)), and a hybrid plasmid (pJOR_blaZ) carrying the blaZ gene for ß-lactam resistance. Genomic data were deposited in NCBI (CP104989). The A29 genome closely resembled an MRSA genome isolated from a Danish hospital in 2011. The SNP analysis revealed identical antimicrobial resistance genes in these two genomes. Conclusions: This study unveils the first genomic sequence of an MRSA isolate from Jordan, marked by distinctive genotypic traits. The findings enhance our understanding of the MRSA types circulating in Jordan and the region and substantiate the phenomenon of intercontinental MRSA transmission.

Palliative Care Rounds: A Thanksgiving Break to Discuss Rib Fractures.

Rib fractures are common injuries, especially in the frail and elderly. They can happen in isolation or may be associated with significant concomitant morbidity, including but not limited to pain, pneumonia, or pneumothorax. In the palliative care population, rib fractures can be overlooked or attributed to other entities, which may lead to inappropriate treatment. The commonly accepted standards of care for the treatment of rib fractures are centered around early and adequate pain control, and stabilization of other complications. Accurate diagnosis and management demand a thorough history and physical examination, effective communication, and intentional clinical consideration of all differential diagnoses.

Effectiveness of Postoperative Single-shot and Continuous Transverse Abdominis Plane Block Compared to Conventional Analgesia in Hand-assisted Laparoscopic Live-donor Nephrectomy.

Background: Few studies have evaluated the efficacy of transverse abdominis plane (TAP) block in patients undergoing hand-assisted laparoscopic live-donor nephrectomy (HALN). We aimed to evaluate the analgesic effectiveness of TAP block as part of a multimodal pain management regimen in patients undergoing HALN. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of living kidney donors at our center between June 2016 and February 2020. HALNs were performed via a transperitoneal approach through a suprapubic incision. Additional laparoscopic ports were used in the upper midabdomen. In consenting donors, TAP block was performed postoperatively under ultrasound guidance with either a single-shot or continuous infusion of long-acting local anesthetic (0.2%-0.5% ropivacaine). All the patients received postoperative around-the-clock ketorolac and acetaminophen. Results: Overall, 72 donors received the block (block group, 38 single-shot, 34 continuous), whereas 86 donors did not receive the block (control group). Baseline characteristics were comparable between the groups except for body weight (control: 71.8 ±â€…13.3 versus block: 77.8 ±â€…17.3 kg; P = 0.01) and intraoperative opioid dose (32.1 ±â€…9.6 versus 26.6 ±â€…10.7 morphine milligram equivalents; P < 0.001). After adjusting for baseline differences, postoperative opioid requirements were similar between the groups. When the baseline pain scale was adjusted for, there was no difference in the overall pain scale scores between the groups (P = 0.242). Subgroup analyses comparing single-shot or continuous TAP versus control did not show any differences. Conclusions: With the caveat of the retrospective nature of the study, the adjunctive effect of TAP block after transabdominal HALN was limited when other multimodal analgesia was used.

An Updated Evaluation of Atrazine-Cancer Incidence Associations among Pesticide Applicators in the Agricultural Health Study Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Atrazine is a common agricultural herbicide in the United States. Few epidemiologic studies have evaluated cancer risks. Previous analyses within the Agricultural Health Study (AHS) have found some evidence of associations with cancer at some sites. OBJECTIVE: We updated exposure information, incident cases, and follow-up time to assess the associations between atrazine use and cancer at specific sites in the AHS. METHODS: Information about lifetime pesticide use was reported at enrollment (1993-1997) and follow-up (1999-2005). Among 53,562 pesticide applicators in North Carolina and Iowa, we identified 8,915 incident cases through cancer registry linkages through 2014 (North Carolina)/2017 (Iowa). We used Poisson regression to evaluate the association between ever/never and intensity-weighted lifetime days of atrazine use and incident cancer risk controlling for several confounders. We also evaluated lagged exposures and age-stratified risk. RESULTS: Approximately 71.2% of applicators reported ever using atrazine, which was associated with lung cancer [rate ratios (RR)=1.24; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04, 1.46]. Aggressive prostate cancer risk was increased in the highest quartile (RRQ4=1.20; 95% CI: 0.95, 1.52; p-trend=0.19), particularly among those <60 years old (RRQ4=3.04; 95% CI: 1.61, 5.75; p-trend<0.001; p-interaction=0.04). Among applicators <50 years of age, ever-atrazine use was associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) (RR=2.43; 95% CI: 1.10, 5.38; p-interaction=0.60). For soft tissue sarcoma, there was an elevated risk in the highest tertile of exposure (RRT3: 2.54; 95% CI: 0.97, 6.62; p-trend=0.31). In analyses with exposure lagged by 25 years, there was an elevated risk of pharyngeal (RRT3=3.04; 95% CI: 1.45, 6.36; p-trend=0.07) and kidney (RRQ4=1.62; 95% CI: 1.15, 2.29; p-trend<0.005) cancers. DISCUSSION: We observed suggestive associations with some malignancies in overall, age-specific, and lagged analyses. Associations with aggressive prostate cancer and NHL were apparent among those diagnosed at younger ages and with cancers of the pharynx and kidney, and soft tissue sarcomas were observed in lagged analyses. Further work is needed to confirm these observed associations and elucidate potential underlying mechanisms. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13684.

Agreement among deep nasopharyngeal sampling culture results for 3 different swab types in preweaning dairy calves.

Accurate isolation and identification of pathogens for an animal with bovine respiratory disease are of critical importance to direct appropriate decision-making related to the treatment of individual animals, as well as control and prevention options in a herd setting. The objective of this study was to compare nasopharyngeal sampling approaches to evaluate accuracy and agreement for the recovery of Mannheimia haemolytica (MH) and Pasteurella multocida (PM) from deep nasopharyngeal swabs (DNS) using 3 different swabs. Deep nasopharyngeal samples were collected from 45 dairy calves using 3 swabs: (1) double-guarded culture swab (DGS); (2) single-guarded culture swab (SGS); and (3) unguarded culture swab (UGS). To evaluate the degree of agreement between DGS, SGS, and UGS, culture results were compared for each calf sampled by using a kappa agreement test. Overall, findings from our study support that when using either SGS or DGS for DNS sampling of preweaning calves, a high agreement for recovery of PM is observed. A low recovery of MH was observed in the study, limiting the conclusion comparing the 3 DNS methods. Use of UGS is considered a potential alternative; however, a higher percentage of polymicrobial growth was found with UGS samples.

Computing leaky Lamb waves for waveguides between elastic half-spaces using spectral collocation.

In non-destructive evaluation guided wave inspections, the elastic structure to be inspected is often embedded within other elastic media and the ensuing leaky waves are complex and non-trivial to compute; we consider the canonical example of an elastic waveguide surrounded by other elastic materials that demonstrates the fundamental issues with calculating the leaky waves in such systems. Due to the complex wavenumber solutions required to represent them, leaky waves pose significant challenges to existing numerical methods, with methods that spatially discretise the field to retrieve them suffering from the exponential growth of their amplitude far into the surrounding media. We present a spectral collocation method yielding an accurate and efficient identification of these modes, leaking into elastic half-spaces. We discretise the elastic domains and, depending on the exterior bulk wavespeeds, select appropriate mappings of the discretised domain to complex paths, in which the numerical solution decays and the physics of the problem are preserved. By iterating through all possible radiation cases, the full set of dispersion and attenuation curves are successfully retrieved and validated, where possible, against the commercially available software disperse. As an independent validation, dispersion curves are obtained from finite element simulations of time-dependent waves using Fourier analysis.