Short-term outcomes with routine use of size ≥40 femoral heads in THA: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Using larger femoral heads during total hip arthroplasty (THA) may result in a more stable hip. Greater volumetric wear and frictional torque, however, may result in increased postoperative complications. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes of patients with femoral head size ≥40 mm compared to those with femoral head size <40 mm. Materials and methods: A retrospective chart review of 504 THAs performed by a single surgeon at a single institution from 2009 to 2016 was conducted. Following exclusions, 131 THAs were identified with femoral heads ≥40 mm and 348 THAs were identified with femoral heads <40 mm. In addition to demographic data, all postoperative complications were recorded. Plain radiographs were used to rule out/in periprosthetic osteolysis and/or acetabular loosening. Chi-square tests and Student's t-tests were used to compare categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Results: Mean follow-up period for the entire cohort was 5.5 years. Complications with ≥40 mm femoral heads included 1 superficial infection and 1 deep periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). There were no cases of dislocation, osteolysis, acetabular loosening, or trunnionosis. In contrast, complications with <40 mm femoral heads included 9 dislocations and 7 PJIs. Conclusion: The routine use of large femoral heads (≥40-mm) during THA appears to be a safe option for patients at short-term clinical follow-up. Notably, 0 patients had a clinical course complicated by dislocation, osteolysis, acetabular loosening, or trunnionosis. Level of evidence: Level III Retrospective Cohort Study.

Precision pore structure optimization of additive manufacturing porous tantalum scaffolds for bone regeneration: A proof-of-concept study.

Currently, the treatment of bone defects in arthroplasty is a challenge in clinical practice. Nonetheless, commercially available orthopaedic scaffolds have shown limited therapeutic effects for large bone defects, especially for massiveand irregular defects. Additively manufactured porous tantalum, in particular, has emerged as a promising material for such scaffolds and is widely used in orthopaedics for its exceptional biocompatibility, osteoinduction, and mechanical properties. Porous tantalum has also exhibited unique advantages in personalised rapid manufacturing, which allows for the creation of customised scaffolds with complex geometric shapes for clinical applications at a low cost and high efficiency. However, studies on the effect of the pore structure of additively manufactured porous tantalum on bone regeneration have been rare. In this study, our group designed and fabricated a batch of precision porous tantalum scaffolds via laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) with pore sizes of 250 µm (Ta 250), 450 µm (Ta 450), 650 µm (Ta 650), and 850 µm (Ta 850). We then performed a series of in vitro experiments and observed that all four groups showed good biocompatibility. In particular, Ta 450 demonstrated the best osteogenic performance. Afterwards, our team used a rat bone defect model to determine the in vivo osteogenic effects. Based on micro-computed tomography and histology, we identified that Ta 450 exhibited the best bone ingrowth performance. Subsequently, sheep femur and hip defect models were used to further confirm the osteogenic effects of Ta 450 scaffolds. Finally, we verified the aforementioned in vitro and in vivo results via clinical application (seven patients waiting for revision total hip arthroplasty) of the Ta 450 scaffold. The clinical results confirmed that Ta 450 had satisfactory clinical outcomes up to the 12-month follow-up. In summary, our findings indicate that 450 µm is the suitable pore size for porous tantalum scaffolds. This study may provide a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of massive, irreparable, and protracted bone defects in arthroplasty.

Usefulness of virtual scale endoscope for early gastrointestinal lesions.

Objectives: For early gastrointestinal lesions, size is an important factor in the selection of treatment. Virtual scale endoscope (VSE) is a newly developed endoscope that can measure size more accurately than visual measurement. This study aimed to investigate whether VSE measurement is accurate for early gastrointestinal lesions of various sizes and morphologies. Methods: This study prospectively enrolled patients with early gastrointestinal lesions ≤20 mm in size visually. Lesion sizes were measured in the gastrointestinal tract visually, on endoscopic resection specimens with VSE, and finally on endoscopic resection specimens using a ruler. The primary endpoint was the normalized difference (ND) of VSE measurement. The secondary endpoints were the ND of visual measurement and the variation between NDs of VSE and visual measurements. ND was calculated as (100 × [measured size - true size] / true size) (%). True size was defined as size measured using a ruler. Results: This study included 60 lesions from April 2022 to December 2022, with 20 each in the esophagus, stomach, and colon. The lesion size was 14.0 ± 6.3 mm (mean ± standard deviation). Morphologies were protruded, slightly elevated, and flat or slightly depressed type in 8, 24, and 28 lesions, respectively. The primary endpoint was 0.3 ± 8.8%. In the secondary endpoints, the ND of visual measurement was -1.7 ± 29.3%, and the variability was significantly smaller in the ND of VSE measurement than in that of visual measurement (p < 0.001, F-test). Conclusions: VSE measurement is accurate for early gastrointestinal lesions of various sizes and morphologies.

Use of waste frying oil and coconut pulp for the production, isolation, and characterization of a new lipase from Moesziomyces aphidis.

Lipases comprise the third most commercialized group of enzymes worldwide and those of microbial origin are sought for their multiple advantages. Agro-industrial waste can be an alternative culture medium for producing lipases, reducing production costs and the improper disposal of waste frying oil (WFO). This study aimed to produce yeast lipases through submerged fermentation (SF) using domestic edible oil waste as inducer and alternative culture medium. The optimal culture conditions, most effective inducer, and purification method for a new lipase from Moesziomyces aphidis BRT57 were identified. Yeast was cultured in medium containing green coconut pulp and WFO waste for 72 h. The maximum production of lipases in SF occurred in a culture medium containing WFO and yeast extract at 48 and 72 h of incubation, with enzyme activities of 8.88 and 11.39 U mL-1, respectively. The lipase was isolated through ultrafiltration followed by size exclusion chromatography, achieving a 50.46 % recovery rate. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report the production and purification of lipases from M. aphidis, demonstrating the value of frying oil as inducer and alternative medium for SF, contributing to the production of fatty acids for biodiesel from food waste.

Combustion aerosols and suspended dust with controlled processes in Lhasa: Elemental analysis and size distribution characteristics.

To explore air contamination resulting from special biomass combustion and suspended dust in Lhasa, the present study focused on the size distribution and chemical characteristics of particulate matter (PM) emission resulting from 7 types of non-fossil pollution sources. We investigated the concentration and size distribution of trace elements from 7 pollution sources collected in Lhasa. Combining Lhasa's atmospheric particulate matter data, enrichment factors (EFs) have been calculated to examine the potential impact of those pollution sources on the atmosphere quality of Lhasa. The highest mass concentration of total elements of biomass combustion appeared at PM0.4, and the second highest concentration existed in the size fraction 0.4-1 µm; the higher proportion (12 %) of toxic metals was produced by biomass combustion. The elemental composition of suspended dust and atmospheric particulate matter was close (except for As and Cd); the highest concentration of elements was all noted in PM2.5-10 (PM3-10). Potassium was found to be one of the main biomass markers. The proportion of Cu in suspended dust is significantly lower than that of atmospheric particulate matter (0.53 % and 3.75 %), which indicates that there are other anthropogenic sources. The EFs analysis showed that the Cr, Cu, Zn, and Pb produced by biomass combustion were highly enriched (EFs > 100) in all particle sizes. The EFs of most trace elements increased with decreasing particle size, indicating the greater influence of humanfactors on smaller particles.

Effect of grinding method and extent of pelleting of broiler diets on performance, feeding behaviour and digestive tract functionality.

1. An experiment was carried out examine if a heterogeneous diet consisting of pellets and coarse cereal particles would result in a similar feed intake to pelleted-only diets. It considered whether coarser particles entering the gizzard would encourage the development of the gizzard and thus improve digestive tract functionality. Maize and wheat were hammer milled through a 3 mm screen after coarse grinding using either one of the two screens with a novel pattern. Three pellet-only diets were produced based on three grinding sizes. Additionally, four diets were produced by separating coarse cereal particles from moderately coarse particles by sieving either once or twice, pelleting the remainder and finally mixing these into a complete heterogeneous diet.2. No difference in performance between birds fed the three pelleted-only diets was observed. However, heterogeneous diets resulted in a lower feed intake (FI) and weight gain (WG) than pelleted-only diets (p < 0.05). The dietary treatments neither affected the feed conversion ratio nor ileal digestibility of starch and protein (p > 0.05). As expected, feeding a heterogeneous diets increased (p < 0.05) the relative weight of the gizzard and its contents. Approximately 50% of the particles in the small intestine were between 0.15 mm and 0.36 mm in diameter, with more fine particles observed when the pelleted-only diets containing coarsely ground cereals were fed, confirming the capacity of the gizzard to finely grind feed.3. Sieving of the diet remaining in the feeder during 4 h of feeding two of the heterogeneous diets showed that the particles > 2.8 mm disappeared first (p < 0.05), showing the birds' preference for larger particles when offered heterogeneous diets. Although the birds were able to handle the coarse microstructure of the diets without any negative effects, the reduced performance in the case of heterogeneous diets might have been related to feed intake issues and particle selection, resulting in an imbalance in nutrient intake.

Bigger genomes provide environment-dependent growth benefits in grasses.

Increasing genome size (GS) has been associated with slower rates of DNA replication and greater cellular nitrogen (N) and phosphorus demands. Despite most plant species having small genomes, the existence of larger GS species suggests that such costs may be negligible or represent benefits under certain conditions. Focussing on the widespread and diverse grass family (Poaceae), we used data on species' climatic niches and growth rates under different environmental conditions to test for growth costs or benefits associated with GS. The influence of photosynthetic pathway, life history and evolutionary history on grass GS was also explored. We found that evolutionary history, photosynthetic pathway and life history all influence the distribution of grass species' GS. Genomes were smaller in annual and C4 species, the latter allowing for small cells necessary for C4 leaf anatomy. We found larger GS were associated with high N availability and, for perennial species, low growth-season temperature. Our findings reveal that GS is a globally important predictor of grass performance dependent on environmental conditions. The benefits for species with larger GS are likely due to associated larger cell sizes, allowing rapid biomass production where soil fertility meets N demands and/or when growth occurs via temperature-independent cell expansion.

Applying support vector machines to a diagnostic classification model for polytomous attributes in small-sample contexts.

Over several years, the evaluation of polytomous attributes in small-sample settings has posed a challenge to the application of cognitive diagnosis models. To enhance classification precision, the support vector machine (SVM) was introduced for estimating polytomous attribution, given its proven feasibility for dichotomous cases. Two simulation studies and an empirical study assessed the impact of various factors on SVM classification performance, including training sample size, attribute structures, guessing/slipping levels, number of attributes, number of attribute levels, and number of items. The results indicated that SVM outperformed the pG-DINA model in classification accuracy under dependent attribute structures and small sample sizes. SVM performance improved with an increased number of items but declined with higher guessing/slipping levels, more attributes, and more attribute levels. Empirical data further validated the application and advantages of SVMs.

The fecundity costs of building domed nests in birds.

Animal nests provide a beneficial environment for offspring development and as such contribute to fitness. Gathering and transporting materials to construct nests is energetically costly, but the life history trade-offs associated with the types of nests built are largely unknown. Who contributes to building the nest could also mediate these trade-offs, as building a nest as a couple is expected to be less costly per individual than building alone. Using a comparative analysis on 227 songbird species globally, we found a fecundity cost associated with the type of nest a species builds. Species that build domed nests produce fewer broods per year than species building cups or platforms. Dome nesting species also have larger clutch sizes than open nesting species, but only when the nest is built by a couple and not when females build nests alone. This suggests that building domed nests represents a trade-off with investment in young, especially when females are solely responsible for nest building. More broadly, our results could explain macroevolutionary patterns, such as the recent finding that females, building on their own, more often build open cup rather than domed nests.

On the estimation of population size-A comparison of capture-recapture and multiplier-benchmark methods.

Approaches to population size estimation are of importance across a wide spectrum of disciplines, especially when census and simple random sampling are impractical. The capture-recapture method and the multiplier-benchmark method are two commonly used approaches that use data that partially capture the target population and overlap in a known way. Due to similarities in required data structures, the approaches are often used interchangeably without a critical appraisal of the underlying assumptions, especially in the two-sample case. Here, we describe the similarities and differences of the sampling mechanisms and assumptions underlying both approaches. We emphasize that the capture-recapture method assumes data sources as random samples and describes two-way inclusion histories, while in multiplier-benchmark method, one source captures a fixed sub-population, and the one-way inclusion histories are modeled. We also discuss the implications of these differences through simulation and real data to guide the choice of method in practice. A careful study of the data structures, relationships, and data generation processes is crucial for assessing the appropriateness of using these methods.

Accumulation modes and effects of differentially charged polystyrene nano/microplastics in water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica F.).

There is widespread concern about the risk of nano/microplastics (N/MPs) entering the food chain through higher plants. However, the primary factors that influence the absorption of N/MPs by higher plants remain largely unclear. This study examined the impact of Europium-doped N/MPs with different particle sizes and surface charges by water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica F.) to address this knowledge gap. N/MPs were visualized and quantitatively analyzed using laser confocal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. N/MPs with different surface charges were absorbed by the roots, with the apoplastic pathway as the major route of transport. After 28 days of exposure to 50 mg L-1 N/MPs, N/MPs-COOH caused the highest levels of oxidative stress and damage to the roots. The plants accumulated NPs-COOH the most (average 1640.16 mg L-1), while they accumulated NPs-NH2 the least (average 253.70 mg L-1). Particle size was the main factor influencing the translocation of N/MPs from the root to the stem, while the Zeta potential mainly influenced particle entry into the roots from the hydroponic solution as well as stem-to-leaf translocation. Different charged N/MPs induced osmotic stress in the roots. A small amount of N/MPs in the leaves significantly stimulated the production of chlorophyll, while excessive N/MPs significantly reduced its content. These results provide new insights into the mechanism of interaction between N/MPs and plants.

Eosinopenia in patients with acute myocardial infarction- longitudinal imaging insights from the CAPRI study.

Eosinophils are recruited to the heart during acute myocardial infarction (MI) and are considered part of the inflammatory response associated with adverse clinical outcomes. We assessed the impact of eosinopenia on cardiac imaging biomarkers in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation MI. This is a post-hoc analysis of the Evaluating the effectiveness of intravenous Ciclosporin on reducing reperfusion injury in pAtients undergoing PRImary percutaneous coronary intervention (CAPRI) trial. Patients underwent cardiac MRI within 1 week and 12 weeks and low eosinophil was defined as less than 40 cells/ml. The study included 52 patients and 38% had low eosinophil. Ciclosporin administration was comparable between patients with low versus normal eosinophils. The ischaemia time was significantly longer in low eosinophil patients [262 (205-325) vs. 138 (102-195) minutes, P < 0.001]. At 12 weeks, patients with eosinopenia had larger infarct size [9.8% (5.7-18.4) vs. 7.4% (1.9-10.2), P = 0.045], larger left ventricle (LV) end systolic volume (89 ± 28 vs. 68 ± 23, P = 0.02), and lower LV ejection fraction (EF) (49 ± 9 vs. 58 ± 7, P < 0.001). After adjustments for significant predictors, including ischaemia time, low eosinophil count was an independent predictor of worse LVEF at 12 weeks [-5.78, 95% CI (-11.22 to -0.34), P = 0.038] but not infarct size [1.83, 95% CI (-2.77 to 6.43), P = 0.43]. Patients with low eosinophil count had larger infarct size and LV volumes and worse adverse remodeling compared to those with normal eosinophil count. At 12 weeks, eosinopenia was an independent predictor of worse LVEF but not infarct size.

Poor sample size reporting quality and insufficient sample size in economic evaluations conducted alongside pragmatic trials: A cross-sectional survey.

OBJECTIVES: Economic evaluation outcomes are seldom taken into consideration during the process of sample size calculation in pragmatic trials. The reporting quality of sample size and information on its calculation in economic evaluations well suited to pragmatic randomized controlled trials (pRCTs) remain unknown. This study aims to assess the sample size and power of economic evaluations in pRCTs. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We conducted a cross-sectional survey using data of pRCTs available from PubMed and OVID from 1 January 2010 to 24 April 2022. Two groups of independent reviewers identified articles; three groups of reviewers each extracted the data. Descriptive statistics presented the general characteristics of included studies. Statistical power analyses were performed on clinical and economic outcomes with sufficient data. RESULTS: The electronic search identified 715 studies; 152 met the inclusion criteria and, of these, 26 were available for power analysis. Only 9 out of 152 trials (5.9%) considered economic outcomes when estimating sample size, and only one adjusted the sample size accordingly. Power values for trial-based economic evaluations, and clinical trials ranged from 2.56% to 100%, 3.21% to 100%, respectively. Regardless of the perspectives, in 14 among 26 studies (53.8%), the power values of economic evaluations for quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were lower than those of clinical trials for primary endpoints (PEs). In 11 out of 24 (45.8%) and 8 from 13 (61.5%) studies, power values of economic evaluations for QALYs were lower than those of clinical trials for PEs from the healthcare and societal perspectives, respectively. Power values of economic evaluations for non-QALYs from the healthcare and societal perspectives were potentially higher than those of clinical trials in 3 from a total of 4 studies (75%). The power values for economic outcomes in Q1 were not significantly higher than those for other journal impact factor quartile categories. CONCLUSIONS: Theoretically, pragmatic trials with concurrent economic evaluations can provide real-world evidence for healthcare decision makers. However, in pRCT-based economic evaluations, limited consideration and inadequate reporting of sample-size calculations for economic outcomes could negatively affect the results' reliability and generalisability. To avoid misleading decisions made based on study results, we recommend that future pragmatic trials with economic evaluations should report how sample sizes are determined or adjusted based on the economic outcomes in their protocols to enhance their transparency and evidence quality.

Excipient effects on supersaturation, particle size dynamics, and thermodynamic activity of multidrug amorphous formulations.

Multidrug formulations enhance patient compliance and extend the life cycle of pharmaceutical products. To overcome solubility challenges for multidrug combinations, amorphous formulations are commonly used. However, the excipients for creating amorphous formulations are often selected without an understanding of their effects on the bioavailability of the drugs. In this context, we investigated the impact of three types of excipients (polymers, surfactants and amino acids) on the supersaturation and thermodynamic activity of multidrug amorphous formulations. Additionally, we studied the particle size dynamics of the colloidal phase formed as a result of liquid-liquid phase separation. The amorphous solubility of two drugs, atazanavir and ritonavir, was determined in solutions containing predissolved excipients and the particle size dynamics of the colloidal particles was measured by dynamic light scattering. Dissolution experiments of atazanavir and ritonavir were conducted in predissolved sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), an anionic surfactant, and alanine solutions under non-sink conditions. Membrane transport of the drugs was evaluated using a MicroFLUX setup. The polymers had only minor effects on the amorphous solubility, but SDS significantly increased the solubilities of both drugs. In contrast, the other non-ionic surfactants and amino acids reduced the solubility of atazanavir but had no negative effect on ritonavir. Polymers were effective in maintaining supersaturation and preventing the coarsening of the colloidal particles. Conversely, alanine was neither able to inhibit the solution crystallization nor increase the flux of either drug. Despite the increase in the amorphous solubility of both drugs in SDS, flux was reduced. These results highlight the importance of properly selecting excipients for supersaturating amorphous formulations. The choice of excipient impacts the thermodynamic activity, the phase behaviour of the drugs and hence, the resulting absorption after oral intake.

[Meta-analyses-Explained my means of examples from anesthesia and pain medicine]. / Metaanalysen ­ erklärt anhand von Beispielen aus der Anästhesie und Schmerzmedizin.

Meta-analyses are a central part of systematic reviews. The term meta-analysis describes the statistical methods to summarize the results of the available scientific studies providing the highest possible evidence. In medicine, meta-analyses aim to guide clinical decisions. This article provides an overview of the necessary work steps.The classical meta-analysis summarizes the results of randomized controlled trials that compare an intervention against a control intervention. This is illustrated by means of an example from a Cochrane Review on videolaryngoscopy in comparison to direct laryngoscopy. Crucial methodological aspects such as the weighting of individual studies when pooling their results as well as the evaluation of study heterogeneity and potential publication bias are explained.The second part of the article focusses on two extensions of meta-analyses: the individual patient data meta-analysis and the network meta-analysis. The individual patient data meta-analysis makes use of the information that is available from the patient-level data of the included studies. As an example, the work accomplished by an international collaboration on the efficacy of acupuncture in chronic pain is presented. A network meta-analysis enables the comparison of more than two interventions by making use not only of the available direct but also of the respective indirect evidence. This is illustrated by means of a Cochrane Review on drugs for the prophylaxis of postoperative nausea and vomiting.

Impact of bladder size and shape on the accuracy of formula method for bladder volume evaluation.

BACKGROUND: To explore the impact of bladder size and shape on the accuracy of the formula method (V = 0.52 × d1 × d2 × d3) for bladder volume evaluation. METHODS: Data was retrospectively collected from 220 patients without reportable bladder diseases. CT images were imported into 3D Slicer software to measure the bladder volume VA (reference standards). Bladder volume was also measured by the formula method VB = 0.52 × d1 × d2 × d3. Results of these two methods were compared based on bladder size and shape. RESULTS: The bldder volume was 121.0 ± 83.6 mL with the formula method, compared with 128.5 ± 82.6 mL measured by 3D Slicer (P < 0.0001). Patients were divided into three groups based on bladder size, the mean percent deviations between the two methods were 18.8 ± 20.8%, 3.4 ± 12.9% and 4.6 ± 10.6%, respectively. According to the bladder shape, it can be divided into 5 types. For round and triangle shapes, there was no significant statistical difference in the results of the two methods. For bladder shapes with ellipse, rectangle and irregular shape, the volume evaluated by the formula method was statistically lower. Their deviations were 9.7 ± 17.5%, 12.9 ± 9.6% and 14.4 ± 21.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of the formula method for estimating bladder volume is affected by bladder size and shape. Overall, the formula method tends to underestimate the bladder volume. The error of small-sized bladders is much greater than that of large-sized bladders. Furthermore, the formula method has high accuracy in measuring bladder volume with round and triangle shapes.

An insight into PANI-TiO2 photocatalysis of refractory organic matter through molecular size fractionation.

Refractory organic matter (RfOM) is ubiquitous in aquatic environment and plays various roles in regulating the fate, transport, toxicity, and bioavailability of chemical species, such as metals, emerging organic contaminants, and nanomaterials. RfOM is mainly represented by humic acids (HA) as the acid insoluble fraction of organic matrix. Considering the complex and multicomponent characteristic of HA, a detailed study was designed to elucidate the fate of molecular size fractions (MSFrs) of humic under solar irradiation in the presence of polyaniline (PANI)-modified TiO2 composites. Humic acid as a consortium of diverse molecular size fractions with different tendencies towards oxidation requires further assessment by UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopic parameters complementary to previous studies on the photocatalytic degradation of RfOM by using TiO2 and PANI-TiO2 composites. Absorbance-based removal efficiencies under initial and post-photocatalytic conditions showed a re-formation trend during photocatalysis in the presence of PANI and TiO2 where higher MSFrs were transformed to lower MSFrs that was apparent for < 3 kDa fraction. Completely different profiles were observed for PT-41 and PT-81 indicating similar degradation pathways independent of PANI ratio in the composite. As confirmed by the investigated parameters, formation of both 450 kDa and 220 kDa MSFrs were evident under all conditions indicating in situ generation of higher MSFrs. The eligibility of coupled absorbance-fluorescence measurements to discern molecular size distribution of humic acid via oxidative degradation was also investigated. Excitation-emission matrix (EEM) contour plots emphasized the ratio dependency of PANI modification of TiO2 and revealed sample specific variations that were more pronounced in terms of the emergence of tyrosine- and tryptophan-like aromatic proteins.

Highly selective removal of thallous ions from wastewater using Prussian Blue biochar composite.

Thallium, a highly toxic pollutant, shows greater toxicity to human than other common heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium and its effective removal from wastewater gains great attention. The main restriction for the Tl+ removal is the interference of a high concentration of co-existing ions in wastewater. Therefore, the goal of the current work was to synthesis adsorbent with high selectivity for the Tl+ removal. Herein, the pore size sieving strategy was proposed and Prussian blue-impregnated biochar (BC@PB) particles was synthesized. More than 95% Tl+ can be removed even the concentrations of the coexistence ions (Na+, Cd2+, and Zn2+) 1,000 higher than the initial concentration of Tl+ (500 µg/L). BC@PB also showed large adsorption capacity (9365 µg/g) and more than 99% Tl+ (initial concentration, 500 µg/L) were removed in just 1 min. The BC@PB had excellent and stable Tl+ removal ability (> 99%) over a range of pH from 3 to 9, which covered the pH range of common thallium-containing wastewater. The density functional theory (DFT) calculation confirmed that not only hydrated volume but also the hydration free energy of ions, which governed the energy barrier for ions entering into narrow channels of BC@PB, played essential roles on the selectivity removal of Tl+. Overall, due to its high selectivity, high adsorption capacity and easy preparation process, the synthesized BC@PB particles based on the pore sizing sieving strategy, can be a promising candidate for the removal of thallium from wastewater.

Benchmarking sample pooling for epigenomics of natural populations.

DNA methylation (DNAm) is a mechanism for rapid acclimation to environmental conditions. In natural systems, small effect sizes relative to noise necessitates large sampling efforts to detect differences. Large numbers of individually sequenced libraries are costly. Pooling DNA prior to library preparation may be an efficient way to reduce costs and increase sample size, yet there are to date no recommendations in ecological epigenetics research. We test whether pooled and individual libraries yield comparable DNAm signals in a natural system exposed to different pollution levels by generating whole-epigenome data from two invasive molluscs (Corbicula fluminea, Dreissena polymorpha) collected from polluted and unpolluted localities (Italy). DNA of the same individuals were used for pooled and individual epigenomic libraries and sequenced with equivalent resources per individual. We found that pooling effectively captures similar genome-wide and global methylation signals as individual libraries, highlighting that pooled libraries are representative of the global population signal. However, pooled libraries yielded orders of magnitude more data than individual libraries, which was a consequence of higher coverage. We would therefore recommend aiming for a high initial coverage of individual libraries (15×) in future studies. Consequently, we detected many more differentially methylated regions (DMRs) with the pooled libraries and a significantly lower statistical power for regions from individual libraries. Computationally pooled data from the individual libraries produced fewer DMRs and the overlap with wet-lab pooled DMRs was relatively low. We discuss possible causes for discrepancies, list benefits and drawbacks of pooling, and provide recommendations for future epigenomic studies.

An Improved Chromosome-scale Genome Assembly and Population Genetics resource for Populus tremula.

Aspen (Populus tremula L.) is a keystone species and a model system for forest tree genomics. We present an updated resource comprising a chromosome-scale assembly, population genetics and genomics data. Using the resource, we explore the genetic basis of natural variation in leaf size and shape, traits with complex genetic architecture. We generated the genome assembly using long-read sequencing, optical and high-density genetic maps. We conducted whole-genome resequencing of the Umeå Aspen (UmAsp) collection. Using the assembly and re-sequencing data from the UmAsp, Swedish Aspen (SwAsp) and Scottish Aspen (ScotAsp) collections we performed genome-wide association analyses (GWAS) using Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) for 26 leaf physiognomy phenotypes. We conducted Assay of Transposase Accessible Chromatin sequencing (ATAC-Seq), identified genomic regions of accessible chromatin, and subset SNPs to these regions, improving the GWAS detection rate. We identified candidate long non-coding RNAs in leaf samples, quantified their expression in an updated co-expression network, and used this to explore the functions of candidate genes identified from the GWAS. A GWAS found SNP associations for seven traits. The associated SNPs were in or near genes annotated with developmental functions, which represent candidates for further study. Of particular interest was a ~177-kbp region harbouring associations with several leaf phenotypes in ScotAsp. We have incorporated the assembly, population genetics, genomics, and GWAS data into the PlantGenIE.org web resource, including updating existing genomics data to the new genome version, to enable easy exploration and visualisation. We provide all raw and processed data to facilitate reuse in future studies.