Review on personal protective equipment: Emerging concerns in micro(nano)plastic pollution and strategies for addressing environmental challenges.

The COVID-19 pandemic was caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, marking one of the most catastrophic global health crises of the 21st century. Throughout this period, widespread use and improper disposal of personal protective equipment (PPE) emerged as a pressing environmental issue, significantly impacting various life forms. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a high rate of PEP disposal. An alarming 1.6 × 106 tons of plastic waste each day has been generated since the onset of the outbreak, predominantly from the inadequate disposal of PPE. The mismanagement and subsequent degradation of discarded PPE significantly contribute to increased non-biodegradable micro(nano)plastic (MNP) waste. This pollution has had profound adverse effects on terrestrial, marine, and aquatic ecosystems, which have been extensively of concern recently. Accumulated MNPs within aquatic organisms could serve as a potential route for human exposure when consuming seafood. This review presents a novel aspect concerning the pollution caused by MNPs, particularly remarking on their role during the pandemic and their detrimental effects on human health. These microplastic particles, through the process of fragmentation, transform into nanoparticles, persisting in the environment and posing potential hazards. The prevalence of MNP from PPE, notably masks, raises concerns about their plausible health risks, warranting global attention and comprehensive exploration. Conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the long-term effects of these processes and implementing effective management strategies is essential.

Statins did not reduce the frequency of exacerbations in individuals with COPD and cardiovascular comorbidities in the COSYCONET cohort.

BACKGROUND: The evidence regarding effects of statins on exacerbation risk in COPD remains controversial. Previous studies often excluded patients with cardiovascular comorbidities despite their high prevalence in COPD and role for exacerbations. Based on the cardioprotective properties of statins, we hypothesised that statins may reduce the risk of exacerbations especially in patients with cardiovascular comorbidities. METHODS: One thousand eight hundred eighty seven patients of the German COPD cohort COSYCONET (COPD and Systemic Consequences Comorbidities Network) of GOLD grades 1-4 (37.8% female, mean age 64.78 ± 8.3) were examined at baseline and over a period of 4.5 years for the occurrence of at least one exacerbation or severe exacerbation per year in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses adjusted for age, gender, BMI, GOLD grade and pack-years. Due to their collinearity, various cardiovascular diseases were tested in separate analyses, whereby the potential effect of statins in the presence of a specific comorbidity was tested as interaction between statins and comorbidity. We also identified patients who never took statins, always took statins, or initiated statin intake during the follow-up. RESULTS: One thousand three hundred six patients never took statins, 31.6% were statin user, and 12.9% initiated statins during the follow-up. Most cardiovascular diseases were significantly (p < 0.05)may associated with an increased risk of COPD exacerbations, but in none of them the intake of statins was a significant attenuating factor, neither overall nor in modulating the increased risk linked to the specific comorbidities. The results of the cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were consistent with each other, also those regarding at least 1 exacerbation or at least 1 severe exacerbation per year. CONCLUSION: These findings complement the existing literature and may suggest that even in patients with COPD, cardiovascular comorbidities and a statin therapy that targets these comorbidities, the effects of statins on exacerbation risk are either negligible or more subtle than a reduction in exacerbation frequency. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: NCT01245933. Other Study ID (BMBF grant): 01GI0881, registered 18 November 2010, study start 2010-11, primary completion 2013-12, study completion 2023-09. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01245933?cond=COPD&term=COSYCONET&rank=3.

Photocatalytic degradation of antibiotic sulfamethizole by visible light activated perovskite LaZnO3.

In this work, the perovskite LaZnO3 was synthesized via sol-gel method and applied for photocatalytic treatment of sulfamethizole (SMZ) antibiotics under visible light activation. SMZ was almost completely degraded (99.2% ± 0.3%) within 4 hr by photocatalyst LaZnO3 at the optimal dosage of 1.1 g/L, with a mineralization proportion of 58.7% ± 0.4%. The efficient performance of LaZnO3 can be attributed to its wide-range light absorption and the appropriate energy band edge levels, which facilitate the formation of active agents such as ·O2-, h+, and ·OH. The integration of RP-HPLC/Q-TOF-MS and DFT-based computational techniques revealed three degradation pathways of SMZ, which were initiated by the deamination reaction at the aniline ring, the breakdown of the sulfonamide moieties, and a process known as Smile-type rearrangement and SO2 intrusion. Corresponding toxicity of SMZ and the intermediates were analyzed by quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR), indicating the effectiveness of LaZnO3-based photocatalysis in preventing secondary pollution of the intermediates to the ecosystem during the degradation process. The visible-light-activated photocatalyst LaZnO3 exhibited efficient performance in the occurrence of inorganic anions and maintained high durability across multiple recycling tests, making it a promising candidate for practical antibiotic treatment.

Co-formulation of the rF1V plague vaccine with depot-formulated cytokines enhances immunogenicity and efficacy to elicit protective responses against aerosol challenge in mice.

This study evaluated a depot-formulated cytokine-based adjuvant to improve the efficacy of the recombinant F1V (rF1V) plague vaccine and examined the protective response following aerosol challenge in a murine model. The results of this study showed that co-formulation of the Alhydrogel-adsorbed rF1V plague fusion vaccine with the depot-formulated cytokines recombinant human interleukin 2 (rhuIL-2) and/or recombinant murine granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rmGM-CSF) significantly enhances immunogenicity and significant protection at lower antigen doses against a lethal aerosol challenge. These results provide additional support for the co-application of the depot-formulated IL-2 and/or GM-CSF cytokines to enhance vaccine efficacy.

Applications of engineered biochar in remediation of heavy metal(loid)s pollution from wastewater: Current perspectives toward sustainable development goals.

Environmental pollution of heavy metal(loid)s (HMs) caused adverse impacts, has become one of the emerging concerns and challenges worldwide. Metal(loid)s can pose significant threats to living organisms even when present in trace levels within environmental matrices. Extended exposure to these substances can lead to adverse health consequences in humans. Removing HM-contaminated water and moving toward sustainable development goals (SDGs) is critical. In this mission, biochar has recently gained attention in the environmental sector as a green and alternative material for wastewater removal. This work provides a comprehensive analysis of the remediation of typical HMs by biochars, associated with an understanding of remediation mechanisms, and gives practical solutions for ecologically sustainable. Applying engineered biochar in various fields, especially with nanoscale biochar-aided wastewater treatment approaches, can eliminate hazardous metal(loid) contaminants, highlighting an environmentally friendly and low-cost method. Surface modification of engineered biochar with nanomaterials is a potential strategy that positively influences its sorption capacity to remove contaminants. The research findings highlighted the biochars' ability to adsorb HM ions based on increased specific surface area (SSA), heightened porosity, and forming inner-sphere complexes with oxygen-rich groups. Utilizing biochar modification emerged as a viable approach for addressing lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), and chromium (Cr) pollution in aqueous environments. Most biochars investigated demonstrated a removal efficiency >90 % (Cd, As, Hg) and can reach an impressive 99 % (Pb and Cr). Furthermore, biochar and advanced engineered applications are also considered alternative solutions based on the circular economy.

Correlations between the Michigan Retinal Degeneration Questionnaire and visual function parameters in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.

PURPOSE: To validate the use of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), low-luminance visual acuity (LLVA), low-luminance deficit (LLD; the difference between BCVA and LLVA), mean macular sensitivity and fixation stability as parameters of vision-related quality of life based on the novel Michigan Retinal Degeneration Questionnaire (MRDQ) in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients. METHODS: In this prospective cross sectional study, 30 patients with RP (47% female) were included with a median age of 41.0 years (interquartile range: 24.1-58.3 years). BCVA, LLVA and LLD were measured with Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) charts. Mesopic microperimetry was performed to measure mean macular sensitivity and fixation stability. Patients completed a Dutch translation of the MRDQ which results in an experienced disability (Θ-)score of seven domains. Spearman's rank correlation was used. RESULTS: BCVA correlated significantly to the MRDQ domain of central vision (r = 0.657; p < 0.001) and colour vision (r = 0.524; p = 0.003). Lower LLVA significantly correlated to higher experienced disability in the MRDQ domains for central vision (=0.550; p = 0.002) and contrast sensitivity (r = 0.502; p = 0.005). LLD was significantly correlated to the MRDQ domains of scotopic function (r = -0.484; p = 0.007) and mesopic peripheral function (r = -0.533; p = 0.002). Lower mean macular sensitivity was significantly associated with high experienced disability in all domains except for photosensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the MRDQ domains is strongly associated with visual function parameters. These findings show that visual function measurements, especially LLVA, LLD and mean macular sensitivity on microperimetry, reflect vision-related quality of life and can be used as relevant outcome measures in clinical trials for RP.

Modeling long-distance airborne transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza carried by dust particles.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is continuously causing significant economic losses with massive poultry depopulations. Airborne transmission of HPAI was suspected, as initial bird mortalities were reported near air inlets of poultry houses. In addition, infected farms were distant, indicating that the viruses carried by dust particles might help the viruses travel for long distances in the environment. The objective of this study focused on simulating the airborne transmission of HPAI by using computational modeling to assess the risk of airborne and deposited avian influenza (AI) carried by poultry-litter dust particles. The Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) modeling was used in this study. Data from 168 infected cases in the Mid-Western area of U.S. were obtained from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Watt Poultry. The concentration simulation modeling was performed to estimate the airborne and deposited AI concentration carried by PM2.5 dust particles. Results showed that concentrations of airborne AI, deposited AI, and combined AI transmitted to other farms in a day were lower than the minimal infective dose for poultry. In most of the scenarios, the predicted probability of infection showed that Iowa-infected farms and turkey poultry houses had the highest infection probability. The findings may provide an understanding of the risk of airborne HPAI virus carried by dust particles and suggest the factors that influence long-distance airborne transmission.

Occurrence, fate, and potential risk of pharmaceutical pollutants in agriculture: Challenges and environmentally friendly solutions.

In recent years, pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs) have attained global prevalence. The behavior of PhACs in agricultural soils is complex and depends on several factors, such as the nature of the compounds and their physicochemical characteristics, which affect their fate and potential threats to human health, ecosystems, and the environment. The detection of residual pharmaceutical content is possible in both agricultural soils and environmental matrices. PhACs are commonly found in agricultural soil, with concentrations varying significantly, ranging from as low as 0.048 ng g-1 to as high as 1420.76 mg kg-1. The distribution and persistence of PhACs in agriculture can lead to the leaching of these toxic pollutants into surface water, groundwater, and vegetables/plants, resulting in human health risks and environmental pollution. Biological degradation or bioremediation plays a critical role in environmental protection and efficiently eliminates contamination by hydrolytic and/or photochemical reactions. Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) have been investigated as the most recent approach for the treatment of emerging persistent micropollutants, including PhACs, from wastewater sources. MBR- based technologies have proven to be effective in eliminating pharmaceutical compounds, achieving removal rates of up to 100%. This remarkable outcome is primarily facilitated by the processes of biodegradation and metabolization. In addition, phytoremediation (i.e., constructed wetlands), microalgae-based technologies, and composting can be highly efficient in remediating PhACs in the environment. The exploration of key mechanisms involved in pharmaceutical degradation has revealed a range of approaches, such as phytoextraction, phytostabilization, phytoaccumulation, enhanced rhizosphere biodegradation, and phytovolatilization. The well-known advanced/tertiary removal of sustainable sorption by biochar, activated carbon, chitosan, etc. has high potential and yields excellent quality effluents. Adsorbents developed from agricultural by-products have been recognized to eliminate pharmaceutical compounds and are cost-effective and eco-friendly. However, to reduce the potentially harmful impacts of PhACs, it is necessary to focus on advanced technologies combined with tertiary processes that have low cost, high efficiency, and are energy-saving to remove these emerging pollutants for sustainable development.

A population-based assessment of avoidable hospitalizations and resource use of non-vaccinated patients with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has precipitated a prolonged public health crisis. Numerous public health protections were widely implemented. The availability of effective and safe vaccines for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) presented an opportunity to resolve this crisis; however, vaccine uptake was slow and inconsistent. This study evaluated the potential for preventable hospitalizations and avoidable resource use among eligible non-vaccinated persons hospitalized for COVID-19 had these persons been vaccinated. METHODS: This was a retrospective, population-based cohort study. The population-at-risk were persons aged ≥ 12 years in Alberta (mid-year 2021 population ~ 4.4 million). The primary exposure was vaccination status. The primary outcome was hospitalization with confirmed SARS-CoV-2, and secondary outcomes included avoidable hospitalizations, avoidable hospital bed-days, and the potential cost avoidance related to COVID-19. The study inception period was 27 September 2021 to 25 January 2022. Data on COVID-19 hospitalizations, vaccination status, health services, and costs were obtained from the Government of Alberta and from the Discharge Abstract Database. RESULTS: Hospitalizations occurred in 3835, 1907, and 481 persons who were non-vaccinated, fully vaccinated, and boosted (risk of hospitalization/100,000 population: 886, 92, and 43), respectively. For non-vaccinated persons compared with fully vaccinated and boosted persons, the risk ratios (95%CI) of hospitalization were 9.7 (7.9-11.8) and 20.6 (17.9-23.6), respectively. For non-vaccinated persons, estimates of avoidable hospitalizations and bed-days used were 3439 and 36,331 if fully vaccinated and 3764 and 40,185 if boosted. Estimates of cost avoidance for non-vaccinated persons were $101.46 million if fully vaccinated and $110.24 million if boosted. CONCLUSION: Eligible non-vaccinated persons with COVID-19 had tenfold and 21-fold higher risks of hospitalization relative to whether they had been fully vaccinated or boosted, resulting in considerable avoidable hospital bed-days and costs.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: La pandémie de maladie à coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) a précipité une crise de santé publique prolongée. De nombreuses mesures de protection de la santé publique ont été appliquées à grande échelle. La disponibilité de vaccins sûrs et efficaces contre le coronavirus du syndrome respiratoire aigu sévère 2 (SRAS-CoV-2) a présenté une occasion de résoudre la crise, mais l'acceptation de la vaccination a été lente et inégale. Dans cette étude, nous évaluons le potentiel d'hospitalisations évitables et d'utilisation évitable des ressources pour les personnes non vaccinées admissibles hospitalisées pour la COVID-19, si ces personnes avaient été vaccinées. MéTHODES: Il s'agissait d'une étude de cohorte populationnelle rétrospective. La population à risque était les personnes de ≥ 12 ans en Alberta (~ 4,4 millions au milieu de l'année 2021). Le principal risque était le statut vaccinal. Le principal résultat clinique était l'hospitalisation avec SRAS-CoV-2 confirmé, et les résultats cliniques secondaires étaient les hospitalisations évitables, les jours-lits à l'hôpital évitables et l'évitement potentiel des coûts liés à la COVID-19. La période initiale de l'étude s'est étendue du 27 septembre 2021 au 25 janvier 2022. Les données sur les hospitalisations pour la COVID-19, le statut vaccinal, les coûts et les services de santé provenaient du gouvernement de l'Alberta et de la Base de données sur les congés des patients. RéSULTATS: En tout, 3 835 personnes non vaccinées, 1 907 personnes ayant reçu tous leurs vaccins et 481 personnes ayant reçu des doses de rappel ont été hospitalisées (risque d'hospitalisation p. 100 000 personnes : 886, 92 et 43, respectivement). Pour les personnes non vaccinées, comparativement aux personnes ayant reçu tous leurs vaccins et/ou les doses de rappel, les risques relatifs d'hospitalisation (IC de 95%) étaient de 9,7 (7,9­11,8) et de 20,6 (17,9­23,6), respectivement. Selon nos estimations, les personnes non vaccinées auraient évité 3 439 hospitalisations et 36 331 jours-lits si elles avaient reçu tous leurs vaccins, et 3 764 hospitalisations et 40 185 jours-lits si elles avaient en plus reçu les doses de rappel. Nous avons aussi estimé que les personnes non vaccinées auraient évité des coûts de 101,46 millions de dollars si elles avaient reçu tous leurs vaccins et de 110,24 millions de dollars si elles avaient en plus reçu les doses de rappel. CONCLUSION: Les personnes non vaccinées admissibles ayant contracté la COVID-19 ont présenté un risque d'hospitalisation 10 fois plus élevé que si elles avaient reçu tous leurs vaccins et 21 fois plus élevé que si elles avaient en plus reçu les doses de rappel, ce qui représente des jours-lits à l'hôpital et des coûts évitables considérables.

Return on investment of the lymphoma diagnostic pathway implementation in Alberta, Canada.

The Lymphoma Diagnostic Pathway (LDP) was developed based upon clinical best practice guidelines and implemented in large urban centers where lymphoma treatment is provided in Alberta, Canada. A return-on-investment analysis of the implementation of this care pathway was conducted to inform future sustainability and expansion. A cohort design with propensity score matching and difference-in-difference estimation methods were used comparing both cost and return (reduced health service utilization) between patients who were diagnosed within the LDP and those who were diagnosed outside the LDP. LDP resulted in $1800 avoided HSU costs per patient. The LDP has been found to be cost-saving with an ROI of 5.3 (ranging from 3.95-8.97) - for every $1 invested, LDP resulted in a $5.30 return for the health system due to capacity improvements in ED, inpatient, outpatient, and a reduction in GP service utilization. Further study of implementation including patient/provider satisfaction and uptake is recommended.

Opioid prescriptions and patients' health services utilization and cost before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: an exploratory population-based administrative data analysis.

The objective was to explore percentages of the population treated with prescribed opioids and costs of opioid-related hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits among individuals treated with prescription opioids and costs of all opioid-related hospitalizations and ED visits in the province (i.e., provincial costs) before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Alberta, Canada. In administrative data, we identified individuals treated with prescription opioids and opioid-related hospitalizations and ED visits among those individuals and among all individuals in the province between 2015/16 and 2021/22 fiscal years. Services used were counted on an item-by-item basis and costed using case-mix approaches. Annually, from 9.98% (2020/21-2021/22) to 14.52% (2017/18) of the provincial population was treated with prescription opioids. Between 2015/16 and 2021/22, annual costs of opioid-related hospitalizations and ED visits among individuals treated with prescription opioids were ∼$5 and ∼$2 million, respectively. In 2020/21-2021/22, the provincial costs of opioid-related hospitalizations (∼$14 million) and ED visits (∼$7.0 million) were almost twice the costs observed in 2015/16 and immediately before the pandemic (2019/20). Our findings suggest that increases in the opioid-related utilization of inpatient and ED services between 2015/16 and 2021/22, including the drastic increases observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, were likely driven by unregulated substances.

Immunogen-Specific Strengths and Limitations of the Activation-Induced Marker Assay for Assessing Murine Antigen-Specific CD4+ T Cell Responses.

The activation-induced marker (AIM) assay is a cytokine-independent technique to identify Ag-specific T cells based on the upregulated expression of activation markers after Ag restimulation. The method offers an alternative to intracellular cytokine staining in immunological studies, in which limited cytokine production makes the cell subsets of interest difficult to detect. Studies of lymphocytes in human and nonhuman primates have used the AIM assay to detect Ag-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. However, there is a lack of validation of the strengths and limitations of the assay in murine (Mus musculus) models of infection and vaccination. In this study, we analyzed immune responses of TCR-transgenic CD4+ T cells, including lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-specific SMARTA, OVA-specific OT-II, and diabetogenic BDC2.5-transgenic T cells, and measured the ability of the AIM assay to effectively identify these cells to upregulate AIM markers OX40 and CD25 following culture with cognate Ag. Our findings indicate that the AIM assay is effective for identifying the relative frequency of protein immunization-induced effector and memory CD4+ T cells, whereas the AIM assay had reduced ability to identify specific cells induced by viral infection, particularly during chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection. Evaluation of polyclonal CD4+ T cell responses to acute viral infection demonstrated that the AIM assay can detect a proportion of both high- and low-affinity cells. Together, our findings indicate that the AIM assay can be an effective tool for relative quantification of murine Ag-specific CD4+ T cells to protein vaccination, while demonstrating its limitations during conditions of acute and chronic infection.

An Artificial Intelligence Tool for Clinical Decision Support and Protocol Selection for Brain MRI.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Protocolling, the process of determining the most appropriate acquisition parameters for an imaging study, is time-consuming and produces variable results depending on the performing physician. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential of an artificial intelligence-based semiautomated tool in reducing the workload and decreasing unwarranted variation in the protocolling process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected 19,721 MR imaging brain examinations at a large academic medical center. Criterion standard labels were created using physician consensus. A model based on the Long Short-Term Memory network was trained to predict the most appropriate protocol for any imaging request. The model was modified into a clinical decision support tool in which high-confidence predictions, determined by the values the model assigns to each possible choice, produced the best protocol automatically and low confidence predictions provided a shortened list of protocol choices for review. RESULTS: The model achieved 90.5% accuracy in predicting the criterion standard labels and demonstrated higher agreement than the original protocol assignments, which achieved 85.9% accuracy (κ = 0.84 versus 0.72, P value < .001). As a clinical decision support tool, the model automatically assigned 70% of protocols with 97.3% accuracy and, for the remaining 30% of examinations, achieved 94.7% accuracy when providing the top 2 protocols. CONCLUSIONS: Our model achieved high accuracy on a standard based on physician consensus. It showed promise as a clinical decision support tool to reduce the workload by automating the protocolling of a sizeable portion of examinations while maintaining high accuracy for the remaining examinations.

The magnitude of the germinal center B cell and T follicular helper cell response predicts long-lasting antibody titers to plague vaccination.

The development of a safe and effective vaccine against Yersinia pestis, the causative organism for plague disease, remains an important global health priority. Studies have demonstrated effective immune-based protection against plague challenge that is induced by plague antigen subunit vaccination in an aqueous alhydrogel formulation; however, whether these candidate vaccines in this formulation and presentation, induce long-lasting immunological memory in the form of durable cellular and antibody recall responses has not been fully demonstrated. In this study, we analyzed germinal center T follicular helper and germinal center B cell responses following F1V and F1 + V plague subunit immunization of mice with vaccines formulated in various adjuvants. Our data demonstrate that recombinant plague protein immunization formulated with IL-2/GM-CSF cytokines bound to alhydrogel adjuvant drive an increase in the magnitude of the germinal center T follicular helper and germinal center B cell responses following primary immunization, compared to vaccines formulated with Alhydrogel adjuvant alone. In contrast, plague protein subunit immunization combined with CpG ODN bound to alhydrogel increased the magnitude and duration of the germinal center Tfh and B cell responses following booster immunization. Importantly, enhanced germinal center Tfh and B cell responses correlated with long-lasting and high F1V-specific antibody titers and more robust antibody recall responses to F1V re-exposure. These findings indicate that vaccine formulations that drive enhancement of the germinal center Tfh and B cell responses are critical for inducing durable plague-specific humoral immunity.

Adsorptive removal of phosphate from aqueous solutions using low-cost modified biochar-packed column: Effect of operational parameters and kinetic study.

Adsorption in the continuous mode plays a significant role in wastewater treatment. In this study, Mimosa pigra-derived biochar modified with 2 M AlCl3 salt was used to pack a lab-scale column to eliminate PO43- from aqueous solutions. The influence of the operational factors, such as inlet PO43- concentration (25-100 mg/L), flow rate (6-18 mL/min), and biochar bed height (1.5-4.5 cm), on the breakthrough curve was evaluated. The kinetic models of Adam-Bohart and Yoon-Nelson were utilized to analyze the experimental results. The best conditions were determined to be the influent PO43- strength of 50 mg/L, injection speed of 6 mL/min, and column height of 4.5 cm. These results can be applied in the design of large-scale columns for the sequestration of PO43- from wastewater.

Multivariate analysis identifying the main factors associated with cow productivity and welfare in tropical smallholder dairy farms in Vietnam.

This study aimed to rank potential drivers of cow productivity and welfare in tropical smallholder dairy farms (SDFs) in Vietnam. Forty-one variables were collected from 32 SDFs located in four geographically diverse dairy regions, with eight SDFs per region. Twelve variables, including milk yield (MILK), percentages of milk fat (mFA), protein (mPR), dry matter (mDM), energy-corrected milk yield (ECM), heart girth (HG), body weight (BW), ECM per 100 kg BW (ECMbw), body condition score (BCS), panting score (PS), inseminations per conception (tAI), and milk electrical resistance (mRE) of cows, were fitted as outcome variables in the models. Twenty-one other variables describing farm altitude, housing condition, and diet for the cows, cow genotypes, and cow physiological stage were fitted as explanatory variables. Increased farm altitude was associated with increases in ECM and mRE and with decreases in PS and tAI (P < 0.05). Increases in roof heights and percentage of shed side open were associated with increases in ECM, mFA, and mDM (P < 0.05). Increased dry matter intake and dietary densities of dry matter and fat were associated with increased MILK, ECM, and ECMbw and decreased tAI (P < 0.05). Increased dietary lignin density was associated with increased PS. Increased genetic proportion of Brown Swiss in the herd was associated with increased MILK, ECM, and ECMbw (P < 0.05). Thus, to improve cow productivity and welfare in Vietnamese SDFs, the following interventions were identified for testing in future cause-effect experiments: increasing floor area per cow, roof heights, shed sides open, dry matter intake, dietary fat density, and the genetic proportion of Brown Swiss and decreasing dietary lignin density.

Machine learning-assisted evaluation of potential biochars for pharmaceutical removal from water.

A popular approach to select optimal adsorbents is to perform parallel experiments on adsorbents based on an initially decided goal such as specified product purity, efficiency, or binding capacity. To screen optimal adsorbents, we focused on the max adsorption capacity of the candidates at equilibrium in this work because the adsorption capacity of each adsorbent is strongly dependent on certain conditions. A data-driven machine learning tool for predicting the max adsorption capacity (Qm) of 19 pharmaceutical compounds on 88 biochars was developed. The range of values of Qm (mean 48.29 mg/g) was remarkably large, with a high number of outliers and large variability. Modified biochars enhanced the Qm and surface area values compared with the original biochar, with a statistically significant difference (Chi-square value = 7.21-18.25, P < 0.005). K- nearest neighbors (KNN) was found to be the most optimal algorithm with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 23.48 followed by random forest and Cubist with RMSE of 26.91 and 29.56, respectively, whereas linear regression and regularization were the worst algorithms. KNN model achieved R2 of 0.92 and RMSE of 16.62 for the testing data. A web app was developed to facilitate the use of the KNN model, providing a reliable solution for saving time and money in unnecessary lab-scale adsorption experiments while selecting appropriate biochars for pharmaceutical adsorption.

A selective hydrometallurgical method for scandium recovery from a real red mud leachate: A comparative study.

The aim of this study was to recover Sc as the main product and Fe as a by-product from Hungarian bauxite residue/red mud (RM) waste material by solvent extraction (SX). Moreover, a new technique was developed for the selective separation of Sc and Fe from real RM leachates. The presence of high Fe content (∼38%) in RM makes it difficult to recover Sc because of the similarity of their physicochemical properties. Pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical methods were applied to remove the Fe prior to SX. Two protocols based on organophosphorus compounds (OPCs) were proposed, and the main extractants were evaluated: bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA/P204) and tributyl phosphate (TBP). The results showed that SX using diethyl ether and tri-n-octylamine (N235) was efficient in extracting Fe(III) from the HCl leachate as HFeC14. Over 97% of Sc was extracted by D2EHPA extractant under the following conditions; 0.05 mol/L of D2EHPA concentration, A/O phase ratio of 3:1, pH 0-1, 10 min of shaking time, and a temperature of 25 °C. Sc(OH)3 as a precipitate was efficiently obtained by stripping from the D2EHPA organic phase by 2.5 mol/L of NaOH with a stripping efficiency of 95%. In the TBP system, 99% of Sc was extracted under the following conditions: 12.5% vol of TBP, an A/O phase ratio of 3:1, 10 min of shaking time, and a temperature of 25 °C. The Sc contained in the TBP organic phase could be efficiently stripped by 1 mol/L of HCl with a stripping efficiency of 92.85%.

Tet2 coordinates with Foxo1 and Runx1 to balance T follicular helper cell and T helper 1 cell differentiation.

In response to various types of infection, naïve CD4+ T cells differentiate into diverse helper T cell subsets; however, the epigenetic programs that regulate differentiation in response to viral infection remain poorly understood. Demethylation of CpG dinucleotides by Tet methylcytosine dioxygenases is a key component of epigenetic programing that promotes specific gene expression, cellular differentiation, and function. We report that following viral infection, Tet2-deficient CD4+ T cells preferentially differentiate into highly functional germinal center T follicular helper (TFH) cells that provide enhanced help for B cells. Using genome-wide DNA methylation and transcription factor binding analyses, we find that Tet2 coordinates with multiple transcription factors, including Foxo1 and Runx1, to mediate the demethylation and expression of target genes, including genes encoding repressors of TFH differentiation. Our findings establish Tet2 as an important regulator of TFH cell differentiation and reveal pathways that could be targeted to enhance immune responses against infectious disease.

Poly-NIPAM/Fe3O4/multiwalled carbon nanotube nanocomposites for kerosene removal from water.

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were oxidized using a mixture of H2SO4 and HNO3, and the oxidized MWCNTS were decorated with magnetite (Fe3O4). Finally, poly-N-isopropyl acrylamide-co-butyl acrylate (P-NIPAM) was added to obtain P-NIPAM/Fe/MWCNT nanocomposites. The nanosorbents were characterized by various techniques, including X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis. The P-NIPAM/Fe/MWCNT nanocomposites exhibited increased surface hydrophobicity. Owing to their higher adsorption capacity, their kerosene removal efficiency was 95%; by contrast, the as-prepared, oxidized, and magnetite-decorated MWCNTs had removal efficiencies of 45%, 55%, and 68%, respectively. The P-NIPAM/Fe/MWCNT nanocomposites exhibited a sorbent capacity of 8.1 g/g for kerosene removal from water. The highest kerosene removal efficiency from water was obtained at a process time of 45 min, sorbent dose of 0.005 g, solution temperature of 40 °C, and pH 3.5. The P-NIPAM/Fe/MWCNTs showed excellent stability after four cycles of kerosene removal from water followed by regeneration. The reason may be the increase in the positive charge of the polymer at pH 3.5 and the increased adsorption affinity of the adsorbent toward the kerosene contaminant. The pseudo second-order model was found to be the most suitable model for studying the kinetics of the adsorption reaction.