Combining slow-release fertilizer and plastic film mulching reduced the carbon footprint and enhanced maize yield on the Loess Plateau.

Agricultural practices significantly contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, necessitating cleaner production technologies to reduce environmental pressure and achieve sustainable maize production. Plastic film mulching is commonly used in the Loess Plateau region. Incorporating slow-release fertilizers as a replacement for urea within this practice can reduce nitrogen losses and enhance crop productivity. Combining these techniques represents a novel agricultural approach in semi-arid areas. However, the impact of this integration on soil carbon storage (SOCS), carbon footprint (CF), and economic benefits has received limited research attention. Therefore, we conducted an eight-year study (2015-2022) in the semi-arid northwestern region to quantify the effects of four treatments [urea supplied without plastic film mulching (CK-U), slow-release fertilizer supplied without plastic film mulching (CK-S), urea supplied with plastic film mulching (PM-U), and slow-release fertilizer supplied with plastic film mulching (PM-S)] on soil fertility, economic and environmental benefits. The results revealed that nitrogen fertilizer was the primary contributor to total GHG emissions (≥71.97%). Compared to other treatments, PM-S increased average grain yield by 12.01%-37.89%, water use efficiency by 9.19%-23.33%, nitrogen accumulation by 27.07%-66.19%, and net return by 6.21%-29.57%. Furthermore, PM-S decreased CF by 12.87%-44.31% and CF per net return by 14.25%-41.16%. After eight years, PM-S increased SOCS (0-40 cm) by 2.46%, while PM-U decreased it by 7.09%. These findings highlight the positive effects of PM-S on surface soil fertility, economic gains, and environmental benefits in spring maize production on the Loess Plateau, underscoring its potential for widespread adoption and application.

Hybrid and enhanced electrokinetic system for soil remediation from heavy metals and organic matter.

The electrokinetic (EK) process has been proposed for soil decontamination from heavy metals and organic matter. The advantages of the EK process include the low operating energy, suitability for fine-grained soil decontamination, and no need for excavation. During the last three decades, enhanced and hybrid EK systems were developed and tested for improving the efficiency of contaminants removal from soils. Chemically enhanced-EK processes exhibited excellent efficiency in removing contaminants by controlling the soil pH or the chemical reaction of contaminants. EK hybrid systems were tested to overcome environmental hurdles or technical drawbacks of decontamination technologies. Hybridization of the EK process with phytoremediation, bioremediation, or reactive filter media (RFM) improved the remediation process performance by capturing contaminants or facilitating biological agents' movement in the soil. Also, EK process coupling with solar energy was proposed to treat off-grid contaminated soils or reduce the EK energy requirements. This study reviews recent advancements in the enhancement and hybrid EK systems for soil remediation and the type of contaminants targeted by the process. The study also covered the impact of operating parameters, imperfect pollution separation, and differences in the physicochemical characteristics and microstructure of soil/sediment on the EK performance. Finally, a comparison between various remediation processes was presented to highlight the pros and cons of these technologies.

Polyethylene glycol has immunoprotective effects on sciatic allografts, but behavioral recovery and graft tolerance require neurorrhaphy and axonal fusion.

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202504000-00033/figure1/v/2024-07-06T104127Z/r/image-tiff Behavioral recovery using (viable) peripheral nerve allografts to repair ablation-type (segmental-loss) peripheral nerve injuries is delayed or poor due to slow and inaccurate axonal regeneration. Furthermore, such peripheral nerve allografts undergo immunological rejection by the host immune system. In contrast, peripheral nerve injuries repaired by polyethylene glycol fusion of peripheral nerve allografts exhibit excellent behavioral recovery within weeks, reduced immune responses, and many axons do not undergo Wallerian degeneration. The relative contribution of neurorrhaphy and polyethylene glycol-fusion of axons versus the effects of polyethylene glycol per se was unknown prior to this study. We hypothesized that polyethylene glycol might have some immune-protective effects, but polyethylene glycol-fusion was necessary to prevent Wallerian degeneration and functional/behavioral recovery. We examined how polyethylene glycol solutions per se affect functional and behavioral recovery and peripheral nerve allograft morphological and immunological responses in the absence of polyethylene glycol-induced axonal fusion. Ablation-type sciatic nerve injuries in outbred Sprague-Dawley rats were repaired according to a modified protocol using the same solutions as polyethylene glycol-fused peripheral nerve allografts, but peripheral nerve allografts were loose-sutured (loose-sutured polyethylene glycol) with an intentional gap of 1-2 mm to prevent fusion by polyethylene glycol of peripheral nerve allograft axons with host axons. Similar to negative control peripheral nerve allografts not treated by polyethylene glycol and in contrast to polyethylene glycol-fused peripheral nerve allografts, animals with loose-sutured polyethylene glycol peripheral nerve allografts exhibited Wallerian degeneration for all axons and myelin degeneration by 7 days postoperatively and did not recover sciatic-mediated behavioral functions by 42 days postoperatively. Other morphological signs of rejection, such as collapsed Schwann cell basal lamina tubes, were absent in polyethylene glycol-fused peripheral nerve allografts but commonly observed in negative control and loose-sutured polyethylene glycol peripheral nerve allografts at 21 days postoperatively. Loose-sutured polyethylene glycol peripheral nerve allografts had more pro-inflammatory and less anti-inflammatory macrophages than negative control peripheral nerve allografts. While T cell counts were similarly high in loose-sutured-polyethylene glycol and negative control peripheral nerve allografts, loose-sutured polyethylene glycol peripheral nerve allografts expressed some cytokines/chemokines important for T cell activation at much lower levels at 14 days postoperatively. MHCI expression was elevated in loose-sutured polyethylene glycol peripheral nerve allografts, but MHCII expression was modestly lower compared to negative control at 21 days postoperatively. We conclude that, while polyethylene glycol per se reduces some immune responses of peripheral nerve allografts, successful polyethylene glycol-fusion repair of some axons is necessary to prevent Wallerian degeneration of those axons and immune rejection of peripheral nerve allografts, and produce recovery of sensory/motor functions and voluntary behaviors. Translation of polyethylene glycol-fusion technologies would produce a paradigm shift from the current clinical practice of waiting days to months to repair ablation peripheral nerve injuries.

Pathophysiology of Prurigo Nodularis: Neuroimmune Dysregulation and the Role of Type 2 Inflammation.

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition characterized by multiple, intensely pruritic, distinctive nodular lesions. Subsequent scratching can further intensify the pruritus, culminating in a self-reinforcing itch-scratch cycle, which drives lesion development. The latest data indicate dysregulation of the neuroimmune axis in PN pathogenesis, including the involvement of sensory neurons, key effector immune cells, proinflammatory cytokines, dermal fibroblasts, and pruritogens. In this review, we highlight evidence supporting the role of type 2 immune axis dysregulation in driving the clinical presentation of PN and discuss how related signaling pathways may offer effective therapeutic targets to control PN signs and symptoms.

Atrial Fibrillation and Semaglutide Effects in Obesity-Related Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: STEP-HFpEF Program.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a key factor in the development and progression of both heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and atrial fibrillation (AF). In the STEP-HFpEF Program (comprising the STEP-HFpEF [Research Study to Investigate How Well Semaglutide Works in People Living With Heart Failure and Obesity] and STEP-HFpEF DM [Research Study to Look at How Well Semaglutide Works in People Living With Heart Failure, Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes] trials), once-weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg improved HF-related symptoms, physical limitations, and exercise function and reduced body weight in patients with obesity-related HFpEF. Whether the effects of semaglutide in this patient group differ in participants with and without AF (and across various AF types) has not been fully examined. OBJECTIVES: The goals of this study were: 1) to evaluate baseline characteristics and clinical features of patients with obesity-related HFpEF with and without a history of AF; and 2) to determine if the efficacy of semaglutide across all key trial outcomes are influenced by baseline history of AF (and AF types) in the STEP-HFpEF Program. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of pooled data from the STEP-HFpEF and STEP-HFpEF DM trials. Patients with heart failure, left ventricular ejection fraction ≥45%, body mass index ≥30 kg/m2, and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire-Clinical Summary Score (KCCQ-CSS) <90 points were randomized 1:1 to receive once-weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg or matching placebo for 52 weeks. Dual primary endpoints (change in KCCQ-CSS and percent change in body weight), confirmatory secondary endpoints (change in 6-minute walk distance; hierarchical composite endpoint comprising all-cause death, HF events, thresholds of change in KCCQ-CSS, and 6-minute walk distance; and C-reactive protein [CRP]), and exploratory endpoint (change in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP]) were examined according to investigator-reported history of AF (yes/no). Responder analyses examined the proportions of patients who experienced a ≥5-, ≥10, ≥15, and ≥20-point improvement in KCCQ-CSS per history of AF. RESULTS: Of the 1,145 participants, 518 (45%) had a history of AF (40% paroxysmal, 24% persistent AF, and 35% permanent AF) and 627 (55%) did not. Participants with (vs without) AF were older, more often male, had higher NT-proBNP levels, included a higher proportion of those with NYHA functional class III symptoms, and used more antithrombotic therapies, beta-blockers, and diuretics. Semaglutide led to larger improvements in KCCQ-CSS (11.5 points [95% CI: 8.3-14.8] vs 4.3 points [95% CI: 1.3-7.2]; P interaction = 0.001) and the hierarchal composite endpoint (win ratio of 2.25 [95% CI: 1.79-2.83] vs 1.30 [95% CI: 1.06-1.59]; P interaction < 0.001) in participants with AF vs without AF, respectively. The proportions of patients receiving semaglutide vs those receiving placebo experiencing ≥5-, ≥10-, ≥15-, and ≥20-point improvement in KCCQ-CSS were also higher in those with (vs without) AF (all P interaction values <0.05). Semaglutide consistently reduced CRP, NT-proBNP, and body weight regardless of AF status (all P interaction values not significant). There were fewer serious adverse events and serious cardiac disorders in participants treated with semaglutide vs placebo irrespective of AF history. CONCLUSIONS: In the STEP-HFpEF Program, AF was observed in nearly one-half of patients with obesity-related HFpEF and was associated with several features of more advanced HF. Treatment with semaglutide led to significant improvements in HF-related symptoms, physical limitations, and exercise function, as well as reductions in weight, CRP, and NT-proBNP in people with and without AF and across AF types. The magnitude of semaglutide-mediated improvements in HF-related symptoms and physical limitations was more pronounced in those with AF vs without AF at baseline.(Research Study to Investigate How Well Semaglutide Works in People Living With Heart Failure and Obesity [STEP-HFpEF; NCT04788511; Research Study to Look at How Well Semaglutide Works in People Living With Heart Failure, Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes [STEP-HFpEF DM; NCT04916470]).

Fasting vs no fasting prior to catheterisation laboratory procedures: the SCOFF trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Current guidelines recommend 6 hours of solid food and 2 hours of clear liquid fasting for patients undergoing cardiac procedures with conscious sedation. There are no data to support this practice, and previous single centre studies support the safety of removing fasting requirements. The objective of this study was to determine the non-inferiority of a no fasting strategy to fasting prior to cardiac catheterisation procedures which require conscious sedation. METHODS: This is a multicentre, investigator-initiated, non-inferiority randomised trial conduced in Australia with a prospective open label blinded endpoint design. Patients referred for coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention or cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) related procedures were enrolled. Patients were randomised 1:1 to fasting as normal (6 hours solid food and 2 hours clear liquid) or no fasting requirements (encouraged to have regular meals but not mandated to do so). Recruitment occurred from 2022 to 2023. The primary outcome was a composite of aspiration pneumonia, hypotension, hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia assessed with a Bayesian approach. Secondary outcomes included patient satisfaction score, new ventilation requirement (non-invasive and invasive), new intensive care unit admission, 30-day readmission, 30-day mortality, 30-day pneumonia. RESULTS: 716 patients were randomised with 358 in each group. Those in the fasting arm had significantly longer solid food fasting (13.2 versus 3.0 hours, Bayes factor >100 indicating extreme evidence of difference) and clear liquid fasting times (7.0 versus 2.4 hours, Bayes factor >100). The primary composite outcome occurred in 19.1% of patients in the fasting arm and 12.0% of patients in the no fasting arm. The estimate of the mean posterior difference in proportions in the primary composite outcome was -5.2% (95% CI -9.6 to -0.9, ) favouring no fasting. This result confirms non-inferiority (posterior probability >99.5%) and superiority (posterior probability 99.1%) of no fasting for the primary composite outcome. The no fasting arm had improved patient satisfaction scores with a posterior mean difference of 4.02 points (95% CI 3.36 to 4.67, Bayes factor >100). Secondary outcome events were similar. CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing cardiac catheterisation and CIED related procedures, no fasting was non-inferior and superior to fasting for the primary composite outcome of aspiration pneumonia, hypotension, hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia. Patient satisfaction scores were significantly better with no fasting. This supports removing fasting requirements for patients undergoing cardiac catheterisation laboratory procedures that require conscious sedation.

MR-guided focused ultrasound in pediatric neurosurgery: current insights, technical challenges, and lessons learned from 45 treatments at Children's National Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: MR-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is an evolving technology with numerous present and potential applications in pediatric neurosurgery. The aim of this study was to describe the use of MRgFUS, technical challenges, complications, and lessons learned at a single children's hospital. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of a prospectively collected database of all pediatric patients undergoing investigational use of MRgFUS for treatment of various neurosurgical pathologies at Children's National Hospital. Treatment details, clinical workflow, and standard operating procedures are described. Patient demographics, procedure duration, and complications were obtained through a chart review of anesthesia and operative reports. RESULTS: In total, 45 MRgFUS procedures were performed on 14 patients for treatment of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (n = 12), low-grade glioma (n = 1), or secondary dystonia (n = 1) between January 2022 and April 2024. The mean age at treatment was 9 (range 5-22) years, and 64% of the patients were male. With increased experience, the total anesthesia time, sonication time, and change in core body temperature during treatment all significantly decreased. Complications affected 4.4% of patients, including 1 case of scalp edema and 1 patient with a postprocedure epidural hematoma. Device malfunction requiring abortion of the procedure occurred in 1 case (2.2%). Technical challenges related to transducer malfunction and sonication errors occurred in 6.7% and 11.1% of cases, respectively, all overcome by subsequent user modifications. CONCLUSIONS: The authors describe the largest series on MRgFUS technical aspects in pediatric neurosurgery at a single institution, comprising 45 total treatments. This study emphasizes potential technical challenges and provides valuable insights into the nuances of its application in pediatric patients.

Herpesviruses and human papillomaviruses in saliva and biopsies of patients with orofacial tumors.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and association of HPV and Herpesviruses in saliva and tissue samples of patients with orofacial tumors. METHODS: Biopsies of tumors were done, and saliva samples were collected from patients with orofacial tumors for the determination of viruses using nested multiplex PCR. Independent variables were sex, age, comorbidities, tumor stage, and length of stay. Outcome variables were the presence or absence of herpesviruses and HPV. Descriptive summaries and inferential statistics were done. RESULTS: A hundred patients were included in the study. Prevalence of herpesviruses and HPV were 17.6 % and 57.0 % in tumors, and 48.3 % and 60.0 % in the saliva of patients respectively. Herpesviruses detected included EBV (21.3 %), HHV-7 (11.2 %), CMV (6.7 %), HSV-1 (5.1 %), HSV-2 (1.1 %), VZV (1.1 %), and Kaposi sarcoma virus (0.6 %). The most prevalent HPV genotypes were HPV-42 (29 %), HPV-43 (22.7 %), HPV-52 (22.2 %), HPV-39 (18.8 %), and HPV-18 (9.1 %). The odds of EBV being detected in malignant orofacial tumors were 2 times that of benign orofacial tumors. HPV DNA in the saliva of patients with orofacial tumors was 69.7 %, compared to 18.2 % of the control sample (p < 0.001). The median length of stay for all participants was 6.5 days, those associated with viruses stayed longer. CONCLUSION: There was a high prevalence of Herpesviruses and HPV in saliva and tumor samples of patients with orofacial tumors, signalling some potential for more work to be done in this area.

Pain during caesarean delivery in a tertiary maternity hospital: a retrospective cohort study (2022-2023).

BACKGROUND: Intra-operative pain during Caesarean delivery (PDCD) is the leading cause of successful litigation against obstetric anaesthesiologists. PDCD may require conversion to general anaesthesia (GA). The aim of this analysis is to assess our incidence of PDCD and associated GA conversion. METHODS: Data were collected from electronic patient records. Data included baseline demographics, incidence of PDCD and rates of GA conversion, proportion of PDCD cases attributable to failed epidural (EA) or spinal anaesthesia (SA), and level of sensory and motor blockade in cases of PDCD. Results were audited against current standards set by the Royal College of Anaesthetists 'rates of PDCD should be <5% for category 4, <15% for categories 2-3, and <20 % for category 1 CD ' and that 'rates of conversion to GA due to neuraxial complications should be <1% for category 4, <5% for categories 2-3 and <15% for category 1 patients'. RESULTS: During the 12-month study period, 2,429 patients underwent CD, of whom 52 (2.1%) experienced PDCD. The incidence of PDCD was 3.1% (41/1,309) for category 1-3 patients, while 1% (11/1,120) of category 4 patients experienced PDS. Of the 52 patients with PDCD, 17 patients required GA (33%). SA was used in 24/52 (47%) cases and EA in 28/52 (53%) cases. The median level of sensory block in patients with PDCD was located at the T4 dermatome, the median level of motor block was Bromage level 2. CONCLUSIONS: PDCD occurred in 2.1% of CD, one-third required conversion to GA. Most patients experiencing PDCD met current motor and sensory blockade criteria.

Droperidol administration among emergency department patients with abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to examine the common usage patterns of droperidol in the relatively unrestricted environment of an urban, academic medical center. We focused specifically on the most common use of droperidol in our department: patients with a chief complaint of abdominal pain, nausea, and/or vomiting. METHODS: For this retrospective, observational, single-center study, we extracted records of all administrations of droperidol from August 2019 to August 2020. Patients with a chief complaint of abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting, or any combination thereof, were included in data analysis. RESULTS: Between April 2019 to August 2020, 830 discrete patient visits involving droperidol administration were identified, comprising 706 patients. The average age was 39 years old with a range of 15 to 80. Seven patients (0.08%) were younger than 18, and 35 (4%) were older than 65. Five hundred sixty-five patients (68%) were female. Droperidol doses ranged from 0.625 mg to 5 mg intravenous (IV), with a median dose of 0.625 mg (interquartile range 0.625-1.25 mg), with 590 patients (71%) receiving a dose of 0.625 mg. Only 19 patients (2.3%) had a documented adverse event. Seven had akathisia or restlessness, 7 had anxiety or agitation, 3 had dystonia or stiffness, 1 had fatigue, and 1 had dizziness. For the entire cohort, there were no cardiac dysrhythmias, syncope, seizures, other major adverse events, or fatalities recorded. CONCLUSION: At one institution, droperidol is being used commonly for the chief complaints of abdominal pain, nausea, and/or vomiting. The preferred dosing is nearly universally below the 2.5 mg IV dose for which the FDA warning applies. Similar to previous studies, identification of adverse events was rare, and no major adverse outcomes such as dysrhythmia or death were identified.

Alginate-based artificial antigen presenting cells expand functional CD8+ T cells with memory characteristics for adoptive cell therapy.

The development of artificial Antigen Presenting Cells (aAPCs) has led to improvements in adoptive T cell therapy (ACT), an immunotherapy, for cancer treatment. aAPCs help to streamline the consistent production and expansion of T cells, thus reducing the time and costs associated with ACT. However, several issues still exist with ACT, such as insufficient T cell potency, which diminishes the translational potential for ACT. While aAPCs have been used primarily to increase production efficiency of T cells for ACT, the intrinsic properties of a biomaterial-based aAPC may affect T cell phenotype and function. In CD8+ T cells, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress accumulation can activate Forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) to transcribe antioxidants which reduce ROS and improve memory formation. Alginate, a biocompatible and antioxidant rich biomaterial, is promising for incorporation into an aAPC formulation to modulate T cell phenotype. To investigate its utility, a novel alginate-based aAPC platform was developed that preferentially expanded CD8+ T cells with memory related features. Alginate-based aAPCs allowed for greater control of CD8+ T cell qualities, including, significantly improved in vivo persistence and augmented in vivo anti-tumor T cell responses.

Using machine-learning approaches to investigate the volatile-compound fingerprint of fishy off-flavour from beef with enhanced healthful fatty acids.

Machine learning classification approaches were used to discriminate a fishy off-flavour identified in beef with health-enhanced fatty acid profiles. The random forest approach outperformed (P < 0.001; receiver operating characteristic curve: 99.8 %, sensitivity: 99.9 % and specificity: 93.7 %) the logistic regression, partial least-squares discrimination analysis and the support vector machine (linear and radial) approaches, correctly classifying 100 % and 82 % of the fishy and non-fishy meat samples, respectively. The random forest algorithm identified 20 volatile compounds responsible for the discrimination of fishy from non-fishy meat samples. Among those, seven volatile compounds (pentadecane, octadecane, γ-dodecalactone, dodecanal, (E,E)-2,4-heptadienal, 2-heptanone, and ethylbenzene) were selected as significant contributors to the fishy off-flavour fingerprint, all being related to lipid oxidation. This fishy off-flavour fingerprint could facilitate the rapid monitoring of beef with enhanced healthy fatty acids to avoid consumer dissatisfaction due to fishy off-flavour.

Stereocontrolled 1,2-trans-arabinofuranosylation in the absence of 2-O-acyl group in glycosyl donor.

Stereocontrolled 1,2-trans-α-arabinofuranosylation using polysilylated mono- and disaccharide glycosyl donors was investigated. A complete α-stereoselectivity of 1,2-trans-arabinofuranosylation was found for Ara-ß-(1 â†’ 2)-Ara disaccharide glycosyl donors containing five triisopropylsilyl (TIPS) groups with arylthiol (1) (as shown in our previous publications) or N-phenyltrifluoroacetimidoyl (2) (this work) leaving groups. Conversely, in case of monosaccharide thioglycosides polysilylated with acyclic silyl groups (TIPS, TBDPS), stereoselectivity of glycosylation was lower (α:ß = 7-8:1), although the desired α-isomer still dominated. Disaccharide glycosyl donor 2 was successfully used in the synthesis of linear α-(1 â†’ 5)-, ß-(1 â†’ 2)-linked hexaarabinofuranoside useful for further preparation of conjugates thereof as antigens valuable for the diagnosis of mycobacterioses.

Application of zirconium aspartic acid metal-organic framework (MIP-202(Zr)) for high efficient ruthenium adsorption from aqueous solutions.

The zirconium metal - organic framework MIP-202(Zr), based on L-aspartic acid, was prepared by hydrothermal method and used for study of ruthenium adsorption from aqueous solutions. The obtained material was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), infra red spectroscopy (IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The batch adsorption experiment was performed for determination of adsorption equilibrium, kinetics and thermodynamics parameters to Ru(III) from aqueous solution on MIP-202(Zr). The data of ruthenium sorption onto MIP-202(Zr) were fitted and analyzed by the Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin equilibrium isotherm models, while the Langumir adsorption isotherm models fit the best. Kinetic data were analyzed by four kinetic models, and ruthenium sorption on MIP202(Zr) can be describes the best by intra particle diffusion (Weber Morris). Analysis of thermodynamic properties of ruthenium ions sorption onto MIP-202(Zr) shows that the sorption process has a spontaneous and endothermic nature and is energetically beneficial.

Distribution of total mercury in coastal sediments of Honda Bay, Palawan Island, the Philippines.

Honda Bay is considered as one of the mercury hotspots in the world due to its proximity to the abandoned Palawan Quicksilver Mine. In this study, a detailed sediment sampling conducted in between 2021 and 2022 where a total of 166 sediment samples were collected along the coast and analyzed for total mercury (THg) concentration. The study assessed mercury toxicity using the geoaccumulation index and compared Hg levels to sediment quality guidelines. The findings revealed a wide range of THg concentrations, from 0.0040 to 11.4702 mg/kg, with hotspots identified at the Honda Bay wharf and Tagburos River mouth. Mercury spreads to a large coastal area brought by tidal currents and the wave energy actions. The geoaccumulation index indicated moderate to strong Hg contamination in the vicinity of the hotspots and around 24.7-36.1 % of samples exceeded the sediment quality guidelines suggesting adverse biological effects in aquatic biota will frequently occur.

Smart waterborne disease control for a scalable population using biodynamic model in IoT network.

We propose a biodynamic model for managing waterborne diseases over an Internet of Things (IoT) network, leveraging the scalability of LoRa IoT technology to accommodate a growing human population. The model, based on fractional order derivatives (FOD), enables smart prediction and control of pathogens that cause waterborne diseases using IoT infrastructure. The human-pathogen-based biodynamic FOD model utilises epidemic parameters (SVIRT: susceptibility, vaccination, infection, recovery, and treatment) transmitted over the IoT network to predict pathogenic contamination in water reservoirs and dumpsites in Iji-Nike, Enugu, the study community in Nigeria. These pathogens contribute to person-to-person, water-to-person, and dumpsite-to-person transmission of disease vectors. Five control measures are proposed: potable water supply, treatment, vaccination, adequate sanitation, and health education campaigns. A stable disease-free equilibrium point is found when the effective reproduction number of the pathogens, R0eff<1 and unstable if R0eff>1. While other studies showed a 98.2% reduction in infections when using IoT alone, this paper demonstrates that combining the SVIRT epidemic control parameters (such as potable water supply and health education campaign) with IoT achieves a 99.89% reduction in infected human populations and a 99.56% reduction in pathogen populations in water reservoirs. Furthermore, integrating treatment with sanitation results in a 99.97% reduction in infected populations. Finally, combining these five control strategies nearly eliminates infection and pathogen populations, demonstrating the effectiveness of multifaceted approaches in public health and environmental management. This study provides a blueprint for governments to plan sustainable smart cities for a growing population, ensuring potable water free from pathogenic contamination,in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals #6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and #11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Late effects after allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation in children and adolescents with non-malignant disorders: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Continued advances in haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for children with non-malignant diseases (NMDs) have led to a growing population of survivors in whom late occurring toxic effects remain a challenge. We investigated the incidence of and risk factors for post-transplant toxicities in a contemporary cohort of children and adolescents undergoing HCT for NMDs. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we extracted data from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplantation Research (CIBMTR) database to analyse timing and incidence of effects and risk factors associated with late effects of HCT for treatment of NMDs at age 21 years or younger. Late effects of interest were avascular necrosis, cataracts, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, diabetes, gonadal dysfunction, growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism, renal failure requiring dialysis, and neurological events (stroke and seizure). Cumulative incidence of each late effect was calculated at 5 years and 7 years after HCT. Risk factors were evaluated in Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. Main exposures were primary NMD, age, sex, ethnicity and race, insurance, donor and graft type, myoablative conditioning, total-body irradiation exposure, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and transplant year. Primary outcomes were rates, cumulative incidence probability (95% CI), and risk-factors for organ-specific late effects. FINDINGS: Between Jan 1, 2000, and Dec 31, 2017, 7785 patients aged 21 years or younger underwent HCT. 1995 patients were ineligible or did not consent to be included. 5790 patients from 171 centres were included in the analysis. 3505 (60·5%) of 5790 patients were male and 2285 (39·5%) were female. 2106 (36·4%) patients were White, 771 (13·3%) were Hispanic, and 773 (12·7%) were Black. 1790 (30·9%) patients were non-USA residents. Median age at HCT was 5·5 years (range 0·0-21·0). 1127 (19%) of 5790 patients had one late effect, and 381 (7%) had at least two. At 7 years post-HCT, the cumulative incidence probability was 1·9 (95% CI 1·5-2·3) for cataracts, 4·9 (4·3-5·6) for diabetes, 2·6 (2·1-3·1) for gonadal dysfunction, 3·2 (2·7-3·8) for hypothyroidism, 5·0 (4·4-5·7) for growth disturbance, 8·1 (7·4-8·9) for renal failure, 1·6 (1·3-2·0) for avascular necrosis, 0·6 (0·4-0·8) for congestive heart failure, 0·2 (0·1-0·3) for myocardial infarction, and 9·4 (8·6-10·2) for neurological effects. Age 10 years or older at HCT, unrelated donor source, total-body irradiation, and GVHD were identified as risk factors for long-term effects. INTERPRETATION: The findings highlight the need for, and access to, multidisciplinary and lifelong follow-up for children undergoing HCT for NMDs. As more children undergo treatment with cellular therapies for non-malignant conditions, further analyses of post-transplant data could increasingly guide treatment decisions and subsequent long-term surveillance. FUNDING: National Cancer Institute, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Health Resources and Services Administration, and Office of Naval Research.

Use of qPCR to Evaluate Efficiency of the Bulky DNA Damage Removal in Extracts of Mammalian Cells with Different Maximum Lifespan.

Proteins of nucleotide excision repair system (NER) are responsible for detecting and removing a wide range of bulky DNA damages, thereby contributing significantly to the genome stability maintenance within mammalian cells. Evaluation of NER functional status in the cells is important for identifying pathological changes in the body and assessing effectiveness of chemotherapy. The following method, described herein, has been developed for better assessment of bulky DNA damages removal in vitro, based on qPCR. Using the developed method, NER activity was compared for the extracts of the cells from two mammals with different lifespans: a long-lived naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) and a short-lived mouse (Mus musculus). Proteins of the H. glaber cell extract have been shown to be 1.5 times more effective at removing bulky damage from the model DNA substrate than the proteins of the M. musculus cell extract. These results are consistent with the experimental data previously obtained. The presented method could be applied not only in fundamental studies of DNA repair in mammalian cells, but also in clinical practice.

Extracellular Vesicle miRNAs in Diagnostics of Gastric Cancer.

Gastric cancer (GC) poses a significant global health challenge because of its high mortality rate attributed to the late-stage diagnosis and lack of early symptoms. Early cancer diagnostics is crucial for improving the survival rates in GC patients, which emphasizes the importance of identifying GC markers for liquid biopsy. The review discusses a potential use of extracellular vesicle microRNAs (EV miRNAs) as biomarkers for the diagnostics and prognostics of GC. Methods. Original articles on the identification of EV miRNA as GC markers published in the Web of Science and Scopus indexed issues were selected from the PubMed and Google Scholar databases. We focused on the methodological aspects of EV analysis, including the choice of body fluid, methods for EV isolation and validation, and approaches for EV miRNA analysis. Conclusions. Out of 33 found articles, the majority of authors investigated blood-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs); only a few utilized EVs from other body fluids, including tissue-specific local biofluids (washing the tumor growth areas), which may be a promising source of EVs in the context of cancer diagnostics. GC-associated miRNAs identified in different studies using different methods of EV isolation and analysis varied considerably. However, three miRNAs (miR-10b, miR-21, and miR-92a) have been found in several independent studies and shown to be associated with GC in experimental models. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal miRNA marker panel. Another essential step necessary to improve the reliability and reproducibility of EV-based diagnostics is standardization of methodologies for EV handling and analysis of EV miRNA.

Structural Basis for Evasion of New SARS-CoV-2 Variants from the Potent Virus-Neutralizing Nanobody Targeting the S-Protein Receptor-Binding Domain.

COVID-19 has caused millions of deaths and many times more infections worldwide, emphasizing the unpreparedness of the global health system in the face of new infections and the key role for vaccines and therapeutics, including virus-neutralizing antibodies, in prevention and containment of the disease. Continuous evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has been causing its new variants to evade the action of the immune system, which highlighted the importance of detailed knowledge of the epitopes of already selected potent virus-neutralizing antibodies. A single-chain antibody ("nanobody") targeting the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD), clone P2C5, had exhibited robust virus-neutralizing activity against all SARS-CoV-2 variants and, being a major component of the anti-COVID-19 formulation "GamCoviMab", had successfully passed Phase I of clinical trials. However, after the emergence of the Delta and XBB variants, a decrease in the neutralizing activity of this nanobody was observed. Here we report on the successful crystal structure determination of the RBD:P2C5 complex at 3.1 Å, which revealed the intricate protein-protein interface, sterically occluding full ACE2 receptor binding by the P2C5-neutralized RBD. Moreover, the structure revealed the developed RBD:P2C5 interface centered around residues Leu452 and Phe490, thereby explaining the evasion of the Delta or Omicron XBB, but not Omicron B.1.1.529 variant, as a result of the single L452R or F490S mutations, respectively, from the action of P2C5. The structure obtained is expected to foster nanobody engineering in order to rescue neutralization activity and will facilitate epitope mapping for other neutralizing nanobodies by competition assays.