Integrated Advanced Molecular Tools Predict In Situ cVOC Degradation Rates: Field Demonstration.

Chlorinated volatile organic compound (cVOC) degradation rate constants are crucial information for site management. Conventional approaches generate rate estimates from the monitoring and modeling of cVOC concentrations. This requires time series data collected along the flow path of the plume. The estimates of rate constants are often plagued by confounding issues, making predictions cumbersome and unreliable. Laboratory data suggest that targeted quantitative analysis of Dehalococcoides mccartyi (Dhc) biomarker genes (qPCR) and proteins (qProt) can be directly correlated with reductive dechlorination activity. To assess the potential of qPCR and qProt measurements to predict rates, we collected data from cVOC-contaminated aquifers. At the benchmark study site, the rate constant for degradation of cis-dichloroethene (cDCE) extracted from monitoring data was 11.0 ± 3.4 yr-1, and the rate constant predicted from the abundance of TceA peptides was 6.9 yr-1. The rate constant for degradation of vinyl chloride (VC) from monitoring data was 8.4 ± 5.7 yr-1, and the rate constant predicted from the abundance of TceA peptides was 5.2 yr-1. At the other study sites, the rate constants for cDCE degradation predicted from qPCR and qProt measurements agreed within a factor of 4. Under the right circumstances, qPCR and qProt measurements can be useful to rapidly predict rates of cDCE and VC biodegradation, providing a major advance in effective site management.

How healthy and affordable are foods and beverages sold in school canteens? A cross-sectional study comparing menus from Victorian primary schools.

OBJECTIVE: Government policy guidance in Victoria, Australia, encourages schools to provide affordable, healthy foods in canteens. This study analysed the healthiness and price of items available in canteens in Victorian primary schools and associations with school characteristics. DESIGN: Dietitians classified menu items (main, snack and beverage) using the red, amber and green traffic light system defined in the Victorian government's School Canteens and Other School Food Services Policy. This system also included a black category for confectionary and high sugar content soft drinks which should not be supplied. Descriptive statistics and regressions were used to analyse differences in the healthiness and price of main meals, snacks and beverages offered, according to school remoteness, sector (government and Catholic/independent) size, and socio-economic position. SETTING: State of Victoria, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of canteen menus drawn from three previous obesity prevention studies in forty-eight primary schools between 2016 and 2019. RESULTS: On average, school canteen menus were 21 % 'green' (most healthy - everyday), 53 % 'amber' (select carefully), 25 % 'red' (occasional) and 2 % 'black' (banned) items, demonstrating low adherence with government guidelines. 'Black' items were more common in schools in regional population centres. 'Red' main meal items were cheaper than 'green'% (mean difference -$0·48 (95 % CI -0·85, -0·10)) and 'amber' -$0·91 (-1·27, -0·57)) main meal items. In about 50 % of schools, the mean price of 'red' main meal, beverages and snack items were cheaper than 'green' items, or no 'green' alternative items were offered. CONCLUSION: In this sample of Victorian canteen menus, there was no evidence of associations of healthiness and pricing by school characteristics except for regional centres having the highest proportion of 'black' (banned) items compared with all other remoteness categories examined. There was low adherence with state canteen menu guidelines. Many schools offered a high proportion of 'red' food options and 'black' (banned) options, particularly in regional centres. Unhealthier options were cheaper than healthy options. More needs to be done to bring Victorian primary school canteen menus in line with guidelines.

Systematic review of the effectiveness of health promotion interventions targeting obesity prevention in school-based staff.

School-based employee interventions can benefit the health of staff and have the potential to influence the health of school students through role-modelling. However, interventions within schools typically focus on students, with very few studies addressing obesity and related health behaviours among school staff. A systematic review of the peer-reviewed literature published between January 2000 and May 2020 was undertaken to synthesize the evidence on the impact that school-based obesity prevention programmes have on the staff they employ. Search terms were derived from four major topics: (i) school; (ii) staff; (iii) health promotion and (iv) obesity. Terms were adapted for six databases and three independent researchers screened results. Studies were included if they reported on the outcomes of body weight, dietary behaviours and/or physical activity. Of 3483 papers identified in the search, 13 studies met the inclusion criteria. All 13 studies included an intervention that focussed on improving nutrition, physical activity or both. All included studies demonstrated a positive outcome for either dietary intake, weight or body mass index or physical activity outcomes, however not all results were statistically significant. The included studies showed promising, although limited, impacts on employee health outcomes. This review demonstrated a lack of global focus and investment in interventions targeting school staff, particularly in contrast to the large amount of research on school-based health promotion initiatives focussed on students. There is a need for further research to understand effective interventions to promote health and prevent obesity in this large, diverse and influential workforce.

School-based health promotion interventions that focus on employees can benefit the health of staff and have the potential to also influence the health of school students through role-modelling. Most published intervention studies within schools have typically focussed on students, however, with very few studies addressing obesity and related health behaviours among school staff. This systematic review summarizes the evidence on the impact of school-based obesity prevention programmes on the outcomes of physical activity, weight or dietary practices of school staff. The search identified 13 relevant studies published since 2000. The findings of this review show that school staff focussed health promotion interventions can positively impact obesity-related outcomes. The small number of available studies, however, demonstrates a lack of research focus and investment in interventions targeting school staff and teachers' health. The majority of included studies used relatively weak study designs and included small numbers of schools and staff members. This is particularly contrasting to the large body of research on school-based health promotion initiatives focussed on students. There is a need for further research to understand effective interventions to promote health and prevent obesity in this large, diverse and influential workforce.

Microbial gas vesicles as nanotechnology tools: exploiting intracellular organelles for translational utility in biotechnology, medicine and the environment.

A range of bacteria and archaea produce gas vesicles as a means to facilitate flotation. These gas vesicles have been purified from a number of species and their applications in biotechnology and medicine are reviewed here. Halobacterium sp. NRC-1 gas vesicles have been engineered to display antigens from eukaryotic, bacterial and viral pathogens. The ability of these recombinant nanoparticles to generate an immune response has been quantified both in vitro and in vivo. These gas vesicles, along with those purified from Anabaena flos-aquae and Bacillus megaterium, have been developed as an acoustic reporter system. This system utilizes the ability of gas vesicles to retain gas within a stable, rigid structure to produce contrast upon exposure to ultrasound. The susceptibility of gas vesicles to collapse when exposed to excess pressure has also been proposed as a biocontrol mechanism to disperse cyanobacterial blooms, providing an environmental function for these structures.

Tuberculosis transmission across three states: The story of a solid organ donor born in an endemic country, 2018.

Transmission of tuberculosis (TB) from a deceased solid organ donor to recipients can result in severe morbidity and mortality. In 2018, four solid organ transplant recipients residing in three states but sharing a common organ donor were diagnosed with TB disease. Two recipients were hospitalized and none died. The organ donor was born in a country with a high incidence of TB and experienced 8 weeks of headache and fever prior to death, but was not tested for TB during multiple hospitalizations or prior to organ procurement. TB isolates of two organ recipients and a close contact of the donor had identical TB genotypes and closely related whole-genome sequencing results. Donors with risk factors for TB, in particular birth or residence in countries with a higher TB incidence, should be carefully evaluated for TB.

Mechanistic insights into the aetiology of post-prandial decline in testosterone in reproductive-aged men.

Obesity is known to be associated with impaired testicular function potentially resulting in androgen deficiency and subfertility. While the underlying cause of obesity-related male hypogonadism is multi-factorial, here, we investigated the impact of dietary fat on testicular endocrine function. Ingestion of a high-fat "fast food" mixed meal, a common practice for obese men, produced a 25% fall in serum testosterone within an hour of eating, with levels remaining suppressed below fasting baseline for up to 4 hr. These changes in serum testosterone were not associated with any significant changes in serum gonadotrophins. The nadir in serum testosterone preceded the post-prandial increase in serum IL-6/IL-17 by several hours, suggesting that inflammation was unlikely the cause. Furthermore, intravenous administration of fat (Intralipid) had no impact on testosterone levels, while an identical oral dose of fat did suppress testosterone. These results suggest that fat does not directly impair Leydig cell function, but rather the passage of fat through the intestinal tract elicits a response that indirectly elicits a post-prandial fall in testosterone.

Implementing Landscape Scale Conservation across Organizational Boundaries: Lessons from the Central Appalachian Region, United States.

Natural resources across the United States are increasingly managed at the landscape scale through cooperation among multiple organizations and landowners. United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USFS) agency leaders have widely promoted this approach since 2009 when Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack called for "all lands" management. Landscape scale projects have been undertaken to address multiple goals such as single species conservation, resilience to fire, invasive species eradication, and others. The West Virginia Restoration Venture (WVRV)-one of five landscape scale conservation projects funded 2014-2016 across the Northeast and Midwest and known as "Joint Chiefs'" projects-was evaluated by an interdisciplinary team of USFS employees to gain insight into how cross-boundary landscape scale conservation projects are implemented in the region. In this paper, the team used qualitative interview data from project participants to explore processes related to developing a shared vision for the landscape, implementation priorities, and methods to work across institutional and property ownership boundaries. Grounded in the landscape and collaborative resource management literatures, the report shows how established inter-organizational networks, flexible approaches to management, and a "shelf-stock" of ready-to-implement projects led to on-the-ground success. The authors provide insight about factors that constrain and facilitate the implementation of landscape scale conservation projects that have multiple goals, landowners, and organizational partners.

Herbicide ingredients change Salmonella enterica sv. Typhimurium and Escherichia coli antibiotic responses.

Herbicides are frequently released into both rural and urban environments. Commercial herbicide formulations induce adaptive changes in the way bacteria respond to antibiotics. Salmonella enterica sv. Typhimurium and Escherichia coli were exposed to common co-formulants of formulations, and S. enterica sv. Typhimurium was exposed to active ingredients dicamba, 2,4-D and glyphosate to determine what ingredients of the commercial formulations caused this effect. Co-formulants Tween80 and carboxymethyl cellulose induced changes in response, but the pattern of the responses differed from the active ingredients, and effect sizes were smaller. A commercial wetting agent did not affect antibiotic responses. Active ingredients induced changes in antibiotic responses similar to those caused by complete formulations. This occurred at or below recommended application concentrations. Targeted deletion of efflux pump genes largely neutralized the adaptive response in the cases of increased survival in antibiotics, indicating that the biochemistry of induced resistance was the same for formulations and specific ingredients. We found that glyphosate, dicamba, and 2,4-D, as well as co-formulants in commercial herbicides, induced a change in susceptibility of the potentially pathogenic bacteria E. coli and S. enterica to multiple antibiotics. This was measured using the efficiency of plating (EOP), the relative survival of the bacteria when exposed to herbicide and antibiotic, or just antibiotic, compared to survival on permissive media. This work will help to inform the use of non-medicinal chemical agents that induce changes in antibiotic responses.

Quantification of hydrogen peroxide in plant tissues using Amplex Red.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are by-products of photosynthesis and respiration in plant tissues. Abiotic and biotic stressors also induce the production and temporary accumulation of ROS in plants, including hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), whereby they can act as secondary messengers/chemical mediators in plant defense signaling and lead to programmed cell death. H2O2 acts as a hub for critical information flow in plants. Despite such key roles in fundamental cellular processes, reliable determination of H2O2 levels in plant tissues is hard to achieve. We optimized an Amplex Red-based quantitation method for H2O2 estimation from plant tissue lysate. The standard limit of detection and quantitation was determined as 6 and 18picomol respectively. In this study we also quantified constitutive and/or induced levels of H2O2 in three model plants, Pinus nigra (Austrian pine), Oryza sativa (rice), and Arabidopsis thaliana. Overall, assay sensitivity was in the nmolg-1 FW range. Commonly used additives for H2O2 extraction such as activated charcoal, ammonium sulfate, perchloric acid, polyvinylpolypyrrolidone, and trichloroacetic acid either degraded H2O2 directly or interfered with the Amplex Red assay. Finally, We measured stability of Amplex Red working solution over one month of storage at -80°C and found it to be significantly stable over time. With appropriate modifications, this optimized method should be applicable to any plant tissue.

Effects of water availability on emerald ash borer larval performance and phloem phenolics of Manchurian and black ash.

The invasive emerald ash borer (EAB) beetle is a significant threat to the survival of North American ash. In previous work, we identified putative biochemical and molecular markers of constitutive EAB resistance in Manchurian ash, an Asian species co-evolved with EAB. Here, we employed high-throughput high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection and mass spectrometry (HPLC-PDA-MS) to characterize the induced response of soluble phloem phenolics to EAB attack in resistant Manchurian and susceptible black ash under conditions of either normal or low water availability, and the effects of water availability on larval performance. Total larval mass per tree was lower in Manchurian than in black ash. Low water increased larval numbers and mean larval mass overall, but more so in Manchurian ash. Low water did not affect levels of phenolics in either host species, but six phenolics decreased in response to EAB. In both ashes, pinoresinol A was induced by EAB, especially in Manchurian ash. Pinoresinol A and pinoresinol B were negatively correlated with each other in both species. The higher accumulation of pinoresinol A in Manchurian ash after attack may help explain the resistance of this species to EAB, but none of the responses measured here could explain increased larval performance in trees subjected to low water availability.

A situated practice of ethics for participatory visual and digital methods in public health research and practice: a focus on digital storytelling.

This article explores ethical considerations related to participatory visual and digital methods for public health research and practice, through the lens of an approach known as "digital storytelling." We begin by briefly describing the digital storytelling process and its applications to public health research and practice. Next, we explore 6 common challenges: fuzzy boundaries, recruitment and consent to participate, power of shaping, representation and harm, confidentiality, and release of materials. We discuss their complexities and offer some considerations for ethical practice. We hope this article serves as a catalyst for expanded dialogue about the need for high standards of integrity and a situated practice of ethics wherein researchers and practitioners reflexively consider ethical decision-making as part of the ongoing work of public health.

Development of a family-level intervention for families with transgender and/or nonbinary youth: Lessons and recommendations.

Family support plays an important role in promoting resilience and health among transgender and/or nonbinary youth (TNBY), but family members often experience barriers to supporting their TNBY, including minority-adjacent stress stemming from exposure to structural stigma and antitransgender legislation. TNBY and their families need effective family-level interventions developed using community-based participatory research (CBPR), which integrates community members (e.g., TNBY, family members, service providers for families with TNBY) into the intervention development process to ensure the resulting intervention is relevant and useful. Informed by findings from the Trans Teen and Family Narratives Project, we used CBPR to develop the Trans Teen and Family Narratives Conversation Toolkit, a family-level intervention designed to educate families about TNBY and facilitate conversations about gender. The toolkit was developed across 1.5 years (June 2019 to January 2021) using four integrated phases: (1) content development: digital storytelling workshop with TNBY; (2) content review: digital storyteller interviews and user focus groups; (3) content development: study team content synthesis and website development; and (4) content review: website review by TNBY, family members, and mental health providers, and intervention refinement. This article outlines the intervention development process, describes strategies employed to navigate challenges encountered along the way, and shares key learnings to inform future CBPR intervention development efforts. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Foreign Body Misdiagnosed as Mucus Plugging After Percutaneous Tracheostomy.

We report a case of a 59-year-old male who presented with a persistent cough for a year after being discharged from critical care following a subarachnoid haemorrhage. As part of his initial critical care management and in order to allow full neurological assessment, the patient required a period of prolonged mechanical ventilation, which necessitated a percutaneous tracheostomy. Following recovery and subsequent discharge, the patient presented on multiple occasions with cough, undergoing serial computed tomography (CT) scans which reported mucus plugging as a possible cause of the cough. As his symptoms continued to worsen, a flexible bronchoscopy was carried out, which identified a foreign body in the trachea. This object was later recognised as a retained part of the guiding catheter, part of the percutaneous tracheostomy tube dilator. After the object was retrieved, the patient reported a complete resolution of symptoms. Percutaneous tracheostomy is a common procedure within critical care units, and early complications such as bleeding or airway obstruction are typically recognised immediately after insertion. This report documents a late complication caused by the retention of a foreign object from insertion, which was misdiagnosed on serial CT scans, leading to persistent cough over a period of months.

A Rare Case of Extraction of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt From the Left Main Bronchus.

We present the case of a 40-year-old female who underwent several insertions of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts as a part of the treatment for idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Several years after the insertion of the last VP shunt, the patient started experiencing shortness of breath (SOB) and cough; after further assessment, it was noted on computed tomography (CT) scan that the VP shunt had migrated into the right lower lobe of the lung and perforated the distal left main bronchus. The shunt was successfully retrieved using bronchoscopy under general anesthesia, after which the patient had a complete resolution of symptoms. Shunt migration is one of the rare complications that can happen years after shunt insertion. Therefore, we present this rare case of shunt migration into the thorax cavity to highlight the presentation of this complication and its successful management.

Ease of Use ratings and real-world child restraint system errors from Safe Kids Illinois seat checks, 2015-2019.

BACKGROUND: Child restraint systems (CRSs) significantly reduce risk of crash-related injury, however installation and use errors undermine their benefits. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) created the Ease of Use (EOU) rating system to help guide consumers and incentivize manufacturers to improve their products. The EOU rating system assigns one to five stars to four CRS features and overall. Our study assessed the relationship between EOU ratings and CRS installation and use errors documented in seat checks conducted by child passenger safety technicians (CPSTs). METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of data from Safe Kids Illinois seat check records from 2015 through 2019 and EOU ratings from 2008 to 2020. Five types of errors were documented by CPSTs. Study authors (JYL and MLM) used a tiered system to match seat check model numbers to EOU ratings. We calculated chi-square statistics and performed logistic regression analyses to assess for EOU as a predictor of relevant CRS errors (e.g., tether errors for forward-facing CRSs). RESULTS: Our analyses included 2132 seat check observations, of which 217 (10.2%) were exact, 244 (10.5%) were probable, and 1671 (78.4%) were near matches via sorting and web search. Errors were most common for seat belts (70.7%) and least common for recline angle (36.9%). Star ratings for instructions, vehicle installation, and labels were associated with recline angle and seat belt errors. Star ratings for instructions, labels, and securing child were associated with harness errors. CRSs with 4-star and 5-star ratings had lower odds of errors for recline angle (Odds Ratio (OR) 0.62; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.43, 0.89 and OR 0.31; 95% CI: 0.17, 0.56) lower anchors (OR 0.59; 95% CI 0.40, 0.89 and OR 0.38; 95% CI: 0.21, 0.68), and harness (OR 0.56; 95% CI: 0.40, 0.76 and OR 0.19; 95% CI: 0.10, 0.35) when compared with 1 and 2-star CRSs. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence in support of NHTSA's EOU ratings as predictors of some CRS installation and use errors among caregivers who obtain seat checks. A higher star rating may be helpful for caregivers when choosing a CRS that will yield lower installation errors.

An intrapartum cervical buttonhole tear: A case report and review of rare tear pathogenesis.

Genital tract trauma and obstetric anal sphincter injuries are known complications of normal vaginal and assisted vaginal delivery. Cervical tears are an uncommon complication that can lead to significant postpartum haemorrhage and may have implications for future pregnancies. Careful evaluation of the genital tract, including the cervix, along with adequate resuscitation are essential to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. This is a case report of a 36-year-old primigravida woman at 41 + 6 weeks of gestation with delay in the second stage requiring Neville Barnes forceps delivery. She then went on to have a major postpartum haemorrhage, initially thought to be a result of uterine atony. However, inadequate response to uterotonics led to identification of a cervical buttonhole tear with an intact external os. She required repair under general anaesthesia. A rigid sigmoidoscope was utilised to ensure cervical canal patency during the repair. Previous reports have described annular cervical tears, thought to occur from the extension of a cervical buttonhole tear, but to the best of our knowledge the latter has not previously been reported. The case demonstrates the importance of awareness of such tears and proposes a novel technique for repair with the use of a rigid sigmoidoscope.

Pediatric combined heart-liver transplantation performed en bloc: a single-center experience.

Pediatric CHLT is rarely performed in transplant centers and even fewer are performed en bloc. In the hands of an experienced surgeon with the appropriate patient selection, CHLT performed en bloc may have several operative and immunologic benefits, thereby resulting in improved outcomes for the transplant recipient. A single-institutional, retrospective review from 1/1/06 to 12/31/10 was conducted. Three pediatric patients with end-stage heart and liver disease who were considered low immunologic risk were included. All were managed by the same surgeon with a herein-described CHLT donor and recipient operation. Data were collected on patient and graft survival, rejection episodes, infectious complications, operative time, intraoperative transfusion requirements, and immunosuppression regimens. One-yr patient and graft survival rates were 100%. No patients experienced antibody-mediated or cell-mediated rejection. No patients had postoperative infections, and all patients were free of opportunistic infections at one-yr post-transplant. All patients were maintained safely on steroid-free immunosuppression. There were no intraoperative complications. In pediatric end-stage heart and liver disease patients with low immunologic risk, it is reasonable to proceed with en bloc CHLT so long as there is an experienced surgeon to perform the case. This offers operative and immunologic advantages to the recipient while maintaining equivalent, if not improved, recipient and graft outcomes.