Estimating the reduction in US mortality if cigarettes were largely replaced by e-cigarettes.

BACKGROUND: Recent estimates indicated substantially replacing cigarettes by e-cigarettes would, during 2016-2100, reduce US deaths and life-years lost (millions) by 6.6 and 86.7 (Optimistic Scenario) and 1.6 and 20.8 (Pessimistic). To provide additional insight we use alternative modelling based on a shorter period (1991-2040), four main smoking-associated diseases, deaths aged 30-79 years, and a full product history. We consider variations in: assumed effective dose of e-cigarettes versus cigarettes (F); their relative quitting rate (Q); proportions smoking after 10 years (X); and initiation rate (I) of vaping, relative to smoking. METHODS: We set F = 0.05, X = 5%, Q = 1.0 and I = 1.0 (Main Scenario) and F = 0.4, X = 10%, Q = 0.5 and I = 1.5 (Pessimistic Scenario). Sensitivity Analyses varied Main Scenario parameters singly; F from 0 to 0.4, X 0.01% to 15%, and Q and I 0.5 to 1.5. To allow comparison with prior work, individuals cannot be dual users, re-initiate, or switch except from cigarettes to e-cigarettes. RESULTS: Main Scenario reductions were 2.52 and 26.23 million deaths and life-years lost; Pessimistic Scenario reductions were 0.76 and 8.31 million. These were less than previously, due to the more limited age-range and follow-up, and restriction to four diseases. Reductions in deaths (millions) varied most for X, from 3.22 (X = 0.01%) to 1.31 (X = 15%), and F, 2.74 (F = 0) to 1.35 (F = 0.4). Varying Q or I had little effect. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial reductions in deaths and life-years lost were observed even under pessimistic assumptions. Estimates varied most for X and F. These findings supplement literature indicating e-cigarettes can importantly impact health challenges from smoking.

Iron Mesh-Based Metal Organic Framework Filter for Efficient Arsenic Removal.

Efficient oxidation from arsenite [As(III)] to arsenate [As(V)], which is less toxic and more readily to be adsorbed by adsorbents, is important for the remediation of arsenic pollution. In this paper, we report a metal organic framework (MIL-100(Fe)) filter to efficiently remove arsenic from synthetic groundwater. With commercially available iron mesh as a substrate, MIL-100(Fe) is implanted through an in situ growth method. MIL-100(Fe) is able to capture As(III) due to its microporous structure, superior surface area, and ample active sites for As adsorption. This approach increases the localized As concentration around the filter, where Fenton-like reactions are initiated by the Fe2+/Fe3+ sites within the MIL-100(Fe) framework to oxidize As(III) to As(V). The mechanism was confirmed by colorimetric detection of H2O2, fluorescence, and electron paramagnetic resonance detection of ·OH. With the aid of oxygen bubbling and Joule heating, the removal efficiency of As(III) can be further boosted. The MIL-100(Fe)-based filter also exhibits satisfactory structural stability and recyclability. Notably, the adsorption capacity of the filter can be regenerated satisfactorily. Our results demonstrate the potential of this filter for the efficient remediation of As contamination in groundwater.

Highly-active, graphene-supported platinum catalyst for the solventless hydrosilylation of olefins.

Herein we report the development of the first graphene-supported platinum catalyst that has demonstrated exceptional catalytic activity and stability for hydrosilylation reactions of olefins (TOF 4.8 × 106 h-1, TON = 9.4 × 106). The catalyst also exhibited functional group tolerance over a broad range of industrially relevant substrates with minimal metal leaching. In addition, the catalyst system was successfully translated into a packed bed platform for continuous hydrosilylation reactions.

Chelation-directed C-H activation/C-C bond forming reactions catalyzed by Pd(ii) nanoparticles supported on multiwalled carbon nanotubes.

Chelation-directed C-H activation/C-C bond forming reactions utilizing homogeneous palladium(ii) and the Pd(ii)/Pd(iv) catalytic cycle have been previously reported. Here we report the first use of a solid-supported Pd(ii) catalyst [Pd(ii) nanoparticles on multiwalled carbon nanotubes, Pd(ii)/MWCNT] to carry out C-H activation/C-C bond forming reactions. The results presented demonstrate that the solid-supported Pd(ii)/MWCNT catalyst can effectively catalyze these arylation reactions using the Pd(ii)/Pd(iv) catalytic cycle. We also show that the solid-supported catalyst is recyclable, has turnover frequencies up to 2.9-fold higher than the homogeneous catalyst, and results in low levels of residual palladium contamination in the products.

Biocatalysis of linoleic acid to conjugated linoleic acid.

CLA refers to a group of geometrical and positional isomers of linoleic acid (LA) with conjugated double bonds. CLA has been reported to have diverse health benefits and biological properties. Traditional organic synthesis is highly capital-intensive and results in an isomeric mixture of CLA isomers. Biotechnology presents new alternatives to traditional lipid manufacturing methods. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of protein isolation procedures on linoleate isomerase (LAI) recovery from microbial cells and biocatalysis of LA to CLA. Protein isolation experiments were carried out using Lactobacillus acidophilus L1 and two strains of Lactobacillus reuteri (ATCC 23272 and ATCC 55739). Under the same assay conditions, ATCC 55739 had the highest LAI activity among the microbial cultures examined in this study. Efficiency of cell lysis methods, which included various combinations of lysozyme and mutanolysin treatments in combination with sonication and osmotic rupture of cells with liquid nitrogen, was very low. Although treatment of cell material with a detergent (octylthioglucoyranoside) freed a significant amount of LAI activity into the solution, it was not sufficient to recover all the LAI activity from the residual cells. Crude LAI preparations produced mainly the cis-9,trans-11 CLA isomer. Time and substrate/protein ratio had a significant effect on biocatalysis of LA to CLA. It appears that the mechanism and kinetics of enzymatic conversion of LA to CLA are quite complex and requires further research using pure LAI preparations.

Modified Seed Growth of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in Benzyl Alcohol - Optimization for Heating and Broad Stability in Biomedical Applications.

Iron oxide nanoparticles have received sustained interest for biomedical applications as synthetic approaches are continually developed for control of nanoparticle properties. However, many approaches focus solely on the material, rather than the complete optimization of synthesis and functionalization together to enhance translation into biological systems. Presented herein is a modified seed growth method designed for obtaining optimal nanoparticle properties and ease of surface functionalization for long term stability. With a one or two addition process, iron oxide nanoparticles were produced in crystallite sizes ranging from 5-15 nm using only benzyl alcohol and an iron precursor. In the functionalization process, concentration variations were required for stabilizing different nanoparticle sizes. Radio frequency induction heating experiments of various crystallite and hydrodynamic sizes verified that the heating efficiency greatly increased while approaching the 15 nm crystallite, and suggested an important role of the overall particle size on heating efficiency. Initial in vitro experiments with the functionalized nanoparticles showed success in providing hyperthermia-induced tumour cell killing without an increase in the temperature of the cell suspension medium. This demonstrates the potential for nanoparticle-based hyperthermia to provide a therapeutic effect while limiting normal tissue damage.

Identification and functional characterization of three chicken cathelicidins with potent antimicrobial activity.

Cathelicidins comprise a family of antimicrobial peptides sharing a highly conserved cathelin domain. Here we report that the entire chicken genome encodes three cathelicidins, namely fowlicidin-1 to -3, which are densely clustered within a 7.5-kb distance at the proximal end of chromosome 2p. Each fowlicidin gene adopts a fourexon, three-intron structure, typical for a mammalian cathelicidin. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that fowlicidins and a group of distantly related mammalian cathelicidins known as neutrophilic granule proteins are likely to originate from a common ancestral gene prior to the separation of birds from mammals, whereas other classic mammalian cathelicidins may have been duplicated from the primordial gene for neutrophilic granule proteins after mammals and birds are diverged. Similar to ovine cathelicidin SMAP-29, putatively mature fowlicidins displayed potent and salt-independent activities against a range of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains, with minimum inhibitory concentrations in the range of 0.4-2.0 microm for most strains. Fowlicidin-1 and -2 also showed cytotoxicity, with 50% killing of mammalian erythrocytes or epithelial cells in the range of 6-40 microm. In addition, two fowlicidins demonstrated a strong positive cooperativity in binding lipopolysaccharide (LPS), resulting in nearly complete blockage of LPS-mediated proinflammatory gene expression in RAW264.7 cells. Taken together, fowlicidin-1 and -2 are clearly among the most potent cathelicidins that have been reported. Their broad spectrum and salt-insensitive antibacterial activities, coupled with their potent LPS-neutralizing activity, make fowlicidins excellent candidates for novel antimicrobial and anti-sepsis agents.

Improved Sensitivity of the Bioluminescent Determination of Numbers of Bacteria in Milk Samples.

A procedure was developed for the sensitive measurement of bacterial ATP in raw milk samples using the firefly luciferase assay. A sensitivity of 105 bacteria/ml was achieved in the laboratory. Treatment of milk samples with a detergent (Lubrol PX) and a proteolytic enzyme (trypsin) allowed filtration of 50 ml of milk through a 0.4-µm Nucleopore filter; a 50-ml sample of milk was required to provide sufficient ATP for measurement. The bacterial ATP was released from the bacteria on the filter using the commercial product Nucleotide Releasing Reagent for Bacteria (NRB® from Lumac). The procedure allows determination of 105 bacteria/ml of raw milk in 20 min.