Long-term Continuous Use Research Articles

Smart filtering facepiece respirator with self-adaptive fit and wireless humidity monitoring

The widespread emergence of airborne diseases has transformed our lifestyle, and respirators have become an essential part of daily life. Nevertheless, finding respirators that fit well can be challenging due to the variety of human facial sizes and shapes, potentially compromising protection. In addition, the current respirators do not inform the user of the air quality in case of continuous long-term use. Here, we introduce a smart filtering facepiece respirator incorporating a humidity sensor and pressure sensory feedback for self-fit adjusting and maintaining an adequate fit. The humidity detection sensor uses laser-induced graphene, and the pressure sensor array based on the dielectric elastomeric sponge monitors the respirator contact on the user's face, providing real-time closed-loop feedback and the wearer's fitting status. Those membrane sensors show outstanding performance, such as a low humidity hysteresis of 0.131 % and a precise pressure detection limit of 0.23 ± 0.02 kPa. As a result of the self-fit adjusting mode, the overall fit factor is increased by 10 % on average compared to the commercial respirator. This significant improvement in fit factor, coupled with the innovative design, has the potential to develop next-generation facepiece respirators as essential personal protective equipment.

A Practical Guide to Using Oral JAK Inhibitors for Atopic Dermatitis from the International Eczema Council.

Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKinibs) have the potential to dramatically alter the landscape of atopic dermatitis (AD) management due to their promising efficacy results from phase 3 trials and rapid onset of action. However, JAKinibs are not without risk, and their use is not appropriate for all AD patients, making this a medication class that dermatologists should understand and consider when treating patients with moderate-to-severe AD. This consensus expert opinion statement from the International Eczema Council (IEC) provides a pragmatic approach to prescribing JAKinibs, including choosing appropriate patients, dosing, clinical and lab monitoring, as well as long-term use. An international cohort of authors from the IEC with expertise in JAKinibs selected topics of interest and were formed into authorship groups covering 10 subsections. The groups performed topic-specific literature reviews, consulted up-to-date adverse event (AE) data, referred to product labels and provided analysis and expert opinion. The manuscript guidance and recommendations were reviewed by all authors as well as the IEC Research Committee. We recommend JAKinibs be considered for patients with moderate to severe AD seeking the benefits of rapid reduction in disease burden and itch, oral administration, and the potential for flexible dosing. Baseline risk factors should be assessed prior to prescribing JAKinibs, including increasing age, venous thromboembolisms, malignancy, cardiovascular health, kidney/liver function, pregnancy and lactation, and immunocompetence. Patients being considered for JAKinib therapy should be current on vaccinations and we provide a generalized framework for laboratory monitoring, though clinicians should consult individual product labels for recommendations as there are variations among the JAKinib class. Patients who achieve disease control should be maintained on the lowest possible dose, as many of the observed AEs occurred in a dose-dependent manner. Future studies are needed in AD patients to assess the durability and safety of continuous long-term use of JAKinibs, combination medication regimens, and the effects of flexible, episodic treatment over time. The decision to initiate a JAKinib should be shared among patient and provider, accounting for AD severity and personal risk/benefit assessment, including consideration of baseline health risk factors, monitoring requirements and treatment costs.

Service Users' Experiences of a Nationwide Digital Type 2 Diabetes Self-Management Intervention (Healthy Living): Qualitative Interview Study.

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support programs for people living with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) can increase glycemic control and reduce the risk of developing T2DM-related complications. However, the recorded uptake of these programs is low. Digital self-management interventions have the potential to overcome barriers associated with attendance at face-to-face sessions. Healthy Living is an evidence-based digital self-management intervention for people living with T2DM, based on the Healthy Living for People with Type 2 Diabetes (HeLP-Diabetes) intervention, which demonstrated effectiveness in a randomized controlled trial. NHS England has commissioned Healthy Living for national rollout into routine care. Healthy Living consists of web-based structured education and Tools components to help service users self-manage their condition, including setting goals. However, key changes were implemented during the national rollout that contrasted with the trial, including a lack of facilitated access from a health care professional and the omission of a moderated online support forum. This qualitative study aims to explore service users' experiences of using Healthy Living early in the national rollout. A total of 19 participants were interviewed via telephone or a videoconferencing platform. Topics included users' experiences and views of website components, their understanding of the intervention content, and the overall acceptability of Healthy Living. Transcripts were analyzed thematically using a framework approach. Participants valued having trustworthy information that was easily accessible. The emotional management content resonated with the participants, prompting some to book an appointment with their general practitioners to discuss low mood. After completing the structured education, participants might have been encouraged to continue using the website if there was more interactivity (1) between the website and other resources and devices they were using for self-management, (2) with health professionals and services, and (3) with other people living with T2DM. There was consensus that the website was particularly useful for people who had been newly diagnosed with T2DM. Digital Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support programs offering emotional aspects of self-management are addressing an unmet need. Primary care practices could consider offering Healthy Living to people as soon as they are diagnosed with T2DM. Participants suggested ways in which Healthy Living could increase interaction with the website to promote continued long-term use.

Dupilumab Safety and Efficacy up to 1 Year in Children Aged 6 Months to 5 Years with Atopic Dermatitis: Results from a Phase 3 Open-Label Extension Study.

Pediatric patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) often experience a high disease burden and have a high risk of persistent disease. Standard-of-care immunosuppressive systemic treatments have been used off-label for AD in pediatric patients despite concerns for suboptimal safety with continuous use and risk of relapse upon discontinuation. The biologic agent dupilumab is the first systemic treatment approved for moderate-to-severe AD in children as young as 6 months. Long-term safety and efficacy data in this patient population are needed to inform continuous AD management. The purpose of this work was to determine the long-term safety and efficacy of dupilumab treatment up to 1 year in an open-label extension (OLE) study [LIBERTY AD PED-OLE (NCT02612454)] in children aged 6 months to 5 years with moderate-to-severe AD who previously participated in the 16-week, double-blind, phase 3 LIBERTY AD PRESCHOOL trial (NCT03346434 part B; parent study) and were subsequently enrolled in PED-OLE. In PED-OLE, patients received dupilumab every 4 weeks according to a weight-tiered regimen (body weight ≥ 5 kg to < 15 kg: 200 mg; ≥ 15 kg to < 30 kg: 300 mg). Data for 142 patients were analyzed, 60 of whom had completed the 52-week visit at time of database lock. Mean age at baseline was 4.1 y [SD, 1.13; range, 1.0-5.9 years]. A majority (78.2%) of patients reported ≥ 1 treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE), most of which were mild or moderate and transient. The most frequently reported TEAEs were nasopharyngitis (19.7%), cough (15.5%), and pyrexia (14.1%). One TEAE led to treatment discontinuation (severe urticaria, which resolved in 1 day). By week 52, 36.2% of patients had achieved an Investigator's Global Assessment score of 0/1 (clear/almost clear skin), and 96.6%, 79.3%, and 58.6% had at least 50%, 75%, or 90% improvement, respectively, in Eczema Area and Severity Index scores. Consistent with results seen in adults, adolescents, and older children (aged 6-11 years), treatment with dupilumab for up to 1 year in children aged 6 months to 5 years with inadequately controlled moderate-to-severe AD demonstrated an acceptable long-term safety profile and sustained efficacy. These results support the long-term continuous use of dupilumab in this patient population. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT02612454 and NCT03346434 (part B).

Adherence to treatment in the management of patients with multiple sclerosis

Adherence to therapy largely determines the success of treatment interventions: low levels of adherence are associated with reduced treatment effectiveness. For many chronic diseases, the level of adherence to treatment is about 50% or less, which confirms the relevance of this topic and requires its research. The high costs of treatment, the need for long-term continuous use of drugs and the special socio-economic significance of a disease such as multiple sclerosis (MS) determine the importance of maintaining a high level of adherence to its treatment. An analysis of literature data on the concept of treatment adherence, methods of its definition and influencing factors was carried out, the values of the level of adherence in the treatment of MS, as well as measures to maintain it during the COVID-19 pandemic were considered. Increasing awareness of healthcare professionals about the problem of treatment adherence and ways to improve it helps to improve the efficiency of managing patients with MS. The paper considers the primary stage of the strategy to improve treatment adherence among patients with MS, namely the formation of expanded knowledge of the problem by specialists of a multidisciplinary team involved in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with MS.

Evaluation of longer- vs short-term use of patiromer on health care resource utilization in the patiromer longer-term use evaluation (VALUE) study.

Studies suggest that continuous long-term use of patiromer by patients with hyperkalemia is associated with less health care resource utilization compared with not using potassium binders. To retrospectively evaluate health care resource utilization and costs with longer-term adherent vs short-term use of patiromer. Time-restricted extracts from Optum's de-identified Clinformatics® Data Mart Database (CDM; January 2016-May 2019) and Symphony Health (SHA; January 2016-September 2018) deidentified databases were analyzed. Both include participants enrolled in commercial and privatized public insurance programs (SHA includes some government programs). Both integrate health care claims data from medical and pharmacy claims. Patients aged 18 years or older with hyperkalemia and an index patiromer prescription were selected. Patiromer use was identified as short-term (<2 months) and any fill quantity or adherent longer-term with claims for at least 2 consecutive months and fill quantities of at least 80% of the total days. Groups were matched on multiple categorical covariates to control for demographic variables, baseline characteristics, and markers of disease severity. Random sampling without replacement was performed 50 times to identify 50 sets of patients matched from the short-term cohort to the longer-term cohort. Health care costs/charges and encounters were compared for a 6-month post-index period using t-tests. Of the CDM patients, 1,267 (40.2%) vs 1,887 (59.8%) and of the SHA patients, 2,234 (35.1%) vs 4,132 (64.9%) experienced longer-term vs short-term patiromer use, respectively. Patient sampling selected 242 and 485 patient-matched pairs from CDM and SHA databases, respectively. At 6 months post-index in longer-term vs short-term patiromer groups (P < 0.0001 for all differences shown), respective mean medical and prescription costs/charges were $42,000 vs $54,311 (-$12,311) and $6,816 vs $4,786 (+$2,030), respectively, for CDM patients and $75,147 vs $84,414 (-$9,267) and $4,689 vs $3,736 (+$953) for SHA patients. In the CDM database, medical costs were lower for longer-term vs short-term cohorts for end-stage renal disease services charges ($10,342 vs $14,976 [-$4,634]), inpatient charges ($15,789 vs $21,473 [-$5,684]), and office visit charges ($10,152 vs $13,152 [-$3,000]). Patient out-of-pocket costs ($658 vs $420 [+$238]) and total prescription charges ($6,158 vs $4,366 [+$1,792]) were higher for the longer-term cohort of CDM patients, with similar findings in the SHA dataset. Adherent, longer-term use of patiromer is associated with significantly lower medical costs offsetting higher prescription costs, driven by the largest changes in inpatient and clinic services at CDM and SHA, respectively. This illustrates an economic value of longer-term adherence to patiromer.

FRI441 Antiestrogens To Treat Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism In Male Users Of Anabolic-androgenic Steroids - A Clinical Pilot Study

Abstract Disclosure: H.C. Henriksen: None. A.P. Jørgensen: None. A. Bjørnebekk: None. S.P. Neupane: None. I.A. Havnes: None. Background: Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) used recreationally in supra-physiological doses is a growing public health concern. The use is associated with cardiovascular, metabolic and endocrine disturbances including AAS induced hypogonadism (ASIH). ASIH is a form of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism caused by AAS’ long-term negative feedback on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, promoting fatigue, depression and sexual dysfunction. Aims: The primary objective of the study is to explore the safety and efficacy of clomiphene citrate (CC) in treating ASIH. Secondary aims are to detect AAS associated health risks and assess whether these risks are reversed 12 months after cessation. Methods: In this open longitudinal pilot study at Oslo University Hospital in Norway, men with AAS dependence, continuous use and a desire to quit are treated for 16 weeks with an antiestrogen (CC). The CC is given to stimulate endogenous secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), gonadotropins (luteinizing hormone (LH)) and testosterone by blocking the estrogenic negative feedback on the HPG-axis. Transdermal testosterone is administered daily during the first four weeks to prevent a sudden drop in androgen levels. If HPG response is subpar, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a synthetic LH analog, is added. The participants are monitored every 4th week during intervention, and at follow-up at 6 and 12 months. Physical health is assessed through clinical examinations, blood and fat tissue sampling, cardiovascular examination, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, testicular ultrasound and semen analysis. Results: Preliminary results are available from 11 men that were eligible for endocrine intervention with median age of 33 (range 26-57) and median cumulative lifetime AAS use of 11 years (1-20). Cardiovascular findings were recurrent and included hypertension, myocardial hypertrophy, increased arterial stiffness, reduced flow-mediated dilation and lower carotid artery reactivity. Polycythemia, testicular atrophy and oligozoospermia were other common findings at inclusion. Intervention with CC showed varying HPG response: While some participants responded poorly to treatment, others developed normalized endogenous levels of gonadotropins and testosterone after only 4-8 weeks of therapy. No serious adverse events from CC use were reported. Among the few reported less severe adverse effects were headache, nausea and mood swings. Conclusion: Preliminary results of this ongoing study indicate that treatment with CC and hCG is safe and effective in treating ASIH from long-term continuous AAS use. Insufficient HPG response after 16 weeks of intervention might indicate persisting hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, but further monitoring is needed. Presentation: Friday, June 16, 2023

Anti-Inflammatory And Therapeutic Activities of Omega-3-Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Oil Extract on Acute Inflammation in Animal Models.

Background: When prescribing painkillers for acute, chronic, and degenerative pain disorders, one must take into account safety issues for continuous long-term use of anti-inflammatory drugs due to the side effects. As a result, the therapeutic safety of anti-inflammatory supplements utilizing natural forms, such as omega -3 fatty acids (n-3 fatty acids), is more important than its effectiveness. Method: The nutritional intervention of n-3 fish oil extract (owing to its eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, DHA contents) in experimental animal for acute inflammatory models was investigated in this work using standard methods (Carageenan, Arachidonic acid, and PGE2). Result: Results obtained demonstrated a notable reduction in inflammation caused by fish oil due to its EPA and DHA content. For groups 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, the percentage inhibition of the carrageenan-induced paw edema inflammation after 24 hours was 78.57%, 57.14%, 50.00%, 100.00% and 92.85%, respectively. Arachidonic acid-induced ear edema was inhibited by 30, 24, 27, 37, and 40%, whilst the PGE-2 test was inhibited by 44.16, 52.48, 61.34, 74, and 80.05%. Conclusion: The findings demonstrated that eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA), the active components in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, have the ability to disrupt the prostaglandin metabolic pathway by competing with arachidonic acids for the COX active site and thereby inhibiting their synthesis. The novelty of the work is demonstrated in the use of diet instead SAIDs to resolve inflammation.

The Effect of Hormonal Contraception Use on Ovarian Reserve Markers and the Uptake of Assisted Reproductive Technology in Individuals Seeking an Infertility Evaluation.

Background and objective The effects of hormonal contraception (HC) use on ovarian reserve (OR) markers in individuals seeking an infertility evaluation and the success of assisted reproductive technology (ART) warrantfurther investigation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine if women seeking an evaluation for unexplained infertility who used long-term (≥2 years) HC have lower ovarian reserve (OR) markers and higher uptake of ART compared to short-term (<2 years) or never HC users. Methods We performed a cross-sectional patient survey involving a retrospective medical chart review of patients seeking an evaluation for unexplained infertility at the University of Colorado Advanced Reproductive Medicine (CU ARM) clinic. Results Most participants (87%; 107/123) reported a history of HC use with 98 (79.7%) reporting long-term continuous use for two or more years. Median OR markers were similar between long-term and short-term/never HC users [anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH): 2.4 vs. 3.2, p=0.20; antral follicle count (AFC): 18 vs. 26, p=0.10; follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): 7.6 vs. 6.3, p=0.26] and remained so after adjusting for age and diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) in linear regression models. However, amongHC users aged less than 30 years(n=9), those who had discontinued HC between two and three years prior to the assessment of their OR markers had a 6.20 ng/mL increase in AMH level compared to those whohad discontinued HCless than two years prior to the assessment (p=0.02). Additionally, there was a marginally increased use of ART overall among long-term HC users compared to short-term/never HC users (64.3% vs. 44.0%, p=0.06), specifically in the use of in vitro fertilization (IVF) (58.7% vs. 18.2%, p=0.01). Among long-term HC users, ovulation induction was less likely to result in live birth compared to short-term/never HC users (8.9% vs. 62.5%, p<0.001); however, after adjusting for age, PCOS, POI, and type of ART used, there was no difference in the odds of live birth after ART between long-term HC users and short-term/never users. Conclusion While long-term HC users report increased use of ART, in particular IVF, the overall conception rates and live birth outcomes among ART users do not appear to be significantly affected by a history of long-term HC use.

Simulation analysis and experimental investigation of wire rope leakage magnetic field detection

As a key bearing component, steel wire ropes suffer from partial wire breakage, broken strands and other types of damage during long-term continuous use. In this study, a magnetic flux circuit was constructed around a wire rope, an excitation detection device and an air gap. The relationship between the direction and angle of the magnetic line of force on the damaged end face was analysed and the waveforms of the inverted U-shaped and M-shaped leakage flux signals and their transition intervals were determined. Following this, focusing on the influence of factors such as the length of the damage, the cross-sectional area and the lift-off value on the magnetic flux leakage signal, the changes in the wave width and the peak value under different variables were analysed and the distribution law of the leakage magnetic field around the wire rope damage under different control variables was determined.

Reactivation of NiSO4/ZnO-Al2O3-SiO2 adsorbent for reactive adsorption desulfurization

NiSO4/ZnO-Al2O3-SiO2 adsorbent as a novel adsorbent for the reactive adsorption desulfurization (RADS) process performs a higher activity and lower nickel loading than NiO/ZnO-Al2O3-SiO2 adsorbent. Under reaction conditions with high temperature and high pressure, the reactivity of adsorbents inevitably decreases after long-term use. Therefore, the deactivation and reactivation of the adsorbent need to be well understood. Here, we choose model fuel and FCC gasoline as the feedstock to observe the different deactivation causes. The ZnS formation and carbon deposition are the main reasons for the deactivation. Then, we conduct different regeneration methods and conditions to optimize for different kinds of deactivation. Segmenting regeneration is adopted to ensure the effective removal of carbon deposition while avoiding excessive temperature rise. The effectiveness of the regeneration method was verified by multiple cycle experiments. The analysis of the product shows that the loss of olefin is lower here than that of NiO/ZnO-Al2O3-SiO2 adsorbent. At last, the reactivation mechanism of NiSO4/ZnO-Al2O3-SiO2 adsorbent has been studied. Of note is that since the main active site NiSx is stable during regeneration, reactivated NiSO4/ZnO-Al2O3-SiO2 adsorbent has higher initial RADS activity than NiO/ZnO-Al2O3-SiO2 adsorbent. These results guide the continuous long-term use of NiSO4/ZnO-Al2O3-SiO2 adsorbent and provide a new strategy for the design of RADS adsorbent.

Hydraulic properties of fine-textured soils in lowland ecosystems of Western Serbia vary depending on land use

Land use in agriculture can alter the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils, but little is known how it affects the hydraulic properties of the fine-textured soils of lowland agroecosystems in continental climates. This research assesses the impact of long-term (>100 years) continuous use of natural meadows and arable land, after conversion of native mixed deciduous forests, on hydraulic properties such as water retention, pore-size distribution, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and bulk density. The research was conducted on Fluvic Phaeozems in the valley of the Kolubara River, western Serbia. Disturbed and undisturbed soil samples from three different land use systems (forest, meadow, and arable land) and three different locations were collected at 0–15, 15–30, and 30–45 cm soil depth. Significant effects of different land uses were observed for bulk density, total porosity, macroporosity, mesoporosity, microporosity, air-filled porosity, field water capacity, plant available water capacity and saturated hydraulic conductivity at 0–15 cm soil depth, but a much smaller effect was observed at 15–30 cm. The water content estimated by the van Genuchten model was similar to the measured water content (R2 = 0.932–0.972). At 30–45 cm soil depth, land use only significantly affected a few of the examined variables. Dexter's soil physical quality index (S-index) also detected degradation of soil physical quality after conversion from forest to agroecosystems. In summary, the conversion of native forests into agricultural land tends to cause considerable change in the hydraulic properties and soil physical quality of fine-textured soils in lowland continental agroecosystems, which could have an adverse effect on crop yield and the environment.

Design of equipment for observing the distribution of plastic waste in surf zones

The publication highlights some technical issues related to the design of equipment for monitoring the distribution of plastic waste on sea beaches, in particular within the surf zones. Sample selection procedures, alternative to the existing ones, were considered, and certain methods and technical means were proposed to optimize the sampling process. The expediency of creating traps for macro- and microplastics, the long-term continuous use of which can open new methodological approaches to regular observations of these pollutants, is substantiated. Such field observations combined with the recording of hydrometeorological data (winds, currents, and dynamics of wave activity) will allow to determine the intensity of the introduction of plastic material from certain geographical locations and to investigate probable sources of input depending on the characteristics of its composition.

Glimepiride Use is Associated with Reduced Cardiovascular Mortality in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Heart Failure: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Glimepiride has good cardiovascular safety. However, whether glimepiride benefits clinical cardiovascular outcomes is unclear. A total of 21,451 inpatients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and chronic heart failure (CHF) were analyzed, including 638 who received glimepiride treatment and 20,813 who did not. Propensity score matching yielded 509 pairs (glimepiride and non-glimepiride groups), and both groups were followed up. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to compare all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, hospitalizations and emergency visits for heart failure, and hospitalizations for acute myocardial infarction or stroke. During follow-up, the all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35-0.63; P < 0.001), cardiovascular mortality (adjusted HR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.24-0.48; P < 0.001), and number of hospitalizations and emergency visits for heart failure (adjusted HR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.36-0.50; P < 0.001) and hospitalizations for acute myocardial infarction or stroke (adjusted HR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.38-0.73; P < 0.001) were significantly lower in the glimepiride group; the conclusion remained similar in all subgroups. Furthermore, high-dose glimepiride use (2-4 mg/day) was associated with lower cardiovascular mortality than low-dose (1 mg/day) (adjusted HR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.31-0.99; P = 0.047). Glimepiride exhibited good molecular docking with soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) and increased the level epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EET). Long-term continuous glimepiride use is associated with better survival, fewer hospitalizations and emergency visits for heart failure, and fewer hospitalizations for acute myocardial infarction or stroke in patients with T2D and CHF. High-dose glimepiride has greater cardiovascular protective advantages than low-dose glimepiride. The cardiovascular protective effect of glimepiride may be related to the EET level increase through sEH inhibition.

EE86 Evaluation of Long- Versus Short-Term Use of Patiromer on Healthcare Resource Utilization in the Patiromer Long-Term Use Evaluation (VALUE) Study

Patiromer is a sodium-free potassium binder (Kb) used for hyperkalemia treatment. Clinical trial data and real-world analyses support patiromer’s efficacy and tolerability. Previous studies suggest continuous long-term use of patiromer is associated with less healthcare resource utilization (HRU) than not using a Kb. This study aims to further delineate HRU with short- and long-term patiromer use.

Calibration-free pH long-time measurement method based on electrode potential drift dynamic compensation-applying self-adaptive dynamic optimization exponential smoothing method

The long-term in-situ accurate measurement of pH value is an urgent need for environmental water quality monitoring without calibration of pH electrodes. The nonlinearity and potential drift of pH electrode is the main problem which restricts long-term continuous monitoring. The characteristic rules including electrode potential, zero value, electrode slope coefficient, and electrode potential drift for pH electrode are analyzed in detail under the condition of long-term continuous use. The exponential smoothing potential drift prediction model with self-adaptive dynamic optimization smoothing order and smoothing coefficient is established. Combining electrode potential drift threshold judgment and Nernst equation, calibration-free dynamic calculation mathematical model of pH long-term monitoring is established. Indoor simulation and field test indicate that the measurement absolute error caused by electrode drift is within 0.01 pH and the specified measurement error for pH monitoring instrument is always within 0.1 pH. The proposed method is very suitable for the terminal of pH detector with the advantages of good portability for the MCU chip, small samples, high-precision and fast running speed. Furthermore, the life of pH electrode can be prolonged significantly. It is also proved that the proposed method has a good application prospect.

Decarbonisation of the shipping sector – Time to ban fossil fuels?

Shipping contributes roughly 2.8 % of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and this is projected to increase in the decades to come. The main regulator of the shipping industry, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), bears the responsibility for developing climate change regulation. Yet the IMO decarbonisation target remains only a 50 % reduction by 2050, and, while regulatory measures have been adopted, these mostly focus on increasing the energy efficiency of ships, not the reduction of total sector GHG emissions. The result is that carbon emissions from shipping continue to rise and are projected to increase by anything up to 50 % by 2050. While many studies are undertaken on the impact of efficiency regulations or the potential for market-based mechanisms, we argue in this piece that missing from this discussion is the potential for a target of full decarbonisation, in line with the IPCC recommendation, allied with a complete ban on the use of fossil fuels in shipping by 2050. This policy would provide certainty to the market and allow industry actors to undertake the transition in a level playing field. Without such a clear signal, carriers and shipowners will transition much more slowly to alternative fuels alongside continued long-term use of fossil fuels. We argue that this position should be actively considered and evaluated, with a tapered timeline to phase out the use of fossil fuels by this date. Instead of focusing research only on the marginal gains of partial policies, scholars and policymakers should prepare plans and evaluate scenarios linked to a clear goal of real zero by 2050.

Reducing Water Salinity at Flowering Stage Decreases Days to Flowering and Promotes Plant Growth and Yield in Chile Pepper

Water scarcity is a major problem for crop production around the world including Southwestern United States and growers are increasingly using groundwater for agriculture in Southern New Mexico. Most of the groundwater in New Mexico is brackish and continuous long-term use could lead to salt accumulation in the soil. Reverse osmosis (RO) can desalinate brackish groundwater (BGW), however, environmentally safe disposal of RO concentrate is costly. This greenhouse study evaluated the effects of BGW and RO concentrate at various growth stages of two chile pepper cultivars, NuMex Joe E. Parker and NuMex Sandia Select. Five salinity treatments were applied to plants, three of them used saline waters of 0.6 (control), 4.0 (BGW), and 8.0 dS/m (RO) throughout the growing season, whereas the other two changed waters of 4.0 and 8.0 dS/m to waters of 2.0 and 6.0 dS/m from the beginning of the flowering stage. Number of flowers, days to flowering, relative plant heights, relative fresh biomass, fruit yields, photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductivity (gS), and actual evapotranspiration (ETa) significantly decreased with increasing irrigation water salinity levels. Concentrations of Mg2+, Na+, and Cl− in plants increased with increasing water salinity levels. Changing to irrigation with reduced salinity waters of 2.0 and 6.0 dS/m at the flowering stage initiated reproductive development more rapidly and alleviated the adverse influence of salinity on the number of flowers of chile pepper, plant height, Pn, as well as fresh shoot and fruit weight than that with continuous irrigation with electrical conductivity (EC) of 4.0 dS/m and 8.0 dS/m beyond the flowering stage. Irrigation that practices a change from high salinity to lower salinity at the flowering stage can optimize the use of saline irrigation water for growing chile peppers.

New and Upcoming Topical Treatments for Atopic Dermatitis: A Review of the Literature.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis with periods of exacerbation and remissions. AD is characterized by intense, persistent pruritus and heterogeneity in clinical symptomatology and severity. Therapeutic goals include the amelioration of cutaneous eruptions, diminishing relapses and eventually the disease burden. To date, topical corticosteroids (TCS) and calcineurin inhibitors (TCI) have yet been deemed the mainstay of topical treatments in AD management. Nevertheless, despite their indisputable efficiency, TCS and TCI are not indicated for continuous long-term use given their safety profile. While research in AD has concentrated predominantly on systemic therapies, more than 30 novel topical compounds are under development. The existing data appear encouraging, with some regimens that are already FDA-approved (ruxolitinib was the most recent in September 2021) and several pharmaceutical pipeline products for mild-to-moderate AD that are in an advanced stage of development, such as tapinarof, difamilast and roflumilast. Larger, long-term studies are still required to evaluate the efficacy and safety of these novel compounds in the long run and weigh their advantages over present treatments. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of the latest knowledge about AD topical treatments, echoing upcoming research trends.

Is biodegradable film an alternative to polyethylene plastic film for improving maize productivity in rainfed agricultural areas? — Evidence from field experiments

Due to increasing concerns regarding plastic pollution throughout the world, biodegradable mulch is considered a promising alternative to polyethylene film and its suitability has been verified in some crops. However, it is unclear whether the long-term continuous use of biodegradable mulch as a substitute for polyethylene film is sustainable in rainfed agricultural areas, and whether its effect is consistent under different climatic conditions. Therefore, we conducted 7-year (2013–2019) and 4-year (2015–2018) field experiments in two regions with different precipitation levels (semiarid and semi-humid regions) on the Loess Plateau in China. We compared the effects of polyethylene film mulching (PM), biodegradable film mulching (BM), and traditional flat planting without film mulching (TF) on the soil temperature, soil moisture, grain yield, crop water productivity (WPc), and economic benefit (EB). The results showed that compared with TF, the grain yields under BM and PM increased by 2.1–93.3% and 7.6–34.6%, respectively, WPc increased by 2.1–93.3% and 7.6–34.6%, and EB increased by –16.6–131.5% and –7.8–27.0%. The differences in these indexes under the two mulching methods mainly occurred in the dry years with less precipitation in the semiarid region, whereas there were no significant differences in the grain yield, WPc, and EB under BM and PM in the semi-humid region. Therefore, the decision regarding whether BM can replace PM to improve maize productivity is significantly affected by the annual precipitation in rainfed areas. Furthermore, the univariate quadratic equation model was used to simulate that BM can obtain a higher crop yield and EB than PM when the precipitation is more than 600 mm and less than 800 mm, so as to achieve a win–win situation with continuous yield and income increases, and environmental friendliness in the Loess Plateau of China. However, the yield increase effect of plastic film mulching is also related to crop types, mulch types and farming practices except for climate. In addition, reducing the production cost will still be important for encouraging farmers to use biodegradable film instead of polyethylene film.