Differences In Macro Research Articles

Resolving the ongoing confusion between Erigeron multiradiatus and Tibetiodes himalaica (Asteraceae)

Erigeron multiradiatus (Asteraceae: Astereae: Conyzinae) and Tibetiodes himalaica (Asteraceae: Astereae: Asterinae) are often misidentified due to their morphological similarity and variation in some morphological characters. The present communication aims to resolve the identity crisis of these two species based on detailed morphological studies of freshly collected as well as herbarium specimens (including types), SEM studies of cypselas and molecular study with one nuclear and one chloroplast marker (ITS and trnLF). The morphological analysis showed that the two species differ in involucres and flower colour, with very clear differences in macro- and micro-morphological features of the cypselas. The molecular study also showed clear distinction between these two taxa. Additionally, a lectotype is designated for Erigeron multiradiatus.

Species clarification of fairy inkcap (“Coprinellus disseminatus”) in China

ABSTRACT Coprinellus disseminatus and other morphologically similar species are widely dispersed worldwide and are commonly referred to as “fairy inkcap”. Based on the molecular phylogenetic study and morphological observation, a thorough investigation was carried out utilising 74 collections of related species that were gathered from seventeen provinces and five Chinese fungaria between 1998 and 2023 and revealed 11 lineages of “fairy inkcap”, nine of which were found in China, and which belonged to the two genera Coprinellus and Tulosesus. In sect. Disseminati, genetic diversities (π), and fixation index (Fst) amongst lineages were computed, and a haplotype-based network was established to ascertain the relationships amongst each clade. A new section of Coprinellus, sect. Aureodisseminati, were discovered. In addition, four new species (C. aureodisseminatus, C. austrodisseminatus, C. parcus, and C. velutipes), a new subspecies of C. disseminatus, a new combination (Tulosesus pseudodisseminatus), the first discovery of epigamous type of C. magnoliae and a new record to China (T. subdisseminatus) were also identified and thoroughly described with accompanying illustrations. Their differences in macro- and micro-features, as well as their character sequence, were discussed.

Sheep manure and sewage sludge boost biofortification of barley and restricts heavy metal accumulation in plant tissues

In recent centuries, micronutrient deficiencies are considered a major challenge for human health. Biofortification of principal crops has been broadly accepted as a sustainable scenario to overcome this limitation. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized factorial design with three replications during the 2007–2008 and 2008–2009 growing seasons. Four fertilizers and two doses of humic acid were used in the experiment. Analysis of variance indicated that humic acid, fertilizer type, and growing season caused statistically significant differences in macro and micronutrient content and heavy metal concentrations of shoot and seed in plants. Results also denoted that organic material amendment improved macro and micronutrient content of barley plants compared with IF in which SS treatment increased Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn, and Ni concentrations in shoot/seed while SM treatment enhanced N, P, and K concentration of plants. Moreover, IF-treated plants increased heavy metal accumulation in shoot and seed tissues whereas organic amendments reduced heavy metal uptake such that the lowest Pb and Cd were determined in SM-treated plants, and the lowest Ni content was measured in W-treated samples. HA application promoted Zn, Mg, and Cu accumulation in plants, however, individual or combined with fertilizers reduced other micro and macronutrient uptake. In conclusion, the amendment of 40 tons ha−1 of sheep manure and sewage sludge is an improving and beneficial practice in barley cultivation for the biofortification of crops. However, HA treatment did not form a meaningful whole in the experiment but promoted Zn, Mg, and Cu concentrations in plant tissues.

Forage Properties of Fresh and Composted Cotton Gin Byproducts as Feed Supplements

Cotton ginning generates millions of tons of byproducts every year. If not properly managed, these materials become waste, which may constitute significant environmental, economic, and logistical issues. The objectives of this study were to characterize fresh and composted cotton gin byproducts (CGBs) for utilization as animal feed supplements and investigate the effects of composting on the forage properties. The study analyzed and compared the nutrients and energy contents of fresh and composted CGB from four commercial cotton gins in Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee states, USA. The results suggest that composting CGB may result in more than a 47% increase in fiber and crude protein and at least a 25% decrease in total digestible nutrients and net energy estimations. The differences in macro- and micro-nutrient contents and feed properties suggest that composting CGB may improve the potential for utilization as an animal feed supplement. Establishing the forage properties of CGB is crucial for determining animal feed formulations using CGB as supplements.

Plant-based alternative proteins-are they nutritionally more advantageous?

The transition towards sustainable nutrition as well as the exploration of alternative sources of protein have been at the forefront of thinking in the 21st century. However, further research is required to ascertain if a diet composed of alternative plant-based proteins has similar nutritional advantages to a plant-based diet. This study aims to model the replacement of a diet consisting of animal-based proteins with plant-based alternatives (PBA), in a group of Asians. A 4-day food record was collected from 50 individuals residing in Singapore and nutrient profiles were generated for each individual. Food records were analysed, and meat, dairy, and seafood ingredients were substituted gram-for-gram with their PBA. The original and replaced nutrient profiles were compared against each other and the differences in macro and micronutrients were analysed. A significant increase in carbohydrates, dietary fibre, as well as in micronutrients such as sodium and calcium was observed. Conversely, there was a significant decreased intake in overall energy, protein and fat (p < 0.005). The significant nutritional impact of substituting animal-based proteins for PBA may present benefits for bone health and individuals on a caloric restriction diet. However, higher sodium levels may be undesirable for individuals with cardiovascular conditions and hypertension, and the low bioavailability of iron in plant-based sources may present issues for iron deficient populations. Bearing some of these key findings in mind, researchers and manufacturers need to consider these when developing alternative protein products to meet consumer demands for palatable and nutritious plant-based products.

Comparative Aspects of Ricin Toxicity by Inhalation.

The pathogenesis of ricin toxicity following inhalation has been investigated in many animal models, including the non-human primate (predominantly the rhesus macaque), pig, rabbit and rodent. The toxicity and associated pathology described in animal models are broadly similar, but variation appears to exist. This paper reviews the published literature and some of our own unpublished data and describes some of the possible reasons for this variation. Methodological variation is evident, including method of exposure, breathing parameters during exposure, aerosol characteristics, sampling protocols, ricin cultivar, purity and challenge dose and study duration. The model species and strain used represent other significant sources of variation, including differences in macro- and microscopic anatomy, cell biology and function, and immunology. Chronic pathology of ricin toxicity by inhalation, associated with sublethal challenge or lethal challenge and treatment with medical countermeasures, has received less attention in the literature. Fibrosis may follow acute lung injury in survivors. There are advantages and disadvantages to the different models of pulmonary fibrosis. To understand their potential clinical significance, these factors need to be considered when choosing a model for chronic ricin toxicity by inhalation, including species and strain susceptibility to fibrosis, time it takes for fibrosis to develop, the nature of the fibrosis (e.g., self-limiting, progressive, persistent or resolving) and ensuring that the analysis truly represents fibrosis. Understanding the variables and comparative aspects of acute and chronic ricin toxicity by inhalation is important to enable meaningful comparison of results from different studies, and for the investigation of medical countermeasures.

Investigating the Dietary Intake Using the CyFFQ Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire in Cypriot Huntington's Disease Patients.

Huntington's disease (HD) is a rare progressive neurodegenerative disease characterised by autosomal dominant inheritance. The past decade saw a growing interest in the associations between the Mediterranean Diet (MD) and HD risk and outcomes. The aim of this case-control study was to assess the dietary intake and habits of Cypriot HD patients, comparing them to gender and age-matched controls, using the Cyprus Food Frequency Questionnaire (CyFFQ) and to assess adherence to the MD by disease outcomes. The method relied on the validated CyFFQ semi-quantitative questionnaire to assess energy, macro- and micronutrient intake over the past year in n = 36 cases and n = 37 controls. The MedDiet Score and the MEDAS score were used to assess adherence to the MD. Patients were grouped based on symptomatology such as movement and cognitive and behavioral impairment. The two-sample Wilcoxon rank-sum (Mann-Whitney) test was used to compare cases vs. controls. Statistically significant results were obtained for energy intake (kcal/day) (median (IQR): 4592 (3376) vs. 2488 (1917); p = 0.002) from cases and controls. Energy intake (kcal/day) (median (IQR): 3751 (1894) vs. 2488 (1917); p = 0.044) was also found to be significantly different between asymptomatic HD patients and controls. Symptomatic patients were also different from controls in terms of energy intake (kcal/day) (median (IQR): 5571 (2907) vs. 2488 (1917); p = 0.001); % energy monounsaturated fatty acids (median (IQR): 13.4 (5.2) vs. 15.5 (5.7); p = 0.0261) and several micronutrients. A significant difference between asymptomatic and symptomatic HD patients was seen in the MedDiet score (median (IQR): 31.1 (6.1) vs. 33.1 (8.1); p = 0.024) and a significant difference was observed between asymptomatic HD patient and controls (median (IQR): 5.5 (3.0) vs. 8.2 (2.0); p = 0.014) in the MEDAS score. This study confirmed previous findings that HD cases have a significantly higher energy intake than controls, revealing differences in macro and micronutrients and adherence to the MD by both patients and controls and by HD symptom severity. These findings are important as they are an effort to guide nutritional education within this population group and further understand diet-disease associations.

Top-down strategy for bamboo lignocellulose-derived carbon heterostructure with enhanced electromagnetic wave dissipation

Biomass-derived residue carbonization has been an important issue for “carbon fixation” and “zero emission”, and the carbonized products have multiple application potentials. However, there have been no specific research to study the differences in macro- and micro-morphology, electrical properties and many other aspects of the products obtained from carbonization of pure cellulose, pure lignin or their complex, lignocellulose. In this work, lignocellulose with cellulose to lignin mass ratio of 10:1 is obtained using p -toluenesulfonic acid hydrolysis followed by homogenization process at a controlled condition. Then, carbon heterostructure with fibers and sheets (CH-10) are obtained by pyrolysis at 1500 °C. Detailed results imply that the fiber-like carbon structure possesses high crystallinity and low defect density, coming from carbonization of the cellulose content in lignocellulose (LC) nanofibers. Correspondingly, the graphite-like carbon sheet with high defect density and low crystallinity comes from carbonization of the lignin content in LCs. Further investigation indicates CH-10 possesses enhanced polarization and moderate impedance matching which makes it an ideal candidate for electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption. CH-10 exhibits an excellent EMW absorption performance with a minimum RL value of −50.05 dB and a broadest absorption bandwidth of 4.16 GHz at a coating thickness as thin as 1.3 mm.

Effects of Varying Avocado Intake on Energy and Nutrient Intake of Hispanic Families: A Cluster Randomized Trial

Abstract Objectives Avocados are nutrient-dense and could be a favorable component of a healthy dietary pattern, yet there are limited data on the effects of avocado intake on nutritional status. To test if avocados impact energy intake, we examined the effects of two levels of avocado intake, plus a standard nutrition education intervention, on energy and nutrient intake in families of Hispanic Heritage. Methods Between April 2017 and June 2018, we conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial in families consisting of at least 3 members residing in the same home, at least 5 years of age, free of severe chronic disease, not on specific diets, and self-identified of Hispanic heritage. Seventy-two (n = 72) families were randomized to one of two groups: nutrition education with low avocado allotment (3 avocados/family/week) or nutrition education with high avocado allotment (14 avocados/family/week). Community health workers (i.e., Promotoras) led 12 bi-weekly in-home nutrition education sessions per family and delivered weekly avocado allotments. Dietary patterning, energy and nutrient intake were measured at baseline, and after 3- and 6-months. The primary outcome was change in a family's total energy intake after 6 months. Secondary outcome measures included differences in macro- and micronutrients between groups. Results Over the 6-month follow-up period, the mean difference in energy intake for the high versus low avocado intervention group was −1884 kcals/family/day (95% CI −3205 to −563 kcals, P &amp;lt; 0.01). The high avocado intake group also had significant reductions in carbohydrate, animal and vegetable protein saturated and polyunsaturated fat calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron, and vitamin D intakes (P &amp;lt; 0.05 for all). There were no significant changes in MUFA or dietary fiber intakes. Conclusions In families of Hispanic heritage, an intervention including nutrition education combined with 14 avocados/week, compared to 3 avocados per week, resulted in a significant reduction in calories and select macro- and micronutrients. This trial suggests interventions with specific plant foods, but without specific counseling on energy restriction, may lead to reductions in total energy intake. Future studies should investigate the effects of avocado intake in other populations. Funding Sources Hass Avocado Board.

Microclimatic characterization of a conilon coffee plantation grown in an east-west orientation

Plant microclimate is seasonally influenced by the Earth’s rotation and the orientation of sun-exposed slopes. As such, understanding the system which constitutes the microenvironment is essential to create strategies to optimize plant performance in a changing environment. The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of planting coffee in an east-west orientation on microclimatic aspects, plant growth and nutrient content. The experiment was conducted in a farm located in the northern region of the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Data collection was carried out on a 30-month old conilon coffee crop under full sun, with spacing of 3.0 m x 1.0 m and a plant height of ca. 1.6 m, from December 2016-September 2017. The irradiance, air temperature and vapor pressure deficit variables were reported by means of external data loggers. Leaf temperature (determined using thermal images), plant growth and leaf concentration on both sides of the plant were evaluated. Highest irradiance, air temperature and vapor pressure deficit values were observed on the north side, with the maximal difference reaching 4°C. This microclimate led to the highest leaf temperature on the north side, with a maximal difference of ca. 11°C around midday. Differences in macro- and micronutrient leaf concentrations were observed with a trend toward higher values on the north side probably associated with increased transpiration rates due to a high vapor pressure deficit. Higher macro- and micronutrient leaf content led to the better performance of coffee plants on the north side to some extent. There was no significant difference between the two sides of the plant for the growth variables.

Dynamics of country image: evidence from Malaysia

PurposePrevious research has posited country image to operate at two levels: the country’s macro image, based on general politico-economic descriptors of the country, and the country’s micro image, based on perceptions of products from the country. The purpose of this paper is to further explore this premise in a practical study, using a psychometric assessment of macro and micro country images by ascertaining the nature of differences in macro and micro images of leading exporters, the USA and China, for consumers in Malaysia, a top import destination of US and Chinese goods; the images of Malaysian goods were similarly assessed.Design/methodology/approachThe study used a systematic sample, with questionnaires distributed to adult respondents using a street intercept. Interviewers asked every other passer-by to fill out a questionnaire, and stood in close proximity to address any questions from respondents. The study hypothesized that there is a significant difference between country macro and micro image, respectively for the USA, China and Malaysia, and that there is significant relationship between country macro image and country micro image in each country, respectively, USA, China and Malaysia.FindingsThe study found support for the reliability of existing country micro and macro image measures, and further refined them for increased validity. The study compared between the countries and found significant differences on both macro and micro dimensions of country image. The US scored highest on technological research, high quality products, standards of living, labor costs, welfare system, industrialization, civilian government, development, literacy, free-market system and democracy, followed by China on technological research, industrialization, development and free-market system, with Malaysia scoring higher on product quality, labor costs, welfare system, civilian government is civilian/non-military, literacy, free-market system and democracy.Research limitations/implicationsA broader study of countries that share geopolitical and cultural similarities might offer additional insights into country macro and micro image.Practical implicationsThe study cautions marketers to assess the acceptance of their products in the context of their country’s macro and micro image perceptions in target markets, and steer those perceptions in a manner that would be beneficial to their marketing efforts.Originality/valueThe conceptualization of the macro and micro aspects of country image has been one of the less studied dimensions of country image. This study is the first to address these dimensions from an emerging-market perspective, suggesting that, at the macro level, country perceptions regarding technology, economy, and politics contribute to an overall impression of the country, which would then influence the desirability of its products originating there. For the micro country image, products from countries perceived as innovative, excelling in product design, and producing prestigious products, are likely to be perceived as desirable.

Impact of a Complementary Feeding (CF) Intervention on Nutrient Intake and Prevalence of Adequate Diet Among 12-month-old Infants in Rural Zimbabwe (P10-028-19)

ObjectivesTo assess the effectiveness of a complementary feeding (CF) intervention comprised of behavior-change communication (BCC) and small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplement (SQLNS) on the intake of macro- and micronutrients and prevalence of adequate diet between the intervention (CF) and nonintervention (non-CF) group of a trial in rural Zimbabwe. MethodsWe conducted a sub-study within the Sanitation Hygiene Infant Nutrition Efficacy (SHINE) trial. The CF group received BCC messages on CF and SQLNS supplementation from 6 to 18 months. The SQLNS was provided in 20 g –1 day sachets each contributing about118 kcal day–1. To measure nutrient intake, we conducted multi pass 24-hour dietary recalls among a randomly selected sample of 195 caregivers when their infants were 12 months old. For 10% of the sample a second dietary recall was conducted 1–3weeks after the first one. The CF (n = 100) group was compared with the non-CF group (n = 95) for differences in macro- and micronutrients intake including SQLNS and from non-supplement foods only. Prevalence of dietary adequacy was assessed using the measurement-error method and also compared between the CF and non-CF group. ResultsDietary energy intake was significantly (P = 0.014) higher among CF (470 kcal/day) than non-CF (395 kcal/day) infants. The CF group also had significantly (all P < 0.001) higher intakes of all micronutrients assessed, which included vitamin A, folate, calcium, iron and zinc. Intakes of all macro- and micronutrients from non-supplement foods did not differ significantly between the CF groups, which suggests that there was no additional effect of the BCC intervention on consumption and no replacement of non-supplement foods by SQLNS. The prevalence of dietary adequacy was significantly higher in the CF intervention arm for all nutrients. ConclusionsThe CF intervention improved macro- and micronutrient intake and prevalence of adequate diet. This difference resulted from the SQLNS supplementation with no additional benefit from the BCC intervention. Funding SourcesSupported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the UK Department for International Development and Borlaug LEAP fellowship.

Bioturbation rates in the deep Fram Strait: Results from in situ experiments at the arctic LTER observatory HAUSGARTEN

There are numerous studies measuring the rate and extent of bioturbation worldwide, however, information on mixing rates in the deep ocean, especially in the polar regions, are extremely scarce. The present study presents mixing rates and mixed layer depths for the deep seafloor at the LTER (Long-Term Ecological Research) observatory HAUSGARTEN in Fram Strait, Arctic Ocean. Two stations at similar water depths (HG-IV at 2492 m, and S3 at 2391 m) but different distances to the ice edge (approx. 65 km and 115 km, respectively) were chosen to carry out long-term in situ bioturbation experiments (2 and 4 years, respectively), using luminophores as a tracer. Enhanced bioturbation at the northern site, located closer to the high productive Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) and thus expected to receive higher amounts of settling organic matter thereby supporting a richer benthic community, could not be confirmed. Instead, biodiffusion-like mixing rates (Db) at the experimental sites showed no significant differences (0.26 ± 0.27 SD cm−2 y−1 at station HG-IV; 0.28 ± 0.40 SD cm−2 y−1 at station S3). Moreover, mixed layer depths (L) at the two sites were almost identical; mixing of surface sediments occurred down to approx. 6–7 cm sediment depth. Indications for a non-local transport of sediment particles from the surface to deeper parts of the sediment, resulting in higher values for the Non-Local Index (NLI), could only be found for the central HAUSGARTEN site HG-IV. Differences in macro- and megafauna communities at the two experimental sites might be responsible for subsurface maxima in luminophore distribution and slightly (non-significantly) higher NLI values at this site (5.37 ± 3.35 SD at station HG-IV; 3.26 ± 1.82 SD at station S3). Temporal variations in benthic activities should have been levelled out in the multi-year experiments, thus providing reliable baseline data for the deep Fram Strait.

Macro- and Microvascular Parameters After Toxic Shock Syndrome.

Whether individuals who had toxic shock syndrome in childhood have differences in macro- and retinal microvascular parameters indicative of increased cardiovascular risk is unknown. We found no evidence of adverse macrovascular changes in 22 toxic shock syndrome participants compared with 60 control participants. Microvascular comparisons showed a reduction in retinal total fractal dimension, which has been associated with cardiovascular risk factors in children.

Potential Use of Sicilian Landraces in Biofortification of Modern Durum Wheat Varieties: Evaluation of Caryopsis Micronutrient Concentrations

The selection process has caused modern durum wheat cultivars to achieve higher yields with different protein quality but also to have low micronutrient amounts. In order to evaluate the suitability of germplasm for the recovery of such nutrient content, macro- and microelements concentrations in twelve ancient Sicilian durum wheat landraces and in three modern cultivars were compared. According to the results, the substantial differences in macro- and micro-element concentrations between the two groups of wheat genotypes suggest ancient Sicilian landraces can effectively represent a suitable genetic material for biofortification plans of micronutrients in modern varieties.

Brain structural changes in late-life generalized anxiety disorder

Late-life Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is relatively understudied and the underlying structural and functional neuroanatomy has received little attention. In this study, we compare the brain structural characteristics in white and gray matter in 31 non-anxious older adults and 28 late-life GAD participants.Gray matter indices (cortical thickness and volume) were measured using FreeSurfer parcellation and segmentation, and mean diffusivity was obtained through Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI). We assessed both macroscopic white matter changes [using white matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden] and microscopic white matter integrity [using fractional anisotropy (FA)].No differences in macro- or microscopic white matter integrity were found between GAD and non-anxious controls (HC). GAD participants had lower cortical thickness in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), inferior frontal gyrus, and pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Higher worry severity was associated with gray matter changes in OFC, ACC and the putamen. The results did not survive the multiple comparison correction, but the effect sizes indicate a moderate effect.The study suggests that late-life GAD is associated with gray matter changes in areas involved in emotion regulation, more so than with white matter changes. We conclude that anxiety-related chronic hypercortisolemia may have a dissociative effect on gray and white matter integrity.

Independent association between socioeconomic indicators and macro- and micro-nutrient intake in Switzerland.

BackgroundSocioeconomic differences in diet are rarely assessed with more than one indicator. We aimed to assess differences in macro- and micro-nutrient intake in both sexes according to education, income, and occupation.MethodsWe used data from validated food frequency questionnaire measured dietary intake in 5087 participants (2157 women) from yearly adult population-based cross-sectional surveys conducted from 2005 to 2012 in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland. We used two ANOVA models: age-adjusted and multivariable adjusted simultaneously for all three socioeconomic indicators.ResultsLow-education men consumed more calcium but less vitamin D than high-education men; low-income men consumed less total and animal protein (80.9±0.9 vs 84.0±0.6 g/d; 55.6±1.0 vs 59.5±0.7 g/d) and more total carbohydrates and sugars (246±2 vs 235±2 g/d; 108±2 vs 103±1 g/d) than high-income men. Occupation and diet showed no association. Low-education women consumed less vegetable protein (20.7±0.2 vs 21.6±0.2 g/d), fibre (15.7±0.3 vs 16.8±0.2 g/d), and carotene (4222±158 vs 4870±128 μg/d) than high-education women; low-income women consumed more total carbohydrates (206±2 vs 197±1 g/d) and less monounsaturated fat (27.7±0.4 vs 29.3±0.3 g/d) than high-income women. Finally, low-occupation women consumed more total energy (1792±27 vs 1714±15 kcal/d) and total carbohydrates (206±2 vs 200±1 g/d), but less saturated fat (23.0±0.3 vs 24.4±0.2 g/d), calcium (935±17 vs 997±10 mg/d) and vitamin D (2.5±0.1 vs 2.9±0.1 μg/d), than high-occupation women.ConclusionIn Switzerland, the influence of socioeconomic factors on nutrient intake differs by sex; income and education, but not occupation, drive differences among men; among women, all three indicators seem to play a role. Interventions to reduce inequalities should consider the influence of education, income, and occupation in diet to be most effective.

Recurrence of glioblastoma is associated with elevated microvascular transit time heterogeneity and increased hypoxia

Dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) perfusion MRI provide information about differences in macro- and microvasculature when executed with gradient-echo (GE; sensitive to macrovasculature) and spin-echo (SE; sensitive to microvasculature) contrast. This study investigated whether there are differences between macro- and microvascular transit time heterogeneity (MVTH and µVTH) and tissue oxygen tension (PO2mit) in newly-diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma. Fifty-seven patients with glioblastoma (25 newly-diagnosed/32 recurrent) were examined with GE- and SE-DSC perfusion sequences, and a quantitative blood-oxygen-level-dependent (qBOLD) approach. Maps of MVTH, µVTH and coefficient of variation (MCOV and µCOV) were calculated from GE- and SE-DSC data, respectively, using an extended flow-diffusion equation. PO2mit maps were calculated from qBOLD data. Newly-diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma showed significantly lower (P ≤ 0.001) µCOV values compared to both normal brain and macrovasculature (MCOV) of the lesions. Recurrent glioblastoma had significantly higher µVTH (P = 0.014) and µCOV (P = 0.039) as well as significantly lower PO2mit values (P = 0.008) compared to newly-diagnosed glioblastoma. The macrovasculature, however, showed no significant differences. Our findings provide evidence of microvascular adaption in the disorganized tumor vasculature for retaining the metabolic demands in stress response of therapeutically-uncontrolled glioblastomas. Thus, µVTH and PO2mit mapping gives insight into the tumor microenvironment (vascular and hypoxic niches) responsible for therapy resistance.

Dietary Intake Among Opioid- and Alcohol-Using Pregnant Women

ABSTRACTBackground: Substance abuse in nonpregnant adults has been associated with increased intake in calories and decreased intake of nutrient-dense foods; however, studies examining dietary intake in opioid-using and alcohol-using pregnant women are lacking. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate dietary intake in opioid-using pregnant women with or without concurrent light-to-moderate alcohol use as compared to abstaining controls. Methods: This prospective birth cohort included 102 pregnant women classified into four study groups: controls (n = 27), medication-assisted treatment (MAT; n = 26), alcohol (ALC; n = 22), and concurrent use of both substances (MAT + ALC; n = 27). Percentage differences in macro- and micronutrient intake were estimated from the food frequency questionnaire and compared among the study groups. Proportions of participants with intakes below the estimated average requirements (EAR) based on diet and diet with supplements were estimated. Results: Three exposed groups had lower prevalence of multivitamin use in periconceptional period (11.5–31.8%) than controls (44.4%). Unadjusted mean energy intake was significantly higher in the MAT + ALC group compared to controls, while micronutrient intake per 1000 kcal was the highest in the control group for almost all of the micronutrients analyzed. After adjustment for energy intake and sociodemographic characteristics, MAT group had lower estimated dietary intake of iron (−15.0%, p = 0.04) and folate (−16.8%, p = 0.04) compared to controls. A high proportion of participants in all study groups had dietary intake below the EAR for vitamin E, iron, and folate.Conclusion: Results highlight the need for targeted dietary interventions for opioid-using pregnant women.

Socioeconomic differences in macro and micronutrient intake in Switzerland

Socioeconomic differences in macro and micronutrient intake in Switzerland