High TF Research Articles

Addressing health disparities. Measuring body composition as a complementary predictor of cardiovascular risk

Introduction. Obesity, increased waist circumference and elevated visceral fat are positively correlated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, in contrast to Mediterranean Diet. Objective: To analyze the association between increased waist circumference (WC), visceral fat (VF), body mass index (BMI), age, sex, total cholesterol, total fat percentage, muscle mass and adherence to a Mediterranean Diet. Methods. 566 office workers with increased WC (WHO criteria) were included in this multicentre, cross-sectional observational study, when they attended to their job-specific health checkup in Madrid (2023). BMI and body fat distribution (VF, total fat and muscle mass) was obtained using bioimpedance (TANITA™). Sex, age, waist circumference, total cholesterol and PREDIMED questionnaire (adherence to Mediterranean diet) were also collected. Results. 95.3% of the employees were obese or overweight (BMI). 76.3% had increased TF or were in the obese range. 63% had medium or low adherence to the Mediterranean diet. 50.5% had normal visceral fat. 51.2% had normal cholesterol levels. High VF showed a statistically significant association (P<0.001) with BMI ≥30 (obesity).Being male was associated to greater obesity (P<0.001), high VF (P<0.001) and lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet (P<0.03).Being a woman was associated to high TF (P<0.001).A low adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated to more VF (P<0.017). Conclusions.Individual CVR prediction can be completed by clinicians using tools like bioimpedance that considers sex, VF, TF, in addition to BMI and WC.

Effect of longitudinal ctDNA monitoring with resistance genomic signatures on prognostication in patients with EGFR-mutated advanced NSCLC.

e20507 Background: Targeted therapies against activating receptor tyrosine kinases (TKi) (EGFR, ALK, ROS) mutations have significantly improved the SOC in NSCLC. Although mutant EGFR (mEGFR) targeting TKi show survival benefits, their efficacy is contingent upon the presence of de novo or emergent TKi mutations. A comprehensive gene panel (CGP) designed to detect a multitude of actionable and resistance signatures may enhance informed treatment decisions and outcome. Additionally, longitudinal monitoring of a patient may help to monitor the dynamics (disappearance/emergence) of actionable or resistance-conferring gene alterations for timely decisions on therapy alterations. Methods: In prospective clinical trial, ctDNA was evaluated at multipoint and longitudinally in 75 advanced NSCLC patients. On average 06 samples were collected from each patient at treatment initiation (baseline) and subsequently during maturation until one year. Libraries were prepared using a hybridization-capture method based on custom-designed OncoIndx 1080 CGP and sequenced (depth 5500 X) on Illumina Nextseq 2000 in a pair-end mode (150 x2). Variant calling was performed using a proprietary bioinformatics pipeline iCare. Results: Patients with mEGFR (exon 19 deletion and L858R variants) at the baseline, 60 % were accompanied by resistance signature of one or multiple pathogenic mutations in downstream components (PIK3CA, mTOR, PTEN, BRAF) of EGFR pathway, or other receptor TKs (ROS1, ERBB3, MET and RET), while 36 % showed presence of concurrent pathogenic TP53, RB1 or NF2 variants. Nearly 58 % of patients were clinically Non-respondent (NR) while the rest were Responders (R). Patients carrying resistance signatures at the treatment initiation and subsequently during treatment maturation showed dismal PFS (median 10.4 months, P < 0.0001, HR:9.4, CI:3.2-27) and OS (median 10.4 months, P = 0.0004, HR:14.8, CI:4.7-46) compared to population without resistant signatures. Prevalence of resistant signatures at the baseline was highly enriched in the NR population (90 %), compared to the R population (20 %). Multivariate analysis indicated the presence of resistant signatures as an independent bad prognosticator (HR:8.4, CI: 2.8-12.4, P < 0.0001). Tumor fraction value (TF) correlated well with clinical endpoints (AUC = 0.97, < 0.0001), high TF value (cutoff 0.3) showed shorter OS compared to pts with low TF (HR:10, CI: 3.8-29.4, P < 0.0001, median = 21.3 months). Conclusions: Inclusion of CGP as a standard of care may help to stratify patients who are EGFR positive yet may not respond to TKi due to the presence of resistance signatures, and provide the benefit of Tx modification. Longitudinal monitoring of ctDNA in advanced NSCLC patients showed distinct mutational signatures in the R and NR populations.

Effect of quadrantwise versus full-mouth subgingival instrumentation on clinical and microbiological parameters in periodontitis patients: A randomized clinical trial.

This study evaluated the efficacy of quadrantwise subgingival instrumentation (Q-SI) versus one-stage full-mouth subgingival instrumentation (FM-SI) on probing depth and periodontal pathogen reduction over a 6-month follow-up period, as well as whether baseline periodontal pathogens influenced the impact of periodontal treatment protocols on outcomes. Patients with periodontitis were randomized to receive Q-SI (n = 43) or FM-SI (n = 45). Patients were instructed and motivated to maintain optimal oral hygiene during the treatment sessions. Clinical (probing pocket depth [PPD], clinical attachment loss [CAL], and bleeding on probing [BOP]) and periodontal pathogens were assessed at baseline and after 30, 90, and 180 days. Total bacterial load and periodontal pathogens were analysed via real-time PCR. At the 6-month follow-up, the median PPD decreased from 4.8 mm (interquartile range [IQR]: 4.3-5.2) to 2.6 mm (IQR: 2.3-2.9) in FM-SI patients and from 4.7 mm (IQR: 4.1-5.2) to 3.2 mm (IQR: 2.4-3.5) in Q-SI patients (p < .001). At 6 months, FM-SI was more effective at reducing the median proportions of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Aggregatibacter actinocomyctemcomitans, and Tannerella forsythia (Tf) (p < .001 for each value). Multilevel linear regression analysis demonstrated that high baseline PPD (p = .029), Pg (p = .014), and Tf (p < .001) levels and the FM-SI protocol (p < .001) were statistically significant predictors of PPD reduction at 6 months. Furthermore, PPD reduction was significantly greater in the FM-SI group when lower baseline Pg levels were detected. The FM-SI was more effective than the Q-SI in reducing the mean PPD and number of periodontal pathogens in periodontitis patients over a 6-month follow-up period. Higher baseline PPD and Pg levels had a negative impact on PPD reduction at 6 months after FM-SI.

Processing temperature-dependent nucleation and growth behaviors of polypropylene nucleated by a bisamide nucleating agent

It has been widely reported that the processing temperature significantly influenced the effectiveness of a β-nucleating agent (β-NA) in polypropylene (PP) and thus leads to variations in the final relative content of β-phase (kβ). To comprehensively understand the changing kβ with processing temperature, PP nucleated by a bisamide β-NA, N,N′-dicyclohexylterephthalamide (DCHT), was heating-treated at different temperatures (Tf) in the range of 200–250 °C, and the impact of Tf on the nucleation and subsequent growth behaviors of the α- and β-phases were separately investigated. Under low Tf, DCHT induced a high relative density of β-nuclei to α-nuclei (Nβ/Nα) with high total nucleation density (N), and both the α- and β-phases grew competitively until the crystallization ended. Under middle Tf, the Nβ/Nα became low with middle N induced by DCHT, and the faster-growing phase dominated the subsequent growth process. Under high Tf, there was a middle Nβ/Nα with low N, and the faster-growing phase became more dominant during the growth process. Based on the observed morphology of DCHT, the decreasing N with Tf could be associated with the specific surface area, the varying Nβ/Nα could be attributed to the variations in both the energy barrier and the surface area of β-nucleation under diverse DCHT morphologies, and the varying growth behavior was probably associated with the outer surface shape of diverse DCHT morphologies. Combining the thorough analysis of the changing nucleation and growth behaviors with Tf, a possible mechanism was proposed to explain the effect of processing temperature on the final polymorphic composition.

Abstract 3664: Evaluation of on-treatment tumor molecular dynamics using plasma whole genome sequencing (pWGS) and whole exome sequencing (pWES) of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in patients (pts) with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): An exploratory analysis of KEYNOTE-598

Abstract Background: ctDNA-based pWES is a promising tool to examine tumor genomics using a non-invasive liquid biopsy to serially monitor changes during tumor evolution and treatment. Here, we evaluate on-treatment tumor molecular dynamics using ctDNA-based pWGS and pWES in pts with metastatic NSCLC that responded to pembrolizumab (pembro) monotherapy and later experienced PD in KEYNOTE-598 (NCT03302234). Methods: In KEYNOTE-598, pts had metastatic NSCLC (PD-L1 tumor proportion score ≥50%) and received first-line pembro ± ipilimumab for ≤35 cycles. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) was isolated and sequenced from plasma samples at baseline (BL), during on-treatment response (cycle 5 [C5]), and at PD (discontinuation [D]) from pts with objective response to pembro monotherapy and subsequent PD. ctDNA burden (tumor fraction [TF]) was estimated using low-pass pWGS by quantifying tumor content in cfDNA as a function of aneuploidy. All samples with TF &amp;gt;1.5% underwent high-depth pWES. ctDNA burden was estimated from pWES data using maximum somatic allele frequency (MSAF). Correlation between TF and MSAF was evaluated using the Spearman coefficient (r). Variant allele frequency (VAF) and normalized VAF (nVAF) were used to determine variant clonality. Results: In total, 23 pts with initial response to pembro and subsequent PD had plasma samples available from BL, C5, and D. Samples from 22 pts had TF &amp;gt;1.5% by pWGS and underwent pWES. MSAF by pWES was correlated with TF by pWGS at BL (r = 0.68), C5 (0.80), and D (0.59). ctDNA TFs at BL and D (mean = 8.1% and 4.9%, respectively) were higher than C5 (2.0%). In a pooled variant-level analysis (nVAF &amp;gt;0.25) of samples from pts with high TF (≥2.5%) at both BL and D (n = 10), 786 (46%) of variants were present at BL and D, 391 (23%) were present at BL only, and 540 (32%) were present at D only. Variants shared between BL and D had higher clonality (mean nVAF = 0.46) than BL-only (0.38) or D-only variants (0.4). In general, shared variants had similar nVAFs at BL and D but in some pts nVAFs increased at D, suggesting evolution of tumor subclones during treatment. TP53 was mutated in 9 of 10 pts with high TF and was shared at BL and D in 6 pts (mean nVAF = 0.49), present at BL only in 1 pt (0.11) and at D only in 2 pts (0.43). KRAS G12V and Q61H hotspot mutations were observed in 2 pts at D-only and may be related to immune editing. Conclusions: Comprehensive pWES is feasible with sufficient ctDNA burden (TF ≥2.5%). ctDNA dynamics demonstrated molecular profiles characteristic of recurrence with high TF at BL and D and were consistent with radiographic determination of response/progression. Tumor variants at BL and D generally had a common clonal trunk with clones disappearing or appearing de novo. Citation Format: Minita Shah, EJ Dettman, Andrew Albright, Cai Chen, Julie Kobie, Vinay Varadan, Ayman Samkari, Carol Peña, Razvan Cristescu, Z Alexander Cao. Evaluation of on-treatment tumor molecular dynamics using plasma whole genome sequencing (pWGS) and whole exome sequencing (pWES) of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in patients (pts) with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): An exploratory analysis of KEYNOTE-598 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3664.

Abstract 962: Monitoring on-treatment tumor molecular dynamics using plasma whole genome sequencing (pWGS) and whole exome sequencing (pWES) of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in advanced esophageal cancer: An exploratory analysis of KEYNOTE-590

Abstract Background: We evaluated on-treatment tumor molecular dynamics using ctDNA-based pWGS and pWES in patients (pts) with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal cancer that responded to pembro + chemo or chemo alone and later experienced PD in KEYNOTE-590 (NCT03189719). Methods: Pts with locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic esophageal or Siewert type 1 gastroesophageal junction cancer were randomized 1:1 to first-line pembro 200 mg or placebo + chemo (5-fluorouracil + cisplatin) Q3W for ≤35 cycles. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) was isolated and sequenced from plasma samples collected at baseline (BL), during on-treatment response (cycle 5 [C5]), and at PD (discontinuation [D]) from pts with response and subsequent PD. ctDNA burden (tumor fraction [TF]) was estimated using low-pass pWGS by quantifying tumor aneuploidy in cfDNA. All samples with TF &amp;gt;1.5% underwent high-depth pWES. ctDNA burden from pWES was estimated as maximum somatic allele frequency (MSAF). Associations of TF with MSAF were assessed using Spearman correlation coefficient r. For each subject, Jaccard index (JI) was calculated to evaluate the overlap of variants between BL and D. Variant allele frequency (VAF) and normalized VAF (nVAF) were used to determine variant clonality. Results: 108 pts (pembro + chemo, 59; chemo, 49) with initial response and subsequent PD had plasma samples available from BL, C5, and D. Samples from 94 pts had TF &amp;gt;1.5% by pWGS and underwent pWES. MSAF correlated with TF at BL (r = 0.84), C5 (0.56), and D (0.86). ctDNA TF was lower at C5 than at BL and D, with a mean of 4.4% (C5) vs 20.9% (BL) and 14.0% (D) with pembro + chemo and 4.0% (C5) vs 15.8% (BL) and 15.5% (D) with chemo. In variant-level analyses of pWES data from samples with high TF (≥2.5%) at BL and D (n = 65), 39.2% and 44.2% of variants were shared between BL and D with pembro + chemo and chemo, respectively. Higher overlap was observed for variants between BL and D for the chemo arm (JI: median, 0.54; range, 0.04-0.91) vs pembro + chemo (0.37; 0.01-0.92). Shared variants between BL and D had higher clonality compared with variants at BL-only or D-only with pembro + chemo (BL and D mean nVAF = 0.50 vs BL-only = 0.39, and D-only = 0.38) and chemo (0.49 vs 0.38 and 0.38). In pooled variant analyses, TP53 was the most commonly observed mutation and was rarely lost or acquired at D. Conclusions: Comprehensive pWES was feasible with sufficient ctDNA burden (TF ≥2.5%). ctDNA burden dynamics followed high disease burden at BL and D, consistent with radiographic determination of response/PD. Tumor variants at BL and D generally had a common clonal trunk and a higher overlap of variants was observed at D in the chemo arm. These results provide preliminary molecular evidence of immune editing in pts receiving immunotherapy that warrants further study. Citation Format: Minita Shah, E.J. Dettman, Andrew Albright, Cai Chen, Julie Kobie, Sukrut Shah, Carol Peña, Razvan Cristescu, Z Alexander Cao. Monitoring on-treatment tumor molecular dynamics using plasma whole genome sequencing (pWGS) and whole exome sequencing (pWES) of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in advanced esophageal cancer: An exploratory analysis of KEYNOTE-590 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 962.

Metal concentrations in invasive Ailanthus altissima vs native Fraxinus ornus on ultramafic soils: Evidence for higher efficiency in Ni exclusion and adjustments to Mg and Ca imbalance

AbstractAilanthus altissima is one of the major invasive trees at a global scale. Despite numerous reports about its invasiveness in different habitats, so far it was not observed on harsh ultramafic soils and to colonize the vegetation of these outcrops. In this paper we show that the species can also spread in these habitats in the Mediterranean region and is able to cope with the severe anomalies of ultramafic soils. We sampled A. altissima in four ultramafic outcrops of central Italy and in control sites to unravel the behavior of this species toward the typically high soil concentrations of trace metals, such as Ni, Cr and Co, as well the imbalance of the Ca:Mg quotient. A similar sampling was performed for the native Fraxinus ornus that occurs naturally on a broad range of soils, including those from ultramafic rocks. Trace metal concentrations in leaves of both species were below toxicity thresholds, but A. altissima showed lower translocation and bioaccumulation factors (TF and BF, respectively) for Ni. Compared with F. ornus, the invasive species displayed higher leaf concentrations of Mg, thus suggesting a higher tolerance of potentially toxic levels of this element. Moreover, the higher TF and BF values for Ca in both control and serpentine populations suggested that A. altissima was more able to extract and accumulate this macronutrient in leaves in respect to F. ornus. Given the inherent deficiency of this element in ultramafic soils, efficient use of Ca could be a key trait contributing to the invasiveness of A. altissima on these soils.

Magnetic boson peak in classical spin glasses

We revisited spin dynamics in archetypical classical spin-glass (SG) systems, such as Cu1−xMnx (x=0.017, 0.034, and 0.067) dilute alloys and iron aluminosilicate glass, using a modern neutron scattering spectrometer with high neutron flux. The former is crystalline, and the latter is amorphous, where their SG state is well separated from magnetically ordered phases. Bose-scaled localized magnetic excitations were observed in both compounds below the spin-freezing temperature (Tf). The spectrum exhibits a maximum at low energy and a broad tail on the high-energy side. The excitation energy tends to be higher for the material with higher Tf. Above Tf, the spectrum considerably changes with temperature, thereby indicating the emergence of the magnetic relaxation process. The magnetic excitation in the SG state has much in common with the boson peak in structural glasses. We consider that the Bose-scaled broad excitation peak is an elementary excitation inherent in disordered systems. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Tissue factor pathway-related biomarkers in liver cancer: activated factor VII–antithrombin complex and tissue factor mRNA levels are associated with mortality

BackgroundTissue factor (TF), the main initiator of the coagulation cascade, plays a role in cancer progression and prognosis. Activated factor VII–antithrombin complex (FVIIa-AT) is considered an indirect marker of TF exposure by reflecting TF-FVIIa interaction. ObjectivesTo assess the link between FVIIa-AT plasma levels, TF messenger RNA (mRNA) expression, and survival in cancer. MethodsTF pathway–related coagulation biomarkers were assessed in 136 patients with cancer (52 with hepatocellular carcinoma, 41 with cholangiocarcinoma, and 43 with colon cancer) undergoing surgical intervention with curative intent. TF mRNA expression analysis in neoplastic vs nonneoplastic liver tissues was evaluated in a subgroup of 91 patients with primary liver cancer. ResultsFVIIa-AT levels were higher in patients with cancer than in 136 sex- and age-matched cancer-free controls. In patients with cancer, high levels of FVIIa-AT and total TF pathway inhibitor were associated with an increased mortality risk after adjustment for confounders, but only FVIIa-AT remained a predictor of mortality by including both FVIIa-AT and total TF pathway inhibitor in Cox regression (hazard ratio, 2.80; 95% CI, 1.23-6.39; the highest vs the lowest quartile). This association remained significant even after adjustment for extracellular vesicle–associated TF-dependent procoagulant activity. In the subgroup of patients with primary liver cancer, patients with high TF mRNA levels had an increased mortality risk compared with that for those with low TF mRNA levels (hazard ratio, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.03-3.57), and there was a consistent correlation among high FVIIa-AT levels, high TF mRNA levels, and increased risk of mortality. ConclusionHigh FVIIa-AT levels may allow the identification of patients with cancer involving high TF expression and predict a higher mortality risk in liver cancer.

Physio-anatomical modifications and element allocation pattern in Alternanthera tenella Colla. associated with phytoextraction of chromium.

Intensive industrial activities have elevated chromium (Cr) concentrations in the environment, particularly in soil and water, posing a significant threat due to its cytotoxic and carcinogenic properties. Phytoremediation has emerged as a sustainable and economical alternative for detoxifying pollutants. In this context, an attempt has been made to assess the efficacy of Cr remediation by the invasive plant Alternanthera tenella Colla. The study investigated morphological, anatomical, and physiological adaptations in plant tissues in response to 240µM of K2Cr2O7, considering elemental distribution patterns and bioaccumulation potential. Growth parameter assessments revealed a notable 50% reduction in root elongation and biomass content; however, the plant exhibited a comparatively higher tolerance index (47%) under Cr stress. Chromium significantly influenced macro and micro-elemental distribution in plant tissues, particularly in roots and leaves. Structural modifications, including changes in the thickness and diameter of xylem walls in the root, stem, and leaf tissues of Cr-treated A. tenella, were observed. Distinct cell structural distortions and Cr deposit inclusions in the xylem wall and inner parenchyma cells were distinct. Under Cr stress, there was a reduction in pigment content and metabolites such as proteins and soluble sugars, while proline, phenol, and malondialdehyde showed a twofold increase. The concentration of Cr was higher in the shoots of A. tenella (185.7mg/kg DW) than in the roots (179.625mg/kg DW). With a high BCFroot value (16.23) and TF > 1, coupled with effective mechanisms to cope with metal stress, A. tenella emerges as an ideal candidate for chromium phytoextraction.

Assessment of plant ecological variability and heavy metal accumulation potential in naturally growing plant species of Pakhar bauxite mine site, Jharkhand, India

Abandoned bauxite mine (ABM) soil generally contains an unacceptable number of heavy metals (HMs), causing several ecological and environmental issues. The present study was conducted with a similar objective to assess the HM accumulation potential of the naturally growing plant species from Pakhar ABM site. Vegetation communities were studied using quadrat methods for plant species at both ABM and the control site (near the ABM site). A total of 21 (9 at the ABM site and 12 at the control site) plant species were recorded in the present study belonging to 10 families. Vegetation study revealed that the dominant plant species were Ammophila arenaria and Lantana camara at ABM site and Lantana camara at the control site. The concentration of HMs in soil at the ABM site, were 66180.00 mg kg−1 Al, 62.20 mg kg−1 Cr, 22.60 mg kg−1 Cu, 346800.00 mg kg−1 Fe, 780.80 mg kg−1 Mn, and 39.80 mg kg−1 Zn while in the soil of site located nearby taken as the control showed 56500.00 mg kg−1 Al, 4.40 mg kg−1 Cu, 51120.00 mg kg−1 Fe, 58.20 mg kg−1 Mn, 13.00 mg kg−1 Zn. Ammophila arenaria, Miscanthus sinensis, Acacia drepanolobium and Rumex pulcher exhibited the highest metal accumulation at the ABM site, while Ocimum campechianum, Lantana camara, Panicum virgatum L., Euphorbia hirta and Holcus lanatus, Cerastium glomeratum thuill and Shorea robusta exhibited the highest metal accumulation at control site. Plant Lantana camara showed considerable TF values for Pb, Al and Fe, from the ABM soil while Shorea robusta showed high TF values for Al, Cu, Zn, and Fe from the control soil. The BAF for Cu, Mn and Zn from ABM soil were observed in Acacia drepanolobium whereas Cerastium glomeratum thuill exhibited maximum BAF values for Zn and Cu from control soil.

Effect of stabilization time and soil chromium concentration on Sesbania virgata growth and metal tolerance

Sesbania virgata is a pioneer shrub from the Fabaceae family, native to riparian environments in northeast of Argentina, southern of Brazil and Uruguay. In peri-urban riparian soils, metal contamination is a frequent problem, being its bioavailability partly determined by the stabilization time and frequency of contamination events. The effect of time elapsed between chromium (Cr) soil enrichment and plant seeding and Cr doses on S. virgata tolerance and metal absorption were evaluated. Treatments were developed by adding Cr (80–400 ppm) to the soil and allowing two days or fifteen months to elapse before sowing, and a control treatment without Cr addition. After 150 days from seeding, bioaccumulation and translocation factors, growth parameters (dry biomass and its aerial/radical allocation pattern, stem length and its elongation rate), morphological parameters (root volume and leaf area), and physiological parameters (chlorophyll content) of the specimens were determined. The emergence of S. virgata was inhibited since 150 ppm when Cr was added to the soil two days before seeding, with Cr accumulation in roots starting at 80 ppm (17.4 ± 2.5 mg kg−1). Under 15 months of metal stabilization, S. virgata plants survived across the entire range of Cr doses tested, with accumulation in roots since 100 ppm (35.5 ± 0.2 mg kg−1) and metal translocation to aerial tissues only under 400 ppm. The results obtained showed that S. virgata did not have high BCF and TF values, suggesting that it cannot be classified as bioaccumulator of Cr under the tested conditions. However, its presence in environments contaminated with Cr can be beneficial, as it helps to stabilize the metal in the soil.

Evaluation of Phytoremediation Potential of an Aquatic Macrophyte (Eichhornia crassipes) in Wastewater Treatment

Wastewater generation is a major concern, as most of it goes untreated. Industries, urban areas, and agriculture are the major contributors to wastewater. Phytoremediation is an effective method of wastewater treatment. However, the potential of local aquatic species for hyper-accumulation of heavy metals remains elusive. This study focuses on evaluating the native macrophyte Eichhornia crassipes for phytoremediation potential in different source-based water environments: freshwater (FW), industrial (IW), and urban wastewater (UW). Physico-chemical analysis was conducted on water samples (five samples from each source) along with the corresponding E. crassipes plants for assessing physiological, nutritional, and heavy metal parameters. The results showed distinct characteristics among the water sources. The FW had a high pH, and the IW exhibited elevated levels of electrical conductivity (EC: 1746 μS cm−1), total dissolved solids (TDS: 864 mg L−1), chloride (Cl−: 557.83 mg L−1), sulfate (SO4−: 137.27 mg L−1), and calcium (Ca++: 77.83 mg L−1) ions. The UW exhibited high bicarbonate (HCO3−: 123.38 mg L−1), sodium (Na+: 154 mg L−1), and potassium (K+: 37.12 mg L−1) ions. The Cd contamination exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) limits (0.003 mg L−1) in the FW (0.05 mg L−1 in FW-5) and UW (0.05 mg L−1 in UW-3); Cr contamination was higher than the permissible limits of the WHO, National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS), and the European Union (EU) (0.05 mg L−1) in FW, IW, and UW; arsenic (As) in IW exceeded the WHO, United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and EU limits of 10 μg L−1, and Pb in UW exceeded the WHO (0.01 mg L−1), NEQS (0.05 mg L−1), and EU (0.01 mg L−1) limits. E. crassipes displayed different traits depending on the water sources. FW-grown plants had a higher biomass and chlorophyll-b content, while UW-grown plants had higher photosynthesis rates and chlorophyll-a content. Shoots accumulated more Na+, K+, and Ca++ ions than roots. Metal translocation from roots to shoots followed specific patterns for each source: the TFs of Zn = 3.62 in FW &gt; Cd = 2.34 in UW &gt; Cr = 1.61 and Pb = 1.29 in IW and BCFs were found in ascending order: Zn &gt; Ni &gt; Cd &gt; As &gt; Pb in FW, Cd &gt; Zn &gt; Ni &gt; Cr &gt; Pb &gt; As in IW, and Cd &gt; Ni &gt; Pb &gt; Cr &gt; Zn &gt; As in UW. The bioconcentration factor was higher in the roots than in the shoots. These findings suggest that E. crassipes shows promise as a phytoremediation option for heavy metal-contaminated wastewater due to its ability to thrive in harsh wastewater conditions with a higher TF &gt; 1 and BCF &gt; 1. Therefore, the utilization of these macrophytes holds potential for wastewater treatment.

Adaptive scale chirplet transform and its application to bearing fault analysis

In response to the problems of biased estimation of instantaneous frequency (If) and poor noise immunity in current time–frequency (Tf) analysis methods, the adaptive scale chirplet transform (ASCT) is proposed in this paper. The core idea of the proposed algorithm is to use a frequency-dependent quadratic polynomial kernel function to approximate the IF of the signal and to use the time-varying window length to overcome the frequency resolution problem due to the change in signal modulation. This method can dynamically select suitable parameters and overcome the disadvantage of unfocused energy of TF distribution. The experimental results show that the ASCT algorithm has high TF aggregation and can suppress noise interference well. In practical signal processing, the advantage of the ASCT algorithm is that it can accurately depict the characteristic frequency of the signal and detect the fault in the bearing signal. Both simulation and experimental results prove the strong realistic relevance of this algorithm.

Phytochemical screening and in-vitro biological properties of unprocessed and household processed fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn.) seeds and leaves

The impact of household processes on fenugreek leaves and seeds has been analyzed for total phenolic (TP) and total flavonoid content (TF), and in-vitro biological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Processes included air-drying for leaves and germinating, soaking, and boiling for seeds. Air-dried fenugreek leaves (ADFL) had high TP (15.27 mg GAE g−1 D.W.) and TF (7.71 mg QE g−1 D.W.) (milligram quercetin equivalents per gram dry weight). The TP contents of unprocessed, germinated, soaked, and boiled seeds were 6.54, 5.60, 4.59, and 3.84 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram of dry weight (mg GAE g−1 D.W.), respectively. The TF contents in unprocessed fenugreek seeds, germinated fenugreek seeds, soaked fenugreek seeds, and boiled fenugreek seeds (BFS) were 4.23, 2.11, 2.10, and 2.33 mg QE g−1 D.W., respectively. Sixteen phenolic and nineteen flavonoid compounds has been identified using high-performance liquid chromatography. Antioxidant activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH·), 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS+·), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP·) assays indicated that ADFL had the highest activity. Antimicrobial activity has been evaluated against each of the eight pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains. ADFL showed the strongest activity with minimum inhibitory concentrations values ranging from 0.03 to 1.06 and 0.04 to 1.18 mg ml·1 against bacterial and fungal strains, respectively. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated in-vitro against RAW 264.7 macrophage cells using the nitric oxide (NO) assay. Results revealed that ADFL had the highest cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activity according to the NO assay. Household processes significantly reduced the in-vitro biological properties of processed seeds.

Different modeling approaches in the simulation of extrinsic coagulation factor X activation: Limitations and areas of applicability.

Proteolytic reactions on the phospholipid membrane surface, so-called "membrane-dependent" reactions, play central role in the process of blood clotting. One particularly important example is FX activation by the extrinsic tenase (VIIa/TF). Here we constructed three mathematical models of FX activation by VIIa/TF: (A) a homogeneous "well-mixed" model, (B) a two-compartment "well-mixed" model, (C) a heterogeneous model with diffusion, to investigate the impact and importance of inclusion of each complexity level. All models provided good description of the reported experimental data and were equivalently applicable for <40 μM of phospholipids. Model C provided better predictions than A, B in the presence of TF-negative phospholipid microparticles. Models predicted that for high TF surface density (STF ) and FX deficiency the FX activation rate was limited by the rate of FX binding to the membrane. For low STF and excess of FX the reaction rate was limited by the tenase formation rate. The analysis of the substrate delivery pathways revealed that FX bound to VIIa/TF predominantly from solution for STF >2.8 × 10-3 nmol/cm2 and from the membrane for lower STF . We proposed the experimental setting to distinguish between the collision-limited and non-collision-limited binding. The analysis of models in flow and non-flow conditions revealed that the model of a vesicle in flow might be substituted by model C in the absence of the substrate depletion. Together, this study was the first which provided the direct comparison of more simple and more complex models. The reaction mechanisms were studied in a wide range of conditions.

Phytoremediation, bioaccessibility and ecotoxicological risk assessment of arsenic in a gold mining area

The physicochemical and biological parameters of aquatic ecosystems are directly affected by mining activities, increasing the ecotoxicological risk related to exposure to contaminants and pollutants. In this study, a native and adapted floating aquatic macrophyte was used in a gold mining area as a model organism to assess the environmental risk and its potential application in bioremediation of heavy metals. The physicochemical parameters of water and sediments were evaluated, as well as the phytoremediation parameters (bioconcentration and translocation factors) of Hydrocotyle ranunculoides L. The results showed a significant bioconcentration of Cr, Pb, Cu, and Zn in the roots of the macrophyte (high BCF: As > Cu > Zn > Pb > Cr), confirming its suitability for use in rhizofiltration. Regarding arsenic bioconcentration, H. ranunculoides demonstrated a high BCF and TF > 1, indicating its phytoextraction potential, an essential requirement for plants to be used in bioremediation programs.

Fatty acid profile driven by maternal diet is associated with the composition of human milk microbiota

Little is known regarding the impact of diet on the breast milk microbiome. We hypothesized that vegan, vegetarian, and omnivore diets would impact the human milk microbiota. We also aimed to explore associations between human milk fatty acid concentrations and microbial composition. A cross-sectional microbiome diversity analysis of human milk samples (N = 72) was performed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Human milk microbial diversity was not associated with diet type. However, analysis of microbiome in relation to fatty acid profiles revealed significant differences in the overall composition of the human milk microbiota between high (&amp;gt; 0.7% of total fat) and low (&amp;lt; 0.7%) trans-fatty acid groups (TF) (p = 0.039, pairwise PERMANOVA p = 0.035), high (&amp;gt; 40%) versus low (&amp;lt; 40%) saturated fatty acids (UniFrac p = 0.083, PERMANOVA p = 0.094), and high (&amp;gt;60%) versus low (&amp;lt;60%) unsaturated fatty acids (UF) (UniFrac p = 0.094, PERMANOVA p = 0.093). 84% of samples from omnivore mothers were in the high TF group compared to only 12% of samples from vegans. Gut-associated species (Faecalibacterium, Blautia, Roseburia and Subdoligranulum) and Lactobacillus were characteristic of both high UF and TF groups, but not the low-fat groups. Functional analysis revealed 2,4-dichlorophenol 6-monooxygenase was differentially abundant in the high UF group. Although microbiome diversity did not differ by diet type, TF breast milk content differed by diet group, highlighting the relationship between maternal diet and the microbial profile of human milk.

Mechanism of accelerated concurrent flame spread over glass fiber reinforced unsaturated polyester resin composites with ATH/MH retardants under external radiation

This paper reports an experimental investigation of concurrent flame spread over composites, for the first time, with combined flame retardants and external radiation factors. Glass fiber reinforced unsaturated polyester resins without flame retardants (GFUPR) as well as those containing aluminum hydroxide (ATH) and magnesium hydroxide (MH), which were utilized widely in modern high-speed train, were systematically explored. Infrared measurement was employed to track the displacement of pyrolysis front. Because of the dilution of H2O generated during the decomposition of ATH and MH, the flame temperature (Tf) of GFUPR-ATH/MH is thought to be lower than that of GFUPR. Nonetheless, the most noteworthy finding is that the flame spread rate, flame preheat length and flame height for GFUPR-ATH/MH could be larger than that of GFUPR if concurrent airflow velocity exceeds 0.5 m/s under high external radiation. To interpret this unexpected while practically important phenomena, theoretical analysis based on the heat/mass transfer theory is established to explore the general mechanism. It is concluded that in the transition from natural-convection to forced-convection, the different in the flame convection in burning zone between the sample with high Tf (i.e. GFUPR) and the sample with low Tf (i.e. GFUPR-ATH/MH), will decrease rapidly. It is primarily because the sample with low Tf is earlier to enter in the region where forced-convection is controlled as the airflow velocity increases. The critical parameter (Fr2Re)-1 = 1 could be used to characterize this transition. As a result, in forced-convection region, the role of thermal conductivity of the fuel-gas mixture (kmix) may emerge, that the sample with high kmix but low Tf (i.e. GFUPR-ATH/MH) may impart more heat to burning zone than the sample with low kmix but high Tf (i.e. GFUPR), generating more combustible gases in the burning zone hence larger flame heat feedback to preheat zone. Moreover, this effect will be reinforced by the larger flame preheat length of GFUPR-ATH/MH, due to the temperature dependency of molecular diffusivity. This mechanism analysis is well corroborated by the experimental results. This new finding may facilitate understanding of the effect of flame retardants on the heat/mass transfer mechanism in flame spread under concurrent airflow and external radiation.

RF12 | PSUN80 A Novel DXA Algorithm to Aid in the Diagnosis of Familial Partial Lipodystrophy

Abstract Familial partial lipodystrophy (FPLD) is a rare and heterogenous disease without gold-standard diagnostic criteria. The heterogeneity applies to fat distribution, symptomatology, metabolic complications, and genetic etiology. Disease heterogeneity has contributed to the lack of standardized diagnostic criteria, an obstacle to understanding both the natural history of the disease and response to therapies. We have assessed whether DXA data can aid in disease diagnosis. DXA scans quantify fat and lean mass in the whole body, arms, legs, and trunk. An increased ratio of fat percentage in the trunk to the legs (termed "trunk-leg ratio", TLR) has been proposed as an objective method to detect FPLD. Using large sets of DXA data from control subjects, along with data from FPLD subjects, we sought to improve upon TLR. We hypothesized that TLR might change as a function of overall adiposity (total body fat, TF). Females were studied first because of the high female: male ratio of disease prevalence observed in FPLD. In 2713 control females with DXA measurements within the UKBiobank (UKB), TLR increased linearly as a function of TF until a TF of ∼36% and then the TLR plateaued with higher TF. We analyzed published DXA data of FPLD subjects from the USA (n=55).1 FPLD subjects had higher TLRs than controls at each level of adiposity. Due to the non-linear relationship between total adiposity and TLR, two linear fits were generated to best discriminate controls from FPLD subjects for a given adiposity. For females with body fat &amp;lt;36%, the algorithm predicts FPLD if TLR &amp;gt;TF*0.0311+0.232. For females with body fat ≥36%, the algorithm predicts FPLD if TLR &amp;gt;1.353. After training on this UKB data set, we tested the algorithm on independent data sets of control females from NHANES (n=2347) and FPLD subjects (n=37, from the NIH). The algorithm had a sensitivity of 92–97% and a specificity of 99.3%. This degree of specificity is still not sufficient for implementation of rare disease screening in the general population, but could be useful in a population with increased pre-test probability of having FPLD such as non-obese individuals with Type 2 diabetes and/or hypertriglyceridemia. Because race and ethnicity are possible modifiers of body fat distribution, we examined the relationship between TF and TLR across ethnic and racial groups in NHANES. Mexican-Americans (n=659), Hispanic-other (n=81), White (n=871), Black (n=612), and other/biracial (n=124) subjects from NHANES had a similar relationship between adiposity and TLR. Therefore, the same DXA criteria can be applied across these ethnicities. In summary, the relationship between adiposity and TLR may be used to aid in the diagnosis of FPLD in females. Reference Meral R, et al. Diabetes Care. 2018;41,2255–2258. Presentation: Saturday, June 11, 2022 1:06 p.m. - 1:11 p.m., Sunday, June 12, 2022 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.