Higher Proportion Research Articles

Improving performance of bamboo fluff pulp by liquid hot water pretreatment and combination with longer fibers

Bamboo has several disadvantages as a raw material for the preparation of fluff pulp, including short fiber length, a high proportion of hemicellulose and high levels of fines and non-fibrous cells. Here, the proportion of hemicellulose was reduced by liquid hot water (LHW) pretreatment. The bamboo was then kraft cooked, screened through a 100 mesh screen plate to remove fines and non-fibrous cells, and bleached to prepare bamboo pulp fibers. Changes in the functional groups and crystallinity after LHW pretreatment were investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Analysis of the cross-sectional and surface morphology of the bamboo before and after pretreatment and of the surface morphology of the fluff pulp by field emission scanning electron microscopy showed that LHW pretreatment effectively removes hemicellulose from the bamboo. Combination of the bamboo pulp fibers with softwood fiber or cotton linter fiber produced a fluff pulp fiber with improved strength and water absorption. The new bamboo-cotton and bamboo-wood mixed fiber fluff pulps outperformed a branded commercial fluff pulp.

Prevalence and characteristics of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli in clinically healthy pigs: implications for antibiotic resistance spread in livestock.

This study aimed to compare and characterize the resistance profile and the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) related genes in Escherichia coli isolated from healthy finishing pigs fed with or without antibiotics in their diets. A total of 27 ceftiofur-resistant E. coli isolates were obtained from 96 healthy pigs. The antibiotic resistance profile was tested, and all 27 isolates were classified as multidrug-resistant (MDR). A high proportion of isolates were resistant to cephalosporins, ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, and tetracyclines. The ESBL production was observed in 85% of isolates by double-disc synergy test. The MDR-E. coli isolates harbored ESBL genes, such as blaTEM, blaCTX-M-1, blaCTX-M-2, and blaCTX-M-8,25. In addition, other antibiotics resistance genes (ARGs) were also detected, such as sul2, ant(3″)-I, tetA, and mcr-1. The mobilization of the blaCTX-M gene was confirmed for nine E. coli isolates by conjugation assays. The presence of blaCTX-M on mobile genetic elements in these isolates was demonstrated by Southern blot hybridization, and the resistance to cephalosporins was confirmed in the transconjugants. Our results indicate the prevalence of CTX-M-producing E. coli strains harboring mobile genetic elements in the normal microbiota of healthy pigs. These findings highlight the significance of ESBL genes as a global health concern in livestock and the potential spread of antimicrobial resistance to other members of the gastrointestinal tract microbiota.

Growth, survival and reproductive traits of chemical induced and tetraploid-derived triploid Hong Kong oysters (Crassostrea hongkongensis)

Chemical induction (inhibition of polar body II release) and crossing between tetraploid and diploid oysters (mating triploids) are 2 distinct and typical methods for obtaining triploids, and systematic comparative analysis on the phenotypic traits of these two triploids is rare. We tracked and compared the growth, survival, reproductive characteristics and ploidy composition of diploids, induced triploids, and mating triploids, and conducted interaction analysis between genotypes and sites. The results showed that the shell height of larvae showed a significant decrease trend of 3 NTD > 3 NCB > 2 N, while the D larval rate and survival rate of 3 NCB were the lowest, which may be related to the long-term effects of CB toxicity. During offshore farming, from the 180th to 700th day, the shell heights of the three groups followed a significantly decreasing order at both sites, namely 3 NTD > 3 NCB > 2 N (except on the 270th day at Beihai site), and the triploid advantage of shell height in 3 NTD was generally higher than that in 3 NCB, with the same trend in the whole weight. Genotypes and sites always had significant effects on shell height, but their interactions were not significant. The incremental survival rates of the 2 triploid groups were higher than that of the diploid at both sites on the 270th and 700th day, while that of the 3 NTD was significantly higher than the 3 NCB only on the 270th day. In addition, both triploids had some individuals fertile and could produce mature gametes, but the proportion was much lower than that of diploids. Triploid gonadal development is characterized by feminization and a high proportion of hermaphroditism. The fertility ratio and gamete production of 3 NTD were higher than that of 3 NCB, but the relatively high fertility of 3 NTD had no significant effect on its growth and survival. Ploidy composition tracking found that the ploidy composition of 2 N and 3 NTD groups was stable, but the ploidy composition of 3 NCB varied over time. These results indicate that 3 NTD has better performance and higher triploid advantages than 3 NCB, making it more suitable for the commercial production and promotion of triploid C. hongkongensis.

Abstract A007: DNA methylation analysis comparing high-grade serous ovarian cancer to the normal ovary with adjustment for cell type variation identifies tumor-specific methylation alterations

Abstract A007: DNA methylation analysis comparing high-grade serous ovarian cancer to the normal ovary with adjustment for cell type variation identifies tumor-specific methylation alterations

(200) Demographic, Clinical, and Socioeconomic Variables and Risk Assessment Perpetrators of Sexual Crimes in Poland

Abstract Introduction The study of sexual recidivism has been attracting the attention of the mental health services and criminal justice system, as well as researchers. A significant problem for clinical judicial experts when issuing court opinions is assessing the risk of recidivism. Objective The aim of the study was to assess the demographic, clinical and socioeconomic variables of adult male sex offenders convicted of sexual crimes in Poland, as well as assessing their risk of recidivism. Methods The participants of the study consisted of 30 sexual offenders (66% preferential and 34% non-preferential) serving prison sentences in a dozen Polish prisons. A retrospective file review was completed for 30 medical and medicolegal files. Medical records included documentation such as psychiatric notes, psychological assessments, medicolegal assessments, and medical consultation notes. The analysis took variables including age, sex, marital status, and education. The risk of recidivism was estimated based on the participants’ files, using semi-structured interviews, and calculated using the Sex Offender Treatment Intervention and Progress Scale (SOTIPS) (McGrath, et al., 2013). Results Data analysis was done with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Participants of this study were mostly single (67%) males (100%), with an average age of 43 years (range = 24–63 years). Only 3% had completed higher education. Table 1 for a summary of the study results. Clinically, more than half of the sex offenders had a personality disorder (67%) diagnosis, with 66% of the sample diagnosed with sexual preference disorders. The Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationships between sexual preference disorders and age (r = 0,36; p < 0,05). The correlation also analysis showed that marital status was positively related to age (r = 0,34; p < 0,05). SOTIPS score was positively correlated with sexual preference disorders (r = 0,30; p < 0,05). A positive correlation, although very weak, was found between the score on the SOTIPS scale and age (r = 0,22; p < 0,05). Conclusions The results of the study showed that, sexual offenders are heterogeneous in terms of age. Most sex offenders (67%) have never been married before. The study also found a high proportion (64%) of sex offenders who reoffend. The larger proportion of sex offenders has sexual preference disorders. Therefore, one can conclude that sex offenders should be subject to preferential offender therapy. Disclosure No.

Phosphorus drives adaptive shifts in membrane lipid pools and synthesis between soils

Phospholipids are key constituents of microbial membranes and account for a substantial fraction of microbial P, while P-free betaine lipids provide a pathway for membrane synthesis independent of P. The aim of this study was to test if modulation of relative amounts of phospholipids vs P-free betaine lipids is a response to P availability. To examine responses of membrane lipids to P availability, we added P or P + C to an extremely P-poor sandstone-derived soil (total P = 41 μg g−1) and a higher P shale-derived soil (total P = 201 μg g−1). By using D2O labelling and LC-MS we were able to disentangle membrane lipid synthesis dependent on P (i.e. 2H incorporation into phospholipids) from membrane lipid synthesis independent of P (i.e. 2H incorporation into P-free betaine lipids). In unamended soils, P-free betaine lipids were almost 60% of the membrane lipid pool of the P-poor sandstone-derived soil, but only 10% of the higher-P shale-derived soil. Hence, to produce a unit of membrane lipid, the microbial population of sandstone soil required only 54% as much P as the microbial population of shale soil. Four days after adding P to the sandstone soil, phospholipids accounted for a larger proportion of the pool and synthesis of membrane lipids while pool and synthesis of P-free betaine lipids decreased. The increased allocation to phospholipids in sandstone soil amended with P likely reflected amelioration of P limitation given that P addition did not affect pools or synthesis of phospholipids versus betaine lipids in the higher-P shale soil. Collectively these data support the idea that having membranes with a high proportion of P-free betaine lipids is a key adaptive trait of microbial populations of P-poor soil, while the plasticity afforded by membrane lipid remodelling enables short-term fine-tuning of membrane lipid composition to P availability.

Abstract P05: Testing patterns and referrals for monoclonal protein detection at John Peter Smith hospital

Abstract Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable disease. Blacks have a higher incidence of MM and are diagnosed at a younger age compared to other populations. Safety-net hospitals (SNH) treat a high proportion of Black patients. Early detection of myeloma is important to prevent permanent organ dysfunction. Serum monoclonal protein testing using expanded panel aids in the diagnosis and monitoring of monoclonal gammopathies. This test result has 16 discrete components and any out-of-range value can be confusing to the ordering providers, triggering referrals to hematology oncology (hemonc). We sought to identify the testing and referral patterns at John Peter Smith (JPS) Hospital, a SNH in North Texas. Methods: Data was obtained from JPS Data Analytics and Reporting department. All serum monoclonal protein expanded panel (LAB174) orders and results for patients tested from 1-1-2022 to 12-31-2022 were abstracted from EPIC EMR. Demographic information was collected along with details about ordering providers and referrals. We sorted the data and excluded all orders by oncology providers as well as all inpatient orders. Data analysis was completed using Excel. Results: A total of 1063 tests were performed on 1026 patients. 39% were Non-Hispanic White (NHW), 36% were Black, and 13% were Hispanic. Median age was 57 years. Monoclonal band was seen in 143 (13%) samples; immunoglobulin (IG) kappa (k) 59, IG lambda (λ) 68, both IG k and IG λ 9. Results with gamma (γ) and beta (β) band were seen in 22 and 3 respectively. Measurable k band (>0.1 g/dL) was seen in 12 tests, > 1 g/dL in 5, and > 3 g/dL in only 1 test. Measurable λ band seen in 9 tests, > 1 g/dL in 3, and > 3 g/dL in no tests. Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) was normal in 525, and immunofixation (IFE) was normal in 507. Polyclonal SPEP was noted in 169 tests. Hypogammaglobinemia was seen in 11. 72 out of 369 (20%) Blacks had abnormal bands vs 47 out of 397 (12%) NHW. Two-tailed t-test was significant at p-value 0.00327. Referrals were generated to hemonc in 201 patients. Rheumatology accounted for 19% of tests, nephrology 18%, neurology 19%, and remaining were from primary care and other specialties. 212 patients were referred to hematology oncology using ICD10 diagnosis code R77.8. Rheumatologists referred 48 patients, which is 25% of all patients that they tested. Referrals from neurology: 39 (20%) and nephrology: 25 (13%). Conclusions: At JPS, clinical care providers are conducting tests to identify precursor conditions to myeloma. The test positivity rate was 13% in the non-oncology outpatient setting. Blacks had a higher percentage of positivity, reinforcing the need for a higher index of suspicion. The complexity of the test results, however, is overwhelming to the ordering providers, triggering referrals to the hemonc division, prompting recruitment and training of midlevel providers within hemonc to ensure proper monitoring of patients with precursor conditions. JPS Office of Clinical Research is planning to participate in early detection clinical trials for myeloma. Citation Format: Kavya Athipatla, Melissa Howell, Anuradha Lingam, Kayani Narra. Testing patterns and referrals for monoclonal protein detection at John Peter Smith hospital [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Blood Cancer Discovery Symposium; 2024 Mar 4-6; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Blood Cancer Discov 2024;5(2_Suppl):Abstract nr P05.

REPORTED PRICES FOR HIGH VOLUME HAND SURGERY IN THE ERA OF PRICE TRANSPARENCY: IMPLICATIONS FOR FUTURE POLICY ITERATIONS.

In 2021, the United States enacted a law requiring hospitals to report prices for healthcare services. Across several healthcare services, poor compliance and wide variation in pricing was found. This study aims to investigate variation in reporting and listed prices by hospital features for high-volume hand surgeries including Carpal Tunnel release, Trigger Finger Release, De Quervain Tenosynovitis Release, and Carpometacarpal Arthroplasty. The Turquoise Health price transparency database was used to obtain listed prices and linked to hospital characteristics from the 2021 Annual American Hospital Association Survey. This study used descriptive statistics and generalized linear regression. The analytic cohort included 2,652 hospitals from across the US. The highest rate of price reporting was in the Midwest (52%, n=836) and lowest in the South (39%, n=925). Compared to commercial insurers, ($3,609, 95% CI: $3,414 to $3,805) public insurance rates were significantly lower (Medicare: $1,588, 95% CI: $1,484 to $1,693, adjusted difference = -$2,021, p<0.001, Medicaid: $1,403, (95% CI: $1,194 to $1,612, adjusted difference = -$2,206, p<0.001). Listed rates for self-pay patients were not statistically different from commercial rates. Although pricing for high volume elective hand surgeries is frequently reported, a high proportion of hospitals do not report prices. These data highlight the need for future transparency policy to include pricing for high-volume hand surgery to give patients the ability to make financially informed choices. These results are a valuable aid for surgeons and patients to promote financially conscious decisions.

The effect of asymmetric rolling on the microstructure and properties of Al–Cu–Li–TiC/TiB2 alloys

The study systematically investigated the impact of asymmetric rolling (AR) and subsequent aging treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al–Cu–Li–TiC/TiB2 alloy. The average grain size of the as-cast A0 and A1 alloys was 249.87 μm and 38.2 μm, respectively. The grain size was significantly refined by TiC and TiB2 particles. The texture of A0 and A1 samples after symmetric rolling (SR) was dominated by the β-fiber, including typical Copper, S, and Brass rolled textures. The core of the board has a relatively high proportion of Brass texture. The grain size of the AR sheet increases gradually from the surface to the center, with the middle to fast (MF) layer having the largest grain size. The middle to slow (MS) layer has the highest strength of Goss texture, indicating that the shear bands formed by AR are mostly located in the MS layer. A significant amount of T1 precipitate was observed in the aged sample, and a new T1 phase composite with a thickness of 1.426 nm was found in the AR sample. The structure of the composite consists of two parallel T1 precipitates with Al–Cu layer atoms at the center. The growth behavior of the composite is such that the new T1 precipitate adheres to one side of the original T1 precipitate and grows parallel in the form of T1P-T1. In the T85 state, the A0SR samples exhibit a yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation of 503 MPa, 518 MPa, and 7.5%, respectively. The A1-SR samples exhibit a yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation of 520 MPa, 526 MPa, and 8.2%, respectively. The A0-AR samples exhibit a yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation of 553 MPa, 572 MPa, and 4.5%, respectively, while the A1-AR samples exhibit a yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation of 580 MPa, 605 MPa, and 5.2%, respectively. The increase in yield strength can be attributed to fine-grained strengthening, precipitation strengthening, and Orowan strengthening brought about by nano TiC/TiB2 particles.

Disposables used cumulatively in routine IVF procedures could display toxicity.

Is there a cumulative toxicity of disposables used in IVF procedures? A toxicity may be detected when consumables are used cumulatively, while no toxicity is detected when the same consumables are used and tested individually. Many components of items used in IVF laboratories may impair human embryonic development. Consequently, it is necessary to screen all reagents and materials which could be in contact with gametes and embryos. Toxicity tests, such as the mouse embryo assay and the human sperm motility assay (HSMA), are used by manufacturers as quality control tools to demonstrate the safety of their products. This evaluation is currently individually performed for each single consumable. However, during an IVF cycle, several devices are used sequentially, potentially creating a cumulative exposure to chemical contaminants, which could not be detected for individually tested consumables. The objective of this observational study conducted from March 2021 to October 2022 was to evaluate with the HSMA methodology if there was a cumulative toxicity when several disposables are sequentially used. Fourteen categories of consumables currently used in routine IVF procedures were studied, which included devices used for sperm and oocyte collection (cups, condoms, and oocyte aspiration needles), manipulation (flasks, tubes, tips, pipettes, embryo transfer catheters, syringes, and gloves), culture (dishes), and storage (straws). After obtaining patient consent, the surplus semen assessed as having normal parameters according to the World Health Organization 2010 criteria were used to perform the HSMAs. First, each consumable was tested individually. Then, associations of three, four, and five consumables, previously validated as non-toxic when tested individually, were analyzed. HSMAs were conducted three times to ensure reproducibility, with a defined toxicity threshold of a sperm motility index (SMI) below 0.85 in at least two of three tests. Thirty-six references of disposables were first individually tested across 53 lots. Forty-nine (92%) demonstrated compliance. However, four (8%) devices revealed toxicity: one lot of 1 ml syringes, two lots of sperm cups, and one lot of 25 cm2 flasks. These four references were excluded from the IVF routine procedures. A total of 48 combinations of consumables were assessed, involving 41 lots from 32 references that were previously individually tested. Among the evaluated combinations, 17 out of 48 (35%) associations exhibited toxicity with a SMI below 0.85 for two of the three tests (n = 8) or all the three tests (n = 9). Notably, three out of 17 (18%) of the three-consumable associations, five out of 16 (31%) of the four-consumable associations, and nine out of 15 (60%) of the five-consumable associations were found not compliant. The toxicity did not originate from a single consumable, because only consumables that were individually pre-validated as non-toxic were included in the combinations, but the toxicity had a cumulative origin. The risk of cumulative toxicity increased with the number of consumables included in the association (Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel statistic, P = 0.013). The high proportion of non-compliant combinations of disposables can be attributed directly to the extreme rigorous extraction conditions employed during the tests, which could deviate from the conditions encountered in routine clinical use. Also, the methodology employed in the HSMAs (e.g. toxicity extraction duration, sperm concentrations, and protein supplementation of the medium) can influence the sensitivity of the tests. This study highlights the significance of performing toxicity testing on devices before introducing them into clinical practice. Disposables should be tested individually to detect immediate toxicities and also in combination. Our results advocate rationalizing the number of consumables used in each IVF procedure and re-evaluating the use of glass consumables. This study received fundings from GCS Ramsay Santé pour l'Enseignement et la Recherche (Paris, France) and the Centre de Biologie Médicale BIOGROUP(Le Chesnay-Rocquencourt, France). The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the reported research. N/A.

Light absorption properties and source contributions of black and brown carbon in Guangxi, southern China

Black carbon (BC) and brown carbon aerosols (BrC) are primary light-absorbing carbonaceous aerosols that significantly influence the global and regional radiation balance, as well as air quality. Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, as a primarily agricultural province of China and neighbouring Southeast Asia, is subjected to both local emissions and pollution transport from Southeast Asian biomass burning. To investigate the light absorption properties and source contributions of BC and BrC in this region, observations from a 7-wavelength Aethalometer are employed to estimate the light absorption properties of BC and BrC over the period from March to December 2020 in Nanning, China. This study focuses on analysing the absorption contributions of BC and BrC to the total absorption of carbonaceous aerosols, identifying their emission sources, and exploring the impact of long-range transport of biomass burning (BB) from Southeast Asia on BC and BrC based on backward trajectory and weighted concentration-weighted trajectories (WCWT) model. Our results show that the absorption Ångström exponent (AAE) of light-absorbing carbonaceous aerosols varies from 0.54 to 2.08, reflecting the presence of different absorbing aerosol sources with specific optical properties. The average absorption coefficients of BC and BrC at 370 nm, denoted as babs,BC(370) and babs,BrC(370), are 42.25 Mm−1 and 9.63 Mm−1, respectively, with the highest value observed in winter. The average absorption of BrC contributes 19% to the total absorption from light-absorbing carbonaceous aerosols, and this contribution decreases for high babs,BrC(370) values, with the highest value in summer at 20%. For the BC source apportionment using a site-specific AAE, fossil fuel combustion (FF) contributes 57%, with its highest proportion in summer (62%). Meanwhile, biomass burning (BB) accounts for 43%, with the greatest contribution in winter (58%). These results highlight the considerable role of BB in Guangxi. In terms of the BrC sources, secondary BrC (BrCsec) is responsible for 32% of the total light absorption of BrC at 370 nm, and is particularly characterized by a much higher level of 35% at night, meaning the dominant role of BrCsec in Nanning. The relative contribution of babs,BrC,sec(370) increases with a higher contribution of babs,BrC(370) to aerosol absorption. Compared with the BrCsec, primary BrC values are higher in spring and winter, due to the increased emissions from biomass burning. Based on the analysis of backward trajectory and WCWT, the increase in BC and BrC during March and April is mainly influenced by the long-range transport of BB from Southeast Asian countries, e.g., Laos and Thailand. Overall, the contributions of BB and FF emissions to BC are comparable in Guangxi, while BrC mainly formed from primary sources is significantly impacted by both local emissions and the long-range transport of BB. Studying the optical characteristics and emission sources in this region can promote the understanding of the radiative effect of light-absorbing carbonaceous aerosols under the joint contributions from biomass burning and industrial emissions.

Comparisons of donor stray percentages between hatchery‐ and natural‐origin Chinook Salmon and steelhead in the upper Columbia watershed

AbstractObjectiveArtificial propagation of Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. is commonly used to achieve conservation and harvest goals. However, unintended effects of artificial propagation, such as high donor stray percentages, can reduce numbers of adults that return to target areas and also contribute spawners to different populations where they are undesirable. Until recently, it was difficult to assess if hatchery‐origin fish stray rates were atypical because few estimates of stray rates of natural‐origin fish were available. We sought to fill that gap by comparing donor stray percentages of hatchery‐ and natural‐origin Chinook Salmon O. tshawytscha and steelhead O. mykiss from the same locations.MethodsWe used 29,885 last passive integrated transponder tag detections of adult fish to estimate and compare donor stray percentages of hatchery‐origin and natural‐origin Chinook Salmon and steelhead in the upper Columbia River watershed between 2002 and 2018.ResultDonor stray percentages of hatchery‐origin spring, summer, and fall Chinook Salmon and steelhead were &lt;0.3% at the upper Columbia basin scale and similar to natural‐origin donor stray percentages. Only steelhead donor stray percentages were higher for hatchery‐origin adults at the subbasin scale than natural‐origin counterparts and were &lt;22% for all taxa. The percentage of hatchery‐origin steelhead and spring Chinook Salmon released in tributaries were detected at nontarget areas at higher percentages (&lt;63%) than natural‐origin counterparts born in these tributaries. Returning hatchery‐origin and natural‐origin Chinook Salmon and steelhead generally strayed in an upstream direction in similar proportions. Juvenile spring Chinook Salmon that were moved 14–391 km from centralized hatcheries to tributaries for overwintering or final acclimation strayed at a much higher rate than those that completed their incubation, rearing, and acclimation at a single location, but this did not occur with steelhead. Other adaptive management actions that were implemented to reduce straying produced mixed results. A high proportion of stray hatchery‐origin spring Chinook Salmon initially homed to tributary weirs.ConclusionDonor stray percentages of hatchery‐origin Chinook Salmon and steelhead were generally not higher than natural‐origin donor stray percentages at larger spatial scales (e.g., upper Columbia basin and subbasin) but were higher at smaller spatial scales (e.g., tributaries). A variety of approaches can be considered to reduce undesirable production of strays, but most of them involve difficult management trade‐offs.

Gut microbiota deficiency aggravates arsenic-induced toxicity by affecting bioaccumulation and biotransformation in C57BL/6J mice

Gut microbiome can influence the arsenic metabolism in mammals. Confusingly, gut microbiome was found to both mitigate and exacerbate arsenic toxicity. In this study, the role of gut microbiota in arsenic bioaccumulation, biotransformation, and organ toxicity in C57BL/6J mice was investigated. Gut microbiota deficiency model was established by antibiotics (Ab) cocktail AVNM. Conventional and gut microbiota deficiency mice were exposed to NaAsO2 for 4 weeks. Comparing with Ab-treated mice, the total arsenic (tAs) in the tissues was significantly reduced in conventional mice, which was opposed to the results of those in feces. Interestingly, dimethyl arsenite (DMA) was the most abundant metabolite in the feces of Ab-treated mice, while arsenic acid (AsV) had the highest proportion in the feces of conventional mice with approximately 16-fold than that in Ab-treated mice, indicating the critical role of gut microbiota in metabolizing arsenious acid (AsIII) to AsV. Additionally, the liver and kidney in Ab-treated mice showed more severe pathological changes and apoptosis. The significant increased level of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (IBA-1) was also found in the brains of Ab-treated mice. Our results indicated that gut microbiota protected the host from arsenic-induced toxicity in liver, kidney, and brain by reducing the arsenic accumulation.

The stromal microenvironment endows pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors with spatially specific invasive and metastatic phenotypes

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play an important role in a variety of cancers. However, the role of tumor stroma in nonfunctional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NF-PanNETs) is often neglected. Profiling the heterogeneity of CAFs can reveal the causes of malignant phenotypes in NF-PanNETs. Here, we found that patients with high stromal proportion had poor prognosis, especially for that with infiltrating stroma (stroma and tumor cells that presented an infiltrative growth pattern and no regular boundary). In addition, myofibroblastic CAFs (myCAFs), characterized by FAP+ and α-SMAhigh, were spatially closer to tumor cells and promoted the EMT and tumor growth. Intriguingly, only tumor cells which were spatially closer to myCAFs underwent EMT. We further elucidated that myCAFs stimulate TGF-β expression in nearby tumor cells. Then, TGF-β promoted the EMT in adjacent tumor cells and promoted the expression of myCAFs marker genes in tumor cells, resulting in distant metastasis. Our results indicate that myCAFs cause spatial heterogeneity of EMT, which accounts for liver metastasis of NF-PanNETs. The findings of this study might provide possible targets for the prevention of liver metastasis.

Intriguing Occupations at Gran Dolina (Atapuerca, Spain): the Acheulean Subunits TD10.3 and TD10.4

This paper presents the zooarchaeological, technological, use-wear, and spatial analyses of the earliest sedimentary subunits of TD10 (TD10.3 and TD10.4) of the Gran Dolina site (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain), dated to c. 400 ka. Both units have yielded Acheulean technology, with occupational models characterized by the superimposition of multiple and independent events paired with short, sporadic occupations. Subunits TD10.3 and TD10.4 formed during a period in which the cave was largely reopened after a temporary closure. This period of reopening is evidenced by several blocks that fell from the ceiling and walls. Fifty-seven groups of refits and anthropic conjoins, of which 43 resulted from deliberate hominin activity, confirm the low disturbance of the deposits. Contrary to TD10.4, TD10.3 shows good preservation of faunal remains, although anthropogenic modifications are very scarce. Technologically, both deposits represent well-developed Acheulean assemblages, with high proportions of large-shaped tools and percussive material, which place this area among those that have yielded the most evidence of this type among all the excavated Atapuerca sites. The question of why these subunits contain so many hammerstones, manuports, and large tools associated with faunal remains that have been so scarcely modified is discussed based on data from spatial, technical, and use-wear analyses, which have identified butchery activities, and for the first time in the Pleistocene Atapuerca record, borer elements and possible thrusting stone spear tips. Furthermore, the occupational and technological characteristics of these subunits were compared with other western European archaeological sites, including the nearby site of Galería, with which a broad correlation can be made.

Remediation of phenanthrene-contaminated soil by iron oxide/carboxylate-rich porous carbon composites from vinegar residue

Conversion of solid wastes into useful remediation materials is an encouraging strategy in resource recovery. Iron oxide/carboxylate-rich porous carbon composites (IOCRPC) can be synthesized by using vinegar residue (VR) and ferrous sulfate heptahydrate (FeSO4∙7 H2O) recovered from a waste acid of a titanium dioxide factory. Characterization of FeSO4-impregnated VR exhibited a high proportion of ferricarboxylate complexes [i.e. FeII(R-COO)n2-n]. Pyrolysis temperature was the most important reaction parameter to define IOCRPC phase composition. Thermal decomposition of FeII(R-COO)n2-n produced Fe3O4 nanoparticles partly at a relatively lower pyrolysis temperature (350 ºC), while successful carbonization of VR formed the porous structures of carbon. Both Fe3O4 and ferricarboxylate complexes were the components of IOCRPC responsible for its excellent visible light absorption ability. Under visible light, phenanthrene in contaminated soil was efficiently degraded (90.1%) by IOCRPC at circumneutral pH. Phytotoxicity bioassays demonstrated significant removal of toxicity after treatment with IOCRPC, highlighting its application potential in revegetation strategies.

Achieving exceptional combination of strength and ductility in α+β diphase brass with harmonic structure

Heterogeneous structures are an effective way to give materials excellent combined strength-ductility properties. In this study, Cu–Zn–Al–Fe alloys were prepared by homogenizing and hot rolling-annealing, and an α+β diphase brass with harmonic structure was obtained by adjusting the content of Zn. The microstructure and mechanical properties of Cu-xZn-4Al-2.8Fe (x = 14, 20, 22.5, 24, wt%) were systematically investigated. The Cu–Zn–Al–Fe alloy has an α single-phase matrix at 14 wt% Zn and an α+β diphasic matrix at 20, 22.5, and 24 wt% Zn, all uniformly distributed with nano β(FeAl). A large amounts of twins are produced after rolling in α phase that has a low stacking fault energy. The Cu–20Zn–4Al-2.8Fe alloy exhibits a unique harmonic structure of the α-phase soft cores embedded in α+β biphasic hard shells. This alloy exhibits an excellent strength-ductility combination at room temperature, possessing an ultimate tensile strength of 473.7 MPa while maintaining a total elongation of 50.7%. Increases total elongation by 30.3% while maintaining high strength compared to homogeneous alloys (22.5 wt% Zn). While α single-phase alloy (14 wt% Zn) exhibits excellent plasticity (total elongation of 58.0%), their strength is not satisfactory (ultimate tensile strength of 419.7 MPa). In contrast, too much Zn (24 wt% Zn) produces a high proportion of β phase, which exhibits high strength (ultimate tensile strength of 507.9 MPa) and relatively poor plasticity (total elongation of 22.8%). Overall, the Cu–20Zn–4Al-2.8Fe alloy with a harmonic structure achieves excellent overall mechanical properties due to twinning, precipitation strengthening, and hetero-deformation induced (HDI) strengthening. This study provides an essential reference for designing heterogeneous structures of brass alloys.

Did the COVID-19 pandemic affect levels of burnout, anxiety and depression among doctors and nurses in Bangladesh? A cross-sectional survey study

IntroductionCOVID-19 has caused severe disruption to clinical services in Bangladesh but the extent of this, and the impact on healthcare professionals is unclear. We aimed to assess the perceived levels...

The next seven generations: at the heart of care alongside Mi’kmaw women

The strawberry is connected to heart teachings for many Indigenous people. The strawberry plant produces beautiful things. However, when exploring the topic of Indigenous women and heart health, the focus of the conversation is most often around deficits. Indigenous women have diseases related to the heart at a higher proportion than both non-Indigenous women and Indigenous men. There is a lack of understanding specific nations’ relationships to heart, and there is little to no research available specific to Mi’kmaw (adjective for a Mi’kmaq (First Nations people, Atlantic provinces, Canada, who call themselves L’nu) person) women and heart health. The focus of this Mi’kmaq research, which aligned with community-based participatory research, was to explore and gain a better understanding of what heart means to Mi’kmaw women on the west coast of Newfoundland, Canada. Four Mi’kmaw women joined the research and shared their experiences to co-create knowledge about heart health. This knowledge in turn shaped my understanding of nursing practice.

Analysis of the outcome of 12 cases of facial nerve tumors

Objective:This study aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the pathogenesis, screening modalities, treatment strategies, repair modalities and preliminary results associated with facial nerve tumors. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 12 patients with facial nerve tumors who were admitted to our department between May 2018 and February 2023. The study population consisted of 5 males and 7 females, with ages ranging from 35 to 90 years. Clinical symptoms observed in these patients included facial nerve palsy, hearing loss, tinnitus, headache, and otalgia, etc. The severity of facial nerve dysfunction was assessed using the House-Brackmann（H-B） facial nerve function classification, with 3 cases classified as grade Ⅰ, 4 cases as grade Ⅲ, 2 cases as grade Ⅳ, and 3 cases as grade Ⅴ. There was a total of 11 patients who presented with hearing loss. Among these patients, 7 cases were diagnosed with conductive hearing loss, 2 cases with sensorineural hearing loss, and 2 cases with mixed hearing loss. The selection of the observation or surgical route for tumor localization was based on clinical symptoms, facial nerve function grading, and imaging examination results including temporal bone CT and enhanced MRI. Specifically, the location of the tumor was selected for observation or the best surgical route: 2 cases were followed up for observation, 1 case underwent biopsy, and 9 cases underwent tumor resection（7 cases of trans-mastoid approach, 2 cases of combined parotid-mastoidal approach）, concurrent repair of the facial nerve（4 cases of auricular nerve grafting, 3 cases of facial nerve diversion anastomosis, 2 cases of peroneal nerve grafting）. （4 cases of auricular nerve graft, 3 cases of facial nerve diversion anastomosis and 2 cases of peroneal nerve grafting）. Periodic postoperative evaluation of facial nerve function was conducted. Results:1-year follow-up was available. Intraoperatively, it was observed that 66.7%（6 out of 9） of the facial nerve tumors were present in multiple segments. Among these segments, the vertical segment had the highest proportion, accounting for 77.8%（7 out of 9）, followed by the labyrinthine segment/geniculate ganglion with 66.7%（6 out of 9） and the horizontal segment with 55.6%（5 out of 9）. Postoperative pathology confirmed 8 cases with nerve sheath meningioma, Ⅰ with seminal fibroma and 1 with hemangioma. Postoperative facial nerve function was graded as H-B grade I in one patient）, grade Ⅲ in three, grade Ⅳ in four, grade Ⅴ in 2, and grade Ⅵ in 2 patients. The auditory outcomes following surgery are as follows: 8 individuals experienced postoperative hearing loss, while 2 individuals demonstrated postoperative hearing preservation. Conclusion:In the case of patients presenting with facial nerve palsy as their initial symptom, it is imperative to consider the potential presence of a facial nerve tumor. To determine the appropriate course of action, it is necessary to ascertain the size and location of the tumors through imaging examinations. This information will aid in the decision making process regarding whether surgical intervention is warranted, and so, the most suitable approach. Additionally, the choice of repair method during the operation should be guided by the extent of facial nerve defect.