Increase In Proportion Research Articles

Carbon dots derived from expired drugs based ratiometric fluorescent sensor for horseradish peroxidase in fruits and vegetables and screening inhibitors.

Household storage of pharmaceuticals to extract raw materials synthesized from carbon points facilitates the utilization of solid waste resources. A novel ratiometric fluorescence sensing technique was developed to ascertain the presence of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in fruits and vegetables. The method employed a fluorescent probe, synthesized from expired amoxicillin (referred to as carbon dots, or A-CDs), serving as a reference fluorophore. Additionally, 2,3-diaminophenazine (DAP) was utilized as a specific response signal. DAP resulted from a catalytic reaction system involving phenylenediamine and hydrogen peroxide under the catalysis of HRP. The fluorescence intensity corresponding to DAP at 562 nm exhibited a substantial increase, simultaneous with the fluorescence quenching of A-CDs at 450 nm. The ratiometric fluorescence nanosensors displayed a broad linear range and high sensitivity for the detection of HRP. Across the concentration range 0.01 to 6 U L-1, the fluorescence intensity ratio between DAP and A-CDs demonstrated a proportional increase with rising HRP concentration, achieving an impressive detection limit of 0.002 U L-1. The recovery of HRP in fruit and vegetable samples ranged from 96.1 to 103%, with an RSD value of less than 3.8%. Theproposed method facilitated the screening of inhibitors of HRP enzyme activity, contributing to the preservation of freshness in fruits and vegetables.

Results of the safety and tolerability of ivaltinostat plus capecitabine in the phase 1b portion of a phase 1b/2, dose-escalation, randomized, multi-center study in the maintenance (maint) setting in patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (mPDAC).

666 Background: The standard of care for patient (pts) with advanced or mPDAC typically consists of mFOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel used in the front-line setting until disease progression (prog) or toxicity. A tolerable maint therapy (tx) that can effectively delay disease prog while preserving quality of life with minimal cumulative toxicity is highly desirable. There is no standard main tx. Ivaltinostat (ival) is a pan-HDAC (histone deacetylation) inhibitor that increases histone acetylation (HA), suppresses PDAC cell proliferation, and promotes apoptosis in PDAC cell lines. Preclinical data demonstrated synergy with 5-FU/capecitabine in mouse models. The phase 1b study will determine an optimal combination of ival and cape followed by a randomized P2 trial of ival plus cape vs cape alone in the maint setting for pts with mPDAC who have not progressed on front-line mFOLFIRINOX. Methods: Key eligibility criteria for P1b include: locally advanced or mPDAC; at least 1 prior line of tx regardless disease prog; ECOG PS 0-1; and no known gBRCA1/2 mutation. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) in 3 dose levels of ival, (60, 125, and 250mg/m2 iv weekly on days 1 and 8) in combination with cape (1000mg/m2 po BID on days 1-14) of a 21-day cycle will be evaluated. The primary objective is to evaluate the safety, tolerability and determine the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) as well as pharmacokinetics (PK) of ival and cape. Results: As of the date of data-cut, 32 pts had been enrolled at the 60 (7 pts), 125 (14 pts) and 250 (11 pts) mg/m2 dose level, 8 were screen failures and 9 still ongoing with a goal of at least 6 DLT-evaluable pts per dose level. Average prior lines of tx was 3.6 (range 1-5). The median age was 68 (range 51-83) and 21(66%) were males. No DLTs were observed across the 3 dose levels. SAEs occurred in 2 pts that were not related to study drugs. Both ival and cape-related TEAEs were similar except palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (PPES) 9(28%) attributed to cape; fatigue, diarrhea and nausea were the only TEAEs occurred >15%. Two pts had ³grade 3 diarrhea, another pt had cape-related PPES. The TEAE profile was similar across the dose levels. At the time of data-cut there were 6 deaths among pts who discontinued study due to prog. Among 15 pts who had been evaluated for response since baseline, the best ORR were 11 SD(73.3%), 1(6.7%) no RECIST-measurable evidence of disease and 3 PD(20%). PK evaluations for ival indicated dose proportionate increases. The trend of PK observed in this study was similar to the PK trend observed in previous studies. Conclusions: Combination therapy of ival with cape has been well tolerated and the safety and PK/PD data support a RP2D of ival of 250 mg/m2. Clinical trial information: NCT05249101 .

Pedagogical Values and the Lawful Rules of Islamic Behavior in Consumption

This research delves into the intricate relationship between Islamic pedagogical values and Muslim consumer behavior, drawing upon the timeless wisdom of the Quran and Sunnah. It establishes a valuable theoretical framework, supported by a generalized logistic model, to illuminate how Islamic principles influence spending decisions within permissible boundaries. The research meticulously outlines the lawful rules governing consumption in Islam, categorized by permissible and prohibited actions to guide Muslims in their choices. Key findings reveal the holistic nature of Islam, highlighting its comprehensive influence on all aspects of life, including consumption. Islamic pedagogical values emerge as a powerful force in shaping behavior, weaving a tapestry of rules encompassing obligations like adhering to Halal principles, and prohibits extravagance, wastefulness, and stinginess. Moderation emerges as a cornerstone, steering consumers away from both extremes and illustrating how the Islamic framework accommodates increased income without necessarily leading to a proportional increase in consumption. The research challenges mainstream economic assumptions, presenting Islam’s perspective on spending and shedding light on the religious dimensions that shape consumer behavior within an Islamic framework. Beyond economic principles, the research highlights the exemplary life of Prophet Muhammad, offering practical examples of simplicity, moderation, and ethical consumer behavior, even in challenging circumstances. It advocates for integrating these values into decision-making processes, particularly in consumption matters, encouraging individuals to align their financial choices with Islamic jurisprudence and contribute to the overall well-being of the Muslim community. In conclusion, this research significantly enhances our understanding of Muslim consumer behavior, emphasizing the role of pedagogical values and lawful rules. The findings hold valuable implications for stakeholders like marketers, policymakers, and businesses seeking to engage with Muslim consumers, offering insights into product categorization and tailored engagement strategies. The research also introduces practical tools for further analysis and exploration, while acknowledging limitations and encouraging future research to refine our understanding across diverse cultural and religious landscapes.

Afromontane understory birds increase in body size over four decades

Of the myriad responses to climate change, an emerging trend is the widespread decrease in animal body size with warming temperatures. Birds, in particular, have been shown to be decreasing in body size in several areas – most notably the Amazon Basin and temperate North America – but trends in much of the world remain unexplored. Here, we analyze temporal trends and climatic associations of body mass for 42 resident bird species over 36 years in the Usambara Mountains of Tanzania, a tropical montane global biodiversity hotspot. In addition, we assess trends in wing length and mass:wing ratio over 21 years. Finally, we examine whether species‐specific trends in body mass are related to average body size or to trends in apparent survival. Overall, species' average body mass in the Usambara Mountains increased by 0.023 g decade‐1, amounting to increases of 4.1% over 36 years. These long‐term shifts in body mass were strongly and positively associated with annual mean temperature but showed no relationship with precipitation. Wing length increased on average by 2.0% over a 21‐year period, yet there was mixed evidence for trends in mass:wing ratio, suggesting that body size in general is increasing. While percentage trends in body mass were not related to trends in apparent annual survival, smaller species did display greater proportional increases in body mass. Although the drivers of increased body size remain unclear – and climate change cannot be ruled out – such increases among Afrotropical montane birds provide an intriguing counterpoint to observed declines in body mass elsewhere and suggest that trends in body mass in tropical birds may be mediated by biogeography or other abiotic or biotic drivers.

Tailoring ohmic contact of CdZnTe based device using a ZnTe:Cu film interlayer

ZnTe materials exhibit distinctive characteristics that render them exceptionally suitable for the utilization in circumventing the electrode contact issue for the CdZnTe based devices for photoelectric applications. This work employed the co-sputtering technique to fabricate ZnTe:Cu films, probing the influences of Copper (Cu) sputtering power on the film's structural, morphological, optical, and electrical properties. It is disclosed that the sputtering power of the Cu target leads to a proportional increase in CuxTe compounds within the ZnTe:Cu films. Notably, an increase in the sputtering power of the Cu target is found to enhance the carrier concentration of the film, but not decrease the resistivity. This unnormal arose is due to a substantial reduction in carrier mobility at higher Cu target sputtering powers. The ZnTe:Cu film exhibits relatively lower resistivity when the sputtering power of the Cu target is approximately 3 W. The optimized ZnTe:Cu film as a buffer layer for the electrode is favor of remarkable improving the ohmic contact properties between the electrode and the CdZnTe, exhibiting a low contact resistivity of 0.62 Ω cm2. This work offers a promising approach to ameliorate the contact performance for the CdZnTe devices with high performance and high reliability.

Enhanced Photocatalytic and Photovoltaic Performance Arising from Unconventionally Low Donor-Y6 Ratios.

Development of both organic photovoltaics (OPVs) and organic photocatalysts has focused on utilizing the bulk heterojunction (BHJ). The BHJ promotes charge separation and enhances the carrier lifetime, but may give rise to increased charge traps, hindering performance. Here, high photocatalytic and photovoltaic performance is displayed by electron donor-acceptor (D-A) nanoparticles (NPs) and films, using the nonfullerene acceptor Y6 and polymer donor PIDT-T8BT. In contrast to conventional D-A systems, the charge generation in PIDT-T8BT:Y6 NPs is mainly driven by Y6, allowing a high performance even at a low D:A mass ratio of 1:50. The high performance at the low mass ratio is attributed to the amorphous behavior of PIDT-T8BT. Low ratios are generally thought to yield lower efficiency than the more conventional ≈1:1 ratio. However, the OPVs exhibit peak performance at a D:A ratio of 1:5. Similarly the NPs used for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution show peak performance at the 1:6.7 D:A ratio. Interestingly, for the PIDT-T8BT:Y6 system, as the polymer proportion increases, a reduced photocatalytic and photovoltaic performance is observed. The unconventional D:A ratios provide lower recombination losses and increased charge-carrier lifetime with undisrupted ambipolar charge transport in bulk Y6, enabling better performance than conventional ratios. This work reports novel light-harvesting materials in which performance is reduced due to unfavorable morphology as D:A ratios move toward conventional ratios of 1:1.2-1:1.

The hidden impact of alcohol on young victims: an analysis of alcohol-related police offences resulting in hospitalisation

BackgroundAlcohol-related harm (ARH) is a significant public health concern affecting young individuals, particularly those involved in alcohol-related police incidents resulting in hospitalisation. However, the impact of alcohol on young victims remains under researched. This study aimed to identify the characteristics of offenders and victims involved in these incidents, analyse the types of offences, and understand the under-ascertainment of ARH in hospital records.MethodsA retrospective longitudinal study of 12–24-year-olds born between 1980 and 2005 was conducted using linked data from hospital admissions, emergency department presentations, and police incident records. Alcohol-related incidents were identified based on the attending officers’ opinions in the Western Australia Police’s Incident Management System (IMS). Logistic and log-binomial regression were utilised to analyse the factors associated with victimisation and under-ascertainment of ARH.ResultsOur study included 22,747 individuals (11,433 victims and 11,314 offenders) involved in alcohol-related police incidents, with a small majority of victims being female (53%, n = 6,074) and a large majority of offenders being male (84.3%, n = 9,532). Most victims did not receive a diagnosis of ARH (71%, n = 760). Women were 10 times more likely to have been a victim in ARH police incidents and 2 times more likely to have an undiagnosed alcohol-related hospital admission than men. Victims and offenders predominantly came from disadvantaged areas and major cities. Aboriginal individuals were overrepresented as both offenders and victims. A significant proportion of individuals experienced emergency department presentations or hospital admissions, with head injuries being the most common. Assault causing bodily harm was the most prevalent offence resulting in hospitalisation (66%, n = 2,018).ConclusionsThere is a noteworthy disparity between the quantity of hospital admissions attributed to alcohol-related incidents and the number of cases that are formally classified as ARH in the hospital system. This disparity highlights a more profound issue of substantial under-ascertainment or inadequate identification of ARH than previously acknowledged. Our findings justify the prioritisation of prevention strategies, beyond improvement in the documentation of alcohol-related hospitalisation. Considering the scale of the problem, and the underestimation of the burden of alcohol-related hospitalisation, a proportional increase in investment is necessary to achieve population-level reductions in ARH.

Numerical investigation of increasing the efficiency of thermal photovoltaic system by changing the level of heat transfer distribution

In photovoltaic systems, only a small fraction of solar radiation effectively reaches the module's surface and is converted into electrical energy. The unused solar radiation results in elevated cell temperature and reduced electrical efficiency. In the photovoltaic-thermal system, the circulation of fluids such as water or air around the panels allows for the utilization of otherwise wasted thermal energy, leading to increased electrical efficiency and overall system efficiency. The objective of this article is to examine the thermal efficiency of copper and aluminum oxides in photovoltaic systems when combined with nanofluid. The aim is to identify any changes in efficiency that may arise from this combination. This article presents a novel approach by employing a combination of aluminum oxide and copper nanofluids, along with a water mixture, to investigate the influence of key factors on the electrical, thermal, and overall efficiency of photovoltaic systems. These factors encompass incoming radiation levels on the panel surface, fluid inlet temperature in mountainous regions, and absorber temperature. The study aims to analyze and compare the thermal efficiency of copper and aluminum oxide in this particular context. In the present study, the finite volume method is used to solve the equations. According to the research findings, raising the initial temperature of the incoming fluid results in a proportional increase in the outlet temperature. However, it is important to note that the thermal efficiency remains constant regardless of changes in the initial fluid temperature. Furthermore, copper oxide exhibits superior thermal efficiency compared to aluminum oxide, and the use of nanofluids enhances the thermal efficiency of photovoltaic systems.

Numerical investigation on turbulent flame jet characteristics of a pre-chamber fueled with CH4/O2 and CH4/NH3/O2 mixture under different initial pressures

Ammonia is a very potential carbon-free alternative fuel with extremely low reactivity. The application of ammonia in internal combustion engines faces the risks of ignition failure, low burning rate, and poor combustion stability. Pre-chamber turbulent jet ignition (TJI), which can provide much more ignition energy, is a promising method to ignite ammonia fuel. However, the transient propagation process of pre-chamber jet flame has not been fully investigated yet. In this paper, the propagation characteristic of methane jet flame was numerically studied based on a constant volume combustion system. The supersonic jet flame propagation and Mach disk phenomenon were further analyzed with numerical methods. And the propagation characteristic of methane/ammonia mixed jet flame was investigated. According to the results, the formation and propagation process of methane jet flame has different characteristics at different stages. In High-speed development stage (Stage II) and Low-speed oscillation development stage (Stage III), the penetration distance of flame jet tip is almost proportional to the penetration time. However, the penetration speed of the two stages is significantly different. The change trend of the jet velocity at the outlet of orifice hole can also be divided into four stages: slow increasing, rapid increasing, gradual decreasing, and periodic oscillation. The periodic oscillation of the jet tip velocity and the jet velocity at the outlet of orifice hole is caused by the effect of forward and reverse shock waves. The calculation results of CH4/NH3/O2 mixture jet flame show that the addition of ammonia has significant effects on the flame propagation process in PC, the thermodynamic state of PC, and the propagation characteristics of jet flame. With the increase of ammonia proportion, the maximum pressure of PC gradually decreases and the pressure rise rate slows down. Meanwhile, the two-stage (the high-speed development stage and the low-speed development stage) characteristic of jet propagation process gradually disappears. And the addition of ammonia is more likely to destroy the two-stage characteristic under low initial pressure.

High performance wide bandgap perovskite solar cell with low VOC deficit less than 0.4 V

Wide bandgap perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted significant attention because they can be applied to the top cells of tandem solar cells. However, high open-circuit voltage (VOC) deficit (>0.4 V) result from poor crystallization and high non-radiative recombination losses become a serious limitation in the pursuit of high performance. Here, the relevance between different PbI2 proportions and performance parameters are revealed through analysis of surface morphology, residual stress, and photostability. The increase of PbI2 proportion promotes crystal growth and reduces the work function of the perovskite film surface and promotes the energy level alignment with the carrier transport layer, which decreased the VOC deficit. However, residual PbI2 exacerbated the stress level of perovskite film, and the resulting lattice disorder deteriorated the photostability of the device. Ultimately, after the synergistic passivation of residual PbI2 and PEAI, the VOC achieves 1.266 V and VOC deficit is less than 0.4 V, the record value in wide bandgap PSCs.

Effect of varying fly ash additive ratios on viscosity variation of lubricating oil at different temperatures

This study primarily aimed to conduct experimental research, focusing on examining the effects of various fly ash additive ratios, spanning from 0% to 1%, on the alterations in lubricating oil viscosity over a temperature range extending from 25°C to 85°C. The study employed viscosity measurements using the Rhotest VR2 viscometer on a commonly used lubricating oil, and carefully analyzed their behavior with varying fly ash additive concentration ratios. The results revealed that the addition of the fly ash additive increased the oil’s viscosity at all tested temperatures. The viscosity showed a proportional increase with the amount of additive up to a 0.5% weight ratio. Beyond this concentration, the viscosity began to decrease but remained higher compared to that without the additive, attributed to the thermal conductive properties of the additive’s high-hardness metal oxide particles. The viscosity of the oil mixture with a 0.5% additive ratio increases compared to the case without the additive at temperatures of 25°C, 40°C, 65°C, 75°C and 85°C, corresponding to 13.88%, 18.32%, 37.73%, 22.91% and 32.97%, respectively. These research findings provide crucial insights for fine-tuning lubricant formulations across a spectrum of applications, especially in scenarios where temperature fluctuations play a pivotal role in lubricant efficacy. By judiciously choosing the right proportion of fly ash additive, engineers and researchers can augment the lubricative attributes of oils and enhance their resilience under diverse thermal conditions. This includes factors such as increasing viscosity, load-carrying capacity and stiffness of the oil film. The result is a machinery operation that is not only more efficient but also more dependable.

Repeated iv anti-CD20 treatment in multiple sclerosis: Long-term effects on peripheral immune cell subsets.

Repeated intravenous administration of anti-CD20 depleting monoclonal antibodies 6 months apart is among the highly effective treatment options in multiple sclerosis (MS). Here, we aimed to investigate peripheral immune cell subset depletion kinetics following either rituximab (RTX) or ocrelizumab (OCR) infusions in people with MS (pwMS). We studied pwMS treated de-novo with either RTX (n = 7) or OCR (n = 8). The examinations were scheduled before the initiation of anti-CD20 therapy and every 12 weeks for up to 15 months. Immunophenotyping of immune cell subsets in peripheral blood was performed by multiparametric fluorescence cytometry. A significant, persistent decrease of CD19+ B cells was observed already with the first anti-CD20 infusion (p < 0.0001). A significant proportional reduction of memory B cells within the B-cell pool was achieved only after two treatment cycles (p = 0.005). We observed a proportional increase of immature (p = 0.04) and naive B cells (p = 0.004), again only after the second treatment cycle. As for the peripheral T-cell pool, we observed a continuous proportional increase of memory T helper (TH) cells/central memory TH cells (p = 0.02/p = 0.008), while the number of regulatory T cells (Treg) decreased (p = 0.007). The percentage of B-cell dependent TH17.1 central memory cells dropped after the second treatment cycle (p = 0.02). No significant differences in the depletion kinetics between RTX and OCR were found. Peripheral immune cell profiling revealed more differentiated insights into the prompt and delayed immunological effects of repeated intravenous anti-CD20 treatment. The observation of proportional changes of some pathogenetically relevant immune cell subsets only after two infusion cycles deserves further attention.

Spatiotemporal evolution of cropland in Northeast China’s black soil region over the past 40 years at the county scale

This study investigates the 40-year spatiotemporal evolution of cropland in Northeast China’s black soil region at the county scale. Utilizing land use/cover maps from 1980 to 2020 with a 30 m × 30 m resolution, we employed various analytical methods, including mathematical statistics, GIS spatial analysis, land use transition matrix, landscape pattern analysis, and hotspot analysis. The findings of this study are as follows: (1) Cropland area expanded by 51,976.76 km2 from 1980 to 2020, mainly concentrated in the Sanjiang Plain, Songnen Plain, and Liaohe Plain. Notably, areas near prefecture-level city locations experienced a decrease in cropland, while regions farther from cities witnessed an increase. (2) Cropland primarily transitioned from woodland, grassland, and unused land to cropland, covering substantial areas. Conversely, cropland was converted mainly into woodland, built-up land, and grassland. (3) Over the same period, cropland in the region exhibited increased elevation and slope, with average altitude rising by 2.06 m and average slope increasing by 0.0369 degrees. (4) The study revealed an increase in cropland proportion, predominance, and aggregation, alongside more irregular shapes and reduced subdivision. These findings highlight significant changes in the cropland landscape in Northeast China’s black soil region and offer insights for policy recommendations and land management strategies. The research findings of this paper can offer valuable insights for the protection and utilization of cropland in the region. They can provide scientific references for the formulation of policies related to China’s food security.

Unraveling the biological potential of chicken viscera proteins: a study based on their enzymatic hydrolysis to obtain hydrolysates with antioxidant properties

Chicken meat production has increased over the years, leading to a proportional increase in waste generation, which often contains high levels of proteins, such as viscera. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the enzymatic hydrolysis of chicken viscera proteins as a strategy to value solid waste from the poultry industry. The hydrolysates were characterized for their antioxidant properties and molecular weight distribution. Additionally, the enzymatic hydrolysis process was scaled up from 125 mL flasks with 50 mL of protein solution to 3 L using a 6 L bioreactor. The enzymatic hydrolysis of chicken viscera proteins using a binary mixture of proteases (85.25 U/mL of each enzyme, Alcalase and Flavourzyme, totaling 170.5 U/mL) resulted in an increase of up to 245% in 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging, 353% 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) in radical scavenging, 69% in Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power Assay (FRAP) and 146% in total reducing capacity (TRC). The antioxidant properties of the protein hydrolysates are preserved during the scale-up of enzymatic hydrolysis. Protein fractions smaller than 5 kDa showed the highest ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities, while fractions greater than 30 kDa showed the best results for the FRAP method.

The magnetic hardening and exchange-decoupling strengthening of combined diffusion Nd-Fe-B magnet

Microstructure and magnetic properties of single-sided diffused magnet by TbF3 following Pr-Cu-Al alloy were investigated. It was confirmed that the core–shell structure of TbF3 diffused magnets was developed at the depth of about two hundred micrometers from coated-surface and the coercivity enhancement was mainly resulted from magnetic hardening of Tb-rich shells. However, microstructure and magnetic properties indicated obvious gradient characteristics along diffusion depth and Tb element was partially blocked at near surface of magnet. It was also verified that the following diffusion treatment by Pr80Cu10Al10 alloy for TbF3-diffused magnets can obviously promote grain boundary diffusion of Tb element into deeper regions and optimize uniformity of Tb-rich shells. Meanwhile, additional Pr-Cu-Al phase was introduced and continuously distributed at intergranluar regions. Therefore, magnetic hardening of Tb-rich shells and exchange-decoupling strengthening of adjacent 2:14:1 grains isolated by intergranluar phases contributed to further coercivity increment ΔHci of magnet simultaneously. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the Hci of diffused magnets was enhanced with a reduction of magnet thickness and an increase in Pr80Cu10Al10 source proportion and then closetosaturation due to the limitation of diffusion depth.

Current status on utilizing a life cycle system perspective to evaluate renewable energy production systems for achieving UN SDGs

Increased awareness of environmental issues and climate change leads to a proportional increase in research and development of “greener” technologies pertaining to renewable energy. In order to avoid simply creating more issues in the process of solving an outstanding problem, the implementation of proposed alternatives has to be studied methodically and holistically from a cradle-to-grave perspective. Currently, the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals provide guidelines for country-level analysis but many of the indicators may not be applicable for technology-, products-, services- and system-level evaluation. Additionally, there is a lack of comprehensive and easily comparable sustainability assessments that can be applied across the different Sustainable Development Goals as well as a paucity of relevant targets for renewable energy technologies. Life cycle sustainability assessment, an extension to the widely applied life cycle assessment, is presented herein as the frame of reference to objectively provide insight into the potential impacts of prospective production systems, such that the Sustainable Development Goals can be met in a truly sustainable manner. An overview of current literature (>80 studies) on research into renewable energy production technologies in the areas of wind, solar and biomass is provided, with possible areas of life cycle sustainability assessment utilization highlighted and applied comprehensively in relation to the relevant Sustainable Development Goals. It is thus demonstrated that a Life Cycle Perspective in the form of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessments can be utilized to evaluate renewable energy technologies in a manner that truly meets the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and the relevant methodology applied to products and services as well.

Chemotherapy for a secondary malignancy nearly restores complete chimerism in an SCID-patient after HSCT

For patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) and other inborn diseases, mixed donor chimerism is a well-accepted outcome of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Cytoreductive chemotherapy for a secondary malignancy is a potential challenge for the stability of the graft function after HSCT. We report on a boy with X-SCID who developed Ewing sarcoma ten years after HSCT which was successfully treated with cytoreductive chemotherapy, surgery and local radiation. Surprisingly, this treatment had a positive impact on mixed chimerism with an increase of donor-cell proportions from 40% for neutrophils and 75% for non-T-mononuclear cells (MNCs) to >90% for both. T-cell counts remained stable with 100% of donor origin. This is -to our knowledge- the first report on the impact of cytoreductive chemotherapy on post-HSCT mixed chimerism and provides an important first impression for future patients.

Genetic ancestry and diagnostic yield of exome sequencing in a diverse population

It has been suggested that diagnostic yield (DY) from Exome Sequencing (ES) may be lower among patients with non-European ancestries than those with European ancestry. We examined the association of DY with estimated continental/subcontinental genetic ancestry in a racially/ethnically diverse pediatric and prenatal clinical cohort. Cases (N = 845) with suspected genetic disorders underwent ES for diagnosis. Continental/subcontinental genetic ancestry proportions were estimated from the ES data. We compared the distribution of genetic ancestries in positive, negative, and inconclusive cases by Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests and linear associations of ancestry with DY by Cochran-Armitage trend tests. We observed no reduction in overall DY associated with any genetic ancestry (African, Native American, East Asian, European, Middle Eastern, South Asian). However, we observed a relative increase in proportion of autosomal recessive homozygous inheritance versus other inheritance patterns associated with Middle Eastern and South Asian ancestry, due to consanguinity. In this empirical study of ES for undiagnosed pediatric and prenatal genetic conditions, genetic ancestry was not associated with the likelihood of a positive diagnosis, supporting the equitable use of ES in diagnosis of previously undiagnosed but potentially Mendelian disorders across all ancestral populations.

Lipid- and phospho-regulation of CTP:Phosphocholine Cytidylyltransferase αassociation with nuclear lipid droplets.

Fatty acids stored in triacylglycerol-rich lipid droplets are assembled with a surface monolayer composed primarily of phosphatidylcholine (PC). Fatty acids stimulate PC synthesis by translocating CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CCT) α to the inner nuclear membrane, nuclear lipid droplets (nLD) and lipid associated promyelocytic leukemia (PML) structures (LAPS). Huh7 cells were used to identify how CCTαtranslocation onto these nuclear structures are regulated by fatty acids and phosphorylation of its serine-rich P-domain. Oleate treatment of Huh7 cells increased nLDs and LAPS that became progressively enriched in CCTα. In cells expressing the phosphatidic acid phosphatase Lipin1α or 1β, the expanded pool of nLDs and LAPS had a proportional increase in associated CCTα. In contrast, palmitate induced few nLDs and LAPS and inhibited the oleate-dependent translocation of CCTα without affecting total nLDs. Phospho-memetic or phospho-null mutations in the P-domain revealed that a 70% phosphorylation threshold, rather than site-specific phosphorylation, regulated CCTα association with nLDs and LAPS. In vitro candidate kinase and inhibitor studies in Huh7 cells identified cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 1 and 2 as putative P-domain kinases. In conclusion, CCTα translocation onto nLDs and LAPS is dependent on available surface area and fatty acid composition, as well as threshold phosphorylation of the P-domain potentially involving CDKs.

Trends and patterns in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus surgeries: a decade review from a leading Portuguese university hospital

ABSTRACT Purpose Strabismus and Pediatrics Ophthalmology surgeries are pivotal in addressing early-onset visual disorders. An 11-year retrospective study at a tertiary hospital center aimed to elucidate evolving surgical trends, focusing on esotropia cases. Methods The surgical records from January 2009 to January 2020 were analyzed according to the baseline diagnosis. Esotropia cases were evaluated based on the patients’ deviation types, surgical techniques, and pre-operative characteristics. A total of 2050 surgeries were performed over the study period. Results Strabismus surgery accounts for 70% of the department’s surgical activity. A trend toward a decrease in esotropia surgeries and a proportional increase in exotropia surgeries was noticeable. Esotropia cases, with a median surgical age of 6 years (p25-p75, 4–10) and uniform gender distribution (females, 54.8%), predominantly involved high angular deviations. Posterior fixation sutures emerged as the preferred surgical technique for esotropia. Conclusion The study’s insights, while aligning with prior European research, introduce new dimensions to the understanding of strabismus surgeries, emphasizing the significance of early interventions, evolving surgical preferences, and the challenges posed by severe deviations.