Long-term Studies Research Articles

Environmental Behaviour of Synthesized and Commercial Agricultural Zinc Products: Leaching, Migration, and Availability in Soils

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to examine the environmental effect of different chemical characteristics of Zinc (Zn) sources, assessing the transport, leaching and accumulation in the environment in sand, acidic (AS) and calcareous (CS) soils. Comparative short- and long-term studies applying ZnO sources [bulk, laboratory-synthesized and commercial nanoparticles (NP)], ZnSO4, complexed Zn (Zn-lignosulfonate) and chelated Zn (Zn-diethylenetriamine-pentaacetate, Zn-hydroxy-ethylenediamine-tetraacetate and Zn-ethylenediamine-tetraacetate) were carried out. For all treatments and media, the medium- and long-term dissolution kinetic model was fitted to a logistic function. The applied Zn in the form of ZnO was mainly retained at the upper half (0–7.5 cm) of the columns and in very available form (ranging 40–61% of added Zn in AS and 29–31% in CS). Leached Zn reached values below 6% in AS and 3% in CS. The use of chelated Zn in both soils and complexed Zn, and ZnSO4 in AS resulted in excessive leaching of Zn (around 70%). The amount of Zn available at the upper half of the column was less than 5%. In the CS, these fertilizers showed a higher aging than ZnO sources, negatively affecting its availability as a nutrient for crops. ZnO NP showed short- and medium-term dissolution kinetics that allow gradual nutrient release and high availability at the medium-term. These products provide an effective solution for plant nutrition while mitigating the environmental problems observed with more traditional sources related to leaching. Graphical Abstract

Interlayer-confined strategy to modulate alkaline reaction microenvironment for in-situ degradation of ofloxacin

In advanced oxidation processes designed for the mineralization of organic contaminants, the acidic microenvironment in the peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation system poses a major threat to the stability of active species. In this study, we developed a low-cost Co-Mg–layered double hydroxide (LDH) structure with an OH−-enriched, interlayer-confined alkaline microenvironment around Co sites. This structure exhibited enhanced surface availability and a short reactant diffusion path, which accelerated proton migration and regulated local pH at the slipping plane. Theoretical calculations revealed that CoMg-LDH exhibited high catalytic activity for PMS cleavage and generated high-valence Co-oxo (Co(IV)=O) species in this specific microenvironment. At a natural pH, the optimized system achieved 100 % removal efficiency of the target pollutant (ofloxacin), with negligible Co leaching. It also demonstrated stability in long-term experiments and effectively purified hospital wastewater. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the in-situ degradation of contaminants through self-regulating catalytic systems.

Exploring the Effects of Lignin Nanoparticles in Different Zebrafish Inflammatory Models.

Lignin is the most abundant source of aromatic biopolymers and has gained interest in industrial and biomedical applications due to the reported biocompatibility and defense provided against bacterial and fungal pathogens, besides antioxidant and UV-blocking properties. Especially in the form of nanoparticles (NPs), lignin may display also antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. To evaluate these characteristics, sonochemically nano-formulated pristine lignin (LigNPs) and enzymatically-phenolated one (PheLigNPs) were used to expose zebrafish embryos, without chorion, at different concentrations. Furthermore, two different zebrafish inflammation models were generated, by injecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and by provoking a wound injury in the embryo caudal fin. The inflammatory process was investigated in both models by qPCR, analyzing the level of genes as il8, il6, il1β, tnfα, nfkbiaa, nfk2, and ccl34a.4, and by the evaluation of neutrophils recruitment, taking advantage of the Sudan Black staining, in the presence or not of LigNPs and PheLigNPs. Finally, the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, related to tissue regeneration, was investigated at the molecular level in embryos wounded and exposed to NPs. The data obtained demonstrated that the lignin-based NPs showed the capacity to induce a positive response during an inflammatory event, increasing the recruitment of cytokines to accelerate their chemotactic function. Moreover, the LigNPs and PheLigNPs have a role in the resolution of wounds, favoring the regeneration process. In this paper, we used zebrafish embryos within 5 days post fertilization (hpf). Despite being an early-stage exemplary, the zebrafish embryos have proven their potential as predicting models. Further long-term experiments in adults will be needed to explore completely the biomedical capabilities of lignin NPs. The results underlined the safety of both NPs tested paved the way for further evaluations to exploit the anti-inflammatory and pro-healing properties of the lignin nanoparticles examined.

High dosage of exogenous glycine in cross-feeding breaks the equilibrium of anammox system

Strategies to break the cross-feeding equilibrium by dosing essential metabolites and thus enriching and isolating anammox bacteria (AnAOB) have been proposed, but amino acids have not been investigated as important cross-feeding pathways in anammox consortia. In this study, long-term experiments were designed to verify the effect of exgenous glycine on anammox consortia and changes in the bacterial community and metabolic activity after the addition of glycine in a highly active anammox system were investigated. The results showed that the impact of glycine on the activity of anammox highly depended on glycine concentrations, which was manifested as a promotive effect at low concentrations (0–150 mg/L) and an inhibitory effect at high concentrations (300–600 mg/L). The addition of low concentrations of glycine not only enhanced the diversity and richness of bacterial communities but also promoted the enrichment of Candidatus Kuenenia. The qPCR results showed that the content of functional genes Hzs, NirS and anammox 16S rRNA increased while the expression of amoA and NrfA genes was suppressed when glycine acted positively on AnAOB; Hzs and amoA were suppressed when glycine acted negatively on AnAOB, while the expression of NirS and NrfA genes increased dramatically. Specific anammox activity (SAA) experimental results show that 50–150 mg/L glycine was the optimal amount for promoting the activity of AnAOB. Analysis of community metabolic functions indicated that the addition of exogenous glycine resulted in a imbalance of glycine cross-feeding and promoted AnAOB enrichment mainly by affecting pathways such as other glycan degradation and Lysosome. Overall, this study provided new insights into understanding the glycine cross-feeding, which is essential for improving anammox-based technologies.

Are Open Science instructions targeted to ecologists and evolutionary biologists sufficient? A literature review of guidelines and journal data policies.

Open science (OS) awareness and skills are increasingly becoming an essential part of everyday scientific work as e.g., many journals require authors to share data. However, following an OS workflow can seem challenging at first. Thus, instructions by journals and other guidelines are important. But how comprehensive are they in the field of ecology and evolutionary biology (Ecol Evol)? To find this out, we reviewed 20 published OS guideline articles aimed for ecologists or evolutionary biologists, together with the data policies of 17 Ecol Evol journals to chart the current landscape of OS guidelines in the field, find potential gaps, identify field-specific barriers for OS and discuss solutions to overcome these challenges. We found that many of the guideline articles covered similar topics, despite being written for a narrow field or specific target audience. Likewise, many of the guideline articles mentioned similar obstacles that could hinder or postpone a transition to open data sharing. Thus, there could be a need for a more widely known, general OS guideline for Ecol Evol. Following the same guideline could also enhance the uniformity of the OS practices carried on in the field. However, some topics, like long-term experiments and physical samples, were mentioned surprisingly seldom, although they are typical issues in Ecol Evol. Of the journals, 15 out of 17 expected or at least encouraged data sharing either for all articles or under specific conditions, e.g. for registered reports and 10 of those required data sharing at the submission phase. The coverage of journal data policies varied greatly between journals, from practically non-existing to very extensive. As journals can contribute greatly by leading the way and making open data useful, we recommend that the publishers and journals would invest in clear and comprehensive data policies and instructions for authors.

Feces and molting as microplastic sinks in a mangrove crab

We exposed individuals of the sentinel mangrove crab Minuca rapax to microplastics (MP; 53–63 μm polyethylene spheres) in a long-term experiment (56 days), and assessed MP effects on growth, survival, tissue accumulation, food intake and reduction of body burden through feces and molting. MP exposure did not affect growth and survival. The hepatopancreas accumulated more MP than the gills and muscle. Most of the ingested MP particles were released in the feces and molts, indicating a rapid passage through the digestive tract. MP impaired food intake of M. rapax, with unknown consequences to the local populations. These results provide insights on MP translocation mechanisms, its elimination and toxicity associated with MP.

Comparison of dose measurements using environmental and personal dosimeters in real scenarios to deal with radiological and nuclear emergencies

Assessment of dose rates with environmental dosimeters typically takes much longer than with personal dosimeters. This work compares the results of two dosimetry systems with the aim of showing how to use personal dosimeters as environmental dosimeters in the case of radiological and nuclear emergencies, when the processing of a large number of dosimeters is essential. For this purpose, a long-term study has been carried out on the variability of the response of personal (CaSO4:Tm) and environmental (LiF:Mg,Cu,P) dosimeters corrected for the influence of secondary cosmic radiation (SCR). Comparison with each other provided a correlation factor between measurements made using these two passive dosimetry systems. The SCR response of the personal dosimeter was found to be 0.41 (σ = 0.03) significantly lower than 1.24 (Uk=2 = 0.12) that of the environmental dosimeter, which notably affects the comparison of dose measurements made with these two systems in free field. The correlation factor found of 0.86 (σ = 0.08) between the personal and environmental dosimeters allows preparing the personal dosimeters to be used in environmental radiation monitoring.

Hepatocyte-specific Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Deletion Promotes Fibrosis but has no Effect on Steatosis in Fast-food Diet Model of Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease

MASLD has become the most prevalent chronic liver disorder, with no approved treatment. Our previous work demonstrated the efficacy of a pan-ErbB inhibitor, Canertinib, in reducing steatosis and fibrosis in a murine fast-food diet (FFD) model of MASLD. The current study explores the effects of hepatocyte-specific ErbB1 (i.e. EGFR) deletion in the FFD model. EGFRflox/flox mice, treated with AAV8-TBG-CRE to delete EGFR specifically in hepatocytes (EGFR-KO), were fed either a chow-diet or FFD for 2 or 5-months. Hepatocyte-specific EGFR deletion reduced serum triglyceride levels but did not prevent steatosis. Surprisingly, hepatic fibrosis was increased in EGFR-KO mice in the long-term study, which correlated with activation of TGFβ1/fibrosis signaling pathways. Further, nuclear levels of some of the major MASLD regulating transcription factors (SREBP1, PPARγ, PPARα, and HNF4α) were altered in FFD-fed EGFR-KO mice. Transcriptomic analysis revealed significant alteration of lipid metabolism pathways in EGFR-KO mice with changes in several relevant genes, including downregulation of fatty-acid synthase and induction of lipolysis gene, Pnpla2, without impacting overall steatosis. Interestingly, EGFR downstream signaling mediators, including AKT, remain activated in EGFR-KO mice, which correlated with increased activity pattern of other receptor tyrosine kinases, including ErbB3/MET, in transcriptomic analysis. Lastly, Canertinib treatment in EGFR-KO mice, which inhibits all ErbB receptors, successfully reduced steatosis, suggesting the compensatory roles of other ErbB receptors in supporting MASLD without EGFR. Hepatocyte-specific EGFR-KO did not impact steatosis, but enhanced fibrosis in the FFD model of MASLD. Gene-networks associated with lipid metabolism were greatly altered in EGFR-KO, but phenotypic effects might be compensated by alternate signaling-pathways.

Little prairie under the panel: testing native pollinator habitat seed mix establishment at three utility-scale solar sites in Minnesota

As more land is being utilized for large-scale solar energy projects, there are increasing discussions from stakeholders on how to utilize land under solar panels to promote biodiversity. One path is to plant habitat beneficial to pollinators and other insects, but there have been few long-term studies that examine how different vegetation and seed mixes establish underneath solar panels. This study addresses a scientific gap to determine whether native pollinator seed mixes successfully establish over time under solar arrays using a systematic assessment of eight seed mixes planted at three utility-scale solar sites in Minnesota. We assess establishment with a percent native coverage metric, which is an assessment of native species observations compared to total observations during percent cover analyses in our vegetative test plots. The percent native coverage metric allows for a measurement of how the seed mix established and how the seed mix persists over time. The percent native coverage under and in between the solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays rose from 10% after one year of planting to 58% after three years across all sites, while the native coverage of the full sun control area rose from 9.6% to 70% under the same period, showing that native prairie and pollinator plants successfully established under the array, although to a lesser extent than in full sun conditions. Percent native coverage under the PV arrays rose 5- to 8-fold for each of the three sites from over the course of the study, while the coverage of weeds decreased for all three sites over the same period. Percent native coverage varied by seed mix over the project years, but every seed mix experienced a higher percent native coverage year after year under the PV arrays. Our results did not indicate a difference in establishment across placement within the array; the center, west, and east portions of the areas in between panels had similar establishment rates at two out of three sites, indicating that the same seed mix can be applied throughout the array. Out of 101 plant species seeded, we observed the establishment of 68 species in our vegetative test plots, and we detailed the top 20 observed species to inform future seed mix development. Based on these findings, native pollinator vegetation can establish over time at solar arrays, and it can be suitable for creating habitat at utility-scale solar sites.

Oxygen-deficient annealing boosts performance of CoNiFe oxide electrocatalyst in oxygen evolution reaction

Mixed oxides of transition metals have emerged as promising catalysts for the oxygen evolution (OER) reaction in alkaline water electrolysis. Since OER is significantly slower than hydrogen evolution, developing stable and easily accessible materials that effectively promote OER is one of the keys to improving overall efficiency. In this context, we present a promising method for preparing Co-Ni-Fe oxides which is based on a straightforward sol–gel procedure. Key to success is a thermal treatment under oxygen-deficient atmosphere, which renders superior electrocatalytic properties compared to a treatment under reductive and aerobic conditions, respectively. Attractive performance characteristics are thereby obtained, e.g., a η10 value of 291mV and a Tafel slope of 32 mV dec−1. The impact of the annealing conditions on the material properties has been elaborated using cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy, and structural analyses. Stability and strong performance under practical conditions was confirmed in long-term studies using an AEM electrolyzer.

Functional and perceptive differences between conventional and advanced ankle foot orthoses in community ambulators post-limb trauma: the injuries managed with advanced bracing of the lower extremity (IM ABLE) study.

Many military service members and civilians suffer from lower extremity trauma. Despite recent advancements in lower limb bracing technology, it remains unclear whether these newer advanced braces offer improved comfort and functionality compared to conventional options. The IDEO (Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis), a type of "advanced" orthosis was developed to assist in maintaining high functional performance in patients who have experienced high-energy lower extremity trauma and underwent limb salvage surgeries. A cross-sector multi-site initiative was completed to study the efficacy of advanced ankle foot orthoses (AFO) for lower limb trauma and injury compared to a conventional AFO. Following fitting, training, and accommodation, the subjects were assessed in each AFO system for mobility, self-reported function, safety and pain, and preference. They preferred the advanced over the conventional AFO and the mobility and exertion perception improved with the advanced AFO with no difference in pain or overall health status scores. Thus, an advanced AFO is an option for trauma affecting the lower limb. Long-term studies are required to better understand the accommodation and learning process of using an advanced AFO.

Outcomes of surgical treatment of tracheobronchomalacia in children.

Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) is characterized by excessive dynamic airway collapse. Severe TBM can be associated with substantial morbidity. Children with secondary TBM associated with esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) and vascular-related airway compression (VRAC) demonstrate clinical improvement following airway pexy surgery. It is unclear if children with severe primary TBM, without secondary etiologies (EA/TEF, vascular ring, intrinsic pulmonary pathology, or complex cardiac disease) demonstrate clinical improvement following airway pexy surgery. The study cohort consisted of 73 children with severe primary TBM who underwent airway pexy surgery between 2013 and 2020 at Boston Children's Hospital. Pre- and postoperative symptomsas well as bronchoscopic findings were compared with Fisher exact test for categorical data and Student'st-test for continuous data. Statistically significant improvements in clinical symptoms were observed, including cough, noisy breathing, prolonged respiratory infections, pneumonias, exercise intolerance, cyanotic spells, brief resolved unexplained events (BRUE), and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) dependence. No significant differences were seen regarding oxygen dependence, ventilator dependence, or respiratory distress requiring NIPPV. Comparison of pre- and postoperative dynamic bronchoscopy findings revealed statistically significant improvement in the percent of airway collapse in all anatomic locations except at the level of the upper trachea (usually not malacic). Despite some initial improvements, 21 (29%) patients remained symptomatic and underwent additional airway pexies with improvement in symptoms. Airway pexy surgery resulted in significant improvement in clinical symptoms and bronchoscopic findings for children with severe primary TBM; however, future prospective and long-term studies are needed to confirm this benefit.

Effect of COVID-19 Vaccination on Menstrual Cycle Patterns of Reproductive-age Women: A Multi-centric Observational Study.

The study was conducted to know the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on menstrual cycle patterns and pre- and post-menstrual symptoms in women aged 18-45 years. COVID-19 vaccination was introduced to combat the dreadful impacts of human coronavirus infection. The two indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in India are COVISHIELD and COVAXIN. To investigate the effects of COVID-19 vaccination on the menstrual cycle, pre- and post-menstrual symptoms and to establish the correlation with the type of vaccine received. Multi-centric observational study conducted in six institutes of national importance in different states of India over one year. A total of 5709 female participants fulfilling inclusion criteria were enrolled. Data about the impact of vaccines (COVISHIELD and COVAXIN) and prior COVID-19 infection on the menstrual cycle and its associated symptoms were obtained using all participants' online and offline interviews. Of 5709 participants, 78.2% received COVISHIELD and 21.8% COVAXIN. Of the total 5709 participants, 333 (5.8%) developed post-vaccination menstrual disturbances, with 32.7% having frequent cycles, 63.7% prolonged cycles, and 3.6% inter-menstrual bleeding. A total of 301 participants noticed changes in the amount of bleeding, with 50.2% excessive, 48.8% scanty, and 0.99% amenorrhea followed by heavy bleeding. Furthermore, the irregularities of the menstrual cycle (p = 0.011) and length (0.001) were significantly higher in the COVAXIN group (7.2%) as compared to the COVISHIELD (5.3%) group. A total of 721 participants complained of newly developed/worsening pre- and post-menstrual symptoms. These symptoms were significantly higher in the COVISHIELD group (p = 0.031), with generalized weakness and body pains as the main complaints (p = 0.001). No significant difference was observed in the incidence of COVID-19 infection with these vaccines. No significant associations were observed when comparing menstrual abnormalities among those with COVID-19 infection (p > 0.05). COVISHIELD and COVAXIN vaccines were associated with menstrual cycle disturbances and pre-and post-menstrual symptoms in a small proportion of participants, with 94.7% having no change in the amount of bleeding during menstruation post-vaccination. The menstrual irregularities observed were significantly higher with the COVAXIN vaccine. Others: Further, long-term studies are required to confirm that the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on the menstrual cycle may be short-lasting, with no severe effects on women's menstrual health.

Polyhexamethylene guanidine aerosol causes irreversible changes in blood proteins that associated with the severity of lung injury

Polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) is a positively charged polymer used as a disinfectant that kills microbes but can cause pulmonary fibrosis if inhaled. After the long-term risks were confirmed in South Korea, it became crucial to measure toxicity through diverse surrogate biomarkers, not only proteins, especially after these hazardous chemicals had cleared from the body. These biomarkers, identified by their biological functions rather than simple numerical calculations, effectively explained the imbalance of pulmonary surfactant caused by fibrosis from PHMG exposure. This long-term studies on children exposed to PHMG has shown that blood protein indicators, primarily related to apolipoproteins and extracellular matrix, can distinguish the degree of exposure to humidifier disinfectants (HDs). We defined the extreme gradient boosting model and computed a reflection score based on just ten selected proteins, which was also verified in adult women exposed to HD. The reflection score successfully discriminated between the HD-exposed and unexposed groups in both children and adult females (AUROC: 0.957 and 0.974, respectively) and have a strong negative correlation with lung function indicators. Even after an average of more than 10 years, blood is still considered a meaningful specimen for assessing the impact of environmental exposure to toxic substances, with proteins providing in identifying the pathological severity of such conditions.

Nest structure and breeding success in two tit species: a long-term study

AbstractOne of the most critical functions of nests in parids is thermal insulation, particularly during egg incubation by females and during the first week of the hatchlings’ life when they are poikilothermic. Several avian studies reported associations between aspects of breeding success and nest parameters. In this study, we present results regarding long-term (eleven breeding seasons) impact of nest parameters on breeding characteristics in Great Tits (Parus major) and Eurasian Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) in a deciduous forest and an urban parkland study area. Our findings indicate that in Great Tits and Eurasian Blue Tits the number of fledglings (and in Eurasian Blue Tits also clutch size tended to be) was positively associated with lining mass and was influenced by the study area, with higher values observed in the forest. Additionally, there was a relationship between lining mass and higher hatching success in both tit species. We also demonstrated that both clutch size and number of fledglings were higher in Great Tits in the forest and in Eurasian Blue Tits the number of fledglings was higher in the forest. The study site also impacted hatching success, with Great Tits showing higher rates in the forest, and fledging success for Eurasian Blue Tits being higher in the forest. The number of fledglings differed between years in Great Tits and hatching success and fledging success differed between years in both Great and Eurasian Blue Tit species. We conclude that avian nests play an important role during reproduction, and the materials used to construct nests contribute to various functional properties. However, further studies are needed to establish clear relationships between nest parameters and breeding performance.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Neonatal Hepatoblastoma: a single center study

ObjectiveHepatoblastoma (HB) diagnosed within one month following birth qualifies for a diagnosis of neonatal HB, whose prognosis is reportedly controversial, and its treatment is challenging. This study discussed the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of neonatal HB at a single center so as to enhance its overall management in the future. MethodsThe clinical information of babies diagnosed with neonatal HB at our center from August 2009 to September 2023 were retrospectively analyzed for demographics, clinical features, therapy, and outcomes. The outcomes were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier analysis method. ResultsThe study comprised 79 patients aged less than one year old, among which 14 had neonatal HB whereas 65 were non-neonatal HB patients. No differences were found between groups regarding gender, birth weight, delivery details, parental age, clinical signs, or treatment strategies. Neonatal HB patients were more likely to have PRETEXT I-II, smaller tumor size, congenital diseases, and lower risk tumor grade (p<0.05). Additionally, the AFP levels of all neonatal HB patients were greater than 10,000 ng/ml (p=0.009) and they had higher levels of ferritin (p=0.003) and hemoglobin (p=0.021), but lower levels of serum total proteins (p=0.001). The three-year survival rate (100% vs 90.8%) and three-year event-free survival rate (100% vs 86.2%) in the neonatal HB group were higher than the non-neonatal HB group. ConclusionNeonatal HB patients have unique clinical features and can achieve an excellent prognosis following combined treatment with surgery and chemotherapy. Tumor resection, when carefully performed, was safe even in babies younger than one months old. Further and long-term studies are needed from a larger neonatal HB population. Level of EvidenceLevel III

Effect of donor warm ischemia time during graft extraction in right lobe robotic donor hepatectomy on recipient outcomes—A propensity score matched analysis

One of the concerns specific to minimally invasive donor hepatectomy (MIDH) is the prolonged time required for graft extraction after completion of the donor hepatectomy (donor warm ischemia time [DWIT]). There has never been an objective evaluation of minimally invasive donor hepatectomy-DWIT on allograft function in living donor liver transplantation. We evaluated the effect of DWIT following robotic donor hepatectomy (RDH) on recipient outcomes and compared them with a matched cohort of open donor hepatectomy (ODH). Demographic, perioperative, and recipient’s postoperative outcome data for all right lobe (RL)-RDH performed between September 2019 and July 2023 were analyzed and compared with a propensity score matched cohort (1:1) of RL-ODH from the same time period. Of a total of 103 RL-RDH and 446 RL-ODH, unmatched and propensity score matched analysis (1:1) revealed a significantly longer DWIT in the RDH group as compared to the ODH group (9.33 ± 3.95 vs 2.87 ± 2.13, P < .0001). This did not translate into any difference in the rates of early allograft dysfunction (EAD), biliary complications, major morbidity, or overall 1-and 3-month survival. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis threshold for DWIT-early allograft dysfunction was 9 minutes (area under receiver operating characteristic: 0.67, sensitivity = 80%, specificity = 53.8%). We show that prolonged DWIT within an acceptable range in RDH does not have deleterious effects on short-term recipient outcomes. Further long-term studies are required to confirm our findings, especially with regard to nonanastomotic biliary complications.

Developing an Emotional Labor Scale for Employees in the Service Industry

Purpose: This research aims to develop an emotional labor scale and examine the consistency of the emotional labor measurement model with empirical data. The study focuses on individuals with long-term work experience and incorporates cross-cultural perspectives to address gaps in current research. Additionally, it seeks to create a standardized model for measuring and evaluating emotional labor that is applicable to contemporary work environments. Methodology: The population is front-service employees of hotels in Chonburi Province, and the sample consists of 280 front-service employees of hotels in Pattaya City, Chonburi Province. The research methodology for developing the emotional labor scale in this phase is quantitative research, using confirmatory factor analysis to examine the consistency of the emotional labor measurement model. Findings: The results of the model fit analysis and quality assessment of the CFA model found that the RMSEA (Root Mean Square Error of Approximation) was 0.217, indicating a lack of fit between the model and data. The CFI (Comparative Fit Index) was 0.591. The TLI (Tucker-Lewis Index) was 0.442. Finally, the IFI (Incremental Fit Index) was 0.595. Based on the presented indices, this model has a poor fit with the data. The RMSEA, CFI, TLI, and IFI values are lower than the recommended criteria, indicating a discrepancy between the model and data. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: These findings suggest that current emotional labor measurement models may not accurately capture the experiences of workers across different cultures and with varying lengths of work experience. Policymakers and organizations should consider developing more nuanced and culturally sensitive approaches to assess and manage emotional labor in the workplace. This could involve creating tailored training programs, revising performance evaluation metrics, and implementing supportive policies that acknowledge the complexity of emotional labor across diverse work environments.

Appendage-resident epithelial cells expedite wound healing response in adult zebrafish.

Adult zebrafish are able to heal large-sized cutaneous wounds in hours with little to no scarring. This rapid re-epithelialization is crucial for preventing infection and jumpstarting the subsequent regeneration of damaged tissues. Despite significant progress in understanding this process, it remains unclear how vast numbers of epithelial cells are orchestrated on an organismic scale to ensure the timely closure of millimeter-sized wounds. Here, we report an unexpected role of adult zebrafish appendages (fins) in accelerating the re-epithelialization process. Through whole-body monitoring of single-cell dynamics in live animals, we found that fin-resident epithelial cells (FECs) are highly mobile and migrate to cover wounds in nearby body regions. Upon injury, FECs readily undergo organ-level mobilization, allowing for coverage of body surfaces of up to 4.78mm2 in less than 8 h. Intriguingly, long-term fate-tracking experiments revealed that the migratory FECs are not short-lived at the wound site; instead, the cells can persist on the body surface for more than a year. Our experiments on "fin-less" and "fin-gaining" individuals demonstrated that the fin structures are not only capable of promoting rapid re-epithelialization but are also necessary for the process. We further found that fin-enriched extracellular matrix laminins promote the active migration of FECs by facilitating lamellipodia formation. These findings lead us to conclude that appendage structures in regenerative vertebrates, such as fins, may possess a previously unrecognized function beyond serving as locomotor organs. The appendages may also act as a massive reservoir of healing cells, which speed up wound closure and tissue repair.

Responses of soil fungal and bacterial communities to long-term organic and inorganic nitrogenous fertilizers in an alpine agriculture

Although nitrogen fertilizer is an important measure to increase grain yield, response of soil microbial community to nitrogen fertilizer is still unclear in alpine regions. Based on a long-term (>10 years) nitrogen fertilizer experiment (control, CF: chemical fertilizer, SM: sheep manure; CS: chemical fertilizer + sheep manure) in an alpine agroecosystem of the Lhasa, Xizang, responses of soil bacteria and fungi communities to nitrogen fertilizer was investigated. The CF treatment reduced fungi operational taxonomic unit (OTU) by 13.08 %, phylogenetic diversity by 11.13 % at 10–20 cm, but increased fungi guild number at 0–10 cm by 17.71 %. The SM treatment reduced fungi OTU at 10–20 cm by 11.82 %. Compared to CF and SM treatments, CS treatment had stronger positive effects on bacterial α-diversity, considering that CS treatment but not CF and SM treatments increased bacterial mean nearest taxon distance, species Shannon and Simpson at 10–20 cm. The CF, SM and CS treatments altered fungal community composition at 0–10 and 10–20 cm, bacterial community composition at 10–20 cm, and bacterial species composition at 0–10 cm. The CF and CS treatments altered bacterial phylogenetic composition at 0–10 cm, and the SM and CS treatments altered bacterial functional composition at 0–10 cm. The decreased magnitude of the relative abundance of symbiotroph fungi caused by CS treatment (90.44 %) was stronger than that (65.14 % and 53.62 %) caused by CF and SM treatments at 10–20 cm. Therefore, the SM and CS treatments had stronger effects on soil bacterial functional composition, but the CF treatment had stronger effects on fungal α-diversity. Compared with single application of organic or inorganic nitrogen fertilizer, mixed application of organic and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer was more beneficial to the maintenance and improvement of soil bacterial diversity, but caused more reduction of soil symbiotic fungi and in turn greater potential risk. These scientific findings observed by this study can provide guidance for fertilizer management and soil fertility improvement.