Uptake Rate Research Articles

Relationship between myocardial flow reserve measured by a dynamic cadmium-zinc-telluride camera and increase rate in myocardial uptake of radionuclide during stress

Relationship between myocardial flow reserve measured by a dynamic cadmium-zinc-telluride camera and increase rate in myocardial uptake of radionuclide during stress

Layered Silicates Exhibiting MOF-Like Gate-Opening Behaviors in Liquid-Phase Adsorptions: Experimental and Theoretical Investigations.

Layered silicates, including clay minerals, can be used as liquid-phase adsorbents in many important applications. However, because their two-dimensional interlayer space is narrow and not entirely opened due to the presence of interlayer species, guest species are forced to penetrate while expanding the interlayer space, which limits their adsorption performances compared with microporous materials such as MOFs and zeolites. Herein, as reported for the adsorption of gaseous species on flexible MOFs, we report a layered silicate that exhibits gate-opening adsorption in liquid phases. This layered silicate, synthesized via dilute acid treatment of the parent sodium-type, exhibits an abrupt increase in the basal spacing (layer thickness + interlayer space) to reach a plateau even at an earlier stage of benzoic acid adsorption from acetonitrile, whereas a typical layered silicate, magadiite, exhibits a gradual increase in the basal spacing as adsorption progress under identical conditions. The layered silicate shows an excellent adsorption capacity and rate for benzoic acid uptake from acetonitrile, which is considerably higher than that of magadiite. With comprehensive adsorption tests using different adsorbates and solvents, we propose that the layered silicate has zeolite-like but distorted, flexible open microchannels within each layer, and the intralayer microchannels can effectively and rapidly accommodate the solvent (acetonitrile) molecules, which are capable of expanding the framework to initiate the adsorption of aromatic compounds. The density function theory calculation revealed the adsorption mechanism, where the layered silicate accommodates acetonitrile in the intralayer microchannel followed by the interlayer space, and the former selectively plays a role as the adsorption site of aromatic compounds via exchange with acetonitrile.

The miR-210 Primed Endothelial Progenitor Cell Exosomes Alleviate Acute Ischemic Brain Injury.

Stem cell-released exosomes (EXs) have shown beneficial effects on regenerative diseases. Our previous study has revealed that EXs of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC-EXs) can elicit favorable effects on endothelial function. EXs may vary greatly in size, composition, and cargo uptake rate depending on the origins and stimulus; notably, EXs are promising vehicles for delivering microRNAs (miRs). Since miR-210 is known to protect cerebral endothelial cell mitochondria by reducing oxidative stress, here we study the effects of miR-210-loaded EPC-EXs (miR210-EPC-EXs) on ischemic brain damage in acute ischemic stroke (IS). The miR210-EPC-EXs were generated from EPCs transfected with miR-210 mimic. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) surgery was performed to induce acute IS in C57BL/6 mice. EPC-EXs or miR210-EPC-EXs were administrated via tail vein injection 2 hrs after IS. To explore the potential mechanisms, inhibitors of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2)/PI3 kinase (PI3K) or tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB)/PI3k pathways were used. The brain tissue was collected after treatments for infarct size, cell apoptosis, oxidative stress, and protein expression (VEGFR2, TrkB) analyses on day two. The neurological deficit score (NDS) was evaluated before collecting the samples. 1) As compared to EPC-EXs, miR210-EPC-EXs profoundly reduced the infarct volume and improved the NDS on day two post-IS. 2) Fewer apoptosis cells were detected in the peri-infarct brain of mice treated with miR210-EPC-EXs than in EPC-EXs-treated mice. Meanwhile, the oxidative stress was profoundly reduced by miR210-EPC-EXs. 3) The ratios of p-PI3k/PI3k, p- VEGFR2/VEGFR2, and p-TrkB/TrkB in the ipsilateral brain were raised by miR210-EPC-EXs treatment. These effects could be significantly blocked or partially inhibited by PI3k, VEGFR2, or TrkB pathway inhibitors. These findings suggest that miR210-EPC-EXs protect the brain from acute ischemia- induced cell apoptosis and oxidative stress partially through the VEGFR2/PI3k and TrkB/PI3k signal pathways.

Influence of operation sequences on phosphorus recovery by polyphosphate-accumulating organisms biofilm: Performance, kinetics and metabolic response

Two biofilm sequencing batch reactors (BSBRs) were conducted under alternating aerobic/anaerobic (Ae/An) sequence and alternating anaerobic/aerobic (An/Ae) sequence to investigate the effects of operation sequences on phosphorus removal and recovery performance. The Ae/An BSBR had advantages in phosphate enrichment, phosphorus concentration of enrichment solution can reach 99.08 mg/L. While An/Ae BSBR exhibited a higher kinetic rate for phosphate uptake and release up to 0.48 mmol/gVSS. In An/Ae BSBR, the remarkable increase of phosphate concentration in aerobic stage put a great strain on the phosphate uptake of biofilms that led to an increase of phosphorus accumulation in the biofilm (Pbiofilm). However, the poly-P proportion in TPbiofilm decreased which triggered the metabolisim of polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) shifting from polyphosphate accumulating metabolism (PAM) to glycogen accumulating metabolism (GAM) and suppressed the phosphorus enrichment performance of the An/Ae BSBR. The phosphate uptake rate (PUR) of biofilms was in alignment with the bulk phosphate concentration. PAOs were dominated by Rhodoplanes and Saprospiraceae in the Ae/An BSBR, whereas Thiothrix was predominant in the An/Ae BSBR. Notably, the Candidatus Competibacter, considered as a denitrifying glycogen accumulating organisms (DGAOs), showed a dominant proportion in the microbial community of both BSBRs. The higher expression of actP in the An/Ae system indicated a greater capacity for the uptake of acetate, while the Ae/An system was is more adept for degrading acetate represented by the higher relative abundance of ackA, pta and acsA genes The high phosphorus loading in the An/Ae system suppressed the ppk expression but enhanced the ppx expression.

Translators’ and interpreters’ engagement with professional development in Australia: An analysis of key factors

Professional development aims to facilitate the maintenance, improvement and broadening of knowledge and skills, and has become a standard or even compulsory component of professional practice for many occupational groups. This paper traces the uptake of professional development amongst certified translators and interpreters in Australia, where in 2014 it was introduced as a requirement for newly-certified practitioners only, and in 2019 for all holders of translation or interpreting certification from the national certifying authority. Based on responses gained from a sample of 3,268 practitioners, we report high uptake overall with little variation according to level of qualifications. Slightly lower uptake rates are recorded only amongst ‘newcomers’ with less experience while for all others, it is consistently high. Lower uptake rates are recorded amongst those who work 1-10 hours per week and those earning up to A$10,000 per year compared to others working more hours and those earning more. A desire for more work does not co-occur with elevated levels of PD uptake. The data presented reflects the reported experiences of those who had already been required to engage with PD, those for whom this requirement was new with a three-year time window to undertake PD, as well as those for whom it still remains optional. These findings contribute to our understanding of PD uptake amongst a professional group whose engagement with post-certification training has been under-studied. Findings may inform relevant stakeholders in other countries considering measures to arrest atrophy and extend the skill sets of practising translators and interpreters.

A Web-Based Tool to Assess Social Inclusion and Support Care Planning in Mental Health Supported Accommodation: Development and Preliminary Test Study.

Individuals with severe mental illness living in supported accommodation are often socially excluded. Social inclusion is an important aspect of recovery-based practice and quality of life. The Social Inclusion Questionnaire User Experience (SInQUE) is a measure of social inclusion that has been validated for use with people with mental health problems. Previous research has suggested that the SInQUE could also help support care planning focused on enabling social inclusion in routine mental health practice. This study aims to develop a web-based version of the SInQUE for use in mental health supported accommodation services, examine its acceptability and perceived usefulness as a tool to support care planning with service users, determine the extent of uptake of the tool in supported accommodation settings, and develop a program theory and logic model for the online SInQUE. This study involved a laboratory-testing stage to assess the acceptability of the SInQUE tool through "think-aloud" testing with 6 supported accommodation staff members and a field-testing stage to assess the acceptability, utility, and use of the SInQUE tool over a 5-month period. An implementation strategy was used in 1 London borough to encourage the use of the SInQUE. Qualitative interviews with 12 service users and 12 staff members who used the tool were conducted and analyzed using thematic analysis. The use of the SInQUE was compared with that in 2 other local authority areas, 1 urban and 1 rural, where the tool was made available for use but no implementation strategy was used. Overall, 17 staff members used the SInQUE with 28 different service users during the implementation period (approximately 10% of all service users living in supported accommodation in the study area). The staff and service users interviewed felt that the SInQUE was collaborative, comprehensive, user-friendly, and relevant. Although some staff were concerned that particular questions might be too personal, service users did not echo this view. Participants generally felt that the SInQUE could help identify individuals' priorities regarding different aspects of social inclusion by prompting in-depth conversations and tailoring specific support to address service users' inclusion goals. Some interviewees also suggested that the tool could highlight areas of unmet or unmeetable needs across the borough that could feed into service planning. The SInQUE was not used in the comparison areas that had no implementation strategy. The online SInQUE is an acceptable and potentially useful tool that can be recommended to assess and support care planning to enable social inclusion of people living in mental health supported accommodation services. Despite this, uptake rates were modest during the study period. A concerted implementation strategy is key to embedding its use in usual care, including proactive endorsement by senior leaders and service managers.

Investigation of Rational Design of Amine Solvents for CO2 Capture: A Computational Approach

Solvent selection and design are critical in the CO2 capture process as the choice of solvent directly impacts the cost of the process, capture efficiency, equipment size, and regeneration energy. In the present study, 1MPZ-PZ, PZ, PIP, DEEA and MEA-DEEA are analyzed in terms of interaction intensity (attractive and repulsive) and diffusivity by molecular dynamic simulation. A high intermolecular interaction intensity promotes CO2 absorption, while intra-molecular interaction intensity affects CO2 desorption during the regeneration process. Diffusivity is also an important factor for a fast CO2 uptake rate, which is desirable for efficient CO2 capture. The interpretation of diffusivity and intermolecular interaction intensity findings is conducted through mean square displacement and radial distribution function analysis, respectively. The order of interaction intensity in various amines is DEEA>MEA-DEEA>PIP>1MPZ-PZ. It shows that DEEA can increase the CO2 absorption rate as it shows the highest interaction intensity in pure and blended amine systems. The results of the intramolecular interaction intensity show that it is easier to regenerate DEEA, PIP, PZ, and 1MPZ than MEA. The temperature effect on the interaction intensity is revealed at higher temperatures, where the molecular structure becomes unstable due to higher thermal motion, which is the cause of lower interaction intensity. On the other hand, the mean square displacement analysis for the diffusivity rate shows that PZ shows the highest diffusivity rate compared to other selected solvents. The order of diffusivity rate in various pure and blended amine systems is PZ>PIP>1-MPZ-PZ>MEA-DEEA. The diffusivity of various amine solvent systems increases with temperature. As examined in this current research, assessing solvent characteristics holds significant importance in optimizing the most effective solvent system.

Effect of biochar on soil microbial community, dissipation and uptake of chlorpyrifos and atrazine

For the application of biochar in restoring pesticide-contaminated soils and minimizing the risk associated with their uptake in plants, it is crucial to understand the biochar impact on soil biological activities and dissipation and accumulation of pesticides in plant and soil systems. In this study, the effect of Mentha-distilled waste-derived biochar was investigated on chlorpyrifos and atrazine contaminated sandy loam soil. The four application rates of atrazine (2, 4, 6, and 8 mg kg−1) and chlorpyrifos (2, 4, 6, and 12 mg kg−1) and a single application rate of biochar (4%) were used in this study. The degradation of pesticides, the diversity of the bacterial community, and enzymatic activities (alkaline phosphatase, dehydrogenase, arylsulfatase, phenol oxidase, urease activity and N-acetyl glucosaminidase) were examined in soil. The uptake of two pesticides and their effect on growth and stress parameters were also investigated in plants (A. paniculata). The dissipation of chlorpyrifos and atrazine followed simple first-order kinetics with a half-life of 6.6–74.6 and 21–145 days, respectively. The presence of deisopropyl atrazine desethyl atrazine (metabolites of atrazine) and 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (a metabolite of chlorpyrifos) was observed in soil and plant tissues. Biochar application significantly (p = 0.001) enhanced the degradation rate of chlorpyrifos and atrazine leading to the lower half-life of chlorpyrifos and atrazine in soil. A significant reduction (p = 0.001) in the uptake of chlorpyrifos and atrazine and alteration in their binding affinity and uptake rate in plant tissues was observed in biochar treatments. The incorporation of biochar improved chlorpyrifos/atrazine degrader and plant growth-promoting bacterial genera such as Balneimonas, Kaistobacter, Rubrobacter, Ammoniphilus, and Bacillus. The upregulation of functional genes associated with nucleotide, energy, carbohydrate, amino acid metabolism, xenobiotic biodegradation, and metabolism: atrazine degradation was observed in biochar treatments. The biochar amendments significantly (p = 0.001) reduced the plant’s uptake velocity (Vmax) and affinity (Km) of chlorpyrifos and atrazine. These results delineated that Mentha-distilled waste-derived biochar can potentially remediate chlorpyrifos and atrazine contaminated soils and ensure the safety of plants for consumption.Graphical

Evaluation of Leaf‐To‐Canopy Upscaling Approaches for Simulating Canopy Carbonyl Sulfide Uptake and Gross Primary Productivity

AbstractCarbonyl sulfide (COS) measurements provide an important mechanism for quantifying the terrestrial carbon and water cycles. Terrestrial photosynthesis can be inferred from vegetative uptake of COS due to the shared diffusion pathway of COS and CO2 into the chloroplasts. However, the efficacy of different leaf‐to‐canopy upscaling approaches for estimating plant COS uptake and photosynthesis at the canopy scale remains uncertain. In this study, the daytime canopy COS uptake rate (Fcosc) and gross primary productivity (GPP) were simulated using big leaf (BL), two big leaf (TBL) and two leaf (TL) upscaling approaches in the Boreal Ecosystem Productivity Simulator terrestrial biosphere model for two forest sites. We found that TL and TBL performed better than BL in estimating GPP as evaluated by the eddy covariance derived GPP at the studied sites. BL overestimated GPP and canopy stomatal conductance to COS (Gs_cos), resulting from the overestimation of canopy intercepted solar radiation. The positive biases of GPP by TBL could be attributed to the positive biases in GPP of shaded leaves by TBL. The results in this study demonstrate the improved accuracy in using TL for estimating GPP at the canopy scale. Improved leaf‐to‐canopy upscaling approach in terrestrial biosphere models will improve the accuracy of canopy COS uptake and GPP estimation on regional to global scales.

Regional emissions of soil greenhouse gases across Tibetan alpine grasslands

Soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions play an important role in regional climate feedback on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). Previous studies have focused on soil GHGs based on observations within a limited space on the QTP, however, the regional GHG emissions remain unclear. Analyzing soil samples from 25 sites along a 2,700 km transect across QTP, we showed significantly higher soil CO2 and N2O emission rates in alpine meadows than other upland grassland types, but similar soil CH4 uptake rates across all grassland types. The spatial variations of total soil GHG balance were dominated by CO2 emission. We found that CO2 emission was primarily constrained by high soil pH, low soil moisture and nutrient availability, and fungal abundance, N2O emission was inhibited by high soil pH, while CH4 uptake was dominated by methanotrophic abundance. Furthermore, we estimated a current regional total soil GHG balance of 144.4 Tg CO2-eq yr−1 for surface soil across Tibetan alpine grasslands, which increased by 17.6%, 24.8%, and 38.9% under warming scenarios of 1.5℃, 2℃ and 3℃, respectively. Our results provide a baseline for regional soil GHG emissions responding to climate warming on the QTP.

Handling the inhibitory role of product accumulation during sophorolipid fermentation in a bubble column reactor with an in situ foam recovery.

Sophorolipid (SL) production by Candida catenulata from sunflower fatty acids was studied in a bubble column reactor (BCR). The specific oxygen uptake rate was 0.021mggcell-1 min-1 which indicates the importance of aeration in SL biosynthesis. The measurement of oxygen transfer rate (OTR) in the BCR showed a satisfactory OTR value of about 0.093min-1 in the system. However, further SL production was stopped after 30h in the BCR mainly due to the product accumulation in the culture and its inhibitory effects on cell growth and SL synthesis. Since an extensive foam was generated in the BCR under the absence of an antifoam agent, the development of an in situ foam recovery system provided the integration of production and separation of SL to handle the problem. The application of the foam recovery system enhanced biomass and titer SL concentration by 38.5 and 28.2% in comparison with the conventional BCR, respectively. Further studies in the system were performed by monitoring the size of bubbles and their effects on the biomass and SL enrichment in the foam stream at different aeration rates where the SL enrichment varied from 900 to 100% at 12 and 50h of the fermentation.

Free secondary education policy and education attainment

This paper investigates the impact of Ghana’s Universal fee-free secondary education policy (FreeSHS) on educational attainment (completion rates). The policy was introduced in the school year 2017/2018, allowing every child to pursue secondary education irrespective of their background. We emphasize the educational outcomes of schoolgirls as they are shown to be at a greater disadvantage when accessing higher education in Ghana. Given the universality of the policy, we estimate a Difference-in-Differences model using variations in the treatment intensity across districts. The treatment and comparison groups are thus defined based on the differences in the uptake rate (changes in the uptake of education due to a price change). The paper draws from a comprehensive panel dataset capturing the demand and supply factors to education across 261 districts in Ghana. The empirical findings suggest that schoolgirls’ completion rate increased by 14 percentage points in high uptake districts, whereas the reform impact is estimated at 14.9 percentage points overall (for boys and girls). In effect, the absorption of education costs by the state serves as a critical incentive for cost-constrained households and an efficient measure for correcting market failures related to access and completion of secondary education for girls.

Real-world use and clinical impact of an electronic patient-reported outcome tool in patients with solid tumors treated with immuno-oncology therapy

BackgroundUtilization of electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) tools to monitor symptoms in patients undergoing cancer treatment has shown clinical benefits. Tennessee Oncology (TO) implemented an ePRO platform in 2019, allowing patients to report their health status online. We conducted a real-world, multicenter, observational, non-interventional cohort study to evaluate utilization of this platform in adults with solid tumors who initiated immuno-oncology (IO) therapy as monotherapy or in combination at TO clinics.MethodsPatients initiating IO therapy prior to platform implementation were included in a historical control (HC) cohort; those initiating treatment after implementation were included in the ePRO cohort, which was further divided into ePRO users (platform enrollment ≤ 45 days from IO initiation) and non-users. Data were extracted from electronic medical records; patients were followed for up to 6 months (no minimum follow up). Outcomes included patient characteristics, treatment patterns, duration of therapy (DoT), and overall survival (OS).ResultsData were collected for 538 patients in the HC and 1014 in the ePRO cohort; 319 in the ePRO cohort were ePRO users (uptake rate 31%). Baseline age was higher, more patients had stage IV disease at diagnosis, and more received monotherapy (82 vs 52%, respectively) in the HC vs the ePRO cohort. Median follow-up was 181.0 days (range 0.0–182.6) in the HC and 175.0 (0.0–184.0) in the ePRO cohort. Median DoT of index IO regimen was 5.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.4–NE) in the HC cohort vs not estimable (NE) in the ePRO cohort. Multivariable regression adjusting for baseline differences confirmed lower risk of treatment discontinuation in the ePRO vs HC cohort: hazard ratio (HR) 0.83 (95% CI, 0.71–0.97); p < 0.05. The estimated 6-month OS rate was 65.5% in the HC vs 72.4% in the ePRO cohort (p < 0 .01). Within the ePRO cohort, DoT of index IO regimen and OS did not differ between users and non-users. In ePRO users, patient platform use was durable over 6 months.ConclusionImprovements in DoT and OS were seen after ePRO platform implementation. Conclusions are limited by challenges in separating the impact of platform implementation from other changes affecting outcomes.

Microplastics role in cell migration and distribution during cancer cell division

Amidst the global plastic pollution crisis, the gastrointestinal tract serves as the primary entry point for daily exposure to micro- and nanoplastics. We investigated the complex dynamics between polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics (PS-MNPs) and four distinct human colorectal cancer cell lines (HT29, HCT116, SW480, and SW620). Our findings revealed a significant size- and concentration dependent uptake of 0.25, 1, and 10 μm PS-MNPs across all cell lines, with HCT116 cells exhibiting the highest uptake rates. During cell division, particles were distributed between mother and daughter cells. Interestingly, we observed no signs of elimination from the cells. Short-term exposure to 0.25 μm particles significantly amplified cell migration, potentially leading to pro-metastatic effects. Particles demonstrated high persistence in 2D and 3D cultures, and accumulation in non-proliferating parts of spheroids, without interfering with cell proliferation or division. Our study unveils the disturbing fact of the persistence and bioaccumulation of MNPs in colorectal cancer cell lines, key toxicological traits under REACH (Regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals). Our observations underscore the potential of MNPs as hidden catalysts for tumor progression, particularly through enhancing cell migration and possibly fueling metastasis - a finding that sheds light on a significant and previously underexplored area of concern.

Method dependency of maximum oxygen uptake rate and its repeatability in the Gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis.

The maximum rate at which fish can take up oxygen from their environment to fuel aerobic metabolism is an important feature of their physiology and ecology. Methods to quantify maximum oxygen uptake rate (ṀO2), therefore, should reliably and reproducibly estimate the highest possible ṀO2 by an individual or species under a given set of conditions (peak ṀO2). This study determined peak ṀO2 and its repeatability in Gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis, subjected to three methods to elevate metabolism: swimming at increasing water speeds, during recovery after an exhaustive chase, and after ingestion of a large meal. Estimates of peak ṀO2 during swimming and after an exhaustive chase were repeatable across two trials, whereas peak ṀO2 after feeding was not. Peak ṀO2 determined by the three methods was significantly different from one another, being highest during swimming, lowest after an exhaustive chase, and intermediate after feeding. In addition, peak ṀO2 during recovery from an exhaustive chase depended on the length of time of recovery: in nearly 60% of the trials, values within the first hour of the chase were lower than those measured later. A novel and important finding was that an individual's peak ṀO2 was not repeatable when compared across methods. Therefore, the peak ṀO2 estimated for a group of fish, as well as the ranking of individual ṀO2 within that group, depends on the method used to elevate aerobic metabolism.

A minimal physiologically based pharmacokinetic model to study the combined effect of antibody size, charge, and binding affinity to FcRn/antigen on antibody pharmacokinetics.

Protein therapeutics have revolutionized the treatment of a wide range of diseases. While they have distinct physicochemical characteristics that influence their absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) properties, the relationship between the physicochemical properties and PK is still largely unknown. In this work we present a minimal physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (mPBPK) model that incorporates a multivariate quantitative relation between a therapeutic's physicochemical parameters and its corresponding ADME properties. The model's compound-specific input includes molecular weight, molecular size (Stoke's radius), molecular charge, binding affinity to FcRn, and specific antigen affinity. Through derived and fitted empirical relationships, the model demonstrates the effect of these compound-specific properties on antibody disposition in both plasma and peripheral tissues using observed PK data in mice and humans. The mPBPK model applies the two-pore hypothesis to predict size-based clearance and exposure of full-length antibodies (150kDa) and antibody fragments (50-100kDa) within a onefold error. We quantitatively relate antibody charge and PK parameters like uptake rate, non-specific binding affinity, and volume of distribution to capture the relatively faster clearance of positively charged mAb as compared to negatively charged mAb. The model predicts the terminal plasma clearance of slightly positively and negatively charged antibody in humans within a onefold error. The mPBPK model presented in this work can be used to predict the target-mediated disposition of a drug when compound-specific and target-specific properties are known. To our knowledge, a combined effect of antibody weight, size, charge, FcRn, and antigen has not been incorporated and studied in a single mPBPK model previously. By conclusively incorporating and relating a multitude of protein's physicochemical properties to observed PK, our mPBPK model aims to contribute as a platform approach in the early stages of drug development where many of these properties can be optimized to improve a molecule's PK and ultimately its efficacy.

Effect of dissolved oxygen concentration on activated sludge bacterial community and oxygen uptake rate in a SBR using co-produced oxygen from a PEM hydrogen electrolyser

A laboratory-scale sequential batch reactor (SBR) was operated for 5 months on artificial wastewater using co-produced oxygen from a hydrogen proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser. High chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal (>80–85 %) was achieved consistently using a Food to Microorganism (F/M) ratio as high as 1. The effect of dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration, ranging from 1 to 8 mg/L, on COD removal and oxygen uptake rate (OUR) was evaluated. DO concentration was shown to influence bacteria respiration as OUR values increased across the DO range studied. OUR increased linearly from 4.24 to 9.23 mgO2/L/h/g of MLSS with DO concentration of 1 to 8 mg/L respectively, however no effect on COD removal was observed. Microorganism communities were characterized, and significant variation in bacteria communities distribution was observed when increasing the DO concentration along with a decrease in bacteria diversity. The dominant phylum observed during this study were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Candidatus Sacharibacteria. Aeration energy expenditures were estimated to be two times lower than for a similar air SBR when keeping DO concentration below 5 mg/L.

Revealing the correlation between the performance of silica-based DAC adsorbents and their pore natures

Direct air capture (DAC) technology is a potential carbon negative process, which can effectively reduce the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. Amine-functionalized porous materials are promising because of their high ratio of accessible amino groups and fast adsorption/desorption kinetics. This work reveals the correlation between the specific surface area, pore radius, and pore volume of the silica-based DAC adsorbents and their CO2 adsorption capacity and adsorption rate. Four typical silica-based DAC adsorbent materials loaded with polyethylenimine (PEI) were studied, including hydrophilic fumed silica (HFS), Santa Barbara Amorphous-15 (SBA-15), Mobil Crystalline Materials-41 (MCM-41), and silica gel (SG). It is observed that when the PEI loading is constant, adsorbent materials with larger specific surface area, larger pore radius, and larger pore volume tend to show the higher adsorption capacity and faster adsorption-desorption rate. Humidity is beneficial for the CO2 capture capacity, but it slows down the CO2 uptake rate at the same time. The capacity of 50%PEI@SBA-15 adsorbent can reach to 3.24 mmol/g under 90% relative humidity (RH). Supports with small pore radius tend to have unfavorable performance at dry conditions. After the inlet gas is humidified, the CO2 capacity of the MCM-41 material is enhanced greatly, from 0.91 mmol/g to 2.92 mmol/g. This work provides guiding principle for synthesizing appropriate adsorbents with higher DAC capacity, higher adsorption and desorption rate at ambient conditions.

The role of social support in antiretroviral therapy uptake and retention among pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV in the Greater Accra region of Ghana.

The role of social support in antiretroviral therapy (ART) uptake and retention among pregnant and postpartum women in Ghana's capital, Accra, has received limited attention in the literature. This cross-sectional study extends existing knowledge by investigating the role of social support in ART adherence and retention among pregnant and postpartum women in Accra. We implemented a cross-sectional study in eleven (11) public health facilities. Convenience sampling approach was used to recruit 180 participants, out of which 176 with completed data were included in the study. ART adherence in the three months preceding the survey (termed consistent uptake), and ART retention were the outcomes of interest. Initial analysis included descriptive statistics characterized by frequencies and percentages to describe the study population. In model building, we included all variables that had p-values of 0.2 or lesser in the bivariate analysis to minimize negative confounding. Overall, a two-sided p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Data were analyzed using Stata version 14.1 (College Station, TX). In the multivariate model, we realized a lower odds trend between social support score and consistent ART adherence, however, this was insignificant. Similarly, both the univariate and multivariate models showed that social support has no relationship with ART retention. Meanwhile, urban residents had a higher prevalence of ART adherence (adjusted Prevalence ratio (aPR) = 2.04, CI = 1.12-3.73) relative to rural/peri-urban residents. As compared to those below age 30, women aged 30-34 (aPR = 0.58, CI = 0.34-0.98) and above 35 (aPR = 0.48, CI = 0.31-0.72) had lower prevalence of ART adherence Women who knew their partner's HIV status had lower prevalence of ART adherence compared to those who did not know (aPR = 0.62, CI = 0.43-0.91). Also, having a rival or co-wife was significantly associated with ART retention such that higher prevalence of ART adherence among women with rivals relative to those without rivals (aOR = 1.98, CI = 1.16-3.36). Our study showed that social support does not play any essential role in ART adherence among the surveyed pregnant and postpartum women. Meanwhile, factors such as having a rival and being under the age of thirty play an instrumental role. The study has signaled the need for ART retention scale-up interventions to have a multi-pronged approach in order to identify the multitude of underlying factors, beyond social support, that enhance/impede efforts to achieve higher uptake and retention rates.

Uptake and detection rate of colorectal cancer screening with colonoscopy in China: A population-based, prospective cohort study

BackgroundColorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Colonoscopy is widely used as a screening test for detecting colorectal cancer in many countries. However, there is little evidence regarding the uptake and diagnostic yields of colonoscopy in population-based screening programs in countries with limited medical resources. ObjectiveWe reported the uptake of colonoscopy and the detection of colorectal lesions and explored related factors based on a colorectal cancer screening program in China. DesignIndividuals aged 45–74 years who were asymptomatic for colorectal cancer and had no history of colorectal cancer were recruited. An established risk score system was used to identify individuals at high risk for colorectal cancer, and they were subsequently recommended for colonoscopy. SettingA population-based, prospective cohort study was implemented in 169 communities, 14 districts of Chongqing, Southwest China. ParticipantsA total of 288,150 eligible participants were recruited from November 2013 to June 2021, and 41,315 participants were identified to be at high risk of colorectal cancer. MethodsGeneralized linear mixed model was used to explore the individual and community structural characteristics associated with uptake of colonoscopy. Additionally, the detection rate of colorectal lesions under colonoscopy screening was also reported, and their associated factors were explored. Results7859 subjects underwent colonoscopy, with an uptake rate of 19.02 % (95 % CI 18.64 %–19.40 %). Lower uptake rates were associated with older age, lower education, more physical activity, and structural characteristics, including residing in developing areas (OR 0.73, 95 % CI 0.69–0.78), residing more than 5 km from screening hospital (5–10 km: OR 0.85, 95 % CI 0.79–0.91; >10 km: OR 0.85, 95 % CI 0.80–0.91), and not being exposed to social media publicity (OR 0.63, 95 % CI 0.53–0.75). Overall, 8 colorectal cancers (0.10 %), 423 advanced adenomas (5.38 %), 820 nonadvanced adenomas (10.43 %), and 684 hyperplastic polyps (8.70 %) were detected, with an adenoma detection rate of 15.92 %. Several factors, including older age, male, current smoking and a family history of colorectal cancer, were positively related to colorectal neoplasms. ConclusionsThe uptake of colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening was not optimal among a socioeconomically diverse high-risk population. The screening strategy should attempt to ensure equitable access to screening according to regional characteristics, and enhance the uptake of colonoscopy by recommended multifaceted interventions, which focus on individuals with poor compliance, select a closer screening hospital, and strengthen social media publicity at the structural level.