Severe Impact Research Articles

An ophthalmologic overview of pituitary adenoma

Pituitary adenomas are the most common tumours of the sellar region. They generally have a slow but severe impact on vision due to compression of the optic nerves, optic chiasm and cavernous sinus. They can have varied presentation depending on the size, location and extension of the mass and its relation to the surrounding structures. This 8 case series reviews the clinical presentation, varied visual field defects, histopathological and neuroimaging findings and the management of the pituitary adenomas.

Upwind Despite Headwind? Degrowth Transformations Amidst Shrinkage and Eroding Democracy in an East German Small Town

Spatial transformation follows the logic of a growth-oriented economy that values cities according to their place in the chain of capitalist wealth production. Many cities in East Germany have lost their significance as sites of production and are consequently facing population decline and the weakening of social bonds in the community. For this reason, citizens of the East German small town of Zella-Mehlis (state of Thuringia) have begun to reflect on alternative models for urban development. In this article, the process of arriving at a degrowth strategy, as provided by the academic discourse, will be documented. It will be demonstrated that the process of shrinkage has not only left little space for a degrowth planning approach put into practice. Moreover, the article reveals that the costs of the growth economy on society are not limited to population shrinkage, but also have a severe impact on the sociability of the local community. The rise of right-wing populists and climate change-denying actors mirrors the decreasing social ability for collective learning processes needed for a shift to a solidary degrowth strategy. However, the case study shows how ambivalent these developments are: Long-term participatory processes within the public–civic partnership framework of the Aufwind (German for upwind) initiative in Zella-Mehlis can challenge path dependencies and open new degrowth-inspired perspectives. The article is informed by many years of intensive field research in a qualitative mixed-method design and focuses on the close links between shrinkage processes, the local degrowth agenda, and the consequences of an eroding democracy.

Dual RNA sequencing during Trichoderma harzianum-Phytophthora capsici interaction reveals multiple biological processes involved in the inhibition and highlights the cell wall as a potential target.

Phytophthora capsici is a destructive oomycete pathogen, causing huge economic losses for agricultural production. The genus Trichoderma represents one of the most extensively researched categories of biocontrol agents, encompassing a diverse array of effective strains. The commercial biocontrol agent Trichoderma harzianum strain T-22 exhibits pronounced biocontrol effects against many plant pathogens, but its activity against P. capsici is not known. T. harzianum T-22 significantly inhibited the growth of P. capsici mycelia and the culture filtrate of T-22 induced lysis of P. capsici zoospores. Electron microscopic analyses indicated that T-22 significantly modulated the ultrastructural composition of P. capsici, with a severe impact on the cell wall integrity. Dual RNA sequencing revealed multiple biological processes involved in the inhibition during the interaction between these two microorganisms. In particular, a marked upregulation of genes was identified in T. harzianum that are implicated in cell wall degradation or disruption. Concurrently, the presence of T. harzianum appeared to potentiate the susceptibility of P. capsici to cell wall biosynthesis inhibitors such as mandipropamid and dimethomorph. Further investigations showed that mandipropamid and dimethomorph could strongly inhibit the growth and development of P. capsici but had no impact on T. harzianum even at high concentrations, demonstrating the feasibility of combining T. harzianum and these cell wall synthesis inhibitors to combat P. capsici. These findings provided enhanced insights into the biocontrol mechanisms against P. capsici with T. harzianum and evidenced compatibility between specific biological and chemical control strategies. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Australian consensus: Treatment goals for moderate to severe psoriasis in the era of targeted therapies - Considerations for paediatric patients.

Treatment goals have been established in Australia to facilitate the management of adults with moderate to severe psoriasis. The Australasian College of Dermatologists sought to determine if and how these adult treatment goals could be modified to accommodate the needs of paediatric and adolescent patients. A modified Delphi approach was used. Comprehensive literature review and guideline evaluation resulted in the development of statements and other questions to establish current clinical practices. Two rounds of anonymous voting were undertaken, with a collaborative meeting held in between to discuss areas of discordance. Overall, consensus was defined as achievement of ≥75% agreement in the range 7-9 on a 9-point scale (1 strongly disagree; 9 strongly agree). Consensus was achieved on 23/29 statements in round 1 and 17/18 statements in round 2. There was a high level of concordance with treatment criteria in the adult setting. The limitations of applying assessment tools developed for use in adult patients to the paediatric setting were highlighted. Treatment targets in the paediatric setting should include objective metrics for disease severity and psychological impact on the patients and their family, and be based on validated, age-appropriate tools. While the assessment, classification and management of moderate to severe psoriasis in paediatric patients aligns with metrics established for adults, it is vital that nuances in the transition from childhood to adolescence be taken into account. Future research should focus on psoriasis severity assessment scales specific to the paediatric setting.

Genetic Characterization of Lumpy Skin Disease Viruses Circulating in Lesotho Cattle

Lumpy skin disease is one of the fast-spreading viral diseases of cattle and buffalo that can potentially cause severe economic impact. Lesotho experienced LSD for the first time in 1947 and episodes of outbreaks occurred throughout the decades. In this study, eighteen specimens were collected from LSD-clinically diseased cattle between 2020 and 2022 from Mafeteng, Leribe, Maseru, Berea, and Mohales’ Hoek districts of Lesotho. A total of 11 DNA samples were analyzed by PCR and sequencing of the extracellular enveloped virus (EEV) glycoprotein, G-protein-coupled chemokine receptor (GPCR), 30 kDa RNA polymerase subunit (RPO30), and B22R genes. All nucleotide sequences of the above-mentioned genes confirmed that the PCR amplicons of clinical samples are truly LSDV, as they were identical to respective LSDV isolates on the NCBI GenBank. Two of the elevem samples were further characterized by whole-genome sequencing. The analysis, based on both CaPV marker genes and complete genome sequences, revealed that the LSDV isolates from Lesotho cluster with the NW-like LSDVs, which includes the commonly circulating LSDV field isolates from Africa, the Middle East, the Balkans, Turkey, and Eastern Europe.

The correlation of orthostatic hypotension in Parkinson disease with the disease course and severity and its impact on quality of life.

We investigated the correlation of orthostatic hypotension (OH) in Parkinson disease (PD) with the disease course and severity, and its possible impact on quality of life. 171 PD patients were recruited and divided into the PD-NOH (n = 91) and PD-OH groups (n = 80). Clinical data were collected. The severity and quality of life of PD patients were evaluated. The impact of disease severity was analyzed using logistic regression analysis. The ROC curve was plotted. There were significant differences (P < .05) between PD-NOH and PD-OH groups in terms of the disease course, non-motor symptoms (somnipathy), Hoehn&Yahr stage, LEDD score, RBDSQ score, PDQ-39 score, MMSE score, MoCA, MDS-UPDRS Part III scores during off- and on-periods, and NMSS score. Hoehn&Yahr stage (OR 4.950, 95% CI 1.516-16.157, P = .008) was closely associated with the risk of OH in PD. PDQ-39 score (OR 1.079, 95% CI 1.033-1.127, P = .001) in PD patients with OH further decreased. Patients with PD-OH experienced severe impairment in 4 dimensions of quality of life, including motor function, cognitive function, physical discomfort, and activities of daily living. Different clinical symptoms of PD-OH were positively correlated with PDQ39 subscales. The area under the ROC curve of the Hoehn&Yahr stage in predicting the occurrence of OH was 0.679 (95% CI 0.600-0.758), and that of the Hoehn&Yahr stage combined with levodopa equivalent dose, and MDS-UPDRS Part III score during off-period was 0.793 (95% CI 0.727-0.862). Higher Hoehn&Yahr stage is associated with increased risk of OH in PD patients, and deteriorated quality of life of PD patients. Patients with different OH symptoms are affected in different dimensions of their quality of life. The Hoehn & Yahr stage can independently predict the risk of OH in PD patients.

Theoretical research of impact vibration of multi-section serial pipeline inspection gauge in large drop pipeline

When operating in large drop pipelines, pipeline inspection gauge may experience severe impact vibration at elbows, potentially leading to its failure. This paper focuses on serial pipeline inspection gauges with multiple sections in large drop pipelines, analyzes the force acting on the pipeline inspection gauge during the descent phase, and establishes a multi-body dynamics model of the gauge under pipe-soil coupling conditions. In addition, a correction formula is developed for the pressure changes in the medium at the front and rear of the pipeline inspection gauge. To solve the model, MSC/ADAMS and MATLAB/Simulink are used for the bi-directional fluid–structure-interaction joint simulation. Moreover, the results are compared with the pipeline inspection gauge motion model established by OLGA. The study investigates the dynamic responses, vibration superposition and laws of dynamic evolution at the upper and lower elbows of the large drop pipeline. The results show that the speed of the gauge increases suddenly during the descent in large drop sections and then stabilizes, with different effects of the fluid medium pressure difference at various stages. The vibration responses along the axial, horizontal radial, and vertical directions at the elbows vary, with the second section experiencing stronger vibrations due to superposition effects. Compared to fixed boundaries, the acceleration extremes of the gauge are lower under the constraints of pipe-soil model, indicating significant soil buffering and vibration damping effects.

Accumulation of resistance genes in Salmonella Typhimurium transmitted between poultry and dairy farms increases the risk to public health.

Salmonella Typhimurium is a zoonotic pathogen that poses a major threat to public health. This generalist serotype can be found in many hosts and the environment where varying selection pressures may result in the accumulation of antimicrobial resistance determinants. However, the transmission of this serotype between food-producing hosts, specifically between poultry layer flocks and nearby dairy herds, was never demonstrated. We investigated an outbreak at a dairy in Israel to determine the role of nearby poultry houses to be sources of infection. The 2-month outbreak resulted in a 47% mortality rate among 15 calves born in that period. Routine treatment of fluid therapy, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, and cefquinome was ineffective, and control was achieved by the introduction of vaccination of dry cows against Salmonella (Bovivac S, MSD Animal Health) and a strict colostrum regime. Whole genome sequencing and antimicrobial sensitivity tests were performed on S. Typhimurium strains isolated from the dairy (n = 4) and strains recovered from poultry layer farms (n = 10). We identified acquired antimicrobial-resistant genes, including the blaCTX-M-55 gene, conferring resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins, which was exclusive to dairy isolates. Genetic similarity with less than five single nucleotide polymorphism differences between dairy and poultry strains suggested a transmission link. This investigation highlights the severe impact of S. Typhimurium on dairy farms and the transmission risk from nearby poultry farms. The accumulation of potentially transferable genes conferring resistance to critically important antimicrobials underscores the increased public health risk associated with S. Typhimurium circulation between animal hosts.IMPORTANCESalmonella Typhimurium is one of the major causes of food-borne illness globally. Infections may result in severe invasive disease, in which antimicrobial treatment is warranted. Therefore, the emergence of multi-drug-resistant strains poses a significant challenge to successful treatment and is considered one of the major threats to global health. S. Typhimurium can be found in a variety of animal hosts and environments; however, its transmission between food-producing animals, specifically poultry layers flocks and dairy herds, was never studied. Here, we demonstrate the transmission of the pathogen from poultry to a nearby dairy farm. Alarmingly, the multi-drug-resistant strains collected during the outbreak in the dairy had acquired resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins, antibiotics critically important in treating Salmonellosis in humans. The findings of the study emphasize the increased risk to public health posed by zoonotic pathogens' circulation between animal hosts.

Gut microbiota microbial metabolites in diabetic nephropathy patients: far to go

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the main complications of diabetes and a major cause of end-stage renal disease, which has a severe impact on the quality of life of patients. Strict control of blood sugar and blood pressure, including the use of renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system inhibitors, can delay the progression of diabetic nephropathy but cannot prevent it from eventually developing into end-stage renal disease. In recent years, many studies have shown a close relationship between gut microbiota imbalance and the occurrence and development of DN. This review discusses the latest research findings on the correlation between gut microbiota and microbial metabolites in DN, including the manifestations of the gut microbiota and microbial metabolites in DN patients, the application of the gut microbiota and microbial metabolites in the diagnosis of DN, their role in disease progression, and so on, to elucidate the role of the gut microbiota and microbial metabolites in the occurrence and prevention of DN and provide a theoretical basis and methods for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Water stress affect water relations, photosynthesis and oxidative defense mechanism in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Water stress is a major obstacle to agricultural production, significantly impacting both yield and quality. During the 2017&amp;ndash;18 crop year in Shahriar region near Tehran, Iran, known for its dry and cold climate, a study was conducted to examine the influence of different irrigation levels on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of various wheat cultivars. The experiment involved three irrigation levels: normal irrigation (control), withholding irrigation at the flowering stage, and withholding irrigation at the seed-filling stage as primary factors, with 21 different cultivars as secondary factors. The analysis showed that irrigation, cultivar type, and their interactions had a significant effect on grain yield, proline, total chlorophyll, carbohydrate content in the first and second internodes during flowering and ripening, as well as on SOD, CAT, GPX, MDA, DT, and D-OH-dG levels at a one percent significance level. Withholding irrigation at the flowering stage had a more severe impact compared to the seed-filling stage. The Rakhshan and Sivand cultivars yielded the highest and lowest grain yields under normal irrigation conditions, while the drought-tolerant Ofogh cultivar showed lower yields when irrigation was withheld at the flowering stage. Water stress led to increased proline levels and higher levels of SOD, CAT, MDA, DT, and D-OH-dG in wheat cultivars. The Rakhshan and Sivand cultivars were identified as drought-tolerant in this region.

The Impact of COVID-19 Severity on TNF-α and IFN-γ in T2DM Patients' PBMC Monocytes

Introduction: Monocytes are very sensitive to changes in the metabolic environment, including hyperglycemia, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). T2DM is characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation and becomes one COVID-19 comorbid. TNF-α and IFN-γ are cytokines often linked to inflammation, the severity of COVID-19, and long COVID-19. This study aims to analyze the relationship between COVID-19 severity and TNF-α and IFN-γ in T2DM one month post-infection.Methods: This research is an experimental study at the Integrated Laboratory Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, for four months. The total samples are 44 cryotubes of PBMC (18 T2DM and 26 Non-T2DM) from the CARAMEL study (COVID-19, Aging, and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors). PBMCs were stimulated with inactivated whole virions SARS-CoV-2 and incubated for 24 hours. Monocyte subsets and intracellular cytokines are detected by flow cytometry.Results: Research showed that IFN-γ in the T2DM group was higher in all subsets. There was no significant difference between the T2DM and non-T2DM groups. Based on the history of the severity of COVID-19, MedFI IFN-γ classic and intermediate monocytes differed significantly between the COVID-19 severity groups (p = 0.049 and p = 0.022). Further research is needed to analyze the risk factors involved.Conclusion: MedFI of classic and intermediate monocyte IFN-γ differed significantly between the severity of COVID-19. There were no significant differences between the T2DM and non-T2DM groups. The history of the severity of COVID-19 is significantly related to long COVID-19.

Which trust layer better counterbalances the risk impact on travel intentions in a crisis scenario?

The severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism industry has revived academic interest in evaluating the strategic role of trust in crises. As a force able to mitigate uncertainty and vulnerability, trust can influence people's travel decision-making process. Extant tourism crisis literature concentrates on individual trust levels in isolation, neglecting its multi-faceted nature. Therefore, a research gap emerges in identifying trust layers that most effectively enhance the intention to travel. In order to address this gap, this study adopts a multi-layered trust perspective rooted in the protection motivation theory (PMT). This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of multi-layer trust as a coping mechanism to enhance intention to travel in the cruise industry. This study uses survey data from 661 cruisers and applies structural equation modeling to test hypotheses empirically. Results highlight that trust in the company and interpersonal trust are the most effective antecedents of the intention to travel, effectively mitigating the perceived health risk. Conversely, trust in the vaccine and trust in the certification show no significant influence on the intention to travel. Therefore, in times of crisis, cruise lines should leverage trust in the company and interpersonal trust as strategic tools to counterbalance the perceived health risks and stimulate travel intentions.

Discovering new genes for alfalfa (Medicago sativa) growth and biomass resilience in combined salinity and Phoma medicaginis infection through GWAS.

Salinity and Phoma medicaginis infection represent significant challenges for alfalfa cultivation in South Africa, Europe, Australia, and, particularly, Tunisia. These constraints have a severe impact on both yield and quality. The primary aim of this study was to establish the genetic basis of traits associated with biomass and growth of 129 Medicago sativa genotypes through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) under combined salt and P. medicaginis infection stresses. The results of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that the variation in these traits could be primarily attributed to genotype effects. Among the test genotypes, the length of the main stem, the number of ramifications, the number of chlorotic leaves, and the aerial fresh weight exhibited the most significant variation. The broad-sense heritability (H²) was relatively high for most of the assessed traits, primarily due to genetic factors. Cluster analysis, applied to morpho-physiological traits under the combined stresses, revealed three major groups of accessions. Subsequently, a GWAS analysis was conducted to validate significant associations between 54,866 SNP-filtered single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and seven traits. The study identified 27 SNPs that were significantly associated with the following traits: number of healthy leaves (two SNPs), number of chlorotic leaves (five SNPs), number of infected necrotic leaves (three SNPs), aerial fresh weight (six SNPs), aerial dry weight (nine SNPs), number of ramifications (one SNP), and length of the main stem (one SNP). Some of these markers are related to the ionic transporters, cell membrane rigidity (related to salinity tolerance), and the NBS_LRR gene family (associated with disease resistance). These findings underscore the potential for selecting alfalfa genotypes with tolerance to the combined constraints of salinity and P. medicaginis infection.

Abstract PS02-03: Is de-escalation of treatment by omission of radiotherapy associated with fear of cancer recurrence and health-related quality of life in women with early breast cancer? An exploratory study

Abstract Background: There is growing interest in treatment optimization in early breast cancer (EBC). PROSPECT (ANZ-1002) provided compelling evidence that a combination of pre-operative MRI and pathological features could identify a substantial group of patients with localised EBC in whom radiotherapy (RT) could be safely omitted. The patient experience of de-escalation or its association with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), was not examined in PROSPECT but is a key consideration of treatment decision-making. We conducted a retrospective, mixed methods, cross-sectional study to explore this association. Methods: Psychometrically validated measures including the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory Short-Form, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, Breast Cancer Treatment Outcomes Scale, EORTC QLQ-C30 and its breast-specific module, the BR23, and the Decision Regret Scale were completed by three groups of women with early EBC: Women in the PROSPECT clinical trial who underwent pre-surgical MRI and omitted RT (A), women who underwent pre-surgical MRI and received RT (B); and women who received usual care (no MRI, received RT; C). Between group differences were analysed with ANOVA or equivalent non-parametric tests. A subset from each group participated in a semi-structured interview. These data (n=44) were analysed with directed content analysis. Results: Data from 400 women were analysed. Median age was 65 years, and median time since diagnosis was 4.4 years. There were no group differences in neuroticism, mental health, age, medical comorbidities, parity, or time since diagnosis. Significantly lower FCR was observed in Group A (n=125) than in Group B (n=102; p=.002) or Group C (n=173; p=.001), and when participants were categorized by RT status (omitted RT vs received RT; p&amp;lt; .001). The proportion of women with normal FCR was significantly (p &amp;lt; .05) larger in Group A (62%) than in Group B (35%) or Group C (40%). There were no differences between groups on depression and anxiety. Women in Group A had fewer breast symptoms than in Group B (p=.003) and Group C (p= &amp;lt; .001), fewer arm symptoms than in Group B (p=.004) and Group C (p=.011), and better body image than Group C (p=.041). Compared to Groups B and C, Group A performed better on cosmetic (both p&amp;lt; .001), functional (A vs C: p=.011) and breast-specific pain measures (both p&amp;lt; .001). Pre-operative MRI and omission of RT were highly acceptable and decision regret was low. A secondary analysis was conducted to eliminate any potential impact of disease severity on the analysis. All cases (n=126) with any positive nodes, a Grade 3 tumour and tumour size &amp;gt;20mm were removed. The remaining sample comprised 274 women. The results were similar to the primary analysis. Qualitative analysis showed that women who omitted RT viewed this as appropriate treatment, not undertreatment. Women considered RT toxic but endured it as a necessity, if prescribed. Few women experienced ongoing negative effects from RT but there was a tendency to minimize RT treatment burden. Women managed their FCR by having trust in their treatment and faith in the medical advice they received. Conclusions: In the setting of the PROSPECT trial, treatment de-escalation via omitting RT was associated with less FCR, better HRQoL and functional and cosmetic outcomes and was highly acceptable. Clinicians should consider the potential for preserved HRQoL associated with omission of RT in treatment decision-making. Positive perceptions about tailored care, lower treatment burden, and trust in clinicians appear to be protective against FCR. Future studies should include prospective collection of FCR and HRQoL measures. Citation Format: Bruce Mann, Michelle Sinclair, Phyllis Butow, Janemary Hughes, Allan Park, Leslie Gilham, Allison Rose, Lesley Stafford. Is de-escalation of treatment by omission of radiotherapy associated with fear of cancer recurrence and health-related quality of life in women with early breast cancer? An exploratory study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PS02-03.

Large Scale Physical Model Study On Clay Erosion With Gras Cover On Primary Coastal Defence Structures

Sea dikes in the Netherlands consist of sandy or clay core with a clay layer with grass. The lower outer slope is often covered with a hard revetment, such as asphalt or a placed block revetment, to protect the dike material against wave impact. Since the strength of the clay layer with a grass subject to severe wave impact is unknown, the hard revetment needs to be constructed on a large part of the outer slope to ensure that the flood defence meets the safety requirements. Therefore, a research programme was started to determine the strength of the clay layer with grass on the upper slope of a dike. As a first step, large scale physical model tests have been performed. In the second step the CFD model OpenFOAM has been used to extend the physical model results by computing the peak pressure of the hydraulic load on the clay for the tested geometries and additional geometries with varying parameters that may influence the erosion rate. With all results, it was possible to derive formulas for failure probability calculations in the final step. The knowledge development on the erosion of a clay layer with grass on the outer slope by wave attack resulted into formulas that are currently used in the safety assessment of dikes contributing towards safer deltas and resilient designs of dikes.

The structural equation modeling constructed for runoff change attribution analysis outperforms traditional methods

Recently, with the increasing global warming and intensity of human activities, runoff has significantly decreased. This has had a severe impact on water resources development and utilization, as well as ecological and environmental construction. To understand hydrological cycles and promote sustainable utilization of water resources, it is crucial to conduct attribution analysis of runoff changes. This study employed traditional models, including empirical statistics, elasticity coefficients, hydrological modeling, and introduced a simple and efficient model – structural equation modeling (SEM) – to quantify the impact of various factors on runoff changes. The findings revealed a notable decreasing trend in natural runoff in the Shiyang River from 1960 to 2020, while precipitation, snowmelt, potential evapotranspiration (ET0), and temperature exhibited increasing trends. The integrated the results from multiple models highlighted that human activities emerged as the primary driver influencing runoff changes. From 1972 to 2020, the factors contributing to runoff reduction were ranked in the order: water withdrawal (50 %) > LUCC (20 %) > ET0 (16 %) > temperature (8 %). Factors contributing to runoff increase were ranked: precipitation = water diversion project (20 %) > snowmelt (6 %). The impact of reservoir regulation on runoff initially exhibited a negative correlation (impact rate of 10 %) and later turned positive (impact rate of 6 %). The SEM model, employed for runoff change attribution analysis, demonstrated a good fit and was consistent with results obtained from the SWAT model. Compared to traditional methods, SEM not only allowed for quantitative analysis of the factors’ impact on runoff but also explored the interactions between factors and the direct and indirect effects of factors on runoff. This study introduces innovative methods for the attribution analysis of runoff changes, offering valuable insights crucial for the ecological sustainable development of water resources in arid and semi-arid regions.

Reducing direct exposure to exhaled aerosol through a portable desktop fan

Vulnerable individuals close to infected people emitting a respiratory cloud containing infectious load can inhale a pathogen dose, experiencing a more severe impact on their health compared to other individuals breathing the mixed air in the same room. In crowded spaces, this issue is crucial. Employing local airflow patterns can reduce the proximity risk of inhalation and subsequent transmission across short distances. This study proposes an experimental and numerical analysis of a novel personal and portable device creating a short-range air barrier to transmitting airborne pathogens in proximity. The portable device adopts V-shaped air blades affecting the trajectory of the particle-laden respiratory cloud emitted by the respiratory system of the infected individual. Experimental results, supported by CFD analysis, indicate that controlling local airflow through the V-shaped jet significantly reduces local particle concentrations by more than 60%, compared to typical scenarios without a local airflow control.

Distinguishing the contributions of different smelting emissions to the spatial risk footprints of toxic elements in soil using PMF, Bayesian isotope mixing models, and distance-based regression

Toxic element pollution of soils emanating from smelting operations is an escalating global concern due to its severe impact on ecosystems and human health. In this study, soil samples were collected and analyzed to quantify the risk contributions and delineate the spatial risk footprints from smelting emissions for 8 toxic elements. A comprehensive health risk contribution and delineation framework was utilized, consisting of Positive matrix factorization (PMF), spatial interpolation, an advanced Bayesian isotope mixing model via Mixing Stable Isotope Analysis in R (MixSIAR), and distance-based regression. The results showed that the mean concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn exceeded the background levels, indicating substantial contamination. Three sources were identified using the PMF model and confirmed by spatial interpolation and MixSIAR, with contributions ranked as follows: industrial wastewater discharge and slag runoff from the smelter site (48.9 %) > natural geogenic inputs from soil parent materials (26.7 %) > atmospheric deposition of dust particles from smelting operations (24.5 %). Among the identified sources, smelter runoff posed the most significant risk, accounting for 97.9 % of the non-carcinogenic risk (NCR) and 59.9 % of the carcinogenic risk (CR). Runoff also drove NCR and CR exceedances at 7.8 % and 4.7 % of sites near the smelter, respectively. However, atmospheric deposition from smelting emissions affected soils across a larger 0.8 km radius. Although it posed lower risks, contributing just 1.1 % to NCR and 22.6 % to CR due to the limited elevation of toxic elements, deposition reached more distant soils. Spatial interpolation and distance-based regression delineated high NCR and CR exposure hotspots within 1.4 km for runoff and 0.8 km for deposition, with exponentially diminishing risks at further distances. These findings highlight the need for pathway-specific interventions that prioritize localized wastewater containment and drainage controls near the smelter while implementing broader regional air pollution mitigation measures.

Microbiome in the Nasopharynx: Insights into the Impact of COVID-19 Severity.

Microbiome in the Nasopharynx: Insights into the Impact of COVID-19 Severity.

Orthodontic pain is related to oral health-related quality of life in orthodontic patients

INTRODUCTION: Orthodontic pain (OP) is a subjective experience induced by prolonged force on the teeth in fixed orthodontic treatment. OP acts as a predictor of aspects related to oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL). It is important to understand the extent of the impact of OP on a patient’s daily life, especially on stomatognathic function and social impact. OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlation between OP and OHRQOL in fixed orthodontic treatment patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The comparative pain rating scale is used to assess pain intensity, while the oral health impact profile-14 (OHIP-14) assesses the impact of OP severity on OHRQOL of 57 patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment in the early stages of treatment (1–3 months of treatment) at the Dental Hospital, Universitas Airlangga. Gender, age, and malocclusion classifications were also analyzed for their influence. The data were analyzed using Spearman correlation and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: In the initial phase of treatment, most of the patients (53%) experienced mild OP and moderate OP (39%), and OP was reduced over a week. The overall OHRQOL score was 17.4 ± 8, which indicates a negative impact on OHRQOL. There were also positive correlation dimensions of OHRQOL, which include the dimensions of physical limitations, psychological discomfort, and psychological limitations (r &gt; 0.50). There was a significant difference between age groups in OP perception and OHRQOL (P &lt; 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There was a positive correlation between OP intensity and OHRQOL experienced by fixed orthodontic patients at the Dental Hospital, Universitas Airlangga.