Dorsal Preservation: The Push Down Technique Reassessed

Abstract

Management of the nasal dorsum remains a challenge in rhinoplasty surgery. Currently, the majority of reduction rhinoplasties results in destruction of the keystone area (K-area), which requires reconstruction with either spreader grafts or spreader flaps, both for aesthetic and functional reasons. This article will present the senior author's current operative technique for dorsal preservation in reduction rhinoplasty based on 320 clinical cases performed over a 5-year period. The author's operative technique is as follows: (1) endonasal approach; (2) removal of a septal strip in the subdorsal area whose shape and height were determined preoperatively; (3) complete lateral, transverse, and radix osteotomies; and (4) dorsal reduction utilizing either a push down operation (PDO) or a let down operation (LDO). The PDO consists of downward impaction of the fully mobilized nasal pyramid and is utilized in patients with smaller humps (<4 mm). The LDO consists of a maxillary wedge resection and is performed in patients who need more than 4 mm of lowering. A total of 320 patients had a dorsal preservation operation (DPO). Postoperatively, there were no dorsal irregularities nor inverted-V deformities. Among our 44 personal revision cases, 27 patients (8.74%) had had a previous DPO, 16 of whom required tip revisions with no further dorsal surgery. Of the remaining 11 patients, the main problems were either hump recurrence and/or lateral deviation of the dorsum or widening of the middle third, which required simple surgical revision. Based on the authors' experience, adoption of a PDO/LDO is justified in selected primary patients. The key question before any primary rhinoplasty procedure should be "Can I keep the nasal dorsum intact?" Precise analysis and surgical execution are required to preserve the dorsal osseocartilaginous vault and K-area. Dorsal preservation results in more natural postoperative dorsum lines and a "not operated" aspect without the need for midvault reconstruction. Moreover, this technique is quick and easy to perform by any rhinoplasty surgeon. Rhinoplasty surgeons should consider incorporating dorsal preservation techniques in their surgical armamentarium rather than relying solely on the Joseph reduction method or an open structure rhinoplasty.

Level of Evidence: 4

The Preservation Rhinoplasty: A New Rhinoplasty Revolution

Rhinoplasty surgery tends to evolve in generational epochs often associated with landmark publications and the simultaneous popularization of revolutionary surgical techniques. In 1978, Sheen published his monumental text Aesthetic Rhinoplasty which confirmed his status as the greatest rhinoplasty surgeon since Joseph.¹ Three critical concepts were summarized. First, rhinoplasty became a truly aesthetic operation which included preoperative analysis, operative planning, and surgical execution. Second, the reduction-only concept of Joseph was replaced with a balanced approach combining reduction and grafting in primary rhinoplasty. Third, the previously dismal results for secondary rhinoplasty were dramatically improved. Suddenly, the mark of a great rhinoplasty surgeon was no longer how quickly one could do a "nose job," but rather the achievement of an attractive natural nose with normal function.

Comments on “Double-Blind Comparison of Ultrasonic and Conventional Osteotomy in Terms of Early Postoperative Edema and Ecchymosis”

I read the manuscript by Ilhan et al¹ with great interest. The authors performed a randomized study comparing two types of osteotomy in rhinoplasty: ultrasonic and conventional osteotomy. They found that ultrasonic osteotomy results in less edema and ecchymosis. Their patients were blind to the study and not informed about which osteotomy technique was applied to them. The same surgeon performed both types of surgery and was not blinded. The postoperative evaluation of the surgical results was performed by blinded examiners. Although the authors called their study a "double-blinded" comparison, I do not agree with them.

Response to “Does Stromal Vascular Fraction Supplementation Improve Facial Lipotransfer?”

In response to the previous letter written by Dr. Swanson,¹ we are very grateful for his interest in our paper and for spending the time to analyze and comment on it. We appreciate the opportunity to clarify our arguments and ideas that, we hope, can contribute to science and to plastic surgery practices.

Response to “Comments on ‘Double-Blind Comparison of Ultrasonic and Conventional Osteotomy in Terms of Early Postoperative Edema and Ecchymosis’”

We thank Dr Cağici for his kind thoughts and for commenting¹ on our article.² Dr Cağici is correct that one cannot consider a study as "double-blinded" if both patients and surgeons are not blinded. Unfortunately, Dr Cağici misunderstood in thinking that our surgeon was not blinded. Patients who underwent surgery during odd-numbered months received conventional osteotomy, and patients who underwent surgery during even-numbered months received ultrasonic osteotomy. However, the surgeon was blinded as to which patients were included in the study, which was our randomization method for the surgeon. The patients were also blinded, as they were not informed preoperatively which osteotomy procedure they would undergo.

Response to “The Micromort Concept and its Applicability to Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) Risk Assessment”

Thank you for your insightful comments¹ on our article entitled "What's Your Micromort? A Patient-Oriented Analysis of Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) Risk Assessment."² Activities such as drinking wine present risk in a J-shaped curve, in part because wine consumption may occur along a spectrum from none to excess. Whereas moderate wine consumption, even alongside heavy alcohol consumption, demonstrates multiple health benefits.³ Although the activities demonstrated by Wilson occur along a spectrum as well, many may present as all or none events, such as riding a bicycle 10 miles, riding 300 miles in a car, or traveling 1000 miles in a jet.⁴ Despite his data being older, these events would not present in a J-shaped curve as riding less in a car will not impose health benefits, but will instead only decrease risk. Likewise, having breast implants is an all or nothing event. Therefore, one cannot have "less" of a breast augmentation in hopes of pursuing health benefits. For this reason, we believe using the micromort terminology is well founded and is a valuable tool for patient education on BIA-ALCL.

Response to “Comments on ‘Nonsurgical Medical Penile Girth Augmentation: Experience-Based Recommendations’”

We thank Dr Solomon¹ for his interest in our article.² We agree that penile augmentation using injectable materials, including hyaluronic acid (HA), does have some disadvantages. HA fillers do slowly reabsorb over time and so are not a permanent solution. However, our in-progress research suggests that the nonpermanency of the procedure is potentially part of the appeal for at least some patients. These men consider a nonpermanent procedure on such an important part of their body, which they closely associate with their sense of masculinity, to be less daunting.

The Micromort Concept and its Applicability to Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) Risk Assessment

I read with interest the article by Sieber and Adams about the micromort concept and its applicability to anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) risk assessment.¹ While I concur with the conclusions of the article, I wish to point out some issues with the source data in Table 1 for risks associated with common activities. I recently attempted to locate the original reference for the micromort concept and this proved challenging. The only reference from Ronald Howard listed in PubMed is from 1989.² A 1979 article by Richard Wilson in Technology Review³ is the first appearance of the table of lifestyle risks that I could locate. The author's methodology in drafting the table appears to have simply taken averages such as the number of deaths from alcoholic cirrhosis and national average drinking, and deriving risk of a single drink from that. More sophisticated analysis shows a J-shaped curve for alcohol, especially wine, with lower risk at moderate consumption.⁴ The risk we run is missing more nuanced aspects of risk for ALCL by not factoring in the positive aspects of breast implant use. For example, there is some evidence that breast cancer survival is improved with reconstruction⁵; breast implants may have their own J-shaped curve. So while micromort analysis offers a reassuring perspective on the ALCL situation, we need to be cautious about citing outdated and poorly documented data on comparative risk.

Comments on “Nonsurgical Medical Penile Girth Augmentation: Experience-Based Recommendations”

I am writing to express my concern regarding this article.¹ The authors support the use of hyaluronic acid as an injectable material for penis enlargement. As a plastic surgeon who has been performing procedures for penis enlargement for more than 20 years, I have concerns about this endorsement. Hyaluronic acid dissipates in all cases over time. Its absorption is irregular creating nodules in every case (Figure 1). About half of the patients that I treat have unsatisfactory results from injection of a variety of materials, including hyaluronic acid, polymethylmethacrylate, fat (Figure 2), liquid silicone (Figure 3), and silicone devices (Figure 4). Each of these has unique challenges for surgical removal and each of these patients is very unhappy when they present to me. While there are options for increasing the length and girth of the penis, they are surgically demanding (Figure 5). Unlike hyaluronic acid, or any of the other fillers mentioned, the results are permanent. This is not to say that complications of surgery cannot occur. Complications do occur and as surgeons, we should be prepared to manage them to restore our patients to full function. I think it is incumbent for our members to be aware that the US Food and Drug Administration has not approved any filler for penile injection therapy. These are dermal fillers and there is no significant dermal layer in the penis. Due to the anatomy of the penis, these materials are placed in the superficial fascial layer of the penis. Placement of these materials disrupts the blood supply to the skin of the penis. When removing these materials, the blood supply to the overlying skin is compromised, which can cause skin loss as a subsequent challenge for reconstruction. I would discourage our members from adopting this method of penis enlargement.

ASJ’s Position on Publishing Papers That Discuss Off-Label Product Usage

As the Editor-in-Chief of Aesthetic Surgery Journal (ASJ), I would like to thank Dr Solomon for his Letter to the Editor entitled "Comments on 'Nonsurgical Medical Penile Girth Augmentation: Experience-Based Recommendations.'"¹ One of Dr Solomon's remarks calls for a response.

Does Stromal Vascular Fraction Supplementation Improve Facial Lipotransfer?

Gontijo-de-Amorim et al¹ claim that fat enriched with the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) improves volume retention after facial lipotransfer. The authors describe a comparison of 5 patients injected with enriched fat vs 5 patients injected without SVF supplementation using computed tomography (CT). The authors report that the enriched fat group lost only 9.6% of its volume vs 24% in the untreated group.¹ The authors simply centrifuge the lipoaspirate rather than separating it enzymatically using collagenase to isolate adipose-derived stem cells.¹ Whether the cell pellet left at the bottom of the tube after centrifugation truly represents the SVF is open to question.²

Aesthetic Refinements in C-V Flap: Raising a Perfect Cylinder

Nipple reconstruction is the keystone procedure to complete an aesthetically satisfying postmastectomy breast reconstruction. Positioning the nipple at the edge of the breast cone and achieving symmetry with the contralateral side (native or reconstructed nipple) are critical in completing a pleasing result. Furthermore, patient expectations are always higher; aesthetics becomes of paramount concern after having gone through the feelings connected with the disease.

Commentary on: Incidence and Predictors of Venous Thromboembolism in Abdominoplasty

Among healthcare providers, we all agree that collecting data is essential to document our current approach to patient care and learn how to optimize and improve this. However, if data are merely collected and never analyzed, it serves no real purpose. We congratulate the authors of this excellent paper¹ for "looking into the box" and uncovering some interesting observations through analysis of the Internet Based Quality Assurance Program (IBQAP) database that lends insight into the enigma of venous thromboembolism (VTE) occurring in patients undergoing abdominoplasty.

Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America: Functional Rhinoplasty

MarcusBenjamin C., ed. Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America: Functional Rhinoplasty. New York, NY: Elsevier, 2017. ISBN-13: 978-0323528382. $98.99.

Commentary on: Adipose-Derived Stem Cells in Aesthetic Surgery: A Mixed Methods Evaluation of the Current Clinical Trial, Intellectual Property, and Regulatory Landscape

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC) continue to incite controversy in the medical profession, are highly sought after by the public, incite excitement in commercial companies, and are seen as a lucrative income generator in clinics. This interesting analysis of ADSC registered trials as well as registered intellectual properties further illustrates these points.¹

Incidence and Predictors of Venous Thromboembolism in Abdominoplasty

Abstract

Background

The prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a high priority in aesthetic surgery. Abdominoplasty is the aesthetic procedure most commonly associated with VTE, yet the mechanisms for the development of VTE associated with this procedure are unclear.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to analyze the incidence and predictors of VTE in patients undergoing abdominoplasty procedures in outpatient surgery centers using data from the Internet Based Quality Assurance Program (IBQAP).

Methods

IBQAP data from 2001 to 2011 were queried retrospectively to identify abdominoplasty cases and VTE cases. Patient- and procedure-specific variables were analyzed to identify potential predictors of VTE in abdominoplasty.

Results

Among all outpatient aesthetic surgery cases entered from 2001 to 2011, 414 resulted in VTE, representing a VTE incidence of 0.02%. Of these, 240 (58%) occurred in abdominoplasty cases. Predictors of VTE were age greater than 40 years and BMI greater than 25 kg/m². Patient sex, duration of anesthesia and surgery, type of anesthesia, type of additional procedure, and number of procedures did not appear to influence the risk of VTE. Importantly, 95.5% of the VTEs identified for this study occurred in patients whose Caprini risk assessment model score was between 2 and 8, which would not be an indication for chemoprophylaxis according to current recommendations.

Conclusions

Many factors must be considered when determining the true incidence of VTE in abdominoplasty. Research is needed to discover the reason abdominoplasty carries a greater risk compared with other aesthetic surgery procedures so that appropriate steps can be taken to prevent its occurrence and improve the safety of the procedure.

Level of Evidence: 2

Scarless Breast Reconstruction: Indications and Techniques for Optimizing Aesthetic Outcomes in Autologous Breast Reconstruction

Summary: Breast reconstruction that leaves no visible scars on the breast is possible for a subset of patients. This article reviews a cohort of 10 patients who underwent 14 autologous breast reconstructions. To achieve a reconstruction without visible breast scars, the mastectomy and autologous reconstruction are carried out through a periareolar incision. At the completion of the reconstruction, a small skin paddle is externalized through the mastectomy incision and in a subsequent stage entirely incorporated into a nipple areola reconstruction. Following completion of the breast and nipple areola reconstruction, a tattoo is performed that extends beyond the perimeter of the reconstructed areola and conceals all scars on the breast mound. The ideal candidate for this technique has a small or medium size breast, which is non- or minimally ptotic, and a donor site that can yield a flap larger than the volume of the native breast. In properly selected patients, this technique consistently yields high-quality results, which match or even surpass the aesthetics of the original breast.

Reexploring the Anatomy of the Distal Humerus for its Role in Providing Vascularized Bone

Background: The lateral arm flap is used for composite defects in need of vascularized soft tissue, skin, and bone. From its original description, the distal humeral metaphysis can be included with the flap, supplied by the periosteal extensions of the posterior branch of the radial collateral artery. We sought to reexplore the anatomy of the lateral arm to determine its utility as a donor site for vascularized bone. Methods: Twelve fresh, silicone-injected cadaver dissections were performed. Arteriovenous anatomy, pedicle length and diameter, and anatomic variability as well as photo documentation was recorded. Results: The distal extent of the deltoid, lateral intermuscular septum and lateral humeral epicondyle were identified before the dissection. A septocutaneous perforator was consistently located 10 cm proximal to the lateral humeral epicondyle, which could be used for a skin paddle to monitor. Harvest of a 1.5 cm × 2 cm corticocancellous bone graft was performed. Average pedicle length was 9.1 ± 1.1 cm, and average pedicle diameter was 1.74 ± 0.52 mm. The inferior lateral cutaneous nerve of the arm and the posterior cutaneous nerve of the forearm were consistently identified and preserved. Conclusion: The predictable anatomy of the lateral distal humerus make it an ideal donor site for small segments of vascularized bone.

Novel compound heterozygous mutations in KREMEN1 confirm it as a disease gene for ectodermal dysplasia

Abstract

Ectodermal dysplasia (ED) is a heterogeneous group of disorders caused by mutations in at least thirteen genes. Recently, a study reported Palestinian patients with ED from consanguineous families with a homozygous mutation in KREMEN1 (Kringle-containing transmembrane protein 1) and proposed it to be a causative gene for the autosomal recessive ED 13, hair/tooth type (ECTD13; OMIM #617392). A Thai family, parents and two children affected with ED, was recruited. The study was exempted from review by the Institutional Review Board, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University (IRB584/60). Written informed consents of each participant were obtained according to the Declaration of Helsinki. Mutation analyses were performed as described previously.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Pulmonary function in subjects with psoriasis: A cross-sectional population study

Abstract

Psoriasis is a prevalent chronic inflammatory disease associated with comorbidities, e.g. cardiometabolic diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, and depression that may share an inflammatory origin. Smoking increases the risk of psoriasis and the disease has also been linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, with evidence of shared inflammatory cytokine-mediated mechanisms. Moreover, subjects with psoriasis display increased risk of infections, especially respiratory infections including pneumonia. However, only a small single-center study of pulmonary function in subjects with psoriasis is available.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Recurrent erysipelas of the face with hyperimmune reaction to group C streptococcus

Abstract

We present the case of a 73-year-old-woman, admitted in 2014 for n erysipelas of the face (figure 1a) beginning 3 days before, with red oedematous papules of the left temple, hyperthermia and chills the day after. Clinical examination did not find lymphadenopathy or skin lesion especially at her left ear. Blood samples showed a raised C reactive protein (CRP) to 120 mg/L without leukocytosis. Antinuclear antibodies were negative. Viral serologies (HIV, hepatitis C and B, EBV, parvovirus B19, VZV, mumps), viral PCR assay (EBV, parvovirus B19, CMV, VZV) and bacterial blood cultures were all negative Histopathological findings revealed a reactive infiltrate without vasculitis and necrosis.

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Differential blood cellular profile in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis treated with classical systemic therapies: A step forward in personalised medicine

Abstract

patients with moderate to severe psoriasis are difficult to treat with topical therapy only and they usually require additional systemic therapy. Despite this, a significant percentage of patients on these therapies shows an inadequate response to these drugs. Treatment decisions are often difficult as they usually rely on subjective terms. Therefore, finding indicators that predict efectiveness or failure to classical systemic therapy is an urgent need. The objective of this study was to analyse whether the phenotype of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) would be different in responder or non-responder patients to classical systemic therapy, and thus could be used as a efectiveness predictor of this therapy effectiveness. These predictor markers could help physicians to choose the best individualised treatment for psoriasis patients.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas are associated with basal proliferating actinic keratoses

Abstract

Background

In addition to the extent of atypical keratinocytes throughout the epidermis, actinic keratoses (AKs) are histologically characterized by downward directed basal layer expansion. It is not known if this growth pattern correlates with the risk of developing invasive squamous cell carcinoma (iSCC).

Objective

To characterize the prevalence of downward directed basal layer expansion of AKs adjacent to iSCC.

Methods

The epidermis overlying and adjacent to iSCCs was assessed histologically. We determined the histological grade (AKI-III), basal growth pattern (PROI-III) and accompanying parameters such as adnexal involvement.

Results

Of 307 lesions, 52.4% of AKs were histologically classified as AKI, 38.1% as AKII, and 6.8% as AKIII (chi-squared; P<0.0001). 2.6% of adjacent epidermis did not show any atypical keratinocytes. The epidermis adjacent to iSCCs was classified as having a PROI basal growth pattern in 25.7%, PROII in 31.9%, and PROIII in 39.4% cases. 2.9% of AKs showed no basal growth (chi-squared; P<0.0001).118 (48.8%) AKs showed extension into adnexal structures. These AKs were graded as PROI in 18.6%, PROII in 30.5%, and PROIII in 50.8%. The epidermis above iSCCs could only be assessed for upwards directed growth and showed no significant differences in the three AK grades (P=0.4211).

Conclusions

Basal proliferative AKs as well as atypical keratinocytes restricted to the lower third of the epidermis are most commonly seen adjacent to iSCC with less evidence for full thickness epidermal dysplasia. Our study supports the important role of dysplastic keratinocytes in the epidermal basal layer and their potential association with iSCC.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Population-based prevalence of Eosinophilic (Shulman's) Fasciitis: a capture-recapture study

Abstract

Our knowledge of Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF), also known as Shulman's syndrome, is limited, and its prevalence has not been estimated so far. We conducted a regional survey which aimed at estimating the prevalence of EF in Alsace, a Region in the North-East of France. We retrospectively collected EF cases from the first of January 1983 to the 30^th of March 2015 among Alsace residents aged >18 years, then performed a capture-recapture analysis with the prevalent cases in 2015.

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On the Mechanism of Photodehydrogenation of Aryl(hetaryl)pyrazolines in the Presence of Perchloroalkanes

Abstract

New (1,5-diaryl-3-pyrazolinyl)coumarins have been synthesized. In opposite to (1,5-diaryl-3-pyrazolinyl)-4-hydroxycoumarins these compounds are not able to keto-enol tautomeric transformations with changes of the solvent. (1,5-Diaryl-3-pyrazolinyl)coumarins provide dehydrogenation reaction under irradiation in the presence of perchloroalkanes and manifest themselves as effective photogenerators of acidity. Several aspects of photodehydrogenation mechanism have been studied. Oxygen is shown not be involved in the reaction. Polar solvents increase rate of the reaction. The measured rate constants of the photodehydrogenation reactions vary in a significant range according to the structure of pyrazoline. The data correlate with ionization potentials of pyrazolines available from DFT quantum chemical calculations. These results are discussed in terms of proposed scheme of mechanism of pyrazolines photodehydrogenation assuming formation of ion-radical and ion intermediates.

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Sorption of selected pharmaceuticals by a river sediment: role and mechanisms of sediment or Aldrich humic substances

Abstract

Sorption of pharmaceuticals onto sediments is frequently related to organic matter content. Thus, the present work aimed to compare the effect of humic substances (HS) extracted from a river sediment versus Aldrich (HS) on the sorption of selected pharmaceuticals onto this river sediment. The results exhibited no "unique" effect of the presence of HS from the same origin. Thus, the sediment HS increased the sorption of sulfamethoxazole (SMX), diclofenac (DCF), and trimethoprim (TMP), but reduced the sorption of atenolol (ATN). The presence of Aldrich HS increased the sorption of TMP and ATN and decreased the sorption of SMX and DCF. Fluorescence quenching measurements revealed that these effects cannot be explained only by the presence of pharmaceutical HS associations. The use of several sorption models suggested that the sorption of SMX, DCF, and ATN involves multilayer mechanisms. Furthermore, it was pointed out that the presence of HS does not change the sorption mechanisms although it was observed interaction between HS and the sediment. Indeed, the sediment HS sorbs onto the sediment whereas the Aldrich HS tends to mobilize organic compounds from the sediment to the solution.

Modes of selenium occurrence and LCD modeling of selenite desorption/adsorption in soils around the selenium-rich core, Ziyang County, China

Abstract

Studying the modes of selenium occurrence in high-Se soils and its behaviors can improve understanding and evaluating its cycling, flux, and balance in geo-ecosystems and its influence on health. In this paper, using a modified sequential chemical extraction technique, seven operationally defined selenium fractions and Se valence distribution were determined about five soils in which paddy was planted (W1, W2, W3, W4, W5) and five soils in which maize was planted (H1, H2, H3, H4, H5) around the selenium-rich core, Ziyang County, Shaanxi Province, China. The results show that selenium fractions in the soils mainly include sulfide/selenide and base-soluble Se, and ligand-exchangeable Se is also high for five soils in which paddy was planted. For water-soluble Se, Se (IV) is main Se valence and almost no Se (VI) was determined about five soils in which paddy was planted, while almost 1:1 of Se (IV) and Se (VI) coexist about five soils in which maize was planted. For exchangeable Se, similar results were found. For the first time, two typical high-Se soils (W1 soil and H1 soil) were chosen to measure the pH-dependent solid-solution distribution of selenite in the pH range 3–9, and the results were explained using LCD (ligand and charge distribution) adsorption modeling. The desorbed selenite concentrations from the two soils are in general underestimated by the model due to a comparable binding affinity of phosphate and selenite on goethite and much lower amount of total selenite than total reactively adsorbed phosphate. The pH dependency of adsorption of selenite added to the soil can be successfully described with the LCD model for W1 soil. Whereas considering the influence of Al-oxides, by lowering selenite adsorption affinity constant K of Se adsorption on goethite by 16 times, the LCD model can describe the adsorption much better. The results can help to understand selenium cycling, flux, and balance in typical high-Se soils.

Distillers’ grains anaerobic digestion residue biochar used for ammonium sorption and its effect on ammonium leaching from an Ultisol

Abstract

The aim of this work was to explore the potential application of biochar from distillers' grains anaerobic digestion residue pyrolyzed at 700 °C (ADR-DG₇₀₀) to ammonium (NH₄⁺) adsorption from aqueous solution, as well as its effect on NH₄⁺ leaching from an Ultisol. The adsorption kinetic of NH₄⁺ on the ADR-DG₇₀₀ could be described by an Elovich model (R² = 0.995), and the combined Langmuir-Freundlich model (R² = 0.997) fitted the isotherm data better than the Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich-Peterson, and Temkin models with a maximum adsorption of 11.41 mg N g⁻¹. The NH₄⁺ adsorption on ADR-DG₇₀₀ was mainly controlled by the cation exchange, the surface complexation with oxygen-containing functional groups of carboxyl C〓O (C▬O) and carbohydrate C▬OH, as well as the electrostatic interactions with Si▬O▬Si functional group. In addition, the ADR-DG₇₀₀ soil application reduced 2.48–20.67% of NH₄⁺-N leaching loss after nitrogen fertilizer application in an Ultisol. These results suggested that the ADR-DG₇₀₀ could be a sorbent for NH₄⁺-contaminated water as well as an inhibitor for soil NH₄⁺ leaching.

Heavy metals transfer in the olive tree and assessment of food contamination risk

Abstract

Due to constraints of fresh water for agricultural irrigation, wastewater was used for irrigation of agricultural land as alternative water resources in arid and semi-arid Tunisian regions. However, long-term irrigation may cause contamination by heavy metals in the soil as well as for crops, thus becoming a threat to humans. To understand the effect of irrigation with wastewater on the concentrations of heavy metals Cr, Cu, Mn, Zn, and Pb, in soil and plants, soil samples and plants were collected and analyzed. Results have shown that all soil samples do not exhibit extreme values. The content of heavy metals in the surface layer (0–30 cm) is much higher than that in depth. Overall, the concentrations of Mn, Pb, Cu, Cr, and Zn in soil were found to be lower than the authorized national safety limits. Moreover, the content in both parts of forage crops have not exceeded the WHO standard. For olive trees, no negative values were found in the different organs, which was also true for the extracted oil. An exception happened for the oils produced from fallen olives in direct contact with the wastewater and the soil. Therefore, to ensure food security and wastewater use for irrigation, monitoring and control of pollution is required.

Graphical abstract

Biomass production from treated wastewater without risk

Quantification of polychlorinated biphenyl contamination using human placenta as biomarker from Punjab Province, Pakistan

Abstract

The present study biomonitored the placental polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations in women from Punjab Province, Pakistan, that provides the pioneer data for occurrence and body burden of PCBs in placental tissues from South Asian women. The ∑₃₄PCB concentrations in placental tissues were ranged from 20.2 to 115.98 ng/g lipid weight (lip. wt.), with predominance of tetra-PCB (54.67%). The levels of ∑₈DL-PCBs and ∑₆-indicator PCBs were ranged from 2.03 to 27.64 ng/g (lip. wt.) and 1.71 to 30.8 ng/g (lip. wt.), respectively. The WHO-TEQ2005 values for DL-PCBs were ranged from 1.18 × 10⁻⁵ to 0.067 ng/g (lip. wt.), with highest value evaluated for CB-126. The estimated daily intake (EDI) for DL-PCBs was ranged from 9.27 × 10⁻⁸ to 5.25 × 10⁻⁴ pg WHO-TEQ/kg body weight (bw), which was within the tolerable daily intake (TDI) values established by international organizations. The spatial distribution patterns of Σ₃₄PCB concentrations from study area have shown relative higher concentrations in samples from urban and industrial cities than rural areas, and industrial and urban releases along with e-waste handling were recognized as vital PCB sources in the environment. In order to ascertain the transplacental transfer of PCBs, the fetal growth parameters were correlated with the ∑₃₄PCB concentrations in placental tissues. The relationship between ∑₃₄PCB concentrations in placental tissues and infant's anthropometric measures through multiple linear regression showed a negative correlation of infant's body weight (R² = 0.0728), crown to heel length (R² = 0.068), head circumference (R² = 0.0342), chest circumference (R² = 0.0001), and mid arm circumference (R² = 0.0096) that noticeably highlights the inhibited fetal anthropometric development associated with maternal PCB bioaccumulation. Hence, an immediate elimination of ongoing PCB addition in the studied area has been emphasized and further investigations are suggested to appropriately manage the public and neonatal health risks in the region.

The toxicity of cadmium ion (Cd 2+ ) to phycocyanin: an in vitro spectroscopic study

Abstract

The pollution of heavy metals is a severer problem for the ecosystems in waters. The toxicity of Cd²⁺ on phycocyanin (PC) is studied in molecular level in this work. The fluorescence quenching of PC is observed by the adding Cd²⁺ from 0 to 500 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹. From the theoretical calculation and the time-resolved fluorescence decay profiles, the fluorescence quenching of PC by Cd²⁺ is found to be static. The synchronous fluorescence spectra are used to study the change in amino acid residues of PC molecules, indicating that the effect of Cd²⁺ on the Trp of PC is more significant than the Tyr. The UV-Vis absorbance of tetrapyrrole decreases from 0.26 to 0.23 cps with increasing Cd²⁺ concentration, suggesting that Cd²⁺ affects the light adsorption and the photosynthesis function of PC. The circular dichroism spectra reveal that adding Cd²⁺ also changes the secondary structure (α-helix) of PC.

Dermoscopy for the detection and safe extraction of an intracutaneous foreign body Runing Title: Therapeutic Dermoscopy in detection and safe extraction

Publication date: Available online 10 March 2018
Source:Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Author(s): Sidharth Sonthalia, Abhijeet Kumar Jha, Feroze Kaliyadan

Fibrosing Vasculitides: A Heuristic for Investigation

Publication date: Available online 10 March 2018
Source:Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Author(s): Audrey Rutherford, Stephen Erickson, Emily Keimig, Heather Wickless

Inflammatory arthritis in pediatric patients with morphea

Publication date: Available online 10 March 2018
Source:Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Author(s): Sakeen W. Kashem, Colleen K. Correll, Richard K. Vehe, Patricia M. Hobday, Bryce A. Binstadt, Sheilagh M. Maguiness
BackgroundMorphea, or 'localized scleroderma', is an inflammatory disorder resulting in fibrosis of the skin and subcutaneous tissues. Joint contractures, arthralgias and functional compromise are recognized associations of pediatric morphea. The co-existence of inflammatory arthritis and morphea is not well-described in the literature.ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between pediatric morphea and inflammatory arthritis with regards to cutaneous, musculoskeletal and laboratory findings and treatment regimens.MethodsA systematic retrospective chart review of 53 patients with pediatric morphea was performed and analyzed for morphea subtypes, arthritic joint involvement, serum autoantibodies and therapeutic interventions.ResultsEleven out of 53 patients had polyarthritis that involved joints unrelated to the site of the cutaneous morphea. They were mostly female and presented with either the linear or generalized subtypes of morphea. Serum levels of antinuclear antibodies were more significantly elevated in patients with arthritis. All children were treated with methotrexate in addition to other systemic and/or topical immunosuppressive agents.LimitationThis was a small, single center, retrospective study.ConclusionPediatric morphea co-existed with inflammatory arthritis in 11/53 children. Further understanding and appreciation of this relationship may direct more intensive therapy and musculoskeletal screening

Teaser

Pediatric morphea is associated with joint contractures and arthralgia. The findings of this study support the association of inflammatory arthritis with pediatric morphea. Understanding of the relationship between morphea and arthritis in children should lead to increased musculoskeletal vigilance and appropriate systemic therapy.

Dupilumab for Hand Eczema

Publication date: Available online 10 March 2018
Source:Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Author(s): Matthew J. Zirwas

IDH2 mutations are commonly associated with 1p/19q codeletion in diffuse adult gliomas

Diffuse gliomas are classified according to the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System,¹ which combines histological and molecular features. Diagnosis requires the assessment of mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase genes (IDH1 and IDH2), key genetic alterations characterizing gliomas with favorable outcome.²

The clinical trials landscape for glioblastoma: is it adequate to develop new treatments?

Abstract

Background

There have been few treatment advances for patients with glioblastoma (GBM) despite increasing scientific understanding of the disease. While factors such as intrinsic tumor biology and drug delivery are challenges to developing efficacious therapies, it is unclear whether the current clinical trial landscape is optimally evaluating new therapies and biomarkers.

Methods

We queried ClinicalTrials.gov for interventional clinical trials for patients with GBM initiated between January 2005 to December 2016 and abstracted data regarding phase, status, start and end dates, testing locations, endpoints, experimental interventions, sample size, clinical presentation/indication, and design to better understand the clinical trials landscape.

Results

Only approximately 8%-11% of patients with newly diagnosed GBM enroll on clinical trials with a similar estimate for all patients with GBM. Trial duration was similar across phases with median time to completion between 3 and 4 years. While 93% of clinical trials were in phases I-II, 26% of the overall clinical trial patient population was enrolled on phase III studies. Of the 8 completed phase III trials, only one reported positive results. Although 58% of the phase III trials were supported by phase II data with a similar endpoint, only 25% of these phase II trials were randomized.

Conclusions

The clinical trials landscape for GBM is characterized by long development times, inadequate dissemination of information, suboptimal go/no-go decision-making, and low patient participation.

Dermoscopy for the detection and safe extraction of an intracutaneous foreign body Runing Title: Therapeutic Dermoscopy in detection and safe extraction

Inflammatory arthritis in pediatric patients with morphea

Pediatric morphea is associated with joint contractures and arthralgia. The findings of this study support the association of inflammatory arthritis with pediatric morphea. Understanding of the relationship between morphea and arthritis in children should lead to increased musculoskeletal vigilance and appropriate systemic therapy.

Dupilumab for Hand Eczema

Fibrosing Vasculitides: A Heuristic for Investigation

High-performance for hydrogen evolution and pollutant degradation of reduced graphene oxide/two-phase g-C 3 N 4 heterojunction photocatalysts

Abstract

We have successfully synthesized the composites of two-phase g-C₃N₄ heterojunction photocatalysts by one-step method. And the reduced graphene oxide/two-phase g-C₃N₄ heterojunction photocatalyst was fabricated via a facile hydrothermal reduction method. The characterization results indicated that the two-phase g-C₃N₄ was integrated closely, and the common phenomenon of agglomeration for g-C₃N₄ was significantly reduced. Moreover, the oxidized graphene was reduced successfully in the composites and the graphene was overlaid on the surface or the interlayers of g-C₃N₄ heterojunction composite uniformly. In addition, we have carried out the photocatalytic activity experiments by H₂ evolution and rhodamine B removal, tetracycline removal under the visible light irradiation. The results revealed that the composite has improved the separation efficiency a lot than the pure photocatalyst. The photocurrent test demonstrated that the recombination of electrons and holes were efficiently inhibited as well as enhanced the photocatalytic activity. The 0.4% rGO loaded samples, 0.4% rGOCN2, own the best performance. Its rate of H₂ evolution was 15 times as high as that of the pure g-C₃N₄.

The regulatory role of endogenous iron on greenhouse gas emissions under intensive nitrogen fertilization in subtropical soils of China

Abstract

Anaerobic batch experiments were conducted to study the regulatory role of endogenous iron in greenhouse gas emissions under intensive nitrogen fertilization in subtropical soils of China. Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, and NO₃⁻-N dynamics and N₂O, CH₄, and CO₂ emissions, as well as the relationships between N fertilizer, endogenous iron, and greenhouse gas emissions were investigated. The emissions of N₂O increased to different extents from all the test soils by N1 (260 mg N kg⁻¹) application compared with N0. After 24 days of anaerobic incubation, the cumulative emissions of N₂O from red soils in De'an (DR) were significantly higher than that from paddy soils in De'an (DP) and Qujialing (QP) under N1. However, N application enhanced CH₄ and CO₂ emissions from the red soils slightly but inhibited the emissions from paddy soils. The maximal CH₄ and CO₂ emission fluxes occurred in DP soil without N input. Pearson's correlation analysis showed that there were significant correlations (P < 0.01) between Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺, NO₃⁻-N, (N₂O + N₂)-N concentrations in DP soil, implying that Fe²⁺ oxidation was coupled with nitrate reduction accompanied by (N₂O + N₂)-N emissions and the endogenous iron played a regulatory role in greenhouse gas emissions mainly through the involvement in denitrification. The proportion of the electrons donated by Fe²⁺ used for N₂O production in denitrification in DP soil was approximately 37.53%. Moreover, positive correlations between Fe²⁺ and CH₄, CO₂ were found in both DR and QP soils, suggesting that endogenous iron might regulate the anaerobic decomposition of organic carbon to CH₄ and CO₂ in the two soils. Soil pH was also an important factor controlling greenhouse gas emissions by affecting endogenous iron availability and C and N transformation processes.

Growth and nutrition of Agelastica coerulea (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) larvae changed when fed with leaves obtained from an O 3 -enriched atmosphere

Abstract

A series of laboratory no-choice assays were performed to test changes in the feeding, growth, and nutrition of leaf beetle (Agelastica coerulea) larval instars on O₃-treated leaves of Japanese white birch (Betula platyphylla var. japonica). Larvae fed with O₃-treated leaves grew and developed significantly faster throughout their developmental cycle than the corresponding controls. The growth rate (GR) and consumption index (CI) were mostly decreased with age for both control and O₃-treated leaves. Efficiency of conversion of both ingested and digested food (ECI, ECD) showed an increase from the 2nd to the 4th instar, after which they decreased significantly and reached the lowest value in the last larval instars (7th). GR, CI, ECI, and ECD were greater and approximate digestibility (AD) was lower in larvae fed with O₃-treated leaves than those fed with control leaves. This indicated that the greater rate of growth on fumigated leaves was due primarily to a greater rate of consumption (i.e., O₃ increased the "acceptability" of the host more than "suitability") and efficiency in converting food into body mass. Overall, larval performance seemed to have improved when fed with O₃-treated leaves in these assays. This study suggests that insects may be more injurious to O₃-treated plants and warrants further investigations on birch-beetle interactions under field conditions.

Study on turbulence characteristics and sensitivity of quadrant analysis to threshold level in Lake Taihu

Abstract

The identification of coherent structures is very important in investigating the sediment transport mechanism and controlling the eutrophication in shallow lakes. This study analyzed the turbulence characteristics and the sensitivity of quadrant analysis to threshold level. Simultaneous in situ measurements of velocities and suspended sediment concentration (SSC) were conducted in Lake Taihu with acoustic Doppler velocimeter (ADV) and optical backscatter sensor (OBS) instruments. The results show that the increase in hole size makes the difference between dominant and non-dominant events more distinct. Wind velocity determines the frequency of occurrence of sweep and ejection events, which provide dominant contributions to the Reynolds stress. The increase of wind velocity enlarges the magnitude of coherent events but has little impact on the events frequency with the same hole size. The events occurring within short periods provide large contributions to the momentum flux. Transportation and diffusion of sediment are in control of the intermittent coherent events to a large extent.

Simultaneous oxidation of Hg 0 and NH 3 -SCR of NO by nanophase Ce x Zr y Mn z O 2 at low temperature: the interaction and mechanism

Abstract

Simultaneous oxidation of Hg⁰ and NH₃-SCR of NO by catalyst is one of the key methods for co-purification of coal-fired flue gas. Till now, the interaction between the oxidation of Hg⁰ and NH₃-SCR of NO and its mechanism have not clarified. In this study, a series of nanophase Ce_x Zr_y Mn_z O₂ was prepared for the simultaneous oxidation of Hg⁰ and NH₃-SCR of NO at low temperature. The catalysts were characterized using surface area analysis, X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed techniques, and several types of microscopy and spectroscopy. The experimental results indicated that the Ce_0.47Zr_0.22Mn_0.31O₂ exhibited superior Hg⁰ removal efficiency (> 99%) and NO conversion efficiency (> 90%) even at 150 °C, and it also exhibited a good durability in the presence of SO₂ and H₂O. The excellent performance of Ce_0.47Zr_0.22Mn_0.31O₂ on co-purifying Hg⁰ and NO was due to the stronger synergistic effects of Ce-Zr-Mn in Ce_0.47Zr_0.22Mn_0.31O₂ than that of the others, which was illustrated by the characterization results of XPS, XRD, and FT-IR. Moreover, it was found that the NO conversion of Ce_0.47Zr_0.22Mn_0.31O₂ could be slightly influenced by Hg⁰ and was decreased about 4% to the max, while that of Hg⁰ could rarely be affected by the selected catalytic reduction process of NO. It might be due to the co-purification mechanism of NO and Hg⁰. The mechanism of the simultaneous oxidation of Hg⁰ and NH₃-SCR of NO was mainly due to the synergetic effect on the mobility of surface oxygen and the activation of lattice oxygen of Ce_0.47Zr_0.22Mn_0.31O₂. The effect of the oxidation of Hg⁰ on the NH₃-SCR of NO was mainly due to the absorbed Hg⁰/Hg²⁺ on the surface of Ce_0.47Zr_0.22Mn_0.31O₂, which attenuated the formation of NH_3(ad), −NH_2(ad), and NH₄⁺ on its acid sites. Similarly, the NH₃-SCR of NO process could hardly influence the oxidation of Hg⁰ when NO and Hg⁰ were co-purified.

Evaluation of cationic polyacrylamide-based hybrid coagulation for the removal of dissolved organic nitrogen

Abstract

Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) is an important component of aquatic environment of which amount impacts water quality. Thus, removal of DON has attracted wide attention. At present, it is difficult for common coagulation to remove DON from the aquatic environment. The cationic polymers can help to improve the removal efficiency of DON to some extent, but the underlying mechanism of the ascension is not clear. In order to grasp its removal behavior and further improve the removal efficiency of DON in the future, we evaluated the effect of a hybridized coagulant of polyacrylamide with iron-based coagulant on removal of aquatic DON. A higher floc growth rate (119.82 μm/min) and recovery factors (26.96) were found in the hybrid coagulation. The parameters affecting the DON and the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) included the molar ratio of Zn to Fe (n_Zn/n_Fe), CPAM content, and molar ratio of OH to Fe (n_OH/n_Fe): n_Zn/n_Fe had a larger influence in DON removal than CPAM content; CPAM had a larger influence in the DOC removal; n_OH/n_Fe played a moderate effect between CPAM and n_Zn/n_Fe. Mutual effect of hybrid coagulants indicated the colloidal species to be helpful in enhancing DOC and DON removal. Other parameters affecting coagulation performance included the pH: the estimated maximum DON removal efficiency occurred at pH 6, DOC removal efficiency at pH 8. The above results found in this study showed that DON removal was affected by the ingredient and the species composition of the hybrid coagulant, and the water environmental parameter. The enhanced efficiency of DON removal in the presence of CPAM was mainly attributed to the increased adsorption-bridging and sweep-floc.

Trace analysis of parabens preservatives in drinking water treatment sludge, treated, and mineral water samples

Abstract

Parabens have been widely used as antimicrobial agents, mainly in food products, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Although they are known as safe preservatives, they also cause some harm to human health, which has been discussed lately. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of nine parabens (including isomers) in mineral and drinking waters, besides in drinking water treatment sludge (DWTS) samples with determination by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Both methods solid phase extraction (SPE) and QuEChERS were validated. Calibration curves showed a correlation coefficient of 0.99 for all compounds. LOQ values ranged from 0.04 to 4 μg L⁻¹ in aqueous matrices and from 5 to 500 ng g⁻¹ in DWTS. Recoveries between 70 and 115% were reached with RSD below 20% for all compounds in SPE whereas recoveries between 62 and 119% were found with RSD below 20% for almost all compounds in QuEChERS. Matrix effect had low values (< 20%); it was only above 20% for methylparaben in the SPE and for pentylparaben in the QuEChERS. Using a quick and simple extraction procedures with SPE, QuEChERS, and LC-MS/MS analyses, these methods proved to be selective and sensitive. They were successfully applied to real samples (treated water, mineral water, and sludge), and methylparaben was detected at concentration levels below 0.242 μg L⁻¹ in mineral and treated water samples and 10 ng g⁻¹ in DWTS samples.

We don’t need no explanation

Abstract

Explanation has played myriad roles in truthmaker theory. The notion of explanation is sometimes thought to give content to the very idea of truthmaking, and is sometimes used as a weapon to undermine the entire point of truthmaker theory. I argue that the notion of explanation is dialectically useless in truthmaker theory: while it's true that truthmaking offers a form of explanation, this claim is theoretically unilluminating, and leaves truthmaker theorists vulnerable to various kinds of attack. I advocate an alternative approach to truthmaker theory that downplays the role of explanation, and show how it releases the enterprise from a variety of problematic commitments that have troubled truthmaker theorists. The "ontology-first" approach to truthmaking that I advocate not only restores the initial impulse behind truthmaking, but also has a number of theoretical advantages. Most prominently, it dodges the infamous problem of negative existentials, and lessens truthmaker theory's dependence on contentious intuitive judgments about both explanation and truthmaking.

In dubious battle: uncertainty and the ethics of killing

Abstract

How should deontologists concerned with the ethics of killing apply their moral theory when we don't know all the facts relevant to the permissibility of our action? Though the stakes couldn't be higher, and uncertainty is endemic where killing is concerned, few deontologists have an answer to this question. In this paper I canvass two possibilities: that we should apply a threshold standard, equivalent to the 'beyond a reasonable doubt' standard applied for criminal punishment; and that we should fit our deontological ethical theory into the apparatus of decision theory. I show that the first approach faces insurmountable obstacles, while the second holds much more promise for deontologists than they (and their critics) might first have assumed.

Woodward and variable relativity

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to determine whether and to what extent Woodward's interventionist theory of causation is variable relative. In an influential review, Strevens has accused Woodward's account of a damaging form of variable relativity, according to which obviously false causal claims can be made true by choosing a depleted variable set. Following McCain, I show that Strevens' objection doesn't succeed. However, Woodward also wants to avoid another kind of variable relativity, according to which it can be true that X is a cause of Y in one set of background conditions, but false in another. I show that Woodward's account is problematically overpermissive, unless there are restrictions on the values that certain variables can take. I formulate a modified account that makes these restrictions explicit, then use it to argue that Woodward's attempt to avoid relativity to background conditions is misguided. On the best interpretation of the interventionist theory, causal claims are assessed relative to a particular kind of variable set. Thus, I conclude that the theory should be understood as variable relative, in a specific, unproblematic sense.

Polysemy and word meaning: an account of lexical meaning for different kinds of content words

Abstract

There is an ongoing debate about the meaning of lexical words, i.e., words that contribute with content to the meaning of sentences. This debate has coincided with a renewal in the study of polysemy, which has taken place in the psycholinguistics camp mainly. There is already a fruitful interbreeding between two lines of research: the theoretical study of lexical word meaning, on the one hand, and the models of polysemy psycholinguists present, on the other. In this paper I aim at deepening on this ongoing interbreeding, examine what is said about polysemy, particularly in the psycholinguistics literature, and then show how what we seem to know about the representation and storage of polysemous senses affects the models that we have about lexical word meaning.

The reliability problem for reliabilism

Abstract

According to process reliabilism, a belief produced by a reliable belief-forming process is justified. I introduce problems for this theory on any account of reliability. Does the performance of a process in some domain of worlds settle its reliability? The theories that answer "Yes" typically fail to state the temporal parameters of this performance. I argue that any theory paired with any plausible parameters has implausible implications. The theories that answer "No," I argue, thereby lack essential support and exacerbate familiar problems. There are new reasons to avoid any reliability conditions on justification.

Baboon Syndrome Associated with Ampicillin Sulbactam

Publication date: Available online 10 March 2018
Source:The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice
Author(s): Cüneyt Karagöl, Ayşegül Ceran, Ali Güngör, Alkım Öden Akman, Emine Dibek Misirlioğlu

Doing Things with Thoughts: Brain-Computer Interfaces and Disembodied Agency

Abstract

Connecting human minds to various technological devices and applications through brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) affords intriguingly novel ways for humans to engage and interact with the world. Not only do BCIs play an important role in restorative medicine, they are also increasingly used outside of medical or therapeutic contexts (e.g., gaming or mental state monitoring). A striking peculiarity of BCI technology is that the kind of actions it enables seems to differ from paradigmatic human actions, because, effects in the world are brought about by devices such as robotic arms, prosthesis, or other machines, and their execution runs through a computer directed by brain signals. In contrast to usual forms of action, the sequence does not need to involve bodily or muscle movements at all. A motionless body, the epitome of inaction, might be acting. How do theories of action relate to such BCI-mediated forms of changing the world? We wish to explore this question through the lenses of three perspectives on agency: subjective experience of agency, philosophical action theory, and legal concepts of action. Our analysis pursues three aims: First, we shall discuss whether and which BCI-mediated events qualify as actions, according to the main concepts of action in philosophy and law. Secondly, en passant, we wish to highlight the ten most interesting novelties or peculiarities of BCI-mediated movements. Thirdly, we seek to explore whether these novel forms of movement may have consequences for concepts of agency. More concretely, we think that convincing assessments of BCI-movements require more fine-grained accounts of agency and a distinction between various forms of control during movements. In addition, we show that the disembodied nature of BCI-mediated events causes troubles for the standard legal account of actions as bodily movements. In an exchange with views from philosophy, we wish to propose that the law ought to reform its concept of action to include some, but not all, BCI-mediated events and sketch some of the wider implications this may have, especially for the venerable legal idea of the right to freedom of thought. In this regard, BCIs are an example of the way in which technological access to yet largely sealed-off domains of the person may necessitate adjusting normative boundaries between the personal and the social sphere.

Changes in PGE2 signaling after submandibulectomy alter post tooth extraction socket healing

Abstract

Saliva is very important to oral health, and a salivary deficit has been shown to bring serious problems to oral health. There is scant information about the mechanisms through which salivary glands participate in post-tooth extraction socket healing. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of submandibulectomy (SMx), consisting of the ablation of submandibular and sublingual glands (SMG and SLG, respectively), on PGE₂ signaling and other bone regulatory molecules, such as OPG and RANKL, involved in tooth extraction socket healing. Male Wistar rats, 70g body weight, were assigned to an experimental (subjected to SMx) or a control group (sham operated). One week later, the animals in both groups underwent bilateral extraction of the first mandibular molars. The effect of SMx on different stages of socket healing after tooth extraction (7, 14 and 30 days) was studied by evaluating some parameters of inflammation, including PGE₂ and its receptors, and of bone metabolism, as well as by performing bone biomechanical studies. SMx increased TNFα and PGE₂ content as well as COX-II expression in tooth socket tissue at almost all the studied time-points. SMx also had an effect on mRNA expression of PGE₂ receptors at the different time points, but did not significantly alter osteoprotegerin (OPG) and RANKL mRNA expression at any of the studied time points. In addition, an increase in bone mass density was observed in SMx rats compared to matched controls, and the structural and mechanical bone properties of the mandibular socket bone were also affected by SMx. Our results suggest that the SMG/SLG complex regulates cellular activation and differentiation by modulating the production of molecules intervening in tooth extraction socket repair, including the PGE₂ signaling system, which would therefore account for the higher density and resistance of the newly formed bone in SMx rat. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Translation and Validation of the Chinese powerlessness assessment tool

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to translate the powerlessness assessment tool (PAT) into Chinese, and to evaluate its psychometric performance. The PAT was translated into Chinese and was evaluated in patients with chronic wounds. Mean PAT scores were compared between various wound types to evaluate the scale's power to differentiate wound severity (PUSH score). There were 154 consecutive patients included in this study. All items were included, and the results of item-domain correlation (r ranged from 0.838 to 0.967) and Small-group analysis (critical ratio, P<0.05) were satisfactory. Furthermore, the Chinese PAT also showed good criterion validity when correlated with the Cardiff wound impact schedule (r=0.726, p<0.01). Exploratory factor analysis of these items extracted only two domains instead of the hypothesized three domains: Self-perception of behavioral control and decision making (9 items) and emotional responses to perceived control (3 items), explained 82.045% of the variance. Sensitivity was demonstrated between patients with different activity of daily living, wound severity (PUSH Score) and wound types. The internal consistency of all scales of the Chinese PAT was consistently high (Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.939 to 0. 965) and split-half reliability was 0.901. In conclusion, the validated Chinese PAT has good psychometric properties, and may be used to objectively evaluate the powerlessness experience of Chinese patients with chronic wounds. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Surfactant-enhanced biodegradation of crude oil by mixed bacterial consortium in contaminated soil

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of two surfactants (i.e., Tween 80 and SDS) on biodegradation of crude oil by mixed bacterial consortium in soil-aqueous system. The mixed bacterial consortium was domesticated from the activated sludge of cooking plant through a progressive domestication process. High-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that Rhodanobacter sp. was the dominant bacteria. The higher CMC_eff value for two surfactants was observed in soil-aqueous system compared with that in aqueous system, which was likely due to their adsorption onto soil particles. Either Tween 80 or SDS can be utilized as carbon source and promote the growth of mixed bacterial consortium. Further findings evidenced that the degradation of crude oil can be enhanced by adding either Tween 80 or SDS. The performance of Tween 80 was generally superior to SDS for the crude oil degradation. The highest crude oil degradation efficiency was 42.2 and 31.0% under the conditions of 5 CMC_eff of Tween 80 and 2 CMC_eff of SDS, respectively. Furthermore, the degradation efficiency of crude oil in remediation experiment (i.e., 77%) evidenced that the integration of adding Tween 80 and inoculating mixed bacterial consortium was effective for crude oil-contaminated soil decontamination.

Development of an in vitro toxicological test system based on zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) sperm analysis

Abstract

The effect of seven heavy metals on the motility parameter of zebrafish sperm was tested in order to develop an in vitro toxicological test system as an alternative to live animal testing. In vitro test systems are currently preferred in ecotoxicology due to their practical and ethical advantages and fish sperm can be a suitable model. A number of studies had been carried out previously on this topic, but the described methods had not been standardized in numerous aspects (donor species, measured endpoint, etc.). In this study, heavy metals (mercury, arsenic, chromium, zinc, nickel, copper, cadmium) were used as reference toxicants with known toxicity to develop a standardized fish sperm in vitro assay. The tested concentrations were determined based on preliminary range finding tests. The endpoints were progressive motility (PMOT, %), curvilinear velocity (VCL, μm/s), and linearity (LIN, %) measured by a computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system. According to our results, PMOT was the most sensitive of the three investigated parameters: dose-response curves were observed for each metal at relatively low concentrations. VCL values were less sensitive: higher concentrations were needed to observe changes. Of the three parameters, LIN was the least affected: dose-response relationship was observed only in the case of mercury (e.g., lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC) of Hg at 120 min: 1 mg/L for PMOT, 2.5 mg/L for VCL, 5 mg/L for LIN; LOEC of Cu at 120 min: 1 mg/L for PMOT, 5 mg/L for VCL, any for LIN). The order of toxicity as determined by PMOT was as follows: Hg²⁺ > As³⁺ > Cd²⁺ > Cu²⁺ > Zn²⁺ > Cr³⁺ > Ni²⁺. In conclusion, we found that PMOT of zebrafish sperm was an accurate and fast bioindicator of heavy metal load. Sperm analysis can be adopted to estimate the possible toxic effects of various chemicals in vitro. Future investigations should concentrate on the applicability of this assay to other contaminants (e.g., organic pollutants).

Improved isolation of cadmium from paddy soil by novel technology based on pore water drainage with graphite-contained electro-kinetic geosynthetics

Abstract

Novel soil remediation equipment based on electro-kinetic geosynthetics (EKG) was developed for in situ isolation of metals from paddy soil. Two mutually independent field plot experiments A and B (with and without electric current applied) were conducted. After saturation using ferric chloride (FeCl₃) and calcium chloride (CaCl₂), soil water drainage capacity, soil cadmium (Cd) removal performance, energy consumption as well as soil residual of iron (Fe) and chloride (Cl) were assessed. Cadmium dissolved in the soil matrix and resulted in a 100% increase of diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid (DTPA) extracted phyto-available Cd. The total soil Cd content reductions were 15.20% and 26.58% for groups A and B, respectively, and electric field applications resulted in a 74.87% increase of soil total Cd removal. The electric energy consumption was only 2.17 kWh/m³ for group B. Drainage by gravity contributed to > 90% of the overall soil dewatering capacity. Compared to conventional electro-kinetic technology, excellent and fast soil water drainage resulted in negligible hydrogen ion (H⁺) and hydroxide ion (OH⁻) accumulation at nearby electrode zones, which addressed the challenge of anode corrosion and cathode precipitation of soil metals. External addition of FeCl₃ and CaCl₂ caused soil Fe and Cl residuals and led to 4.33–7.59% and 139–172% acceptable augments in soil total Fe and Cl content, correspondingly, if compared to original untreated soils. Therefore, the novel soil remediation equipment developed based on EKG can be regarded as a promising new in situ technology for thoroughly isolating metals from large-scale paddy soil fields.

Toxicity bioassays with concentrated cell culture media—a methodology to overcome the chemical loss by conventional preparation of water samples

Abstract

The use of in vitro bioassays for studies of toxic activity in environmental water samples is a rapidly expanding field of research. Cell-based bioassays can assess the total toxicity exerted by a water sample, regardless whether the toxicity is caused by a known or unknown agent or by a complex mixture of different agents. When using bioassays for environmental water samples, it is often necessary to concentrate the water samples before applying the sample. Commonly, water samples are concentrated 10–50 times. However, there is always a risk of losing compounds in the sample in such sample preparation. We have developed an alternative experimental design by preparing a concentrated cell culture medium which was then diluted in the environmental water sample to compose the final cell culture media for the in vitro assays. Water samples from five Swedish waste water treatment plants were analyzed for oxidative stress response, estrogen receptor (ER), and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activity using this experimental design. We were able to detect responses equivalent to 8.8–11.3 ng/L TCCD for AhR activity and 0.4–0.9 ng/L 17β-estradiol for ER activity. We were unable to detect oxidative stress response in any of the studied water samples. In conclusion, we have developed an experimental design allowing us to examine environmental water samples in toxicity in vitro assays at a concentration factor close to 1, without the risk of losing known or unknown compounds during an extraction procedure.

Mortality assessment attributed to long-term exposure to fine particles in ambient air of the megacity of Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Few studies regarding the health effects of long-term exposure to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM_2.5) have been carried out in Asia or the Middle East. The objective of our study was to assess total, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) mortality attributed to long-term exposure to PM_2.5 among adults aged over 30 years in Tehran from March 2013 to March 2016 using AirQ⁺ software. AirQ⁺ modeling software was used to estimate the number of deaths attributed to PM_2.5 concentrations higher than 10 μg m⁻³. Air quality data were obtained from the Department of Environment (DOE) and Tehran Air Quality Control Company (TAQCC). Only valid stations with data completeness of 75% in all 3 years were selected for entry into the model. The 3-year average of the 24-h concentrations was 39.17 μg m⁻³. The results showed that the annual average concentration of PM_2.5 in 2015–2016 was reduced by 13% compared to that in 2013–2014. The annual average number of all natural, COPD, and lung cancer deaths attributable to long-term exposure to PM_2.5 in adults aged more than 30 years was 5073, 158, and 142 cases, respectively. The results of all three health endpoints indicate that the mortality attributable to PM_2.5 decreased yearly from 2013 to 2016 and that the reduced mortality was related to a corresponding reduction in the PM_2.5 concentration. Considering these first positive results, the steps that have been currently taken for reducing air pollution in Tehran should be continued to further improve the already positive effects of these measures on reducing health outcomes.

Effect of microalgae storage conditions on methane yields

Abstract

During the last decade, a lot of research has been focused on identifying the methane yields achievable when using microalgae biomass (fresh and pretreated) as a substrate in anaerobic digestion. Encountered differences are frequently attributed to the different microalgae strains (cell walls and macromolecular profiles) or the different metabolic activities of anaerobic sludge used as inoculum. Nevertheless, under the hypothesis that the state of microalgae upon biomass storage may also play a significant role, this study was designed to evaluate the effect of biomass processing and storage on methane yields and hydrolysis kinetics in batch mode assays. Slight changes in the macromolecular profile distribution of the different tested biomass were observed. Regardless of the time that the biomass was stored, results revealed that frozen biomass doubled the hydrolysis constant and enhanced methane yield by 1.56-fold compared to fresh microalgae biomass (82.4 mL CH₄ g COD in⁻¹). Similar enhancement was obtained with the freeze-dried biomass, and slightly lower values were obtained (1.34-fold) for the biomass kept at 4 °C longer than a week. Likewise, the semi-continuously operated reactor fed with microalgae biomass stored for 28 days at 4 °C did not show any effect in terms of methane production, although nitrogen mineralization was higher than expected. Remarkably, the initial stage of the biomass should be carefully considered for comparison purposes with the available literature on batch mode assays. This study highlights the importance of considering how the biomass is stored before the anaerobic digestion process to avoid misleading conclusions.

On the flocculation and settling characteristics of low- and high-concentration sediment suspensions: effects of particle concentration and salinity conditions

Abstract

It remains unclear how the primary particle concentration and salinity conditions influence the flocculation and settling characteristics of water-sediment suspensions. In this study, two sets of experiments were performed to examine the flocculation and settling properties of low- and high-concentration sediment suspensions. In low-concentration suspensions, the sediment concentration undergoes a rapid initial decrease followed by a slow decrease until it approaches zero with increasing flocculation time. Increases in salinity or the valence of cations from the saline solution added to the suspension lead to a more rapidly decreasing sediment concentration with flocculation time. The valence of cations from the saline solution has a larger influence on the flocculation-settling behaviours of the suspension than the salinity. In high-concentration sediment suspensions, the height of the clear water-turbid water interface in the water-sediment suspension experiences an initial, rapidly decreasing phase followed by a slowly decreasing phase with increasing flocculation time. Increasing the primary particle concentration, salinity or valence of cations from the saline solution added to the suspension causes the height reduction of the clear water-turbid water interface to become gentler. Finally, the valence of cations from the saline solution has a greater influence on the settling characteristics of the high-concentration water-sediment suspension than the salinity.

Nano-MnO 2 -mediated transformation of triclosan with humic molecules present: kinetics, products, and pathways

Abstract

It has been shown that manganese dioxide (MnO₂) can mediate transformation of phenolic contaminants to form phenoxyl radical intermediates, and subsequently, these intermediates intercouple to form oligomers via covalent binding. However, the reaction kinetics and transformation mechanisms of phenolic contaminants with humic molecules present in nano-MnO₂-mediated systems were still unclear. In this study, it was proven that nano-MnO₂ were effective in transforming triclosan under acidic conditions (pH 3.5–5.0) during manganese reduction, and the apparent pseudo first-order kinetics rate constants (k = 0.0599–1.5314 h⁻¹) increased as the pH decreased. In particular, the transformation of triclosan by nano-MnO₂ was enhanced in the presence of low-concentration humic acid (1–10 mg L⁻¹). The variation in the absorption of humic molecules at 275 nm supported possible covalent binding between humic molecules and triclosan in the nano-MnO₂-mediated systems. A total of four main intermediate products were identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), regardless of humic molecules present in the systems or not. These products correspond to a suite of radical intercoupling reactions (dimers and trimers), ether cleavage (2,4-dichlorophenol), and oxidation to quinone-like products, triggered by electron transfer from triclosan molecules to nano-MnO₂. A possible reaction pathway in humic acid solutions, including homo-coupling, decomposition, oxidation, and cross-coupling, was proposed. Our findings provide valuable information regarding the environmental fate and transformation mechanism of triclosan by nano-MnO₂ in complex water matrices.

Prenatal care and socioeconomic status: effect on cesarean delivery

Cesarean deliveries are widely used in many high- and middle-income countries. This overuse both increases costs and lowers quality of care and is thus a major concern in the healthcare industry. The study fir...

PACAP and its role in primary headaches

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) is a neuropeptide implicated in a wide range of functions, such as nociception and in primary headaches. Regarding its localization, PACAP has been observ...

Against impairment: replies to Aas, Howard, and Francis

Abstrct

Sean Aas, Dana Howard, and Leslie Francis raise compelling and interesting objections to the definition of disability I defend in The Minority Body. In this paper, I reply to these objections and elaborate on my criticisms of the disability/impairment distinction.

Psychosocial aspects of rosacea with a focus on anxiety and depression

Effect of pterin impurities on the fluorescence and photochemistry of commercial folic acid

Publication date: Available online 9 March 2018
Source:Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology
Author(s): M. Laura Dántola, M. Noel Urrutia, Andrés H. Thomas
Folic acid, or pteroyl‑l‑glutamic acid (PteGlu) is a conjugated pterin derivative that is used in dietary supplementation as a source of folates, a group of compounds essential for a variety of physiological functions in humans. Photochemistry of PteGlu is important because folates are not synthesized by mammals, undergo photodegradation and their deficiency is related to many diseases. We have demonstrated that usual commercial PteGlu is unpurified with the unconjugated oxidized pterins 6‑formylpterin (Fop) and 6‑carboxypterin (Cap). These compounds are in such low amounts that a normal chromatographic control would not detect any pterinic contamination. However, the fluorescence of PteGlu solutions is due to the emission of Fop and Cap and the contribution of the PteGlu emission, much lower, is negligible. This is because the fluorescence quantum yield (ΦF) of PteGlu is extremely weak compared to the ΦF of Fop and Cap. Likewise, the PteGlu photodegradation upon UV-A radiation is an oxidation photosensitized by oxidized unconjugated pterins present in the solution, and not a process initiated by the direct absorption of photons by PteGlu. In brief, the fluorescence and photochemical properties of PteGlu solutions, prepared using commercially available solids, are due to their unconjugated pterins impurities and not to PteGlu itself. This fact calls into question many reported studies on fluorescence and photooxidation of this compound.

Introduction: Interactions Between the Immune System and Parasites Special Issue

Parasitism, in general, means a relationship between two organisms in which 'one organism benefits at the expense of the other' (https://www.britannica.com). In the long term, the benefiting organism, called the parasite, may have the ability to manipulate the other organism, called the host. Humans have evolved under the pressure of unicellular protozoan and multicellular metazoan (worm) parasites. A recent World Health Organization report suggests that about 1.5 billion humans are infected with worms and that 250 million humans are infected with protozoan parasites in total causing about 1 million deaths per year (http://www.who.int/features/2017/year-review/en).

Host immune responses to Toxoplasma gondii

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii can infect homoeothermic animals including humans and cause lethal toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised individuals. When hosts are infected with T. gondii, the cells induce immune responses against T. gondii. The pathogen infection is recognized by immune sensors that directly detect T. gondii structural components, leading to production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Antigen-presenting cells such as macrophages and dendritic cells strongly activate T cells and induce development of T_h1 cells and antigen-specific killer CD8 T cells. These T cells and Group 1 innate lymphoid cells are main producers of IFN-γ, which robustly stimulates cell-autonomous immunity in cells infected with T. gondii. IFN-γ-inducible effectors such as IFN-inducible GTPases, inducible nitric oxide synthase and indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase differentially play important roles in suppression of T. gondii growth and its direct killing in anti-T. gondii cell-autonomous immune responses. In this review, we will describe our current knowledge of innate, adaptive and IFN-γ-mediated cell-autonomous immunity against T. gondii infection.

Host responses to intestinal nematodes

Abstract

Helminth infection remains common in developing countries, where residents who suffer from the consequences of such infections can develop serious physical and mental disorders and often persist in the face of serious economic problems. Intestinal nematode infection induces the development of T_h2-type immune responses including the B-cell IgE response; additionally, this infection induces an increase in the numbers and activation of various types of effector cells, such as mast cells, eosinophils and basophils, as well as the induction of goblet cell hyperplasia, anti-microbial peptide production and smooth-muscle contraction, all of which contribute to expel nematodes. Innate immunity is important in efforts to eliminate helminth infection; cytokines, including IL-25, IL-33 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin, which are products of epithelial cells and mast cells, induce T_h2 cells and group 2 innate lymphoid cells to proliferate and produce T_h2 cytokines. Nematodes also facilitate chronic infection by suppression of immune reactions through an increased number of T_reg cells. Immunosuppression by parasite infection may ultimately be beneficial for the host animals; indeed, a negative correlation has been found between parasite infection and the prevalence of inflammatory disease in humans.

Unforeseen pathologies caused by malaria

Abstract

Individuals from malaria-endemic regions often acquire partial immunity after multiple repeated infections throughout their lives. This partial immunity prevents them from developing severe complications and they often remain asymptomatic with a persistent, low parasite density in the blood, and therefore the necessity for treatment is neglected. These patients with chronic, asymptomatic malaria serve as a reservoir for Plasmodium parasite transmission, becoming a major obstacle for eradication efforts. The constant exposure to malaria infection may have benefits in the short term by conferring protection from acute, severe malaria; however, it may cause substantially more harm in the long term. Rather than the parasite burden itself, the complications induced by the dysregulated immune responses and the tissue damage done by the parasites and their products can cause chronic and irreversible suffering. Furthermore, the complete clearance of parasites in the body may not lead to complete recovery from the disease as complications can still persist. The fact that there are chronic pathologies caused by malaria that mostly remain obscure and have the potential to cause a serious burden has recently been gaining attention. Here, we present and discuss the evidence of unforeseen pathologies and the risks associated with malaria.

How to master the host immune system? Leishmania parasites have the solutions!

Abstract

Infection by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania results in the development of leishmaniasis, an increasingly prevalent group of diseases affecting over 12 million people worldwide. Leishmaniasis can have very different outcomes ranging from cutaneous lesions, mucosal lesions to visceralization depending on the species of the infecting parasite and on the immune response developed by the host. As an obligate intracellular parasite, residing within macrophages, Leishmania evolved in strict contact with the host immune system, developing different mechanisms to evade or modulate the immune response. Various types of immune responses are observed during different Leishmania spp. infections, resulting in parasite clearance but also contributing to the pathogenesis, thus increasing the complexity of the course of the disease. Interestingly, depending on the type of leishmaniasis developed, opposite treatment strategies, which either boost or inhibit the inflammatory response, have shown efficacy. In this review, we summarize the contribution of different immune cell types to the development of the anti-leishmanial immune response and the parasite strategies to evade and modulate host immunity. Further, we discuss the involvement of co-infecting pathogens in the determination of the outcome of leishmaniasis and on the effectiveness of treatment and the implication of the immune response for treatment and vaccine development.

Health status, mental health and air quality: evidence from pensioners in Europe

Abstract

Environmental quality is an important determinant of individuals' well-being and one of the main concerns of the governments is the improvement on air quality and the protection of public health. This is especially the case of sensitive demographic groups, such as the old aged people. However, the question this study attempts to answer is how do individuals value the effects on the environment. The study explores the effects of old and early public pension schemes, as well as the impact of air pollution on health status of retired citizens. The empirical analysis relies on detailed micro-level data derived from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). As proxies for health, we use the general health status and the Eurod mental health indicator. We examine two air pollutants: the sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and ground-level ozone (O₃). Next, we calculate the marginal willingness-to-pay (MWTP) which shows how much the people are willing to pay for improvement in air quality. We apply various quantitative techniques and approaches, including the fixed effects ordinary least squares (OLS) and the fixed effects instrumental variables (IV) approach. The last approach is applied to reduce the endogeneity problem coming from possible reverse causality between the air pollution, pensions and the health outcomes. For robustness check, we apply also a structural equation modelling (SEM) which is proper when the outcomes are latent variables. Based on our favoured IV estimates and the health status, we find that the MWTP values for one unit decrease in SO₂ and O₃ are respectively €221 and €88 per year. The respective MWTP values using the Eurod measure are €155 and €68. Overall, improvement of health status implies reduction in health expenditures, and in previous literature, ageing has been traditionally considered the most important determinant. However, this study shows that health lifestyle and socio-economic status, such as education and marital status, are more important, and furthermore, air pollution cannot be ignored in the agenda of policy makers.

Antimicrobial, cytotoxic and antioxidative evaluation of natural deep eutectic solvents

Abstract

Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) are a new generation of green solvents. They are mixtures of two or three compounds such as choline chloride as a cationic salt and alcohols, acids, amides, amines or sugars as hydrogen-bond donors. Although the majority of NADES' components are of natural origin and therefore NADES are often presumed to be non-toxic, the evaluation of their toxicity and biodegradability must accompany the research on their synthesis and application. Therefore, the aim of this work was to investigate the effect of ten synthesised NADES towards bacteria (i.e., Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus), yeast (i.e., Candida albicans) and human cell lines (i.e., HeLa, MCF-7 and HEK293T). In addition, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) method was used to determine the antioxidative activity of the tested NADES. Differences in toxicity response between microorganisms and cell lines were observed, and only NADES that contained organic acid showed toxicity towards the test systems. Furthermore, the NADES containing compounds that possess antioxidative activity also showed antioxidative activity. However, research whose primary purpose is the synthesis and application of NADES must be followed by an evaluation of their biological properties (e.g., antimicrobial activity, toxicity towards animal cells and antioxidative or other biological activity) to find the solvent with the best profile for wider industrial applications.

Association between urinary cadmium and chronic musculoskeletal pain in residents of cadmium-contaminated area in Northwest Thailand

Abstract

Cadmium exposure is known to cause adverse health effects in different organs of the human body but whether the effects result in chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) remain inclusive. The present study, therefore, aims to examine the relationship between urinary cadmium levels and CMP. An observational retrospective cohort study was conducted in two areas having different levels of cadmium contamination for comparison. The subjects enrolled into the study were individuals ages 18 and above who have lived in the studied areas for 1 year or more. The evaluation of chronic pain was carried out using a questionnaire and urine samples were collected for analysis of urinary cadmium levels. The data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. The likelihood of CMP increased in a correlation with elevations in urinary cadmium from < 0.359, 0.359–0.753, 0.754–1.742, and ≥ 1.743 μg/g creatinine, adjusted odds ratio 1.07 (95% CI 0.62–1.86), 1.33 (95% CI 0.76–2.32), and 2.26 (95% CI 1.28–3.99) respectively. A positive association was found in our study between urinary cadmium level and CMP suggesting that cadmium exposure might cause neurological damage and/or tissue/muscle injury which in turn causing CMP.

Physicochemical parameters and microbiological status of honey produced in an urban environment in Serbia

Abstract

Honey is a natural substance produced by honey bees (the genus Apis) enjoyed by people due to its unique nutritional and medicinal properties. The aim of this study was to determine the physicochemical parameters (moisture, ash, water-insoluble content, reducing sugars, sucrose, free acidity, diastase activity, hydroxymethylfurfural, and electrical conductivity) and microbiological status (total number of aerobic mesophilic bacteria, total number of sulfite-reducing clostridia, the presence of Salmonella spp., total numbers of fungi and yeasts and the presence of Clostridium botulinum) in honey (honeydew, blossom, sunflower, acacia, and linden) produced in an urban environment in Serbia. We analyzed 19 apiary samples of honey, collected during the 2011 harvesting season, by using recommendation methods. Physicochemical parameters of the examined honey produced in the urban environment indicated the honeys were of acceptable quality. Bacillus spp. were detected in four honeys, yeasts were detected in three honeys, and Clostridium botulinum type E was detected in one honey using PCR. The current study also showed the presence of diverse honey varieties in Serbia.

Biodegradation of kraft lignin by newly isolated Klebsiella pneumoniae , Pseudomonas putida , and Ochrobactrum tritici strains

Abstract

Bacterial systems have drawn an increasing amount of attention on lignin valorization due to their rapid growth and powerful environmental adaptability. In this study, Klebsiella pneumoniae NX-1, Pseudomonas putida NX-1, and Ochrobactrum tritici NX-1 with ligninolytic potential were isolated from leaf mold samples. Their ligninolytic capabilities were determined by measuring (1) the cell growth on kraft lignin as the sole carbon source, (2) the decolorization of kraft lignin and lignin-mimicking dyes, (3) the micro-morphology changes and transformations of chemical groups in kraft lignin, and (4) the ligninolytic enzyme activities of these three isolates. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that Ochrobactrum tritici species can depolymerize and metabolize lignin. Moreover, laccase, lignin peroxidase, and Mn-peroxidase showed high activities in P. putida NX-1. Due to their excellent ligninolytic capabilities, these three bacteria are important supplements to ligninolytic bacteria library and could be valuable in lignin valorization.

Flexible versus common technology to estimate economies of scale and scope in the water and sewerage industry: an application to England and Wales

Abstract

The water industry presents several structures in different countries and also within countries. Hence, several studies have been conducted to evaluate the presence of economies of scope and scale in the water industry leading to inconclusive results. The lack of a common methodology has been identified as an important factor contributing to divergent conclusions. This paper evaluates, for the first time, the presence of economies of scale and scope in the water industry using a flexible technology approach integrating operational and exogenous variables of the water companies in the cost functions. The empirical application carried out for the English and Welsh water industry evidenced that the inclusion of exogenous variables accounts for significant differences in economies of scale and scope. Moreover, completely different results were obtained when the economies of scale and scope were estimated using common and flexible technology methodological approaches. The findings of this study reveal the importance of using an appropriate methodology to support policy decision-making processes to promote sustainable urban water activities.