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This paper presents compositional modifications on lead-free material system based on barium titanate to optimize its electrocaloric (EC) properties. By addition of strontium and tin we prepared solid solutions of Ba1-xSrxSnyTi1-yO3 (BSSnT-100∙x-100∙y) which allow for shifting of maximum EC effect to room temperature as well as broadening the temperature range of high EC temperature changes Δ T E C . Bulk ceramic samples of BSSnT were prepared by solid-state reaction route and the influence of Sn:Sr ratio on dielectric and ferroelectric properties was investigated. The EC temperature change was measured directly using resistance welded thermocouple wires. Most promising results could be achieved for BSSnT-18−6.5, which showed a maximum Δ T E C of 0.49 K around 30 °C with Δ T E C > 0.3 K in the temperature range from 10 °C to 50 °C under a comparatively low electric field change of 2 V μm−1.

Soils from mid-west Brazil show strong phosphorus (P) fixation, which can reduce the efficiency of P fertilizers. Under this condition, soil competes with the plant for the applied P adsorbing it strongly in its mineral fraction. Nevertheless, in areas where crops are grown and fertilizers are added for many years, soil fertility status has increased over time, making these soils nonresponsive to P. The objective of this study was to evaluate how P availability changes with soil use. Forty soil samples were collected under different types of land use: native forest, pasture, no-tillage, and areas with periodic tillage. P fractionation was performed to determine the amount of P in the organic and inorganic fractions with high, medium, and low lability under each land use. Corn was cultivated in a greenhouse experiment to evaluate P uptake and values correlated with different P fractions. The results showed differences in the P fraction relations among different land uses. Cultivated areas (no tillage and periodic tillage) accumulated greater amounts of P in all fractions than pastures and the native forest. A higher proportion of labile organic P was observed under no tillage than under periodic tillage. NaHCO3 and NaOH 0.1 mol L-1were the most relevant P fractions for shoot P uptake. No tillage promoted the accumulation of available P fractions, suggesting that it is a good management strategy to ensure fertilizer use efficiency Made available in DSpace on 2022-01-11T16:00:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Bioavailability-of-phosphorus-on-highly-weathered-Oxisoils-2021.pdf: 585048 bytes, checksum: f63367d92d52df0fa301f18aeddea44b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2021

Background Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are important causes of maternal morbidity and mortality, as well as preterm birth, the leading cause of death for children under 5 years globally. The World Health Organization currently recommends that pregnant women receive high-dose calcium supplementation (1500–2000 mg elemental calcium) for prevention of preeclampsia in populations with low dietary calcium intake. Trials of low-dose calcium supplementation ( Methods/design We will conduct two independent trials in Bangalore, India (n = 11,000 pregnancies), and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (n = 11,000 pregnancies). The trial designs are individually randomized, parallel group, quadruple-blind, non-inferiority trials of low-dose calcium supplementation (500 mg elemental calcium/day) as compared to standard high-dose calcium supplementation (1500 mg elemental calcium/day) among nulliparous pregnant women. Pregnant women will be enrolled in the trial before 20 weeks of gestation and will receive the randomized calcium regimen from randomization until the time of delivery. The co-primary outcomes are (i) preeclampsia and (ii) preterm birth; we will test non-inferiority of the primary outcomes for low-dose as compared to the standard high-dose supplementation regimen in each trial. The trials’ secondary outcomes include gestational hypertension, severe features of preeclampsia, pregnancy-related death, third trimester severe anemia, fetal death, stillbirth, low birthweight, small-for-gestational age birth, and infant death. Discussion The trials will provide causal evidence on the non-inferiority of low-dose as compared to the standard high-dose supplementation in India and Tanzania. A single tablet, low-dose calcium supplementation regimen may improve individual-level adherence, reduce programmatic costs, and ultimately expand implementation of routine calcium supplementation in pregnancy in populations with low dietary calcium intake. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03350516; registered on 22 November 2018. Clinical Trials Registry—India identifier: CTRI/2018/02/012119; registered on 23 February 2018. Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority Trials Registry identifier: TFDA0018/CTR/0010/5; registered on 20 December 2018.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic studies examining the relations between dairy product and calcium intakes and breast cancer have been inconclusive, especially for tumor subtypes. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the associations between intakes of specific dairy products and calcium and risk of breast cancer overall and for subtypes defined by estrogen receptor (ER) status. METHOD: We pooled the individual-level data of over 1 million women who were followed for a maximum of 8–20 years across studies. Associations were evaluated for dairy product and calcium intakes and risk of incident invasive breast cancer overall (n = 37,861 cases) and by subtypes defined by ER status. Study-specific multivariable hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated and then combined using random-effects models. RESULTS: Overall, no clear association was observed between the consumption of specific dairy foods, dietary (from foods only) calcium, and total (from foods and supplements) calcium, and risk of overall breast cancer. Although each dairy product showed a null or very weak inverse association with risk of overall breast cancer (P, test for trend >0.05 for all), differences by ER status were suggested for yogurt and cottage/ricotta cheese with associations observed for ER-negative tumors only (pooled HR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.83, 0.98 comparing ≥60 g/d with

Summary Understanding metabolism is fundamental to access and harness bacterial physiology. In most bacteria, nutrient utilization is hierarchically optimized according to their energetic potential and their availability in the environment to maximise growth rates. Low‐throughput methods have been largely used to characterize bacterial metabolic profiles. However, in‐depth analysis of large collections of strains across several conditions is challenging since high‐throughput approaches are still limited – especially for non‐traditional hosts. Here, we developed a high‐throughput dilution‐resolved cultivation method for metabolic footprinting of Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This method was benchmarked against a conventional low‐throughput time‐resolved cultivation approach using either a synthetic culture medium (where a single carbon source is present) for P. putida or a complex nutrient mixture for P. aeruginosa. Dynamic metabolic footprinting, either by sugar quantification or by targeted exo‐metabolomic analyses, revealed overlaps between the bacterial metabolic profiles irrespective of the cultivation strategy, suggesting a certain level of robustness and flexibility of the high‐throughput dilution‐resolved method. Cultivation of P. putida in microtiter plates imposed a metabolic constraint, dependent on oxygen availability, which altered the pattern of secreted metabolites at the level of sugar oxidation. Deep‐well plates, however, constituted an optimal cultivation set‐up yielding consistent and comparable metabolic profiles across conditions and strains. Altogether, the results illustrate the usefulness of this technological advance for high‐throughput analyses of bacterial metabolism for both biotechnological applications and automation purposes.

BACKGROUND: The influence of a high sugar diet on colorectal cancer (CRC) survival is unclear. METHODS: Among 1463 stage I–III CRC patients from the Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study, we estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for CRC-specific and all-cause mortality in relation to intake of post-diagnosis sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), artificially sweetened beverages (ASB), fruit juice, fructose and other sugars. RESULTS: Over a median 8.0 years, 781 cases died (173 CRC-specific deaths). Multivariable-adjusted HRs for post-diagnosis intake and CRC-specific mortality were 1.21 (95% CI: 0.87–1.68) per 1 serving SSBs per day (serving/day) and 1.24 (95% CI: 0.95–1.63) per 20 grams fructose per day. Significant positive associations for CRC-specific mortality were primarily observed ≤5 years from diagnosis (HR per 1 serving/day of SSBs = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.06–2.38). Significant inverse associations were observed between ASBs and CRC-specific and all-cause mortality (HR for ≥5 versus

Tattoos have become increasingly popular worldwide making adverse effects from tattoos a growing concern. In our report, we present a 51-year-old man who developed an unusual allergic reaction to the red ink portions of his tattoos that coincided with the initiation of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir treatment for his hepatitis C. Clinical and histological features were consistent with a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction to red ink.

Background:The illegal virtual market for food supplements facilitates fraud and adulteration. Worldwide concern for consumer safety is growing on the part regulatory agencies, healthcare professionals and consumers.Objective:This work aimed to evaluate the presence of sexual stimulants and anabolic steroids commonly used in the adulteration of dietary supplements through the development of a high performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (HPLC-DAD) method for the identification and quantification of these compounds.Method:The mobile phase composed of an ammonium acetate solution, acetonitrile and methanol leaded to the efficient separation of vardenafil, testosterone base, testosterone propionate, tadalafil, sildenafil and yohimbine.Results:The assay was linear (r2> 0.999), precise (RSD% Conclusion:The developed method is convenient and easily applicable for adulteration detection of the analyzed drugs in the multicomponent supplements.

The Crofer 22 H ferritic steel substrate was coated with an Mn1.45Co1.45Cu0.1O4 spinel by means of electrophoresis. After high-temperature oxidation under thermal cycling conditions, the physicochemical properties of the obtained system were evaluated. During 48-h cycles that involved heating the samples up to temperatures of either 750 or 800 °C, the oxidation kinetics of both coated and unmodified steel approximately obeyed the parabolic rate law. The unmodified steel was oxidized at a higher rate than the system consisting of the substrate and the coating. In its bulk form, the spinel consisted entirely of the cubic phase and it exhibited high electrical conductivity. The Mn1.45Co1.45Cu0.1O4 coating, on the other hand, was compact and consisted of two phases—the cubic and the tetragonal one—and it was characterized by good adhesion to the metallic substrate. After cyclic oxidation studies conducted for the two investigated temperatures (750 or 800 °C), the coating was determined to provide a considerable improvement in the electrical properties of the Crofer 22 H ferritic steel, as demonstrated by the area-specific resistance values measured for the steel/coating system. The evaporation rate of chromium measured for these samples likewise indicates that the coating is capable of acting as an effective barrier against the formation of volatile compounds of chromium. The Mn1.45Co1.45Cu0.1O4 spinel can therefore be considered a suitable material for a coating on the Crofer 22 H ferritic steel, with intermediate-temperature solid oxide electrolyzer cells as the target application.

Microextraction is a rapidly developing sample preparation technology in the field of analytical chemistry, which is seeing widespread application. Accurate sample preparation can not only save time but also improve the efficiency of analysis, determination, and data quality. At present, sample pretreatment methods must be rapid, allow for miniaturization, automation, and convenient online connection with analytical instruments. To meet the requirements of green analytical methods and improve the extraction efficiency, microextraction techniques have been introduced as suitable replacements to conventional sample preparation and extraction methods. Microextraction using a packed sorbent (MEPS) is a new type of sample preparation technology. The MEPS equipment was prepared using microsyringe with a volume of 50-500 μL, including MEPS syringes and MEPS adsorption beds (barrel insert and needle, BIN), which is essentially similar to a miniaturized solid phase extraction device. The BIN contains the adsorbent and is built into the syringe needle. A typical MEPS extraction procedure involves repeatedly pumping the sample solution in two directions (up and down) through the adsorbent multiple times in the MEPS syringe. The specific operation course of MEPS includes conditioning, loading, washing, elution, and introduction into the analysis instrument. The conditioning process is adopted to infiltrate the dry sorbent and remove bubbles between the filler particles. The adsorption process is accomplished by pulling the liquid plunger of the syringe so that the sample flows through the adsorbent in both directions multiple times. The washing process involves rinsing the sorbent to remove unwanted components after the analyte is retained. The elution process involves the use of an eluent to ensure that the sample flows through the adsorbent in both directions multiple times, so that elution can be realized by the pumping-pushing action. The target analyte is eluted with the eluent, which can be directly used for chromatographic analysis. However, when processing complex biological matrix samples by MEPS, pretreatment steps such as dilution of the sample and removal of proteins are commonly required. At present, the operation modes of the MEPS equipment are classified into three types: manual, semi-automated, and fully automated. This increase in the degree of automation is highly conducive to processing extremely low or extremely high sample volumes. Critical factors affecting the MEPS performance have been investigated in this study. The conditions for MEPS optimization are the operating process parameters, including sample flow rate, sample volume, number of sample extraction cycles, type and volume of the adsorbent, and elution solvents. It is also necessary to consider the effect of the sample matrix on the performance of MEPS. The MEPS sorbent should be cleaned by a solvent to eliminate carryover and reuse. The sorbent is a core aspect of MEPS. Several types of commercial and non-commercial sorbents have been used in MEPS. Commercial sorbents include silica-based sorbents such as unmodified silica (SIL), C2, C8, and C18. Unmodified silicon-based silica is a normal phase adsorption material, which is highly polar and can be used to retain polar analytes. C18, C8, and C2 materials are suitable for reversed-phase adsorption, while SCX, SAX, APS, and M1 (C8+SCX) adsorbents are suitable for the mixed-mode and ion-exchange modes. Noncommercial sorbents include molecularly imprinted materials, restricted-access molecularly imprinted materials, graphitized carbon, conductive polymer materials, modified silicon materials, and covalent-organic framework materials. The performance of MEPS has recently been illustrated by online with LC-MS and GC-MS assays for the analysis of biological matrices, environmental samples, and food samples. Pretreatment in MEPS protocols includes dilution, protein precipitation, and centrifugation in biological fluid matrices. Because of the small sample size, fast operation, etc., MEPS is expected to be more widely used in the analysis of bio-matrix samples. MEPS devices could also play an important role in field pretreatment and analysis.

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and polyamide (PA) are immiscible polymers, which requires the use of compatibilizers to stabilize the morphology and achieve acceptable property levels. Therefore, controlling the degree of dispersion, especially the size of the disperse PA droplets in the PET matrix is of paramount importance. This study aims to improve the mixing, i.e., minimize PA droplet size, in immiscible and compatibilized PET/PA and PET/Nylon-MXD6 (MXD6) blends by resorting to extension-dominated mixing in twin-screw extrusion (TSE). MXD6 is an aromatic polyamide similar in polarity to PET, so it is expected that it will blend more effectively than is the case with aliphatic nylon-6 and PET. Two screw configurations are used, a benchmark shear-dominated screw with kneading blocks (KBs) in an aggressive configuration, and an extension-dominated screw configuration with static mixers with hyperbolic C–D channels, recently developed by our group, in place of the KBs. The results show that the use of extensional mixing elements (EMEs) in place of KBs results in a significant decrease of both average and maximum droplet size for all blends, and up to more than one order of magnitude between the most extreme cases of the KB-processed immiscible blend and EME-processed compatibilized blends.

In the study, the surface of the Crofer 22APU ferritic steel was modified with gadolinium oxide nanoparticles and a protective-conducting layer consisting of the MnCo2O4 spinel. This system was studied in the context of application in IT-SOFC interconnects. Four types of samples were studied: unmodified steel, steel coated with a manganese-cobalt spinel layer, steel modified with gadolinium oxide nanoparticles, and a system consisting of steel after both modifications. Steel samples with Gd2O3 nanoparticles were obtained via dip-coating, while the spinel coatings were deposited electrophoretically. All samples were oxidized for 1000 and 2260 h in air at 1073 K. Microstructural and oxidation kinetics studies revealed that gadolinium segregation at grain boundaries in the Cr2O3 scale between the steel and the spinel layer reduces the oxidation rate for the steel/coating system, thereby improving the adhesion of the scale to the substrate. The applied modification decreased the chromium evaporation rate and improved the electrical properties of the interconnect material.

Objective This randomized open-label phase II study evaluated the safety and clinical activity of EP-100 plus weekly paclitaxel in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer expressing positive LHRH receptor. Methods In a limited “run-in” dose escalation phase for EP-100, six patients were treated with ascending dose levels (13 mg/m2, 20 mg/m2, 30 mg/m2). In the randomized phase, patients received weekly paclitaxel (80 mg/m2 intravenously) plus twice weekly EP-100 (30 mg/m2 intravenously; combination arm) or weekly paclitaxel alone (80 mg/m2 intravenously; paclitaxel arm). The primary study endpoint was overall response rate (ORR). Results Forty-four patients were then randomized to either the experimental combination arm (n = 23) or the standard of care paclitaxel monotherapy arm (n = 21). The ORR was 35% (95%CI 16%–57%) for the combination arm and 33% (95% CI 15%–57%) for the paclitaxel arm. An interesting observation from an unplanned analysis was that a subset of patients with target liver lesions showed a greater overall response rate to the combination (69%) compared to paclitaxel alone (16%). The frequency of treatment-related grade 3–4 adverse events was similar between treatment arms: 48% vs 43% for the combination and paclitaxel arms, respectively. Conclusions ORR in the EP-100 combination arm was similar to that in the group treated with paclitaxel alone; however, a subset of patients with liver metastases appeared to benefit from the combination. The addition of EP-100 did not appear to augment the adverse event profile of paclitaxel and was well tolerated.

Spinel oxides with the general formula Mn1.7Cu1.3-xFexO4 (x= 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5) were prepared and evaluated in this work for their properties at high temperatures. The effect of partially substituting Cu by Fe has not been studied so far for this group of materials and is thus evaluated in this work. Mn1.7Cu1.3-xFexO4 powders were synthesised by a soft chemistry process and studied in terms of crystallographic phase analysis, electrical conductivity, thermal expansion, and sinterability behaviour. The results show that the Fe content has a significant influence on the phase composition and the resulting properties. Characterisation of the dilatometry and conductivity coupled with XRD phase analysis across a wide temperature range allowed the relations between the materials properties and compositions to be observed. The results indicate that Mn1.7Cu0.8Fe0.5O4 is a promising material for use as a protective coating for interconnects in intermediate temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells.

Ce0.8Gd0.2O1.9 (CGO) barrier layers are required to mitigate the chemical reactions between Sr-containing oxygen electrode materials and Zr-based oxygen ion conductors in high-temperature solid oxide cells. Barrier layers produced by different methods were studied in this work. As a reference, a cell with no barrier layer was measured. The application of the powder-processed barrier layers, considerably increases the performance. For further comparison, thin and dense CGO layers were produced by a low-temperature spray pyrolysis process. Three different thicknesses were evaluated: ∼300 nm, ∼700 nm and ∼1500 nm. The best performance was found for the ∼700 nm thick CGO barrier layer. It showed low ohmic and polarisation resistances. The low thickness and high density of the CGO barrier layer were found to be the important factors. The cells with the ∼700 nm CGO barrier layers were also evaluated for their electrolysis performance as well as fuel cell durability.

Gas chromatography (GC) is an important and widely used technique for separation and analysis in the field of analytical chemistry. Micro gas chromatography has been developed in response to the requirement for on-line analysis and on-site analysis. At the core of micro gas chromatography, microelectromechanical systems (MEMs) have the advantages of small size and low power consumption. This article introduces the stationary phases of micro columns in recent years, including polymer, carbon materials, silica, gold nanoparticles, inorganic adsorbents and ionic liquids. Preparation techniques ranging from classical coating to unusual sputtering of stationary phases are reviewed. The advantages and disadvantages of different preparation methods are analyzed. The paper introduces the separation characteristics and application progress of MEMs columns and discusses possible developments.

BACKGROUND Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is a compound that is present in seafood and produced through human gut microbial metabolism of its precursors. Previous studies have suggested that elevated TMAO concentrations are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. However, the association between diet and TMAO concentrations in free-living adult populations has not been adequately described. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to identify dietary predictors of plasma TMAO concentrations. METHODS TMAO concentrations were assessed in 2 fasting plasma samples collected 6 mo apart among 620 healthy men. Short-term and long-term dietary intakes were assessed during the same time-frame of blood collections via repeated 7-d dietary records (7DDRs) and a semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire (SFFQ), respectively. We grouped individual food items into 21 groups and regressed against averaged TMAO concentrations. We also assessed the association between dietary scores and TMAO concentrations. RESULTS In models adjusted for demographic characteristics and mutually adjusted for food groups, SFFQ-assessments of fish and egg intakes were significantly associated with increased TMAO concentration (β = 0.082; 95% CI: 0.021, 0.14; P = 0.009 for fish; β = 0.065; 95% CI: 0.004, 0.13; P = 0.039 for egg). The positive association between fish consumption and TMAO concentration was replicated in the 7DDR-assessments (β = 0.12; 95% CI: 0.060, 0.18; P

Nitrogen (N) fertilizers may acidify the soil mainly after nitrification followed by nitrate leaching. The rate of N released and the dynamic of its reactions in the soil may interfere in soil acid...

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a bile duct cancer that originates in the bile duct epithelium. Northeastern Thailand has the highest incidence of CCA, and there is a direct correlation with liver fluke (Opisthorchis viverrini) infection. The high mortality rate of CCA is a consequence of delayed diagnosis. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a powerful technique that detects the absorbance of molecular vibrations and is perfectly suited for the interrogation of biological samples. In this study, we applied synchrotron radiation-FTIR (SR-FTIR) microspectroscopy and focal plane array (FPA-FTIR) microspectroscopy to characterize periductal fibrosis and bile duct cells progressing to CCA induced by inoculating O. viverrini metacercariae into hamsters. SR-FTIR and FPA-FTIR measurements were performed in liver sections harvested from 1-, 2-, 3-, and 6-month post-infected hamsters compared to uninfected liver tissues. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the tissue samples showed a clear discrimination among uninfected and early-stage (1 and 2 months) and cancerous-stage (3 and 6 months) tissues. The discrimination is based on intensity changes in the phosphodiester band (1081 cm-1), amino acid residue (∼1396 cm-1), and C═O stretching carboxylic esters (1745 cm-1). Infected tissues also show definitive bands at ∼1280, 1234, and 1201 cm-1 characteristic of the collagen triplet and indicative of fibrosis. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was performed on the FPA data and showed a classification into specific cell types. Hepatocyte, fibrotic lesion, and bile duct (cancer) were classified and HCA mapping showed similar cellular distribution pattern compared to Sirius red staining. This study was also extended to less invasive sample analysis using attenuated total reflectance-FTIR (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. Sera from O. viverrini-infected and uninfected hamsters were analyzed using multivariate analysis, including principal component analysis (PCA), and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). PCA was able to classify spectra of normal, early-stage CCA, and CCA, while the PLS-DA gave 100% accuracy for the validation. The model was established from 17 samples (11 normal, 6 cancer) in the calibration set and 9 samples in the validation set (4 normal, 2 cancer, 3 precancerous). These results indicate that FTIR-based technology is a potential tool to detect the progression of CCA, especially in the early stages of the disease.

Background: Higher total 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels are associated with improved survival among patients with colorectal cancer, but the relationships between circulating vitamin D binding protein (VDBP), and bioavailable or free 25(OH)D, and colorectal cancer survival remain unknown. Methods: We examined the associations between prediagnostic plasma levels of vitamin D–related markers and survival among 603 White participants diagnosed with colorectal cancer from two prospective U.S. cohorts. Plasma VDBP and total 25(OH)D were directly measured, while bioavailable and free 25(OH)D was calculated using a validated formula on the basis of total 25(OH)D, VDBP, and albumin levels. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate HRs for overall and colorectal cancer–specific mortality, with adjustment for other prognostic markers and potential confounders. Results: Higher VDBP levels were associated with improved overall (Ptrend = 0.001) and colorectal cancer–specific survival (Ptrend = 0.02). Compared with patients in the lowest quartile, those in the highest quartile of VDBP had a multivariate HR of 0.58 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.41–0.80] for overall mortality and 0.58 (95% CI, 0.37–0.91) for colorectal cancer–specific mortality. The results remained similar after further adjustment for total 25(OH)D levels. In contrast, neither bioavailable nor free 25(OH)D levels were associated with overall or colorectal cancer–specific mortality (all Ptrend > 0.15). Conclusions: Prediagnostic circulating concentrations of VDBP were positively associated with survival among patients with colorectal cancer. Impact: The clinical utility of VDBP as a prognostic marker warrants further exploration, as well as research into underlying mechanisms of action.

Interest in the boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) composites has grown exponentially because of BNNTs’ unique properties. The vast majority of papers have used a BNNT material without identifying its p...

The use of chicken litter (CL) as a source of nutrients for agriculture is a sustainable alternative to disposal the organic waste generated in poultry production and some granulated organomineral fertilizers (OMFs) have been produced for this purpose. However, the low resistance to breakage of granules of such fertilizers is still limiting large-scale use and storage. Previous work has demonstrated that the use of binder materials is able to provide an increase in resistance to the breaking of granules of OMFs, however, their influence on the dynamics of nutrient release in the soil and agronomic efficiency have not yet been evaluated. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the use of additive materials on the release of nutrients into the soil and the agronomic efficiency of organomineral fertilizers. In order to do this, OMFs produced with 3% of different bentonites, kaolinite and magnesium oxide were used. Experiments of phosphorus diffusion in the soil and evaluation of agronomic efficiency in pots demonstrate that the addition of these materials to FOMs does not influence the dynamics of P release and agronomic efficiency, when compared to the control without additives. OMFs containing additive materials to improve their mechanical strength without loss of nutrient release and agronomic efficiency are the main result of this work.

Low-dose aspirin is recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force for primary prevention of colorectal cancer in certain individuals. However, broader implementation will require improved precision prevention approaches to identify those most likely to benefit. The major urinary metabolite of PGE2, 11α-hydroxy-9,15-dioxo-2,3,4,5-tetranor-prostane-1,20-dioic acid (PGE-M), is a biomarker for colorectal cancer risk, but it is unknown whether PGE-M is modifiable by aspirin in individuals at risk for colorectal cancer. Adults (N = 180) who recently underwent adenoma resection and did not regularly use aspirin or NSAIDs were recruited to a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of aspirin at 81 or 325 mg/day for 8–12 weeks. The primary outcome was postintervention change in urinary PGE-M as measured by LC/MS. A total of 169 participants provided paired urine samples for analysis. Baseline PGE-M excretion was 15.9 ± 14.6 (mean ± S.D, ng/mg creatinine). Aspirin significantly reduced PGE-M excretion (−4.7 ± 14.8) compared with no decrease (0.8 ± 11.8) in the placebo group (P = 0.015; mean duration of treatment = 68.9 days). Aspirin significantly reduced PGE-M levels in participants receiving either 81 (−15%; P = 0.018) or 325 mg/day (−28%; P < 0.0001) compared with placebo. In 40% and 50% of the individuals randomized to 81 or 325 mg/day aspirin, respectively, PGE-M reduction reached a threshold expected to prevent recurrence in 10% of individuals. These results support that aspirin significantly reduces elevated levels of PGE-M in those at increased colorectal cancer risk to levels consistent with lower risk for recurrent neoplasia and underscore the potential utility of PGE-M as a precision chemoprevention biomarker. The ASPIRED trial is registered as NCT02394769.

Background The relation between sodium intake and cardiovascular disease remains controversial, owing in part to inaccurate assessment of sodium intake. Assessing 24-hour urinary excretion over a period of multiple days is considered to be an accurate method. Methods We included individual-participant data from six prospective cohorts of generally healthy adults; sodium and potassium excretion was assessed with the use of at least two 24-hour urine samples per participant. The primary outcome was a cardiovascular event (coronary revascularization or fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke). We analyzed each cohort using consistent methods and combined the results using a random-effects meta-analysis. Results Among 10,709 participants, who had a mean (±SD) age of 51.5±12.6 years and of whom 54.2% were women, 571 cardiovascular events were ascertained during a median study follow-up of 8.8 years (incidence rate, 5.9 per 1000 person-years). The median 24-hour urinary sodium excretion was 3270 mg (10th to 90th percentile, 2099 to 4899). Higher sodium excretion, lower potassium excretion, and a higher sodium-to-potassium ratio were all associated with a higher cardiovascular risk in analyses that were controlled for confounding factors (P≤0.005 for all comparisons). In analyses that compared quartile 4 of the urinary biomarker (highest) with quartile 1 (lowest), the hazard ratios were 1.60 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19 to 2.14) for sodium excretion, 0.69 (95% CI, 0.51 to 0.91) for potassium excretion, and 1.62 (95% CI, 1.25 to 2.10) for the sodium-to-potassium ratio. Each daily increment of 1000 mg in sodium excretion was associated with an 18% increase in cardiovascular risk (hazard ratio, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.29), and each daily increment of 1000 mg in potassium excretion was associated with an 18% decrease in risk (hazard ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.72 to 0.94). Conclusions Higher sodium and lower potassium intakes, as measured in multiple 24-hour urine samples, were associated in a dose-response manner with a higher cardiovascular risk. These findings may support reducing sodium intake and increasing potassium intake from current levels. (Funded by the American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health.).

PURPOSE: Although a growing body of evidence supports an early-life contribution to prostate cancer (PCa) development, few studies have investigated early-life diet, and only three have examined early-life dairy product intake, a promising candidate risk factor because of its known/suspected influence on insulin-like growth factor levels and height. METHODS: We used recalled dietary data from 162,816 participants in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study to investigate associations for milk, cheese, ice cream, total dairy, and calcium intake at ages 12–13 years with incident total (n=17,729), advanced (n=2,348), and fatal PCa (n=827) over 14 years of follow-up. We calculated relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) by Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS: We observed suggestive positive trends for milk, dairy, and calcium intake with total and/or advanced PCa (p-trends=0.016–0.148). These trends attenuated after adjustment for additional components of adolescent diet, particularly red meat and vegetables/potatoes. In contrast, suggestive inverse trends were observed for cheese and ice cream intake with total and/or advanced PCa (p-trends=0.043–0.153), and for milk, dairy, and calcium intake with fatal PCa (p-trend=0.045–0.117). CONCLUSION: Although these findings provide some support for a role of adolescent diet in increasing PCa risk, particularly for correlates of milk intake or overall dietary patterns, our protective findings for cheese and ice cream intake with PCa risk and mortality, and for all dairy products with PCa mortality suggest alternative explanations, such as the influence of early-life socioeconomic status, and increased PCa screening, earlier detection, and better PCa care.

Using the method of time-resolved magnetic field effect in radiation-induced fluorescence, primary radical cations (RCs) in irradiated poly(isobutylene) (PIB) have been detected for the first time. A comparison of experimental results with the data of quantum chemical calculations suggests that the initial geometry of the ionized fragment of the PIB molecule is close to the geometry of the neutral polymer in the

Summary Background Observational data suggest that low vitamin D status is associated with an increased incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis and mortality among people living with HIV. The primary aims of this study were to assess the effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on the risk of mortality and incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis among adults initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART). Methods This was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of vitamin D3 supplementation among adults living with HIV who initiated ART and had serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations of less than 30 ng/mL at four large HIV care and treatment centres in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Patients were excluded if they were younger than 18 years, pregnant at the time of randomisation, or were enrolled in any other clinical trial. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive either weekly oral 50 000 IU vitamin D3 supplements (cholecalciferol) for the first month of ART followed by daily 2000 IU vitamin D3 supplements or a matching weekly and daily placebo regimen. The randomisation list was computer-generated by a non-study statistician with sequence blocks of ten that were stratified by study clinic. Complete allocation concealment was ensured and patients, field team, and investigators were masked to group assignment. The trial follow-up duration was 1 year and the primary efficacy outcomes were death and incident pulmonary tuberculosis. An intention-to-treat analysis was followed for all-cause mortality; participants diagnosed with or receiving treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis at randomisation, or suspected to have tuberculosis at randomisation and who later had that diagnosis confirmed, were excluded from analyses of pulmonary tuberculosis incidence. Safety was assessed in the intention-to-treat population. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT01798680 , and is completed. Findings Between Feb 24, 2014, and Feb 24, 2017, 6250 adults initiating ART had serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D screening, 4000 of whom were enrolled in the trial and followed up for 1 year (follow-up of all participants was completed on March 7, 2018). 2001 patients were randomly assigned to the vitamin D3 supplementation group, and 1999 to the placebo group. 415 deaths were recorded: 211 in the vitamin D3 group and 204 in the placebo group. Among all randomly assigned participants, there was no overall effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on the risk of mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1·04, 95% CI 0·85–1·25; p=0·73). There was also no difference in the overall incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis between the vitamin D3 (50 events in 1812 patients analysed) and placebo groups (64 events in 1827 patients; HR 0·78, 0·54–1·13; p=0·19). The vitamin D3 regimen did not increase the risk of hypercalcaemia (three events in the vitamin D3 group and two events in the placebo group; relative risk 1·25, 95% CI 0·43–3·66; Fisher's exact p=1·00). 101 hospital admissions were reported in the vitamin D3 group and 94 in the placebo group (incidence rate ratio 1·06, 95% CI 0·80–1·41; p=0·66). Interpretation Additional research is needed before vitamin D3 supplementation should be considered for implementation in HIV care and treatment programmes for the prevention of pulmonary tuberculosis or mortality. Funding National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) measurements can be used to estimate tumor burden, but avoiding false-positive results is challenging. Herein, digital next-generation sequencing (NGS) is evaluated as a ctDNA detection method. Plasma KRAS and GNAS hotspot mutation levels were measured in 140 subjects, including 67 with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and 73 healthy and disease controls. To limit chemical modifications of DNA that yield false-positive mutation calls, plasma DNA was enzymatically pretreated, after which DNA was aliquoted for digital detection of mutations (up to 384 aliquots/sample) by PCR and NGS. A digital NGS score of two SDs above the mean in controls was considered positive. Thirty-seven percent of patients with pancreatic cancer, including 31% of patients with stages I/II disease, had positive KRAS codon 12 ctDNA scores; only one patient had a positive GNAS mutation score. Two disease control patients had positive ctDNA scores. Low-normal-range digital NGS scores at mutation hotspots were found at similar levels in healthy and disease controls, usually at sites of cytosine deamination, and were likely the result of chemical modification of plasma DNA and NGS error rather than true mutations. Digital NGS detects mutated ctDNA in patients with pancreatic cancer with similar yield to other methods. Detection of low-level, true-positive ctDNA is limited by frequent low-level detection of false-positive mutation calls in plasma DNA from controls.

Objectives To evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of demcizumab (DLL4 targeted IgG2 humanized monoclonal antibody; potent inhibitor of the Notch pathway) in combination with weekly paclitaxel in platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC); and to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) or maximum administered dose (MAD). Methods We conducted a 3 + 3 dose-escalation trial in patients with recurrent, platinum-resistant EOC with RECIST v. 1.1 measurable disease and ≤4 prior chemotherapy regimens. Two dosing cohorts (2.5 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg) were targeted; however, an intermediate dose level (3.5 mg/kg) was to be evaluated if the 5 mg/kg dose was not tolerable. Demcizumab was administered on days 1 and 15 and paclitaxel, weekly on days 1, 8, and 15 for each of three 28-day cycles: the 3-cycle doublet could be repeated once if safe. Thereafter, paclitaxel was administered until unacceptable toxicity or disease progression. Results Nineteen patients were enrolled. No dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) were observed; however, the intermediate dose level (3.5 mg/kg) was enrolled and expanded based on emerging safety data from other trials in the demcizumab program. The MTD was not reached. The most common treatment emergent adverse events (TEAE) were diarrhea (68%), fatigue (58%), peripheral edema (53%), and nausea (53%). Pulmonary hypertension, grade 2 (n = 2) and grade 1 (n = 1), was observed. Overall response rate (ORR) was 21% (95% CI: 6–45%); clinical benefit rate (CBR) was 42% (95% CI: 20–66%). Conclusions Demcizumab in combination with paclitaxel has a manageable toxicity profile and showed activity in patients with heavily pretreated platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

Evaluation of electrochemical behavior of 5-type phosphodiesterase inhibitory drugs is of major concern since they have been added illegally as adulterants in dietary supplements. Then, for the first time, the solid-sate electrochemistry of sildenafil and tadalafil is described using voltammetry of immobilized microparticles (VIMP). An electrochemical cell was designed and printed in a fused deposition modeling (FDM)-based 3D printer for VIMP measurements. The 3D-printed cell designed with a distance of 5 mm between the working and reference electrode presented better voltammetric response and decrease in the uncompensated resistance of the electrochemical system. Cyclic and square wave voltammograms of the individual compounds were recorded in a paraffin-impregnated graphite electrode in contact with 0.01 mol L−1 H2SO4. The electrochemical oxidation/reduction products were characterized by Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Different voltammetric responses were detected for the solid compounds depending on the solubility of the parent compound and their products of oxidation/reduction. Moreover, significant crystal re-structuring was also observed after voltammetric scan of the solid compounds. Under optimized conditions, sildenafil and tadalafil could be electrochemical identified and distinguished in dietary supplements.

This work evaluates the effects of the sintering temperature (800 °C, 900 °C, 1000 °C) of SrTi1-xFexO3-δ (x = 0.35, 0.5, 0.7) porous electrodes on their electrochemical performance as potential oxygen electrode materials of solid oxide cells. The materials were prepared by a solid-state reaction method and revealed the expected cubic perovskite structure. After milling, the powders were characterised by a sub-micrometre particle size with high sinter-activity. It was shown that the lowest area specific resistance was achieved after sintering SrTi0.65Fe0.35O3 electrodes at 1000 °C, and SrTi0.5Fe0.5O3 and SrTi0.30Fe0.70O3 electrodes at 800 °C, which can be considered to be a relatively low temperature. In general, EIS measurements showed that increasing the Fe content results in lowered electrode polarisation and a decrease of the series resistance. Even though the studied materials have much lower total conductivities than state-of-the-art electrode materials (e.g. (La,Sr)(Co,Fe)O3), the polarisation resistances obtained in this work can be considered low.

The effects of Roundup WeatherMax® and EngameTM formulations of glyphosate were investigated on the cotyledons of glyphosate resistant (GR) and glyphosate sensitive (GS) isogenic cotton cultivars. EngameTM is a mixture of glyphosate and 1-aminomethanamide dihydrogen tetraoxosulfate (AMADS). Fully expanded cotton cotyledons treated with EngameTM or AMADS developed surface lesions within 2 hours after treatment whereas surfactant-treated control or WeatherMax®-treated tissues did not develop lesions. The EngameTM and AMADS damage appeared as depressions which were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Light micrographs of cross sections through the depressions revealed collapsed and compressed epidermal and mesophyll cells with congealed cytoplasmic contents in the palisade and spongy mesophyll cells. Changes to photosynthetic electron transport were evident at 4 hours after treatment (HAT) in all treatments as revealed by chlorophyll A fluorescence. In GR cotton, the fluorescence perturbations decreased with time such that at 72 HAT EngameTM-treated cotyledons could not be distinguished from the surfactant-or WeatherMax®-treated plants. The GS cotton continued to show progressive decreases in the fluorescence parameters Fv/Fm and performance index (PI) to 72 HAT. Shikimate levels increased following glyphosate treatment in glyphosate sensitive cotton and EngameTM caused a two-to three-fold greater increase in shikimate compared to WeatherMax®. These results indicate that the EngameTM-based glyphosate formulation involved structural tissue damage which likely increased glyphosate uptake and subsequently increased inhibition of photosynthesis and the shikimate pathway.

Extensive acceptance of glyphosate-resistant (GR) row crops coupled with the simultaneous increase in glyphosate usage has sped the evolution of glyphosate resistance in economically important weeds. GR Amaranthus palmeri populations are widespread across the state with some exhibiting multiple resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibiting herbicides such as pyrithiobac. A GR and ALS inhibitor-resistant accession was also resistant to the protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) inhibiting herbicide fomesafen. The PPO inhibitor resistance profile and multiple herbicide resistance mechanisms in this accession were investigated. In addition to fomesafen, resistance to postemergence applications of acifluorfen, lactofen, carfentrazone, and sulfentrazone was confirmed. There was no resistance to preemergence application of fomesafen, flumioxazin, or oxyfluorfen. Molecular analysis of the ALS gene indicated the presence of point mutations leading to single nucleotide substitutions at codons 197, 377, 574, and 653, resulting in proline-to-serine, arginine-to-glutamine, tryptophan-to-leucine, and serine-to-asparagine replacements, respectively. The resistant accession contained up to 87-fold more copies of the EPSPS gene compared to a susceptible accession. A mutation leading to a deletion of glycine at codon 210 (ΔG210) of PPO2 gene was also detected. These results indicate that the mechanism of resistance in the Palmer amaranth accession is target-site based, i.e., altered target site for ALS and PPO inhibitor resistance and gene amplification for glyphosate resistance.

Renewing carbon and re-establishing it again in the soil is one of the valuable means to cope with climate change. There are many technologies for carbon apprehension and storage, but the most important one gaining attention is biochar technology. So, to carbonize and return different biological materials back to the farmland, a comprehensive study was proposed to characterize and evaluate the carbon (C) mineralization of biochars produced from different animal manures and crop straws. Six types of biochars were prepared from animal manures (poultry litter, swine and cattle manures) and crop straws (rice, soybean, and corn straws). The biochars were analyzed for chemical characteristics (elemental variables, thermal decomposition, cation exchange capacity, pH, electrical conductivity, specific surface area, and surface functional groups) and an incubation experiment was conducted to evaluate C mineralization from soil biochar mixture. Biochars produced from crop straws resulted to have more C as compared to the biochars produced from animal manures. Concentration of nitrogen was low, while P, K, Ca, and Mg were found reasonably higher in all biochars except swine manure biochar. The plant-derived biochars presented lower CO2 emissions when incorporated to soil at 1 and 2% of C. Varying but all the biochars prepared represented an alkaline pH. Biochars prepared from the crop straws resulted to have more C, alkaline in nature, high CEC, low CO2 emissions, can sequester C and more suitable to enhance the soil fertility in comparison to biochars produced from other sources.

A new tangential gamma-ray spectrometer has been developed for fast ion measurements in deuterium and deuterium-tritium plasmas of the Joint European Torus (JET). The instrument is based on a LaBr3 crystal with a photo-multiplier tube and replaces a pre-existing bismuth germanate detector, providing enhanced energy resolution and a counting rate capability in the MHz range. The line of sight is equipped with a LiH attenuator, which reduces the background due to 14 MeV neutron interactions with the crystal by more than two orders of magnitude and enables the observation of gamma-ray emission from confined α particles in JET deuterium-tritium plasmas. Thanks to its tangential line of sight, the detector can distinguish co- and counter-passing ions. The performance of the instrument is demonstrated through the results of recent JET fast ion experiments in deuterium plasmas.

Surface roughness and sharkskin of extruded polymers, including blends are affected by the morphology and processing conditions. In this study, different effects on the roughness of the polymer blend extrudates were investigated. Co-continuous poly(ethylene) oxide/ethylene-vinyl acetate (PEO/EVA) blends with three different molecular weight (Mw) PEOs were compounded successfully. It was found that the better co-continuity of the structure and smoother surface were achieved for lower Mw PEO/EVA blend because of more effective stress transfer in the PEO phase. The effect of processing temperature was also studied with decreasing processing temperature reducing the surface roughness of the high Mw PEO/EVA blend, which was also achieved as a result of improved co-continuous morphology by adjusting the viscosity and elasticity ratio with shifting temperatures.

Fe-doped Mn1,5Co1,5O4 coatings on Crofer22APU were processed by an electrophoretic co-deposition method and the corrosion resistance was tested at 750 °C up to 2000 hours.The “in-situ” Fe-doping of the manganese cobalt spinel was achieved by electrophoretic co-deposition of Mn1,5Co1,5O4 and Fe2O3 powders followed by a two-step reactive sintering treatment. The effects on the coating properties of two different Fe-doping levels (5 and 10 wt.% respectively) and two different temperatures of the reducing treatment (900 and 1000 °C) are discussed. Samples with Fe-doped coatings demonstrated a lower parabolic oxidation rate and thinner oxide scale in comparison with both the undoped Mn1,5Co1,5O4 spinel coating and bare Crofer 22 APU. The best corrosion protection was achieved with the combined effect of Fe-doping and a higher temperature of the reducing step at 1000 °C.