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Abstract Local knowledge systems are not considered in the conservation of fragile seagrass marine ecosystems. In fact, little is known about the utility of seagrasses in local coastal communities. This is intriguing given that some local communities rely on seagrasses to sustain their livelihoods and have relocated their villages to areas with a rich diversity and abundance of seagrasses. The purpose of this study is to assist in conservation efforts regarding seagrasses through identifying Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) from local knowledge systems of seagrasses from 40 coastal communities along the eastern coast of India. We explore the assemblage of scientific and local traditional knowledge concerning the 1. classification of seagrasses (comparing scientific and traditional classification systems), 2. utility of seagrasses, 3. Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) of seagrasses, and 4. current conservation efforts for seagrass ecosystems. Our results indicate that local knowledge systems consist of a complex classification of seagrass diversity that considers the role of seagrasses in the marine ecosystem. This fine-scaled ethno-classification gives rise to five times the number of taxa (10 species = 50 local ethnotaxa), each with a unique role in the ecosystem and utility within coastal communities, including the use of seagrasses for medicine (e.g., treatment of heart conditions, seasickness, etc.), food (nutritious seeds), fertilizer (nutrient rich biomass) and livestock feed (goats and sheep). Local communities are concerned about the loss of seagrass diversity and have considerable local knowledge that is valuable for conservation and restoration plans. This study serves as a case study example of the depth and breadth of local knowledge systems for a particular ecosystem that is in peril. Key words: local health and nutrition, traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), conservation and natural resources management, consensus, ethnomedicine, ethnotaxa, cultural heritage

Background.The objective of this study was to examine the effects of angiotensin II receptor blocker losartan versus the calcium channel blocker amlodipine on proteinuria, renal haemodynamics, glomerular sieving and tubular function in hypertensive patients with non diabetic nephropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The pharmacokinetics of piretanide, a new loop diuretic, were studied in four patients with GFR 4.7-14.8 ml/min. An oral dose of piretanide 18 mg was given at 08.00 h in two patients and at 08.00 h and 14.00 h in two. Blood samples were drawn after 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 24 h. Serum concentrations of piretanide were estimated by radioimmunoassay. The peak serum concentration of piretanide (1-2 h after drug administration) was 510-880 ng/ml, independent of renal function. Elimination half life (t1/2) was 1.2-4.1 h, area under the curves (AUC(0,24)) 1.63-2.44 micrograms ml-1 h, volume of distribution (Vz) 0.30-0.741#kg, total plasma clearance (CL) 122.8-184.0 ml/min and renal clearance (CLR) 1.5-5.2 ml/min. The clinical effects of oral treatment with piretanide 18 mg twice daily were compared with bumetanide 3 mg twice daily in eight patients with renal failure (GFR 2.2-24.5 ml/min). Both drugs equally increased the 24 h output of urine (delta V), sodium (delta UNaV), chloride (delta UC1V), potassium (delta UKV) and calcium (delta UCaV). Fractional excretion of sodium (ENa%) was doubled by piretanide in patients with GFR less than 8 ml/min while a five fold increase was found in patients with GFR greater than 8 ml/min. The onset of effect was the same for both drugs, but the duration exceeded 6 h only for piretanide. Both drugs were most effective on the first of two consecutive treatment days. Delta UC1V was always greater than delta UNaV and urinary phosphate excretion was unchanged, as expected of a loop diuretic without significant proximal effects. Metabolic or clinical side effects were not noticed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of iodinated contrast medium can result in nephropathy. Whether iso-osmolar contrast medium is less nephrotoxic than low-osmolar contrast medium in high-risk patients is uncertain.Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, prospective, multicenter study comparing the nephrotoxic effects of an iso-osmolar, dimeric, nonionic contrast medium, iodixanol, with those of a low-osmolar, nonionic, monomeric contrast medium, iohexol. The study involved 129 patients with diabetes with serum creatinine concentrations of 1.5 to 3.5 mg per deciliter who underwent coronary or aortofemoral angiography. The primary end point was the peak increase from base line in the creatinine concentration during the three days after angiography. Other end points were an increase in the creatinine concentration of 0.5 mg per deciliter or more, an increase of 1.0 mg per deciliter or more, and a change in the creatinine concentration from day 0 to day 7.Results: The creatinine concentration increased significantly less in patients who received iodixanol. From day 0 to day 3, the mean peak increase in creatinine was 0.13 mg per deciliter in the iodixanol group and 0.55 mg per deciliter in the iohexol group (P=0.001; the increase with iodixanol minus the increase with iohexol, -0.42 mg per deciliter [95 percent confidence interval, -0.73 to -0.22]). Two of the 64 patients in the iodixanol group (3 percent) had an increase in the creatinine concentration of 0.5 mg per deciliter or more, as compared with 17 of the 65 patients in the iohexol group (26 percent) (P=0.002; odds ratio for such an increase in the iodixanol group, 0.09 [95 percent confidence interval, 0.02 to 0.41]). No patient receiving iodixanol had an increase of 1.0 mg per deciliter or more, but 10 patients in the iohexol group (15 percent) did. The mean change in the creatinine concentration from day 0 to day 7 was 0.07 mg per deciliter in the iodixanol group and 0.24 mg per deciliter in the iohexol group (P=0.003; value in the iodixanol group minus the value in the iohexol group, -0.17 mg per deciliter [95 percent confidence interval, -0.34 to -0.07]).Conclusions: Nephropathy induced by contrast medium may be less likely to develop in high-risk patients when iodixanol is used rather than a low-osmolar, nonionic contrast medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A range of charge-stabilized aqueous polyurethane (PU) dispersions comprising hard segments formed from hydrogenated methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (H 12 MDI) with dimethylolpropionic acid (DMPA) and ethylenediamine, and soft segments of poly(tetramethylene oxide) of different molecular weights are synthesized. Characterization of the dispersions by mass spectrometry, gel permeation chromatography, small-angle X-ray scattering, atomic force microscopy, and infrared spectroscopy shows that they are composed of PUs self-assembled into spherical particles (primary population) and supramolecular structures formed by hydrogen-bonded H 12 MDI and DMPA acid-rich fragments (secondary population). Analysis of the scattering patterns of the dispersions, using a structural model based on conservation of mass, reveals that the proportion of supramolecular structures increases with DMPA content. It is also found that the PU particle radius follows the predictions of the particle surface charge density model, originally developed for acrylic statistical copolymers, and is controlled by hydrophile (DMPA) content in the PU molecules, where an increase in PU acidity results in a decrease in particle size. Moreover, there is a critical fractional coverage of hydrophiles stabilizing the particle surface for a given polyether soft-segment molecular weight, which increases with the polyether molecular weight, confirming that more acid groups are required to stabilize a more hydrophobic composition., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

In the quest for sustainable paints and coatings, bio-based resources for the polymeric binder constituents are key. Recently, we introduced poly-butenolides as bio-based acrylate replacement for solventborne and 100% solids (UV-curing) coatings. Here, we report the first step towards aqueous poly-butenolide dispersions, enabling the use of this novel binder technology platform in waterborne coatings., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

The activation of alkyl hydroperoxides to generate radicals is a key step in the initiation of radical polymerisations in many industrial applications, not least protective coatings. Cobalt soaps (Co(ii) alkyl carboxylates) are highly effective catalysts under ambient conditions but viable alternatives based on less scarce catalysts are desirable, with especially iron and manganese catalysts showing potential. Manganese complexes of the ligand N , N ', N ″-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane (tmtacn) are long established as catalysts for organic oxidations with H 2 O 2 , however their reactivity with alkyl hydroperoxides is less studied especially in apolar solvents. Here we show that this family of complexes can be employed as catalysts for the decomposition of alkyl hydroperoxides in apolar solvents such as styrene/methyl methacrylate mixtures and resins based on styrene/bisphenol-A based diglycidyl ether bismethacrylate (BADGE-MA). The progress of alkene polymerisation in crosslinking resins is followed by Raman spectroscopy to establish its dependence on the oxidation state of the manganese catalyst used, as gelation time and onset of autoacceleration are of particular interest for many applications. We show, through reaction progress monitoring with UV/vis absorption and Raman spectroscopy, that the stability of the manganese complexes in the resin mixtures has a substantial effect on curing progress and that the oxidation state of the resting state of the catalyst is most likely Mn(ii), in contrast to reactions with H 2 O 2 as oxidant in which the oxidation state of the resting state of catalyst is Mn(iii). Manganese complexes of tmtacn are shown to be capable initiators of alkene radical polymerisations, and their rich coordination and redox chemistry means that resin curing kinetics can potentially be tuned more readily than with cobalt alkyl carboxylates., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

The coatings industry is aiming to replace petrochemical-based binders in products such as paints and lacquers with bio-based alternatives. Native polysaccharide additives are already used, especially as adhesives, and here we show the use of oxidised dextran as a bio-based binder additive. Linear dextran with a molecular weight of 6 kDa was aerobically oxidised in water at the C3-position of its glucose units, catalysed by [(neocuproine)PdOAc] 2 (OTf) 2 . The resulting keto-dextran with different oxidation degrees was studied using adipic dihydrazide as a crosslinker in combination with the commercial petrochemical-based binder Joncryl®. Coating experiments show that part of the Joncryl® can be replaced by keto-dextran while maintaining the desired performance., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

The nucleophilic ring opening of epoxides by carboxylic acids is an indispensable transformation for materials science and coating technologies. Due to this industrial significance, improvements in operational energy consumption and catalyst sustainability are highly desirable for this transformation. Herein, an efficient, environmentally benign and non-toxic halide free cooperative catalyst system based on an iron(iii) benzoate complex and guanidinium carbonate is reported. The novel catalyst system shows improved activity over onium halide catalysts under neat conditions and in several solvents, including anisole and n BuOAc. Detailed mechanistic studies using FeCl 3 /DMAP as a catalyst revealed the importance of a carboxylate bridged cationic trinuclear μ 3 -oxo iron cluster and guanidinium carbonate or DMAP as a carboxylate reservoir due to its superior activity., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

The thermal curing of industrial coatings (e.g., car painting and metal coil coatings) is accompanied by a substantial energy consumption due to the intrinsically high temperatures required during the curing process. Therefore, the development of new photochemical curing processes-preferably using visible light-is in high demand. This work describes new diazo-based cross-linkers that can be used to photocure acrylic coatings using blue light. This work demonstrates that the structure of the tethered diazo compounds influences the cross-linking efficiency, finding that side reactions are suppressed upon engineering greater molecular flexibility. Importantly, this work shows that these diazo compounds can be employed as either thermal or photochemical cross-linkers, exhibiting identical crosslinking performances. The performance of diazo-cross-linked coatings is evaluated to reveal excellent water resistance and demonstrably similar material properties to UV-cured acrylates. These studies pave the way for further usage of diazo-functionalized cross-linkers in the curing of paints and coatings., (© 2023 The Authors. Macromolecular Rapid Communications published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Background and Objectives: High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy for hospitalized children with bronchiolitis is associated with a longer length of stay (LOS) when used outside of the ICU. We sought to explore the association between HFNC and LOS to identify if demographic and clinical factors may modify the effect of HFNC usage on LOS., Methods: In this multicenter retrospective cohort study, we used a combination of hospital records and the Pediatric Health Information System. We included encounters from September 1, 2018 to March 31, 2020 for patients <2 years old diagnosed with bronchiolitis. Multivariable Poisson regression was performed for the association of LOS with measured covariates, including fixed main effects and interaction terms between HFNC and other factors., Results: Of 8060 included patients, 2179 (27.0%) received HFNC during admission. Age group, weight, complex chronic condition, initial tachypnea, initial desaturation, and ICU services were significantly associated with LOS. The effect of HFNC on LOS differed among hospitals (P < .001), with the estimated increase in LOS ranging from 32% to 139%. The effect of HFNC on LOS was modified by age group, initial desaturation, and ICU services, with 1- to 6-month-old infants, patients without initial desaturation, and patients without ICU services having the highest association between HFNC and LOS, respectively., Conclusions: We identified multiple potential effect modifiers for the relationship between HFNC and LOS. The authors of future prospective studies should investigate the effect of HFNC usage on LOS in non-ICU patients without documented desaturation., (Copyright © 2023 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.)

Butenolides are a class of 5-membered lactones that hold great potential as bio-based monomers to replace oil-derived acrylates, of which they are cyclic analogues. Despite this structural resemblance, the reactivity of the unsaturated ester moiety of electron-poor butenolides leans toward that of maleic anhydride, another essential monomer that does not homopolymerize but copolymerizes in a highly alternating fashion with polarized electron-rich comonomers. By studying the reactivity of 5-methoxy and 5-acyloxy butenolides through a combination of kinetics and density functional theory (DFT) experiments, we explain why electron-poor butenolides constitute a missing link between acrylates and maleic anhydride in radical polymerization.

Two-dimensional (2D) piezoelectric materials have recently drawn intense interest in studying the nanoscale electromechanical coupling phenomenon and device development. A critical knowledge gap exists to correlate the nanoscale piezoelectric property with the static strains often found in 2D materials. Here, we present a study of the out-of-plane piezoelectric property of nanometer-thick 2D ZnO-nanosheets (NS) in correlation to in-plane strains, using in situ via strain-correlated piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). We show that the strain configuration (either tensile or compressive) can dramatically influence the measured piezoelectric coefficient ( d 33 ) of 2D ZnO-NS. A comparison of the out-of-plane piezoresponse is made for in-plane tensile and compressive strains approaching 0.50%, where the measured d 33 varies between 2.1 and 20.3 pm V -1 resulting in an order-of-magnitude change in the piezoelectric property. These results highlight the important role of in-plane strain in the quantification and application of 2D piezoelectric materials.

Background and Objectives: Alarm fatigue is exacerbated by frequent, nonactionable physiologic monitor alarms. Overutilization of pulse oximetry (SpO2) compounds this alarm burden. Narrow default alarm limits and overutilization of continuous (CSpO2) rather than intermittent monitoring contribute to nonactionable alarms. There were 1.12 million SpO2 alarms on included units during the baseline period, of which 41.0% were for SpO2 ≥ 88%. We aimed to decrease SpO2 alarms per patient day by 20% within 12 months., Methods: This quality improvement study included patients admitted January 2019 to June 2022. Intensive care and cardiology units were excluded. Interventions included (1) changing default alarm SpO2 limits on monitors from <90% to <88%, (2) changing SpO2 order default from continuous to intermittent, and (3) adding indication requirements for CSpO2. Outcome measures were total SpO2 alarms and alarms for SpO2 ≥ 88% per patient day. Balancing measures were high acuity transfers and code blues without CSpO2 ordered. Control charts were used for each., Results: Our study included 120 408 patient days with 2.98 million SpO2 alarms. Total SpO2 alarms and alarms for SpO2 ≥ 88% per patient day decreased by 5.48 (30.57 to 25.09; 17.9%) and 4.48 (12.50 to 8.02; 35.8%), respectively. Special cause improvement was associated with changing default monitor alarm parameters. Balancing measures remained stable., Conclusions: SpO2 monitors alarm frequently at our children's hospital. Widening default alarm limits was associated with decreased SpO2 alarms, particularly nonactionable alarms (≥88%). This high-reliability intervention may be applied, when appropriate, to other monitor alarm parameters to further mitigate alarm burden., (Copyright © 2023 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.)

Renewable polysaccharide feedstocks are of interest in bio-based food packaging, coatings and hydrogels. Their physical properties often need to be tuned by chemical modification, e.g. by oxidation using periodate, to introduce carboxylic acid, ketone or aldehyde functional groups. The reproducibility required for application on an industrial scale, however, is challenged by uncertainty about the composition of product mixtures obtained and of the precise structural changes that the reaction with periodate induces. Here, we show that despite the structural diversity of gum arabic, primarily rhamnose and arabinose subunits undergo oxidation, whereas (in-chain) galacturonic acids are unreactive towards periodate. Using model sugars, we show that periodate preferentially oxidises the anti 1,2-diols in the rhamnopyranoside monosaccharides present as terminal groups in the biopolymer. While formally oxidation of vicinal diols results in the formation of two aldehyde groups, only traces of aldehydes are observed in solution, with the main final products obtained being substituted dioxanes, both in solution and in the solid state. The substituted dioxanes form most likely by the intramolecular reaction of one aldehyde with a nearby hydroxyl group, followed by hydration of the remaining aldehyde to form a geminal diol. The absence of significant amounts of aldehyde functional groups in the modified polymer impacts crosslinking strategies currently attempted in the preparation of renewable polysaccharide-based materials., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Zn deficiency arising from inadequate dietary intake of bioavailable Zn is common in children in developing countries. Because house crickets are a rich source of Zn, their consumption could be an effective public health measure to combat Zn deficiency. This study used Optifood, a tool based on linear programming analysis, to develop food-based dietary recommendations (FBR) and predict whether dietary house crickets can improve both Zn and overall nutrient adequacy of children's diets. Two quantitative, multi-pass 24-h recalls from forty-seven children aged 2 and 3 years residing in rural Kenya were collected and used to derive model parameters, including a list of commonly consumed foods, median serving sizes and frequency of consumption. Two scenarios were modelled: (i) FBR based on local available foods and (ii) FBR based on local available foods with house crickets. Results revealed that Zn would cease to be a problem nutrient when including house crickets to children's diets (population reference intake coverage for Zn increased from 89 % to 121 % in the best-case scenario). FBR based on both scenarios could ensure nutrient adequacy for all nutrients except for fat, but energy percentage (E%) for fat was higher when house crickets were included in the diet (23 E% v . 19 E%). This manoeuvre, combined with realistic changes in dietary practices, could therefore improve dietary Zn content and ensure adequacy for twelve nutrients for Kenyan children. Further research is needed to render these theoretical recommendations, practical.

Background: Controlled feeding trials are an important method to determine cause-effect relationships between dietary intake and metabolic parameters, risk factors, or health outcomes. Participants of a controlled feeding trial receive full-day menus during a prespecified period of time. The menus have to comply with the nutritional and operational standards of the trial. Levels of nutrients under investigation should differ sufficiently between intervention groups, and be as similar as possible for all energy levels within intervention groups. Levels of other key nutrients should be as similar as possible for all participants. All menus have to be varied and manageable. Designing these menus is both a nutritional and a computational challenge that relies largely on the expertise of the research dietician. The process is very time consuming, and last-minute disruptions are very hard to manage., Objective: This paper demonstrates a mixed integer linear programming model to support the design of menus for controlled feeding trials., Methods: The model is demonstrated for a trial that involved consumption of individualized, isoenergetic menus with either a low or a high protein content., Results: All menus generated by the model comply with all standards of the trial. The model allows for including tight ranges on nutrient composition, and complex design features. The model is very helpful in managing contrast and similarity of key nutrient intake levels between groups and energy levels, and in coping with many energy levels and nutrients. The model helps to propose several alternative menus and to manage last-minute disruptions. The model is flexible; it can easily be adapted to suit trials with other components or different nutritional requirements., Conclusions: The model helps to design menus in a fast, objective, transparent, and reproducible way. It greatly facilitates the design procedure for menus in controlled feeding trials and lowers development costs., (Copyright © 2022 American Society for Nutrition. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Polyureas have widespread applications due to their unique material properties. Because of the toxicity of isocyanates, sustainable isocyanate-free routes to prepare polyureas are a field of active research. Current routes to isocyanate-free polyureas focus on constructing the urea moiety in the final polymerizing step. In this study we present a new isocyanate-free method to produce polyureas by Ru-catalyzed carbene insertion into the N-H bonds of urea itself in combination with a series of bis-diazo compounds as carbene precursors. The mechanism was investigated by kinetics and DFT studies, revealing the rate-determining step to be nucleophilic attack on a Ru-carbene moiety by urea. This study paves the way to use transition-metal-catalyzed reactions in alternative routes to polyureas., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Purpose: To investigate whether adherence to the Dutch Healthy Diet index 2015 (DHD15-index) is associated with change in glycemic control and cardio-metabolic markers over two-year follow-up in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D)., Methods: This prospective cohort study included 1202 individuals with T2D (mean age 68.7 ± 9.0 years; 62.5% male; mean HbA1c 53.8 ± 11.7 mmol/mol) from the Diabetes Care System cohort. Baseline dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire, and adherence to the DHD15-index was estimated (range 0-130). HbA1c, fasting glucose, blood lipids (HDL and LDL cholesterol, cholesterol ratio), blood pressure, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and BMI were measured at baseline, and after one- and two-year follow-up. Linear mixed model analyses were conducted to examine the associations between adherence to the DHD15-index and glycemic control and the cardio-metabolic outcomes, adjusting for energy intake, sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics, and medication., Results: Highest adherence (T3) to the DHD15-index was not associated with change in HbA1c, compared to lowest adherence (T1) [β T3vsT1 : 0.62 mmol/mol (- 0.94; 2.19), P trend  = 0.44]. There was a non-linear association with fasting glucose, where moderate adherence (T2) was associated with a decrease in fasting glucose [β T2vsT1 : - 0.29 mmol/L (- 0.55; - 0.03), P trend  = 0.30]. Higher adherence to the DHD15-index was associated with a decrease in BMI [β 10point : - 0.41 kg/m 2 (- 0.60; - 0.21), P trend  < 0.001], but not with blood lipids, blood pressure or kidney function., Conclusion: In this well-controlled population of people with T2D, adherence to the DHD15-index was associated with a decrease in BMI, but not with change in glycemic control or other cardio-metabolic parameters., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Envenomation in avian species can result in death, with few cases of successful treatment described. A juvenile, wild-caught, intact female red-tailed hawk ( Buteo jamaicensis ) used in falconry was presented for emergency evaluation after being bitten by a Northern Pacific rattlesnake ( Crotalus oreganus ) approximately 2 hours before presentation. On presentation, the bird was quiet, alert, and responsive, with moderate swelling and discomfort of the digits on the right foot. Complete blood count (CBC) and plasma biochemistry abnormalities included a regenerative left shift, severe lymphopenia, and a moderate hypoproteinemia characterized by moderate hypoalbuminemia. Analgesic and antibiotic medications were administered during hospitalization. In addition, 5 mL of VenomVet was administered intravenously with crystalloid fluids over 60 minutes; no adverse effects were noted secondary to infusion. Improvement in the swelling was observed immediately after antivenom administration and nearly resolved within 12 hours. Complete resolution of digital swelling with no discomfort on palpation of that foot was observed 1 week after initial presentation. Blood collected at the 1 week reexamination was submitted for a CBC and plasma biochemistry panel. The results of the CBC revealed a reduced regenerative left shift, increased heterophil count, and a moderate monocytosis; the lymphopenia was resolved. A mild hypoalbuminemia still persisted. Ten months after presentation, the bird was reported to be doing well with no changes in function of the right foot and subsequently released from captivity.

The design and synthesis of high-quality two-dimensional (2D) materials with desired morphology are essential for property control. One critical challenge that impedes the understanding and control of 2D crystal nucleation and growth is the inability of direct observation of the nanocrystal evolution process with high enough time resolution. Here, we demonstrated an in situ X-ray scattering approach that directly reveals 2D wurtzite ZnO nanosheet growth at the air-water interface. The time-resolved grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GID) and grazing incidence X-ray off-specular scattering (GIXOS) results uncovered a lateral to vertical growth kinetics switch phenomenon in the ZnO nanosheet growth. This switch represents the 2D to three-dimensional (3D) crystal structure evolution, which governs the size and thickness of nanosheets, respectively. This phenomenon can guide 2D nanocrystal synthesis with rationally controlled size and thickness. Our work opens a new pathway toward the understanding of 2D nanomaterial growth kinetics based on time-resolved liquid surface grazing incidence X-ray techniques.

Kinetic analysis of polyesterification reactions using Lewis-acidic metal catalysts have been performed. While Sn-based catalysts are superior to Ti-based catalysts under neat polycondensation conditions (high [H 2 O]), the result is inverted under azeotropic conditions (low [H 2 O]). These findings show that the catalytic activity is crucially determined by the robustness of the catalyst against hydrolytic degradation., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

The curing of bis-methacrylate-styrene resins initiated by the cobalt catalyzed decomposition of cumyl hydroperoxide is monitored at ambient temperatures in situ by EPR and Raman spectroscopy. EPR spectroscopy shows the appearance of organic radicals after ca. 1 h from initiation with an increase in intensity from both polystyrene and methacrylate based radical species over a further ca. 2 h period to reach a maximum spin concentration of ca. 2-3 mM. Alkene conversion to polymer was monitored by Raman spectroscopy in real time in situ with EPR spectroscopy and reveals that the appearance of the radical signals is first observed only as the conversion approaches its maximum extent (70% at room temperature), i.e. , the resin reaches a glass-like state. The radicals persist for several months on standing at room temperature. Flash frozen samples (77 K) did not show EPR signals within 1 h of initiation. The nature of the radicals responsible for the EPR spectra observed were explored by DFT methods and isotope labelling experiments (D 8 -styrene) and correspond to radicals of both methacrylate and polystyrene. Combined temperature dependent EPR and Raman spectroscopy shows that conversion increases rapidly upon heating of a cured sample, reaching full conversion at 80 °C with initially little effect on the EPR spectrum. Over time ( i.e. subsequent to reaching full conversion of alkene) there was a small but clear increase in the EPR signal due to the methacrylate based radicals and minor decrease in the signal due to the polystyrene based radicals. The appearance of the radical signals as the reaction reaches completion and their absence in samples flash frozen before polymerization has halted, indicate that the observed radicals are non-propagating. The formation of the radicals due to stress within the samples is excluded. Hence, the observed radicals are a representative of the steady state concentration of radicals present in the resin over the entire timespan of the polymerization. The data indicate that the lack of EPR signals is most likely due to experimental aspects, in particular spin saturation, rather than low steady state concentrations of propagating radicals during polymerization., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Case Description: An 8-year-old sexually intact female eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus) with a 4-day history of hyporexia and lethargy and a 1-day history of tenesmus was examined., Clinical Findings: Severe leukocytosis characterized by severe heterophilia and moderate monocytosis was present. Marked dilation of the proventriculus and ventriculus and ascites were identified by means of radiography, coelomic ultrasonography, and contrast-enhanced CT, with no clinically relevant motility noted on ultrasonography. Results of coelomic fluid analysis were consistent with pyogranulomatous effusion. Endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract following proventricular and ventricular lavage showed a thick caseous plaque occupying 30% of the caudal proventricular mucosa. Abundant yeast organisms were evident during cytologic examination of a proventricular and ventricular wash sample, and fecal culture yielded Candida glabrata., Treatment and Outcome: The bird was treated with SC fluids, assisted feedings, nystatin, fluconazole, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, enrofloxacin, gastroprotectants, maropitant, and analgesics and slowly improved during hospitalization. A marked decrease in proventricular dilation was evident on serial radiographs obtained over a 12-month period. One year after diagnosis, the bird was presented with a 1-week history of hyporexia and lethargy, and fecal culture grew C glabrata. Antifungal treatment was resumed for 3 months. The bird had no clinical signs of infection 16 months after this recurrence, and subsequent fecal cultures were negative for fungal growth., Clinical Relevance: Findings illustrate the importance of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in diagnosing proventricular and ventricular dilation in birds and emphasize the need for long-term antifungal treatment and monitoring in birds with fungal infections.

Objectives: High flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is increasingly used for children hospitalized with bronchiolitis. We aimed to validate identification of HFNC use in a national database, then compare resource utilization among children treated with and without HFNC., Methods: In this cross-sectional, multicenter study, we obtained clinical and resource utilization data from the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database for healthy children aged 1 to 24 months admitted for bronchiolitis. We assessed HFNC use based on a combination of billing codes and reviewed charts at 2 hospitals to determine their accuracy. We compared costs, length of stay, and readmissions between the HFNC and no HFNC groups at hospitals utilizing the HFNC codes., Results: The PHIS codes demonstrated 90.4% sensitivity and 99.3% specificity to detect HFNC use as verified by chart review at 2 hospitals. However, only 24 of 51 PHIS hospitals used these codes for ≥1% of patients with bronchiolitis. Within those hospitals, children treated with HFNC had greater total costs ($7054 vs $4544; P < .001), greater daily costs ($2922 vs $2613; P < .001), and longer length of stay (57.6 vs 41.6 hours; P < .001). Those treated with HFNC were less likely to be readmitted at 3 and 7 days (P < .001), but by 14 days, readmissions were similar in the 2 groups., Conclusions: Billing codes for HFNC are inconsistently applied across PHIS hospitals; however, among those hospitals that routinely apply these codes, HFNC was associated with more intense resource utilization. Standardization of billing practices for HFNC would allow future study to more broadly describe the value of HFNC., Competing Interests: POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The authors have indicated they have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.)

Background: It is unknown whether meat intake is beneficial for long-term patient and graft survival in kidney transplant recipients (KTR)., Objectives: We first investigated the association of the previously described meat intake biomarkers 1-methylhistidine and 3-methylhistidine with intake of white and red meat as estimated from a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Second, we investigated the association of the meat intake biomarkers with long-term outcomes in KTR., Methods: We measured 24-h urinary excretion of 1-methylhistidine and 3-methylhistidine by validated assays in a cohort of 678 clinically stable KTR. Cross-sectional associations were assessed by linear regression. We used Cox regression analyses to prospectively study associations of log2-transformed biomarkers with mortality and graft failure., Results: Urinary 1-methylhistidine and 3-methylhistidine excretion values were median: 282; interquartile range (IQR): 132-598 µmol/24 h and median: 231; IQR: 175-306 µmol/24 h, respectively. Urinary 1-methylhistidine was associated with white meat intake [standardized β (st β): 0.20; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.28; P < 0.001], whereas urinary 3-methylhistidine was associated with red meat intake (st β: 0.30; 95% CI: 0.23, 0.38; P < 0.001). During median follow-up for 5.4 (IQR: 4.9-6.1) y, 145 (21%) died and 83 (12%) developed graft failure. Urinary 3-methylhistidine was inversely associated with mortality independently of potential confounders (HR per doubling: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.42, 0.72; P < 0.001). Both urinary 1-methylhistidine and urinary 3-methylhistidine were inversely associated with graft failure independent of potential confounders (HR per doubling: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.73, 0.96; P = 0.01; and 0.59; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.85; P = 0.004, respectively)., Conclusions: High urinary 3-methylhistidine, reflecting higher red meat intake, is independently associated with lower risk of mortality. High urinary concentrations of both 1- and 3-methylhistidine, of which the former reflects higher white meat intake, are independently associated with lower risk of graft failure in KTR. Future intervention studies are warranted to study the effect of high meat intake on mortality and graft failure in KTR, using these biomarkers., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition.)

Food-based recommendations (FBR) developed using linear programming generally use dietary intake and energy and nutrient requirement data. It is still unknown to what extent the availability and selection of these data affect the developed FBR and identified problem nutrients. We used 24 h dietary recalls of 62 Kenyan children (4-6 years of age) to analyse the sensitivity of the FBR and problem nutrients to (1) dietary intake data, (2) selection criteria applied to these data and (3) energy and nutrient requirement data, using linear programming (Optifood©), by comparing a reference scenario with eight alternative scenarios. Replacing reported by estimated consumption frequencies increased the recommended frequencies in the FBR for most food groups while folate was no longer identified as a problem nutrient. Using the 10-90th instead of the 5-95th percentile of distribution to define minimum and maximum frequencies/week decreased the recommended frequencies in the FBR and doubled the number of problem nutrients. Other alternative scenarios negligibly affected the FBR and identified problem nutrients. Our study shows the importance of consumption frequencies for developing FBR and identifying problem nutrients by linear programming. We recommend that reported consumption frequencies and the 5-95th percentiles of distribution of reported frequencies be used to define the minimum and maximum frequencies.

Cryosurgery, also known as cryotherapy and cryoablation, is a promising surgical technique that employs highly localized freezing to destroy damaged and diseased tissue, including benign and malignant neoplasms. This procedure has been reported in the treatment of chromatophoromas, fibromas, and peripheral nerve sheath tumors in piscine patients. This study presents eight clinical cases of cryosurgery on cyprinid pet fish for a wide array of neoplastic masses, including chromatophoromas, squamous cell carcinoma, and sarcomas that were diagnosed by histopathology. Surgical excision of external masses, liquid nitrogen cryotherapy, injectable medications (meloxicam and danofloxacin), and topical medical-grade honey were applied to the patients after biopsy sampling. Five out of seven cutaneous cases and two out of three ocular cases had complete resolution without recurrence for at least three months posttreatment. Treatment was unsuccessful for two of the cutaneous cases in which the cutaneous masses were extremely invasive, resulting in severe ulceration and deep invasion into the coelomic cavity. One of the ocular cases involved a corneal mass that did not change in size and had no complications after treatments, suggesting that the treatment might be useful in limiting growth. The effectiveness of cryotherapy appears to correlate with the tumor type, as well as the stage and progression of tumor invasion.

Background and Aims: Presence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) importantly contributes to excess mortality in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). However, it is unclear which dietary factors drive the adverse role of MetS in KTRs. We aimed to define a dietary pattern that maximally explained the variation in MetS components, and to investigate the association between this MetS-related dietary pattern (MetS-DP) and all-cause mortality in KTRs., Methods and Results: We included 429 adult KTRs who had a functioning graft ⩾1 year. A MetS-DP was constructed using habitual dietary intake derived from a 177-item food frequency questionnaire. We used reduced rank regression (RRR), and defined the six components of MetS (waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, serum triglycerides, HbA1c, and HDL cholesterol) as response variables and 48 food groups as predictor variables. We evaluated the association between the MetS-DP and all-cause mortality using multivariable Cox regression analysis. The MetS-DP was characterized by high intakes of processed meat and desserts, and low intakes of vegetables, tea, rice, fruits, milk, and meat substitutes. During a mean follow-up of 5.3 ± 1.2 years, 63 KTRs (14.7%) died. Compared to the lowest tertile of the Mets-DP score, those with the greatest adherence had a more than 3-fold higher risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.70-7.74, P < 0.001), independent of potential confounders., Conclusions: We identified a MetS-related dietary pattern which was independently associated with all-cause mortality in KTRs. The association between this dietary pattern and all-cause mortality was mediated by MetS. Clinical trial reg. no. NCT02811835., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 The Italian Diabetes Society, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Monoalkyltin(iv) complexes are well-known catalysts for esterification reactions and polyester formation, yet the mode of operation of these Lewis acidic complexes is still unknown. Here, we report on mechanistic studies of n -butylstannoic acid in stoichiometric and catalytic reactions, analyzed by NMR, IR and MS techniques. While the chemistry of n -butyltin(iv) carboxylates is dominated by formation of multinuclear tin assemblies, we found that under catalytically relevant conditions only monomeric n -BuSn(OAc) 3 and dimeric ( n -BuSnOAc 2 OEt) 2 are present. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations provide support for a mononuclear mechanism, where n -BuSn(OAc) 3 and dimeric ( n -BuSnOAc 2 OEt) 2 are regarded as off-cycle species, and suggest that carbon-oxygen bond breaking is the rate-determining step., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

The sensitive surfaces of many unvarnished 20th century oil paintings are of great concern for conservators and collection keepers. They may show degradation problems such as paint delamination, dripping, and soft and sticky paint and pose challenges for cleaning due to solvent sensitivity. We report for the first time the use of an innovative ambient ionization technique, surface acoustic wave nebulization-mass spectrometry (SAWN-MS), for the identification and characterization of fatty acids, dicarboxylic species and glycerides in water-sensitive modern oil paints. The composition of 10 relevant Winsor and Newton 1964-1965 paint swatches that present different degrees of water sensitivity and two paint samples from a painting by the British artist Francis Bacon were studied. Principal component analysis was used for SAWN-MS data classification. Electrospray ionization (ESI)-MS was used as control method, specifically to compare the obtained ratios of markers of interest by the two ionization techniques. The results obtained by both ESI-MS and SAWN-MS are correlated and discussed in a broader context including the information on the oil media obtained by gas chromatography (GC-MS) and also on the inorganic materials and salts characterized using a combination of methods in previous reports on samples from the same manufacturer. SAWN-MS was found to be a suitable tool for the determination of soluble organic constituents present in the paints. The method provides an indication of the level of oxidation and hydrolysis of the paint film by monitoring specific markers such as free palmitic and stearic acids, azelaic acid, monoacylglycerols, and diacylglycerols. The data showed that a higher level of water sensitivity coupled with a high level of oxidation and hydrolysis is linked to higher dicarboxylic acid, diacyl- and triacylglyceride content and lower levels of short chain fatty acids. The data obtained by SAWN-MS provided a good correlation between the monitored species and the degree of water sensitivity.

For almost a century, petrochemical-based monomers like acrylates have been widely used as the basis for coatings, resins, and paints. The development of sustainable alternatives, integrating the principles of green chemistry in starting material, synthesis process, and product function, offers tremendous challenges for science and society. Here, we report on alkoxybutenolides as a bio-based alternative for acrylates and the formation of high-performance coatings. Starting from biomass-derived furfural and an environmentally benign photochemical conversion using visible light and oxygen in a flow reactor provides the alkoxybutenolide monomers. This is followed by radical (co)polymerization, which results in coatings with tunable properties for applications on distinct surfaces like glass or plastic. The performance is comparable to current petrochemical-derived industrial coatings., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works. Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial License 4.0 (CC BY-NC).)

An adult blue-fronted Amazon parrot (Amazona aestiva) was presented for a 6-wk history of ataxia and weight loss. Complete blood count, plasma chemistry panel, bile acids, and radiographic imaging were considered normal or unremarkable. The patient was hospitalized and supported with subcutaneous fluids, vitamin B complex, meloxicam, enrofloxacin, gavage feeding, and fenbendazole. While hospitalized, the ataxia significantly improved, and the bird began eating on its own and gaining weight. The bird was discharged from the hospital and prescribed enrofloxacin, meloxicam, and fenbendazole to be administered by the owner with recommendations for routine follow-up care. Medications were discontinued before emergent representation; at the time of reevaluation, the patient's condition had deteriorated severely. Given the poor prognosis, the owners elected for euthanasia. No gross abnormalities were noted on postmortem examination. Liver tissue zinc levels measured 125 ppm; normal limit is less than or equal to 25 ppm. Histopathologic changes to the brain were consistent with severe zinc toxicosis demonstrated by vasculopathy of the cerebral arteries and arterioles with multifocal areas of hemorrhage and astrocyte swelling. These findings have been reported in humans and other mammals but not birds. Although the source of this bird's heavy metal exposure is unknown, the high tissue zinc concentrations imply chronic exposure. This case presentation and unusual pathologic findings will be beneficial to the further understanding of avian zinc toxicosis.

Objective: To determine the pharmacokinetics of amantadine after oral administration of single and multiple doses to orange-winged Amazon parrots ( Amazona amazonica )., Animals: 12 adult orange-winged Amazon parrots (6 males and 6 females)., Procedures: A single dose of amantadine was orally administered to 6 birds at 5 mg/kg (n = 2), 10 mg/kg (2), and 20 mg/kg (2) in a preliminary trial. On the basis of the results, a single dose of amantadine (10 mg/kg, PO) was administered to 6 other birds. Two months later, multiple doses of amantadine (5 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h for 7 days) were administered to 8 birds. Heart rate, respiratory rate, behavior, and urofeces were monitored. Plasma concentrations of amantadine were measured via tandem liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Pharmacokinetic parameter estimates were determined via noncompartmental analysis., Results: Mean ± SD maximum plasma concentration, time to maximum plasma concentration, half-life, and area under the concentration-versus-time curve from the last dose to infinity were 1,174 ± 186 ng/mL, 3.8 ± 1.8 hours, 23.2 ± 2.9 hours, and 38.6 ± 7.4 μg·h/mL, respectively, after a single dose and 1,185 ± 270 ng/mL, 3.0 ± 2.4 hours, 21.5 ± 5.3 hours, and 26.3 ± 5.7 μg·h/mL, respectively, at steady state after multiple doses. No adverse effects were observed., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Once-daily oral administration of amantadine at 5 mg/kg to orange-winged Amazon parrots maintained plasma concentrations above those considered to be therapeutic in dogs. Further studies evaluating safety and efficacy of amantadine in orange-winged Amazon parrots are warranted.

Aim: To investigate the relative contribution of phenotypic and lifestyle factors to HbA1c, independent of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2h post-load glucose (2hPG), in the general population., Methods: The study populations included 2309 participants without known diabetes from the first wave of the Hoorn Study (1989) and 2619 from the second wave (2006). Multivariate linear regression models were used to analyze the relationship between potential determinants and HbA1c in addition to FPG and 2hPG. The multivariate model was derived in the first wave of the Hoorn Study, and replicated in the second wave., Results: In both cohorts, independent of FPG and 2hPG, higher age, female sex, larger waist circumference, and smoking were associated with a higher HbA1c level. Larger hip circumference, higher BMI, higher alcohol consumption and vitamin C intake were associated with a lower HbA1c level. FPG and 2hPG together explained 41.0% (first wave) and 53.0% (second wave) of the total variance in HbA1c. The combination of phenotypic and lifestyle determinants additionally explained 5.7% (first wave) and 3.9% (second wave)., Conclusions: This study suggests that, independent of glucose, phenotypic and lifestyle factors are associated with HbA1c, but the contribution is relatively small. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the low correlation between glucose levels and HbA1c in the general population., Competing Interests: The authors have read the journal’s policy and have the following competing interests: At the time this article was written, MA was a paid employee of Unilever, which manufactures and sells consumer food products. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials. There are no patents, products in development or marketed products associated with this research to declare. All other authors declare that they have no potential conflict of interests relevant to this article.

Zambia is still facing undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies despite fortification and supplementation programmes stressing the need for additional solutions. Fermented foods have the potential to improve nutrient intake and, therefore, could have an important role in food based recommendations (FBRs) to ensure adequate intake of nutrients for optimal health of populations. Secondary dietary intake data was used in Optifood, a linear programming software to develop FBRs, for children aged 1-3 and 4-5 years in Mkushi district of Zambia. Three scenarios per age group were modeled to determine FBRs based on: (1) FBRs based on local available foods (2) FBR and Mabisi, a fermented milk beverage, and (3) FBR with Munkoyo, a cereal fermented beverage. The scenarios were compared to assess whether addition of Mabisi or Munkoyo achieved a better nutrient intake. FBRs based on only locally available non-fermented foods did not meet ≥70% of recommended nutrient intake (RNI) for calcium, fat, iron and zinc, so-called problem nutrients. The addition of Munkoyo to the FBRs did not reduce the number of problem nutrients, but after adding Mabisi to the FBR's only iron (67% of RNI) in the 1-3 year age group and only zinc (67% of RNI) in the 4-5 year age group remained problem nutrients. Mabisi, a fermented milk product in combination with the local food pattern is a good additional source of nutrients for these age groups. However, additional nutrition sensitive and cost-effective measures would still be needed to improve nutrient intake, especially that of iron and zinc., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

N 1 -methylnicotinamide ( N 1 -MN) and N 1 -methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide (2Py) are successive end products of NAD + catabolism. N 1 -MN excretion in 24-h urine is the established biomarker of niacin nutritional status, and recently shown to be reduced in renal transplant recipients (RTR). However, it is unclear whether 2Py excretion is increased in this population, and, if so, whether a shift in excretion of N 1 -MN to 2Py can be attributed to kidney function. Hence, we assessed the 24-h urinary excretion of 2Py and N 1 -MN in RTR and kidney donors before and after kidney donation, and investigated associations of the urinary ratio of 2Py to N 1 -MN (2Py/ N 1 -MN) with kidney function, and independent determinants of urinary 2Py/ N 1 -MN in RTR. The urinary excretion of 2Py and N 1 -MN was measured in a cross-sectional cohort of 660 RTR and 275 healthy kidney donors with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Linear regression analyses were used to investigate associations and determinants of urinary 2Py/ N 1 -MN. Median 2Py excretion was 178.1 (130.3-242.8) μmol/day in RTR, compared to 155.6 (119.6-217.6) μmol/day in kidney donors ( p < 0.001). In kidney donors, urinary 2Py/ N 1 -MN increased significantly after kidney donation (4.0 ± 1.4 to 5.2 ± 1.5, respectively; p < 0.001). Smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were identified as independent determinants of urinary 2Py/ N 1 -MN in RTR. In conclusion, the 24-h urinary excretion of 2Py is higher in RTR than in kidney donors, and urinary 2Py/ N 1 -MN increases after kidney donation. As our data furthermore reveal strong associations of urinary 2Py/ N 1 -MN with kidney function, interpretation of both N 1 -MN and 2Py excretion may be recommended for assessment of niacin nutritional status in conditions of impaired kidney function.

The 20th and 21st century oil paintings are presenting a range of challenging conservation problems that can be distinctly different from those noted in paintings from previous centuries. These include the formation of vulnerable surface "skins" of medium and exudates on paint surfaces, efflorescence, unpredictable water and solvent sensitivity, and incidence of paint dripping which can occur within a few years after the paintings were completed. Physicochemical studies of modern oil paints and paintings in recent years have identified a range of possible causal factors for the noted sensitivity of painting surfaces to water and protic solvents, including the formation of water-soluble inorganic salts and/or the accumulation of diacids at the paint surface, which are oxidation products of the oil binder. Other studies have investigated the relationship between water sensitivity and the degree of hydrolysis of the binder, the proportions of free fatty and dicarboxylic acids formed, as well as the relative content of free metal soaps. Thus far, data indicate that the qualitative and quantitative composition of the nonpolymerized fractions of the oil binder cannot be solely or directly related to the solvent sensitivity of the paint film. Conclusions therefore indicate that the polymeric network, formed upon the curing of the oil, plays a fundamental role, suggesting that water sensitivity, at least in some cases, may be related to the poor development and/or polar nature of the formed polymeric network rather than the composition of the nonpolymerized fractions. Poorly developed polymeric networks, in combination with the migration of polar fractions, i.e., dicarboxylic and hydroxylated fatty acids toward the paint surface, can be related to other degradation phenomena, including the separation and migration of the paint binder which can lead to the presence of observable skins of medium as well as the more alarming phenomenon of liquefying or dripping oil paints. It is thus crucial to understand the molecular composition of these paints and their physicochemical behavior to aid the further development of appropriate conservation and preservation strategies, as the risks currently associated with surface cleaning treatments and other conservation procedures can be unacceptably high. This Account reviews the relationships between the degradation phenomena associated with modern oil paintings and the chemical composition of the oil binder and proposes a molecular model for the development of water sensitivity and other noted degradation phenomena. It is suggested that water sensitivity (and possibly other degradation phenomena) is a consequence of processes that take place upon curing, and in particular to the rate of formation and decomposition of alkoxyl and peroxyl radicals. These reactions are strongly dependent on the type of oil present, the ambient environmental conditions, and the chemical and physical nature of the pigments and additives present in the paint formulation. When the curing environment is oxidizing, the chemistry of peroxyl radicals dominates the reaction pathways, and oxidative decomposition of the paint film overwhelms cross-linking reactions.

Isoflurane anesthesia is commonly used for owls when they are being rehabilitated to minimize stress during treatments and procedures, as well as to ensure caretaker safety. However, the effects of isoflurane anesthesia on the hematologic response of owls are not known. To investigate the effects of isoflurane anesthesia on the hematology of owls, 3 phases of investigation were performed on the subject animals: 1) single, short manual- versus single, short isoflurane-restraint episodes (n = 12; 38%); 2) a single, prolonged isoflurane episode (n = 10; 31%); and 3) serial, short isoflurane episodes (n = 10; 31%). All owls were classified as adult, and the sex for most individuals was unknown. Twelve owls (38%) were included in phase 1: 5 great horned owls ( Bubo virginianus ; 42%), 2 eastern screech owls ( Megascops asio ; 17%), and 5 barred owls ( Strix varia ; 42%). A separate cohort of 10 novel owls (31%) were selected for inclusion in both phases 2 and 3: 4 great horned owls (40%), 2 eastern screech owls (20%), 2 barred owls (20%), 1 barn owl ( Tyto alba ; 10%), and 1 snowy owl ( Bubo scandiacus ; 10%). For each anesthetic episode, blood was collected within 3 minutes of capture and in 15-minute intervals according to the duration of the procedure. Phase 2 had additional blood collections with the patient awake at 2 and 24 hours after time 0 blood collection, whereas phase 3 had an additional blood collection at 24 hours after time 0 blood collection. Hematologic analyses included packed cell volume, total solids, total white blood cell count, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio, and absolute heterophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, and basophil counts. Total white blood cell count decreased significantly during phase 1; packed cell volume decreased significantly during phases 2 and 3; total solids decreased significantly in phase 2; phase 2 demonstrated a lymphopenia with a concurrent decrease in the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio; and phase 3 demonstrated a heteropenia and significant changes in the eosinophil count. All hematologic changes noted in the study were within appropriate reference intervals for the owls but do suggest that there are physiologic consequences of restraining and anesthetizing these avian patients.

Renal transplant recipients (RTR) commonly suffer from vitamin B 6 deficiency and its functional consequences add to an association with poor long-term outcome. It is unknown whether niacin status is affected in RTR and, if so, whether this affects clinical outcomes, as vitamin B 6 is a cofactor in nicotinamide biosynthesis. We compared 24-h urinary excretion of N 1 -methylnicotinamide ( N 1 -MN) as a biomarker of niacin status in RTR with that in healthy controls, in relation to dietary intake of tryptophan and niacin as well as vitamin B 6 status, and investigated whether niacin status is associated with the risk of premature all-cause mortality in RTR. In a prospective cohort of 660 stable RTR with a median follow-up of 5.4 (4.7-6.1) years and 275 healthy kidney donors, 24-h urinary excretion of N 1 -MN was measured with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry LC-MS/MS. Dietary intake was assessed by food frequency questionnaires. Prospective associations of N 1 -MN excretion with mortality were investigated by Cox regression analyses. Median N 1 -MN excretion was 22.0 (15.8-31.8) μmol/day in RTR, compared to 41.1 (31.6-57.2) μmol/day in healthy kidney donors ( p < 0.001). This difference was independent of dietary intake of tryptophan (1059 ± 271 and 1089 ± 308 mg/day; p = 0.19), niacin (17.9 ± 5.2 and 19.2 ± 6.2 mg/day; p < 0.001), plasma vitamin B 6 (29.0 (17.5-49.5), and 42.0 (29.8-60.3) nmol/L; p < 0.001), respectively. N 1 -MN excretion was inversely associated with the risk of all-cause mortality in RTR (HR 0.57; 95% CI 0.45-0.71; p < 0.001), independent of potential confounders. RTR excrete less N 1 -MN in 24-h urine than healthy controls, and our data suggest that this difference cannot be attributed to lower dietary intake of tryptophan and niacin, nor vitamin B 6 status. Importantly, lower 24-h urinary excretion of N 1 -MN is independently associated with a higher risk of premature all-cause mortality in RTR.