Search

Light spectrum and intensity is one of the key factors in the production of microgreens in controlled-environment agriculture and is directly related to plant growth and biomass accumulation. Hence, the objective of this research study was to investigate the biomass, growth, and resource use efficiencies (RUEs) in 14 different species of microgreen grown in two light recipes with 209.5 (OSRAM LED) and 45 µmol m−2 s−1 (INSTAGREEN LED) with a 16/8 h light/dark photoperiod in a growth chamber. Under both LEDs, fresh biomass accumulation and the SPAD content were highest in sunflower. Nasturtium recorded the maximum hypocotyl length under both LEDs. The leaf area index (LAI) was significantly higher in mungbean under the INSTAGREEN LED compared to other microgreens, while the maximum LAI was measured in lentils under the OSRAM LED. This shows that the two different LEDs had species-specific effects. The RUE of the cheaper INSTAGREEN LED was more efficient in terms of light and energy use efficiency, while OSRAM LED was more efficient in terms of water and surface use efficiencies. Overall, the results showed that different species of microgreens exhibit different responses to fresh biomass accumulation and SPAD contents in the leaves, demonstrating the diversity of their growth responses. Across both LEDs (OSRAM LED and INSTAGREEN LED), the top performing microgreen in terms of biomass accumulation as well as SPAD contents in the leaves was sunflower. Consequently, a high chlorophyll content in sunflower led to a higher biomass production by enhancing photosynthesis.

Background: School nutrition employee behavior plays an important role in preventing foodborne outbreaks and protecting the almost 30 million children who partake in daily school lunch., Objective: The study aim was to compare the impact of using a food safety training program with or without using a realistic-event video on handwashing behavior modification for school nutrition employees., Design: A 2-group (control and experimental) pretest with 2 post-tests design was used. The control group received training without the video and the experimental group received the food safety training with a realistic-event video. Measurements used to address the purpose and objectives of this study included questionnaires and direct observations., Participants/setting: The sample consisted of 443 school nutrition employees responsible for food preparation and service affiliated with 21 school districts in 18 states. Approximately half of the sample attended the original unmodified training and the other half attended the modified training. Data were collected in the United States during 2017. A total of 338 employees participated in the observations and 443 participants completed the questionnaires during the 3 phases; 935 questionnaires were used for the analysis., Intervention: The intervention involved a food safety training program embedded with a realistic-event video related to handwashing. The video used previous research to target antecedents to handwashing behavior among participants., Main Outcome Measures: Actual behavior was observed across 3 phases-pretraining, post training, and final-for both the control and experimental groups. In addition, indirect and direct measures of behavioral intentions for handwashing were measured., Statistical Analysis Performed: For the observation data, a 2-way, fixed-effects, mixed-model procedure was used to analyze the data. Simple and multiple linear regression and contingency table analyses looking for differences among phases and treatments were used for questionnaire data analysis., Results: Most practices were reported as in compliance (51.3% to 80.6%) for both the control and experimental groups during all phases. The experimental group had a higher behavioral intention of properly washing their hands than participants in the control group., Conclusions: The results showed that handwashing practices were in compliance most of the time for both the control and experimental groups during all 3 observation periods. Differences among the data collection periods on the theory of planned behavior constructs indicated no statistical effect of the treatment (exposure to the video) between the control and intervention groups., (Copyright © 2023 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Enhanced biological phosphorus removal at wastewater treatment plants that use anaerobic digesters for sludge treatment have historically encountered phosphate precipitation problems in the form of struvite. Literature on struvite is thin which is surprising given it can foul/block the sludge return lines and associated pumps and valves, causing significant operational problems. This study has evaluated if a typical large wastewater treatment plant can overcome this problem by adopting circular economy thinking. The struvite profile based on the supersaturation ratio of (Mg:NH 4 :PO 4 2- ), pH and temperature demonstrates the potential operational hotspots that can present uncontrolled struvite formation. Based on current struvite monitoring technologies and a cost-benefit analysis, the controlled struvite recovery via an Ostara crystallization reactor has been demonstrated to be economically viable with a pay-back period of less than a decade. An integrated evaluation illustrates the positive environmental impact arising from the utilisation of the recovered product. Economic viability and payback periods will vary according to circumstances, but we recommend that WWTP operators globally consider fitting a crystallisation reactor to appropriate plants, The outcomes and recommendation from this study are particularly timely given the global fertiliser shortage (2022) that is driving up food prices and reducing crop sizes., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Context: The NRLP3 inflammasome is a multiprotein danger-sensing complex that serves as a critical link between obesity-related adipose inflammation and insulin resistance and has been shown in animal models to be inhibited by fish oil-derived long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ( n -3 PUFA)., Objective: We conducted a clinical trial and in vitro experiments to test our hypothesis that n -3 PUFA suppress NLRP3 inflammasome in human obesity through downregulation of inflammasome gene expression in adipocytes and macrophages., Design: Placebo-controlled clinical trial and in vitro coculture experiments with primary human adipocytes (from biopsy specimens) and human THP-1 monocyte-derived macrophages treated with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and/or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) vs vehicle control., Setting: General community, research laboratory., Patients and Other Participants: Obese (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ), nondiabetic males and females age 18 to 50. N = 25., Interventions: Clinical trial: Eight-week treatment with 4 g Lovaza (EPA and DHA) or placebo. Cells culture: EPA and/or DHA at 100 µg/mL or vehicle control in culture medium., Main Outcome Measures: Adipose tissue or adipocyte/macrophage mRNA expression of IL-1 β and IL-18 and circulating IL-18 levels., Results: Treatment of obese human subjects with fish oil supplements reduced expression of adipose inflammatory genes including inflammasome-associated IL-18 and IL-1 β and circulating IL-18 levels. Both EPA and DHA reduced inflammasome gene expression in obese human adipose and human adipocyte and macrophages., Conclusions: N -3 PUFA reduce NLRP3 inflammasome in human adipose through downregulation of gene expression in adipocytes and monocytes/macrophages and has potential as nutritional therapeutic agent in prevention of obesity-related inflammation.

Background: Using hand sanitizers can reduce bacterial contamination and is an efficient and inexpensive method of preventing infections. The purpose of this study was to explore the behavioral intention (low and absolute), attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control of hand sanitizer use among US Army soldiers., Methods: A questionnaire was developed following an expert panel (N = 5) review and 2 pilot studies (N = 35) to ensure questionnaire validity and clarity. Surveys were distributed among nontrainee soldiers during lunch periods. A total of 201 surveys were collected., Results: Results indicated that attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral controls explained 64% of the variance in behavioral intention. Attitude remained the strongest predictor of behavior (β = 0.70, P < .01), followed by subjective norms (β = 0.18; P < .01), with significant differences between low and absolute intenders., Conclusions: Soldiers with absolute intention to use hand sanitizers hold significantly different behavioral and normative beliefs than low intenders. Other soldiers create negative social pressure about using hand sanitizers, indicating that if other soldiers use hand sanitizers, they will refuse to do so. Intervention to ensure use of hand sanitizer should focus on strengthening behavioral and normative beliefs among low intenders. This should increase the overall well being of the military., (Copyright © 2017 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The number of foodborne illnesses traced to improper food handling in restaurants indicates a need for research to improve food safety in these establishments. Therefore, this 2-year longitudinal study investigated the effectiveness of traditional ServSafe (National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, Chicago, IL) food-safety training and a Theory of Planned Behavior intervention program targeting employees' perceived barriers and attitudes toward important food-safety behaviors. The effectiveness of the training and intervention was measured by knowledge scores and observed behavioral compliance rates related to food-safety practices. Employees were observed for handwashing, thermometer usage, and proper handling of work surfaces at baseline, after receiving ServSafe training, and again after exposure to the intervention targeting barriers and negative attitudes about food-safety practices. Repeated-measures analyses of variance indicated training improved handwashing knowledge, but the intervention was necessary to improve overall behavioral compliance and handwashing compliance. Results suggest that registered dietitians; dietetic technicians, registered; and foodservice managers should implement a combination of training and intervention to improve knowledge and compliance with food-safety behaviors, rather than relying on training alone. Challenges encountered while conducting this research are discussed, and recommendations are provided for researchers interested in conducting this type of research in the future.

Postoperative pulmonary hypertension is a challenging and feared complication of many types of surgery, including lung and heart transplantation, pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, congenital-heart-disease repair, and others. The most severe manifestation is acute right heart syndrome, characterized by right heart failure and cardiovascular collapse-a daunting therapeutic challenge associated with a high mortality. Patients with postoperative pulmonary hypertension must be carefully evaluated to identify reversible contributing factors such as fluid and metabolic imbalance, hypoxemia, and right heart ischemia. A pulmonary arterial catheter and echocardiogram are recommended for evaluation, although their value has not been established in carefully designed trials. Basic principles of management include maintenance of systemic perfusion pressure, optimization of cardiac inotropy, use of lung-protective ventilator strategies, and attempting to reduce right-ventricular afterload using pulmonary vasodilators. Unfortunately, controlled trials upon which to base therapy are lacking, and most approaches are supported only by uncontrolled or anecdotal evidence. Better understanding of the pathophysiology of right heart failure and controlled trials testing therapeutic approaches are needed if we are to make progress in treating this heretofore highly mortal condition.

Limited research has been conducted to assess employees' perceptions of barriers to implementing food safety practices. Focus groups were conducted with two groups of restaurant employees to identify perceived barriers to implementing three food safety practices: handwashing, using thermometers, and cleaning work surfaces. Ten focus groups were conducted with 34 employees who did not receive training (Group A). Twenty focus groups were conducted with 125 employees after they had participated in a formal ServSafe training program (Group B). The following barriers were identified in at least one focus group in both Group A and Group B for all three practices: time constraints, inconvenience, inadequate training, and inadequate resources. In Group A, additional barriers identified most often were a lack of space and other tasks competing with cleaning work surfaces; inconvenient location of sinks and dry skin from handwashing; and lack of working thermometers and thermometers in inconvenient locations. Additional barriers identified most often by Group B were no incentive to do it and the manager not monitoring whether employees cleaned work surfaces; inconvenient location of sinks and dry skin from handwashing; and lack of working thermometers and manager not monitoring the use of thermometers. Results will be used to develop and implement interventions to overcome perceived barriers that training appears not to address. Knowledge of perceived barriers among employees can assist food and nutrition professionals in facilitating employees in overcoming these barriers and ultimately improve compliance with food safety practices.

Current national food safety training programs appear ineffective at improving food safety practices in foodservice operations, given the substantial number of Americans affected by foodborne illnesses after eating in restaurants each year. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TpB) was used to identify important beliefs that may be targeted to improve foodservice employees' intentions for three food safety behaviors that have the most substantial affect on public health: hand washing, using thermometers, and proper handling of food contact surfaces. In a cross-sectional design, foodservice employees (n=190) across three midwestern states completed a survey assessing TpB components and knowledge for the three food safety behaviors. Multiple regression analyses were performed on the TpB components for each behavior. Independent-samples t tests identified TpB beliefs that discriminated between participants who absolutely intend to perform the behaviors and those with lower intention. Employees' attitudes were the one consistent predictor of intentions for performing all three behaviors. However, a unique combination of important predictors existed for each separate behavior. Interventions for improving employees' behavioral intentions for food safety should focus on TpB components that predict intentions for each behavior and should bring all employees' beliefs in line with those of the employees who already intend to perform the food safety behaviors. Registered dietitians; dietetic technicians, registered; and foodservice managers can use these results to enhance training sessions and motivational programs to improve employees' food safety behaviors. Results also assist these professionals in recognizing their responsibility for enforcing and providing adequate resources for proper food safety behaviors.

We evaluated the ability of canine bone marrow stromal cells (cBMSCs) to regenerate bone in a cavity of the scapholunate created by curretage and freeze-thawing with liquid nitrogen (LN). Autologous BMSCs were harvested from the iliac crest and expanded in vitro. Their potential to differentiate into osteo-, chondro-, and adipogenic lineages was confirmed using a standard differentiation induction assay. LN-treated scapholunates showed no regeneration of bone tissue when the cavity was left alone, demonstrating severe collapse and deformity as observed in human Kienböck disease. A combination of beta-tri-calcium phosphate and a vascularized bone graft with autologous fibroblasts failed to regenerate bone in the LN-treated cavity. When the same procedure was performed using BMSCs, however, LN-treated scapholunates showed no collapse and deformity, and the cavity was completely filled with normal cancerous bone within 4 weeks. These results suggested the potential of using BMSCs to treat Kienböck disease.

Purpose: Synovial sarcoma is a soft tissue sarcoma, the growth regulatory mechanisms of which are unknown. We investigated the involvement of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signals in synovial sarcoma and evaluated the therapeutic effect of inhibiting the FGF signal., Experimental Design: The expression of 22 FGF and 4 FGF receptor (FGFR) genes in 18 primary tumors and five cell lines of synovial sarcoma were analyzed by reverse transcription-PCR. Effects of recombinant FGF2, FGF8, and FGF18 for the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and the growth of synovial sarcoma cell lines were analyzed. Growth inhibitory effects of FGFR inhibitors on synovial sarcoma cell lines were investigated in vitro and in vivo., Results: Synovial sarcoma cell lines expressed multiple FGF genes especially those expressed in neural tissues, among which FGF8 showed growth stimulatory effects in all synovial sarcoma cell lines. FGF signals in synovial sarcoma induced the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and p38MAPK but not c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase. Disruption of the FGF signaling pathway in synovial sarcoma by specific inhibitors of FGFR caused cell cycle arrest leading to significant growth inhibition both in vitro and in vivo. Growth inhibition by the FGFR inhibitor was associated with a down-regulation of phosphorylated ERK1/2 but not p38MAPK, and an ERK kinase inhibitor also showed growth inhibitory effects for synovial sarcoma, indicating that the growth stimulatory effect of FGF was transmitted through the ERK1/2., Conclusions: FGF signals have an important role in the growth of synovial sarcoma, and inhibitory molecules will be of potential use for molecular target therapy in synovial sarcoma.

Purpose: Adults have frequently been concerned about the adverse influence that music may have on teenagers. This study was designed to examine the relationship between the intensity of emotional response to music and health risk-taking behavior in adolescents., Methods: Consecutive participants from the University of California, San Diego, Adolescent Medicine Clinics completed a written survey about music preference, emotional response to music using the Positive Affect Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and a variety of health-risk behaviors. For each participant, the PANAS scores were summed to give a positive, negative, and total affect score, and health-risk behaviors were assigned a point value based on the level of risk and then summed to give a risk score., Results: Health-risk behavior was found to be correlated with increasing emotional response to music (r = 0.23), whether those emotions were positive (r = 0.19) or negative (r = 0.24). Strong negative emotional response to music in particular was correlated with a history of greater risk behavior, particularly among whites (risk score = 14.0)., Conclusions: Our study indicates that subjects who experience strong negative emotions to music are at an increased risk of participating in a variety of risk-taking behaviors. Further evaluation of the link between emotional response to music and health-risk behaviors will be useful in clarifying the nature of this relationship.

Background: The purpose of this study was to develop a reduced profile stainless steel Greenfield filter with an over-the-wire delivery system and to compare its performance with the existing Food and Drug Administration-approved Greenfield filters. In addition, we wanted to standardize a system for evaluating filter prototypes., Methods: Percutaneous stainless steel filters with various hook configurations were evaluated for efficacy and safety in four in vitro modules designed to reproduce potential liabilities experimentally. Animal studies to assess thrombus capture and resolution, filter stability, migration, and hemodynamics were completed in 4 dogs and 38 sheep., Results: Mathematical modeling suggested that hook angle was the most relevant factor in improving resistance to migration. Prototypes that varied with respect to hook length and angle were evaluated in both the in vitro testing unit and in sheep. The stainless steel filter with two downward directed hooks provided clot capture comparable with the current Greenfield filter, maintenance of flow, and resistance to fatigue and corrosion while providing significant resistance to migration and penetration (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: The percutaneous stainless steel Greenfield filter with the alternating hook design provides a reduced profile device that can be placed over a wire to improve positioning. The use of a standardized testing system reduced both the time and cost of bringing this new device to the market.

Primary cell suspensions were prepared from mouse sarcoma by enzymatic digestion with pronase. The cells were incubated with gallium citrate Ga 67 or the basic drug 14C-chlorpromazine (CPZ) for up to 1 h at 37 degrees C, and the label uptake was determined. The Ga uptake was proportional to time (0-30 min), whilst the CPZ uptake rapidly reached apparent saturation (less than 10 min). Metabolic inhibitors did not affect label uptake; however, disrupting the cell membrane with N-ethylmaleimide or heating at 56 degrees C significantly reduced CPZ accumulation but did not inhibit Ga uptake. Ga accumulation was decreased by adding human transferrin (0.5 mg/ml). Both gallium and chlorpromazine are fixed in the lysosomes of cells; however, in this system, they appeared to enter mouse sarcoma cells by different energy-independent mechanisms. The Ga uptake may reflect adsorption to cell components, whilst CPZ uptake required an intact cell and may be due to passive diffusion.

A constitutive phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)-dependent glucose phosphotransferase system was found in decryptified cells of Strep. mitis. The system displayed saturation kinetics and the apparent Km value for the non-fermentable analogue 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) was 0.4 mM. Sodium fluoride inhibited the activity when 2-phosphoglycerate was used as the energy source instead of PEP. Intact cells accumulated 2DG and also a derivative that behaved chromatographically like 2DG-6-phosphate. PEP-dependent glucose phosphotransferase activity was also demonstrated in freshly collected plaque.

Solutions (10-25 microM) of D-glucose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, D-fructose, sucrose, maltose, lactose and maltotriose were readily metabolised to acid (140-250 mumol H+ wet g-1h-1) by anaerobic suspensions of fresh plaque at pH 7.5. D-Mannose, D-galactose, D-glucosamine and trehalose were broken down more slowly (35-115 mumol H+ wet g-1h-1). Inhibition of this acid production occurred on adding excess amounts of 2-deoxy-D-glucose or 5-thio-D-glucose. Similarly, excess amounts of cellobiose specifically inhibited acid liberation from lactose. No acid production was detected from a number of other sugars and sugar derivatives, some of which may be useful sucrose substitutes.

The optimum conditions for producing a 67Ga labelled antibody-desferrioxamine conjugate were determined. The mouse monoclonal antibody LICR-LON-M8 was coupled to the metal chelating compound desferrioxamine (DFO) using glutaraldehyde (GLUT). A DFO:GLUT:M8 molar ratio of 500:150:1 gave an immunoreactive antibody with low amounts (less than 5%) of high molecular weight polymer. The labelling efficiency with 67 Ga was greater than 90%, with a specific activity of 2-4 MBq/mg antibody. This 67Ga labelled antibody is suitable for evaluation as a diagnostic imaging agent.

The potential for altering the biodistribution of radiolabel from gallium- and indium-labeled mouse monoclonal antibodies was investigated in mice using metal chelating agents. The chelating agents used were desferrioxamine (DFO), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), ethylenediamine-di (O-hydroxyphenylacetic acid) (EDHPA), and 2,2' dipyridyl (DIPY). The mouse monoclonal antibody LICR-LON-M8 was labeled with 111In after conjugation to DTPA, and with 67Ga after conjugation to DFO. All the chelating agents except DIPY altered the biodistribution of [67Ga]citrate and [111In]citrate but did not affect the 48-hr tissue uptake of label from [111In]DTPA-M8 or [67Ga]DFO-M8, confirming the in vivo stability of the antibody conjugates. Label fixed in the tissues was inaccessible to the chelating agents, indicating that they will not be suitable for reducing the high background liver radioactivity in patients undergoing scanning with indium-labeled antibodies.

A pilot study was carried out to assess the value of a radiolabeled antibody against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR1) in localizing tumors in patients with squamous carcinomas of the head and neck. Positive images of large tumours (greater than 3 cm diameter) were obtained in 8 of 11 patients after intravenous administration of 111indium-labeled EGFR1. Two patients gave equivocal results, while negative scans were obtained from the patient with the smallest tumor (1 cm diameter). There were no false-positive images. The success of this study in localizing relatively large squamous carcinomas indicates that the antibody should be evaluated in patients with smaller tumors to establish the limits of detection of the technique.

More flexible admission requirements have made it possible to admit students to the first year of a program leading to the B.Med.Sc. degree at the end of two years and to the M.D. degree in four years, saving one to three years by means of earlier entry following high school. More advanced students may enter at the beginning of second year and complete a three-year M.D. program. Encouraging preliminary results have been obtained.