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Global Change Biology Jun 2024Observations from the California Current System (CalCS) indicate that the long-term trend in ocean acidification (OA) and the naturally occurring corrosive conditions...
Observations from the California Current System (CalCS) indicate that the long-term trend in ocean acidification (OA) and the naturally occurring corrosive conditions for the CaCO mineral aragonite (saturation state Ω < 1) have a damaging effect on shelled pteropods, a keystone group of calcifying organisms in the CalCS. Concern is heightened by recent findings suggesting that shell formation and developmental progress are already impacted when Ω falls below 1.5. Here, we quantify the impact of low Ω conditions on pteropods using an individual-based model (IBM) with life-stage-specific mortality, growth, and behavior in a high-resolution regional hindcast simulation of the CalCS between 1984 and 2019. Special attention is paid to attributing this impact to different processes that lead to such low Ω conditions, namely natural variability, long-term trend, and extreme events. We find that much of the observed damage in the CalCS, and specifically >70% of the shell CaCO loss, is due to the pteropods' exposure to naturally occurring low Ω conditions as a result of their diel vertical migration (DVM). Over the hindcast period, their exposure to damaging waters (Ω < 1.5) increases from 9% to 49%, doubling their shell CaCO loss, and increasing their mortality by ~40%. Most of this increased exposure is due to the shoaling of low Ω waters driven by the long-term trend in OA. Extreme OA events amplify this increase by ~40%. Our approach can quantify the health of pteropod populations under shifting environmental conditions, and attribute changes in fitness or population structure to changes in the stressor landscape across hierarchical time scales.
Topics: Calcium Carbonate; Animals; Seawater; California; Animal Shells; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Water Movements; Gastropoda; Climate Change
PubMed: 38831686
DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17345 -
Journal of Environmental Management Jun 2024In this study, Ag/BiO/BiOI with s-scheme heterostructures were successfully synthesized in situ by nano-silver modification of CUA-17 and halogenated hydrolysis.The...
In this study, Ag/BiO/BiOI with s-scheme heterostructures were successfully synthesized in situ by nano-silver modification of CUA-17 and halogenated hydrolysis.The growth rate of BiO crystals was effectively controlled by adjusting the doping amount of Ag, resulting in the formation of a facet-coupling heterojunctions. Through the investigation of the microstructure and compositional of catalysts, it has been confirmed that an intimate facet coupling between the BiO (120) facet and the BiOI (312) facet, which provides robust support for charge transfer. Under visible light irradiation, the AgBOI.3 heterojunction photocatalyst exhibited an outstanding degradation rate of 98.2% for Bisphenol A (BPA) with excellent stability. Further characterization using optical, electrochemical, impedance spectroscopy, and electron spin resonance techniques revealed significantly enhanced efficiency in photogenerated charge separation and transfer, and confirming the s-scheme structure of the photocatalyst. Density functional theory calculations was employed to elucidate the mechanism of BPA degradation and the degradation pathway of BPA was investigated by LC-MS. Finally, the toxicity of the degradation intermediates was evaluated using T.E.S.T software.
Topics: Phenols; Benzhydryl Compounds; Bismuth; Catalysis; Silver
PubMed: 38830282
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121342 -
Journal of Visualized Experiments : JoVE May 2024Through various studies on thermoelectric (TE) materials, thin film configuration gives superior advantages over conventional bulk TEs, including adaptability to curved...
Through various studies on thermoelectric (TE) materials, thin film configuration gives superior advantages over conventional bulk TEs, including adaptability to curved and flexible substrates. Several different thin film deposition methods have been explored, yet magnetron sputtering is still favorable due to its high deposition efficiency and scalability. Therefore, this study aims to fabricate a bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) and antimony telluride (Sb2Te3) thin film via the radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering method. The thin films were deposited on soda lime glass substrates at ambient temperature. The substrates were first washed using water and soap, ultrasonically cleaned with methanol, acetone, ethanol, and deionized water for 10 min, dried with nitrogen gas and hot plate, and finally treated under UV ozone for 10 min to remove residues before the coating process. A sputter target of Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 with Argon gas was used, and pre-sputtering was done to clean the target's surface. Then, a few clean substrates were loaded into the sputtering chamber, and the chamber was vacuumed until the pressure reached 2 x 10 Torr. The thin films were deposited for 60 min with Argon flow of 4 sccm and RF power at 75 W and 30 W for Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3, respectively. This method resulted in highly uniform n-type Bi2Te3 and p-type Sb2Te3 thin films.
Topics: Bismuth; Antimony; Tellurium; Radio Waves
PubMed: 38829117
DOI: 10.3791/66248 -
Archives of Razi Institute Dec 2023Aluminum-containing adjuvants are extensively used in inactive human and animal vaccines owing to their favorable immunostimulatory and safe properties. Nonetheless,... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
A Comparative Study of the Effects of Al(OH) and AlPO Adjuvants on the Production of Neutralizing Antibodies (NAbs) against Bovine parainfluenza Virus Type 3 (BPIV3) in Guinea Pigs.
Aluminum-containing adjuvants are extensively used in inactive human and animal vaccines owing to their favorable immunostimulatory and safe properties. Nonetheless, there is controversy over the effects of different aluminum salts as an adjuvant for the bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (BPIV3) vaccine. In order to find a suitable adjuvant, we studied the effects of two adjuvants (i.e., aluminum hydroxide [Al(OH)] and aluminum potassium sulfate [AlPO]) on the production of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) for an experimental BPIV3 vaccine. The animals under study (Guinea pigs) were randomly assigned to five groups of experimental vaccines containing Al(OH) (AH), AlPO (AP), Al(OH)-AlPO mixture (MIX), commercial vaccine (COM), and control (NS). The treatment groups were immunized with two doses of vaccine 21 days apart (on days 0 and 21), and the control group received normal saline under the same conditions. The animals were monitored for 42 days, and blood samples were then taken. The results indicated that all vaccines were able to induce the production of NAbs at levels higher than the minimum protective titer (0.6). An increase in titer was observed throughout the monitoring period. Moreover, an increase in both the level and mean titer of NAbs obtained from the vaccine containing Al(OH) adjuvant was significantly higher than in the other studied groups (P≤0.005). The comparison of NAbs titer in other groups did not display a significant difference. Considering the speed of rising and the optimal titer of NAbs production in the experimental vaccine, the Al(OH) adjuvant is a suitable candidate for preparing a vaccine against BPIV3 for immunization.
Topics: Animals; Adjuvants, Immunologic; Aluminum Hydroxide; Antibodies, Neutralizing; Guinea Pigs; Parainfluenza Virus 3, Bovine; Viral Vaccines; Antibodies, Viral; Random Allocation; Aluminum Compounds; Female
PubMed: 38828184
DOI: 10.32592/ARI.2023.78.6.1779 -
Archives of Razi Institute Dec 2023Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has a high prevalence in cloven-hoofed animals. It is also highly contagious and remains a serious threat to livestock worldwide. Despite... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has a high prevalence in cloven-hoofed animals. It is also highly contagious and remains a serious threat to livestock worldwide. Despite the widespread vaccination program in Iran, outbreaks of FMD continue to occur. Vaccination is one of the most effective methods of preventing FMD. The vaccines used in Iran are of the inactivated type and contain several serotypes. Since inactivated vaccines without adjuvants do not induce a high and durable antibody response, it is necessary to use adjuvants. Montanide ISA 206 VG is a mineral oil-based adjuvant that produces a water-in-oil-in-water (w:o:w) emulsion in vaccine preparations. However, a large number of manufacturers in Iran and around the world still use alum adjuvant (with or without saponin) to produce the FMD vaccine. This study used Montanide ISA 206 and alum adjuvants to administer the O2010 serotype of the FMD virus to goats. A total of six goats were divided randomly into three groups. Vaccines were administered subcutaneously twice, at a one-month interval. Blood sampling was done at different times, and the micro-neutralization method was used to measure the neutralizing antibody titer in each serum. Seven days after the second vaccination, the alum group's antibody titer was higher but not statistically significant. However, from the 28th day after the second injection until the end of the study, the Montanide ISA 206 group's antibody titer was significantly higher than that of the alum group. Six months after the second injection, the antibody titer in the ISA 206 group remained at the peak level, while in the alum group, it decreased and reached the minimum protective level. Nine months after the second injection, the antibody titer remained at its peak level in the ISA 206 group, whereas it dropped significantly in the alum group. Based on the findings, ISA 206 VG is capable of generating long-term humoral immunity in goats against the FMD serotype O2010 and could replace aluminum hydroxide adjuvants in FMD vaccine preparations.
Topics: Animals; Goats; Aluminum Hydroxide; Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus; Goat Diseases; Foot-and-Mouth Disease; Adjuvants, Immunologic; Viral Vaccines; Antibodies, Neutralizing; Antibodies, Viral; Iran; Oleic Acids; Mannitol
PubMed: 38828163
DOI: 10.32592/ARI.2023.78.6.1843 -
World Journal of Microbiology &... Jun 2024Biocementation, driven by ureolytic bacteria and their biochemical activities, has evolved as a powerful technology for soil stabilization, crack repair, and...
Biocementation, driven by ureolytic bacteria and their biochemical activities, has evolved as a powerful technology for soil stabilization, crack repair, and bioremediation. Ureolytic bacteria play a crucial role in calcium carbonate precipitation through their enzymatic activity, hydrolyzing urea to produce carbonate ions and elevate pH, thus creating favorable conditions for the precipitation of calcium carbonate. While extensive research has explored the ability of ureolytic bacteria isolated from natural environments or culture conditions, bacterial synergy is often unexplored or under-reported. In this study, we isolated bacterial strains from the local eutrophic river canal and evaluated their suitability for precipitating calcium carbonate polymorphs. We identified two distinct bacterial isolates with superior urea degradation ability (conductivity method) using partial 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. Molecular identification revealed that they belong to the Comamonas and Bacillus genera. Urea degradation analysis was performed under diverse pH (6,7 and 8) and temperature (15 °C,20 °C,25 °C and 30 °C) ranges, indicating that their ideal pH is 7 and temperature is 30 °C since 95% of the urea was degraded within 96 h. In addition, we investigated these strains individually and in combination, assessing their microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) in silicate fine sand under low (14 ± 0.6 °C) and ideal temperature 30 °C conditions, aiming to optimize bio-mediated soil enhancement. Results indicated that 30 °C was the ideal temperature, and combining bacteria resulted in significant (p ≤ 0.001) superior carbonate precipitation (14-16%) and permeability (> 10 m/s) in comparison to the average range of individual strains. These findings provide valuable insights into the potential of combining ureolytic bacteria for future MICP research on field applications including soil erosion mitigation, soil stabilization, ground improvement, and heavy metal remediation.
Topics: Urea; Bacillus; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Soil Microbiology; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Biodegradation, Environmental; Sand; Calcium Carbonate; Temperature; Phylogeny; Chemical Precipitation
PubMed: 38825655
DOI: 10.1007/s11274-024-04038-3 -
Bioelectrochemistry (Amsterdam,... Oct 2024In this study, we have designed an electrochemical biosensor based on topological material BiSe for the sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the COVID-19 pandemic....
In this study, we have designed an electrochemical biosensor based on topological material BiSe for the sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the COVID-19 pandemic. Flake-shaped BiSe was obtained directly from high-quality single crystals using mechanical exfoliation, and the single-stranded DNA was immobilized onto it. Under optimal conditions, the peak current of the differential pulse voltammetry method exhibited a linear relationship with the logarithm of the concentration of target-complementary-stranded DNA, ranging from 1.0 × 10 to 1.0 × 10 M, with a detection limit of 3.46 × 10 M. The topological material BiSe, with Dirac surface states, enhanced the signal-to-interference plus noise ratio of the electrochemical measurements, thereby improving the sensitivity of the sensor. Furthermore, the electrochemical sensor demonstrated excellent specificity in recognizing RNA. It can detect complementary RNA by amplifying and transcribing the initial DNA template, with an initial DNA template concentration ranging from 1.0 × 10 to 1.0 × 10 M. Furthermore, the sensor also effectively distinguished negative and positive results by detecting splitting-synthetic SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus with a concentration of 1 copy/μL input. Our work underscores the immense potential of the electrochemical sensing platform based on the topological material BiSe in the detection of pathogens during the rapid spread of acute infectious diseases.
Topics: Biosensing Techniques; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; Bismuth; Electrochemical Techniques; Limit of Detection; Humans; DNA, Single-Stranded; RNA, Viral; Selenium Compounds
PubMed: 38824746
DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2024.108748 -
World Neurosurgery May 2024Studies assessing aneurysm rupture "risk" based on comparative retrospective analyses of medications taken on presentation may be subject to presentation bias. Are...
OBJECTIVE
Studies assessing aneurysm rupture "risk" based on comparative retrospective analyses of medications taken on presentation may be subject to presentation bias. Are patients with ruptured aneurysms simply less likely to be taking medications than those with unruptured aneurysms?
METHODS
A retrospective chart review was conducted among patients with treated aneurysms from June 2016 to July 2023. A step-wise comparison of demographics, clinical characteristics (rupture status), and medications taken upon presentation was performed between ruptured and unruptured cases.
RESULTS
One thousand three hundred eleven patients with intracranial aneurysms were included. The majority of patients presenting with ruptured aneurysms took no medications (68%), in contrast to 22% with unruptured aneurysms (P < 0.001). The majority of patients with unruptured aneurysms took 2-5 medications (51%), in contrast to 15% of patients with ruptured aneurysms taking 2-5 medications (P < 0.001). Twelve percent of patients with unruptured aneurysms took more than 5 medications, while only 1% with ruptured aneurysms did (P < 0.001). Thirty-five different medications were associated with unruptured presentation, including all evaluated antiplatelet agents, anti-hypertensives, antacids, pulmonary inhalers, and psychiatric medications (P < 0.05); no medications were associated with rupture on presentation.
CONCLUSIONS
One cannot derive conclusions about medications and "risk" of rupture based on analyses at the time of presentation. This study identifies 35 different medications that were statistically significant and associated with an unruptured presentation; it is doubtful that each is "protective" against aneurysm rupture.
PubMed: 38823446
DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2024.05.158 -
Cureus Apr 2024This case report presents a comprehensive analysis of a 48-year-old woman diagnosed with pituitary macroadenoma, detailing the clinical presentation, surgical...
This case report presents a comprehensive analysis of a 48-year-old woman diagnosed with pituitary macroadenoma, detailing the clinical presentation, surgical intervention, and postoperative management. The patient exhibited a complex array of symptoms, including persistent headaches, insomnia, and anemia, with a history of trauma and blood transfusion. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) confirmed the presence of a large, lobulated pituitary macroadenoma, prompting a trans-nasal trans-sphenoidal endoscopic excision. The surgical procedure was successful, but postoperative complications, revealed by a CT scan, included hyperdense lesions and mixed-density collections. Incorporating antibiotics, analgesics, antacids, and anti-emetics, vigilant postoperative care addressed these complications. This case underscores the challenges and successes in managing pituitary macroadenomas, highlighting the importance of individualized care, multidisciplinary collaboration, and ongoing research for optimizing patient outcomes. The insights gained from this case contribute to the evolving understanding and refinement of strategies for addressing these complex tumors.
PubMed: 38817533
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.59387 -
Journal of Biomedical Materials... May 2024During intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration, microenvironmental challenges such as decreasing levels of glucose, oxygen, and pH play crucial roles in cell survival and...
During intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration, microenvironmental challenges such as decreasing levels of glucose, oxygen, and pH play crucial roles in cell survival and matrix turnover. Antacids, such as Mg(OH) and CaCO, entrapped in microcapsules are capable of neutralizing acidic microenvironments in a controlled fashion and therefore may offer the potential to improve the acidic niche of the degenerated IVD and enhance cell-based regeneration strategies. The objectives of this work were, first, to develop and characterize antacid microcapsules and assess their neutralization capacity in an acidic microenvironment and, second, to combine antacid microcapsules with cellular microcapsules in a hybrid gel system to investigate their neutralization effect as a potential therapeutic in a disc explant model. To achieve this, we screened five different pH- neutralizing agents (Al(OH), Mg(OH), CaCO, and HEPES) in terms of their pH neutralization capacities, with Mg(OH) or CaCO being carried forward for further investigation. Antacid-alginate microcapsules were formed at different concentrations using the electrohydrodynamic spraying process and assessed in terms of size, buffering kinetics, cell compatibility, and cytotoxicity. Finally, the combination of cellular microcapsules and antacid capsules was examined in a bovine disc explant model under physiological degenerative conditions. Overall, CaCO was found to be superior in terms of neutralization capacities, release kinetics, and cellular response. Specifically, CaCO elevated the acidic pH to neutral levels and is estimated to be maintained for several weeks based on Ca release. Using a disc explant model, it was demonstrated that CaCO microcapsules were capable of increasing the local pH within the core of a hybrid cellular gel system. This work highlights the potential of antacid microcapsules to positively alter the challenging acidic microenvironment conditions typically observed in degenerative disc disease, which may be used in conjunction with cell therapies to augment regeneration.
PubMed: 38817021
DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37755