搜索结果：Tote

Slightly brackish groundwater contaminated by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at a Superfund site in the Central Valley of California was pumped from 250 feet below land surface to a water storage tank using solar power and then gravity-fed into 18, 330-gallon intermediate bulk containers (totes) as follows: (1) Five totes contained planting medium with three salt-tolerant hybrid poplar trees per tote (n = 15); (2) Seven totes contained planting medium with three salt-tolerant hybrid poplar trees per tote and inoculated with the naturally occurring, PAH-degrading endophyte Pseudomonas putida PD1 (n = 21); (3) Three totes contained planting medium only (n = 0); (4) One tote contained groundwater with three PD1-inoculated trees (n = 3) and one tote contained groundwater with three regular trees (n = 3); and (5) One tote contained groundwater only (n = 0). All trees grew well during the 7-month growing season in spite of the area's hot, dry air temperature, little precipitation, tote-influent chloride concentrations of 290 mg/L, and tote-influent naphthalene concentrations that ranged from 650 to 5,100 mg/L. PD1-inoculated trees initially had 56% larger tree area (tree height × tree width) than regular trees and up to 69% larger tree area by the end of the growing season, indicating some conferred phytoprotection to the PAH contamination. All trees had similar trunk caliper (diameter) and leaf chlorophyll content by the end of the growing season. Total naphthalene removal ranged from 88% to 100% across all totes. The lowest naphthalene removal of 88% was observed in a tote that contained only planting medium and indicates substantial adsorption of naphthalene onto the high organic content of the planting medium. Contaminant removal due to uptake by the hybrid poplar trees was confirmed by the detection of naphthalene in in vivo passive samplers placed in tree trunks. Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, total xylenes, 2-methylnaphthalene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, and isopropylbenzene were also detected. These results from the pilot-scale study indicate that a full-scale application of using salt-tolerant hybrid poplar trees at this site could effectively decrease naphthalene concentrations in groundwater pumped from the deep aquifer. These initial results provide hope for similar application at other contaminated sites characterized by groundwater at considerable depths, especially at Superfund sites where costly pump-and-treat systems have been used long-term to treat low levels of groundwater contamination.

Despite the known benefits of physical activity for women with breast cancer (BC), adherence to recommended guidelines remains low, especially during neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. The Aurora intervention presents a multidimensional approach to improve physical activity adherence, considering the patient's emotional and physical needs and barriers to physical activity. This protocol aims to evaluate Aurora's effects compared to standard care in BC patients. In this 9-week randomized controlled trial, 30 female BC patients under 70 years of age, undergoing neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in the Metropolitan Region of Chile, will be recruited. Participants will receive a standard online education class on the benefits of physical activity for BC patients, which includes general information on the importance of exercise during treatment, recommended physical activity guidelines, and tips for safely incorporating movement into daily routines. Afterward, participants will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either the 9-week Aurora experimental program (Aurora experimental kit: branded box containing exercise equipment, designed logbook journal, hydration bottle, exercise leaflet, and arm volume measurement tape) or the Aurora control program (Aurora control kit: branded tote bag containing a blank notebook, hydration bottle, and exercise leaflet). The study will employ a mixed-methods approach to assess multidimensional treatment effects through baseline and post-intervention measurements. The primary outcome will be quality of life, which will be assessed using questionnaires and patient perceptions, with thematic analysis of patient-recorded journals and in-depth group interviews to evaluate emotional treatment effects. Secondary outcomes will include (1) functional capacity tests to measure adverse physical effects and (2) biological markers assessed through lipid profiling, inflammation biomarkers, and tumor progression. Our conceptual hypothesis is that the Aurora intervention program will positively impact primary and secondary outcomes compared to the control group. Integrating the behavior change COM-B model and a patient-centered design facilitates tailoring interventions to BC patients' multidimensional needs and barriers. Additionally, we expect the Aurora program to promote more significant effects than standard care on physical activity adherence, intensity, and time. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06449417. Registered on May 28, 2024. Unique Protocol ID: 230126002. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06449417 .

Antimicrobial resistance is a mounting global health threat, with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales representing significant concern due to their resistance to most available antibiotics. Recent reports in England show hospital wastewater systems, including handwash basin waste traps and shower drains, serve as critical reservoirs from which multi-drug-resistant organisms can escape and be transmitted to patients through either direct contact with the drain or splash risk. These risks are particularly high in acute settings with vulnerable patient populations, such as intensive care units. In response, water and wastewater safe care was initiated at Wexham Park Hospital, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust in 2023 to eliminate all possible waterborne and wastewater-related transmission pathways. As part of this project, we introduced a novel water-dispensing system - the Frimley Faucet. This replaced traditional basins and drains with innovative, drain-free faucets, and restructured clinical workflows to enhance infection prevention and environmental sustainability. When coupled with education and training, the Frimley Faucet innovation for the delivery of water for patients' care within a healthcare environment, is a safe, simple, cost effective and sustainable solution to combat transmission of water and wastewater pathogens including antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

A novel school-based mental health literacy (MHL) programme titled 'Do You M.I.N.D.?' was implemented in Singapore to improve knowledge, attitudes, and help-seeking among secondary school students. The present study examined its implementation barriers, facilitators, and preliminary impact on students' MHL. A mixed-methods design was used. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 22 key informants and six session observations guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Quantitative data were collected through a 21-item pre- and post-intervention questionnaire with 841 Secondary One students. Pre-post differences were analysed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and difference-in-difference (DiD) analyses, with a significance level set at 0.05. Findings revealed that key facilitators included the relative advantage of the interactive sessions that incorporated Virtual Reality, understanding students' mental health needs and resources, engaging school administrators, and executing with implementation fidelity and fit. However, this relative advantage was lost when the programme shifted to Zoom video conferencing during the COVID-19 pandemic, which served as a salient barrier alongside implementation complexity, insufficient available resources, and challenges in engaging students and teachers. Pre-post data showed overall improvements in MHL, with face-to-face delivery yielding significantly better scores for two items. The programme shows promise in enhancing students' MHL, with the study providing insights for refining content and implementation strategies. The reduced effectiveness during online delivery underscores the importance of maintaining interactive elements in future adaptations. These results highlight the need for sustained resources, stakeholder engagement and support, and delivery models that preserve programme interactivity to optimize outcomes.

Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is a promising biomaterial for wound healing due to its nanofibrillar architecture and high biocompatibility. In this study, BNC was produced using mango pulp waste as an alternative carbon source and subsequently modified through γ-radiation-induced grafting of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) to alter its surface properties. Physicochemical characterization confirmed successful functionalization while preserving the native nanofibrillar structure, along with changes in hydration-related behavior consistent with increased surface polarity. The biological response of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADSCs) was evaluated in vitro. Compared with pristine BNC, the modified scaffolds were associated with changes in cell morphology, proliferation, and extracellular matrix (ECM)-related protein expression. In particular, pristine BNC supported greater cell spreading and proliferation, whereas BNC-g-PAA was associated with a distinct ECM-related profile. These findings suggest that γ-radiation-induced grafting can be used to)te the surface properties of BNC scaffolds and influence cell behavior. However, further studies are required to elucidate the contribution of grafting density, potential residual compounds from the carbon source, and long-term material-cell interactions. This work contributes to the development of sustainable, bioactive nanocellulose-based scaffolds for regenerative applications.

Bacteria and archaea possess an enormous variety of antivirus immune systems that often share homologous proteins and domains, some of which contribute to diverse defense strategies. YprA family helicases are central to widespread defense systems DISARM, Dpd, and Druantia. Here, through comprehensive phylogenetic and structural prediction analysis of the YprA family, we identify several major, previously unrecognized clades, with unique signatures of domain architecture and associations with other genes. Each YprA family clade defines a distinct class of defense systems, which we denote ARMADA (disARM-related Antiviral Defense Array), BRIGADE (Base hypermodification and Restriction Involving Genes encoding ARMADA-like and Dpd-like Effectors), or TALON (TOTE-like and ARMADA-Like Operon with Nuclease). In addition to the YprA-like helicase, ARMADA systems share two more proteins with DISARM. However, ARMADA YprA homologs are most similar to those of Druantia, suggesting ARMADA is a 'missing link' connecting DISARM and Druantia. We show experimentally that ARMADA protects bacteria against a broad range of phages via a direct, non-abortive mechanism. We also discovered multiple families of satellite phage-like mobile genetic elements that often carry both ARMADA and Druantia Type III systems and show that these can provide synergistic resistance against diverse phages.

In skeletally immature people, chondroblastoma is an uncommon benign-appearing tumor that develops in the epiphysis of long bones. It is a kind of tumor that produces cartilage and makes up less than 1% of all bone cancers. Here, we report a case of a 23-year-old boy having chondroblastoma of the distal phalanx of the left great toe, which is an unusual site for the occurrence of chondroblastoma. Chondroblastoma is an exceptionally rare primary bone tumor that presents at the distal phalanx of the great toe.

This study utilized well-known supervised machine learning algorithms to NFHS‑5 data of West Bengal, India, to predict the place of birth (home vs facility) by integrating CHW (community health worker) contact factors and women participant's perceptions about intimate partner violence (IPV). Although the study applied modelling techniques from conventional ML literature, the overarching contribution was identifying avenues to enhance public health policy response (e.g., efficient targeting of home visits and counselling by ANM/ASHA). The study concludes that, identifying likely homebirth cases among women with IPV-related poor perceptions applying improved prediction can enhance prioritising of CHW-contact and alter birth preference. The study improves minority-class learning using SMOTE on weighted NFHS data keeping in mind the complex survey design and SMOTE limitations. With respect to the ML model performance, Random Forest produced the highest test AUC (0.991) and accuracy (96.7%) among the 5 evaluated classifiers-LR (base), RF, MNB, k-NN, SVM and 0.950 with stable accuracy of 96% on hold-out data. The study does not bring methodological novelty in the underlying algorithms but generated actionable insights for equitable CHW allocation for efficient targeting using standard cross-sectional survey data.

Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS), unlike pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS), is triggered by infections. This study aimed to assess the differences in low-grade endotoxemia and oxidative stress between these conditions. A cross-sectional study compared serum levels of soluble NOX2-dp (sNOX-2-dp), isoprostanes, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and zonulin in 30 PANDAS, 21 PANS, and 30 control (CT) children matched for age and gender. Zonulin was used to assess gut permeability. Patients with PANDAS showed significantly higher serum levels of sNOX2-dp, isoprostanes, LPS, and zonulin than PANS and controls, while no significant differences were found between PANS and controls. sNOX2-dp correlated with isoprostanes (Rs = 0.708; p < 0.001), LPS (Rs = 0.584; p < 0.001), and zonulin (Rs = 0.662; p < 0.001). Multiple regression identified isoprostanes (&#x3b2; = 0.599; p < 0.001) and zonulin (&#x3b2; = 0.295; p = 0.01) as independent predictors of sNOX2-dp (R2 = 81%). PANDAS and PANS showed distinct profiles of LPS, zonulin, NOX2, and isoprostanes. Future research should explore therapies targeting endotoxemia and oxidative stress for potential clinical benefits.

Conservative kidney management (CKM) is a recognised treatment option for selected patients with chronic kidney disease stage 5 (CKD G5), but prognostic indicators for mortality and optimal timing for palliative care transition remain uncertain. This is a single-centre, prospective cohort study of CKD G5 patients who opted for CKM, conducted between April 2021 and September 2024, with longitudinal monitoring of Edmonton Symptom Assessment System Revised: Renal; Palliative Perfor-mance Scale (PPS); Resources Utilisation Group.Activities of Daily Living (RUG-ADL) scale; Clinical Frailty Score; Karnofsky Performance Score; and clinical and laboratory data. Primary outcomes included identifying baseline mortality predictors and validating the PPS for survival estimation. Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify independent predictors of mortality. Among 109 patients (mean age 79.8&#xb1;7.3 years, 64.2% female), 62 (56.9%) died during follow-up. Multivariate analysis identified baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (hazard ratio [HR] 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08.1.68, P<0.01) and serum albumin (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.08.1.43, P<0.01) as predictors of 1-year mortality. Median survival varied by eGFR: 3.0 months (95% CI 0.6.2) for eGFR .5 mL/min/1.73 m2, 13.0 months (95% CI 9.1.16.9) for eGFR 6.10 mL/ min/1.73 m2, and 20.0 months (95% CI 16.5.23.5) for eGFR >10 mL/min/1.73 m2 (P<0.01). Subsequent PPS correlated strongly with survival, with median survival of 1.8 months for PPS <50, 5.3 months for PPS 50.60, and 7.9 months for PPS 70.80 (P=0.03). Baseline eGFR and serum albumin predict 1-year mortality in CKM patients. PPS offers a practical tool for identifying patients requiring palliative care transition, supporting personalised care pathways and timely integration of palliative care.

A diaphragmatic hernia is a defect in the diaphragm that allows abdominal contents to enter the chest cavity due to negative intra-thoracic pressure. Diaphragmatic hernias can be acquired (iatrogenic and traumatic), congenital (Morgni hernia, Bochdalek hernia), or hiatal hernia. Bochdalek's hernia (BH) seldom affects adults and usually affects the left side. There are not >100 cases of adult left BH, and the majority of them have no symptoms.

Background: Exposure to tobacco smoke, from conventional tobacco cigarettes (CTC) or heated tobacco products (HTPs), increases oxidative stress, causing endothelial dysfunction and higher cardiovascular risk. It is unclear whether smoke exposure also promotes low-grade endotoxemia, potentially activating NADPH oxidase and further impairing endothelial function. This study assessed serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels in children and adults actively or passively exposed to conventional cigarette smoke or HTPs, compared with non-exposed controls. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study comprising 26 children passively exposed to HTPs, 26 children exposed to CTC, and 26 unexposed controls, as well as 20 adult chronic HTP users, 20 chronic CTC, and 20 non-smoking adults. Circulating LPS was measured alongside oxidative stress markers (NOX2, H2O2), endothelial function, intestinal permeability (zonulin), and nicotine exposure (serum cotinine). Results: Exposed children had higher cotinine, LPS, and zonulin than controls, with no differences between HTP and CTC groups. Multiple linear regression analysis identified cotinine (&#x3b2; = 0.343; p = 0.005) and zonulin (&#x3b2; = 0.441; p < 0.001) as independent LPS predictors. In adults, LPS and zonulin were higher in both smoker groups versus controls; zonulin (&#x3b2; = 0.477; p < 0.001) and nitric oxide bioavailability (&#x3b2; = -0.307; p = 0.007) independently predicted LPS. Conclusions: Passive and active exposure to CTC or HTPs increases low-grade endotoxemia and zonulin, potentially driving NOX2-mediated oxidative stress.

BackgroundIntestinal bacteria-derived molecules, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) produced by Gram-negative bacteria, can translocate into the bloodstream through the gut wall, contributing to inflammation and neurodegeneration via oxidative stress mechanisms. NADPH oxidase-2 activation and superoxide anion production play a key role in this process, particularly in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD), where gut permeability is often altered. This study hypothesized that modulating gut microbiota with the probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (ECN) could mitigate LPS translocation and its associated inflammatory effects.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of daily ECN administration on serum LPS levels in elderly AD patients.MethodsA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted with 40 mild AD patients, with 39 completing the study (20 ECN, 19 placebo). Participants received ECN (2.5-25&#x2009;&#xd7;&#x2009;10^9 CFU/capsule) or placebo for six weeks. The serum activity of soluble NOX2-dp (sNOX2-dp), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-&#x3b1; levels and LPS was evaluated, while serum zonulin levels were measured to assess gut permeability.ResultsThe ECN group showed significant reductions in sNOX2-dp (-21%), H2O2 (-27%), TNF-&#x3b1; (-18%), LPS (-15%), and zonulin (-35%), along with improved Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores. No significant changes were seen in the placebo group. Mixed ANOVA showed significant time-by-treatment interactions for zonulin (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.04) and MMSE (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001). Changes in LPS correlated with changes in zonulin (Rs&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.408, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.011).ConclusionsECN may strengthen gut barrier function, reduce endotoxemia, and attenuate inflammation in AD, though larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Contaminated surfaces can transmit pathogens to food in industrial and domestic food-handling environments. Exposure to pathogens on food contact surfaces may take place via the cross-contamination of pathogens during postprocessing activities. Formaldehyde-based commercial sanitizers in recent years are less commonly being used within food manufacturing facilities due to consumer perception and labeling concerns. There is interest in investigating clean-label, food-safe components for use on food contact surfaces to mitigate contamination from pathogenic bacteria, including Salmonella. In this study, the antimicrobial effects of two types of organic acid mixtures containing 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid (HMTBa), Activate DA&#x2122; and Activate US WD-MAX&#x2122;, against Salmonella when applied onto various food contact surfaces were evaluated. The efficacy of Activate DA (HMTBa + fumaric acid + benzoic acid) at 1% and 2% and Activate US WD-MAX (HMTBa + lactic acid + phosphoric acid) at 0.5% and 1% against Salmonella enterica (serovars Enteritidis, Heidelberg, and Typhimurium) were evaluated on six different material surfaces: plastic (bucket elevator and tote bag), rubber (bucket elevator belt and automobile tire), stainless steel, and concrete. There was a significant difference in the Salmonella log reduction on the material surfaces due to the organic acid treatments when compared to the untreated surfaces. The type of material surface also had an effect on the log reductions obtained. Stainless steel and plastic (tote) had the highest Salmonella log reductions (3-3.5 logs), while plastic (bucket elevator) and rubber (tire) had the lowest log reductions (1-1.7 logs) after treatment with Activate US WD-MAX. For Activate DA, the lowest log reductions (~1.6 logs) were observed for plastic (bucket elevator) and rubber (tire), and the highest reductions were observed for plastic (tote), stainless steel, and concrete (2.8-3.2 logs). Overall, the results suggested that Activate DA at 2% and Activate US WD-MAX at 1% are potentially effective at reducing Salmonella counts on food contact surfaces by 1.6-3.5 logs.

Surgeons request intraoperative parathyroid hormone (PTH) monitoring during parathyroidectomy procedures to confirm identification of abnormal gland tissue. Generally, a 50% decrease in the baseline PTH level indicates the abnormal tissue has been removed. A delay in collecting and processing PTH blood samples can complicate intraoperative decision making and prolong the procedure. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to develop tools to facilitate the specimen management process (eg, requesting, transporting, analyzing) for PTH blood samples and decrease the average total time required for transit and assay. We implemented a two-pronged initiative that involved improving the laboratory requisition form and creating a parathyroid tote box to contain all the needed information and supplies. The average total time for transit and assay decreased from 31.36 minutes before implementation to 22.06 minutes after implementation. Perioperative nurses expressed satisfaction with the changes and continue to use the revised process.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in salivary glands is rare, often posing diagnostic challenges. This case report presents a 75-year-old male with progressively increasing swelling and pain in the right submandibular gland, eventually diagnosed as moderately differentiated SCC. The diagnostic journey involved fine needle aspiration cytology, imaging studies, and histopathological examination. The patient underwent surgical intervention, including submandibular gland excision and selective neck dissection, which successfully achieved local control. Subsequent postoperative follow-up indicated a favorable outcome, with no significant complaints. This report contributes insights into the multidisciplinary diagnostic approach and underscores the importance of imaging modalities in managing salivary gland SCC. This rare case emphasizes the need for ongoing research to refine management strategies for salivary gland SCC. By presenting a comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic approach, this report contributes to the limited literature on this malignancy, emphasizing its rarity and the necessity for continued exploration of long-term outcomes. In conclusion, our case provides valuable insights into the medical knowledge surrounding SCC in salivary glands, warranting attention and further investigation.