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Pruritus is a common, often debilitating symptom of liver disease. While most commonly seen in the setting of cholestasis and biliary obstruction, intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (PSSs) may also present with pruritus. The pathophysiology of intractable pruritus is not well understood and often requires multimodal management. We present a rare case of an 81-year-old woman with severe medically refractory pruritus with elevated serum bile acids in the absence of chronic liver disease. Antipruritics and plasmapheresis produced minimal relief, leading her to contemplate medical assistance in dying (MAID). Imaging during workup revealed two intrahepatic shunts, anomalously connecting the right portal and hepatic veins. Endovascular shunt embolization led to normalization of her serum bile acids and produced remarkable symptomatic relief. This highlights a rare but treatable cause of pruritus in an adult without chronic liver disease or biliary obstruction, while showcasing embolization as a safe and effective treatment strategy with significant improvement of the patient's quality of life.
A better functional and site-specific drug delivery system for ophthalmic disease is necessary for the treatment of glaucoma. The present study aimed to design a brinzolamide (BRZ)-loaded cubosomal solid lipid nano-vesicular system (Cube-SLNV) that accomplished advanced statistical tools. Another objective was to overcome the problem of burst release associated with Glyceryl monooleate (GMO) Cube-SLNV by incorporating Gelucire 43/01 (GC43/01). The emulsification method was used to synthesize BRZ Cube-SLNV. The Plackett-Burman design (PBD) was utilized to screen the critical material (CMAs) and process attributes (CPPs). The optimization of the Cube-SLNV was accomplished through Box-Behnken design (BBD). Multivariate tools were applied to estimate the correlation between screened CMAs and critical quality attributes (CQAs). The Cube-SLNV was characterized by size, its size distribution, stability, thermal behavior, chemical interactions, BRZ release, entrapment efficiency, pH, sterility testing, and ex vivo irritation study. GMO and GC43/01 were chosen as solid lipids, whereas Poloxamer 407 (PLX) was a stabilizer for Cube-SLNV in preliminary trials. PBD-the Pareto chart suggested the significant influence of the amount of GMO, GC43/01, and PLX on the performance of Cube-SLNV, so chosen as CMAs for further optimization. BBD identified a crucial relationship between chosen CMAs and CQAs - Cube-SLNV size, poly-dispersibility index (PDI), and BRZ release. The optimized Cube-SLNV size was determined to be 101.2 nm, with a zeta potential of - 34.6 mV, a PDI of 0.253, and more than 90% entrapment efficiency. Cube-SLNV can release more than 90% BRZ within 8 h. DSC and FTIR confirmed the formation of Cube-SLNV-loaded BRZ. HATCAM study revealed that the formulation has no irritancy. The controlled release behavior from optimized BRZ with higher entrapment efficiency was observed. Cube-SLNV was developed with the amalgamation of PBD for screening and BBD for correlating CMAs and CQAs. This novel delivery system is a revitalized formulation that promises to give a potential molecule a new lease of life.
The Gulf of Mexico/Gulf of America provides ecosystem services derived from marine biodiversity and oil and gas resources. Threats posed by unintended releases of oil and gas can be attenuated by microbial processes, necessitating the documentation of baseline microbial diversity to better understand spill dynamics and to inform bioremediation strategies. Here, we analyze metagenomic sequencing of 10 water column samples collected from the Green Canyon 233 (GC233) lease block near the mussel-fringed brine lake, Brine Pool NR-1. Bioinformatics processing produced 60 bacterial metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), 11 archaeal MAGs, 149 microbial taxa predicted from assembled full-length small subunit (SSU) rRNA genes, and 389 microbial genera predicted from single-copy marker genes. Abundant taxa classified from these analyses included archaeal Nitrosopumilaceae, Nitrosopelagicus, and Thalassarchaeaceae and the bacterial taxa Pelagibacteraceae and SAR324. The MAGs revealed genes that degrade gaseous and non-gaseous hydrocarbons, including methane, other alkanes, and aromatic compounds. These samples were collected in 2009, fortuitously prior to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill. Therefore, we searched for members of the rare biosphere that dominated the DWH plume during the early phase of microbial succession. Sequences related to Bermanella spp. were not detected initially. The search was expanded by mapping reads from ours and an additional 55 metagenomic libraries to two Bermanella MAGs. Read recruitment to Bermanella sp913054445 enriched in DWH plume samples was low (<1%) for our samples, those collected after the spill, and most experimental samples compared to samples collected outside (3%) and inside the DWH plume (19%-23%) during the spill. Microbes execute oil spill biodegradation through complex interactions involving whole microbiome communities by harnessing genes distributed across multiple taxa. Therefore, metagenomic data sets provide taxonomic and functional annotations to aid in understanding spill dynamics. Although the Deepwater Horizon oil spill provided opportunities to observe ecosystem recovery, data about the microbiome prior to the spill are scarce and limited to amplicon sequencing. Our metagenomic libraries, although not derived from the same lease block as the blowout, contribute linkages between microbial taxonomy and function in an area of active oil and gas production. This analysis can aid microbial indicator development, machine learning, and modeling efforts to bioremediate hydrocarbon influxes in marine environments.
Marine sediments support distinct complements of epifaunal and infaunal assemblages, that often end up associated with the habitats created by ecosystem engineers. While human activity has caused the decline of many of these engineers, like seagrasses, it also accounts for the farming and growth of others, like oysters. This study assessed the contribution of natural eelgrass beds (Zostera marina), on-bottom Eastern oyster aquaculture (Crassostrea virginica), and bare sediments to the abundance and richness of epifaunal and infaunal communities in two bays of Prince Edward Island, Atlantic Canada. Our working hypothesis was that structured habitats (eelgrass and oyster leases) sustain richer or otherwise distinct communities relative to bare sediments. To test it, we sampled epifauna through multiple trapping surveys and then examined infaunal communities in the three habitats. Epifaunal surveys showed that eelgrass beds and oyster leases supported richer and more abundant communities than bare sediments. Multivariate analyses also showed that samples from the first two habitats differed from bare sediments in composition and abundance. Meanwhile, infaunal communities were denser but less diverse in bare sediments, with MDS plots evidencing clear among-habitat differences. These results supported our hypothesis and the notion that structurally complex habitats foster richer epifaunal and infaunal communities, likely by providing diverse shelter and resources. Despite their transitional nature, on-bottom oyster leases contributed to local community structure much like natural eelgrass beds, playing a concurrent ecological role. Hence, they provide services well beyond the economic benefits that they are best known for.
Neurolathyrism is an upper motor neuron disorder affecting the corticospinal tracts and causing spastic paraparesis. Linked to consuming Lathyrus sativus, it remains a global public health challenge, particularly in parts of Ethiopia. This research explored the prevalence, associated factors, and social impact of neurolathyrism among patients in the Delanta district, Ethiopia. To assess the prevalence, associated factors, and social impact of neurolathyrism among patients in the Delanta district, Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to March 2023 among 470 randomly selected individuals in two purposively selected kebeles of Delanta district, Amhara region. A multistage sampling technique was employed. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire after written informed consent was obtained from each participant. The collected data were cleaned and analyzed using Epi Info version 7.2 and SPSS version 26.0, respectively. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression models were used. Statistical significance was determined using P value < 0.05. Associations were measured by adjusted odds ratios (AORs). Factors with a P value of 0.2 or less in the bivariable analysis were selected for further multivariable analysis and entered a logistic regression model. Of 470 participants, 56 (11.9%) reported neurolathyrism. At the population level, prevalence in two purposively selected kebeles of the Delanta district was 6.6%. Significant individual-level variables were older age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.69; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.06-9.34), male sex (AOR = 3.57; 95% CI = 1.79-7.10), and inability to read (AOR = 3.13; 95% CI = 1.22-7.99). Household-level variables included family size (AOR = 2.33; 95% CI = 1.16-4.69) and farmland lease (AOR = 2.73; 95% CI = 1.23-6.06). Among neurolathyrism patients, 73% discontinued school due to lack of support, and 21.4% were divorced after disease onset. The prevalence of neurolathyrism is notably high in the study population. Older age, male sex, educational status, family size, and farmland lease were significantly associated with neurolathyrism.
Isaac Newton's lesser-known activities included explorations of the theory of compound interest and calculations of the sum of money which should be paid to purchase or renew a property lease that would run for either a fixed term of years or until the last survivor of three nominated people had died. This paper outlines the wider contemporary context for his work in this area and describes the results he achieved, including his certification of the accuracy and methods of the tables based on compound interest which were produced by George Mabbut for lease purchase or renewal. These tables remained in widespread use for more than 70 years but a controversy about the methods recommended for using them to calculate the cost of leases on lives rose to a height a few years after Newton's death. Possibly he could have suggested a more scientific method of valuing leases on lives, based on the mortality rates reported by John Graunt, but he did not do so. Finally, the paper poses some key questions about Newton's involvement in this area and whether it would be fair to regard it as rather limited. This article is part of the theme issue 'Newton, Principia, Newton Geneva Edition (17th-19th) and modern Newtonian mechanics: heritage, past & present'.
Because fixed costs such as capital investment, lease-related expenses, and depreciation vary substantially according to institutional case volume, timing of platform introduction, and local accounting policy, direct cross-platform comparison based on total cost may be difficult to interpret in routine practice. This study aimed to descriptively compare marginal profit rates of conventional laparoscopy (Lap), the da Vinci single-port (SP) system, and the da Vinci multi-port platforms in colorectal cancer surgery using institutionally standardized running costs. We retrospectively reviewed patients with resectable primary colorectal cancer who underwent minimally invasive surgery at our institution between October 2024 and December 2025. The primary economic outcome was marginal profit rate (MPR), defined as the proportion of reimbursement revenue remaining after subtraction of institutionally standardized running costs. These running costs included materials, personnel, and time-based operating room allocations. Fixed costs, including capital investment, lease-related cost, and depreciation, were excluded to focus on procedural cost efficiency during routine clinical operation. Because this study was designed as a descriptive cost-accounting analysis, no formal hypothesis testing was performed; however, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for descriptive transparency. In an additional subgroup analysis, multi-port robotic cases were separated into da Vinci Xi and da Vinci 5. Of the 607 colorectal resections initially assessed during the study period, 575 cases were included in the final analysis. In the original platform-level comparison, laparoscopic surgery showed the highest marginal profit rates across evaluated procedures. Among robotic approaches, the SP group showed numerically higher marginal profit rates than the pooled multi-port group in colectomy and rectal resection. In the additional subgroup analysis, the cohort consisted of 118 laparoscopic cases, 131 SP cases, 258 Xi cases, and 68 da Vinci 5 cases. In colectomy, mean MPRs were 53.3% (95% CI, 52.4–54.3) for laparoscopy, 33.4% (95% CI, 32.1–34.7) for SP, 28.1% (95% CI, 27.2–29.0) for Xi, and 19.1% (95% CI, 16.3–21.9) for da Vinci 5. In rectal resection, the corresponding values were 61.5% (95% CI, 59.7–63.2), 43.3% (95% CI, 41.2–45.4), 40.8% (95% CI, 39.8–41.7), and 35.6% (95% CI, 33.0–38.3), respectively. In this single-center descriptive cost-accounting study using institutionally standardized running costs excluding depreciation, the da Vinci SP platform showed numerically higher marginal profit rates than the pooled multi-port cohort. Additional separation of the multi-port group suggested heterogeneity between Xi and da Vinci 5 in this early institutional experience. These findings do not establish economic superiority of any specific platform, but rather suggest that workflow behavior and resource utilization patterns may influence procedural profitability under real-world robotic colorectal surgery conditions. Further studies incorporating case-mix adjustment and device-level consumable analysis are warranted.
The development of tidal stream energy sites is constrained by numerous practical, technical, and accessible constraints, including changes in the flow caused by the presence of the tidal farm. Large and complex sites are typically developed incrementally and may involve multiple developers. This regional modelling case study of the Pentland Firth, widely regarded as one of the most significant global locations for tidal energy extraction, investigates these dynamics. This study examines scenarios for the incremental development of the Pentland Firth, incorporating assumptions regarding tidal farm design. The analysis considers a range of configurations, including variations in turbine density and the incorporation of shipping lanes within designated lease areas. The study finds that there are interactions between individually developed tidal farms of the site, but they are moderate with the power in a given farm unlikely to vary by more than 20% (based on a positive interaction), as a result of the development of other farms in other parts of the Pentland Firth. To minimise such array interactions, it is recommended that site leasing be based on the allowable thrust applied to the flow rather than on projected power generation. Furthermore, the findings suggest that the maximum power generated from turbines in the Pentland Firth, averaged over time, is unlikely to exceed approximately 1 GW, broadly consistent with most estimates in the literature.
Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) have become a dominant site of orthopaedic procedural growth in the United States, with expanding indications that now include select total joint arthroplasty. Although clinical protocols have enabled safe outpatient care, ASC performance is frequently determined by nonclinical infrastructure. Surgeon-owned ASCs function as regulated financial entities governed by operating agreements and a layered contract architecture that directly influences reimbursement integrity, fixed overhead exposure, throughput reliability, compliance risk, and long-term equity value. Operating agreements define governance authority, ownership rights, capital obligations, profit distribution, dispute resolution, and buy-sell valuation methodology. Managed care contracts establish procedure-level revenue feasibility, including implant reimbursement structure, denial and recoupment risk, audit exposure, and escalation provisions. Lease agreements represent the largest fixed liability and may determine survivability during reimbursement contraction. Equipment, purchasing, anesthesia, and staffing agreements further shape operational capacity and cost control, while revenue cycle and information technology contracts influence collections performance and cybersecurity vulnerability. This review provides a structured, surgeon-focused framework for evaluating ASC contract domains, emphasizing negotiation priorities, implementation strategy, and regulatory safeguards. A disciplined approach to ASC contracting is essential to preserve autonomy, protect margins, and sustain long-term enterprise value in an increasingly outpatient-driven orthopaedic economy.
While IPV is often studied as a predictor of housing insecurity, few U.S. studies explore how different forms of housing instability may contribute to intimate partner violence (IPV) risk. Using a mixed-methods approach and a cross-sectional design, this study examined the association between four housing instability domains and IPV among a sample of tenants that had either experienced eviction or were at high risk for eviction. Tenants in Harris and Travis counties (Texas, USA) completed an online survey (n = 1085; March-July 2024). Housing instability was assessed across four domains: homelessness, lease violations, utility hardship, and poor housing quality. IPV was measured using the Hurt, Insult, Threaten, Scream Screener. Covariate-adjusted logistic regression models suggest indicators within the four housing instability domains were associated with IPV risk. Within the homelessness domain, experiences with lifetime homelessness (AOR = 1.92, 95%CI 1.61-2.28), in the past 12 months living in unconventional spaces (AOR = 2.10, 95%CI 1.92-2.29), and moving in with others (AOR = 1.20, 95%CI 1.06-1.36) were associated with IPV. Within the lease violations domain, missed rent payments (AOR = 1.69, 95%CI 1.68-1.71) and non-payment lease violations (AOR = 2.50, 95%CI 2.29-2.73) in the past 12 months were associated with IPV. Utility shutoffs (AOR = 1.62, 95%CI 1.37-1.91) and unsafe housing (AOR = 1.65, 95%CI 1.31-2.09) in the past 12 months were associated with IPV. Homelessness, housing-related economic hardships and substandard living conditions predict an elevated risk of IPV.
Although listeners can enhance perception by using prior knowledge to predict the content of degraded speech signals, this process can also elicit "misperceptions." The neurobiological mechanisms responsible for these phenomena remain a topic of debate. There is relatively consistent evidence for involvement of the bilateral posterior superior temporal gyri (pSTG) in speech perception in noise; however, a role for the left premotor cortex (PMC) is debated. In this study, we employed transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and a prime-probe paradigm for the first time to investigate causal roles for the left PMC and pSTG in speech perception and misperception. To produce misperceptions, we created partially mismatched phonologically similar pseudosentence probes (e.g., She moved into her apartment soon after signing the lease-Che moffed inso har apachment sool amter siphing tha leals). All probe sentences were then spectrotemporally degraded and preceded by a clear prime sentence. Compared with a control site (vertex), inhibitory stimulation of the left pSTG selectively disrupted priming of real but not pseudosentences. However, inhibitory stimulation of the left PMC did not significantly influence perception of either real sentences or misperceptions of pseudosentences. These results confirm a role for the left pSTG in the perception of degraded speech. However, they do not support a role for the left PMC in either lexical or sublexical processing during perception of degraded speech using ecologically valid sentence stimuli. We discuss the implications of these findings for neurobiological models of speech perception.
Little is known about predictors of housing instability for young adults participating in a Boston-area rapid rehousing program over the course of 1 year. We analyzed de-identified data from young adults enrolled in a rapid rehousing program between April 2020 and March 2022. The primary outcome was housing success, defined as acquiring independent housing or securing a second-year rapid rehousing lease. Mental health, substance use, service utilization, employment, experiences of interpersonal violence, and pregnancy were collected at baseline and at 3-month intervals for 1 year. Data were analyzed for 104 young adults, comprising primarily of transition-age youth (M = 21.2 years) of color (86.5%) with histories of interpersonal violence exposure (51.9%) and high rates of past-month cannabis use (72.1%). Approximately two thirds (64.4%) of participants had a successful housing outcome at 1 year. A total of 24.5% (13/53) of participants who were female at birth became pregnant after being enrolled in rapid rehousing, and 100% of females at birth who became pregnant experienced interpersonal violence during rapid rehousing. Multiple logistic regression analyses identified days of cannabis use in the 30 days prior to baseline and the experience of interpersonal violence or becoming pregnant during rapid rehousing as independent predictors of unsuccessful housing outcome. Results suggest the value of integrating evidence-based approaches for substance use, relational trauma, and reproductive health into rapid rehousing programs for young adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Richter transformation (RT) to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is an aggressive lymphoma that arises from underlying chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma. RT is often chemorefractory, resulting in poor clinical outcomes with standard chemoimmunotherapy. Mosunetuzumab, a bispecific CD20/CD3 T-cell-engaging antibody, was investigated in a cohort of 20 patients with relapsed/refractory RT. Cytokine release syndrome occurred in 65% of patients, almost exclusively grade 1 (20%) or grade 2 (40%), and occurring during the first treatment cycle. Other adverse events included infections, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, tumor flare, and low-grade neurotoxicity, with no adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation. Mosunetuzumab resulted in an overall response rate of 40% and a complete response (CR) rate of 20%. CRs were durable, with 2 patients experiencing CR for >20 months without further therapy, and 2 were able to proceed to allogeneic stem cell transplant while in CR, with no subsequent relapse. Median progression-free survival and overall survival were 3.4 and 10.2 months, respectively. Given the favorable toxicity profile of mosunetuzumab and rapid and durable CRs observed in this cohort, further investigation of mosunetuzumab for the treatment of RT, as monotherapy and in combination with other novel agents or chemotherapy, is warranted. This trial was registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT02500407.
Estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) of found bones is an important and challenging part of forensic osteology assessments. This study examined human long bones that had been taken from cemeteries and hoarded by a "bone collector". Based on the police investigation and own investigation into the length of grave leases in the pertinent cemeteries, the narrowed down PMI for the bones was between 20 and 100 years. Our aim was to evaluate the suitability of the UV-fluorescence and luminol methods in determining the PMI of these bones and to assess the reliability of the results for forensic practice. Based on macroscopic criteria, 201 bones were classified into various PMI groups. Freshly sawn bone surfaces were then assessed with UV-fluorescence and luminol. The UV-fluorescence examination showed a weak to mediocre correlation between the intensity of UV-fluorescence and the PMI estimated by macroscopic criteria. Surprisingly, the luminol test did not reveal a negative correlation between the degree of chemiluminescence and macroscopically estimated PMI. Within a PMI span of up to 100 years, the extent of UV-fluorescence can serve only as a rough indicator of PMI. Alone, the method does not suffice to identify forensically relevant PMIs. Likewise, the luminol test does not reliably distinguish between bone finds with and without forensically relevant PMI. Nonetheless, the assumption that a negative luminol-test still speaks for a historical find appears to be justified, and, at least in combination with other tests, the luminol test can be used.
The number of geese foraging in agricultural fields and causing damage to crops is increasing. Farmers attempt to reduce damage using passive, active, auditory, and combined deterrent measures, accommodation fields and, increasingly, derogation shooting. For protected geese like the barnacle goose Branta leucopsis and huntable species outside the hunting season, it is a legal requirement within the EU that other deterrent measures have proven insufficient before a derogation permit can be granted. However, there is a lack of guidance regarding the effectiveness of different measures. Via in-person interviews with 54 Danish farmers experiencing problems with wintering barnacle geese we analyse farmers' experiences with deterrence methods to provide an overview of their effectiveness, defined by duration and area coverage. The information obtained is far more extensive than what could realistically be achieved through scientific experiments. We check the validity of responses by comparing reports with existing scientific evidence. Passive deterrents (e.g., scarecrows) cover a few hectares and have a duration effect of 4-6 days, but only until the geese habituate. Active measures (e.g., a person walking into the field) and auditory deterrents (firing scare shots) have high area effect but short duration. Largest area/duration effects are achieved using gas cannons, sound deterrents and derogation shooting. Intensified active deterrence or increased density of passive deterrents enhance effectiveness but require greater investments of time and resources. Effective derogation shooting requires that hunters can respond quickly when needed. Hunting lease agreements regarding hunters' contributions to deterrence and derogation can enhance cooperation and problem-solving. In addition, cooperation between neighboring farmers, including accommodation areas, furthers effectiveness. The cost of geese (yield loss plus time/materials) can have a sizeable impact on the farmers' operation profits. Lack of effort may be due to farmers either coping with the problem, having given up deterrence, or unawareness of more effective deterrence.
With the rapid development of information and communication technology, mobile payment is becoming increasingly popular in rural areas of China. Rice farmers are accelerating their shift from offline cash payments to online mobile payments for purchasing excellent new varieties. Based on the purchasing scale and level of excellent new rice varieties, this study uses microdata from thousands of households in 100 villages in Jiangxi Province, employing the Heckman two-stage model, propensity score matching method, and instrumental variable (IV) method to explore the impact of mobile payment on the purchasing behavior of rice farmers regarding excellent new rice varieties and its mechanisms. Additionally, it investigates the heterogeneity of the impact of mobile payment on the purchasing behavior of rice farmers regarding excellent new rice varieties. Furthermore, it discusses the differences in the effects of mobile payment across different excellent new rice varieties. Mobile payment has a significant impact on the purchasing scale and level of excellent new rice varieties among rice farmers, and it has passed tests for endogeneity and robustness; mobile payment can enhance land leasing levels by promoting land circulation, reduce the probability of "zero rent" land transfers, alleviate formal credit constraints, release the consumption potential of rural residents, optimize their consumption structure mechanisms, and promote rice farmers' purchase of excellent new varieties. The group effect of mobile payment on rice farmers' purchase of excellent new varieties is more pronounced among men and those with a high school education, while the scale effect is more significant among the elderly population, and the effect is more evident among the younger population. At the same time, the characteristics of mobile payment for rice farmers in purchasing excellent new varieties are more pronounced in breeding varieties that are drought-resistant, waterlogging-resistant, lodging-resistant, insect-resistant, and disease-resistant. This study indicates that mobile payment provides important references and experiential insights in the action plans for inclusive finance, empowering agricultural e-commerce, and revitalizing the seed industry.
Since 1996, Cambodia has leased around 65 percent of its arable land to companies in the form of Large-scale Land Acquisitions (LSLAs). We use locations of LSLAs with geocoded survey data from two datasets to estimate their effects on infant mortality and self-reported symptoms using a spatial difference-in-differences empirical strategy. Results show being within 10 km of an LSLA significantly increases the likelihood of death in the first year of life by 4.6 percentage points and having an illness by 10.5 to 14.9 percentage points for children five and under. Analysis of data from the Malaria Atlas Project shows being within 10 km of an LSLA leads to a 2.9 percent increase in the rates of Plasmodium falciparum infection. Analysis using surveys of village leaders finds a significant increase in the likelihood leaders name malaria as a major health problem in their communities.
To address the environmental impact of petroleum-derived plastics, lignocellulose esters provide a promising renewable alternative. However, research has primarily focused on linear cellulose esters, leaving raw biomass aromatic derivatives largely overlooked. Herein, we report a one-pot, room-temperature synthesis of cinnamate and benzoate esters from microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and raw pine sawdust. A breakthrough finding reveals that pine esters consistently outperform pure MCC, achieving tensile strengths of 5-8 MPa (vs. 1-3 MPa for MCC) possibly due to a lignin-driven synergistic effect facilitating π-π stacking. The resulting films are hydrophobic (contact angles 80-100°) and fully thermoplastic. Cinnamates emerge as a technically superior and "greener" alternative to benzoates, paving the way for the direct upcycling of wood waste into sustainable packaging materials within a circular economy.
Youth experiencing homelessness (YEH), particularly those with prior legal system involvement, face significant barriers to securing stable housing, including stigma, limited income, and criminal background screenings. While supportive housing programs have improved outcomes for adults, few programs have been evaluated for youth. The Housing, Opportunities, Motivation and Engagement (HOME) trial is the first randomized controlled trial to evaluate a six-month supportive housing intervention for YEH using private-market rental assistance. This qualitative sub-study explored landlord and supportive housing advocate perspectives and experiences with implementing HOME for YEH including those with legal system involvement. We conducted semi-structured video interviews with 12 participants: 8 landlords (4 HOME participants, 4 non-participants) and 4 housing advocates. Participants were either directly involved in HOME or had prior experience with supportive housing for YEH. Interview guides were informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and piloted before being finalized. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using template analysis, guided by CFIR's five domains. Three researchers independently double coded each transcript, met regularly to resolve discrepancies, and refined codes through focused coding. ATLAS.ti software supported data analysis. Five themes emerged: (1) Program Features and Benefits, including guaranteed rent and youth stabilization; (2) Landlord and Advocate Profiles, highlighting landlord motivations, rental practices, and experience with youth facing homelessness and legal system involvement; (3) Internal System Factors, such as financial incentives and the pivotal role of advocates in bridging communication; (4) External Influences, including rental market constraints and stigma; and (5) Program Enhancement Strategies, with suggestions for longer-term leases, clearer communication, and expanded support resources. Implementation of supportive housing for YEH with legal system involvement is shaped by financial, relational, and place-based factors. While guaranteed rent and advocate support facilitated landlord participation, stigma, rigid lease structures, and short program duration posed persistent barriers. Findings highlight the need for tailored, multi-level strategies that address structural inequities and promote long-term housing stability.