Physical filtration efficiency analysis of a polyaniline hybrid composite filter with graphite oxide for particulate matter 2.5

Particulate matter (PM) 2.5 pollution is a prevalent environmental and public health issue that has raised serious global concerns. Because standard heating, ventilation, and air conditioning filters are incapable of filtering out PM 2.5 particles efficiently, different methods of PM 2.5 filtration, such as physical filtration and electrostatic filtration, are under investigation to develop a filter with a high filtration efficiency and a low pressure drop. According to various studies, pressure drop has a significant influence on the filtration efficiency. An equation for the theoretical trend was generated based on the composite data gathered from similar filtration studies and was used to evaluate the relationship between pressure drop and filtration efficiency. Here, the theoretical equation indicated that the filtration efficiency increased as the pressure drop on a filter increased until 0.01 psi where the efficiency remained near constant at approximately 99.9%. In this study, we introduce a graphite oxide (GO) and polyaniline (PANi) composite hybrid filter in order to create a low-pressure (1.2 psi) drop filter. By adding GO flakes to the PANi matrix, we not only produced a highly permeable filter while allowing continuous gas flow, but also achieved a remarkable and highly effective PM 2.5 filter with a filtration efficiency of 99.7 ± 0.08%.     

APOB CRISPR-Cas9 Engineering in Hypobetalipoproteinemia: A Promising Tool for Functional Studies of Novel Variants

Hypobetalipoproteinemia is characterized by LDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B (apoB) plasma levels below the fifth percentile for age and sex. Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL) is mostly caused by premature termination codons in the APOB gene, a condition associated with fatty liver and steatohepatitis. Nevertheless, many families with a FHBL phenotype carry APOB missense variants of uncertain significance (VUS). We here aimed to develop a proof-of-principle experiment to assess the pathogenicity of VUS using the genome editing of human liver cells. We identified a novel heterozygous APOB-VUS (p.Leu351Arg), in a FHBL family. We generated APOB knock-out (KO) and APOB-p.Leu351Arg knock-in Huh7 cells using CRISPR-Cas9 technology and studied the APOB expression, synthesis and secretion by digital droplet PCR and ELISA quantification. The APOB expression was decreased by 70% in the heterozygous APOB-KO cells and almost abolished in the homozygous-KO cells, with a consistent decrease in apoB production and secretion. The APOB-p.Leu351Arg homozygous cells presented with a 40% decreased APOB expression and undetectable apoB levels in cellular extracts and supernatant. Thus, the p.Leu351Arg affected the apoB secretion, which led us to classify this new variant as likely pathogenic and to set up a hepatic follow-up in this family. Therefore, the functional assessment of APOB-missense variants, using gene-editing technologies, will lead to improvements in the molecular diagnosis of FHBL and the personalized follow-up of these patients.     

Proteome profiling of exosomes derived from plasma of heifers with divergent genetic merit for fertility

The current study evaluated exosomes isolated from plasma of heifers bred to have high or low fertility through developing extreme diversity in fertility breeding values, however, key animal traits (e.g., body weight, milk production, and percentage of North American genetics) remained similar between the 2 groups. The exosomes were isolated by a combined ultracentrifugation and size exclusion chromatography approach and characterized by their size distribution (nanoparticle tracking analysis), morphology (transmission electron microscopy), and presence of exosomal markers (immunoblotting). In addition, a targeted mass spectrometry approach was used to confirm the presence of 2 exosomal markers, tumor susceptibility gene 101 and flotillin 1. The number of exosomes from plasma of high fertility heifers was greater compared with low fertility heifers. Interestingly, the exosomal proteomic profile, evaluated using mass spectrometry, identified 89 and 116 proteins in the high and low fertility heifers respectively, of which 4 and 31 were unique, respectively. These include proteins associated with specific biological processes and molecular functions of fertility. Most notably, the tetratricopeptide repeat protein 41-related, glycodelin, and kelch-like protein 8 were identified in plasma exosomes unique to the low fertility heifers. These proteins are suggested to play a role in reproduction; however, the role of these proteins in dairy cow reproduction remains to be elucidated. Their identification underscores the potential for proteins within exosomes to provide information on the fertility status and physiological condition of the cow. This may potentially lead to the development of prognostic tools and interventions to improving dairy cow fertility.     

Tracking the Molecular Fingerprint of Head and Neck Cancer for Recurrence Detection in Liquid Biopsies

The 5-year relative survival for patients with head and neck cancer, the seventh most common form of cancer worldwide, was reported as 67% in developed countries in the second decade of the new millennium. Although surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or combined treatment often elicits an initial satisfactory response, relapses are frequently observed within two years. Current surveillance methods, including clinical exams and imaging evaluations, have not unambiguously demonstrated a survival benefit, most probably due to a lack of sensitivity in detecting very early recurrence. Recently, liquid biopsy monitoring of the molecular fingerprint of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma has been proposed and investigated as a strategy for longitudinal patient care. These innovative methods offer rapid, safe, and highly informative genetic analysis that can identify small tumors not yet visible by advanced imaging techniques, thus potentially shortening the time to treatment and improving survival outcomes. In this review, we provide insights into the available evidence that the molecular tumor fingerprint can be used in the surveillance of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Challenges to overcome, prior to clinical implementation, are also discussed.     

Preserved monitoring and control processes in temporal lobe epilepsy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess an aspect of metamemory never examined before in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE): the ability to upgrade the accuracy of one's memory predictions after study. Method: Four lists of different levels of difficulty and relatedness were presented to 15 TLE patients and 15 control participants, who were asked to predict their subsequent recall both before and after studying each list. Results: The results showed clear impairment in recall in TLE patients. However, both TLE patients and controls showed an improvement in accuracy in their poststudy predictions compared with their prestudy predictions, showing that both groups were able to upgrade their metamemory predictions. Unexpectedly, prediction accuracy was overall higher in TLE patients than in controls. Moreover, study time was allocated in both groups taking into account the characteristics of the list. Conclusion: These results confirm and extend findings of Howard et al. (2010) of intact metamemory in TLE patients, and provide further support to the dissociation between memory and metamemory in this clinical population. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Deodorization optimization of Camelina sativa oil: Oxidative and sensory studies

Camelina sativa oil (CO) is characterized by a high content (up to 40 wt %) of essential α‐linolenic acid and characteristic odour and flavour. Deodorization of highly unsaturated oils requires great attention as the refining process involves thermal treatment which affects oil integrity. In the present study RSM and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to optimize bench‐scale deodorization of CO. Mathematical models were generated through multiple regressions with backward elimination, describing the effects of process parameters (temperature, steam flow, time) on oil quality indicators [peroxide value (PV), p‐anisidine value (p‐AV), γ‐tocopherol (γ‐T) and oxidative stability (OS)]. Additionally, sensory evaluation was performed. RSM analysis showed a significant effect of deodorization temperature and to a lesser extent, deodorization steam flow and time on removal of oxidative compounds, flavour and odour. PCA of chemical and sensory results showed that deodorization temperature affected the sensory properties in the samples. The best conditions for removing undesirable flavour and odour were achieved by using a deodorization temperature of 195–210°C.     

Assessing the Floristic Diversity of Hedge Networks: A landscape perspective

The type of land cover adjacent to hedges has been shown to influence the species composition of the ground flora. An assessment of the contribution of hedge networks to the biodiversity of landscapes therefore requires information on the relative lengths of hedge associated with different land covers. In the River Tyne catchment, Northern England, the association between hedges and land cover types differed between four landscapes. Overall, the greatest length of hedge was adjacent to arable crops, improved grasslands and roads. Hedges next to improved grassland and roads were the most species-rich, while those adjacent to arable crops were the least species-rich. Species which were common adjacent to arable crops were also common adjacent to other land covers. Hedges adjacent to improved grassland, roads and semi-natural broadleaved woodland supported species which were not common elsewhere in the hedge network. It was also found that hedges with different land cover on each side supported different floras on each side. When planning landscape-scale surveys of hedge biodiversity, it is important to survey both sides of hedges, and sampling should be stratified to include hedges adjacent to the different types of land cover present.     

Horton and Wohl Revisited: Exploring Viewers' Experience of Parasocial Interaction

Linking back to D. Horton and R. Wohl (1956) , the present approach conceptualizes and empirically examines viewers' parasocial interaction experience with a TV performer. Causes and outcomes of parasocial interaction experience are examined. To this end, a new Experience of Parasocial Interaction (EPSI) scale is introduced. In a 2 (Bodily Addressing) × 2 (Verbal Addressing) between‐subjects experiment (N = 198) viewers reported a more intense parasocial experience if they were addressed by a TV performer on a bodily and verbal level. In addition, the more viewers perceived the performer to be attractive and the stronger their perspective‐taking ability, the more intense their parasocial experience. Stronger parasocial experience resulted in higher commitment to social norms and a greater enjoyment of the exposure situation.     

Dissolved silver in European estuarine and coastal waters

Silver is one of the most toxic elements for the marine microbial and invertebrate community. However, little is known about the distribution and behaviour of dissolved silver in marine systems. This paper reports data on dissolved and sediment-associated silver in European estuaries and coastal waters which have been impacted to different extents by past and present anthropogenic inputs. This is the first extended dataset for dissolved silver in European marine waters. Lowest dissolved silver concentrations were observed in the Gullmar Fjord, Sweden (8.9 ± 2.9 pM; x ± 1σ), the Tamar Estuary, UK (9.7 ± 6.2 pM), the Fal Estuary, UK (20.6 ± 8.3 pM), and the Adriatic Sea (21.2 ± 6.8 pM). Enhanced silver concentrations were observed in Atlantic coastal waters receiving untreated sewage effluent from the city of A Cor?na, Spain (243 ± 195 pM), and in the mine-impacted Restronguet Creek, UK (91 ± 71 pM). Anthropogenic wastewater inputs were a source of dissolved silver in the regions studied, with the exception of the Gullmar Fjord. Remobilisation of dissolved silver from historically contaminated sediments, resulting from acid mine drainage or sewage inputs, provided an additional source of dissolved silver to the estuaries. The ranges in the log particle-water partition coefficient (K_d) values of 5-6 were similar for the Tamar and Mero estuaries and agreed with reported values for other estuaries. These high K_d values indicate the particle reactive nature of silver with oxic sediments. In contrast, low K_d values (1.4-2.7) were observed in the Fal system, which may have been due to enhanced benthic inputs of dissolved silver coupled to limited scavenging of silver on to sediments rich in Fe oxide.     

Wind resource assessment from C-band SAR

Using accurate inputs of wind speed is crucial in wind resource assessment, as predicted power is proportional to the wind speed cubed. First, wind speeds retrieved from a series of 91 ERS-2 SAR and Envisat ASAR images, at moderate wind speeds (2-15 m s^− 1), were validated against in situ measurements from an offshore mast in the North Sea. The wind direction input, necessary for SAR wind speed retrievals, was obtained from the meteorological mast and from a local gradient analysis of wind streaks in the SAR images. A wind speed standard deviation of ∼ 1.1 m s^− 1 was found when in situ wind directions were used. The use of local gradient wind directions yielded a standard deviation of ∼ 1.3 m s^− 1. Wind speeds retrieved from three geophysical model functions (CMOD-IFR2, CMOD4, and CMOD5) were compared. The best approximation to the in situ measurements of wind speed was found for CMOD-IFR2, despite a bias on the order of − 0.3 m s^− 1. CMOD4 retrievals also underestimated the wind speed, whereas the bias on CMOD5 retrievals was negligible. Then, wind resource assessments were made from the SAR-based wind observations to show how errors in wind speed from the different SAR wind retrievals were reflected in the wind statistics. The mean wind speed, obtained for all of the 91 SAR scenes, was linked closely to the bias of SAR wind retrievals. Agreement to ± 15% of the in situ measurements was found for all the wind retrieval methods tested. The accuracy of power density estimates for the entire data set was evaluated by the standard deviation of SAR wind retrievals relative to the in situ measurements. SAR wind fields retrieved with CMOD-IFR2, using in situ wind direction inputs, exactly yielded the power density predicted from in situ measurements alone. The SAR-based wind resource assessment also corresponded well to predictions from longer time series of in situ measurements. This indicates that a reliable wind resource assessment may be achieved from a series of randomly selected SAR images. The findings presented here could be useful in future wind resource assessment based on SAR images.