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Mechano‐electric regulations (MER) play an important role in the maintenance of cardiac performance. Mechano‐calcium and mechano‐electric feedback (MCF and MEF) pathways adjust the cardiomyocyte contractile force according to mechanical perturbations and affects electro‐mechanical coupling. MER integrates all these regulations in one unit resulting in a complex phenomenon. Computational modelling is a useful tool to accelerate the mechanistic understanding of complex experimental phenomena. We have developed a novel model that integrates the MER loop for human atrial cardiomyocytes with proper consideration of feedforward and feedback pathways. The model couples a modified version of the action potential (AP) Koivumäki model with the contraction model by Quarteroni group. The model simulates iso‐sarcometric and isometric twitches and the feedback effects on AP and Ca2+‐handling. The model showed a biphasic response of Ca2+ transient (CaT) peak to increasing pacing rates and highlights the possible mechanisms involved. The model has shown a shift of the threshold for AP and CaT alternans from 4.6 to 4 Hz under post‐operative atrial fibrillation, induced by depressed SERCA activity. The alternans incidence was dependent on a chain of mechanisms including RyRs availability time, MCF coupling, CaMKII phosphorylation, and the stretch levels. As a result, the model predicted a 10% slowdown of conduction velocity for a 20% stretch, suggesting a role of stretch in creation of substrate formation for atrial fibrillation. Overall, we conclude that the developed model provides a physiological CaT followed by a physiological twitch. This model can open pathways for the future studies of human atrial electromechanics. Key points: With the availability of human atrial cellular data, interest in atrial‐specific model integration has been enhanced.We have developed a detailed mathematical model of human atrial cardiomyocytes including the mechano‐electric regulatory loop. The model has gone through calibration and evaluation phases against a wide collection of available human in‐vitro data.The usefulness of the model for analysing clinical problems has been preliminaryly tested by simulating the increased incidence of Ca2+ transient and action potential alternans at high rates in post‐operative atrial fibrillation condition.The model determines the possible role of mechano‐electric feedback in alternans incidence, which can increase vulnerability to atrial arrhythmias by varying stretch levels.We found that our physiologically accurate description of Ca2+ handling can reproduce many experimental phenomena and can help to gain insights into the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel optically induced dielectrophoresis (ODEP) system that can operate under flow conditions is designed for automatic trapping of cells and subsequent induction of 2D multi‐frequency cell trajectories. Like in a "ping‐pong" match, two virtual electrode barriers operate in an alternate mode with varying frequencies of the input voltage. The so‐derived cell motions are characterized via time‐lapse microscopy, cell tracking, and state‐of‐the‐art machine learning algorithms, like the wavelet scattering transform (WST). As a cell‐electrokinetic fingerprint, the dynamic of variation of the cell displacements happening, over time, is quantified in response to different frequency values of the induced electric field. When tested on two biological scenarios in the cancer domain, the proposed approach discriminates cellular dielectric phenotypes obtained, respectively, at different early phases of drug‐induced apoptosis in prostate cancer (PC3) cells and for differential expression of the lectine‐like oxidized low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐1 (LOX‐1) transcript levels in human colorectal adenocarcinoma (DLD‐1) cells. The results demonstrate increased discrimination of the proposed system and pose an additional basis for making ODEP‐based assays addressing cancer heterogeneity for precision medicine and pharmacological research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)‐related effects in benthic organisms is commonly estimated from organic carbon‐normalized sediment concentrations based on equilibrium partitioning (EqP). Although this approach is useful for screening purposes, it may overestimate PAH bioavailability by orders of magnitude in some sediments, leading to inflated exposure estimates and potentially unnecessary remediation costs. Recently, passive samplers have been shown to provide an accurate assessment of the freely dissolved concentrations of PAHs, and thus their bioavailability and possible biological effects, in sediment porewater and overlying surface water. We used polyethylene passive sampling devices (PEDs) to measure freely dissolved porewater and water column PAH concentrations at 55 Great Lakes (USA/Canada) tributary locations. The potential for PAH‐related biological effects using PED concentrations were estimated with multiple approaches by applying EqP, water quality guidelines, and pathway‐based biological activity based on in vitro bioassay results from ToxCast. Results based on the PED‐based exposure estimates were compared with EqP‐derived exposure estimates for concurrently collected sediment samples. The results indicate a potential overestimation of bioavailable PAH concentrations by up to 960‐fold using the EqP‐based method compared with measurements using PEDs. Even so, PED‐based exposure estimates indicate a high potential for PAH‐related biological effects at 14 locations. Our findings provide an updated, weight‐of‐evidence–based site prioritization to help guide possible future monitoring and mitigation efforts. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1509–1523. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organisational ambidexterity allows firms to maintain a competitive advantage. In today’s globally competitive environment, characterised by dispersed knowledge and diversified markets, ambidexterity assumes an even more important connotation from a geographic perspective. In this context, emerging economies (EEs) play a vital role as sources of innovators and market disruptors. This has resulted in the emerging phenomenon of reverse innovation (RI) and the rethinking of firms’ multinational R&D and innovation strategies. The present study aims to answer how RI can be incorporated into multinational R&D strategies to bring about organisational ambidexterity on a firm level by balancing explorative and exploitative innovative activities across advanced economies (AEs) and EEs. With primary data collected through semi-structured interviews with thirty R&D executives and senior managers, we find that RI can occur in the form of complete products and smaller innovative contributions toward developing new products that arise from the multinational collaboration between headquarters of organisations, their subsidiaries, and partners. We also find that multinational enterprises use both exploration and exploitation in EEs as the foundation for RI. Finally, we propose four distinct explorative and exploitative RI types that multinational enterprises can pursue to balance their ambidextrous activities across geographies. These four types of innovation are comprised of reverse product innovations and reverse flows of innovative contributions, each of explorative and exploitative nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions Research on the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on mothers/childbearing parents has mainly been cross‐sectional and focused on psychological symptoms. This study examined the impact on function using ongoing, systematic screening of a representative Ontario sample.An interrupted time series analysis of repeated cross‐sectional data from a province‐wide screening program using the Healthy Babies Healthy Children (HBHC) tool assessed changes associated with the pandemic at the time of postpartum discharge from hospital. Postal codes were used to link to neighborhood‐level data. The ability to parent or care for the baby/child and other psychosocial and behavioral outcomes were assessed.The co‐primary outcomes of inability to parent or care for the baby/child were infrequently observed in the pre‐pandemic (March 9, 2019–March 15, 2020) and initial pandemic periods (March 16, 2020–March 23, 2021) (parent 209/63,006 (0.33%)–177/56,117 (0.32%), care 537/62,955 (0.85%)–324/56,086 (0.58%)). Changes after pandemic onset were not observed for either outcome although a significant (p = 0.02) increase in slope was observed for inability to parent (with questionable clinical significance). For secondary outcomes, worsening was only seen for reported complications during labor/delivery. Significant improvements were observed in the likelihood of being unable to identify a support person to assist with care, need of newcomer support, and concerns about money over time.There were no substantive changes in concerns about ability to parent or care for children. Adverse impacts of the pandemic may have been mitigated by accommodations for remote work and social safety net policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the prognostic ability of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) as a predictor of overall survival (OS) using a large North American cohort. Patients and Methods: Our cohort included 5940 patients with clinical M0 UTUC who underwent a radical nephroureterectomy (RNU), between 2010 and 2016, within the National Cancer Database. The main variable of interest was LVI status, and its interaction with pathological nodal (pN) status. Kaplan–Meier curves were used to depict the OS also stratifying patients on LVI status. Cox regression analysis tested the impact of LVI status on OS after accounting for the available covariates. Results: The median (interquartile range [IQR]) age at diagnosis was 71 (63–78) years and most patients had pathological T1 stage disease (48.6%). Nodal status was pN0, pN1 and pNx in 45.8%, 6.3% and 47.9%, respectively. Overall, 22.1% had LVI. The median (IQR) follow‐up time was 32.6 (16.0–53.3) months. At the 5‐year postoperative follow‐up, the estimated OS rate was 28% in patients with LVI vs 66% in those without LVI (P < 0.001). When patients were stratified based on nodal status those rates were 32% vs 68% in pN0 patients (P < 0.001), 23% vs 30% in pN1 patients (P = 0.8), and 28% vs 65% in pNx patients (P < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, the presence of LVI was associated with less favourable OS (hazard ratio 1.79, 95% confidence interval 1.60–1.99; P < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study assessed the impact of LVI on OS in patients with UTUC in a large North American nationwide cohort. Our series, as the largest to date, indicate that LVI is associated with less favourable survival outcomes in patients with UTUC after RNU, and this variable could be used in counselling patients about their prognosis and might be a useful tool for future trials to risk‐stratify patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To analyze the generalizability of the Göteborg‐2 findings to a North American cohort. Methods: We replicated the Göteborg‐2 inclusion criteria in our Henry Ford Health (HFH) cohort, by identifying all patients 50–60 years old who had a PSA test from 2013 to 2018. The first PSA within the study period was considered PSA at entry, and included in the analysis. Chi‐square test was used to compare categorical variables between the Göteborg‐2 and HFH cohort, with a particular focus on Black men, who were also analyzed separately. Results: The HFH patients included in the cohort were 49 456, of which 8562 were Black. In patients within the entire HFH cohort, HFH Black cohort, Göteborg Reference cohort, and Göteborg Experimental cohort, the rate of PSA ≥3 ng/mL was, respectively, 6.8%, 10.2%, 6.8%, and 6.6%. The rate of biopsy performed was, respectively, 1.8%, 4.1%, 5.8%, and 2.5%. PCa was found in, respectively, 1.4%, 3.0%, 2.3%, and 1.5%; Gleason score 3 + 3 in, respectively, 0.5%, 0.8%, 1.2%, and 0.6%; Gleason score > 3 + 3 in, respectively, 0.9%, 2.2%, 1.1%, and 0.9%. Conclusions: Our cohort had a lower biopsy rate and a lower incidence of non‐csPCa diagnosis than both Göteborg cohorts, while still maintaining the same incidence of csPCa. This implies that the benefits of reducing non‐csPCa diagnosis, as observed in the Experimental Göteborg cohort, are not necessarily replicable in U.S. "real‐world practice" patients. Also noteworthy, we had a significantly higher percentage of Black men, who showed more aggressive disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article aims to study the effect of output additionality of public innovation funding on firm innovation, measured as economic returns of innovation, across firms of different sizes. A panel sample consisting of 4125 Spanish firms observed during years 2009–2014 has been analysed, using a treatment model. Robustness tests have also been used. The findings show the effects of output additionality of innovation funding support for small, medium and large firms, with a greater effect on large firms and a lower effect on medium firms. However, there has a weak effect for very large firms, which do not benefit in terms of output additionality. Since it is relatively easy for large firms to benefit from public support for innovation, some of the resources allocated to them should be passed on to small and medium firms. Medium firms seem to be less inclined to benefit from economies of scales than large firms and may be less affected by public innovation policy given the priority for small firms' development. Small and medium enterprises can benefit further from well‐designed targeting programmes, with a prevalence of demand‐side support measures compared to the supply‐side measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many fungicides can control brown spot, caused by Bipolaris oryzae in rice (Oryza sativa L.), although searching for beneficial microorganisms for biocontrol will improve sustainable integrated pest management. The aim of this investigation was the selection of natural suppressors of the brown spot disease in rice. We performed biochemical (E1), molecular antagonism (E2) and severity suppression (E3) studies under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. The E1, E2 and E3 assays were performed with 21 isolates. The experimental design was completely randomized with three replicates. E1 characterized all 21 isolates for the production of extracellular enzymes, siderophores, biofilm, indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA) and phosphate solubilization. E2 was conducted to test the in vitro antagonism between the 21 isolates and B. oryzae, and E3 was conducted under greenhouse conditions, where seeds of the rice cultivars BRS‐Primavera and Esmeralda were sown in plastic trays containing 3 kg of fertilized soil. After 45 days, rice leaves were sprayed and inoculated with a mixed suspension of bacterial cells (1 × 108 CFU) and B. oryzae. All of the 21 bacterial isolates produced lipase, N‐fixation, siderophore, IAA, biofilm and solubilized phosphorus. Bacillus cereus, Priestia megaterium, Stenotrophomonas nitritireducens, Serratia marcescens and Serratia nematodiphila reduced radial colony growth of B. oryzae and suppressed brown spot severity by up to 90%. This indicates the potential of these isolates for biocontrol of brown spot in rice as a component of rice disease management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the recommendation by the Italian National Institute of Health for the screening of Chagas disease in pregnant women. Chagas disease is a vector-borne infection caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and affects approximately 8 million people worldwide. The disease can be transmitted through various means, including vertical transmission from mother to child during pregnancy. The article emphasizes the importance of screening pregnant women at risk for Chagas disease and providing appropriate counseling and treatment. The World Health Organization has also included the elimination of Chagas disease as an objective in its new roadmap. [Extracted from the article]

Cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH)–pyometra complex is the most common uterine infection in adult and elderly bitches and can cause renal dysfunction. The aim of this study was to measure and compare urinary creatinine, urea, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), urinary protein–creatinine ratio (UPC), measurement of systolic blood pressure (SBP), and Doppler velocimetry of renal arteries in patients with CEH–pyometra complex before and after an average of 6 months of treatment, evaluating the possibility of the changes persisting. The evaluation was conducted at two moments: M1 (at the diagnosis of CEH–pyometra, n = 36) and M2 (after an average of six months of treatment, n = 16). For the control group, eight bitches with no changes in blood tests or history of conditions underwent Doppler ultrasound evaluation of the renal arteries. At both M1 and M2, we measured creatinine, urea, and serum SDMA, UPC, SBP, and Doppler ultrasound of the renal arteries. Patients were evaluated according to the following groups: azotemic (AZO) and non‐azotemic (NAZO), and open and closed cervix pyometra. The parameters were compared between animals present in both moments presented as M1R (bitches that were in M1 and M2) and M2. Statistical significance was considered when p <.05. The medians found for creatinine in M1 were as follows: 1.15 mg/dL, being 1.8 mg/dL for AZO (12/36) and 0.95 mg/dL for NAZO (24/36); and in M2: 0.85 mg/dL (16/16), being 1.15 mg/dL for AZO (4/16) and 0.8 mg/dL for NAZO (12/36). For urea, in M1 it was 36 mg/dL (32/36), with AZO being 103 mg/dL (11/32) and 33 mg/dL in NAZO (21/32); and in M2 32 mg/dL (16/ 16), being 29 mg/dL for AZO (4/36), and 31 mg/dL for NAZO (3/15). The median SDMA measured in M1R was 17 μg/dL (15/16), with AZO being 31 μg/dL (3/15), and NAZO being 16.5 μg/dL (12/15); and in M2, SDMA was 12 μg/dL (16/16), with AZO being 12.5 μg/dL (4/16), and NAZO being 12 μg/dL (12/16). The median UPC measured in M1 was 1.15 (10/36), with AZO being 0.25 (1/10), and NAZO being 1.38 (9/10); and in M2, it was 0.2 (13/16), being 0.1 in AZO (4/13), and 0.2 (9/16) in NAZO. For SBP, in M1, it was 118 mmHg (30/36), with AZO being 102 mmHg (10/30) and 133 mmHg in NAZO (20/30); and in M2 142.5 mmHg (12/16), being 155 mmHg for AZO (4/12), and 140 mg/dL for NAZO (8/12). When comparing animals with open and closed cervixes, a difference was found between SDMA measurements (p =.001). There was a distinction between PI and RI of the left and right kidneys consecutively (p =.007; p =.033; p =.019; p =.041). Correlations found in M1: SDMA × PI RIM DIR (r = 0.873; p =.002), SDMA × PSV RIM ESQ (r = 0.840; p =.004), SDMA × EDV RIM ESQ (r = 0.675; p =.046). With this study, we conclude a return to normality of renal biomarkers and clinical parameters after six months. Yet, there is a persistence of Doppler velocimetric measurements between the two moments. Thus, this parameter is not suitable for identifying and classifying chronic kidney injury in bitches with pyometra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing the ecological risk of contaminants in the field typically involves consideration of a complex mixture of compounds which may or may not be detected via instrumental analyses. Further, there are insufficient data to predict the potential biological effects of many detected compounds, leading to their being characterized as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). Over the past several years, advances in chemistry, toxicology, and bioinformatics have resulted in a variety of concepts and tools that can enhance the pragmatic assessment of the ecological risk of CECs. The present Focus article describes a 10+‐ year multiagency effort supported through the U.S. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to assess the occurrence and implications of CECs in the North American Great Lakes. State‐of‐the‐science methods and models were used to evaluate more than 700 sites in about approximately 200 tributaries across lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, Michigan, and Superior, sometimes on multiple occasions. Studies featured measurement of up to 500 different target analytes in different environmental matrices, coupled with evaluation of biological effects in resident species, animals from in situ and laboratory exposures, and in vitro systems. Experimental taxa included birds, fish, and a variety of invertebrates, and measured endpoints ranged from molecular to apical responses. Data were integrated and evaluated using a diversity of curated knowledgebases and models with the goal of producing actionable insights for risk assessors and managers charged with evaluating and mitigating the effects of CECs in the Great Lakes. This overview is based on research and data captured in approximately about 90 peer‐reviewed journal articles and reports, including approximately about 30 appearing in a virtual issue comprised of highlighted papers published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry or Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:2506–2518. © 2023 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers can investigate many aspects of animal ecology through noninvasive photo–identification. Photo–identification is becoming more efficient as matching individuals between photos is increasingly automated. However, the convolutional neural network models that have facilitated this change need many training images to generalize well. As a result, they have often been developed for individual species that meet this threshold. These single‐species methods might underperform, as they ignore potential similarities in identifying characteristics and the photo–identification process among species.In this paper, we introduce a multi‐species photo–identification model based on a state‐of‐the‐art method in human facial recognition, the ArcFace classification head. Our model uses two such heads to jointly classify species and identities, allowing species to share information and parameters within the network. As a demonstration, we trained this model with 50,796 images from 39 catalogues of 24 cetacean species, evaluating its predictive performance on 21,192 test images from the same catalogues. We further evaluated its predictive performance with two external catalogues entirely composed of identities that the model did not see during training.The model achieved a mean average precision (MAP) of 0.869 on the test set. Of these, 10 catalogues representing seven species achieved a MAP score over 0.95. For some species, there was notable variation in performance among catalogues, largely explained by variation in photo quality. Finally, the model appeared to generalize well, with the two external catalogues scoring similarly to their species' counterparts in the larger test set.From our cetacean application, we provide a list of recommendations for potential users of this model, focusing on those with cetacean photo–identification catalogues. For example, users with high quality images of animals identified by dorsal nicks and notches should expect near optimal performance. Users can expect decreasing performance for catalogues with higher proportions of indistinct individuals or poor quality photos. Finally, we note that this model is currently freely available as code in a GitHub repository and as a graphical user interface, with additional functionality for collaborative data management, via Happywhale.com. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of α2‐adrenergic agonists in association with urethral catheterization has been used as a technique for pharmacological semen collection in cats. The mechanism of action of this drug is the stimulation of adrenoreceptors in the vas deferens, which results in ejaculation. While medetomidine is the α2‐agonist most commonly used in studies, ejaculation with the use of dexmedetomidine associated with ketamine has been effective, but with variable results. Therefore, further studies regarding the methodology of use are required to obtain better seminal quality. This study aimed to compare two pharmacological semen collection times after the association of dexmedetomidine (30 μg/kg, IM; Dormitor®, Zoetis), ketamine (5 mg/kg, IM; ketamine, Vetnil) and urethral catheterization using a tomcat probe (0.8 mm × 1.00 mm × 11 cm). The collections were divided into two experimental groups: G10 (N = 8; urethral catheterization after 10 min of anaesthesia) and G15 (N = 8; urethral catheterization after 15 min of anaesthesia). The ejaculates were evaluated for ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, morphology and kinetics using the CASA system. To compare the groups, the t‐test and the Mann–Whitney U‐test were used with a significance level of 5%. It was identified that ejaculate volume (G10: 22.62 ± 2.13 vs. G15: 26.81 ± 1.55; p <.001) and sperm concentration (G10: 48.10 × 106 ± 17.84 vs. G15: 90.18 × 106 ± 19.35; p <.001) was higher in G15 than in G10 and had a lower percentage of minor defects than G10 (G10: 3.12 ± 2.41 vs. G15: 1.00 ± 1.19; p =.043). Regarding the kinetic parameters, the results of G15 were better for total motility—TM (G10: 67.00 ± 10.33 vs. G15: 81.87 ± 7.99; p =.006) and faster cells—RAPID: (G10: 55.00 ± 16.63 vs. G15: 74.25 ± 11.94; p =.019); whereas a higher proportion of cells with slow speed—SLOW were seen in G10 (G10: 31.00 ± 12.07 vs. 17.12 ± 7.53; p =.015). Based on these findings, we suggest that collection via urethral catheterization should be performed 15 min after the application of ketamine‐associated dexmedetomidine to obtain a better‐quality ejaculate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Watersheds are subjected to diverse anthropogenic inputs, exposing aquatic biota to a wide range of chemicals. Detection of multiple, different chemicals can challenge natural resource managers who often have to determine where to allocate potentially limited resources. Here, we describe a weight‐of‐evidence framework for retrospectively prioritizing aquatic contaminants. To demonstrate framework utility, we used data from 96‐h caged fish studies to prioritize chemicals detected in the Milwaukee Estuary (WI, USA; 2017–2018). Across study years, 77/178 targeted chemicals were detected. Chemicals were assigned prioritization scores based on spatial and temporal detection frequency, environmental distribution, environmental fate, ecotoxicological potential, and effect prediction. Chemicals were sorted into priority bins based on the intersection of prioritization score and data availability. Data‐limited chemicals represented those that did not have sufficient data to adequately evaluate ecotoxicological potential or environmental fate. Seven compounds (fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, pyrene, atrazine, metolachlor, phenanthrene, and DEET) were identified as high or medium priority and data sufficient and flagged as candidates for further effects‐based monitoring studies. Twenty‐one compounds were identified as high or medium priority and data limited and flagged as candidates for further ecotoxicological research. Fifteen chemicals were flagged as the lowest priority in the watershed. One of these chemicals (2‐methylnaphthalene) displayed no data limitations and was flagged as a definitively low‐priority chemical. The remaining chemicals displayed some data limitations and were considered lower‐priority compounds (contingent on further ecotoxicological and environmental fate assessments). The remaining 34 compounds were flagged as low or medium priority. Altogether, this prioritization provided a screening‐level (non‐definitive) assessment that could be used to focus further resource management and risk assessment activities in the Milwaukee Estuary. Furthermore, by providing detailed methodology and a practical example with real experimental data, we demonstrated that the proposed framework represents a transparent and adaptable approach for prioritizing contaminants in freshwater environments. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:1276–1296. © 2022 SETAC Key Points: A retrospective weight‐of‐evidence prioritization framework was developed to use for contaminants detected in aquatic environments.Chemicals were prioritized based on spatial and temporal detection frequency, environmental distribution, environmental fate, ecotoxicological potential, relationship with in vivo and in vitro effects, and data availability.High‐, medium‐, and low‐priority contaminants were identified in the Milwaukee Estuary based on effects‐based monitoring (96‐h in situ caged fish) studies carried out in 2017 and 2018.This prioritization framework is not intended to provide a definitive risk assessment. Rather, it is intended to help guide resource allocation, allowing natural resource managers to focus resources on the contaminants most likely to elicit adverse impacts in aquatic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most important events for the success of parasitism is the nematode recognition of chemical signals exuded by the host plant. In response to the establishment of interactions, plants have evolved improved defence mechanisms. The present study aimed to identify resistance mechanisms by comparing the biochemical defence response of two chilli pepper (Capsicum spp.) genotypes (Bode roxa A‐resistant and Cambuci‐susceptible) to Meloidogyne enterolobii. The activity of β‐1,3‐glucanase (GLU), peroxidase, chitinase (CHI), phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase and lipoxygenase (LOX) was evaluated in the leaves and the roots at 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days after inoculation. There was an increase of GLU and CHI in leaves, and LOX in leaves and roots activities, of the resistant genotype (Bode roxa A). These results allow a better understanding of the defence mechanisms involved in the resistance of Capsicum spp. to M. enterolobii, which is an important step in developing management strategies for this pathosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study investigates the drivers of product quality failures as manifested through recalls. More specifically, this research develops theory regarding supply chain and operations management (SCOM) representation in organizational top management teams (TMT) and this representation's association with the frequency of recalls, the type of recalls, and the severity of recalls. The moderating effect of both recent and historical organizational recall knowledge is also explored. This study uses unique data sets, collected from multiple sources, containing executives' backgrounds, firm characteristics, and product recalls. The study finds that firms with SCOM representation on their TMTs have fewer recalls overall and fewer severe recalls. We also find that firms with SCOM representation on the TMT are less likely to suffer from subsequent recalls after a history of recalling. Lastly, we discover interesting nuances with respect to the form of SCOM representation present on the TMT (CEO and functional executive). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptosporidium parvum is a globally distributed zoonotic pathogen and a major cause of diarrhoeal disease in humans and ruminants. The parasite's life cycle comprises an obligatory sexual phase, during which genetic exchanges can occur between previously isolated lineages. Here, we compare 32 whole genome sequences from human‐ and ruminant‐derived parasite isolates collected across Europe, Egypt and China. We identify three strongly supported clusters that comprise a mix of isolates from different host species, geographic origins, and subtypes. We show that: (1) recombination occurs between ruminant isolates into human isolates; (2) these recombinant regions can be passed on to other human subtypes through gene flow and population admixture; (3) there have been multiple genetic exchanges, and most are probably recent; (4) putative virulence genes are significantly enriched within these genetic exchanges, and (5) this results in an increase in their nucleotide diversity. We carefully dissect the phylogenetic sequence of two genetic exchanges, illustrating the long‐term evolutionary consequences of these events. Our results suggest that increased globalization and close human‐animal contacts increase the opportunity for genetic exchanges between previously isolated parasite lineages, resulting in spillover and spillback events. We discuss how this can provide a novel substrate for natural selection at genes involved in host–parasite interactions, thereby potentially altering the dynamic coevolutionary equilibrium in the Red Queens arms race. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuropathic pain (NP) is a chronic disease that affects the normal quality of life of patients. To date, the therapies available are only symptomatic and they are unable to reduce the progression of the disease. Many studies reported the efficacy of Cannabis sativa L. (C. sativa) on NP, but no Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9‐THC)‐free extracts have been investigated in detail for this activity so far. The principal aim of this work is to investigate the potential pain‐relieving effect of innovative cannabidiol‐rich non‐psychotropic C. sativa oils, with a high content of terpenes (K2), compared to the same extract devoid of terpenes (K1). Oral administration of K2 (25 mg kg−1) induced a rapid and long‐lasting relief of pain hypersensitivity in a mice model of peripheral neuropathy. In spinal cord samples, K2 reduced mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPKs) levels and neuroinflammatory factors. These effects were reverted by the administration of a CB2 antagonist (AM630), but not by a CB1 antagonist (AM251). Conversely, K1 showed a lower efficacy in the absence of CB1/CB2‐mediated mechanisms. In LPS‐stimulated murine microglial cells (BV2), K2 reduced microglia pro‐inflammatory phenotype through the downregulation of histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC‐1) and nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B‐cells inhibitor (IKBα) and increased interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) expression, an important antiinflammatory cytokine. In conclusion, these results suggested that K2 oral administration attenuated NP symptoms by reducing spinal neuroinflammation and underline the important role of the synergism between cannabinoids and terpenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a miniaturized wireless sensing vaginal ring for the in situ continuous monitoring of vaginal pH and real-time transmission of the pH data to a smartphone is reported, aimed at the diagnosis and management of bacterial vaginosis, a common condition frequently and adversely affecting women. The sensing vaginal ring consists of a bioresorbable pH fluorescence sensor placed on top of a polydimethylsiloxane ring encapsulating a miniaturized driving/readout optoelectronic circuit, data acquisition system, wireless transceiver, and power supply. The pH sensor consists of a micrometer-thick porous silica scaffold conformably coated with a nanometer-thick polymer multilayer stack and is intended to be replaced after 4 days. The sensor fully dissolves in biocompatible by-products eliminating waste management issues; conversely, the ring embedding the circuit is reusable with new sensors. The pH sensor, as well as the sensing vaginal ring, show excellent performance in the continuous measurement of pH in vaginal fluid and can monitor the pH level over the physio-pathological range of 3-7.5 with high linearity, accuracy, and reliability, transmitting the data to a smartphone in real time. The proposed technology can be immediately translated to other diseases, among which wound healing, intragastric activity, and cancer progression, where continuous monitoring of pH is required, as well as to other markers/analytes by engineering the polymer stack with suitable receptors, such as aptamers and other molecular probes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is mixed evidence on the effectiveness of voluntary environmental programs. We evaluate a voluntary program aimed at reducing transportation emissions, that is, the U.S. EPA SmartWay Program. We construct a novel database of the physical assets used by firms before and after they joined SmartWay and compare changes in the age of their assets with that of firms that did not join SmartWay. Our results show that firms that participated in SmartWay operate substantially newer (i.e., cleaner) trucks compared with non‐SmartWay participants, indicating that SmartWay participation is a credible signal of a firm's reduced emissions footprint emanating from truck operations. After the start of SmartWay, firms that joined invested in newer trucks relative to firms that did not, with about a year reduction in average truck age several years after the program began. SmartWay had a larger effect on firms that own their trucks compared with firms that outsource ownership, and sustained participation increased the program's effectiveness. We estimate that the SmartWay Program has reduced commercial transportation emissions from operations by 25.2 million metric tons of CO2 by increasing the incentive to invest in newer, cleaner trucks. Our study provides insight into factors that make voluntary environmental programs effective. Highlights: We studied how voluntary participation in a government‐sponsored environmental program could incentivize firms to make investment into newer physical assets (commercial trucks).Our results demonstrate that participation in the EPA SmartWay program can facilitate a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.From 2012 to 2019, we estimate that the SmartWay program eliminated more than 25 million metric tons of CO2 emissions or the equivalent of almost 15.2 billion truck‐miles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The wheat flag leaf is the main contributor of photosynthetic assimilates to developing grains. Understanding how canopy architecture strategies affect source strength and yield will aid improved crop design.We used an eight‐founder population to investigate the genetic architecture of flag leaf area, length, width and angle in European wheat. For the strongest genetic locus identified, we subsequently created a near‐isogenic line (NIL) pair for more detailed investigation across seven test environments.Genetic control of traits investigated was highly polygenic, with colocalisation of replicated quantitative trait loci (QTL) for one or more traits identifying 24 loci. For QTL QFll.niab‐5A.1 (FLL5A), development of a NIL pair found the FLL5A+ allele commonly conferred a c. 7% increase in flag and second leaf length and a more erect leaf angle, resulting in higher flag and/or second leaf area. Increased FLL5A‐mediated flag leaf length was associated with: (1) longer pavement cells and (2) larger stomata at lower density, with a trend for decreased maximum stomatal conductance (Gsmax) per unit leaf area.For FLL5A, cell size rather than number predominantly determined leaf length. The observed trade‐offs between leaf size and stomatal morphology highlight the need for future studies to consider these traits at the whole‐leaf level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Watersheds of the Great Lakes Basin (USA/Canada) are highly modified and impacted by human activities including pesticide use. Despite labeling restrictions intended to minimize risks to nontarget organisms, concerns remain that environmental exposures to pesticides may be occurring at levels negatively impacting nontarget organisms. We used a combination of organismal‐level toxicity estimates (in vivo aquatic life benchmarks) and data from high‐throughput screening (HTS) assays (in vitro benchmarks) to prioritize pesticides and sites of concern in streams at 16 tributaries to the Great Lakes Basin. In vivo or in vitro benchmark values were exceeded at 15 sites, 10 of which had exceedances throughout the year. Pesticides had the greatest potential biological impact at the site with the greatest proportion of agricultural land use in its basin (the Maumee River, Toledo, OH, USA), with 72 parent compounds or transformation products being detected, 47 of which exceeded at least one benchmark value. Our risk‐based screening approach identified multiple pesticide parent compounds of concern in tributaries of the Great Lakes; these compounds included: eight herbicides (metolachlor, acetochlor, 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, diuron, atrazine, alachlor, triclopyr, and simazine), three fungicides (chlorothalonil, propiconazole, and carbendazim), and four insecticides (diazinon, fipronil, imidacloprid, and clothianidin). We present methods for reducing the volume and complexity of potential biological effects data that result from combining contaminant surveillance with HTS (in vitro) and traditional (in vivo) toxicity estimates. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:367–384. Published 2022. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To help meet the objectives of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative with regard to increasing knowledge about toxic substances, 223 pesticides and pesticide transformation products were monitored in 15 Great Lakes tributaries using polar organic chemical integrative samplers. A screening‐level assessment of their potential for biological effects was conducted by computing toxicity quotients (TQs) for chemicals with available US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Aquatic Life Benchmark values. In addition, exposure activity ratios (EAR) were calculated using information from the USEPA ToxCast database. Between 16 and 81 chemicals were detected per site, with 97 unique compounds detected overall, for which 64 could be assessed using TQs or EARs. Ten chemicals exceeded TQ or EAR levels of concern at two or more sites. Chemicals exceeding thresholds included seven herbicides (2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, diuron, metolachlor, acetochlor, atrazine, simazine, and sulfentrazone), a transformation product (deisopropylatrazine), and two insecticides (fipronil and imidacloprid). Watersheds draining agricultural and urban areas had more detections and higher concentrations of pesticides compared with other land uses. Chemical mixtures analysis for ToxCast assays associated with common modes of action defined by gene targets and adverse outcome pathways (AOP) indicated potential activity on biological pathways related to a range of cellular processes, including xenobiotic metabolism, extracellular signaling, endocrine function, and protection against oxidative stress. Use of gene ontology databases and the AOP knowledgebase within the R‐package ToxMixtures highlighted the utility of ToxCast data for identifying and evaluating potential biological effects and adverse outcomes of chemicals and mixtures. Results have provided a list of high‐priority chemicals for future monitoring and potential biological effects warranting further evaluation in laboratory and field environments. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:340–366. Published 2022. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the estimates of preterm birth (PTB; 22–36 weeks' gestational age, GA) and stillbirth rates during COVID‐19 pandemic in Italy with those recorded in the three previous years. Design: A population‐based cohort study of live‐ and stillborn infants was conducted using data from Regional Health Systems and comparing the pandemic period (1 March 2020–31 March 2021, n = 362 129) to an historical period (January 2017–February 2020, n = 1 117 172). The cohort covered 84.3% of the births in Italy. Methods: Poisson regressions were run in each Region and meta‐analyses were performed centrally. We used an interrupted time series regression analysis to study the trend of preterm births from 2017 to 2021. Main outcome measures: The primary outcomes were PTB and stillbirths. Secondary outcomes were late PTB (32–36 weeks' GA), very PTB (<32 weeks' GA), and extremely PTB (<28 weeks' GA), overall and stratified into singleton and multiples. Results: The pandemic period compared with the historical one was associated with a reduced risk for PTB (risk ratio [RR] 0.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.88–0.93), late PTB (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.88–0.94), very PTB (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.84–0.91) and extremely PTB (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.82–0.95). In multiples, point estimates were not very different, but had wider CIs. No association was found for stillbirths (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.90–1.13). A linear decreasing trend in PTB rate was present in the historical period, with a further reduction after the lockdown. Conclusions: We demonstrated a decrease in PTB rate after the introduction of COVID‐19 restriction measures, without an increase in stillbirths. Linked article: This article is commented on by Giovanni Sisti and Julie T. Joseph, pp. 285 in this issue. To view this mini commentary visit https://doi.org/10.1111/1471‐0528.17312 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has spread to all countries since December 2019, triggering a pandemic within weeks of the initial outbreak. Doctors were presented with the challenge of having to reimagine the traditional hospital organisation in order to effectively manage patients. Patients and Methods: During the months of the COVID‐19 pandemic our Institution was assisted by a call‐center (CC) that triaged cancer patients planned for follow‐up in our outpatient clinics: C1 (for female cancers), C2 (for gastrointestinal, urogenital, and thoracic tumours), and D1 (for melanoma and for patients with tumours in over 5 years follow up). Data refers to the period between 15 April and 3 July 2020. Results: A total of 1054 patients have been included in our study and 1005 (95%) of the contacts were successful. The analysis showed a majority of female patients (74%) and patients affected by breast cancer (56%). Among the options provided 646 patients (92.4%) opted for online consultancy. Conclusion: This study has shown that cancer patients valued technology‐mediated follow‐up visits mainly during the beginning of the pandemic because patients themselves were afraid to come to the hospital. Although telemedicine has intrinsic limitations, it is important for providing assistance and preventing cancer patients from feeling isolated during an emergency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Spontaneous hemoperitoneum in pregnancy is defined as a sudden non‐traumatic intraperitoneal bleeding in pregnancy and up to 42 days postpartum. In the present study we aim to estimate the incidence and investigate the risk factors, the management and the outcomes of spontaneous hemoperitoneum in pregnancy in order to improve its clinical identification and reduce avoidable maternal deaths. Material and methods: This is a prospective population‐based cohort study, set in maternity units from nine Italian regions covering 75% of the national births. The study population comprises all women admitted for spontaneous intraperitoneal hemorrhage during pregnancy and up to 42 days postpartum between November 2017 and March 2020. Incident cases were reported by trained clinicians through electronic data collection forms. Descriptive statistics were performed. The main outcome measures included incidence rate of spontaneous hemoperitoneum in pregnancy, association with potential risk factors, clinical management and maternal and perinatal outcomes. Results: Twenty‐nine cases met the adopted definition of spontaneous hemoperitoneum in pregnancy with an estimated incidence rate of 0.04 per 1000 births. An increased risk ratio (RR) of this condition was observed in pregnancies conceived by assisted reproductive technology (RR = 6.60, 95% CI 2.52–17.29), in the case of multiple pregnancies (RR = 6.57, 95% CI 1.99–21.69) and maternal age ≥35 years (RR 2.10, 95% CI 1.01–4.35). In 17/29 cases the bleeding site was intra‐pelvic (23.5% in the posterior uterine wall and 35.2% in the left hemipelvis). Laparotomy represented the surgical treatment in 27 cases (93%), and most women underwent a cesarean delivery (92.6%). Median blood loss was 1900 mL, one hysterectomy was necessary, and two women died. Twenty‐two preterm births were recorded. Conclusions: Spontaneous hemoperitoneum in pregnancy is a rare, life‐threatening condition associated with high perinatal morbidity and mortality. Maternal age ≥35 years, multiple pregnancies and assisted reproductive technology were associated to a higher risk of the condition. Two women of 29 died and 70% of births occurred preterm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a 2-bit digital reflection-type phase shifter (RTPS) working at 120 GHz is presented. It uses a compact coupled-lines coupler with low insertion loss and high isolation over a wide bandwidth. The loads are made by a microstrip-line loaded by three PN jonction separated by an intermediate region I (PIN) diodes whose states are tuned ON/OFF to obtain 90°, 180° and 270° phase shift relative to the reference (0°). Measurement results show root mean square (RMS) phase and amplitude error equal to 10.3° and 1.2 dB, respectively. The maximum insertion loss is equal to 8.6 dB, leading to a figure of merit of 31°/dB. As shown by simulation, by flipping PIN diodes and using negative voltage for biasing, the maximum insertion loss could be reduced to 3.6 dB (figure of merit of 75°/dB) along with a great improvement in RMS phase and amplitude errors, thus showing the potential of the proposed architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Inherited or somatic mutations in the MRE11, RAD50 and NBN genes increase the incidence of tumours, including medulloblastoma (MB). On the other hand, MRE11, RAD50 and NBS1 protein components of the MRN complex are often overexpressed and sometimes essential in cancer. In order to solve the apparent conundrum about the oncosuppressive or oncopromoting role of the MRN complex, we explored the functions of NBS1 in an MB‐prone animal model. Materials and methods: We generated and analysed the monoallelic or biallelic deletion of the Nbn gene in the context of the SmoA1 transgenic mouse, a Sonic Hedgehog (SHH)‐dependent MB‐prone animal model. We used normal and tumour tissues from these animal models, primary granule cell progenitors (GCPs) from genetically modified animals and NBS1‐depleted primary MB cells, to uncover the effects of NBS1 depletion by RNA‐Seq, by biochemical characterisation of the SHH pathway and the DNA damage response (DDR) as well as on the growth and clonogenic properties of GCPs. Results: We found that monoallelic Nbn deletion increases SmoA1‐dependent MB incidence. In addition to a defective DDR, Nbn+/− GCPs show increased clonogenicity compared to Nbn+/+ GCPs, dependent on an enhanced Notch signalling. In contrast, full NbnKO impairs MB development both in SmoA1 mice and in an SHH‐driven tumour allograft. Conclusions: Our study indicates that Nbn is haploinsufficient for SHH‐MB development whereas full NbnKO is epistatic on SHH‐driven MB development, thus revealing a gene dosage‐dependent effect of Nbn inactivation on SHH‐MB development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a study of 44 diverse sampling sites across 16 Great Lakes tributaries, 110 pharmaceuticals were detected of 257 monitored. The present study evaluated the ecological relevance of detected chemicals and identified heavily impacted areas to help inform resource managers and guide future investigations. Ten pharmaceuticals (caffeine, nicotine, albuterol, sulfamethoxazole, venlafaxine, acetaminophen, carbamazepine, gemfibrozil, metoprolol, and thiabendazole) were distinguished as having the greatest potential for biological effects based on comparison to screening‐level benchmarks derived using information from two biological effects databases, the ECOTOX Knowledgebase and the ToxCast database. Available evidence did not suggest substantial concern for 75% of the monitored pharmaceuticals, including 147 undetected pharmaceuticals and 49 pharmaceuticals with screening‐level alternative benchmarks. However, because of a lack of biological effects information, screening values were not available for 51 detected pharmaceuticals. Samples containing the greatest pharmaceutical concentrations and having the highest detection frequencies were from Lake Erie, southern Lake Michigan, and Lake Huron tributaries. Samples collected during low‐flow periods had higher pharmaceutical concentrations than those collected during increased‐flow periods. The wastewater‐treatment plant effluent content in streams correlated positively with pharmaceutical concentrations. However, deviation from this correlation demonstrated that secondary factors, such as multiple pharmaceutical sources, were likely present at some sites. Further research could investigate high‐priority pharmaceuticals as well as those for which alternative benchmarks could not be developed. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:2221–2239. Published 2022. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerosol transmission has played a significant role in the transmission of COVID‐19 disease worldwide. We developed a COVID‐19 aerosol transmission risk estimation model to better understand how key parameters associated with indoor spaces and infector emissions affect inhaled deposited dose of aerosol particles that convey the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus. The model calculates the concentration of size‐resolved, virus‐laden aerosol particles in well‐mixed indoor air challenged by emissions from an index case(s). The model uses a mechanistic approach, accounting for particle emission dynamics, particle deposition to indoor surfaces, ventilation rate, and single‐zone filtration. The novelty of this model relates to the concept of "inhaled & deposited dose" in the respiratory system of receptors linked to a dose–response curve for human coronavirus HCoV‐229E. We estimated the volume of inhaled & deposited dose of particles in the 0.5–4 μm range expressed in picoliters (pL) in a well‐documented COVID‐19 outbreak in restaurant X in Guangzhou China. We anchored the attack rate with the dose–response curve of HCoV‐229E which provides a preliminary estimate of the average SARS‐CoV‐2 dose per person, expressed in plaque forming units (PFUs). For a reasonable emission scenario, we estimate approximately three PFU per pL deposited, yielding roughly 10 PFUs deposited in the respiratory system of those infected in restaurant X. To explore the model's utility, we tested it with four COVID‐19 outbreaks. The risk estimates from the model fit reasonably well with the reported number of confirmed cases given available metadata from the outbreaks and uncertainties associated with model assumptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, the authors report on the manufacturing and in vivo assessment of a bioresorbable nanostructured pH sensor. The sensor consists of a micrometer‐thick porous silica membrane conformably coated layer‐by‐layer with a nanometer‐thick multilayer stack of two polyelectrolytes labeled with a pH‐insensitive fluorophore. The sensor fluorescence changes linearly with the pH value in the range 4 to 7.5 upon swelling/shrinking of the polymer multilayer and enables performing real‐time measurements of the pH level with high stability, reproducibility, and accuracy, over 100 h of continuous operation. In vivo studies carried out implanting the sensor in the subcutis on the back of mice confirm real‐time monitoring of the local pH level through skin. Full degradation of the pH sensor occurs in one week from implant in the animal model, and its biocompatibility after 2 months is confirmed by histological and fluorescence analyses. The proposed approach can be extended to the detection of other (bio)markers in vivo by engineering the functionality of one (at least) of the polyelectrolytes with suitable receptors, thus paving the way to implantable bioresorbable chemical sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The innovation management and policy literature suggests that government support generally has a positive effect on SMEs' R&D, innovation performance, and fostering international links. However, research in this field has mainly examined the outcomes, overlooking the impact during the course of the R&D partnership, especially in an international context. Using longitudinal data and a transaction cost (TC) approach, we conduct an in‐depth case study of a UK–China innovation program aimed at supporting and facilitating R&D partnerships between UK SMEs and Chinese organizations. Examining 11 UK SMEs with 12 R&D partnerships in this program, we identify four stages of the R&D partnership with Chinese organizations, revealing that government support both positively and negatively affects TCs at each stage. Based on these positive and negative effects, we offer empirical and theoretical contributions, as well as managerial and policy implications to support international R&D partnerships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food intake profoundly affects systemic physiology. A large body of evidence has indicated a link between food intake and circadian rhythms, and ~24-h cycles are deemed essential for adapting internal homeostasis to the external environment. Circadian rhythms are controlled by the biological clock, a molecular system remarkably conserved throughout evolution. The circadian clock controls the cyclic expression of numerous genes, a regulatory program common to all mammalian cells, which may lead to various metabolic and physiological disturbances if hindered. Although the circadian clock regulates multiple metabolic pathways, metabolic states also provide feedback on the molecular clock. Therefore, a remarkable feature is reprogramming by nutritional challenges, such as a high-fat diet, fasting, ketogenic diet, and caloric restriction. In addition, various factors such as energy balance, histone modifications, and nuclear receptor activity are involved in the remodeling of the clock. Herein, we review the interaction of dietary components with the circadian system and illustrate the relationships linking the molecular clock to metabolism and critical roles in the remodeling process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With improved analytical techniques, environmental monitoring studies are increasingly able to report the occurrence of tens or hundreds of chemicals per site, making it difficult to identify the most relevant chemicals from a biological standpoint. For the present study, organic chemical occurrence was examined, individually and as mixtures, in the context of potential biological effects. Sediment was collected at 71 Great Lakes (USA/Canada) tributary sites and analyzed for 87 chemicals. Multiple risk‐based lines of evidence were used to prioritize chemicals and locations, including comparing sediment concentrations and estimated porewater concentrations with established whole‐organism benchmarks (i.e., sediment and water quality criteria and screening values) and with high‐throughput toxicity screening data from the US Environmental Protection Agency's ToxCast database, estimating additive effects of chemical mixtures on common ToxCast endpoints, and estimating toxic equivalencies for mixtures of alkylphenols and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This multiple‐lines‐of‐evidence approach enabled the screening of more chemicals, mitigated the uncertainties of individual approaches, and strengthened common conclusions. Collectively, at least one benchmark/screening value was exceeded for 54 of the 87 chemicals, with exceedances observed at all 71 of the monitoring sites. Chemicals with the greatest potential for biological effects, both individually and as mixture components, were bisphenol A, 4‐nonylphenol, indole, carbazole, and several PAHs. Potential adverse outcomes based on ToxCast gene targets and putative adverse outcome pathways relevant to individual chemicals and chemical mixtures included tumors, skewed sex ratios, reproductive dysfunction, hepatic steatosis, and early mortality, among others. The results provide a screening‐level prioritization of chemicals with the greatest potential for adverse biological effects and an indication of sites where they are most likely to occur. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:1016–1041. Published 2022. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A markedly decreased PAF-AH activity was found in the only HVA patient with asthma (PAF-AH: 10.9 nmol/mL/min). Keywords: anaphylaxis; asthma; biomarkers; Hymenoptera venom allergy; platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase EN anaphylaxis asthma biomarkers Hymenoptera venom allergy platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase 1032 1035 4 03/02/22 20220301 NES 220301 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors would like to thank Valerio Pravettoni for his contribution to the discussion of the results of the paper. However, since PAF-AH values in the HVA population were lower than those of the control groups, we can assume that PAF-AH was able to characterize HVA patients as a separate population from healthy subjects and patients with allergic asthma and/or rhinitis. [Extracted from the article]

Here the 4D printing of a magnifying polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) lens encoded with a tunable plasmonic rejection filter is reported. The lens is formed by moldless printing of PDMS pre‐polymer on a nanostructured porous silicon (PSi) templating layer. A nanometer‐thick plasmonic filter is integrated on the lens surface by in situ synthesis of Ag and Au nanoparticles (NPs) with programmed density. The filter can be designed to reject light at the plasmonic resonance wavelength of the NPs with an optical density tunable from 0 to 3 and retreive light at longer wavelengths with a pass‐to‐stop band ratio tunable from 0 to 60 dB. Swelling of PDMS in hexane and ether is used to change the NP density on the lens surface and modulate, in turn, the transmittance properties of the NP‐decorated lens over 3 orders of magnitude. The plasmon‐encoded lens is coupled to a commercial smartphone demonstrating: shaping of the emission spectrum of a white light‐emitting diode to tune the color from yellow to purple; real‐time bright‐field and fluorescence microscopy of living microbes in water, namely, the auto‐fluorescent green alga Chlorogonium sp. and the ciliated protozoan Euplotes daidaleos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]