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Infant/toddler food (ITF) contamination with As is a severe issue of concern due to the fact that food is the second leading source of As after drinking water in the aspect of toxicity induced by nutrition. This study aimed to perform a preliminary assessment of As contamination in commercially available ITF in Libya, thus revealing possible exposure of consumers to As. ITF samples were purchased at supermarkets and were divided as follows: i) ITF containing cereal mixture (ITF-mix); ii) ITF containing wheat (ITF-wheat); and iii) ITF containing rice (ITF-rice). The total concentration of As was detected after wet digestion using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The highest mean concentration of As was detected for ITF-rice in comparison to other ITF samples. Sources of As in food are both, natural and human-induced; the main source of ITF contamination with As could be industrial food processing, manufacturing and storage, as well as cultivation specifics of crops. The study revealed the significance of monitoring or supervision over food safety, especially regarding ITF as these products are intended for the most vulnerable groups of consumers.

The limitations of teaching materials in the implementation of distance learning coupled with students’ low problem-solving ability led to the need to develop teaching materials in the form of guided inquiry to improve students’ ability to solve problems. This development research aims to determine the validity, practicality, and effectiveness of the Guided Inquiry Lesson Based on Ethnoscience (GILBE) e-module. This development research employs the Research and Development (RD) approach with a 4D development model, meaning define, design, develop, and disseminate. GILBE e-module on colloid material was piloted on 16 students SMA at Central Kalimantan in the limited trial and 30 students SMA at South Kalimantan in the broad trial. The validity test was measured using a validation sheet. The practicality test was measured using a readability questionnaire, student and teacher responses, and the effectiveness test was measured using a problem-solving ability test instrument in the form of ten essay questions. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that the designed e-module matched valid, practical, and effective. The effectiveness is based on the p-value 0.05 in the limited and broad trial of the N-gain of students’ problem-solving abilities in the high category and can be used in the chemistry learning process. Further research will develop teaching materials for higher-order thinking that apply the GILBE model, which is of higher quality.

Abstract Background Airway management in children with severe burns is difficult because of airway edema and prolonged duration of ventilatory management. There is insufficient evidence to suggest that tracheostomy is beneficial for children. Case presentation A male child aged 1 year and 4 months was injured when he accidentally fell into a bathtub filled with boiling water. Furthermore, 85% of the burnt area, including the face and neck, consisted of second-degree burns; hence, oral tracheal intubation and resuscitative infusion were required. In this case, the patient was safely switched from oral to nasotracheal intubation using a tracheal tube guide and video laryngoscope, without the use of a bronchoscope, and ventilatory management could be continued for 2 weeks. Conclusion Oral to nasal endotracheal tube exchange using a tracheal tube guide and video laryngoscope may be useful not only for pediatric burn patients but also for adult patients who need to be safely switched from oral to nasotracheal intubation.

ABSTRACT Tilapia gonads mature quickly before reaching market size, caused by a diverting of feed energy from growth to reproduction. As a result, somatic growth is disrupted to achieve market size, the operational costs are high, and the rearing period is longer. This study aims to evaluate the ability of karamunting leaf extracts to inhibit the development of tilapia gonads. This study used a complete randomized design with four treatments and three replications, namely 0 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, and 100 mg/kg of karamunting leaf extract. Tilapia fish weighed 13–14 g were kept in an aquarium measuring 100×60×50 cm with a stocking density of 20 fish/ aquarium. Fish were fed twice a day at 8 a.m and 5 p.m in at satiation. Sampling was carried out at the beginning of the study, on day 30th and day 60th. On day 30th the result showed that the best dose in inhibiting the development of fish gonad was 100 mg/kg of karamunting leaf extract that was 1.15 ± 0.19% and the daily growth rate was increased at 2.22 ± 0.06%. On day 60th, the best dose in inhibiting gonad development was 25 mg/kg of karamunting leaf extract, which was 2.49 ± 1.24% and the daily growth rate was increased amount 3.26 ± 0.06%. Keywords: extract, karamunting leaves, gonad development, tilapia ABSTRAK Gonad ikan nila cepat berkembang sebelum mencapai ukuran pasar, menyebabkan pengalihan energi pakan dari pertumbuhan ke reproduksi. Akibatnya, pertumbuhan somatik terganggu sehingga untuk mencapai ukuran pasar biaya operasional tinggi dan masa pemeliharaan lebih lama. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi ekstrak daun karamunting dalam menghambat perkembangan gonad ikan nila. Penelitian ini menggunakan rancangan acak lengkap dengan empat perlakuan dan tiga ulangan; yaitu 0 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, dan 100 mg/kg ekstrak daun karamunting. Ikan nila berukuran 13–14 g dipelihara di akuarium berukuran 100×60×50 cm dengan padat tebar 20 ikan/akuarium. Ikan diberi makan dua kali sehari pada jam 8 pagi dan 5 sore dengan at satiation. Pengambilan sampel dilakukan pada awal penelitian, hari ke-30 dan hari ke-60. Hasil pada hari ke-30 menunjukan bahwa dosis terbaik dalam menghambat perkembangan gonad pada ikan uji adalah 100 mg/kg ekstrak daun karamunting yaitu 1.15 ± 0.19% dan meningkatkan pertumbuhan harian 2.22 ± 0.06%. Pada hari ke-60 dosis terbaik dalam menghambat perkembangan gonad adalah 25 mg/kg ekstrak daun karamunting yaitu 2.49 ± 1.24% dan meningkatkan pertumbuhan harian 3.26 ± 0.06%. Kata kunci: daun karamunting, ekstrak, ikan nila, pertumbuhan gonad

Abstract Background Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal tumors. The aim of this study is to provide an effective therapeutic discovery platform for pancreatic cancer by establishing and characterizing patient-derived organoids (PDOs). Methods PDOs were established from pancreatic tumor surgical specimens, and the mutations were examined using a panel sequence. Expression of markers was assessed by PCR, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry; tumorigenicity was examined using immunodeficient mice, and drug responses were examined in vitro and in vivo. Results PDOs were established from eight primary and metastatic tumors, and the characteristic mutations and expression of cancer stem cell markers and CA19–9 were confirmed. Tumorigenicity of the PDOs was confirmed in subcutaneous transplantation and in the peritoneal cavity in the case of PDOs derived from disseminated nodules. Gemcitabine-sensitive/resistant PDOs showed consistent responses in vivo. High throughput screening in PDOs identified a compound effective for inhibiting tumor growth of a gemcitabine-resistant PDO xenograft model. Conclusions This PDO-based platform captures important aspects of treatment-resistant pancreatic cancer and its metastatic features, suggesting that this study may serve as a tool for the discovery of personalized therapies.

Abstract Background Jejunogastric intussusception (JGI) is a rare, but potentially fatal complication that can occur following gastric surgery, and the reported incidence of JGI is as low as 0.1%. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical for JGI to prevent major complications such as bowel necrosis and death. Although emergency surgery is the standard treatment, endoscopic reduction has also been reported to be effective in JGI patients without bowel necrosis. Several early recurrent cases treated with surgical or endoscopic reduction have been reported. We report an extremely rare case of JGI after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) using Child’s procedure that was successfully treated with surgical reduction and fixation. Case presentation An 81-year-old man who had undergone PD using Child’s procedure 3 years ago presented to our hospital with epigastric pain and nausea. His vital signs were stable, and abdominal examination revealed mild tenderness with a palpable mass in the mid-epigastrium. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) and gastroscopy revealed a JGI of the efferent loop, and exploratory laparotomy was immediately performed. During the operation, the efferent loop showed no adhesions and was intussuscepted through the gastrojejunostomy into the gastric lumen. An incision in the anterior wall of the stomach revealed no evidence of ischemia of the intussusceptum. The efferent loop was reduced using Hutchinson’s maneuver and fixed to the afferent loop to prevent a recurrence. The postoperative course was uneventful, and there was no sign of recurrence 12 months postoperatively. Conclusions JGI after PD is an extremely rare, but has severe complications. Surgery might be the optimal treatment for JGI in terms of preventing recurrence, even in cases without bowel necrosis.

Abstract High energy density physics is the field of physics dedicated to the study of matter and plasmas in extreme conditions of temperature, densities and pressures. It encompasses multiple disciplines such as material science, planetary science, laboratory and astrophysical plasma science. For the latter, high energy density states can be accompanied by extreme radiation environments and super-strong magnetic fields. The creation of high energy density states in the laboratory consists in concentrating/depositing large amounts of energy in a reduced mass, typically solid material sample or dense plasma, over a time shorter than the typical timescales of heat conduction and hydrodynamic expansion. Laser-generated, high current–density ion beams constitute an important tool for the creation of high energy density states in the laboratory. Focusing plasma devices, such as cone-targets are necessary in order to focus and direct these intense beams towards the heating sample or dense plasma, while protecting the proton generation foil from the harsh environments typical of an integrated high-power laser experiment. A full understanding of the ion beam dynamics in focusing devices is therefore necessary in order to properly design and interpret the numerous experiments in the field. In this work, we report a detailed investigation of large-scale, kilojoule-class laser-generated ion beam dynamics in focusing devices and we demonstrate that high-brilliance ion beams compress magnetic fields to amplitudes exceeding tens of kilo-Tesla, which in turn play a dominant role in the focusing process, resulting either in a worsening or enhancement of focusing capabilities depending on the target geometry.

Abstract Background The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is an invasive alien species in Indonesia. This study aimed to assess the impact of its invasion in Indonesia by measuring the damaged area caused by the pest in maize fields located across East Java and simultaneously determine whether S. frugiperda outcompetes the native Asian armyworm Spodoptera litura (Fabricius). Secondly, the virulence of 14 entomopathogenic fungus (EPF) isolates against S. frugiperda larvae was evaluated in an effort to find effective biocontrol agent candidates. Results The damaged area caused by S. frugiperda was generally higher than that caused by S. litura during the survey period from August 2019 to December 2021. It indicated that S. frugiperda may have dominated the native armyworm and become the primary key pest of maize in Indonesia. Based on a single-concentration assay (106 conidia ml−1), the tested EPF isolates displayed varying degrees of virulence against S. frugiperda larvae, causing larval mortality of 3.5 to 71% at 10-day post-treatment, with the highest mortality rates provided by Beauveria bassiana sensu lato and Trichoderma asperellum sensu lato. At a concentration of 108 conidia ml−1, B. bassiana s.l. and T. asperellum s.l. elicited high larval mortality of 76 and 81%, respectively, at 10-day post-treatment. Nevertheless, the probit analysis based on a concentration–response assay revealed that T. asperellum s.l. had lower LC50 and LC90 values than B. bassiana s.l. Conclusions The attack and invasion of S. frugiperda seem to be a continual threat to the maize agro-ecosystem in Indonesia. As a consequence, Indonesia should mitigate and be well-prepared for future outbreaks of S. frugiperda. Indigenous EPF isolates used in this study may act as promising biocontrol agents of S. frugiperda, especially T. asperellum s.l. This study also serves as the first report documenting the direct lethality of Trichoderma fungus on S. frugiperda larvae.

We predict the production yield of a medical radioisotope ${}^{67}$ Cu using ${}^{67}$ Zn(n, p) ${}^{67}$ Cu and ${}^{68}$ Zn(n, pn) ${}^{67}$ Cu reactions with fast neutrons provided from laser-driven neutron sources. The neutrons were generated by the p+ ${}^9\mathrm{Be}$ and d+ ${}^9$ Be reactions with high-energy ions accelerated by laser–plasma interaction. We evaluated the yield to be (3.3 $\pm$ 0.5) $\times$ 10 ${}^5$ atoms for ${}^{67}$ Cu, corresponding to a radioactivity of 1.0 $\pm$ 0.2 Bq, for a Zn foil sample with a single laser shot. Using a simulation with this result, we estimated ${}^{67}$ Cu production with a high-frequency laser. The result suggests that it is possible to generate ${}^{67}$ Cu with a radioactivity of 270 MBq using a future laser system with a frequency of 10 Hz and 10,000-s radiation in a hospital.

Laser–plasma interaction and hot electrons have been characterized in detail in laser irradiation conditions relevant for direct-drive inertial confinement fusion. The experiment was carried out at the Gekko XII laser facility in multibeam planar target geometry at an intensity of approximately $3\times {10}^{15}$ W/cm2. Experimental data suggest that high-energy electrons, with temperatures of 20–50 keV and conversion efficiencies of $\eta

Although interactions of small molecular drugs with serum proteins have been widely studied from pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic perspectives, there have been few reports on the effects of serum components on therapeutic antibody functions. This study reports the effect of abundant serum proteins on antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) mediated by rituximab and Fcγ receptor III (FcγRIII). Human serum albumin (HSA) and the Fab fragment from the pooled serum polyclonal IgG were found to compromise ADCC as non-competitive inhibitors. Our nuclear magnetic resonance data provided direct evidence for the interactions of HSA with both the Fab and Fc regions of rituximab and also with the extracellular region of FcγRIII (sFcγRIII). The degree of involvement in the interaction decreased in the order of rituximab-Fab > rituximab-Fc > sFcγRIII, suggesting preferential binding of HSA to net positively charged proteins. Although much less pronounced than the effect of HSA, polyclonal IgG-Fab specifically interacted with rituximab-Fc. The NMR data also showed that the serum protein interactions cover the Fc surface extensively, suggesting that they can act as pan-inhibitors against various Fc receptor-mediated functions and pharmacokinetics. Our findings highlight the importance of considering serum–protein interactions in the design and application of antibody-based drugs with increased efficacy and safety.

Entamoeba histolytica infections, which can be asymptomatic, are endemic to developing countries; traveling to such countries is a risk factor for contracting these infections. A 65-year-old Japanese man was hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated respiratory distress, and was treated with remdesivir, dexamethasone, and oxygen supplementation. Although his respiratory condition improved and the oxygen support was discontinued, he developed a fever, severe abdominal pain, and diarrhea on day 13 of hospitalization. Fifteen years ago, he was hospitalized for diarrhea of an unknown origin in Suzhou, China, and had a history of passing loose stools for 1 year. Contrast-enhanced abdominal and pelvic computed tomography revealed liver abscesses in both lobes and intestinal edema from the ascending colon to the descending colon. The abscesses were suspected to be amebic based on the characteristics of the drained abscess fluid. The patient was treated with cefotaxime and metronidazole, and his temperature declined and abdominal pain improved. A culture analysis of abscess fluid yielded negative findings; however, polymerase chain reaction analyses of abscess and stool samples were positive for Entamoeba histolytica. We speculated that the patient was infected with Entamoeba histolytica while in China, and that the corticosteroid usage for COVID-19 had exacerbated the infection. Clinicians should be aware that corticosteroid treatments can lead to recurrent invasive amebiasis in asymptomatic amebic carriers.

The revealed full KaiA12B6C6 complex is assembled including the dynamic and asynchronous KaiA N-terminal domains that have been missing in cryo-EM structures.

Abstract Background Borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) is a category of pancreatic cancer that is anatomically widely spread, and curative resection is uncommon with upfront surgery. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a form of radiation therapy that delivers precise radiation to a tumor while minimizing the dose to surrounding normal tissues. Here, we conducted a phase 2 study to estimate the curability and efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy using IMRT (NACIMRT) for patients with BRPC with arterial abutment (BRPC-A). Methods A total of 49 BRPC-A patients were enrolled in this study and were treated at our hospital according to the study protocol between June 2013 and March 2021. The primary endpoint was microscopically margin-negative resection (R0) rates and we subsequently analyzed safety, histological effect of the treatment as well as survivals among patients with NACIMRT. Results Twenty-nine patients (59.2%) received pancreatectomy after NACIMRT. The R0 rate in resection patients was 93.1% and that in the whole cohort was 55.1%. No mortality was encountered. Local therapeutic effects as assessed by Evans classification showed good therapeutic effect (Grade 1, 3.4%; Grade 2a, 31.0%; Grade 2b, 48.3%; Grade 3, 3.4%; Grade 4, 3.4%). Median disease-free survival was 15.5 months. Median overall survival in the whole cohort was 35.1 months. The only independent prognostic pre-NACIMRT factor identified was serum carbohydrate antigen 19–9 (CA19-9) > 400 U/ml before NACIMRT. Conclusions NACIMRT showed preferable outcome without significant operative morbidity for BRPC-A patients. NACIMRT contributes to good local tumor control, but a high initial serum CA19-9 implies poor prognosis even after neoadjuvant treatment. Trial Registration UMIN-CTR Clinical Trial: https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000011776 Registration number: UMIN000010113. Date of first registration: 01/03/2013,