Search

Background and Aim: Visual contamination is a kind of environmental pollution that over time, its effects and consequences are increasing, and this pollution may gradually provide a good ground for nerve stress and psychological problems. Method: In this study, we tried to study the status of visual contamination and its impact on the health of citizens in two urban areas of one and twelve using the distribution of questionnaires and field method. Results: The results of the analysis of the data obtained from the questionnaire revealed a significant relationship between visual contamination and four health indicators of citizens including physical signs, social function, anxiety, insomnia and depression. This means that wherever the pollution is higher, the health of citizens is at a lower level. Conclusion: Accordingly, the average index of physical symptoms and anxiety - insomnia in district 1 in a healthy condition and in the twelve region is in a mild injury situation. Also, the average social function index and depression in both regions indicate mild injury and favorable health status in them, and overall, the results indicate that the general health of District 1 in desirable situation and the twelve regions are in an unfavorable situation.

Sand production from loosely consolidated reservoirs is one of the critical issues in the oil and gas industry all around the world that can cause many problems, such as erosion of surface and well equipment, sand accumulation in wells and operation facilities, buckling of casing in cased-hole wells and well productivity reduction. Sand production control methods include restrictive production rate, mechanical methods (slotted liner, wire-wrapped screen, pre-packed screen, frac-pack, gravel pack, high-rate water pack) and chemical consolidation that chemical method is considered for more effectiveness in sand production alleviation due to increasing formation strength in near wellbore region. This review provides an overview on the laboratory and filed operation investigations of chemical remedy for sand production. Some used chemical agents and more common laboratory tests for evaluating the chemical performance in sand consolidation are introduced in this paper. Furthermore, the results of field operations and injections of chemicals into the desired formation are also reported. These results show that the chemical sand consolidation is more effective in newly perforated wells which have no sand production experience and have a production history of less than two years. Finally, it was concluded that the main challenges in applying this method are permeability and capillary force reduction around the wellbore and selective injection into the targeted formation layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Edible Campus program incorporates edible, medicinal, and pollinator-friendly plants in the university to create a kind of working landscape and facilitate campus community engagement in topics of food and agriculture sustainability. In this regard, an inventory of community support and culture is crucial for finding the motivation of participating in the targeted community in the edible landscape project. This study aims to give insights into the inventory of community support and preferences in the campus edible landscape. To achieve this objective, we considered the University of Sistan and Baluchestan as the case study to address the community support and community culture that affect urban agriculture. While the study on urban agriculture projects can be conducted during three phases, this study focused on the pre-implementation stage. It means that we tried to co-create visions of the edible campus, specifically for the University of Sistan and Baluchestan to be used in the next step of the edible campus project.Material and methods: In this applied and descriptive research, using stratified random sampling method with proportional assignment, 530 people were selected from a total of 18,450 university members (including 17,000 students, 1,000 staff, and 450 faculty members) using the PASS specialized software for determining the sample size. The questionnaires were completed through the Google Form survey in the spring and summer of 2020. All inferential statistical analyzes were performed by SPSS23. For research questions and objectives in the descriptive statistics section, graphs and statistical tables were used. Due to the high sample size (n=530), the normal probability plots (p-p plots) were used to check the normality of data distribution, which was not confirmed. Therefore, non-parametric tests such as Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon, and Friedman were used to test the research hypotheses at a significance level of 0.05.Results and discussion: The results showed that the mental health and food produced in the university were the most important motivations of the studied community in edible campus participation. It was also found that potential volunteers were not a monolithic group. There were statistically significant differences in the frequency of expression of potential volunteer motivations among respondent demographic segments. Based on the findings of our study, the more interested group in terms of potential volunteerism were students, females, and 20-30 aged groups. On the other hand, our study proved that the potential volunteerism capacity of the university community will not be enough for the establishment and sustainability of the edible campus. Concerning the spatial structure and landscape elements, based on the results of this study, an establishment of agricultural space and fruit orchard (82.3%), and water fountain and pool (75.3%) would provide the studied community with the desirable edible campus. In this regard, our study suggests incorporating three types of edible-bearing plants including fruit trees, vegetables, and medicinal herbs in the upcoming edible campus project.Conclusion: Iranian university managers can use such data to help shape the community culture and support of their university to a more inclusive and diverse edible campus makeup. Additionally, these findings may contribute to the study and practice of edible campus management by suggesting means for more effective member recruitment based on the particular motivations of different member demographics. In the case of the University of Sistan and Baluchestan, considerable staff and volunteer time will be needed to ensure consistent landscape care. It is also essential that university managers and decision-makers attempt to provide potential volunteers with appropriate training opportunities, resources, as well as demonstrate appreciation, to further encourage and solidify volunteer engagements in the edible campus.

Background: This study was conducted with a long-term vision (2014-2025) targeted workforce requirement projection by occupational groups in Iran’s health sector. Methods: The “modified & combined model” used including Hall Model and Australian health workforce estimation model. It was a need-based approach with three components of estimation; requirements, supply with current growth and net required workforce. Requirement estimated by three assumptions: active workforce calculation; the growth of health service delivery resources and facilities; and daily individual working hours, created eight different scenarios. Economic feasibility of each scenario determined. To forecast the supply, used accurate numbers of the existing pool of practicing workforce in addition to inflows, minus losses from the profession. To calculate total recruits required, base year stock deducted from projected requirement and by adding Net flow, recruits required calculated. Results: The health sector will need 781,887 workforces to realize service's needs. Workforce supply with the existing trend in the target year was 799,347. Therefore, workforce balance would be 17,460 surpluses. Moreover, to estimate required workforce and substitution number for the exited ones during the study periods till the target year, 547,136 individuals should be recruited mostly nurses and physicians. Conclusion: Limiting the workforce required to economic feasibility challenge workforce accessibility in the future as it is sensed in present tense as well. Therefore, in addition augmenting GDP and health funds, it is necessary alternative policies such as increasing share of health sector from GDP, prioritization of workforce needs or moving towards other proper policies.

We employed scRNA sequencing to extensively characterize the cellular landscape of human liver from development to disease. Analysis of ∼212,000 cells representing human fetal, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and mouse liver revealed remarkable fetal-like reprogramming of the tumor microenvironment. Specifically, the HCC ecosystem displayed features reminiscent of fetal development, including re-emergence of fetal-associated endothelial cells (PLVAP/VEGFR2) and fetal-like (FOLR2) tumor-associated macrophages. In a cross-species comparative analysis, we discovered remarkable similarity between mouse embryonic, fetal-liver, and tumor macrophages. Spatial transcriptomics further revealed a shared onco-fetal ecosystem between fetal liver and HCC. Furthermore, gene regulatory analysis, spatial transcriptomics, and in vitro functional assays implicated VEGF and NOTCH signaling in maintaining onco-fetal ecosystem. Taken together, we report a shared immunosuppressive onco-fetal ecosystem in fetal liver and HCC. Our results unravel a previously unexplored onco-fetal reprogramming of the tumor ecosystem, provide novel targets for therapeutic interventions in HCC, and open avenues for identifying similar paradigms in other cancers and disease. • Identification of fetal-associated endothelial cells and macrophages in HCC • Embryonic-like reprogramming in a subset of FOLR2+ TAM1s • Conserved GRN in mouse embryonically seeded, human fetal-liver, and TAM1 macrophages • Shared onco-fetal ecosystem between human fetal liver and HCC A single-cell atlas of human liver from development to disease suggests a shared onco-fetal ecosystem driving immunosuppression in fetal liver and hepatocellular carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human mononuclear phagocytes comprise phenotypically and functionally overlapping subsets of dendritic cells (DCs) and monocytes, but the extent of their heterogeneity and distinct markers for subset identification remains elusive. By integrating high-dimensional single-cell protein and RNA expression data, we identified distinct markers to delineate monocytes from conventional DC2 (cDC2s). Using CD88 and CD89 for monocytes and HLA-DQ and FcεRIα for cDC2s allowed for their specific identification in blood and tissues. We also showed that cDC2s could be subdivided into phenotypically and functionally distinct subsets based on CD5, CD163, and CD14 expression, including a distinct subset of circulating inflammatory CD5−CD163+CD14+ cells related to previously defined DC3s. These inflammatory DC3s were expanded in systemic lupus erythematosus patients and correlated with disease activity. These findings further unravel the heterogeneity of DC subpopulations in health and disease and may pave the way for the identification of specific DC subset-targeting therapies. • InfinityFlow protein expression analysis reveals DC- and monocyte-specific markers • Monocytes are CD88+CD89+, while cDC2s are HLA-DQ+FcεRIα+ • cDC2s comprise CD5+ DC2s and CD5−CD163+/−CD14+/− DC3s • Pro-inflammatory CD14+ DC3 expansion correlates with disease activity in SLE patients Using high-dimensional protein and RNA single-cell analyses, Dutertre et al. analyze human dendritic cell and monocyte subsets and identify markers that delineate them and unravel their heterogeneity. They also reveal the presence of inflammatory CD14+ DC3s, a subset of cDC2s, that correlate with disease progression and may be functionally involved in systemic lupus erythematosus immunopathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Estimation of health workforce supply becomes problematic when there is no knowledge about the number of active specialists. The aim of this study is to estimate active specialists and their geographic accessibility in Iran. Methods: We enrolled all medical specialists from the Iranian Ministry of Health database (14 151), national hospitals survey (28 898) and Continuing Medical Education registries (13 159) in 2015. Duplicate records across the three registries were identified based on the similarity of national ID codes and medical council codes. The number of active medical specialists was estimated by three-source capture-recapture method using Stata 12 software. Results: A total of 33,416 specialists were identified from three sources. We estimated the number of specialists at 39 127 (95% CI: 38823.6-39448.4) in 2015. Of these, 45.4% pertained to the province of Tehran while only less than 1.8% of specialists were in the provinces of Ilam (0.50%), South Khorasan (0.56%) and Kohgiloye and Boyerahmad (0.59%). The estimated ratio for specialists was 4.9 per 10 000 population and ranged from 9.2 per 10 000 in Tehran to 1.5 per 10 000 population in Sistan and Balochestan. The overall completeness of data registries by three sources was 85.4%. Conclusion: The current distribution of specialists appears to be imbalanced. It is suggested to adopt appropriate policies to improve the distribution and maintenance of medical specialists in different parts of Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tissue macrophages are immune cells whose phenotypes and functions are dictated by origin and niches. However, tissues are complex environments, and macrophage heterogeneity within the same organ has been overlooked so far. Here, we used high-dimensional approaches to characterize macrophage populations in the murine liver. We identified two distinct populations among embryonically derived Kupffer cells (KCs) sharing a core signature while differentially expressing numerous genes and proteins: a major CD206loESAM– population (KC1) and a minor CD206hiESAM+ population (KC2). KC2 expressed genes involved in metabolic processes, including fatty acid metabolism both in steady-state and in diet-induced obesity and hepatic steatosis. Functional characterization by depletion of KC2 or targeted silencing of the fatty acid transporter Cd36 highlighted a crucial contribution of KC2 in the liver oxidative stress associated with obesity. In summary, our study reveals that KCs are more heterogeneous than anticipated, notably describing a subpopulation wired with metabolic functions. [Display omitted] • Unbiased high-throughput approaches reveal two subsets of murine Kupffer cells (KCs) • CD206hiESAM+ KC2 exhibit a distinct metabolic signature • Depletion of metabolically wired KC2 subset prevents diet-induced obesity • CD36hi KC2 regulate liver oxidative stress associated with obesity via CD36 expression Macrophage heterogeneity is well appreciated across tissues, but the diversity within the same tissue is often overlooked. Blériot et al. reveal the coexistence of two Kupffer cell subpopulations in murine liver with a minor CD206hiCD36hi one (KC2) endowed with metabolic functions, involved in regulating liver oxidative stress associated with obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mononuclear phagocytes (MNPs) encompass dendritic cells, monocytes, and macrophages (MoMac), which exhibit antimicrobial, homeostatic, and immunoregulatory functions. We integrated 178,651 MNPs from 13 tissues across 41 datasets to generate a MNP single-cell RNA compendium (MNP-VERSE), a publicly available tool to map MNPs and define conserved gene signatures of MNP populations. Next, we generated a MoMac-focused compendium that revealed an array of specialized cell subsets widely distributed across multiple tissues. Specific pathological forms were expanded in cancer and inflammation. All neoplastic tissues contained conserved tumor-associated macrophage populations. In particular, we focused on IL4I1+CD274(PD-L1)+IDO1+ macrophages, which accumulated in the tumor periphery in a T cell-dependent manner via interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and CD40/CD40L-induced maturation from IFN-primed monocytes. IL4I1_Macs exhibited immunosuppressive characteristics through tryptophan degradation and promoted the entry of regulatory T cell into tumors. This integrated analysis provides a robust online-available platform for uniform annotation and dissection of specific macrophage functions in healthy and pathological states. [Display omitted] • Cross-tissue integration of scRNA from monocytes and macrophages in health and disease • Conserved gene signatures of mononuclear phagocyte populations in human tissues • IL4I1+PD-L1+IDO1+ and TREM2+ TAM subsets accumulate in human tumors • IL4I1+PD-L1+IDO1+ TAM in the tumor periphery exhibit immunosuppressive characteristics Mulder et al. integrate 178,651 human mononuclear phagocytes (MNPs) from 13 tissues across 41 datasets to generate a MNP single-cell RNA compendium (MNP-VERSE) that enables the definition of conserved gene signatures of MNP populations. This integrated approach provides a robust, online-available platform (https://gustaveroussy.github.io/FG-Lab/) for uniform annotation and dissection of specific macrophage functions in healthy and pathological states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human fetal immune system begins to develop early during gestation; however, factors responsible for fetal immune-priming remain elusive. We explored potential exposure to microbial agents in utero and their contribution toward activation of memory T cells in fetal tissues. We profiled microbes across fetal organs using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and detected low but consistent microbial signal in fetal gut, skin, placenta, and lungs in the 2nd trimester of gestation. We identified several live bacterial strains including Staphylococcus and Lactobacillus in fetal tissues, which induced in vitro activation of memory T cells in fetal mesenteric lymph node, supporting the role of microbial exposure in fetal immune-priming. Finally, using SEM and RNA-ISH, we visualized discrete localization of bacteria-like structures and eubacterial-RNA within 14th weeks fetal gut lumen. These findings indicate selective presence of live microbes in fetal organs during the 2nd trimester of gestation and have broader implications toward the establishment of immune competency and priming before birth. [Display omitted] • Human fetuses in 2nd trimester show T cell diversity with effector-memory phenotype • Fetal organs show diverse bacterial genera that can be cultured and propagated • Bacterial structures with mucin-like threads are visualized in 14-weeks EGA fetal gut • Fetal bacteria induce syngeneic memory T cell activation in fetal mLN T cells Analysis of human fetal tissues and the placenta in the 2nd trimester of gestation identifies live bacterial strains that are able to induce the activation of memory T cells in the fetal mesenteric lymph node, thus providing insights into early life immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under stress hematopoiesis, previous studies have suggested the migration of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from bone marrow (BM) to extramedullary sites such as the spleen. However, there is little direct evidence of HSC migration from the BM to the spleen. Here, we induced myeloablation via 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and showed direct evidence of HSC migration from BM to spleen during hematopoietic regeneration via a photoconvertible fluorophore. Moreover, during steady state, HSCs preferentially migrated to BM rather than spleen, but during hematopoietic regeneration, HSCs preferred spleen as a migration site equivalently or greater. Furthermore, in the early phase, HSCs egressed from BM through the attenuated HSC retention. However, HSCs in the late phase gained significantly enhanced cell-autonomous motility, which was independent of chemotaxis. Collectively, HSC mobilization from BM, before the migration to the spleen, was dynamically changed from passive to active events during hematopoietic regeneration., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Disclosure The authors do not have any conflicts of interest to declare in relation to this work., (Copyright © 2024 International Society for Experimental Hematology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Due to extensive applications of microfluidic devices, manufacturing of these apparatus has recently been noticed. Production of multiple emulsions is one of the main goals of manufacturing microfluidic devices. Design and fabrication of microfluidics are functions of the size of emulsion droplets, properties of fluids applied for emulsification, and considered stability for emulsions. In this article, we have manufactured a novel microfluidic device using simple fabrication and accessible materials. Capillary tubes, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) chassis, a medical needle of gauge 32, and O-rings are the primary materials used to produce this device. The production procedure is explained completely, and all the drawings are represented. Concerning probable interactions between glues and flowing fluids, we tried to fabricate and seal the device without applying chemical agents. The device is tested by n-heptane and deionized water to produce multiple water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsions. A sensitivity analysis on the rate of injection is performed. Considering the HLB (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance) as an important property of emulsifiers, the effects of two different types of emulsifiers (sodium dodecyl sulfate with HLB of 40 and glycerol monostearate with HLB of 3.8) at various concentrations are investigated. Due to the results, the injection rate of the mediate phase should be less than half of the outer phase for the formation of emulsions. Consequently, the rate of injection for the inner phase should be less than half of that for the mediate phase. The simplicity of production and accessible raw materials could be considered as the strengths of our microfluidic device., (© 2023 Author(s). Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.)

Microglia are specialized brain-resident macrophages that arise from primitive macrophages colonizing the embryonic brain 1 . Microglia contribute to multiple aspects of brain development, but their precise roles in the early human brain remain poorly understood owing to limited access to relevant tissues 2-6 . The generation of brain organoids from human induced pluripotent stem cells recapitulates some key features of human embryonic brain development 7-10 . However, current approaches do not incorporate microglia or address their role in organoid maturation 11-21 . Here we generated microglia-sufficient brain organoids by coculturing brain organoids with primitive-like macrophages generated from the same human induced pluripotent stem cells (iMac) 22 . In organoid cocultures, iMac differentiated into cells with microglia-like phenotypes and functions (iMicro) and modulated neuronal progenitor cell (NPC) differentiation, limiting NPC proliferation and promoting axonogenesis. Mechanistically, iMicro contained high levels of PLIN2 + lipid droplets that exported cholesterol and its esters, which were taken up by NPCs in the organoids. We also detected PLIN2 + lipid droplet-loaded microglia in mouse and human embryonic brains. Overall, our approach substantially advances current human brain organoid approaches by incorporating microglial cells, as illustrated by the discovery of a key pathway of lipid-mediated crosstalk between microglia and NPCs that leads to improved neurogenesis., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Therapeutic neoantigen cancer vaccines have limited clinical efficacy to date. Here, we identify a heterologous prime-boost vaccination strategy using a self-assembling peptide nanoparticle TLR-7/8 agonist (SNP) vaccine prime and a chimp adenovirus (ChAdOx1) vaccine boost that elicits potent CD8 T cells and tumor regression. ChAdOx1 administered intravenously (i.v.) had 4-fold higher antigen-specific CD8 T cell responses than mice boosted by the intramuscular (i.m.) route. In the therapeutic MC38 tumor model, i.v. heterologous prime-boost vaccination enhances regression compared with ChAdOx1 alone. Remarkably, i.v. boosting with a ChAdOx1 vector encoding an irrelevant antigen also mediates tumor regression, which is dependent on type I IFN signaling. Single-cell RNA sequencing of the tumor myeloid compartment shows that i.v. ChAdOx1 reduces the frequency of immunosuppressive Chil3 monocytes and activates cross-presenting type 1 conventional dendritic cells (cDC1s). The dual effect of i.v. ChAdOx1 vaccination enhancing CD8 T cells and modulating the TME represents a translatable paradigm for enhancing anti-tumor immunity in humans., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests A.S.I., G.M.L., and R.A.S. are listed as inventors on patents describing polymer-based vaccines. A.S.I. and G.M.L. are employees of Vaccitech North America, which is commercializing polymer-based drug delivery technologies for immunotherapeutic applications. C.S.K.L. and B.J.V.d.E. are inventors on a patent that covers viral vectors and methods for the prevention and treatment of cancer. F.B. is an employee of Genentech, a member of the Roche group, which develops and markets drugs for profit., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Applications of nanotechnology in several fields of petroleum industry, e.g., refinery, drilling and enhanced oil recovery (EOR), have attracted a lot of attention, recently. This research investigates the applications of nanoparticles in EOR process. The potential of various nanoparticles, in hybrid and bare forms for altering the state of wettability, reducing the interfacial tension (IFT), changing the viscosity and activation of other EOR mechanisms are studied based on recent findings. Focusing on EOR, hybrid applications of nanoparticles with surfactants, polymers, low-salinity phases and foams are discussed and their synergistic effects are evaluated. Also, activated EOR mechanisms are defined and specified. Since the stabilization of nanofluids in harsh conditions of reservoir is vital for EOR applications, different methods for stabilizing nanofluids through EOR procedures are reviewed. Besides, a discussion on different functional groups of NPs is represented. Later, an economic model for evaluation of EOR process is examined and "Hotelling" method as an appropriate model for investigation of economic aspects of EOR process is introduced in detail. The findings of this study can lead to better understanding of fundamental basis about efficiency of nanoparticles in EOR process, activated EOR mechanisms during application of nanoparticles, selection of appropriate nanoparticles, the methods of stabilizing and economic evaluation for EOR process with respect to costs and outcomes., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare no conflict of interest, (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a potentially fatal neoplasm characterized by the aberrant differentiation of mononuclear phagocytes, driven by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway activation. LCH cells may trigger destructive pathology yet remain in a precarious state finely balanced between apoptosis and survival, supported by a unique inflammatory milieu. The interactions that maintain this state are not well known and may offer targets for intervention. Here, we used single-cell RNA-seq and protein analysis to dissect LCH lesions, assessing LCH cell heterogeneity and comparing LCH cells with normal mononuclear phagocytes within lesions. We found LCH discriminatory signatures pointing to senescence and escape from tumor immune surveillance. We also uncovered two major lineages of LCH with DC2- and DC3/monocyte-like phenotypes and validated them in multiple pathological tissue sites by high-content imaging. Receptor-ligand analyses and lineage tracing in vitro revealed Notch-dependent cooperativity between DC2 and DC3/monocyte lineages during expression of the pathognomonic LCH program. Our results present a convergent dual origin model of LCH with MAPK pathway activation occurring before fate commitment to DC2 and DC3/monocyte lineages and Notch-dependent cooperativity between lineages driving the development of LCH cells.

Personalized cancer vaccines are a promising approach for inducing T cell immunity to tumor neoantigens. Using a self-assembling nanoparticle vaccine that links neoantigen peptides to a Toll-like receptor 7/8 agonist (SNP-7/8a), we show how the route and dose alter the magnitude and quality of neoantigen-specific CD8 + T cells. Intravenous vaccination (SNP-IV) induced a higher proportion of TCF1 + PD-1 + CD8 + T cells as compared to subcutaneous immunization (SNP-SC). Single-cell RNA sequencing showed that SNP-IV induced stem-like genes (Tcf7, Slamf6, Xcl1) whereas SNP-SC enriched for effector genes (Gzmb, Klrg1, Cx3cr1). Stem-like cells generated by SNP-IV proliferated and differentiated into effector cells upon checkpoint blockade, leading to superior antitumor response as compared to SNP-SC in a therapeutic model. The duration of antigen presentation by dendritic cells controlled the magnitude and quality of CD8 + T cells. These data demonstrate how to optimize antitumor immunity by modulating vaccine parameters for specific generation of effector or stem-like CD8 + T cells.