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Soil metabolomics is an emerging approach for profiling diverse small molecule metabolites, i.e., metabolomes, in the soil. Soil metabolites, including fatty acids, amino acids, lipids, organic acids, sugars, and volatile organic compounds, often contain essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur and are directly linked to soil biogeochemical cycles driven by soil microorganisms. This paper presents an overview of methods for analyzing soil metabolites and the state-of-the-art of soil metabolomics in relation to soil nutrient cycling. We describe important applications of metabolomics in studying soil carbon cycling and sequestration, and the response of soil organic pools to changing environmental conditions. This includes using metabolomics to provide new insights into the close relationships between soil microbiome and metabolome, as well as responses of soil metabolome to plant and environmental stresses such as soil contamination. We also highlight the advantage of using soil metabolomics to study the biogeochemical cycles of elements and suggest that future research needs to better understand factors driving soil function and health.

PurposeGay, bisexual, and other cisgender men who have sex with men, and racial minority youth are at elevated risk of acquiring HIV infection. The Adolescent Trials Network 147 recruited youth with acute/recent HIV-infection for early antiretroviral treatment. The cohort make-up is described here.MethodsTreatment-naïve, recently identified HIV + youth, aged 12-24 years, from Los Angeles and New Orleans were recruited from community centers, clinics, social media, and a high-risk seronegative cohort (n = 1,727, the Adolescent Trials Network 149) using point-of-care assays. Acute HIV infection was determined by Fiebig staging. HIV RNA viral load (VL) and CD4 cell counts, along with demographic and behavioral data were assessed at enrollment.ResultsBetween July 2017 and July 2021, 103 newly diagnosed youth were enrolled, initiating antiretroviral treatment within a week. Mean age was 20.8 years (standard deviation: 2.4); 90.3% identified as cis male, 83.5% were single or in casual relationships, 71.8% were gay, bisexual, and other cisgender men who have sex with men; 60.2% were Black. One-fourth (24.3%) reported homelessness ever; 10.7% within last 4 months. At enrollment, median plasma VL was 37,313 HIV RNA copies/ml (interquartile range: 5,849-126,162) and median CD4 count 445.5 cells/mm3 (interquartile range: 357-613). 40% of youth reported acute retroviral symptoms before or at enrollment. Acutely infected, seroconverting youth had the highest VL. Sexually transmitted coinfections were present at enrollment in 56% of the cohort, with syphilis being most frequent (39%).DiscussionEarly identification and treatment of HIV can increase positive HIV outcomes. A high sexually transmitted infection burden was present in recently HIV-infected youth. Acute retroviral symptoms were not reported by most participants, demonstrating that broad universal HIV screening is needed for identification of recent infection in youth.

Black and Latinx transgender women in the United States (U.S.) are at disproportionately high risk for HIV. Although HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) reduces the risk of HIV infection, uptake and persistence (i.e., ability to continue taking PrEP over time) can be a challenge for Black and Latinx transgender women due to myriad social and structural forces. In this qualitative study, we present unique data on the facilitators of PrEP persistence from Black and Latinx transgender women who initiated PrEP and exhibited varying levels of persistence during a demonstration project in Southern California. PrEP persistence was assessed by collecting quantitative intracellular tenofovir-diphosphate (TFV-DP) levels on dried blood spot (DBS) samples collected at weeks 12 and 48. Informed by the socioecological framework, we conducted and analyzed interviews using qualitative content analysis to determine themes on the facilitators of PrEP persistence. Individual-level facilitators included the use of reminders, having high individual-level HIV risk perception, feeling empowered to take PrEP, and reporting having improved peace of mind and mental health because of taking PrEP. Interpersonal/Community-level facilitators included feeling motivation to prevent HIV in the community, motivation to prevent HIV in the context of sex work, and having high community-level risk perception. Structural-level facilitators included having positive experiences in affirming healthcare settings and having PrEP visits combined with other gender-related healthcare visits. Interventions aiming to increase PrEP uptake and persistence among Black and Latinx transgender women in the U.S. should harness the multiple levels of support exhibited by those who were able to start and persist on PrEP in the face of the myriad social and structural barriers.

Transgender women (TW) face inequities in HIV and unique barriers to PrEP, an effective biomedical intervention to prevent HIV acquisition. To improve PrEP retention among TW, we examined factors related to retention using a two-phase, sequential explanatory mixed methods approach. In Phase I, we used data from a trial of 170 TW who were provided oral PrEP to examine predictors of 24-week retention. In Phase II, we conducted 15 in-depth interviews with PrEP-experienced TW and used thematic analysis to explain Phase I findings. In Phase I, more participants who were not retained at 24 weeks reported sex work engagement (18% versus 7%) and substantial/severe drug use (18% versus 8%). In Phase II, participants reported drug use as a barrier to PrEP, often in the context of sex work, and we identified two subcategories of sex work. TW engaged in "non-survival sex work" had little difficulty staying on PrEP, while those engaged in "survival sex work" struggled to stay on PrEP. In Phase I, fewer participants not retained at 24 weeks reported gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) use (56% versus 71%). In Phase II, participants prioritized medical gender affirmation services over PrEP but also described the bidirectional benefits of accessing GAHT and PrEP. TW who engaged in "survival sex work" experience barriers to PrEP retention (e.g., unstable housing, drug use) and may require additional support to stay in PrEP care.

Purpose To describe the design, conduct, and results of the Breast Multiparametric MRI for prediction of neoadjuvant chemotherapy Response (BMMR2) challenge. Materials and Methods The BMMR2 computational challenge opened on May 28, 2021, and closed on December 21, 2021. The goal of the challenge was to identify image-based markers derived from multiparametric breast MRI, including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI, along with clinical data for predicting pathologic complete response (pCR) following neoadjuvant treatment. Data included 573 breast MRI studies from 191 women (mean age [±SD], 48.9 years ± 10.56) in the I-SPY 2/American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) 6698 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01042379). The challenge cohort was split into training (60%) and test (40%) sets, with teams blinded to test set pCR outcomes. Prediction performance was evaluated by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and compared with the benchmark established from the ACRIN 6698 primary analysis. Results Eight teams submitted final predictions. Entries from three teams had point estimators of AUC that were higher than the benchmark performance (AUC, 0.782 [95% CI: 0.670, 0.893], with AUCs of 0.803 [95% CI: 0.702, 0.904], 0.838 [95% CI: 0.748, 0.928], and 0.840 [95% CI: 0.748, 0.932]). A variety of approaches were used, ranging from extraction of individual features to deep learning and artificial intelligence methods, incorporating DCE and DWI alone or in combination. Conclusion The BMMR2 challenge identified several models with high predictive performance, which may further expand the value of multiparametric breast MRI as an early marker of treatment response. Clinical trial registration no. NCT01042379 Keywords: MRI, Breast, Tumor Response Supplemental material is available for this article. © RSNA, 2024.

This study aims to evaluate the video modeling technique during the dental appointment. A blinded randomized clinical trial was composed of 2 groups, consisting of 20 autistic children (4 to 12 years) in each group: control (did not watch the video before the consultation) and intervention (watched the video before the consultation). The primary outcome was the mean number of visits to perform a dental appointment. The number of consultations was analyzed by T-test or Mann-Whitney test. The results showed that the mean number of consultations in the intervention group was 1.5 (± 1.53) and in the control group 2 (± 1.77) (p [less than or equal to] 0.05). The video modeling technique can be effective in minimizing the number of dental consultations in autistic children.

Abstract The influence of greenhouse warming on mesoscale air-sea interactions, crucial for modulating ocean circulation and climate variability, remains largely unexplored due to the limited resolution of current climate models. Additionally, there is a lack of theoretical frameworks for assessing changes in mesoscale coupling due to warming. Here, we address these gaps by analyzing eddy-resolving high-resolution climate simulations and observations, focusing on the mesoscale thermal interaction dominated by mesoscale sea surface temperature (SST) and latent heat flux (LHF) coupling in winter. Our findings reveal a consistent increase in mesoscale SST-LHF coupling in the major western boundary current regions under warming, characterized by a heightened nonlinearity between warm and cold eddies and a more pronounced enhancement in the northern hemisphere. To understand the dynamics, we develop a theoretical framework that links mesoscale thermal coupling changes to large-scale factors, which indicates that the projected changes are collectively determined by historical background wind, SST, and the rate of SST warming. Among these factors, the large-scale SST and its warming rate are the primary drivers of hemispheric asymmetry in mesoscale coupling intensification. This study introduces a simplified approach for assessing the projected mesoscale thermal coupling changes in a warming world.

Stimulant use is an important driver of HIV/STI transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM). Evaluating factors associated with increased stimulant use is critical to inform HIV prevention programming efforts. This study seeks to use machine learning variable selection techniques to determine characteristics associated with increased stimulant use and whether these factors differ by HIV status. Data from a longitudinal cohort of predominantly Black/Latinx MSM in Los Angeles, CA was used. Every 6 months from 8/2014-12/2020, participants underwent STI testing and completed surveys evaluating the following: demographics, substance use, sexual risk behaviors, and last partnership characteristics. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (lasso) was used to select variables and create predictive models for an interval increase in self-reported stimulant use across study visits. Mixed-effects logistic regression was then used to describe associations between selected variables and the same outcome. Models were also stratified based on HIV status to evaluate differences in predictors associated with increased stimulant use. Among 2095 study visits from 467 MSM, increased stimulant use was reported at 20.9% (n = 438) visits. Increased stimulant use was positively associated with unstable housing (adjusted [a]OR 1.81; 95% CI 1.27-2.57), STI diagnosis (1.59; 1.14-2.21), transactional sex (2.30; 1.60-3.30), and last partner stimulant use (2.21; 1.62-3.00). Among MSM living with HIV, increased stimulant use was associated with binge drinking, vaping/cigarette use (aOR 1.99; 95% CI 1.36-2.92), and regular use of poppers (2.28; 1.38-3.76). Among HIV-negative MSM, increased stimulant use was associated with participating in group sex while intoxicated (aOR 1.81; 95% CI 1.04-3.18), transactional sex (2.53; 1.40-2.55), and last partner injection drug use (1.96; 1.02-3.74). Our findings demonstrate that lasso can be a useful tool for variable selection and creation of predictive models. These results indicate that risk behaviors associated with increased stimulant use may differ based on HIV status and suggest that co-substance use and partnership contexts should be considered in the development of HIV prevention/treatment interventions.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) access and adherence decreased nationwide. This study examined pandemic-related disruptions to PrEP access and adherence among clients of a health center (Center) in Los Angeles, California. Clients (n = 25) and Center personnel (n = 11) completed qualitative interviews from March to July 2021. Although the Center provided options for remote PrEP care (i.e., telehealth, STI self-testing kits, and prescription delivery), clients experienced difficulty navigating services or lacked equipment for telehealth. More than half (n = 13) of clients discontinued PrEP during COVID-19 due to decreased sexual partners, relocation, or insurance status changes. Among those who continued PrEP, the majority reported no change in adherence, while a minority reported worsening adherence due to distractions/forgetting, prescription refill issues, lack of insurance coverage, and fear of completing in-person visits. Findings highlight the challenges of navigating PrEP services during COVID-19 and suggest PrEP services enhancement to adapt to crisis events.

Soil metabolomics is an emerging approach for profiling diverse small molecule metabolites, i.e., metabolomes, in the soil. Soil metabolites, including fatty acids, amino acids, lipids, organic acids, sugars, and volatile organic compounds, often contain essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur and are directly linked to soil biogeochemical cycles driven by soil microorganisms. This paper presents an overview of methods for analyzing soil metabolites and the state-of-the-art of soil metabolomics in relation to soil nutrient cycling. We describe important applications of metabolomics in studying soil carbon cycling and sequestration, and the response of soil organic pools to changing environmental conditions. This includes using metabolomics to provide new insights into the close relationships between soil microbiome and metabolome, as well as responses of soil metabolome to plant and environmental stresses such as soil contamination. We also highlight the advantage of using soil metabolomics to study the biogeochemical cycles of elements and suggest that future research needs to better understand factors driving soil function and health.

Abstract [Objective] The study aims to explore the effects of tree species composition and other stand factors on species diversity of plantation communities in different road areas, and provide reference for the construction and management of plantation communities in Chengdu. [Methods] By using the typical plot method, the stand factors and understory vegetation species diversity of 5 different tree species in the plantation community (Ⅰ, poplar pure forest. Ⅱ, camphor and poplar mixed forest. Ⅲ, pure camphor forest. Ⅳ, mixed forest of camphor and eucalyptus. Ⅴ, eucalyptus grandis forest) of Chengdu Ring Expressway were investigated. [Results] (1) A total of 190 species of understory plants belonging to 71 families and 131 genera were recorded in the study area. The number of species of plant families recorded under the forest was more in the herbaceous layer than in the shrub layer, among which the number of understory species recorded in the pure camphor forest was the highest. (2) The important values of Broussonetia papyrifera and Humulus scandens dominated the shrub layer and herb layer of different plantation communities, respectively. (3) The shrub species richness index (D ) of pure camphor forest was significantly higher than that of the other communities (P Ⅳ > Ⅰ > Ⅱ > Ⅴ, of which H of pure camphor forest was significantly higher than that of the other communities, except mixed forest of camphor and eucalyptus (P

As of March 31, 2023, more than 30,000 monkeypox (mpox) cases had been reported in the United States in an outbreak that has disproportionately affected gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender persons (1). JYNNEOS vaccine (Modified Vaccinia Ankara vaccine, Bavarian Nordic) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2019 for the prevention of smallpox and mpox via subcutaneous injection as a 2-dose series (0.5 mL per dose, administered 4 weeks apart) (2). To expand vaccine access, an Emergency Use Authorization was issued by FDA on August 9, 2022, for dose-sparing intradermal injection of JYNNEOS as a 2-dose series (0.1 mL per dose, administered 4 weeks apart) (3). Vaccination was available to persons with known or presumed exposure to a person with mpox (postexposure prophylaxis [PEP]), as well as persons at increased risk for mpox or who might benefit from vaccination (preexposure mpox prophylaxis [PrEP]) (4). Because information on JYNNEOS vaccine effectiveness (VE) is limited, a matched case-control study was conducted in 12 U.S. jurisdictions,† including nine Emerging Infections Program sites and three Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity sites,§ to evaluate VE against mpox among MSM and transgender adults aged 18-49 years. During August 19, 2022-March 31, 2023, a total of 309 case-patients were matched to 608 control patients. Adjusted VE was 75.2% (95% CI = 61.2% to 84.2%) for partial vaccination (1 dose) and 85.9% (95% CI = 73.8% to 92.4%) for full vaccination (2 doses). Adjusted VE for full vaccination by subcutaneous, intradermal, and heterologous routes of administration was 88.9% (95% CI = 56.0% to 97.2%), 80.3% (95% CI = 22.9% to 95.0%), and 86.9% (95% CI = 69.1% to 94.5%), respectively. Adjusted VE for full vaccination among immunocompromised participants was 70.2% (95% CI = -37.9% to 93.6%) and among immunocompetent participants was 87.8% (95% CI = 57.5% to 96.5%). JYNNEOS is effective at reducing the risk for mpox. Because duration of protection of 1 versus 2 doses remains unknown, persons at increased risk for mpox exposure should receive the 2-dose series as recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP),¶ regardless of administration route or immunocompromise status.

The global outbreak of mpox virus constituted an international public health emergency. Reports have highlighted (1) a temporal association between sexual activity and mpox, (2) an association between specific sexual practices and location of lesion development, (3) a high frequency of sexual practices conferring risk for other sexually transmitted infections among cases of mpox, (4) that mpox virus can be isolated from sexual fluids, (4) that isolated virus is infectious, and (5) a high frequency of anogenital lesions prior to disease dissemination suggesting direct inoculation during sexual activities. Finally, a growing body of evidence suggests that sexual transmission is the predominant mode of transmission for mpox virus. We therefore conclude that mpox is a sexually transmitted disease. Labeling it as such will help focus public health interventions, such as vaccinations, testing, and treatment, as well as facilitate focused awareness and education programs toward behavioral modifications to reduce exposures.

The 21st century grapples with rising atmospheric CO2 and anthropogenic solid waste. Ex-situ CO2 mineralisation, converting CO2 into stable carbonates via reacting with solid waste, shows great promise. However, concerns over the extensive consumption of chemicals urge sustainable and recyclable alternatives. This paper critically reviews recyclable chemicals for CO2 mineralisation with various industrial solid wastes, and systematically examines their efficacy and reaction mechanisms. This study offers a comprehensive comparison of these chemicals and outlines clear future research directions.The main findings are briefed below: first, we emphasize the pivotal role of trapping and recycling NH3 gas for achieving effective and efficient CO2 mineralisation using ammonium salts. Second, scaling up amines-based mineralisation could be feasible by replacing conventional strippers with mineralisation units. This transition is contingent upon resolving technical challenges such as amines' low leaching capacity and limited applicability to solid feedstocks that contain water-soluble Ca/Mg-bearing species. Third, leveraging their unique zwitterionic structures, amino acids may cater to diverse industrial needs and achieve a satisfactory CO2 mineralisation efficiency with good recyclability at low temperatures. Fourth, a novel HCl regeneration technology known as ‘oxy-pyrohydrolysis,’ can achieve simultaneous CO2 mineralisation and HCl regeneration in a single step. However, both amino acids-based mineralisation and oxy-pyrohydrolysis are nascent technologies requiring further research to ascertain their applicability and advance their development. Fifth, despite employing recyclable chemicals, operational costs of mineralisation could remain significant when high temperatures are used. Thus, energy optimization strategies should be explored, such as exploring low-energy consumption chemicals and integrating waste energy harvesting units. This review paper aims to delineate potential avenues for cost-effective CO2 mineralisation facilitated by recyclable chemicals, thereby alleviating post-processing costs and environmental concerns associated with chemical residues.

Gender-based violence (GBV) against transgender and nonbinary (TGNB) persons is a pervasive public health issue. GBV has been linked to mental health problems such as depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well has risk for HIV seroconversion and HIV treatment nonadherence. However, the impact of GBV on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among TGNB persons has yet to be investigated. In the current study we assessed longitudinal PrEP persistence data from dried blood spots (DBS) collected from 172 racially and ethnically diverse TGNB participants during a 48-week PrEP demonstration project in Southern California from June 2017 to September 2020. Participants were categorized into three levels of PrEP uptake and persistence based on their PrEP levels at the start and end of the study: low-low, high-low, and high-high. Individual-, social-, and structural-level variables were then entered into multinomial logistic regression models to predict levels of PrEP uptake and persistence based on hypotheses informed by syndemic and minority stress theories. The models demonstrated that experience of GBV predicted significantly lower odds of PrEP uptake and persistence and greater PTSD symptoms predicted significantly greater odds of early PrEP discontinuation. Higher levels of coping skills, already being on PrEP at baseline, and being in a steady relationship were associated with greater odds of PrEP uptake and persistence. Implications for future GBV research, advocacy, interventions, and much needed structural changes focused on improving the health and safety of TGNB individuals are discussed.

Objective To evaluate the prognostic value of controlling nutritional status score (CONUT) in patients undergoing gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Methods CNKI, Wanfang, China Biomedical Literature Library, VIP, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases were electronically searched for collecting relevant studies on the application of preoperative CONUT scores to the prognosis of gastric cancer patients after surgery. The search period was from database establishment to April 20, 2023. After screening literature, extracting data, and assessing quality assessment, Meta-analysis was performed using the RevMan 5.3 and Stata 15.0 software. Results A total of 17 studies involving 9 233 patients were included. The results of Meta-analysis showed that, compared with the low CONUT group, patients in the high CONUT group had poorer overall survival ［HR=1.70, 95%CI(1.54,1.87), P＜0.01］, tumor specific survival ［HR=2.55, 95%CI (1.23,5.27), P=0.01］, and progression free survival ［HR=1.53, 95%CI(1.29,1.82), P＜0.01］. The CONUT score was significantly correlated with complications ［OR=2.10, 95%CI (1.53,2.90), P＜0.01］, nerve infiltration ［OR=1.54, 95%CI(1.02,2.32), P=0.04］, mortality ［OR=2.24, 95%CI (1.25,4.01), P＜0.01］, T3/4 ［OR=2.06, 95%CI (1.73,2.46), P＜0.01］, N2/3 ［OR=1.76, 95%CI (1.51,2.05), P＜0.01］, Stage Ⅲ ［OR=1.62, 95%CI (1.39,1.90), P＜0.01］, but not with tumor differentiation ［OR=0.88, 95%CI (0.75,1.04), P=0.13］. Conclusion Preoperative CONUT score is an independent prognostic indicator of gastric cancer patiem associated with clinicopathological parameters of gastric cancer.

Abstract Microplastics are polymer-based materials with carbon as their main framework. During degradation, they release greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. Additionally, environmental microplastics can enter plant tissues, triggering oxidative stress in plant cells, adversely affecting photosynthesis, metabolism, gene expression, and other growth parameters. This reduction in plant efficiency in sequestering and utilizing atmospheric carbon dioxide indirectly impacts global carbon cycling, exacerbating the global greenhouse effect. Furthermore, environmental microplastics significantly alter soil structure and the composition of microbial communities, affecting the emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, thus indirectly promoting greenhouse gas emissions. Increasing research suggests a mutual reinforcement between microplastic pollution and global climate warming, where microplastic pollution exacerbates global climate warming, and the rise in global average temperature leads to the resuspension of microplastics in sediments, intensifying microplastic pollution in the environment. This article primarily focuses on the impacts of environmental microplastic pollution on different ecosystems and the relationship between microplastic pollution and global climate warming. It summarizes the effects of microplastic pollution on greenhouse gas emissions in marine, terrestrial, and atmospheric ecosystems, as well as the mechanisms by which microplastics and climate change affect ecosystem services. By delving into the intricate connection between microplastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, this paper aims to raise awareness of the climate change caused by microplastic pollution and calls for further research on the impacts of microplastics on ecosystems and global climate change, with the ultimate goal of protecting ecosystems and human health. Graphical Abstract

The magnetotelluric (MT) responses are explicitly solved for a stratiform earth containing multiple transitional layers in which the conductivity varies linearly with depth. In the model under consideration, any one homogeneous layer with constant conductivity or transitional one may be absent in the geometry. The traditional one-dimensional (1D) models with sharp boundaries will be obtained if all the transitional layers are absent in the geometry, while a special 1D model consisting of a sequence of contiguous transitional layers may be obtained if all the homogeneous layers (except the basement layer) are removed from the geometry. The tangential electric and magnetic fields as well as the surface impedance are analytically expressed by Airy functions. The analytical formula is validated in three theoretical examples by comparing with the results from available codes. The apparent resistivity and impedance phase on the surface of three different transitional models are illustrated to analysis the influence of the transitional layers on MT responses. The new formula provides an alternative way to obtain the analytic MT responses for the special layered earth.

Abstract Iron-carbon micro-electrolysis system is a promising method for promoting electron transfer in nitrate removal. However, many traditional approaches involving simple physical mixing inevitably suffered from the confined iron-carbon contact area and short validity period, leading to the overuse of iron. Here, a ceramsite-loaded microscale zero-valent iron (mZVI) and acidified carbon (AC) coupled-galvanic cell (CMC) was designed to support chemical, autotrophic and heterotrophic denitrification. Long-term experiments were conducted to monitor the nitrogen removal performance of denitrification reactors filled with CMC and thus optimized the denitrification performance by improving fabrication parameters and various operating conditions. The denitrification contributions test showed that the chemical denitrification pathway contributed most to nitrate removal (57.3%), followed by autotrophic (24.6%) and heterotrophic denitrification pathways (18.1%). The microbial analysis confirmed the significant aggregation of related denitrifying bacteria in the reactors, while AC promoted the expression of relevant nitrogen metabolism genes because of accelerated uptake and utilization of iron complexes. Meanwhile, the electrochemical analysis revealed a significantly improved electron transfer capacity of AC compared to pristine carbon. Overall, our study demonstrated the application of a novel mZVI-AC coupled material for effective nitrate removal and revealed the potential impact of CMC in the multipathway denitrification process. Graphical Abstract

BackgroundTransgender and nonbinary individuals at risk for HIV may benefit from adherence support for pre-exposure prophylaxis.MethodsBetween June 2017 and September 2020, 255 transgender and nonbinary individuals received daily oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine for 48 weeks randomized 1:1 to receive individualized Texting for Adherence Building (iTAB) or iTAB plus motivational interviewing (iTAB + MI) through phone for nonadherence. The primary end point was dried blood spot tenofovir diphosphate concentrations at weeks 12 and 48 (or last on-drug study visit) ≥1246 fmol/punch consistent with ≥7 doses/week (ie, near-perfect adherence). Secondary outcomes included dried blood spot tenofovir diphosphate concentrations ≥719 fmol/punch consistent with ≥4 doses/week (ie, adequate adherence) and self-reported adherence by daily text messages.ResultsAdherence for the outcome ≥1246 fmol/punch and ≥719 fmol/punch, respectively, was 49.1% and 57.9% for transgender men, 37.7% and 47.2% for nonbinary individuals, and 31.0% and 44.1% for transgender women. No difference was seen in iTAB + MI compared with iTAB alone by drug levels except where it approached significance in transgender women for the outcome of ≥719 fmol/punch in the iTAB + MI group compared with iTAB only (52% versus 35.7%, P = 0.065). There was a significant difference in self-reported daily dose adherence in the iTAB + MI group compared with iTAB alone (57.9% of days versus 46.4%, P = 0.009). In transgender women, the mean percentage of daily doses taken was 58.5% with iTAB + MI and 37.3% with iTAB alone ( P < 0.001).ConclusionsIn addition to automated approaches to adherence promotion, phone-based MI triggered by repeatedly missing doses may improve pre-exposure prophylaxis adherence among transgender women.

We present a Bayesian inference on the neutral hydrogen fraction of the intergalactic medium (IGM), x small HI, at z ∼6-8 using the properties of Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) during the epoch of reionization. We use large samples of LBG candidates at 5.5 ≤ z ≤ 8.2 with spectroscopy from Keck/DEIMOS and Keck/MOSFIRE. For each galaxy, we incorporate either the Lyman-α (Lyα) equivalent width (EW) for detections or the EW limit spectrum for non-detections to parametrize the EW distribution at various ultraviolet brightnesses for a given redshift. Using our reference sample of galaxy candidates from the ionized universe at z ∼6.0, we are able to infer x small HI at two redshifts: z ∼6.7 and z ∼7.6. This work includes intrinsically faint, gravitationally lensed galaxies at z ∼6.0 in order to constrain the intrinsic faint-end Lyα EW distribution and provide a comparable population of galaxies to counterparts in our sample that are at higher redshift. The inclusion of faint galaxy candidates, in addition to a more sophisticated modelling framework, allows us to better isolate effects of the interstellar medium and circumgalactic medium on the observed Lyα distribution from those of the IGM. We infer an upper limit of x small HI ≤ 0.25 (0.44) at z = 6.7 ± 0.2 and a neutral fraction of x small HI = 0.83+0.08 -0.11 (0.83 +0.11 -0.21) at z = 7.6 ± 0.6, both within 68 per cent (95 per cent) uncertainty, results that favour a moderately late and fairly rapid reionization.

Abstract The East China Sea Kuroshio (ECS‐Kuroshio) and the Ryukyu Current are the major poleward heat carriers in the North Pacific. Anomalous changes of ECS‐Kuroshio and Ryukyu Current could exert substantial influence on the climate in mid‐latitude regions. However, owing to limited observations and coarse resolution of climate models, how they might change under anthropogenic warming remains unknown. Here, we find an accelerating ECS‐Kuroshio (1.5 Sv) and a decelerating (−2.2 Sv) Ryukyu Current using in‐situ observation during 1958–2022, equivalent to 7% strengthening and 20% weakening in the 65 years. The trend is also simulated by four high‐resolution climate models, with multi‐model ensemble‐mean acceleration (deceleration) of the ECS‐Kuroshio (Ryukyu Current) of 1.2 ± 0.6 Sv (−6.2 ± 2.5 Sv) over 1950–2050. The weakening subtropical wind field reduces their summed transport o. Enhanced stratification, which induces uplift of current system and weaker topography‐flow interaction, leads to the intensifying ECS‐Kuroshio and disappearing Ryukyu Current.

Long-term exposure to urban dust containing potentially toxic elements (PTEs) poses detrimental impacts on human health. However, studies estimating human health risks in urban dusts from a global perspective are scarce. We evaluated data for twelve PTEs in urban dusts across 59 countries from 463 published articles, including their concentrations, input sources, and probabilistic risks to human health. We found that 34.1 and 60.3% of those investigated urban dusts have been heavily contaminated with As and Cd, respectively. The input of PTEs was significantly correlated with economic structure due to emissions of industrial activities and traffic emissions being the major sources. Based on the Monte Carlo simulation, we found that the mean hazard index below the safe threshold (1.0) could still cause non-negligible risks to human health. Arsenic and Cr were the major PTEs threatening human health, and relatively high risk levels were observed in cities in China, Korea, Chile, Malaysia, and Australia. Importantly, our analysis suggested that PTEs threaten the health of approximately 92 million adults and 280 million children worldwide. Overall, our study provides important foundational understanding and guidance for policy decision-making to reduce the potential risks associated with PTE exposure and to promote sustainable development of urban economies.

Abstract The aim of this study was to identify and analyze the characteristics of the 100 most cited articles about dental sealants (DS) in dentistry. In September 2023, a search was performed in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoS-CC) database. The following information was extracted from each article: number and density of citations, year of publication, authorship, journal, impact factor, keywords, study design, theme, continent, country, and institution. The citations of the WoS-CC were compared with those of the Scopus and Google Scholar databases. The VOSviewer software was used to generate collaborative networks. The number of citations ranged from 33 to 205. The articles were published between 1961 and 2016. Buonocore MG (7%) was the most prominent author among the most cited. The Journal of the American Dental Association was the most frequent journal (25%) and Journal of Dental Research (7.6) had the highest impact factor. Most studies had interventional (41%) and laboratory (31%) designs, mainly addressing DS effectiveness in the prevention and control of dental caries (86%). There was a predominance of publications from North America (46%) and the USA was the country with the highest number of articles (44%). The most frequent institutions were the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USA) and the University of Rochester (USA) (6% each). “Retention” was the most frequent keyword. In conclusion, the 100 most cited articles were mostly interventional and laboratory studies, addressing the retention and efficacy of DS. Most of the articles were concentrated in North America and Europe, demonstrating a little collaboration from other continents.

Abstract Global surface temperature short‐term trends fluctuate between cooling and fast‐warming under the combined action of external forcing and internal variability, significantly influencing the detectability of near‐term climate change. A key driver of these variations is anthropogenic aerosols (AAs), which have undergone a non‐monotonic evolution with rapid reduction in recent decades. However, their reduction is projected to decelerate under a high carbon emission scenario, yet the impact on surface temperature trends remains unknown. Here, using initial‐perturbation large ensembles, we find that future slowdown in AA reduction over Europe and North America expedites the subpolar North Atlantic surface warming by intensifying the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. Further, it accelerates the South Indian Ocean and Southern Ocean surface warming through positive low‐cloud feedback and oceanic dynamical adjustment, triggered by the poleward migration of westerlies under interhemispheric energy constraint. These AA‐driven warmings exacerbate greenhouse warming, significantly enhancing the detectability of local decadal warming trends.

Este estudo transversal buscou descobrir como a pandemia impactou a permissividade dos pais no que se refere ao uso de dispositivos eletrônicos, atividades físicas e interações sociais. Os 466 pais de crianças com idade entre 3 e 10 anos responderam um questionário online sobre a frequência com que permitiram que seus filhos fizessem uso de dispositivos eletrônicos e participassem de atividades sociais após o início da pandemia por COVID-19. As variáveis independentes foram idade e sexo da criança, renda familiar e a quantidade de pessoas que contribuem para a renda, forma de trabalho durante a pandemia, se o respondente era responsável pelas atividades domésticas e se estas afetavam a sua rotina, e quem cuidava da criança quando precisava sair de casa. A avaliação da distribuição das variáveis independentes (categóricas) conforme os 3 graus da variável dependente (mais, menos, igual), e a permissão dos pais (categórica ordinal) foi realizada pelo teste do Qui-quadrado. Após o início da pandemia, os pais permitiram menos brincadeiras/atividades físicas em ambientes públicos (409 – 87,76%) e visita à casa de amigos e familiares (421 – 90,34%); e aumentaram a frequência de permissão do uso de dispositivos eletrônicos para entretenimento (358 -76,8%). A frequência de levar os filhos para mercados, lojas, shoppings e similares não teve alteração significativa (p=0.1494). O presente estudo apontou mudanças significativas na permissividade dos pais devido ao isolamento requerido pela pandemia COVID-19.

The substance use, violence, and AIDS (SAVA) syndemic framework is used to study risk for HIV/AIDS. As a secondary analysis from a large HIV/AIDS prevention study, we categorized participants into having from zero to three SAVA conditions based on the presence or absence of self-reported substance use in the past 4 months, history of lifetime sexual abuse, and intimate partner violence. We used Poisson regression models to examine the association between the number of SAVA conditions and sexual risk behavior. Among all participants (n = 195, median age, 20), 37.9%, 19.5%, and 6.7% reported occurrence of one, two, and all three SAVA conditions, respectively. We found that more than one SAVA condition experienced by women was significantly associated with having more than one sex partner (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 1.88; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.28, 2.76) and with substance use before sex (aPR = 1.61 95% CI = 1.06, 2.45).