Here the thermoresponsive self‐assembly of diblock copolymers comprising poly(ethyl glycidyl ether) (PEGE) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in water and ionic liquids (ILs) is investigated. PEGE ...undergoes lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phase separation in both water and 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide (C2mimNTf2), while PEO is a compatible segment for these solvents. The diblock copolymers, PEGE‐b‐PEO, undergo thermosensitive unimer‐micelle transitions at temperatures close to the LCST point (TLCST) of the PEGE homopolymer in water but not in C2mimNTf2, even at temperatures much higher than TLCST. The difference in the thermoresponsivity of these solutions is explored using differential scanning calorimetry results from rather small magnitudes of the thermodynamic parameters for the phase transition of the PEGE segment in C2mimNTf2, compared with those in water. Due to such small magnitudes, TLCST of the PEGE segment for the block copolymers in the IL is greatly affected by the elongation of soluble PEO segments.
Thermoresponsive self‐assembly of polyether diblock copolymers comprising poly(ethyl glycidyl ether) (PEGE) and poly(ethylene oxide) is investigated in water and ionic liquids. PEGE undergoes lower critical solution temperature phase separation in both solutions. The difference in the thermoresponsivity of the copolymers in these solutions is discussed using the thermodynamic parameters for the phase transition of the PEGE segment.
Abstract
Introduction Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis results from metastatic neoplastic cells that reach the leptomeninges through the cerebrospinal fluid. The presentation of the disease is variable, ...making prognosis challenging. However, the presence of intracranial hypertension is common, which has prompted new treatments to mitigate this effect.
Objective To report the role of neurosurgery in the treatment of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, as well as its advances.
Methodology Literature review with a search of the PubMed database, between 2011 and 2021, using the following descriptors: Neurosurgery, Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis, Cerebrospinal and Treatment. A total of 42 articles were found, 16 of which were selected.
Results The shunt insertion considerably improved the effects of cranial hypertension, increasing the average survival time of patients by 3.5 months after surgery. The Ommaya reservoir is also a viable option due to its convenience and safety. The V-Port, on the other hand, has overcome the challenges of conventional devices, with shorter operating times (42 minutes), smaller skin incisions, and no reports of postoperative infection.
Conclusion Devices for the treatment of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis have been steadily improving, simplifying surgical procedures and benefiting patients.
Several studies have been published about the potential health effects due to long-term exposure to sulphur dioxide (SO
2
) and the relative risks (RRs) for different causes of mortality. Broad ...differences in the RR values are found, however. In this study, we performed an analysis of these studies aiming finding potential explanations for the high variability of the RR reported. The RRs for stratified subgroups were also analysed to identify more susceptible subgroups. A total of 14 studies were identified. Some of them related strong associations between mortality and long-term ambient SO
2
exposure, while others found insignificant or no associations to the same mortality indexes. The mean RR values ranged from 0.95 to 1.14 for mortality due to all causes, 0.99 to 3.05 for lung cancer, 0.87 to 1.3 for respiratory diseases, 0.96 to 1.14 cardiovascular diseases and 0.97 to 1.05 for cardiopulmonary diseases mortality. Among the factors that may affect the RR estimations, only the size of studied population and the spatial scales used in exposure assessment showed notable influences. The female population was found to be more susceptible to long-term SO
2
exposure. For other stratified subgroups including age, smoking status and income levels, no obvious relationship with RR was observed.
It has previously been confirmed that Kuril harbor seals
Phoca vitulina stejnegeri
cause damage to the chum salmon
Oncorhynchus keta
setnet fishery along the east coast of Hokkaido, Japan, but the ...level of damage has increased markedly with the recovery of their population in recent years. In this study, we attached an optical camera (Trawl Camera) and a dual-frequency identification sonar (DIDSON) acoustic camera to a setnet to observe the behavior of seals as they invaded the setnet, and to determine the number of salmon inside the net, to help inform the development of modified fishing gear. Salmon were observed at all times during daytime with the Trawl Camera, while seals were only observed once. Observations using the DIDSON in its low-frequency mode confirmed that the behavior of seals became vigorous from around sunset to nighttime within the recording time (1530–2100 hours). Observations using the DIDSON high-frequency mode showed that the overall lengths and body widths of seals ranged from 1.0 to 1.6 m and 0.15 to 0.35 m, respectively, while their swimming speeds ranged from 0.4 to 2.6 m/s, increasing around sunset and declining into the night. These results imply that seals mainly invade the setnet from evening to nighttime to predate on salmon.
Atomic force microscope (AFM) force curves and images are used to characterize the adsorbed layer structure formed by a series of diblock copolymers with solvophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and ...solvophobic poly(ethyl glycidyl ether) (PEGE) blocks at silica–water and silica–ethylammoniun nitrate (EAN, a room temperature ionic liquid (IL)) interfaces. The diblock polyethers examined are EGE109EO54, EGE113EO115, and EGE104EO178. These experiments reveal how adsorbed layer structure varies as the length of the EO block varies while the EGE block length is kept approximately constant; water is a better solvent for PEO than EAN, so higher curvature structures are found at the interface of silica with water than with EAN. At silica–water interfaces, EGE109EO54 forms a bilayer and EGE113EO115 forms elongated aggregates, while a well-ordered array of spheres is present for EGE104EO178. EGE109EO54 does not adsorb at the silica–EAN interface because the EO chain is too short to compete with the ethylammonium cation for surface adsorption sites. However, EGE113EO115 and EGE104EO178 do adsorb and form a bilayer and elongated aggregates, respectively.
Two cases of extralobar pulmonary sequestrations from a walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) and a Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) are described in the present study. Grossly, an independent, soft ...unilocular cystic mass was found within the abdominal cavities of both animals, adherent to the diaphragm in O. rosmarus and attached to the cardia of the stomach in E. jubatus. Histopathologically, the cysts were lined by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with abundant goblet cells, while the wall comprised of glands, hyaline cartilage, bronchiole- and alveolus-like structures, smooth muscles, and large, well-developed elastic and muscular arteries. The pinniped cases presented are exceptionally rare and to the best of the authors’ knowledge, marks the first descriptions of this congenital anomaly in wildlife.
Monitoring reproductive migration is essential for the conservation of anadromous species. Shishamo smelt (Spirinchus lanceolatus) is endemic to Hokkaido, the northernmost large island in Japan. S. ...lanceolatus is an anadromous species that is known to migrate into rivers for a very short period in early winter. While this species has a special value for local fisheries, the catch amount has drastically declined in the last few decades. Information about S. lanceolatus reproductive migration dynamics is limited, which prevents them from being efficiently managed as a resource. In this study, we used environmental DNA (eDNA) methods as a noninvasive molecular tool for estimating presence/absence and abundance/biomass of S. lanceolatus during their migration into rivers. We developed a species‐specific qPCR system for S. lanceolatus, examining (a) temporal variation in S. lanceolatus eDNA concentrations compared with catch data gathered by traditional methods and (b) variability of migratory patterns among river systems. In a core river for their spawning migration, we consistently detected S. lanceolatus eDNA throughout the spawning season, and the temporal distribution of eDNA concentration was consistent with that of the number of migrating S. lanceolatus estimated by catch survey data. In addition, we were able to detect S. lanceolatus eDNA even from rivers without any official record of their migration. Among rivers with eDNA detection, the relative eDNA concentrations varied, indicating that the population biomass differs largely among the river populations. Our study suggests that eDNA detection systems are useful for tracking reproductive migration of S. lanceolatus at fine spatio‐temporal scales.
We developed a new eDNA detection system for the endemic anadromous fish species Spirinchus lanceolatus. Using this system, a sharp increase in the migratory population was identified in a river where S. lanceolatus is known to spawn.
Municipal sewage contains significant embedded resources in the form of chemical and thermal energy. Recent developments in sustainable technology have pushed for the integration of resource recovery ...from household wastewater to achieve net zero energy consumption and carbon-neutral communities. Sewage heat recovery and fit-for-purpose water reuse are options to optimize the resource recovery potential of municipal wastewater. This study presents a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) focused on global warming potential (GWP), eutrophication potential (EUP), and human health carcinogenic potential (HHCP) of an integrated sewage heat recovery and water reuse system for a hypothetical community of 30,000 people. Conventional space and water heating components generally demonstrated the highest GWP contribution between the different system components evaluated. Sewage-heat-recovery-based district heating offered better environmental performance overall. Lower impact contributions were demonstrated by scenarios with a membrane bioreactor (MBR) and chlorination prior to water reuse applications compared to scenarios that use more traditional water and wastewater treatment technologies and discharge. The LCA findings show that integrating MBR wastewater treatment and water reuse into a district heating schema could provide additional environmental savings at a community scale.
Background
Although serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity is an important marker for the management of chronic hepatitis C (CHC), the factors associated with serum ALT levels remain to be ...fully understood. This study aimed to clarify the association between serum ALT levels and clinical, histological, and virological factors in patients with CHC.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed 256 patients with CHC who underwent liver biopsy, and classified them into three groups according to serum ALT levels: normal to minimal (<40 IU/L), mild (40–80 IU/L), and moderate to severe elevation (≥80 IU/L). All demographic and laboratory data were collected at the time of liver biopsy. All biopsies were evaluated for fibrosis, inflammation, and steatosis. Glucose metabolism was assessed by various indices derived from oral glucose tolerance tests, including the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). In 180 patients, visceral fat area was measured at the umbilical level by abdominal computed tomography.
Results
Ordered logistic regression analysis showed that higher serum ALT levels were significantly associated with male sex, lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), higher HOMA-IR, and higher grades of histological inflammation and steatosis. HOMA-IR, HDL-C, and hepatic steatosis were associated with visceral fat accumulation.
Conclusions
Metabolic factors, as well as sex and hepatic inflammation, are independent risk factors for serum ALT elevation in hepatititis C virus (HCV)-infected patients. Metabolic factors may offer targets to decrease serum ALT levels.
Hansen solubility parameters (HSPs) are useful in investigating the affinities among two or more components. Here, we propose a new method for determining the HSPs of ionic liquids (ILs), with a ...focus on ionic dissociation estimations from Walden plots of IL–organic solvent solutions. We investigated ILs with different cation and anion structures, that is, phosphonium ammonium; imidazolium; and pyridinium cations and bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (TFSI−), trifluoromethanesulfonate (TfO−), and hexafluorophosphate (PF6 –) anions. The Hansen spheres determined from Walden plots (the Hansen ionicity spheres) became smaller than the Hansen solubility spheres, which ensures highly accurate HSP values. Each calculated HSP of an IL was independent and corresponded to the solvatochromic parameters and previously reported values.
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