Cyanobacterial bloom events that produce natural toxins occur in freshwaters across the globe, yet the potential risk of many cyanobacterial metabolites remains mostly unknown. Only microcystins, one ...class of cyanopeptides, have been studied intensively and the wealth of evidence regarding exposure concentrations and toxicity led to their inclusion in risk management frameworks for water quality. However, cyanobacteria produce an incredible diversity of hundreds of cyanopeptides beyond the class of microcystins. The question arises, whether the other cyanopeptides are in fact of no human and ecological concern or whether these compounds merely received (too) little attention thus far. Current observations suggest that an assessment of their (eco)toxicological risk is indeed relevant: First, other cyanopeptides, including cyanopeptolins and anabaenopeptins, can occur just as frequently and at similar nanomolar concentrations as microcystins in surface waters. Second, cyanopeptolins, anabaenopeptins, aeruginosins and microginins inhibit proteases in the nanomolar range, in contrast to protein phosphatase inhibition by microcystins. Cyanopeptolins, aeruginosins, and aerucyclamide also show toxicity against grazers in the micromolar range comparable to microcystins. The key challenge for a comprehensive risk assessment of cyanopeptides remains their large structural diversity, lack of reference standards, and high analytical requirements for identification and quantification. One way forward would be a prevalence study to identify the priority candidates of tentatively abundant, persistent, and toxic cyanopeptides to make comprehensive risk assessments more manageable.
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•Lack of studies on cyanopeptides beyond microcystins especially in environmental sciences.•Occurrence of cyanopeptides comparable in frequency and concentration to microcystins.•Cyanopeptides inhibit various proteases in the nanomolar range (IC50).•Key challenge for risk assessment is the structural diversity of cyanopeptides.•Identify priority candidates of potentially abundant, persistent, and toxic cyanopeptides.
Purpose
Normative scores (norms) allow for comparisons between population(s) of interest and the general population, which is useful for burden of disease studies and cost-effectiveness analysis. The ...primary aim of this study was to estimate US visual analogue scale (EQ VAS) and utility-based norms for the EQ-5D-5L using the face-to-face sample. The secondary aim was to compare norms estimated in the face-to-face and online populations.
Methods
This study estimated population norms from two general population surveys: (a) face-to-face and (b) online. In these surveys, respondents provided their health state using the EQ-5D-5L health classifier and the EQ VAS. Descriptive statistics, including mean, standard deviation (SD), 95% confidence interval, and median for the 5L utility and EQ VAS were estimated for each sample and across relevant respondent characteristics to serve as the basis for US EQ-5D-5L norms
Results
Face-to-face sample respondents (
n
= 1134) were representative of the US adult general population. In this sample, mean (SD) utility decreased with increasing age until age 45 or greater (age 45–54: 0.816 (0.249) age 55–64: 0.815 (0.243) age 65–74: 0.824 (0.217) age 75 + : 0.811 (0.218)). With increasing age, more problems were reported on all dimensions except anxiety/depression; a smaller proportion of respondents age 65 and older reported problems with anxiety/depression (23.8%) as compared to the youngest respondents (42.1%). Online (
n
= 2018) mean utility and EQ VAS values were consistently lower than the face-to-face sample.
Conclusions
The availability of US EQ-5D-5L norms facilitates interpretation and understanding of general population and patient health.
This paper introduces the concept of an operational reference glass database, specifically designed for broken glass fragments from ATM attacks, jewelry store robberies, and ramraids on high-end ...clothing stores. The database, initiated in 2014, is used to compare glass traces from organized crews involved said criminal activities. Utilizing LA-ICPMS, this study establishes a methodology for collecting reference glass samples from the scenes of the aforementioned crimes, thus creating a comprehensive database containing over 3500 reference glass samples from crime scenes. The operational database is employed to match trace elemental profiles of glass fragments from suspected items to known reference samples, offering specificity and accuracy. Analysis of results, while ongoing due to the nature of active cases, find matches of trace materials in over 50 % of case requests since 2019. Challenges such as database scalability and continuous updating are acknowledged, and future directions include technological advancements to enhance precision and the application into other areas of forensic material analysis. The paper emphasizes the efficacy of this specialized approach in chemical profiling, providing a potent tool for linking glass traces to specific criminal contexts and providing intelligence and investigative leads into individuals involved in ATM-related crimes.
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•Introduction of the concept of an operational glass database by means of chemical profiling.•Glass fragments can be matched to reference glass that was received months prior.•Over 50 % of case requests since 2019 yield matches with earlier stored reference glass.
•Use of blockchain remains limited despite it promises.•Boundary conditions should be met before blockchain can be used.•Blockchain technology requires standardization and data governance.•Blockchain ...use requires organizational transformations.•Blockchain can result in more information sharing.
Traceability of ingredients in food supply chains has become paramount in a world in which markets become global, heterogeneous, and complex and in which consumers expect a high level of quality. The food supply chain consists of many organizations having different interests and are often reluctant to share traceability information with each other. Blockchain has been advocated for improving traceability by providing trust. Yet, practice proved to be more stubborn. The goal of this paper is to identify boundary conditions for sharing assurance information to improve traceability. Four cases in the food supply chain have been investigated using a template analysis of 16 interviews. Eighteen boundary conditions categorized in business, regulation, quality and traceability categories have been identified. Some boundary conditions were found in all supply chains, whereas others were found to be supply chain specific. Standardization of traceability processes and interfaces, having a joint platform and independent governance were found to be key boundary conditions before blockchain can be used. Our findings imply that supply chain systems have first to be modified and organizational measures need to be taken to fulfill the boundary conditions, before blockchain can be used successfully.
Purpose The aim of this study was to assess the measurement properties of the 5-level classification system of the EQ-5D (5L), in comparison with the 3-level EQ-5D (3L). Methods Participants (n = ...3,919) from six countries, including eight patient groups with chronic conditions (cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, depression, diabetes, liver disease, personality disorders, arthritis, and stroke) and a student cohort, completed the 3L and 5L and, for most participants, also dimension-specific rating scales. The 3L and 5L were compared in terms of feasibility (missing values), redistribution properties, ceiling, discriminatory power, convergent validity, and known-groups validity. Results Missing values were on average 0.8 % for 5L and 1.3 % for 3L. In total, 2.9 % of responses were inconsistent between 5L and 3L. Redistribution from 3L to 5L using EQ dimension-specific rating scales as reference was validated for all 35 3L–5L-level combinations. For 5L, 683 unique health states were observed versus 124 for 3L. The ceiling was reduced from 20.2 % (3L) to 16.0 % (5L). Absolute discriminatory power (Shannon index) improved considerably with 5L (mean 1.87 for 5L versus 1.24 for 3L), and relative discriminatory power (Shannon Evenness index) improved slightly (mean 0.81 for 5L versus 0.78 for 3L). Convergent validity with WHO-5 was demonstrated and improved slightly with 5L. Known-groups validity was confirmed for both 5L and 3L. Conclusions The EQ-5D-5L appears to be a valid extension of the 3-level system which improves upon the measurement properties, reducing the ceiling while improving discriminatory power and establishing convergent and known-groups validity.
The photooxidation processes of tryptophan (Trp) in the presence of dissolved organic matter (DOM) were identified and quantified by steady-state photolysis experiments, laser spectroscopy and ...kinetic modeling. In sunlight, Trp photooxidation is dominated by the reaction with excited triplet DOM (3DOM), accounting for approximately 50–70% of the total degradation, depending on the DOM concentration and source. Reaction with singlet oxygen and direct photolysis are secondary processes that are both still more important than the reaction with hydroxyl radical. Both direct photolysis and reaction with 3DOM form Trp radical cation (Trp•+) via Trp photoionization and direct oxidation, respectively. The Trp•+ can be converted back to Trp by suitable electron or hydrogen atom donors. Transient absorption spectroscopy shows that DOM itself and low-molecular-weight analogues of redox-active moieties can reduce the lifetime of photochemically produced Trp•+ and thus quench Trp degradation. This study demonstrates that DOM plays dual roles in the photodegradation of Trp acting as a sensitizer and quencher. The photochemistry of Trp and the participation of DOM have direct implications for photochemical reactions in extracellular proteins as well as for organic compounds in aquatic systems with similar photoionization processes.
The mammalian heart is responsible for not only pumping blood throughout the body but also adjusting this pumping activity quickly depending upon sudden changes in the metabolic demands of the body. ...For the most part, the human heart is capable of performing its duties without complications; however, throughout many decades of use, at some point this system encounters problems. Research into the heart's activities during healthy states and during adverse impacts that occur in disease states is necessary in order to strategize novel treatment options to ultimately prolong and improve patients' lives. Animal models are an important aspect of cardiac research where a variety of cardiac processes and therapeutic targets can be studied. However, there are differences between the heart of a human being and an animal and depending on the specific animal, these differences can become more pronounced and in certain cases limiting. There is no ideal animal model available for cardiac research, the use of each animal model is accompanied with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. In this review, we will discuss these advantages and disadvantages of commonly used laboratory animals including mouse, rat, rabbit, canine, swine, and sheep. Since the goal of cardiac research is to enhance our understanding of human health and disease and help improve clinical outcomes, we will also discuss the role of human cardiac tissue in cardiac research. This review will focus on the cardiac ventricular contractile and relaxation kinetics of humans and animal models in order to illustrate these differences.
This study provides EQ-5D population norms for 20 countries (N = 163,838), which can be used to compare profiles for patients with specific conditions with data for the average person in the general ...population in a similar age and/or gender group. Descriptive EQ-5D data are provided for the total population, by gender and by seven age groups. Provided index values are based on European VAS for all countries, based on TTO for 11 countries and based on VAS for 10 countries. Important differences exist in EQ-5D reported health status across countries after standardizing for population structure. Self-reported health according to all five dimensions and EQ VAS generally decreased with increasing age and was lower for females. Mean self-rated EQ VAS scores varied from 70.4 to 83.3 in the total population by country. The prior living standards (GDP per capita) in the countries studied are correlated most with the EQ VAS scores (0.58), while unemployment appeared to be significantly correlated in people over the age of 45 only. A country's expenditure on health care correlated moderately with higher ratings on the EQ VAS (0.55). EQ-5D norms can be used as reference data to assess the burden of disease of patients with specific conditions. Such information, in turn, can inform policy-making and assist in setting priorities in health care.
DNA methylation (DNAme) and histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) have important roles in transcriptional regulation. Although many reports have characterized the functions of such ...chromatin marks in isolation, recent genome-wide studies reveal surprisingly complex interactions between them. Here, we focus on the interplay between DNAme and methylation of specific lysine residues on the histone H3 tail. We describe the impact of genetic perturbation of the relevant methyltransferases in the mouse on the landscape of chromatin marks as well as the transcriptome. In addition, we discuss the specific neurodevelopmental growth syndromes and cancers resulting from pathogenic mutations in the human orthologues of these genes. Integrating these observations underscores the fundamental importance of crosstalk between DNA and histone H3 methylation in development and disease.
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