Bioassay incubation experiments conducted with nutrients and local atmospheric aerosol amendments indicate that phosphorus (P) availability limited phytoplankton growth in the low‐nutrient ...low‐chlorophyll (LNLC) ocean off Barbados. Atmospheric deposition provides a relatively large influx of new nutrients and trace metals to the surface ocean in this region in comparison to other nutrient sources. However, the impact on native phytoplankton is muted due to the high ratio of nitrogen (N) to P (NO3:SRP > 40) and the low P solubility of these aerosols. Atmospheric deposition induces P limitation in this LNLC region by adding more N and iron (Fe) relative to P. This favors the growth of Prochlorococcus, a genus characterized by low P requirements and highly efficient P acquisition mechanisms. A global three‐dimensional marine ecosystem model that includes species‐specific phytoplankton elemental quotas/stoichiometry and the atmospheric deposition of N, P, and Fe supports this conclusion. Future increases in aerosol N loading may therefore influence phytoplankton community structure in other LNLC areas, thereby affecting the biological pump and associated carbon sequestration.
Key Points
Phytoplankton in low‐nutrient low‐chlorophyll waters near Barbados are phosphate limited
Atmospheric deposition with high nitrogen and iron relative to phosphorus drives this phosphate limitation
Prochlorococcus thrives in this environment due to its low phosphorus requirements
There is little comprehensive education for people with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) progress. We investigated the differences in terms of outcomes between patients with CKD stages 3-5 who enrolled ...and did not enroll in the pre-ESRD care education in Taiwan. This retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). All patients diagnosed with CKD stages 3-5 who received the pre-ESRD care education through the pay for performance (P4P) program were enrolled. Based on whether or not they participated in the program, they were categorized into P4P or non-P4P groups. All analyses were performed from January 2006 through December 2015. Study outcomes were risk of hemodialysis dependency, hospitalization, and all-cause mortality. In this study of 29,337 patients, those with CKD stages 3-5 in the P4P group had lower events of hemodialysis, hospitalization, and all-cause mortality compared to patients in the non-P4P group. This study suggested that pre-ESRD care education is associated with increased patient outcomes, resulting in lower hemodialysis and hospitalization events and a higher overall survival rate in patients with CKD stages 3-5. Patient education could raise opportunities to improve pre-ESRD care by reaching patients outside the traditional health care setting.
•Flow control mechanisms used in microfluidic synthesis platforms have been discussed.•Review focuses on proposals for applications of drug delivery, bioimaging, biosensing, and cellular ...analysis.•Review provides a detailed overview of advances in microfluidic synthesis technology field over the past years.
Nanomaterials have attracted significant attention in biomedical and environmental science in recent years due to their unique thermal, optical, electrical and magnetic properties. The properties of nanomaterials are highly correlated with their size and morphology. Consequently, efficient methods for synthesizing nanomaterials with a consistent size and shape are urgently required. Compared to conventional large-scale synthesis systems, microfluidic systems offer a far better control over the growth, nucleation and reaction conditions. As such, microfluidic synthesis has emerged as a key enabling technology for the rapid, low cost and reliable preparation of nanomaterials with complex properties and functions. This review provides a detailed overview of advances in the microfluidic synthesis technology field over the past five years. The review commences by describing the main microfluidic control mechanisms and microfluidic synthesis of particles. Some of the more common applications of microfluidic synthesized micro and nanomaterials are then introduced, including drug delivery, bioimaging, biosensing, environmental analysis, and cell analysis. The review concludes with a brief overview of the challenges facing the microfluidic synthesis field in the coming years, together with possible research directions aimed at overcoming these challenges.
This paper presents an ultracompact tunable device for power splitting and switching by tuning the Fermi energy level of monolayer patternless graphene underneath a slotted multimode interference ...(MMI) coupler operating in the mid-infrared, λ = 9-11 μm. By introducing a high-index silicon slot in the central region of the MMI structure, which can significantly shorten the beat length, the proposed device has an approximately 4.5-fold reduction in device length and a two-fold improvement in power transmission compared with conventional MMI couplers without slotting. The device has a footprint of only 0.30 × 0.65 μm
(<λ/10), making it the smallest power splitter and switcher. Over the bandwidth of 2 μm, the power transmission of the proposed device is nearly uniform. Extending the operating bandwidth is limited only by the practically achievable Fermi energy of graphene. For the fabrication tolerance, the numerical results show that the relative power variations are lower than 5%, even though the dimension variations are greater than 15%. With its advantages of tunability, compact footprint, and broadband operation, the proposed device is suitable for highly dense photonic integrated circuits.
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•Organophosphate flame retardant exposure is common in chronic kidney disease.•Urinary organophosphate flame retardant level is associated with renal impairment.•Proteinuria could be ...impacted by organophosphate flame retardant exposure.•Organophosphate flame retardant exposure might be altered by age and diet.
Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are emerging and widespread environmental pollutants with potential health hazards, including nephrotoxicity. However, the exposure patterns and nephrotoxic potential of OPFRs are yet to be investigated in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 166 patients with CKD stratified by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and severity of proteinuria. The urinary concentrations of 10 OPFR compounds were measured to evaluate the exposure patterns. Clinical and urinary OPFR profiles were compared among subgroups to identify whether the OPFR compounds were independently correlated with eGFR and proteinuria. Additionally, lifestyle factors were compared among subgroups stratified by median concentrations of urinary OPFR compounds associated with renal disease severity. This study revealed universal exposure to OPFRs in the CKD population, with an overall urinary detection rate of 98.80 %. Furthermore, after adjusting for covariates, the urinary concentration of bis(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (BCEP) was identified as an independent predictor of lower eGFR (low vs high eGFR, odds ratio (OR) (95 % confidence interval (CI)), 1.761 (1.032–3.005) per log μg/g creatinine, p = 0.038), and the urinary concentration of bis(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (BBOEP) was independently correlated with overt proteinuria in CKD patients (with vs without overt proteinuria, OR (95 % CI), 1.813 (1.065–3.086) per log μg/g creatinine, p = 0.028). Moreover, frequent seafood consumption was negatively correlated with urinary BCEP concentration (high vs low BCEP, OR (95 % CI), 0.455 (0.228–0.908), p = 0.025), and age was inversely associated with urinary BBOEP concentration (high vs low BBOEP, OR (95 % CI), 0.968 (0.937–0.999) per year, p = 0.048). In conclusion, our investigation highlights the extensive exposure to OPFRs and the independent association between renal disease severity and urinary BCEP/BBOEP concentrations in the CKD population, indicating the nephrotoxic potential of these pollutants.
Lead concentrations Pb and isotope ratios (206Pb/207Pb, 208Pb/207Pb) have been measured in samples of total suspended particulate (TSP) aerosols, seawater, and suspended and sinking particles in the ...Gulf of Aqaba (GOA), Red Sea. Isotope ratios of Pb in seawater and in the soluble fraction of Pb in atmospheric TSP were similar suggesting that TSP is an important source of Pb in this area. Pb concentrations in seawater measured in this study (max 76.8 pmol kg–1) were much lower than those recorded at the same location in 2003–2004 (up to 1000 pmol kg–1). Changes in Pb isotope ratios in TSP depositions in these years indicate that leaded gasoline was responsible for the high dissolved Pb in GOA more than a decade ago and that recent regulation reduced Pb contamination. The similarity in Pb isotope ratios in suspended and sinking particles implies close interactions between these two size fractions. This study demonstrates the effect of the phasing out of leaded gasoline on TSP and seawater Pb chemistry in the Northern GOA; the rate of change in dissolved Pb concentrations in the GOA is faster than that reported for the open ocean possibly due to higher particle scavenging and the relatively short residence time of deep water in the Basin.
The objective of this study was to develop artificial intelligence-based deep learning models and assess their potential utility and accuracy in diagnosing and predicting the future occurrence of ...diabetic distal sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSPN) among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and prediabetes.
In 394 patients (T2DM=300, Prediabetes=94), we developed a DSPN diagnostic and predictive model using Random Forest (RF)-based variable selection techniques, specifically incorporating the combined capabilities of the Clinical Toronto Neuropathy Score (TCNS) and nerve conduction study (NCS) to identify relevant variables. These important variables were then integrated into a deep learning framework comprising Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks. To evaluate temporal predictive efficacy, patients were assessed at enrollment and one-year follow-up.
RF-based variable selection identified key factors for diagnosing DSPN. Numbness scores, sensory test results (vibration), reflexes (knee, ankle), sural nerve attributes (sensory nerve action potential SNAP amplitude, nerve conduction velocity NCV, latency), and peroneal/tibial motor NCV were candidate variables at baseline and over one year. Tibial compound motor action potential amplitudes were used for initial diagnosis, and ulnar SNAP amplitude for subsequent diagnoses. CNNs and LSTMs achieved impressive AUC values of 0.98 for DSPN diagnosis prediction, and 0.93 and 0.89 respectively for predicting the future occurrence of DSPN. RF techniques combined with two deep learning algorithms exhibited outstanding performance in diagnosing and predicting the future occurrence of DSPN. These algorithms have the potential to serve as surrogate measures, aiding clinicians in accurate diagnosis and future prediction of DSPN.
Uncertainties in projections of marine biogeochemistry from Earth system models (ESMs) are associated to a large degree with the imperfect representation of the marine plankton ecosystem, in ...particular the physiology of primary and secondary producers. Here, we describe the implementation of an optimality-based plankton-ecosystem model (OPEM) version 1.1 with variable carbon : nitrogen : phosphorus (C:N:P) stoichiometry in the University of Victoria ESM (UVic; Eby et al., 2009; Weaver et al., 2001) and the behaviour of two calibrated reference configurations, which differ in the assumed temperature dependence of diazotrophs.
Tissue angiogenesis is intimately regulated during embryogenesis and postnatal development. Defected angiogenesis contributes to aberrant development and is the main complication associated with ...ischemia-related diseases. We previously identified the increased expression of RUNX1T1 in umbilical cord blood-derived endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) by gene expression microarray. However, the biological relevance of RUNX1T1 in endothelial lineage is not defined clearly. Here, we demonstrate RUNX1T1 regulates the survival, motility and tube forming capability of ECFCs and EA.hy926 endothelial cells by loss-and gain-of function assays, respectively. Second, embryonic vasculatures and quantity of bone marrow-derived angiogenic progenitors are found to be reduced in the established Runx1t1 heterozygous knockout mice. Finally, a central RUNX1T1-regulated signature is uncovered and VEGFA, BMP4 as well as TGF-β2 are demonstrated to mediate RUNX1T1-orchested angiogenic activities. Taken together, our results reveal that RUNX1T1 serves as a common angiogenic driver for vaculogenesis and functionality of endothelial lineage cells. Therefore, the discovery and application of pharmaceutical activators for RUNX1T1 will improve therapeutic efficacy toward ischemia by promoting neovascularization.
Primary productivity in both the Arctic Ocean and the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) is nitrogen limited in the summer when light limitation is relieved, and stratification in the GOA inhibits nutrient fluxes ...from deep water sources. Concentrations of nutrients and trace metals in these regions are higher closer to shore, and thus rivers have been attributed as the primary coastal source of nutrients and trace metals. Here we evaluate the role of Submarine Groundwater Discharge (SGD), a previously unquantified source of nutrients and trace metals to the coastal Arctic Ocean and GOA. SGD is an especially enriched in nitrate relative to other nutrients, contributing 1.2±0.4mol NO3 day−1m−1 of shoreline of the Arctic Ocean. In the GOA, both SGD-associated nitrate flux (4.3±2.1 NO3 day−1m−1 of shoreline) and silicate flux (13±6 SiO4 day−1m−1 of shoreline), are substantial when compared to other external nutrient sources. Conservative extrapolations indicate overall SGD supplies more nitrate (1.5–17.5 times) to the GOA than rivers.
•Submarine groundwater discharge rivals rivers as an N source to the Gulf of Alaska.•Fe fluxes in the Gulf of Alaska coastal aquifer are not deplete relative to N.•Submarine groundwater discharge is a source of N and Fe to the Arctic Ocean.•Submarine groundwater discharge's importance will increase with less sea ice.•The first study of this source's nutrient fluxes to the Arctic Ocean.
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