bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of aging on desorption kinetics of sediment-associated pyrethroids
Authors: Xu Yiping , Gan Jay , Wang Zijian , Spurlock Frank 
Published: May 2008

AbstractPyrethroids are insecticides commonly used in both agricultural and urban environments. Residues of pyrethroids frequently are found in bed sediments of regions such as California (USA), and as such, sediment toxicity from pyrethroid contamination is an emerging concern. Pyrethroids are highly hydrophobic, and toxicity from sediment-borne pyrethroids is expected to depend closely on their desorption rate. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of aging on desorption kinetics of sediment-borne pyrethroids. Two sediments spiked with four pyrethroids were incubated for 7, 40, 100, and 200 d at room temperature. Desorption measured using sequential Tenax® extractions was well described by a three-compartment model. The estimated rapid desorption fraction (Frapid) decreased quickly over time and was accompanied by an increase of the very slow desorption fraction. The aging effect on desorption kinetics followed a first-order model, with half-lives for the decrease in Frapid for all four pyrethroids in both sediments ranging from two to three months. When coupled with degradation, the estimated half-lives of the rapidly desorbing fraction (and, thus, the potentially bioavailable concentration) were two months or less for all four pyrethroids. Two field-contaminated sediments displayed distinctively different desorption kinetics. The sediment with fresh residues exhibited rapid desorption, and the sediment containing aged residues was highly resistant to desorption. The observation that desorption of pyrethroids decreased quickly over contact time implies that the bioavailability of sediment-borne pyrethroids may diminish over time and that use of nonselective extraction methods may lead to overestimating the actual sediment toxicity from pyrethroid contamination.
Evaluation of estrogenic activity of phthalate esters by gene expression profiling using a focused microarray (estrarray®)
Authors: Parveen Meher , Inoue Akio , Ise Ryota , Tanji Masao , Kiyama Ryoiti 
Published: May 2008

Abstract
Phthalates are used industrially as plasticizers and are known to contaminate natural environments, mostly as di-ester or mono-ester complexes. Because they are structurally similar to natural estrogens, they could act as endocrine disruptors. Here, we used a DNA microarray containing estrogen responsive genes (EstrArray®) to examine gene expression profiles in MCF-7 cells treated with 10 μM butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), and diisopropyl phthalate (DIP) along with the natural estrogen 17β-estradiol ([E2], 10 nM). The profiles for phthalate esters and E2 were examined by correlation analysis using correlation coefficients (r-values) and cluster analysis. We found that BBP showed the highest correlation with E2 (r = 0.85), and DEP and DIP showed moderate r-values (r = 0.52 and r = 0.49, respectively). Dibutyl phthalate exhibited the lowest (but still significant) correlation with E2 (r = 0.36). Furthermore, among the pairs of chemicals, DEP-DIP and DIP-DBP showed very high correlations (r = 0.90 and r = 0.80, respectively), and the other pairs showed moderate relationships, which reflected how structurally close they are to each other. The analysis of six functional groups of genes (enzymes, signaling, proliferation, transcription, transport, and others) indicated that the genes belonging to the enzyme, transcription, and other functional groups showed common responses to phthalate esters and E2. Although the effect of BBP was similar to that of E2, the other phthalate esters showed different types of effects. These results indicate that the structure of estrogenic chemicals is strongly related to their estrogenic activity and can be evaluated by appropriate grouping of the responsive genes by focused microarray analysis.
Influence of copper exposure on whole-body sodium levels in larval fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas)
Authors: Van Genderen Eric J , Tomasso Joseph R , Klaine Stephen J 
Published: May 2008

AbstractBecause metals such as Cu inhibit ionoregulation, the increased energy requirement to counter passive diffusive losses in soft water may translate into increased sensitivity to metal exposure. We developed a method to determine whole-body Na concentrations of larval fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) as a physiological indicator of health. This method was used to characterize net rates of Na flux from fish exposed to Cu in the presence of varying levels of hardness and alkalinity. In extremely soft waters (hardness, ≤10 mg/L as CaCO3), larval fish experienced rates of net whole-body Na loss greater than what has been observed in juvenile and adult fish when exposed to Cu at concentrations near the median lethal concentration. Elevating hardness (&gt;10 mg/L as CaCO3), however, decreased the apparent kinetics of Na loss caused by Cu exposure, which suggests the process was related to uncompetitive inhibition of Cu by hardness cations. Although the percentage of Na loss associated with mortality in larval fish was similar to that in juvenile and adult fish (30% loss of exchangeable Na pool), larvae reached this level within 12 h of exposure, and it was not representative of the onset of mortality. These results suggested that ionoregulatory measures by themselves are not a conclusive metric for Cu regulation using larval fish. To account for increased sensitivity in low-hardness waters in the development of biotic ligand models, the critical amount of Cu associated with the gill to cause mortality (i.e., the median lethal accumulation value) should be characterized more appropriately as a function of hardness below 20 mg/L as CaCO3.
Vapor pressures and thermodynamics of oxygen-containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons measured using knudsen effusion
Authors: Goldfarb Jillian L , Suuberg Eric M 
Published: May 2008

Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their oxygenated derivatives (OPAHs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants resulting from the incomplete combustion of coal and fossil fuels. Their vapor pressures are key thermodynamic data essential for modeling fate and transport within the environment. The present study involved nine PAHs containing oxygen heteroatoms, including aldehyde, carboxyl, and nitro groups, specifically 2-nitrofluorene, 9-fluorenecarboxylic acid, 2-fluorenecarboxaldehyde, 2-anthracenecarboxylic acid, 9-anthracenecarboxylic acid, 9-anthraldehyde, 1-nitropyrene, 1-pyrenecarboxaldehyde, and 1-bromo-2-naphthoic acid. The vapor pressures of these compounds, with molecular weights ranging from 194 to 251 g/mol, were measured using the isothermal Knudsen effusion technique in the temperature range of 329 to 421 K. The corresponding enthalpies of sublimation, calculated via the Clausius-Clapeyron equation, are compared to parent, nonoxygenated PAH compound data to determine the effect of the addition of these oxygen-containing heteroatoms. As expected, the addition of –CHO, –COOH, and –NO2 groups onto these PAHs increases the enthalpy of sublimation and decreases the vapor pressure as compared to the parent PAH; the position of substitution also plays a significant role in determining the vapor pressure of these OPAHs.
Naturally occurring progesterone in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.): A major steroid precursor of environmental androgens
Authors: Carson John D , Jenkins Ronald L , Wilson Elizabeth M , Howell W. Mike , Moore Ray 
Published: May 2008

Abstract
Progesterone, androstenedione, and androstadienedione were previously identified in the water and sediment of the Fenholloway River (Taylor County, FL, USA), a river that contains populations of masculinized female mosquitofish downstream of a paper mill, at levels higher than those in the nearby Spring Creek. Plant sterols, such as β-sitosterol in mill effluent derived from pine tree pulp, were suggested to be metabolized by bacteria to progesterone and androgens to account for the masculinization phenomenon. The current study made use of standard solid-phase methanol extraction procedures, high-performance liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and a cell-based, androgen-receptor transcription assay to determine naturally occurring progesterone levels in mature pine trees. Progesterone concentrations in the loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) were 49.34 ± 4.1 nmol/g dry mature wood (15.5 ± 1.29 μg/g), 12.26 ± 1.78 nmol/g pine needles (3.85 ± 0.56 μg/g), and 3.81 ± 0.36 nmol/g pine bark (1.19 ± 0.11 μg/g). The results suggest that naturally occurring progesterone from pine wood pulp contributes to increased progesterone levels downstream of paper mill effluent discharges and may serve as the natural steroid precursor for environmental androgen production that causes masculinization of female mosquitofish.
Mercury and other trace elements in farmed and wild salmon from british Columbia, Canada
Authors: Kelly Barry C , Ikonomou Michael G , Higgs David A , Oakes Janice , Dubetz Cory 
Published: May 2008

Abstract
The present study reports measured levels of Hg and other trace elements in commercial salmon feed; farmed Atlantic, coho, and chinook salmon (n = 110); and wild coho, chinook, chum, sockeye, and pink salmon (n = 91). Metal concentrations in farmed and wild salmon from British Columbia, Canada, were relatively low and below human health consumption guidelines. Methylmercury in all salmon samples (range, 0.03–0.1 μg/g wet wt) were below the 0.5 μg/g guideline set by Health Canada. Negligible differences in metal concentrations were observed between the various species of farmed and wild salmon. Metal concentrations generally were higher in commercial salmon feed compared to farmed salmon. Mercury showed slight bioaccumulation potential in farmed salmon, with biomagnification factors (BMFs) ranging between 0.8 and 1.9. Other metals, such as Cd, Pb, and Ni, exhibited biodilution, with BMFs of much less than one. The relatively low degree of biomagnification of metals observed in farmed salmon likely resulted from the combination of low gastrointestinal absorption efficiency, negligible transfer to muscle tissue relative to other compartments, and a high degree of growth dilution in these fish. Human dietary exposure calculations indicate intakes of Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu, As, and Ni via farmed and wild British Columbia salmon are a relatively small percentage of total intakes (0.05–32%) compared to other Canadian foodstuffs, such as fruits, vegetables, chicken, and beef (68–99%). Although total dietary exposure of Cd, Pb, and Cu approached provisional tolerable daily intake levels, the contribution from British Columbia salmon was less than 2%. Our findings indicate farmed and wild British Columbia salmon remain a safe source of omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acid intake for cardioprotective and, possibly, other health benefits.
Solvent selection for pressurized liquid extraction of polymeric sorbents used in air sampling
Authors: Primbs Toby , Genualdi Susan , Simonich Staci Massey 
Published: May 2008

Abstract
Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) was evaluated as a method for extracting semivolatile organic compounds (SOCs) from air sampling media, including quartz fiber filter (QFF), polyurethane foam (PUF), and a polystyrene divinyl benzene copolymer (XAD-2). Hansen solubility parameter plots were used to aid in the PLE solvent selection in order to both reduce coextraction of polyurethane and save time in evaluating solvent compatibility during the initial steps of method development. A PLE solvent composition of 75:25% hexane:acetone was chosen for PUF. The XAD-2 copolymer was not solubilized under the PLE conditions used. The average percent PLE recoveries (and percent relative standard deviations) of 63 SOCs, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and organochlorine, amide, triazine, thiocarbamate, and phosphorothioate pesticides, were 76.7 (6.2), 79.3 (8.1), and 93.4 (2.9)% for the QFF, PUF, and XAD-2, respectively.
Public Health Relevance of US EPA Air Quality Index Activity Recommendations
Authors: Brook Robert D. , Rajagopalan Sanjay , Al-Kindi Sadeer 
Published: April 2024

ImportanceReducing exposure to fine particulate matter (&amp;lt;2.5 μm [PM2.5]) air pollution improves cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality. However, the public health relevance of air quality index (AQI) activity guidelines under present-day environmental conditions in the US has not been critically assessed.ObjectiveTo evaluate the public health relevance of following PM2.5 AQI activity guidance in preventing serious atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and pulmonary events among adults in the US.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cross-sectional modeling study involved the general adult population and sensitive individuals as designated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including adults with preexisting ASCVD or lung disease (asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). The study was conducted between August 1, 2023, and January 31, 2024.ExposuresDaily AQI strata for PM2.5 and the corresponding activity recommendations.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe main outcome was the number needed to treat (NNT) per day by following activity guidance across daily AQI strata to prevent 1 serious ASCVD or pulmonary event among relevant populations. To calculate PM2.5-induced excess disease event rates per day, estimated baseline disease-specific daily event rates for each group were multiplied by the increase in risks due to PM2.5 levels at each AQI stratum. The number of events prevented per day was calculated by multiplying each excess disease event rate by the percentage in exposure reduction plausibly incurred by following population-specific activity guidance at each AQI level. The NNT is the reciprocal of the number of events prevented.ResultsThe NNT to prevent ASCVD events was high for the general population and for patients with ASCVD across all AQI strata. The range of values was comparatively lower to prevent pulmonary events among adults with lung disease. During most days (96%) when activity recommendations were promulgated due to elevated PM2.5 (AQI, 101-200), the NNT to prevent a serious disease event remained very high for the general population (&amp;gt;18 million), patients with ASCVD (approximately 1.6-5 million), and adults with lung disease (approximately 66 000-202 000).Conclusions and RelevanceThese findings suggest that existing PM2.5 AQI activity recommendations are of questionable public health relevance in present-day conditions and merit consideration for updating to improve their potential effectiveness.
Naked-Eye 3-Dimensional Vision Training for Myopia Control
Authors: Xie Rui , Zhao Feng , Yu Jianhong , Luo Bin , Jiang Zhidong , Qiu Xiaoyun , Cao Yingpin , Yang Yuxia , Chen Kezhe , Zhang Yuan , Luo Xiaoling , Wang Zhirong , Zhu Yingting , Zhuo Yehong 
Published: April 2024

ImportanceEarly onset of myopia increases the risk of high myopia, which can lead to irreversible retinal damage and even loss of central vision.ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy and safety of naked-eye 3-dimensional vision training (NVT) in preventing the progression of myopia in children.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis randomized clinical trial was conducted in 3 hospitals from May 25, 2022, to February 24, 2023. Participants were children (aged 6-18 years) who had a diagnosis of myopia with a spherical equivalent refraction of −0.75 to −6.00 diopters (D).InterventionChildren in the intervention group received 20 minutes of NVT treatment every day, whereas children in the control group lived as usual without vision training.Main Outcome and MeasureThe primary outcome was the change in axial length at 6 months. Spherical equivalent refraction (SER) was included as a secondary outcome.ResultsAmong 263 participants, 125 (47.5%) were male and 138 (52.5%) were female; the mean (SD) age was 10.3 (1.9) years (range, 6.1-15.6 years). A total of 227 patients (86.3%) completed the 6-month follow-up, including 102 in the intervention group and 125 in the control group. In the intervention group, the changes in axial length and SER at 6 months were 0.18 mm (95% CI, 0.16 to 0.20 mm) and −0.25 D (95% CI, −0.31 to −0.19 D), respectively. In the control group, the changes in axial length and SER at 6 months were 0.23 mm (95% CI, 0.21 to 0.25 mm) and −0.35 D (95% CI, −0.41 to −0.30 D), respectively. The differences in AL and SER between the 2 groups were significant (AL difference: −0.06 mm; 95% CI, −0.09 to −0.03; P &amp;lt; .001; SER difference: 0.10 D; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.19; P = .02). No study-related adverse reactions were reported during follow-up.Conclusions and RelevanceNVT is a safe and promising means to control myopia progression in children with good adherence.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05468775
Orally Ingested Self‐Powered Stimulators for Targeted Gut–Brain Axis Electrostimulation to Treat Obesity and Metabolic Disorders
Authors: Mac Cam‐Hoa , Tai Hsien‐Meng , Huang Sheng‐Min , Peng Hsu‐Hsia , Sharma Amit Kumar , Nguyen Giang Le Thi , Chang Pei‐Ju , Wang Jui‐To , Chang Yen , Lin Yu‐Jung , Sung Hsing‐Wen 
Published: April 2024

AbstractObesity is a significant health concern that often leads to metabolic dysfunction and chronic diseases. This study introduces a novel approach to combat obesity using orally ingested self‐powered electrostimulators. These electrostimulators consist of piezoelectric BaTiO3 (BTO) particles conjugated with capsaicin (Cap) and aim to activate the vagus nerve. Upon ingestion by diet‐induced obese (DIO) mice, the BTO@Cap particles specifically target and bind to Cap‐sensitive sensory nerve endings in the gastric mucosa. In response to stomach peristalsis, these particles generate electrical signals. The signals travel via the gut–brain axis, ultimately influencing the hypothalamus. By enhancing satiety signals in the brain, this neuromodulatory intervention reduces food intake, promotes energy metabolism, and demonstrates minimal toxicity. Over a 3‐week period of daily treatments, DIO mice treated with BTO@Cap particles show a significant reduction in body weight compared to control mice, while maintaining their general locomotor activity. Furthermore, this BTO@Cap particle‐based treatment mitigates various metabolic alterations associated with obesity. Importantly, this noninvasive and easy‐to‐administer intervention holds potential for addressing other intracerebral neurological diseases.
An Ultrathin, Fast‐Response, Large‐Scale Liquid‐Crystal‐Facilitated Multi‐Functional Reconfigurable Metasurface for Comprehensive Wavefront Modulation
Authors: Wu Xin Yu , Feng Hong Yuan , Wan Fengshuo , Wei Meng , Guo Chong , Cai Longzhu , Wu Fan , Jiang Zhi Hao , Kang Lei , Hong Wei , Werner Douglas H. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe rapid advancement of prevailing communication/sensing technologies necessitates cost‐effective millimeter‐wave arrays equipped with a massive number of phase‐shifting cells to perform complicated beamforming tasks. Conventional approaches employing semiconductor switch/varactor components or tunable materials encounter obstacles such as quantization loss, high cost, high complexity, and limited adaptability for realizing large‐scale arrays. Here, a low‐cost, ultrathin, fast‐response, and large‐scale solution relying on metasurface concepts combined together with liquid crystal (LC) materials requiring a layer thickness of only 5 µm is reported. Rather than immersing resonant structures in LCs, a joint material‐circuit‐based strategy is devised, via integrating deep‐subwavelength‐thick LCs into slow‐wave structures, to achieve constitutive metacells with continuous phase shifting and stable reflectivity. An LC‐facilitated reconfigurable metasurface sub‐system containing more than 2300 metacells is realized with its unprecedented comprehensive wavefront manipulation capacity validated through various beamforming functions, including beam focusing/steering, reconfigurable vortex beams, and tunable holograms, demonstrating a milli‐second‐level function‐switching speed. The proposed methodology offers a paradigm shift for modulating electromagnetic waves in a non‐resonating broadband fashion with fast‐response and low‐cost properties by exploiting functionalized LC‐enabled metasurfaces. Moreover, this extremely agile metasurface‐enabled antenna technology will facilitate a transformative impact on communication/sensing systems and empower new possibilities for wavefront engineering and diffractive wave calculation/inference.
Achieving Self‐Reinforcing Triboelectric‐Electromagnetic Hybrid Nanogenerator by Magnetocaloric and Magnetization Effects of Gadolinium
Authors: Gong Shaokun , Wang Xingwei , Tang Benzhen , Xiong Ziyang , Qi Song , Chen Jie , Yu Peng , Guo Hengyu 
Published: April 2024

AbstractTriboelectric‐electromagnetic hybrid nanogenerator (TEHG) has emerged as a promising technology for distributed energy harvesting. However, currently reported hybrid generators are straightforward combinations of two functional components. Moreover, inevitable heat from friction intensifies material abrasion and degrades the performance of polymer‐based triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). Here, a self‐reinforcing TEHG (SR‐TEHG) that harnesses the magnetocaloric and magnetization effects of gadolinium (Gd), is proposed. The synergy between TENG and electromagnetic generator (EMG) renders them an indivisible unit. Leveraging Gd's magnetocaloric effect, an efficient heat transfer mechanism is constructed to cool the tribolayer and strengthen the device's electrical stability. After 80 h of continuous operation, the optimized TENG occupies a charge decay rate of only 0.32% per hour, significantly outperforming most existing TENGs. Additionally, Gd's magnetization effect boosts the power of EMG by ≈80.84%. This work provides a universal solution in hybrid generators where internal components reinforce each other, achieving a synergistic effect of 1 + 1 > 2.
Microfluidically Produced Microcapsules with Amphiphilic Polymer Conetwork Shells
Authors: Velasquez Sara T. R. , Belluati Andrea , Tervoort Elena , Mattich Iacopo , Hertel Brigitte , Russell Sam , Gouveia Micael G. , Grysan Patrick , Mugemana Clément , Studart André R. , Bruns Nico 
Published: April 2024

AbstractMicrocapsules with an aqueous core can be conveniently prepared by water‐in‐oil‐in‐water double emulsion microfluidics. However, conventional shell materials are based on hydrophobic polymers or colloidal particles. Thus, these microcapsules feature a hydrophobic shell impermeable to water‐soluble compounds. Capsules with semipermeable hydrogel shells have been demonstrated but may exhibit poor mechanical properties. Here, amphiphilic polymer conetworks (APCNs) based on poly(2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate)‐linked by‐polydimethylsiloxane (PHEA‐l‐PDMS) are introduced as a new class of wall materials in double emulsion microcapsules. These APCNs are mechanically robust silicone hydrogels that are swellable and permeable to water and are soft and elastic when dry or swollen. Therefore, the microcapsules can be dried and rehydrated multiple times or shrunken in sodium chloride salt solutions without getting damaged. Moreover, the APCNs are permeable for hydrophilic organic compounds and impermeable for macromolecules. Thus, they can be loaded with macromolecules or nanoparticles during microfluidic formation and with organic molecules after capsule synthesis. The microcapsules serve as microreactors for catalytically active platinum nanoparticles that decompose hydrogen peroxide. Finally, the surface of the APCN microcapsules can be selectively functionalized with a cholesterol‐based linker. Concluding, APCN microcapsules could find applications for the controlled delivery of drugs, as microreactors for synthesis, or as scaffolds for synthetic cells.