The exposure patterns of pest control and disinfection workers have changed after the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)outbreak,but the health risks of chemical exposure have not been assessed.We identified these wor...The exposure patterns of pest control and disinfection workers have changed after the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)outbreak,but the health risks of chemical exposure have not been assessed.We identified these workers’chemical exposure patterns and risks before and after the COVID-19 outbreak.We used data conducted between 2018(pre-pandemic)and 2021(post-pandemic)from three-year cross-sectional surveys on pest control and disinfection workers.Inhalation and dermal exposure concentrations were estimated using equations based on a biocidal product risk assessment model from the Korean National Institute of Environmental Research.The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of chemicals were calculated using the United States Environmental Protection Agency risk assessment model.We found that the annual work frequency(50^(th)percentile)of foggers using disinfectants increased the most among all the work types,from 140 uses/year to 176 uses/year after the COVID-19 outbreak.Moreover,all chemicals’non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks increased regardless of exposure routes.In the worst scenario(95^(th)percentile),the margin of exposure for citric acid,benzethonium chloride,benzyl-C12-16-alkyldimethyl chlorides,and sodium chlorite of inhalation exposure,and isopropyl alcohol and benzyl-C12-16-alkyldimethyl chlorides of dermal exposure were acceptable(>100)before the COVID-19outbreak but became unacceptable(<100)after the COVID-19 outbreak.Carcinogenic risks of dichlorvos from inhalation and dermal exposure were above acceptable levels(>10^(-6))before and after the COVID-19 outbreak but comparatively high after the COVID-19 outbreak.Additionally,significantly more workers experienced health symptoms after the COVID-19outbreak(p<0.05),with the most common being muscle lethargy(31%),skin/face stinging(28.7%),and breath shortness/neck pain(24.1%).展开更多
Temperate forest ecosystems are important habitats for many bat species. However, these habitats are increasingly affected by anthropogenic disturbances, particularly urban development, leading to landscapes with vary...Temperate forest ecosystems are important habitats for many bat species. However, these habitats are increasingly affected by anthropogenic disturbances, particularly urban development, leading to landscapes with varying land cover composition and configuration. Limited research has examined how forest and urban landscape composition and configuration influence bat activity and diversity. Using a multi-year statewide bat acoustic monitoring dataset from North Carolina, USA, we investigated the effects of forest and urban composition and configuration at multiple spatial scales on bat activity and diversity. First, we constructed single-variable landscape index regression models and found that both the composition and configuration of forests and urban developments influenced bat activity and diversity in a species-specific manner. Next, we applied a hierarchical partitioning approach to compare the relative contributions of composition and configuration indices in explaining variance in bat activity. For big brown bats and hoary bats, evergreen forest and urban development composition indices contributed the most to explaining activity variance. In contrast, for eastern red bats, evening bats, and tricolored bats, deciduous forest fragmentation indices describing landscape configuration were the most influential factors. Silver-haired bat activity variance was primarily explained by an evergreen forest fragmentation index. Lastly, urban development configuration indices were the strongest predictors of Mexican free-tailed bat activity and total bat activity. These results suggest that forest and urban landscape configuration should be considered in conservation and management planning for North American temperate forest ecosystems, particularly in regions that have not experienced drastic deforestation in recent decades.展开更多
Sericite is mica-based natural clay that is annealed at 800 ℃ for 4 h, followed by acid activation using 3.0 mol L-1HCl at 100℃. The interaction of cesium(I), Cs(I), with sericite could provide useful data for the s...Sericite is mica-based natural clay that is annealed at 800 ℃ for 4 h, followed by acid activation using 3.0 mol L-1HCl at 100℃. The interaction of cesium(I), Cs(I), with sericite could provide useful data for the study of soil erosion or mass water movement utilizing the natural radioactive Cs. In this study sericite and activated sericite were used to assess their suitability in the attenuation of Cs from the aquatic environment under both batch and column experiments. The surface morphological studies indicated that a disordered and heterogeneous surface structure was exhibited by the activated sericite, whereas the native sericite exhibited a compact and layered structure. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller(BET) specific surface area results indicated a significant increase in the surface area due to the activation of sericite. The batch reactor data collected for various parametric studies revealed that an increase in p H(from 2.0 to 8.0) and sorbate concentration(from 10.0 to 100.0 mg L-1) apparently favored the attenuation of Cs(I). The timedependent sorption data revealed that Cs(I) uptake was very rapid, and it achieved its saturation value within just 50 min of contact.The kinetic modeling studies indicated that the uptake of Cs(I) followed a pseudo-second-order rate equation; hence, the attenuation capacity of these solids for Cs(I) was estimated to be 0.858 and 4.353 mg g-1for sericite and activated sericite solids, respectively.The adsorption isotherm modeling data showed a reasonably good applicability of the Freundlich model than the Langmuir model.The effect of background electrolyte concentrations(0.001 to 0.1 mol L-1) of Mg(NO3)2indicated that the presence of this electrolyte could not significantly affect the percent removal of Cs(I) by activated sericite. Furthermore, the fixed-bed column reactor operations were performed to obtain the breakthrough data, which were fitted well to the Thomas non-linear equation. Therefore, the loading capacity of Cs(I) was estimated to be 1.585 mg g-1at the initial influent Cs(I) concentration of 30.0 mg L-1at p H 5.0.展开更多
Arsenic(As)contamination in soil and water poses a serious threat to the ecosystem health and human beings,and is of widespread concern.The main As species found in soil and water are arsenite As(Ⅲ)and arsenate As(V)...Arsenic(As)contamination in soil and water poses a serious threat to the ecosystem health and human beings,and is of widespread concern.The main As species found in soil and water are arsenite As(Ⅲ)and arsenate As(V).Because As(Ⅲ)is more toxic and often more mobile than As(Ⅴ),many remediation strategies aim to oxidize As(Ⅲ)to As(Ⅴ).In the environment,the reduction of As(Ⅴ)under anaerobic conditions is mainly mediated by microorganisms,but the oxidation of As(Ⅲ)under aerobic conditions can be mediated primarily by chemical processes.This article first reviews the existing knowledge on chemical oxidation of As(Ⅲ)in the environment,with an emphasis on the roles of iron(Fe)and manganese(Mn)oxides.The application of Fe and Mn oxides for the remediation of As-contaminated soil and water is then summarized.The oxidation of As(Ⅲ)by oxygen is very slow in the absence of catalysts.Many Mn oxides,on the other hand,can efficiently oxidize As(Ⅲ).Although the oxidation of As(Ⅲ)by Fe(Ⅲ)is also slow,this process can be accelerated by light or Fe(Ⅱ).Iron and Mn oxides are widely used for the remediation of As-contaminated soil and water,with Fe oxides generally acting as absorbents while Mn oxides as oxidants.To better understand and regulate As transformation and transport in the environment,further study is needed on the mechanisms and influencing factors of As(Ⅲ)oxidation by Fe and Mn oxides,and the development of innovative methods and materials based on Fe and Mn oxides are desired.展开更多
In addition to landscape changes,urbanization also brings about changes in environmental factors that can affect wildlife.Despite the common referral in the published literature to multiple environmental factors such ...In addition to landscape changes,urbanization also brings about changes in environmental factors that can affect wildlife.Despite the common referral in the published literature to multiple environmental factors such as light and noise pollution,there is a gap in knowledge about their combined impact.We developed a multidimensional environmental framework to assess the effect of urbanization and multiple environmental factors(light,noise,and temperature)on life-history traits and breeding success of Barn Swallows(Hirundo rustica)across rural to urban gradients in four locations spanning over 2500 km from North to South China.Over a single breeding season,we measured these environmental factors nearby nests and quantified landscape urbanization over a 1km~2radius.We then analysed the relationships between these multiple environmental factors through a principal component analysis and conducted spatially explicit linear-mixed effects models to assess their effect on lifehistory traits and breeding success.We were particularly interested in understanding whether and how Barn Swallows were able to adapt to such environmental conditions associated with urbanization.The results show that there is significant variation in the exposure to environmental conditions experienced by Barn Swallows breeding across urbanization gradients in China.These changes and their effects are complex due to the behavioural responses ameliorating potential negative effects by selecting nesting sites that minimize exposure to environmental factors.However,significant relationships between landscape urbanization,exposure to environmental factors,and life-history traits such as laying date and clutch size were pervasive.Still,the impact on breeding success was,at least in our sample,negligible,suggesting that Barn Swallows are extremely adaptable to a wide range of environmental features.展开更多
The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has led to heightened levels of anxiety and stress levels towards the health threats posed by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.At least 10%of those infected were health workers.In ad...The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has led to heightened levels of anxiety and stress levels towards the health threats posed by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.At least 10%of those infected were health workers.In addition,a large proportion of infected cases and deaths were possibly due to SARS-CoV-2 infections acquired in hospitals or long-term care facilities.Health workers,especially those working on the frontline play a crucial role in controlling and preventing the COVID-19 pandemic.Previous studies reported that health workers were exposed to severe emotional stress(i.e.,burnout,depression and anxiety symptoms)during the outbreaks of infectious diseases including severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS),Ebola and Middle East respiratory syndrome(MERS).It is therefore important to be aware that prolonged exposure to moderate-to severe stress can have negative health consequences and reduce the work performance of health workers.Therefore,some immediate measures should be taken by the health care institutions and relevant health authorities to ensure that Chinese health workers are better supported in caring for large number of COVID-19 patients.Future studies should examine the health status and work efficiency of health workers working in high stress environment amidst the COVID-19 pandemic or other disasters.展开更多
Understanding how summer warming influences the parent and daughter shoot production in a perennial clonal grass is vital for comprehending the response of grassland productivity to global warming.Here,we conducted a s...Understanding how summer warming influences the parent and daughter shoot production in a perennial clonal grass is vital for comprehending the response of grassland productivity to global warming.Here,we conducted a simulated experiment using potted Leymus chinensis,to study the relationship between the photosynthetic activ-ity of parent shoots and the production of daughter shoots under a whole(90 days)summer warming scenario(+3°C).The results showed that the biomass of parents and buds decreased by 25.52%and 33.45%,respectively,under warming conditions.The reduction in parent shoot biomass due to warming directly resulted from decreased leaf area(18.03%),chlorophyll a(18.27%),chlorophyll b(29.21%)content,as well as a reduction in net photosynthetic rate(7.32%)and the maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II(PSII)photochemistry(4.29%).The decline in daughter shoot biomass was linked to a decrease in daughter shoot number(33.33%)by warming.However,the number of belowground buds increased by 46.43%.The results indicated that long-term summer warming reduces biomass accumulation in parent shoot by increasing both limitation of stoma and non-stoma.Consequently,the parent shoot allocates relatively more biomass to the belowground organs to maintain the survival and growth of buds.Overall,buds,as a potential aboveground population,could remedy for the cur-rent loss of parent shoot density by increasing the number of future daughter shoots if summer warming subsides.展开更多
Participants in mixed-species bird flocks(MSFs)have been shown to associate with species that are similar in body size,diet,and evolutionary history,suggesting that facilitation structures these assemblages.In additio...Participants in mixed-species bird flocks(MSFs)have been shown to associate with species that are similar in body size,diet,and evolutionary history,suggesting that facilitation structures these assemblages.In addition,several studies have suggested that species in MsFs resemble each other in their plumage,but this question has not been systematically investigated for any MsF system.During the nonbreeding season of 2020 and 2021,we sampled 585 MSFs on 14 transects in 2 habitats of Tongbiguang Nature Reserve in western Yunnan Province,China.We performed social network analysis and the Multiple Regression Quadratic Assignment Procedure to evaluate the effect of 4 species traits(body size,overall plumage color,distinctive plumage patterns,and diet)and evolutionary history on species association strength at the whole-MSF and within-MSF levels.All 41 significant relationships showed that species with stronger associations were more similar in their various traits.Body size had the strongest effect on association strength,followed by phylogeny,plumage patterns,and plumage color;diet had the weakest effect.Our results are consistent with the hypotheses that the benefits of associating with phenotypically similar species outweigh the potential costs of interspecific competition,and that trait matching can occur in plumage characteristics,albeit more weakly than in other traits.Several explanations exist as to why similarities in plumage may occur in MSFs,including that they could reduce predators'ability to target phenotypically"odd"individuals.Whether trait matching in plumage occurs through assortative processes in ecological time or is influenced by co-evolution requires furtherstudy.展开更多
In this study,we present the characterization of the carbon fibers recovered from the mechanochemical-enhanced recycling of carbon fiber reinforced fibers.The objectives of the study were to investigate the effect of ...In this study,we present the characterization of the carbon fibers recovered from the mechanochemical-enhanced recycling of carbon fiber reinforced fibers.The objectives of the study were to investigate the effect of our modified recycling method on the interfacial properties of recovered fibers.The reinforced plastics were recycled;the recycling efficiency was determined and the recovered fibers were sized using 1 wt%and 3 wt%concentration of(3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane.We characterized the morphologies utilizing the electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis(ESCA),atomic force microscopy(AFM),FTIR-attenuated total reflection(ATR)spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy(SEM).Although the surface of the fibers had no cracks,there was evidence of contaminations which affected the interfacial properties and the quality of the fibers.Results showed that the trends in the recovered and virgin fibers were similar with an increase in sizing concentration.The results highlighted the perspectives of increasing the quality of recovered fibers after the recycling process.展开更多
The biogeochemical cycles of sulphur(S),iron(Fe)and nitrogen(N)elements play a key role in the reservoir ecosystem.However,the spatial positioning and interrelationship of S,Fe and N cycles in the reservoir sediment p...The biogeochemical cycles of sulphur(S),iron(Fe)and nitrogen(N)elements play a key role in the reservoir ecosystem.However,the spatial positioning and interrelationship of S,Fe and N cycles in the reservoir sediment profile have not been explored to a greater extent.Here,we measure the gradients of Fe^(2+),SO_(4)^(2-),NO_(3)^(-),NH_(4)^(+),DOC,TC and TN in the pore water of the sediment,and combining the vertical distribution of the functional microorganisms involved in S,Fe and N cyclings in the sediments to determine the redox stratification in the sediment.It is found that the geochemical gradient of S,Fe and N of the reservoir sedimentary column is mainly defined by the redox process involved in the related functional microorganisms.According to the type of electron acceptor,the sediment profile is divided into 3 redox intervals,namely aerobic respiration(0–10 cm),denitrification/iron reduction(10–28 cm)and sulfate reduction(28–32 cm).In the aerobic respiration zone,NH_(4)^(+)is oxidized by aerobic AOB to NO_(3)^(-)(0–5 cm),and Fe^(2+)is oxidized by microaerobic FeRB to Fe^(3+)(3–10 cm).In the denitrification/iron reduction zone,Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas,as the dominant NRB genera,may use nitrate as an electron acceptor to oxidize Fe^(2+)(11–16 cm).The dominant genera in SOB,such as Sulfururvum,Thiobacillus and Thioalkalispira,may use nitrate as an electron acceptor to oxidize sulfide,leading to SO_(4)^(2-)accumulation(14–24 cm).In the sulfate reduction zone,SO_(4)^(2-)is reduced by SRB.This study found that functional microorganisms forming comprehensive local ecological structures to adapt to changing geochemical conditions,and which would be potentially important for the degradation and preservation of C and the fate of many nutrients and contaminants in reservoirs.展开更多
The delay in the delivery of laboratory results can be fatal and can even lead to the death of patients. This study was conducted at the clinical laboratory of the University Hospital of Kinshasa (UHK) from October 20...The delay in the delivery of laboratory results can be fatal and can even lead to the death of patients. This study was conducted at the clinical laboratory of the University Hospital of Kinshasa (UHK) from October 2020 to April 2021, aimed to evaluate the laboratory tests’ turnaround time (TAT) and to identify reasons for delay. TAT was quantified using a time and motion analysis approach. The evaluation of TAT consisted of comparing the overall intra-lab TAT with the suggested TAT using student t-test at 95% confidence intervals. Brainstorming was the root cause analysis tool used for identifying reasons for delay. In this study, the laboratory tests’ TATs were significantly higher (p < 0.001) comparing to international guidelines (60 minutes) and customers’ suggested TAT (120 minutes). Only 0.98% of the samples were reported within 60 minutes of patient reception and 1.47% within 120 minutes, i.e. an outlier rate of 98.5%. Root causes of delay related to Machinery, Management, Manpower, Materials, Method and Milieu. Because of many reasons, the laboratory is not meeting the established TAT. Preventive and curative measures must be undertaken to reduce the delay and improve the TAT.展开更多
The cross-shore variation in wind speeds influenced by beach nourishment,especially the dramatic changes at the nourished berm,is important for understanding the aeolian sand transport processes that occur after beach...The cross-shore variation in wind speeds influenced by beach nourishment,especially the dramatic changes at the nourished berm,is important for understanding the aeolian sand transport processes that occur after beach nourishment,which will contribute to better beach nourishment project design on windy coasts.In this paper,the influencing factors and potential mechanism of wind speed variation at the edge of a nourished berm were studied.Field observations,together with the Duna model,were used to study the cross-shore wind speed distribution for different nourishment schemes.The results show that the nourished berm elevation and beachface slope are the main factors controlling the increase in wind speed at the berm edge.When the upper beach slope is constant,the wind speed at the berm edge has a positive linear correlation with the berm elevation.When the berm elevation remains constant,the wind speed at the berm edge is also proportional to the upper beach slope.Considering the coupling effects of nourished berm elevation and beachface slope,a model for predicting the wind speed amplification rate at the nourished berm edge was established,and the underlying coupling mechanism was illustrated.展开更多
In mutualistic interactions,all parties are usually considered to benefit;yet there may be asymmetries in mutualisms where some partners/individuals benefit more than others.Such is thought to be the case in mixedspec...In mutualistic interactions,all parties are usually considered to benefit;yet there may be asymmetries in mutualisms where some partners/individuals benefit more than others.Such is thought to be the case in mixedspecies flocks of birds,where following species are thought to benefit more than leading species,and leading species may not be able to escape the association if they are subordinate to other species.We measured dominance and affiliation patterns of a mixed-species flock system of southern China in an aviary where these variables could be measured in a standardized way.In eight wild-caught flocks,the leading species,David’s Fulvetta(Alcippe davidi),was usually among the more subordinate flock members(ranking 9 of 13 species,with the the most dominant species ranked number one,and dominance measured by normalized David’s scores).Dominance was strongly influenced by body mass,and not by bill length or the number of individuals.Female fulvettas in particular tended to be among the most subordinate individuals in the flock.There was evidence of a negative relationship between a species pair’s affiliation,measured as the percentage of all observations in which these two species were found perching together,and their difference in ranking in the dominance hierarchy,particularly when some ground species,which are not likely to remain in flocks long term,were removed from the analysis.Species pairs that had more pronounced differences in their dominance rankings were less likely to be affiliated,which is consistent with the idea that subordinate species may avoid dominants.David’s Fulvetta is a strong information provider,so other species are likely benefitted in this relationship.Our data suggest one reason that fulvettas stay in flocks is that they may be subordinate and therefore have little control over who associates with them.展开更多
Combination antiretroviral therapy(ART)reduced AIDS-related mortality and increased survival among patients living with HIV by interrupting HIV replication,enhancing immune recovery,and preventing the onset of opportu...Combination antiretroviral therapy(ART)reduced AIDS-related mortality and increased survival among patients living with HIV by interrupting HIV replication,enhancing immune recovery,and preventing the onset of opportunistic infections[1].In China,ART has rapidly been scaled up since the beginning of the National Free Antiretroviral Treatment Program(NFATP)in 2003[2].By the end of 2016,489,411 individuals diagnosed with HIV were receiving free antiretroviral treatment in China.China is firmly committed to reducing overall AIDS-related mortality and HIV incidence within the country.However,similar to other low-and middle-income countries,the NFATP is challenged by high mortality and attrition shortly after patients initiate ART[3].展开更多
The redox-sensitive elements,such as iron,manganese,sulfur,phosphorus,and arsenic,shift their speciation every millimeter(mm)across the soil-water interface in the flooded soil environments.Monitoring of element speci...The redox-sensitive elements,such as iron,manganese,sulfur,phosphorus,and arsenic,shift their speciation every millimeter(mm)across the soil-water interface in the flooded soil environments.Monitoring of element speciation at this high-resolution(HR)within the SWI is still difficult.The key challenge lies in obtaining sufficient porewater samples at specific locations along the soil gradient for downstream analysis.Here with an optimized inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS)method and a HR porewater sampler,we demonstrate mm-scale element profiles mapping across the SWI in paddy soils.Highconcentrations of iron and manganese(>10 mg/L)were measured by ICP-MS in an extended dynamic range mode to avoid signal overflow.The iron profile along the SWI generated by the ICP-MS method showed no significant difference(p<0.05)compared to that measured independently using a colorimetric method.Furthermore,four arsenic(arsenite,arsenate,monomethylarsonic and dimethylarsinic acid),two phosphorus(phosphite and phosphate)and two sulfur(sulfide and sulfate)species were separated in 10 min by ion chromatography-ICP-MS with the NH_(4)HCO_(3)mobile phase.We verified the technique using paddy soils collected from the field,and present the mm-scale profiles of iron,manganese,and arsenic,phosphorus,sulfur species(relative standard deviation<8%).The technique developed in this study will significantly promote the measurement throughput in limited samples(e.g.100μL)collected by HR samplers,which would greatly facilitate redox-sensitive elements biogeochemical cycling in saturated soils.展开更多
The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has compelled Institut Pasteur de Cote d’Ivoire (IPCI) to set up strategies for an outstanding mobilisation of human resources to fight against it. Among these strategies, we can...The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has compelled Institut Pasteur de Cote d’Ivoire (IPCI) to set up strategies for an outstanding mobilisation of human resources to fight against it. Among these strategies, we can quote the screening of people requesting COVID-19 tests at IPCI for emergency travel after the lifting of flight restrictions. Newly recruited Young researchers at IPCI, as well as Ph.D. students and trainees, were mobilised. This document describes firstly, the benefits, knowledge acquired, and difficulties encountered, and secondly, recommendations to be followed for a future large-scale epidemic. This study helped to outline some achievements, such as upgrading the talents of young researchers, strong collaboration between young researchers from different fields, and between IPCI and other institutions. The lessons learned are numerous, including mood and stress management. The difficulties encountered during this study are mainly misunderstandings, increased workload, and insufficient awareness of COVID-19 travel test procedures. These results are relevant for a possible pandemic management in our country, as well as in other African countries.展开更多
Obesity-associated cancers, including colon cancer and breast cancer, are increasing in Asian countries with Westernized lifestyles as exemplified by reduced physical activity and increased fat/sugar consumption. An e...Obesity-associated cancers, including colon cancer and breast cancer, are increasing in Asian countries with Westernized lifestyles as exemplified by reduced physical activity and increased fat/sugar consumption. An excessive accumulation of visceral adipose tissue causes insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and adipocytokine imbalance, and these factors are suggested to be involved in cancer promotion. To prevent obesityassociated cancers, researcher attention is increasing on the so-called "functional foods". In addition, new approaches to cancer control are in high demand, and using "functional foods" as supplemental or adjuvant agents in chemotherapy is thought to be a promising approach. One of these functional ingredients is xanthophylls, which are natural fat-soluble pigments found in fruits, vegetables, algae and other plants. Xanthophylls belong to the carotenoid class and have struc-tures containing oxygen. Some studies have revealed that xanthophylls improve the inflammation status, serum triglyceride levels, blood pressure levels and liver function test values. Furthermore, recent studies show that xanthophylls possess high anti-cancer, antidiabetic, anti-obesity and anti-oxidant properties. In this review, we highlight the recent findings for five xanthophylls, namely astaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, fucoxanthin, neoxanthin and zeaxanthin/lutein, and their relevance to cancer prevention.展开更多
In Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the laboratory TAT is significantly very long and do not comply with either international standards or the suggestions of customers. However, there is neither a national nor ...In Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the laboratory TAT is significantly very long and do not comply with either international standards or the suggestions of customers. However, there is neither a national nor a local strategy to improve the laboratory TAT. The aim of the present study is to develop practical management strategies to shorten clinical laboratory tests’ TAT. This was a qualitative study conducted in Kinshasa. Focus groups and Lean tools were used respectively to generate a wide range of views from a variety of laboratory staff and to eliminate several form of waste in the laboratory flow process. Based on the identified root causes of delay, focus groups participants reported that there is a lot of scope for the improvement of TAT in DRC. Consistent attendance and punctuality are essential. The hospital management should implement the Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) and install Middleware. Total laboratory automation, inventory system for all reagents and supplies used in the laboratory, expansion of the sampling area, sufficient number of high-power machine and a clear job description are indispensable. LIS, 3.5 mL BD vacutainer Barricor<sup>TM</sup> tube and point-of-care testing (POCT) are necessary for workflow improvement. A reduction of 312 minutes was achieved by eliminating or decreasing non-value-added activities. Applying the suggested key strategies, and particularly the new workflow process, is a basis for improving the laboratory tests’ TAT. The algorithm presented can be easily implemented in other laboratories that face this type of problem.展开更多
Objective: To explore how medical screening performed by the dental service was perceived from the patient’s perspective. Material and methods: Medical screening for high blood pressure and high plasma glucose was pe...Objective: To explore how medical screening performed by the dental service was perceived from the patient’s perspective. Material and methods: Medical screening for high blood pressure and high plasma glucose was performed on 170 patients at a dental clinic in a small town in central Sweden. Seventeen individual interviews were conducted with a strategic sampling of these patients. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. The transcriptions were coded and categorized in a manifest analysis, followed by a latent, interpretive analysis. Results: The manifest analysis resulted in three categories: Positive attitude to screening and dental professionals which need to have specific knowledge of medical screening;Dental care which provides continuity but is not a neutral environment;and Feedback on the medical screening results and desired cooperation between dental and health care services. The latent analysis pointed out the importance of the patient’s feeling that the procedure is carried out properly and safely, and requests for clear feedback concerning the results of the screening. Conclusions: The interviewees experienced the dental care service as providing continuity. They would like to have regular medical screenings at their regular dental appointments to identify risks of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. However, they expressed that it was important for the dental care staff to have the necessary medical knowledge. They also wanted good cooperations between the dental and health care services, with clear feedback to the patients about both positive and negative results and, when appropriate, referrals to the health care service.展开更多
基金supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)grant funded by the Korea government(MSIT)(No.NRF-2021R1F1A1063967)。
文摘The exposure patterns of pest control and disinfection workers have changed after the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)outbreak,but the health risks of chemical exposure have not been assessed.We identified these workers’chemical exposure patterns and risks before and after the COVID-19 outbreak.We used data conducted between 2018(pre-pandemic)and 2021(post-pandemic)from three-year cross-sectional surveys on pest control and disinfection workers.Inhalation and dermal exposure concentrations were estimated using equations based on a biocidal product risk assessment model from the Korean National Institute of Environmental Research.The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of chemicals were calculated using the United States Environmental Protection Agency risk assessment model.We found that the annual work frequency(50^(th)percentile)of foggers using disinfectants increased the most among all the work types,from 140 uses/year to 176 uses/year after the COVID-19 outbreak.Moreover,all chemicals’non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks increased regardless of exposure routes.In the worst scenario(95^(th)percentile),the margin of exposure for citric acid,benzethonium chloride,benzyl-C12-16-alkyldimethyl chlorides,and sodium chlorite of inhalation exposure,and isopropyl alcohol and benzyl-C12-16-alkyldimethyl chlorides of dermal exposure were acceptable(>100)before the COVID-19outbreak but became unacceptable(<100)after the COVID-19 outbreak.Carcinogenic risks of dichlorvos from inhalation and dermal exposure were above acceptable levels(>10^(-6))before and after the COVID-19 outbreak but comparatively high after the COVID-19 outbreak.Additionally,significantly more workers experienced health symptoms after the COVID-19outbreak(p<0.05),with the most common being muscle lethargy(31%),skin/face stinging(28.7%),and breath shortness/neck pain(24.1%).
基金funding support from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service,the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission,and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro,as part of a collective effort for the North American Bat Monitoring Program(NABat).
文摘Temperate forest ecosystems are important habitats for many bat species. However, these habitats are increasingly affected by anthropogenic disturbances, particularly urban development, leading to landscapes with varying land cover composition and configuration. Limited research has examined how forest and urban landscape composition and configuration influence bat activity and diversity. Using a multi-year statewide bat acoustic monitoring dataset from North Carolina, USA, we investigated the effects of forest and urban composition and configuration at multiple spatial scales on bat activity and diversity. First, we constructed single-variable landscape index regression models and found that both the composition and configuration of forests and urban developments influenced bat activity and diversity in a species-specific manner. Next, we applied a hierarchical partitioning approach to compare the relative contributions of composition and configuration indices in explaining variance in bat activity. For big brown bats and hoary bats, evergreen forest and urban development composition indices contributed the most to explaining activity variance. In contrast, for eastern red bats, evening bats, and tricolored bats, deciduous forest fragmentation indices describing landscape configuration were the most influential factors. Silver-haired bat activity variance was primarily explained by an evergreen forest fragmentation index. Lastly, urban development configuration indices were the strongest predictors of Mexican free-tailed bat activity and total bat activity. These results suggest that forest and urban landscape configuration should be considered in conservation and management planning for North American temperate forest ecosystems, particularly in regions that have not experienced drastic deforestation in recent decades.
基金Supported by the National Research Foundation(NRF)of MEST,Korea(No.2012R1A2A4A01001539)the Converging Technology Project of the Ministry of Environment,Korea(No.2013001450001)
文摘Sericite is mica-based natural clay that is annealed at 800 ℃ for 4 h, followed by acid activation using 3.0 mol L-1HCl at 100℃. The interaction of cesium(I), Cs(I), with sericite could provide useful data for the study of soil erosion or mass water movement utilizing the natural radioactive Cs. In this study sericite and activated sericite were used to assess their suitability in the attenuation of Cs from the aquatic environment under both batch and column experiments. The surface morphological studies indicated that a disordered and heterogeneous surface structure was exhibited by the activated sericite, whereas the native sericite exhibited a compact and layered structure. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller(BET) specific surface area results indicated a significant increase in the surface area due to the activation of sericite. The batch reactor data collected for various parametric studies revealed that an increase in p H(from 2.0 to 8.0) and sorbate concentration(from 10.0 to 100.0 mg L-1) apparently favored the attenuation of Cs(I). The timedependent sorption data revealed that Cs(I) uptake was very rapid, and it achieved its saturation value within just 50 min of contact.The kinetic modeling studies indicated that the uptake of Cs(I) followed a pseudo-second-order rate equation; hence, the attenuation capacity of these solids for Cs(I) was estimated to be 0.858 and 4.353 mg g-1for sericite and activated sericite solids, respectively.The adsorption isotherm modeling data showed a reasonably good applicability of the Freundlich model than the Langmuir model.The effect of background electrolyte concentrations(0.001 to 0.1 mol L-1) of Mg(NO3)2indicated that the presence of this electrolyte could not significantly affect the percent removal of Cs(I) by activated sericite. Furthermore, the fixed-bed column reactor operations were performed to obtain the breakthrough data, which were fitted well to the Thomas non-linear equation. Therefore, the loading capacity of Cs(I) was estimated to be 1.585 mg g-1at the initial influent Cs(I) concentration of 30.0 mg L-1at p H 5.0.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.41977273 and U21A20291)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2018YFC1800702)+1 种基金the Major Research Plan of the Shandong Science Foundation,China(No.ZR2020ZD19)funding from the Special Fund for Basic Scientific Research Business of Central Public Research Institutes,China(No.K-JBYWF-2019-T04).
文摘Arsenic(As)contamination in soil and water poses a serious threat to the ecosystem health and human beings,and is of widespread concern.The main As species found in soil and water are arsenite As(Ⅲ)and arsenate As(V).Because As(Ⅲ)is more toxic and often more mobile than As(Ⅴ),many remediation strategies aim to oxidize As(Ⅲ)to As(Ⅴ).In the environment,the reduction of As(Ⅴ)under anaerobic conditions is mainly mediated by microorganisms,but the oxidation of As(Ⅲ)under aerobic conditions can be mediated primarily by chemical processes.This article first reviews the existing knowledge on chemical oxidation of As(Ⅲ)in the environment,with an emphasis on the roles of iron(Fe)and manganese(Mn)oxides.The application of Fe and Mn oxides for the remediation of As-contaminated soil and water is then summarized.The oxidation of As(Ⅲ)by oxygen is very slow in the absence of catalysts.Many Mn oxides,on the other hand,can efficiently oxidize As(Ⅲ).Although the oxidation of As(Ⅲ)by Fe(Ⅲ)is also slow,this process can be accelerated by light or Fe(Ⅱ).Iron and Mn oxides are widely used for the remediation of As-contaminated soil and water,with Fe oxides generally acting as absorbents while Mn oxides as oxidants.To better understand and regulate As transformation and transport in the environment,further study is needed on the mechanisms and influencing factors of As(Ⅲ)oxidation by Fe and Mn oxides,and the development of innovative methods and materials based on Fe and Mn oxides are desired.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31770454 to E.P.N.,X.X.and R.J.S.)。
文摘In addition to landscape changes,urbanization also brings about changes in environmental factors that can affect wildlife.Despite the common referral in the published literature to multiple environmental factors such as light and noise pollution,there is a gap in knowledge about their combined impact.We developed a multidimensional environmental framework to assess the effect of urbanization and multiple environmental factors(light,noise,and temperature)on life-history traits and breeding success of Barn Swallows(Hirundo rustica)across rural to urban gradients in four locations spanning over 2500 km from North to South China.Over a single breeding season,we measured these environmental factors nearby nests and quantified landscape urbanization over a 1km~2radius.We then analysed the relationships between these multiple environmental factors through a principal component analysis and conducted spatially explicit linear-mixed effects models to assess their effect on lifehistory traits and breeding success.We were particularly interested in understanding whether and how Barn Swallows were able to adapt to such environmental conditions associated with urbanization.The results show that there is significant variation in the exposure to environmental conditions experienced by Barn Swallows breeding across urbanization gradients in China.These changes and their effects are complex due to the behavioural responses ameliorating potential negative effects by selecting nesting sites that minimize exposure to environmental factors.However,significant relationships between landscape urbanization,exposure to environmental factors,and life-history traits such as laying date and clutch size were pervasive.Still,the impact on breeding success was,at least in our sample,negligible,suggesting that Barn Swallows are extremely adaptable to a wide range of environmental features.
文摘The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has led to heightened levels of anxiety and stress levels towards the health threats posed by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.At least 10%of those infected were health workers.In addition,a large proportion of infected cases and deaths were possibly due to SARS-CoV-2 infections acquired in hospitals or long-term care facilities.Health workers,especially those working on the frontline play a crucial role in controlling and preventing the COVID-19 pandemic.Previous studies reported that health workers were exposed to severe emotional stress(i.e.,burnout,depression and anxiety symptoms)during the outbreaks of infectious diseases including severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS),Ebola and Middle East respiratory syndrome(MERS).It is therefore important to be aware that prolonged exposure to moderate-to severe stress can have negative health consequences and reduce the work performance of health workers.Therefore,some immediate measures should be taken by the health care institutions and relevant health authorities to ensure that Chinese health workers are better supported in caring for large number of COVID-19 patients.Future studies should examine the health status and work efficiency of health workers working in high stress environment amidst the COVID-19 pandemic or other disasters.
基金funded by the NSFC(32371669)the Science and Technology Talent Project for Distinguished Young Scholars of Jilin Province(20240602009RC)+1 种基金the NSF of Jilin Province(20240101207JC)the Scientific Research Project of the Department of Education,Jilin Province(JJKH20230687KJ).
文摘Understanding how summer warming influences the parent and daughter shoot production in a perennial clonal grass is vital for comprehending the response of grassland productivity to global warming.Here,we conducted a simulated experiment using potted Leymus chinensis,to study the relationship between the photosynthetic activ-ity of parent shoots and the production of daughter shoots under a whole(90 days)summer warming scenario(+3°C).The results showed that the biomass of parents and buds decreased by 25.52%and 33.45%,respectively,under warming conditions.The reduction in parent shoot biomass due to warming directly resulted from decreased leaf area(18.03%),chlorophyll a(18.27%),chlorophyll b(29.21%)content,as well as a reduction in net photosynthetic rate(7.32%)and the maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II(PSII)photochemistry(4.29%).The decline in daughter shoot biomass was linked to a decrease in daughter shoot number(33.33%)by warming.However,the number of belowground buds increased by 46.43%.The results indicated that long-term summer warming reduces biomass accumulation in parent shoot by increasing both limitation of stoma and non-stoma.Consequently,the parent shoot allocates relatively more biomass to the belowground organs to maintain the survival and growth of buds.Overall,buds,as a potential aboveground population,could remedy for the cur-rent loss of parent shoot density by increasing the number of future daughter shoots if summer warming subsides.
基金funded by postdoctoral funding to LZ from Guangxi University(A3360051014,A3360051010)from the Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation(AE33600102).
文摘Participants in mixed-species bird flocks(MSFs)have been shown to associate with species that are similar in body size,diet,and evolutionary history,suggesting that facilitation structures these assemblages.In addition,several studies have suggested that species in MsFs resemble each other in their plumage,but this question has not been systematically investigated for any MsF system.During the nonbreeding season of 2020 and 2021,we sampled 585 MSFs on 14 transects in 2 habitats of Tongbiguang Nature Reserve in western Yunnan Province,China.We performed social network analysis and the Multiple Regression Quadratic Assignment Procedure to evaluate the effect of 4 species traits(body size,overall plumage color,distinctive plumage patterns,and diet)and evolutionary history on species association strength at the whole-MSF and within-MSF levels.All 41 significant relationships showed that species with stronger associations were more similar in their various traits.Body size had the strongest effect on association strength,followed by phylogeny,plumage patterns,and plumage color;diet had the weakest effect.Our results are consistent with the hypotheses that the benefits of associating with phenotypically similar species outweigh the potential costs of interspecific competition,and that trait matching can occur in plumage characteristics,albeit more weakly than in other traits.Several explanations exist as to why similarities in plumage may occur in MSFs,including that they could reduce predators'ability to target phenotypically"odd"individuals.Whether trait matching in plumage occurs through assortative processes in ecological time or is influenced by co-evolution requires furtherstudy.
基金Project(S2598445)supported by the Project for Cooperative R&D between Industry,Academy and Research Institute Funded by the Korea Ministry of SME and Startups in 2018
文摘In this study,we present the characterization of the carbon fibers recovered from the mechanochemical-enhanced recycling of carbon fiber reinforced fibers.The objectives of the study were to investigate the effect of our modified recycling method on the interfacial properties of recovered fibers.The reinforced plastics were recycled;the recycling efficiency was determined and the recovered fibers were sized using 1 wt%and 3 wt%concentration of(3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane.We characterized the morphologies utilizing the electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis(ESCA),atomic force microscopy(AFM),FTIR-attenuated total reflection(ATR)spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy(SEM).Although the surface of the fibers had no cracks,there was evidence of contaminations which affected the interfacial properties and the quality of the fibers.Results showed that the trends in the recovered and virgin fibers were similar with an increase in sizing concentration.The results highlighted the perspectives of increasing the quality of recovered fibers after the recycling process.
基金sponsored by National Key Research and Development Project by MOST of China(grant No.2016YFA0601003)Shanghai Science and Technology Development Foundation(No.19010500100).
文摘The biogeochemical cycles of sulphur(S),iron(Fe)and nitrogen(N)elements play a key role in the reservoir ecosystem.However,the spatial positioning and interrelationship of S,Fe and N cycles in the reservoir sediment profile have not been explored to a greater extent.Here,we measure the gradients of Fe^(2+),SO_(4)^(2-),NO_(3)^(-),NH_(4)^(+),DOC,TC and TN in the pore water of the sediment,and combining the vertical distribution of the functional microorganisms involved in S,Fe and N cyclings in the sediments to determine the redox stratification in the sediment.It is found that the geochemical gradient of S,Fe and N of the reservoir sedimentary column is mainly defined by the redox process involved in the related functional microorganisms.According to the type of electron acceptor,the sediment profile is divided into 3 redox intervals,namely aerobic respiration(0–10 cm),denitrification/iron reduction(10–28 cm)and sulfate reduction(28–32 cm).In the aerobic respiration zone,NH_(4)^(+)is oxidized by aerobic AOB to NO_(3)^(-)(0–5 cm),and Fe^(2+)is oxidized by microaerobic FeRB to Fe^(3+)(3–10 cm).In the denitrification/iron reduction zone,Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas,as the dominant NRB genera,may use nitrate as an electron acceptor to oxidize Fe^(2+)(11–16 cm).The dominant genera in SOB,such as Sulfururvum,Thiobacillus and Thioalkalispira,may use nitrate as an electron acceptor to oxidize sulfide,leading to SO_(4)^(2-)accumulation(14–24 cm).In the sulfate reduction zone,SO_(4)^(2-)is reduced by SRB.This study found that functional microorganisms forming comprehensive local ecological structures to adapt to changing geochemical conditions,and which would be potentially important for the degradation and preservation of C and the fate of many nutrients and contaminants in reservoirs.
文摘The delay in the delivery of laboratory results can be fatal and can even lead to the death of patients. This study was conducted at the clinical laboratory of the University Hospital of Kinshasa (UHK) from October 2020 to April 2021, aimed to evaluate the laboratory tests’ turnaround time (TAT) and to identify reasons for delay. TAT was quantified using a time and motion analysis approach. The evaluation of TAT consisted of comparing the overall intra-lab TAT with the suggested TAT using student t-test at 95% confidence intervals. Brainstorming was the root cause analysis tool used for identifying reasons for delay. In this study, the laboratory tests’ TATs were significantly higher (p < 0.001) comparing to international guidelines (60 minutes) and customers’ suggested TAT (120 minutes). Only 0.98% of the samples were reported within 60 minutes of patient reception and 1.47% within 120 minutes, i.e. an outlier rate of 98.5%. Root causes of delay related to Machinery, Management, Manpower, Materials, Method and Milieu. Because of many reasons, the laboratory is not meeting the established TAT. Preventive and curative measures must be undertaken to reduce the delay and improve the TAT.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 42076211 and 41930538.
文摘The cross-shore variation in wind speeds influenced by beach nourishment,especially the dramatic changes at the nourished berm,is important for understanding the aeolian sand transport processes that occur after beach nourishment,which will contribute to better beach nourishment project design on windy coasts.In this paper,the influencing factors and potential mechanism of wind speed variation at the edge of a nourished berm were studied.Field observations,together with the Duna model,were used to study the cross-shore wind speed distribution for different nourishment schemes.The results show that the nourished berm elevation and beachface slope are the main factors controlling the increase in wind speed at the berm edge.When the upper beach slope is constant,the wind speed at the berm edge has a positive linear correlation with the berm elevation.When the berm elevation remains constant,the wind speed at the berm edge is also proportional to the upper beach slope.Considering the coupling effects of nourished berm elevation and beachface slope,a model for predicting the wind speed amplification rate at the nourished berm edge was established,and the underlying coupling mechanism was illustrated.
基金supported by the National Science Foundation of China,grant 31770424a Special Talents Recruitment Grant from Guangxi University.
文摘In mutualistic interactions,all parties are usually considered to benefit;yet there may be asymmetries in mutualisms where some partners/individuals benefit more than others.Such is thought to be the case in mixedspecies flocks of birds,where following species are thought to benefit more than leading species,and leading species may not be able to escape the association if they are subordinate to other species.We measured dominance and affiliation patterns of a mixed-species flock system of southern China in an aviary where these variables could be measured in a standardized way.In eight wild-caught flocks,the leading species,David’s Fulvetta(Alcippe davidi),was usually among the more subordinate flock members(ranking 9 of 13 species,with the the most dominant species ranked number one,and dominance measured by normalized David’s scores).Dominance was strongly influenced by body mass,and not by bill length or the number of individuals.Female fulvettas in particular tended to be among the most subordinate individuals in the flock.There was evidence of a negative relationship between a species pair’s affiliation,measured as the percentage of all observations in which these two species were found perching together,and their difference in ranking in the dominance hierarchy,particularly when some ground species,which are not likely to remain in flocks long term,were removed from the analysis.Species pairs that had more pronounced differences in their dominance rankings were less likely to be affiliated,which is consistent with the idea that subordinate species may avoid dominants.David’s Fulvetta is a strong information provider,so other species are likely benefitted in this relationship.Our data suggest one reason that fulvettas stay in flocks is that they may be subordinate and therefore have little control over who associates with them.
基金the Guangxi Medical and Health Project[Z20170126]the National Natural Science Foundation of China[Grant numbers 11971479,81502862,81460510,81360442,and 91546203]+2 种基金Guangxi Science and Technology Bureau[Grant number AB16380213]Guangxi Bagui Honor Scholarship,Ministry of Science and Technology of China[2018ZX10721102-006 and 2017ZX10201101]Guangxi Key Laboratory of AIDS Prevention Control and Translation,and Chinese State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control.
文摘Combination antiretroviral therapy(ART)reduced AIDS-related mortality and increased survival among patients living with HIV by interrupting HIV replication,enhancing immune recovery,and preventing the onset of opportunistic infections[1].In China,ART has rapidly been scaled up since the beginning of the National Free Antiretroviral Treatment Program(NFATP)in 2003[2].By the end of 2016,489,411 individuals diagnosed with HIV were receiving free antiretroviral treatment in China.China is firmly committed to reducing overall AIDS-related mortality and HIV incidence within the country.However,similar to other low-and middle-income countries,the NFATP is challenged by high mortality and attrition shortly after patients initiate ART[3].
基金supported by the National Science Foundation of China(Nos.41977320,41571305)Key Programme Special Fund of XJTLU(No.KSF-A-20)。
文摘The redox-sensitive elements,such as iron,manganese,sulfur,phosphorus,and arsenic,shift their speciation every millimeter(mm)across the soil-water interface in the flooded soil environments.Monitoring of element speciation at this high-resolution(HR)within the SWI is still difficult.The key challenge lies in obtaining sufficient porewater samples at specific locations along the soil gradient for downstream analysis.Here with an optimized inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS)method and a HR porewater sampler,we demonstrate mm-scale element profiles mapping across the SWI in paddy soils.Highconcentrations of iron and manganese(>10 mg/L)were measured by ICP-MS in an extended dynamic range mode to avoid signal overflow.The iron profile along the SWI generated by the ICP-MS method showed no significant difference(p<0.05)compared to that measured independently using a colorimetric method.Furthermore,four arsenic(arsenite,arsenate,monomethylarsonic and dimethylarsinic acid),two phosphorus(phosphite and phosphate)and two sulfur(sulfide and sulfate)species were separated in 10 min by ion chromatography-ICP-MS with the NH_(4)HCO_(3)mobile phase.We verified the technique using paddy soils collected from the field,and present the mm-scale profiles of iron,manganese,and arsenic,phosphorus,sulfur species(relative standard deviation<8%).The technique developed in this study will significantly promote the measurement throughput in limited samples(e.g.100μL)collected by HR samplers,which would greatly facilitate redox-sensitive elements biogeochemical cycling in saturated soils.
文摘The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has compelled Institut Pasteur de Cote d’Ivoire (IPCI) to set up strategies for an outstanding mobilisation of human resources to fight against it. Among these strategies, we can quote the screening of people requesting COVID-19 tests at IPCI for emergency travel after the lifting of flight restrictions. Newly recruited Young researchers at IPCI, as well as Ph.D. students and trainees, were mobilised. This document describes firstly, the benefits, knowledge acquired, and difficulties encountered, and secondly, recommendations to be followed for a future large-scale epidemic. This study helped to outline some achievements, such as upgrading the talents of young researchers, strong collaboration between young researchers from different fields, and between IPCI and other institutions. The lessons learned are numerous, including mood and stress management. The difficulties encountered during this study are mainly misunderstandings, increased workload, and insufficient awareness of COVID-19 travel test procedures. These results are relevant for a possible pandemic management in our country, as well as in other African countries.
基金Supported by National Cancer Center Research and Development Fund No.25-A-15The Research Grant of the Princess Takamatsu Cancer Research Fund
文摘Obesity-associated cancers, including colon cancer and breast cancer, are increasing in Asian countries with Westernized lifestyles as exemplified by reduced physical activity and increased fat/sugar consumption. An excessive accumulation of visceral adipose tissue causes insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and adipocytokine imbalance, and these factors are suggested to be involved in cancer promotion. To prevent obesityassociated cancers, researcher attention is increasing on the so-called "functional foods". In addition, new approaches to cancer control are in high demand, and using "functional foods" as supplemental or adjuvant agents in chemotherapy is thought to be a promising approach. One of these functional ingredients is xanthophylls, which are natural fat-soluble pigments found in fruits, vegetables, algae and other plants. Xanthophylls belong to the carotenoid class and have struc-tures containing oxygen. Some studies have revealed that xanthophylls improve the inflammation status, serum triglyceride levels, blood pressure levels and liver function test values. Furthermore, recent studies show that xanthophylls possess high anti-cancer, antidiabetic, anti-obesity and anti-oxidant properties. In this review, we highlight the recent findings for five xanthophylls, namely astaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, fucoxanthin, neoxanthin and zeaxanthin/lutein, and their relevance to cancer prevention.
文摘In Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the laboratory TAT is significantly very long and do not comply with either international standards or the suggestions of customers. However, there is neither a national nor a local strategy to improve the laboratory TAT. The aim of the present study is to develop practical management strategies to shorten clinical laboratory tests’ TAT. This was a qualitative study conducted in Kinshasa. Focus groups and Lean tools were used respectively to generate a wide range of views from a variety of laboratory staff and to eliminate several form of waste in the laboratory flow process. Based on the identified root causes of delay, focus groups participants reported that there is a lot of scope for the improvement of TAT in DRC. Consistent attendance and punctuality are essential. The hospital management should implement the Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) and install Middleware. Total laboratory automation, inventory system for all reagents and supplies used in the laboratory, expansion of the sampling area, sufficient number of high-power machine and a clear job description are indispensable. LIS, 3.5 mL BD vacutainer Barricor<sup>TM</sup> tube and point-of-care testing (POCT) are necessary for workflow improvement. A reduction of 312 minutes was achieved by eliminating or decreasing non-value-added activities. Applying the suggested key strategies, and particularly the new workflow process, is a basis for improving the laboratory tests’ TAT. The algorithm presented can be easily implemented in other laboratories that face this type of problem.
文摘Objective: To explore how medical screening performed by the dental service was perceived from the patient’s perspective. Material and methods: Medical screening for high blood pressure and high plasma glucose was performed on 170 patients at a dental clinic in a small town in central Sweden. Seventeen individual interviews were conducted with a strategic sampling of these patients. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. The transcriptions were coded and categorized in a manifest analysis, followed by a latent, interpretive analysis. Results: The manifest analysis resulted in three categories: Positive attitude to screening and dental professionals which need to have specific knowledge of medical screening;Dental care which provides continuity but is not a neutral environment;and Feedback on the medical screening results and desired cooperation between dental and health care services. The latent analysis pointed out the importance of the patient’s feeling that the procedure is carried out properly and safely, and requests for clear feedback concerning the results of the screening. Conclusions: The interviewees experienced the dental care service as providing continuity. They would like to have regular medical screenings at their regular dental appointments to identify risks of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. However, they expressed that it was important for the dental care staff to have the necessary medical knowledge. They also wanted good cooperations between the dental and health care services, with clear feedback to the patients about both positive and negative results and, when appropriate, referrals to the health care service.
