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Development of a porous layer-by-layer microsphere with branched aliphatic hydrocarbon porogens
Get PDFPorous polymer microspheres are employed in biotherapeutics, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. Porosity dictates cargo carriage and release that are aligned with the polymer physicochemical properties. These include material tuning, biodegradation, and cargo encapsulation. How uniformity of pore size affects therapeutic delivery remains an area of active investigation. Herein, we characterize six branched aliphatic hydrocarbon-based porogen(s) produced to create pores in single and multilayered microspheres. The porogens are composed of biocompatible polycaprolactone, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), and polylactic acid polymers within porous multilayered microspheres. These serve as controlled effective drug and vaccine delivery platforms
Fish consumption pathways and food security in an Indonesian fishing community
No full textCoastal communities in Indonesia are often prone to food insecurity because they are highly dependent on fisheries for income and subsistence. However, connections between fish and food security have received limited attention in the national fisheries discourse; Indonesian fisheries are managed according to production-based indicators, despite the important roles that access and distribution play in mediating how fish are used and valued. Combining value chain analysis (VCA) and a “fish as food” framework, we administer survey interviews to members of a small Indonesian fishing community regarding species catch, on-island exchange of fish, and the role of fish species in the broader diet. Our mixed-methods approach and data aim to characterize links between fish harvest and consumption. Two questions guide the research: i) How do the island’s fisheries influence access to fish for household consumption? ii) What defines fish dependency in this community? Our findings indicate that island harvest and consumption are dominated by small pelagic species caught by commercial crews; however, small-scale fishers play a key role in providing fish during low catch periods. Catch and consumption are seasonally dependent: households reduce their fish consumption and substitute for less preferred farmed (milk)fish during windy seasons. Evidence of market-based fish trade and strong associations between dietary diversity and non-fish food groups suggest that food security in this community is more related to income from fishing than direct consumption of fish. To address the food security implications of fisheries management, there is a need for coordination among fisheries and public health sectors
Trans-cinnamaldehyde nanoemulsion wash inactivates Salmonella Enteritidis on shelled eggs without affecting egg color
Get PDFSalmonella Enteritidis is a major foodborne pathogen that causes enteric illnesses in humans, primarily through the consumption of contaminated poultry meat and eggs. Despite implementation of traditional disinfection approaches to reduce S. Enteritidis contamination, egg-borne outbreaks continue to occur, raising public health concerns and adversely affecting the popularity and profitability for the poultry industry. Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status phytochemicals such as Trans-cinnamaldehyde (TC) have previously shown to exhibit anti-Salmonella efficacy, however, the low solubility of TC is a major hurdle in its adoption as an egg wash treatment. Therefore, the present study investigated the efficacy of Trans-cinnamaldehyde nanoemulsions (TCNE) prepared with emulsifiers Tween 80 (Tw.80) or Gum Arabic and lecithin (GAL) as dip treatments, at 34°C, for reducing S. Enteritidis on shelled eggs in presence or absence of 5% chicken litter. In addition, the efficacy of TCNE dip treatments in reducing trans-shell migration of S. Enteritidis across shell barrier was investigated. The effect of wash treatments on shell color were evaluated on d 0, 1, 7, and 14 of refrigerated storage. TCNE-Tw.80 or GAL treatments (0.06, 0.12, 0.24, 0.48%) were effective in inactivating S. Enteritidis by at least 2 to 2.5 log cfu/egg as early as 1 min of washing time (P \u3c 0.05). In presence of organic matter, nanoemulsions (0.48%) reduced S. Enteritidis counts by ∼ 2 to 2.5 log cfu/egg as early as 1 min, (P \u3c 0.05). Nanoemulsion wash also inhibited trans-shell migration of S. Enteritidis, as compared to control (P \u3c 0.05). The nanoemulsion wash treatments did not affect shell color (P \u3e 0.05). Results suggest that TCNE could potentially be used as an antimicrobial wash to reduce S. Enteritidis on shelled eggs, although further studies investigating the effect of TCNE wash treatments on organoleptic properties of eggs are necessary
Cliques in realization graphs
Get PDFThe realization graph G(d) role= presentation \u3e of a degree sequence d is the graph whose vertices are labeled realizations of d, where edges join realizations that differ by swapping a single pair of edges. Barrus (2016) [3] characterized d for which G(d) role= presentation \u3e is triangle-free. Here, for any n≥4 role= presentation \u3e, we describe a structure in realizations of d that exactly determines whether G(d) role= presentation \u3e has a clique of size n. As a consequence we determine the degree sequences d for which G(d) role= presentation \u3e is a complete graph on n vertices
Conflicts of Interest in the Assessment of Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution
Get PDFPollution by chemicals and waste impacts human and ecosystem health on regional, national, and global scales, resulting, together with climate change and biodiversity loss, in a triple planetary crisis. Consequently, in 2022, countries agreed to establish an intergovernmental science–policy panel (SPP) on chemicals, waste, and pollution prevention, complementary to the existing intergovernmental science–policy bodies on climate change and biodiversity. To ensure the SPP’s success, it is imperative to protect it from conflicts of interest (COI). Here, we (i) define and review the implications of COI, and its relevance for the management of chemicals, waste, and pollution; (ii) summarize established tactics to manufacture doubt in favor of vested interests, i.e., to counter scientific evidence and/or to promote misleading narratives favorable to financial interests; and (iii) illustrate these with selected examples. This analysis leads to a review of arguments for and against chemical industry representation in the SPP’s work. We further (iv) rebut an assertion voiced by some that the chemical industry should be directly involved in the panel’s work because it possesses data on chemicals essential for the panel’s activities. Finally, (v) we present steps that should be taken to prevent the detrimental impacts of COI in the work of the SPP. In particular, we propose to include an independent auditor’s role in the SPP to ensure that participation and processes follow clear COI rules. Among others, the auditor should evaluate the content of the assessments produced to ensure unbiased representation of information that underpins the SPP’s activities
Erratum: Author Correction: Heterogeneous nitrogen fixation rates confer energetic advantage and expanded ecological niche of unicellular diazotroph populations (Communications biology (2020) 3 1 (172))
Get PDFUsage Statistics: Project COUNTER R5 ir_m1 Report FY2023 - Multimedia Item Requests
No full textProject COUNTER R5 Report IR_M1 for the University of Rhode Island for the period from July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023. The IR_M1 report is defined as Multimedia Item Requests. This report presents an annual total only and only includes those platforms successfully configured for automated harvesting via SUSHI.
File for download is Excel spreadsheet generated by Alma Analytics.
Results:
Total Item Requests - 4,86
Amino acid carbon isotope fingerprints are unique among eukaryotic microalgal taxonomic groups
Get PDFEukaryotic microalgae play critical roles in the structure and function of marine food webs. The contribution of microalgae to food webs can be tracked using compound-specific isotope analysis of amino acids (CSIA-AA). Previous CSIA-AA studies have defined eukaryotic microalgae as a single functional group in food web mixing models, despite their vast taxonomic and ecological diversity. Using controlled cultures, this work characterizes the amino acid δ13C (δ13CAA) fingerprints—a multivariate metric of amino acid carbon isotope values—of four major groups of eukaryotic microalgae: diatoms, dinoflagellates, raphidophytes, and prasinophytes. We found excellent separation of essential amino acid δ13C (δ13CEAA) fingerprints among four microalgal groups (mean posterior probability reclassification of 99.2 ± 2.9%). We also quantified temperature effects, a primary driver of microalgal bulk carbon isotope variability, on the fidelity of δ13CAA fingerprints. A 10°C range in temperature conditions did not have significant impacts on variance in δ13CAA values or the diagnostic microalgal δ13CEAA fingerprints. These δ13CEAA fingerprints were used to identify primary producers at the base of food webs supporting consumers in two contrasting systems: (1) penguins feeding in a diatom-based food web and (2) mixotrophic corals receiving amino acids directly from autotrophic endosymbiotic dinoflagellates and indirectly from water column diatoms, prasinophytes, and cyanobacteria, likely via heterotrophic feeding on zooplankton. The increased taxonomic specificity of CSIA-AA fingerprints developed here will greatly improve future efforts to reconstruct the contribution of diverse eukaryotic microalgae to the sources and cycling of organic matter in food web dynamics and biogeochemical cycling studies