Toxicity comparison of atrazine on Eisenia fetida in artificial soil and three natural soils.

Atrazine has been widely used in the world and caused environmental pollution, especially soil pollution. When assessing the toxicity of atrazine in soil, most studies used standardized artificial soils, while few studies focused on the real soil environments. In the present study, three natural soils and artificial soil were selected as test soils to study and compare the toxicities of atrazine to Eisenia fetida. Acute toxicity of atrazine was determined by filter paper and soil tests. In chronic toxicity study, after atrazine exposure, the content of reactive oxygen species in Eisenia fetida significantly increased and showed a dose-response relationship. The activity changes of three antioxidant enzymes and glutathione transferase showed that atrazine had obvious oxidative stress effect on earthworms. The contents of malondialdehyde and 8-hydroxy deoxyguanosine in 0.1 and 1 mg/kg atrazine treatment groups were significantly higher than the control, indicating that medium and high concentrations of atrazine could cause lipid and DNA damage in Eisenia fetida. The acute toxicity results and the integrated biomarker response index for chronic toxicity indicated that the toxicity order of atrazine was: red clay > fluvo-aquic soil > artificial soil > black soil, and that the toxicity of atrazine in artificial soil was not representative of its toxicity in real soil environment. The results of correlation analysis showed that three soil property parameters of organic carbon, organic matter and sand were most related to the toxicity of atrazine.

Workforce Pathway Development: Evaluation of an Educational Seminar to Increase Student Interest in Nuclear Medicine.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Attracting more students to nuclear medicine is imperative to improving diversity and meeting growing staffing needs. In this study, we implemented a short seminar about nuclear medicine and evaluated its impact on student perceptions of the field. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We developed and presented 30-minute "Introduction to Nuclear Medicine" seminars to undergraduate college students and preclinical medical students. After the seminars, participants completed a post-pre survey to determine perceived changes to their perspective of nuclear medicine. Responses were coded on a Likert 1-5 scale with pre- and post- seminar results compared using T-test of means and analysis of variance. RESULTS: Of the 83 students who attended the seminar, 79 (95.1%) students participated in the survey including 67 preclinical medical students and 12 undergraduate students. Of the 78 participants who provided demographic information, there were 38 (48.7%) women, 5 (6.4%) first-generation college students, and 39 (50.0%) people who identified as either multiracial or a race other than White/Caucasian. Among all participants (n = 79), there was a significant increase in perceived understanding of nuclear medicine (p < 0.001), confidence in ability to pursue nuclear medicine (p < 0.001), and interest in becoming a nuclear medicine professional (p < 0.001). Perceived increases in knowledge were highest among first-year medical students (p = 0.031), while interest (p = 0.40) and confidence (p = 0.85) in pursuing nuclear medicine did not vary by educational level. CONCLUSION: Perceptions of student interest in nuclear medicine can be improved using an easily implemented, short seminar at the undergraduate college and preclinical medical school level.

The Radiology Scholars Certificate Program: A Medical Education Learning Tool.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The Radiology Scholars Certificate Program (RSCP) is an extracurricular program created for preclinical medical students to address disparities in radiology education and exposure during medical school. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The RSCP was designed as a year-long program for first- and second-year medical students. The 4 key components of the RSCP are: Exposure to radiology through shadowing, knowledge acquisition through self-paced case-based learning modules, knowledge application in interactive workshops, and completion of a scholarly project. Students are required to complete at least 3 hours of shadowing, attend at least 3 workshops, complete self-paced online modules, and complete a capstone project on a topic of their choosing. Pre- and post-program surveys were administered to assess trends in participants' perception of the field and imaging-related clinical knowledge. RESULTS: In the first year of the RSCP, 55% of the matriculating class enrolled and of those, 84% completed the program. Approximately half of participants were female. Participants demonstrated significant improvement in radiology knowledge, with average scores improving from 52.8% to 68.6% (p < .001) on the knowledge-related survey questions. Significant improvements were also observed in student-reported confidence with ordering and interpreting imaging studies and in their perceptions of the field. CONCLUSION: The RSCP is an effective tool for addressing deficits in radiology education and exposure during medical school. It is designed to be run by senior medical students under radiology resident and attending supervision. With motivated student and radiologist investment, the RSCP should be easily replicable in medical training programs worldwide.

Ecotoxicity evaluation of azoxystrobin on Eisenia fetida in different soils.

Azoxystrobin, a widely used broad-spectrum strobilurin fungicide, may pose a potential threat in agricultural ecosystems. To assess the ecological risk of azoxystrobin in real soil environments, we performed a study on the toxic effects of azoxystrobin on earthworms (Eisenia fetida) in three different natural soils (fluvo-aquic soil, black soil and red clay soil) and an artificial soil. Acute toxicity of azoxystrobin was determined by filter paper test and soil test. Accordingly, exposure concentrations of chronic toxicity were set at 0, 0.1, 1.0 and 2.5 mg kg-1. For chronic toxicity test, reactive oxygen species, activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase), detoxifying enzyme (glutathione transferase), level of lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde) and level of oxygen damage of DNA (8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine) in earthworms were determined on the 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, 42nd and 56th days after treatment. Both acute and chronic toxic results showed azoxystrobin exhibit higher toxicity in natural soil than in artificial soil, indicating that traditional artificial soil testing method underestimate ecotoxicity of azoxystrobin in a real agricultural environment on the earthworm population. Combining with the analysis of soil physicochemical properties, the present experiment provided scientific guidance for rational application of azoxystrobin in agricultural production systems.

Controlled-release urea reduced nitrogen leaching and improved nitrogen use efficiency and yield of direct-seeded rice.

The use of controlled-release urea (CRU) has become one of best management practices for increasing crop yield and improving nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE). However, the effects of CRU on direct-seeded rice are not well understood while direct-seeding has gradually replaced transplanting due to increasing labor cost and lack of irrigation water. The objective of this two-year field experiment was to compare the effects of the CRU at four rates (120, 180, 240 and 360 kg N ha-1, CRU1, CRU2, CRU3 and CRU4, respectively) with a conventional urea fertilizer (360 kg N ha-1; U) and a control (no N fertilizer applied; CK) on yield, biomass, NUE of direct-seeded rice and soil nutrients. The results indicated that the successive release rates of N from CRU corresponded well to the N requirements of rice. The use of CRU3 and CRU4 increased rice grain yields by 20.8 and 28.7%, respectively, compared with U. In addition, the NUEs were improved by all CRU treatments compared to the U treatment. Concentrations of NO3--N and NH4+-N in the soil were increased, especially during the later growth stages of the rice, and the leaching of N was reduced with CRU treatments. In conclusion, applying CRU on direct-seeded rice increased the crops yields and NUE, increased nitrogen availability at the late growth stages, and reduced N leaching.

Patient perspectives on compensation for biospecimen donation.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine whether biospecimen donors believe they should receive compensation. This is the first study to report biospecimen donors' views on compensation and can potentially improve informed consent and recruitment practices. METHODS: Researchers asked patients undergoing surgical removal of tissue to donate biological materials to a biobank; the request was made at their presurgical appointment or in the preoperative clinic of the Emory University Hospital. We interviewed 126 biospecimen donors within 30 days post surgery regarding their perspective on compensation for biospecimen donation. RESULTS: In response to the question "Should you be paid for your participation in the tissue bank?," 95 (95/126, 75%) participants answered "No." Of these, 55 (55/95, 58%) indicated that donating biological materials should be about altruism, not gaining a monetary reward. Only 11 (11/126, 9%) participants unequivocally believed they should receive compensation, while 14 (14/126, 11%) felt entitled to compensation only under specific circumstances. Eleven (11/14) "Depends" participants indicated that donors should only be compensated when researchers perform for-profit research. Responses varied by race and income level, with whites more likely to not feel entitled to compensation and higher income participants more likely to respond "Depends." CONCLUSIONS: The majority of biospecimen donors stated they should not be paid for tissue bank participation. However, a minority believe they should be paid for donating tissue if the tissue is used in revenue-generating projects. These results provide some support for the current biobanking practice of not providing compensation.

Cancer donor preferences for disposition of their biospecimens after biobank closure.

BACKGROUND: Biobank funding is unstable and biobank administrators are concerned about loss of funding and subsequent biobank closure. Nevertheless, only a minority of biobanks have policies regarding the distribution or destruction of tissue if the biobank were to close. To the authors' knowledge, the current study is the first to report on the preferences of oncology biospecimen donors regarding the handling of their biospecimens in the event of biobank closure. METHODS: A total of 98 biospecimen donors who were diagnosed with cancer at the Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence at Grady Memorial Hospital or the Winship Cancer Institute were interviewed concerning their preferences for the handling of their biospecimens in the event of biobank closure. RESULTS: The majority of biospecimen donors who expressed a preference (62 of 83 donors; 75%) wanted their biological materials transferred to another biobank, specifically an academic bank or a national bank. The most unacceptable options for the handling of tissue were transfer to a for-profit/pharmaceutical biobank (39 of 98 donors; 40%) or a biobank based outside of the United States (31 of 98 donors; 32%). Nonwhite participants were more likely to view the transfer of their tissue to a for-profit/pharmaceutical tissue bank, international tissue bank, or a national tissue bank as unacceptable compared with white participants. CONCLUSIONS: According to these biospecimen donors, the most acceptable options for the handling of biospecimens after biobank closure were transfer to an academic or national bank. The most objectionable options were transfer to a for-profit/pharmaceutical biobank or a biobank based outside of the United States. These findings can be used as the basis for educational interventions directed at the public and can inform the policies of biobanks that serve oncology research. Cancer 2017;123:4648-4652. © 2017 American Cancer Society.