Use of Monoglycerides and Diglycerides to Mitigate Poultry Production Losses: A Review.

Consumer preference dictates not only what food is consumed but also how that food is produced. Ingredients in livestock feed that are not antibiotics, not genetically modified, and not of animal origin but that are nutrient-like tend to be more acceptable to consumers, retailers, and producers. Mono- and diglycerides (MDG) fit these criteria, are commonly used in food, and are generally recognized as safe. But beyond being emulsifiers and a source of energy, MDG are also known to have antimicrobial, immune, and microbiome modulation and angiogenic activity. MDG in broiler diets have been shown to impact a variety of immune-related functions such as the regulation of circulating antibodies, as well as decreased gene expression or protein concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, and IFN-γ. In addition, MDG can affect metabolic function and intestinal integrity. Results of this review show that MDG can serve as antimicrobial and growth-supporting alternatives for reducing poultry production losses, improving resource utilization and meeting consumer demand for sustainably produced and safe animal protein.

Dehydrated Human Amnion-Chorion Membrane (Placenta) Reinforcement of Esophagectomy Anastomosis.

An anastomotic leak is a potentially fatal complication after esophagectomy. This report describes the use of a dehydrated human amnion-chorion membrane (dHACM) placenta allograft patch for reinforcement of an esophageal anastomosis. The anastomotic technique was a modified Orringer procedure through a right thoracotomy (Ivor Lewis procedure). The anastomosis was reinforced with dHACM placenta allograft. Use of the allograft prevented anastomotic leaks and loss of gastrointestinal integrity. Early results are promising.

Myocarditis after BNT162b2 vaccination in a healthy male.

Myocarditis following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination has recently been reported to health authorities in the United States and other countries. Cases predominately occur in young adult males within four days following the second dose of either the Moderna (mRNA-1273) or Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) vaccines. Although the number of cases reported have been small in comparison with the large number of people vaccinated, myocarditis may be a rare adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccination that is now only becoming apparent due to the widespread use of the vaccine. In this article, we present a case of a 20-year-old male with no prior medical history who presented to the emergency department (ED) with chest pain. He had received the BNT162b2 vaccine two days prior to his presentation to the ED. The patient had an elevated troponin at 89 ng/L which increased on repeat examination. His electrocardiogram showed diffuse concave ST segment elevations and a later MRI confirmed the diagnosis of myocarditis. Based on these findings, the patient was diagnosed with myocarditis. The patient had a previous infection with SARS-CoV-2 approximately two months prior to the onset of his symptoms, but since he had fully recovered before the time of his presentation to the ED, it is unlikely that the infection caused the myocarditis. To our knowledge, this is the first published case of myocarditis following BNT162b3 vaccination.

Preparing humanitarians to address ethical problems.

Infectious disease outbreaks represent potentially catastrophic threats to those affected by humanitarian crises. High transmissibility, crowded living conditions, widespread co-morbidities, and a lack of intensive care capacity may amplify the effects of the outbreak on already vulnerable populations and present humanitarian actors with intense ethical problems. We argue that there are significant and troubling gaps in ethical awareness at the level of humanitarian praxis. Though some ethical guidance does exist most of it is directed at public health experts and fails to speak to the day-to-day ethical challenges confronted by frontline humanitarians. In responding to infectious disease outbreaks humanitarian workers are likely to grapple with complex dilemmas opening the door to moral distress and burnout.

WITHDRAWN: Dehydrated Human Amnion/Chorion Membrane (Placenta) Reduces Anastomotic Leaks after Esophagectomy.

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Pneumonia in Nigeria: The way forward.

Pneumonia is the leading cause of child deaths in Nigeria. Interventions to combat pneumonia are known and globally available, but not yet deployed effectively in Nigeria. While the under-five pneumonia deaths dropped globally by 51% during the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) years (2000 to 2015), the rate declined by a mere 8% in Nigeria. In this commentary, we focus on three factors that may have stalled Nigeria's progress on pneumonia control. First, a chronically weak health system failed to deliver the needed services at scale. Second, strong coordination of a multipronged and well-funded push against pneumonia was absent. Third, sound and timely data on pneumonia intervention coverage were lacking, thus blunting the accountability mechanisms that could have driven quick, targeted action. In response, the Federal Ministry of Health recently developed a National Pneumonia Control Strategy with the support of the "Every Breath Counts Coalition" (EBCC). This strategy, a first of its kind, articulates a common vision for reducing pneumonia-led morbidity and mortality and provides a unified approach to respond comprehensively to pneumonia within and outside the health sector. Strong political will and sustainable financing are now needed to effectively implement this strategy and accelerate progress on pneumonia control. This will contribute hugely to achieving the government's health goals, the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.2 and the Global Action Plan on Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (GAPPD) targets.

Spectral Sensitization of n- and p-Type Gallium Phosphide Single Crystals with Single-Walled Semiconducting Carbon Nanotubes.

The spectral sensitization of single-crystal p-GaP by semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (s-SWCNT) via hole injection into the p-GaP valence band is reported. The results are compared to SWNCT sensitized n-type single-crystal substrates: TiO2, SnO2, and n-GaP. It was found that the sensitized photocurrents from CoMoCAT and HiPco s-SWCNTs were from a hole injection mechanism on all substrates, even when electron injection into the conduction band should be energetically favored. The results suggest an intrinsic p-type character of the s-SWCNTs surface films investigated in this work.

Optically Generated Free-Carrier Collection from an All Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Active Layer.

Semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes' (SWCNTs) broad absorption range and all-carbon composition make them attractive materials for light harvesting. We report photoinduced charge transfer from both multichiral and single-chirality SWCNT films into atomically flat SnO2 and TiO2 crystals. Higher-energy second excitonic SWCNT transitions produce more photocurrent, demonstrating carrier injection rates are competitive with fast hot-exciton relaxation processes. A logarithmic relationship exists between photoinduced electron-transfer driving force and photocarrier collection efficiency, becoming more efficient with smaller diameter SWCNTs. Photocurrents are generated from both conventional sensitization and in the opposite direction with the semiconductor under accumulation and acting as an ohmic contact with only the p-type nanotubes. Finally, we demonstrate that SWCNT surfactant choice and concentration play a large role in photon conversion efficiency and present methods of maximizing photocurrent yields.

Emerging Infectious Diseases: a Review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review highlights some of the recent concerning emerging infectious diseases, a number of them specifically that the World Health Organization has categorized as priorities for research. RECENT FINDINGS: Emerging and reemerging infectious diseases account for significant losses in not only human life, but also financially. There are a number of contributing factors, most commonly surrounding human behavior, that lead to disease emergence. Zoonoses are the most common type of infection, specifically from viral pathogens. The most recent emerging diseases in the USA are Emergomyces canadensis, the Heartland virus, and the Bourbon virus. SUMMARY: In addition to the aforementioned pathogens, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, Nipah virus, New Delhi metallo-ß-lactamase-1 Enterobacteriaceae, Rift Valley Fever virus, and Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus are reviewed. These pathogens are very concerning with a high risk for potential epidemic, ultimately causing both significant mortality and financial costs. Research should be focused on monitoring, prevention, and treatment of these diseases.

Raised without antibiotics: impact on animal welfare and implications for food policy.

This study assesses the impact of broilers raised without antibiotics and the information gap that exists between consumer perception and production methods. Specifically looking at risk of eye burns, footpad lesions, and airsacculitis, key indicators of animal welfare, bird-level data are collected on the occurrence and severity of each disease state by the type of antibiotic program: no antibiotics ever, nonmedically important antibiotics, or medically important antibiotics. Odds ratios and marginal effects are calculated to understand how the occurrence and severity change with access to medicine. Broilers never given antibiotics had a higher likelihood of disease states investigated, and with greater severity. In some cases, access to nonmedically important ionophores mitigated the risk of occurrence and severity of the conditions. The finding indicates that the growing trend of raising broilers without antibiotics may negatively affect animal welfare. This stands in contrast to existing consumer research showing that consumers purchase poultry raised without antibiotics because they believe that it promotes healthier animals. Therefore, a significant consumer information gap exists which needs to be addressed. JEL Codes: Q130, Q160, Q180.

Double Hydrogen Bonding between Side Chain Carboxyl Groups in Aqueous Solutions of Poly (ß-L-Malic Acid): Implication for the Evolutionary Origin of Nucleic Acids.

The RNA world hypothesis holds that in the evolutionary events that led to the emergence of life RNA preceded proteins and DNA and is supported by the ability of RNA to act as both a genetic polymer and a catalyst. On the other hand, biosynthesis of nucleic acids requires a large number of enzymes and chemical synthesis of RNA under presumed prebiotic conditions is complicated and requires many sequential steps. These observations suggest that biosynthesis of RNA is the end product of a long evolutionary process. If so, what was the original polymer from which RNA and DNA evolved? In most syntheses of simpler RNA or DNA analogs, the D-ribose phosphate polymer backbone is altered and the purine and pyrimidine bases are retained for hydrogen bonding between complementary base pairs. However, the bases are themselves products of complex biosynthetic pathways and hence they too may have evolved from simpler polymer side chains that had the ability to form hydrogen bonds. We hypothesize that the earliest evolutionary predecessor of nucleic acids was the simple linear polyester, poly (ß-D-malic acid), for which the carboxyl side chains could form double hydrogen bonds. In this study, we show that in accord with this hypothesis a closely related polyester, poly (ß-L-malic acid), uses carboxyl side chains to form robust intramolecular double hydrogen bonds in moderately acidic solution.

Treatment of 200 locally advanced (stage III) pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients with irreversible electroporation: safety and efficacy.

OBJECTIVES: Ablative therapies have been increasingly utilized in the treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is an energy delivery system, effective in ablating tumors by inducing irreversible membrane destruction of cells. We aimed to demonstrate efficacy of treatment with IRE as part of multimodal treatment of LAPC. METHODS: From July 2010 to October 2014, patients with radiographic stage III LAPC were treated with IRE and monitored under a multicenter, prospective institutional review board-approved registry. Perioperative 90-day outcomes, local failure, and overall survival were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 200 patients with LAPC underwent IRE alone (n = 150) or pancreatic resection plus IRE for margin enhancement (n = 50). All patients underwent induction chemotherapy, and 52% received chemoradiation therapy as well for a median of 6 months (range, 5-13 months) before IRE. IRE was successfully performed in all patients. Thirty-seven percent of patients sustained complications, with a median grade of 2 (range, 1-5). Median length of stay was 6 days (range, 4-36 days). With a median follow-up of 29 months, 6 patients (3%) have experienced local recurrence. Median overall survival was 24.9 months (range: 4.9-85 months). CONCLUSIONS: For patients with LAPC (stage III), the addition of IRE to conventional chemotherapy and radiation therapy results in substantially prolonged survival compared with historical controls. These results suggest that ablative control of the primary tumor may prolong survival.

Physical Models for Charge Transfer at Single Crystal Oxide Semiconductor Surfaces as Revealed by the Doping Density Dependence of the Collection Efficiency of Dye Sensitized Photocurrents.

The doping density dependence of photocurrents has been experimentally measured at single crystal rutile TiO2 electrodes sensitized with the N3 chromophore and a trimethine dye. As the doping density of the electrodes was varied from 10(15) to 10(20) cm(-3), three different regimes of behavior were observed for the magnitude and shape of the dye sensitized current-voltage curves. Low-doped crystals produced current-voltage curves with a slow rise of photocurrent with potential. At intermediate doping levels, Schottky barrier behavior was observed producing a photocurrent plateau at electrode bias in the depletion region. At highly doped electrodes, tunneling currents played a significant role especially in the recombination processes. These different forms of the current-voltage curves could be fit to an Onsager-based model for charge collection at a semiconductor electrode. The fitting revealed the role of the various physical parameters that govern photoinduced charge collection in sensitized systems.