Groundwater Flow Processes and Human Impact along the Arid US-Mexican Border, Evidenced by Environmental Tracers: The Case of Tecate, Baja California

With the increasing population, urbanization and industry in the arid area of Tecate, there is a concomitant increase in contaminants being introduced into the Tecate River and its aquifer. This contamination is damaging the usable groundwater supply and making local residents and commercial enterprises increasingly dependent on imported water from the Colorado River basin. In this study we apply a suite of chemical and isotopic tracers in order to evaluate groundwater flow and assess contamination trends. Groundwater recharge occurs through mountain-block and mountain-front recharge at higher elevations of the ranges. Groundwater from the unconfined, alluvial aquifer indicates recent recharge and little evolution. The increase in salinity along the flow path is due to interaction with weathering rock-forming silicate minerals and anthropogenic sources such as urban wastewater, residual solids and agricultural runoff from fertilizers, livestock manure and/or septic tanks and latrines. A spatial analysis shows local differences and the impact of the infiltration of imported waters from the Colorado River basin. The general trend of impaired water quality has scarcely been documented in the last decades, but it is expected to continue. Since the groundwater system is highly vulnerable, it is necessary to protect groundwater sources.Engineering and Science School of Tecnológico de Monterrey viaWater Science and Technology research group

Clinical benefit of glasdegib plus low-dose cytarabine in patients with de novo and secondary acute myeloid leukemia: long-term analysis of a phase II randomized trial

This analysis from the phase II BRIGHT AML 1003 trial reports the long-term efficacy and safety of glasdegib + low-dose cytarabine (LDAC) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia ineligible for intensive chemotherapy. The multicenter, open-label study randomized (2:1) patients to receive glasdegib + LDAC (de novo, n = 38; secondary acute myeloid leukemia, n = 40) or LDAC alone (de novo, n = 18; secondary acute myeloid leukemia, n = 20). At the time of analysis, 90% of patients had died, with the longest follow-up since randomization 36 months. The combination of glasdegib and LDAC conferred superior overall survival (OS) versus LDAC alone; hazard ratio (HR) 0.495; (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.325–0.752); p = 0.0004; median OS was 8.3 versus 4.3 months. Improvement in OS was consistent across cytogenetic risk groups. In a post-hoc subgroup analysis, a survival trend with glasdegib + LDAC was observed in patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (HR 0.720; 95% CI 0.395– 1.312; p = 0.14; median OS 6.6 vs 4.3 months) and secondary acute myeloid leukemia (HR 0.287; 95% CI 0.151–0.548; p < 0.0001; median OS 9.1 vs 4.1 months). The incidence of adverse events in the glasdegib + LDAC arm decreased after 90 days’ therapy: 83.7% versus 98.7% during the first 90 days. Glasdegib + LDAC versus LDAC alone continued to demonstrate superior OS in patients with acute myeloid leukemia; the clinical benefit with glasdegib + LDAC was particularly prominent in patients with secondary acute myeloid leukemia. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01546038

Mapa para análise qualitativa de risco por BTEX p ou proximidade com postos de gasolina na cidade de Ensenada, Baja California, México

Due to their carcinogenic properties, exposure to volatile organic compounds such as benzene, toluene and xylene (BTEX) has been associated with an increased risk of developing cancer in people living or working near gas stations. This study puts forward a methodological approach to study the problems posed by VOCs on individuals exposed to hydrocarbons. The data obtained indicate that there is a greater presence of VOCs in the areas close to point sources of emission and, therefore, a greater exposure to toxic factors. This paper presents a simple procedure to establish which areas are vulnerable to technological risks within the urban area owing to the presence of BTEX by using GIS technology, which enables spatial analysis of benzene emissions to the atmosphere. These results will serve the agencies involved in decision-making. There is no clear legislation in Mexico to protect people living in the vicinity of gas stations. Therefore, programs should be developed to reduce their impact on the population at the environmental, health and social levels.La exposición a compuestos orgánicos volátiles (COV) presentes en la gasolina, como el benceno, tolueno, etilbenceno y xileno (BTEX), por su capacidad cancerígena se ha asociado con el aumento del riesgo a desarrollar cáncer en las personas que viven o trabajan en las proximidades de las estaciones de servicio. En este trabajo se propone una aproximación metodológica para estudiar la problemática que representan los COV en los individuos expuestos a los hidrocarburos. Los datos obtenidos indican que existe mayor presencia de COV en las zonas ubicadas en la cercanía de las fuentes puntuales de emisión y por ende con mayor exposición a factores tóxicos. Con este trabajo se plantea un procedimiento sencillo para establecer las zonas vulnerables a riesgos tecnológicos dentro del área urbana por presencia de BTEX, utilizando para ello la tecnología SIG que permite realizar un análisis espacial de las emisiones de benceno a la atmósfera. Estos resultados quedarán al servicio de los organismos involucrados en la toma de decisiones. En México no existe una legislación clara que proteja a los habitantes de las cercanías de las estaciones de servicio, por lo tanto se deben desarrollar programas para disminuir el impacto en la población a nivel ambiental, sanitario y social.A exposição a compostos orgânicos voláteis (COV) presentes na gasolina, como o benzeno, tolueno, etilbenzeno e xileno (BTEX), pela sua ação cancerígena foi associada ao aumento do risco de desenvolver cancro, nas pessoas que vivem ou trabalham nas proximidades das estações de serviço. Neste trabalho propõe-se uma abordagem metodológica para estudar a problemática que os COV representam para os indivíduos expostos a hidrocarbonetos. Os dados obtidos indicam que há uma maior presença de COV em áreas localizadas na proximidade de fontes pontuais de emissão e, portanto, mais expostas a fatores tóxicos. Com este trabalho, é proposto um procedimento simples para a definição de zonas vulneráveis a riscos tecnológicos, dentro da área urbana pela presença de BTEX, utilizando a tecnologia SIG que permite uma análise espacial das emissões de benzeno na atmosfera. Estes resultados ficarão à disposição dos organismos envolvidos na tomada de decisões. No México, não existe uma legislação clara que proteja quem vive nas proximidades dos postos de gasolina, motivo pelo qual se devem desenvolver programas que visem diminuir o impacto na população a nível ambiental, sanitário e social

Clinical benefit of glasdegib plus low-dose cytarabine in patients with de novo and secondary acute myeloid leukemia: long-term analysis of a phase II randomized trial

This analysis from the phase II BRIGHT AML 1003 trial reports the long-term efficacy and safety of glasdegib + low-dose cytarabine (LDAC) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia ineligible for intensive chemotherapy. The multicenter, open-label study randomized (2:1) patients to receive glasdegib + LDAC (de novo, n = 38; secondary acute myeloid leukemia, n = 40) or LDAC alone (de novo, n = 18; secondary acute myeloid leukemia, n = 20). At the time of analysis, 90% of patients had died, with the longest follow-up since randomization 36 months. The combination of glasdegib and LDAC conferred superior overall survival (OS) versus LDAC alone; hazard ratio (HR) 0.495; (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.325–0.752); p = 0.0004; median OS was 8.3 versus 4.3 months. Improvement in OS was consistent across cytogenetic risk groups. In a post-hoc subgroup analysis, a survival trend with glasdegib + LDAC was observed in patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (HR 0.720; 95% CI 0.395–1.312; p = 0.14; median OS 6.6 vs 4.3 months) and secondary acute myeloid leukemia (HR 0.287; 95% CI 0.151–0.548; p < 0.0001; median OS 9.1 vs 4.1 months). The incidence of adverse events in the glasdegib + LDAC arm decreased after 90 days’ therapy: 83.7% versus 98.7% during the first 90 days. Glasdegib + LDAC versus LDAC alone continued to demonstrate superior OS in patients with acute myeloid leukemia; the clinical benefit with glasdegib + LDAC was particularly prominent in patients with secondary acute myeloid leukemia. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01546038.Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL. This study was funded by Pfizer.Peer reviewe

Promotion of IL-4- and IL-5-dependent differentiation of anti-μ-primed B cells by ascorbic acid 2-glucoside

The stable ascorbic acid derivative 2-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid (AA-2G) was used to investigate the role of ascorbic acid (AA) in B cell differentiation in vitro. AA-2G is stable in a solution unlike AA but is hydrolyzed by cellular alpha-glucosidase to release AA. Mouse spleen B cells were primed for 2 days with an anti-mu antibody in the presence of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 and then washed and recultured with AA-2G in the presence of IL-4 and IL-5. AA-2G, but not AA, dose-dependently increased IgM production, the greatest enhancement being 150% at concentrations of more than 0.5 mM. In the absence of IL-4 and IL-5, primed B cells produced a negligible amount of IgM, and AA-2G had no effect. AA-2G-induced IgM production in the presence of IL-4 and IL-5 was inhibited by the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor castanospermine. Intracellular AA content, depleted during the priming period, increased by adding AA-2G at the start of reculture. Treatment of B cells with AA-2G resulted in an increase in the number of IgM-secreting cells, CD138-positive cells and CD45R/B220-negative cells. The number of viable cells in untreated cultures decreased gradually, but the decrease was significantly attenuated by AA-2G, resulting in about 70% more viable cells in AA-2G-treated cultures. AA-2G caused a slight but reproducible enhancement of DNA synthesis and a slight decrease in the number of cells with a sub-G1 DNA content. These results demonstrated that AA released from AA-2G enhanced cytokine-dependent IgM production in anti-mu-primed B cells and suggest that its effect is caused through promoting the differentiation of B cells to plasma cells and attenuating the gradual decrease in the number of viable cells

R&D Paths of Pixel Detectors for Vertex Tracking and Radiation Imaging

This report reviews current trends in the R&D of semiconductor pixellated sensors for vertex tracking and radiation imaging. It identifies requirements of future HEP experiments at colliders, needed technological breakthroughs and highlights the relation to radiation detection and imaging applications in other fields of science.Comment: 17 pages, 2 figures, submitted to the European Strategy Preparatory Grou

Evaluation of a Dried Fermentation Product Administered Through Drinking Water in a Commercial Environment on Nursery Pig Mortalities, Antibiotic Injections, and Growth Performance

A total of 34,399 commercial nursery pigs (initially 12.2 lb) were used in 20 nursery barns with 10 barns per treatment to determine the effectiveness of a dried fermentation product (DFP) on nursery pig mortalities, antibiotic injection frequency, and close-out growth performance. The target dosage of the DFP for the first 14 d was 35 mg/kg BW based on the actual dosage of a previous experiment. Following the 14-d supplementation period, pigs continued to be monitored until they were moved from the barn at approximately d 45. The first 6 replicates consisted of the DFP as the sole source of water additive from d 0 to 14, while the last 4 replicates included water-soluble antibiotics with the DFP. During the supplementation period, there was no evidence that the DFP influenced the percentage of pigs that died or total mortality. However, the DFP reduced the percentage of pigs that were euthanized. During the common period, the DFP increased the percentage of pigs euthanized and tended to increase mortality percentage. For the overall experiment, providing the DFP did not influence growth performance. When providing the DFP, there was an increase in the percentage of pigs requiring euthanasia and therefore an increase in overall mortality. For injections, providing the DFP for the first 14 d reduced the number of pigs injected from d 14 to d 45 by the end of the nursery and the overall nursery period

Evaluation of a Dried Fermentation Product Administered Through Drinking Water on Nursery Pig Growth Performance, Fecal Consistency, and Antibiotic Injections

A total of 350 barrows (DNA 200 × 400; initially 13.5 ± 0.02 lb) were used in a 42-d study to evaluate the effects of a dried fermentation product administered through drinking water on nursery pig growth performance, antibiotic injection frequency, fecal consistency, and fecal Escherichia coli presence. Upon arrival to the nursery research facility, pigs were randomly assigned to pens (5 pigs per pen) and pens were allotted to 1 of 2 water treatments with 35 pens per treatment. Water treatments were provided with or without a fermentation product administered through the water lines at a 1:128 dilution rate from d 0 to 14 after weaning. From d 0 to 14, 14 to 42, and for the overall experiment, there was no evidence (P \u3e 0.10) for differences observed for any growth performance criteria. There was evidence (P \u3c 0.05) for day effect on diarrhea presence. Diarrhea presence increased on d 4 and 6, then decreased to low levels. There was no evidence for the fermentation product to influence diarrhea incidence. For antibiotic injections, there was no evidence (P \u3e 0.10) for differences observed between treatments. Mortalities were low, with no evidence (P \u3e 0.10) for differences observed between treatments for removals or mortalities. For fecal dry matter on d 7 and 14, there was no evidence (P \u3e 0.10) for differences observed between treatments. In summary, under these experimental conditions, administering a dried fermentation product for the first 14 d in the nursery through the drinking water did not improve growth performance, fecal dry matter, diarrhea presence, antibiotic injections, or removals and mortalities in nursery pigs. Further evaluation of the dried fermentation product in commercial facilities with greater diarrhea and mortality is needed