Fast Food: A Source of Exposure to Phthalates and Bisphenol A in a Nationally Representative Sample

Background: Certain phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) are industrial chemicals widely used in consumer products that can adversely impact human health. Diet is hypothesized to be a major source of exposure but little is known about the impact of specific food sources. This study aims to investigate the association between fast food consumption with human exposure to high-molecular weight phthalates (di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and diisononyl phthalate (DINP)) and BPA, in 8876 participants, aged 6 to 85 years old, from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2003-2010. Methodology: During the NHANES mobile exam, participants: 1) provided a spot urine sample which was measured for metabolites of DEHP, DINP, and BPA; and 2) completed a 24-hour dietary recall survey. We calculated kilocalorie intake of fast food from the dietary survey, and modeled fast food consumption in the prior 24-hours dichotomously and categorically as the percent of total daily calories (0%, Results: The majority of study subjects had detectable levels of urinary phthalate and BPA metabolites in their urine. Those who had eaten fast food had significantly higher urinary metabolite levels of ΣDEHP [percent change (95%CI): 18.63% (10.38%, 27.50%)] and DINP [percent change (95%CI): 32.17% (20.04%, 45.52%)], but not BPA [percent change (95%CI): 2.36% (-2.59%, 7.56%)] compared to those who had not eaten fast food in adjusted models. For ΣDEHP and DINP, there was evidence of a positive dose-response effect (p for trend \u3c 0.0001). Meat and grain consumption were associated with ΣDEHP and DINP when adjusting for all food groups. Discussion: Findings suggest that fast food consumption may be an important exposure source for DEHP and DINP, but not BPA, among the general population. Consistent with other studies that report high phthalate residues in high fat foods, our findings suggest that meat-centric meals may in part be responsible for this association. Further research should investigate which components of the fast food industry (production and storage, cooking process, packaging, etc.) contribute to this association

Recent fast food consumption and bisphenol A and phthalates exposures among the U.S. population in NHANES, 2003-2010

Background: Phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) are widely used industrial chemicals that may adversely impact human health. Human exposure is ubiquitous and can occur through diet, including consumption of processed or packaged food. Objective: To examine associations between recent fast food intake and BPA and urinary metabolites of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (ΣDEHPm) and diisononyl phthalate (DiNPm) among the US population. Methods: We combined data on 8877 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2003-2010). Using 24-hour dietary recall data, we quantified: 1) fast food intake (percent of total energy intake (TEI) from fast food); 2) fast food-derived fat intake (percent of TEI from fat in fast food); and 3) fast food intake by food group (dairy, eggs, grains, meat, and other). We examined associations between dietary exposures and urinary chemical concentrations using multivariate linear regression. Results: We observed evidence of a positive, dose–response relationship between fast food intake and exposure to phthalates (p-trend \u3c 0.0001) but not BPA; participants with high consumption (≥ 34.9% TEI from fast food) had 23.8% (95% CI: 11.9%, 36.9%) and 39.0% (95% CI: 21.9%, 58.5%) higher levels of ΣDEHPm and DiNPm, respectively, than nonconsumers. Fast food-derived fat intake was also positively associated with ΣDEHPm and DiNPm (p-trend \u3c 0.0001). After adjusting for other food groups, ΣDEHPm was associated with grain and other intake, and DiNPm was associated with meat and grain intake. Conclusion: Fast food may be a source of exposure to DEHP and DiNP. These results, if confirmed, could inform individual and regulatory exposure reduction strategies

Rapid emergency assessment of ash and gas hazard for future eruptions at Santorini Volcano, Greece

Hazard assessments for long-dormant volcanoes, where information is rarely available, typically have to be made rapidly and in the face of considerable uncertainty and often poor information. A conditional (assuming an eruption), scenario-based probabilistic approach to such an assessment is presented here for Santorini volcano (Greece). The rapid assessment was developed and implemented in response to the 2011-2012 unrest crisis in order to inform emergency management and planning. This paper synthesises the results presented to the Greek National Committee and scientific community involved. Two plausible eruptions at Santorini were investigated, using multiple inputs and dispersal models, based on observations of historic eruptions and expert judgement. For ash hazard, a 'most likely' eruption scenario was developed, characterised by slow lava extrusion over periods of one to two years with weak but persistent explosions and ash venting up to 3 km. A second 'largest considered' sub-Plinian explosive scenario assumed a 12 km high column of 4-h duration. For gas hazard, constant fluxes of 200 and 800 tons/day SO2 were assumed for the duration of the eruption scenarios, noting that there is very little evidence to constrain SO2 flux from Santorini eruptions. Statistical models of likely wind conditions with height and season were developed from decadal reanalysis time series showing that consistent low-altitude winds were rarely maintained for more than a few days. Stochastic models of ash (TEPHRA2, VOL-CALPUFF) and gas (AERMOD) dispersal provided outputs in the form of probability maps and exceedance probability curves for key loading and concentration thresholds at important locations on the island. The results from the rapid assessments presented in this paper confirm that ash and gas hazard is likely to be of concern if an eruption of Santorini occurs. Higher hazard may be expected to the south and east of the volcano, notably at important tourist and transport hubs. Low hazard to the north and northwest suggests that these may be suitable locations for emergency response centres and emergency critical infrastructure. This approach may provide a blueprint for rapid ash and gas assessment for other long-dormant volcanoes and we provide suggestions for refining the methods used.</p

The importance of long-term genetic monitoring of reintroduced populations: inbreeding in the natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita)

Genetic monitoring is an important, but frequently lacking, component of management actions to support long-term persistence in reintroduced populations. Populations that remain small, due to demographic processes and genetic diversity, are more likely to experience a second extinction event. The natterjack toad (Epidelea calamita) is legally protected in Britain and was the subject of a reintroduction programme in the 1990s. However, subsequent genetic assessment has been mostly lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the genetic diversity of two reintroduced populations of natterjack toads in order to inform conservation management. Adults were sampled and nine microsatellites amplified to assess neutral genetic variation within each site and for comparison with the source population. Inbreeding was observed at the reintroduction sites, as evidenced by high FIS values (0.43 and 0.72), low observed compared to expected heterozygosities, and significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Observed heterozygosity is currently lower in the reintroduction sites than it was in the source population at the time of the reintroductions (Red Rocks: 0.15±0.20; Talacre: 0.12±0.20; Ainsdale (source): 0.29). Evidence for a bottleneck was not found, although this is likely a result of sampling overlapping generations. No within-site population structuring was observed. Such low genetic diversity has not previously been recorded in any natterjack population. Genetic rescue, combined with pool creation, is the most viable option for safeguarding the species at these sites into the future. Our work highlights the importance of ongoing genetic monitoring, in collaboration with conservation organisations, to support conservation management

Des Moines Area Community College Creative Writing Contest 1976-2001

Award-Winning Works For the Academic Year · 2000-2001https://openspace.dmacc.edu/creativewriting/1002/thumbnail.jp

Social Determinants of Health in Dunn, NC - Advocacy Toolkit

This folder contains a public health advocacy toolkit created by the Southern Oral History Program (SOHP)’s 2020-2021 Capstone Team at University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health. The 2020-2021 SOHP Capstone team worked on the ongoing SOHP Stories to Save Lives project, which collected a series of oral histories from rural North Carolinians about their experiences living, working, and receiving and providing healthcare. The team analyzed 38 unique oral histories that had been collected from patients and providers at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) based in Dunn, NC between 2018 and 2019. Based on these histories, the team assembled these products to advocate for change and improvements to social determinants of health that had affected the narrators of these oral histories

Generating and testing ecological hypotheses at the pondscape with environmental DNA metabarcoding: A case study on a threatened amphibian

Background: Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is revolutionizing biodiversity monitoring, but has unrealized potential for ecological hypothesis generation and testing. Aims: Here, we validate this potential in a large-scale analysis of vertebrate community data generated by eDNA metabarcoding of 532 UK ponds. Materials & Methods: We test biotic associations between the threatened great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) and other vertebrates as well as abiotic factors influencing T.cristatus detection at the pondscape. Furthermore, we test the status of T.cristatus as an umbrella species for pond conservation by assessing whether vertebrate species richness is greater in ponds with T.cristatus and higher T.cristatus Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) scores. Results: Triturus cristatus detection was positively correlated with amphibian and waterfowl species richness. Specifically, T.cristatus was positively associated with smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris), common coot (Fulica atra), and common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), but negatively associated with common toad (Bufo bufo). Triturus cristatus detection did not significantly decrease as fish species richness increased, but negative associations with common carp (Cyprinus carpio), three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), and ninespine stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) were identified. Triturus cristatus detection was negatively correlated with mammal species richness, and T.cristatus was negatively associated with gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). Triturus cristatus detection was negatively correlated with larger pond area, presence of inflow, and higher percentage of shading, but positively correlated with HSI score, supporting its application to T.cristatus survey. Vertebrate species richness was significantly higher in T.cristatus ponds and broadly increased as T.cristatus HSI scores increased. Discussion: We reaffirm reported associations (e.g., T.cristatus preference for smaller ponds) but also provide novel insights, including a negative effect of pond inflow on T.cristatus. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate the prospects of eDNA metabarcoding for ecological hypothesis generation and testing at landscape scale, and dramatic enhancement of freshwater conservation, management, monitoring, and research

Expressions 2001

https://openspace.dmacc.edu/expressions/1020/thumbnail.jp

Immunogenicity of COVID ‐19 vaccines in patients with follicular lymphoma receiving frontline chemoimmunotherapy

Summary: Immune responses to primary COVID‐19 vaccination were investigated in 58 patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) as part of the PETReA trial of frontline therapy (EudraCT 2016–004010‐10). COVID‐19 vaccines (BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1) were administered before, during or after cytoreductive treatment comprising rituximab (depletes B cells) and either bendamustine (depletes CD4+ T cells) or cyclophosphamide‐based chemotherapy. Blood samples obtained after vaccine doses 1 and 2 (V1, V2) were analysed for antibodies and T cells reactive to the SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein using the Abbott Architect and interferon‐gamma ELISpot assays respectively. Compared to 149 healthy controls, patients with FL exhibited lower antibody but preserved T‐cell responses. Within the FL cohort, multivariable analysis identified low pre‐treatment serum IgA levels and V2 administration during induction or maintenance treatment as independent determinants of lower antibody and higher T‐cell responses, and bendamustine and high/intermediate FLIPI‐2 score as additional determinants of a lower antibody response. Several clinical scenarios were identified where dichotomous immune responses were estimated with >95% confidence based on combinations of predictive variables. In conclusion, the immunogenicity of COVID‐19 vaccines in FL patients is influenced by multiple disease‐ and treatment‐related factors, among which B‐cell depletion showed differential effects on antibody and T‐cell responses

Temporal separation of distinct differentiation pathways by a dual specificity Rap-Phr system in Bacillus subtilis

In bacterial differentiation, mechanisms have evolved to limit cells to a single developmental pathway. The establishment of genetic competence in Bacillus subtilis is controlled by a complex regulatory circuit that is highly interconnected with the developmental pathway for spore formation, and the two pathways appear to be mutually exclusive. Here we show by in vitro and in vivo analyses that a member of the Rap family of proteins, RapH, is activated directly by the late competence transcription factor ComK, and is capable of inhibiting both competence and sporulation. Importantly, RapH is the first member of the Rap family that demonstrates dual specificity, by dephosphorylating the SpoOF-P response regulator and inhibiting the DNA-binding activity of ComA. The protein thus acts at the stage where competence is well initiated, and prevents initiation of sporulation in competent cells as well as contributing to the escape from the competent state. A deletion of rapH induces both differentiation pathways and interferes with their temporal separation. Together, these results indicate that RapH is an integral part of a multifactorial regulatory circuit affecting the cell's decision between distinct developmental pathways