Advancing ecological assessment of the Arabian Gulf through eDNA metabarcoding: opportunities, prospects, and challenges

The Arabian Gulf (hereafter ‘the Gulf’) is renowned for its unique ecological characteristics and distinct marine life. It offers a diverse range of ecosystems that have adapted to the impacts posed by natural stress and human activities. Regular biomonitoring and diversity assessments are necessary to document the health of the Gulf ecosystem and to implement appropriate measures for effective conservation and management. Recently, environmental DNA (eDNA), a total pool of DNA isolated from environmental samples, has emerged as a highly effective tool for ecological studies. This review explores the opportunities, prospects, and challenges associated with employing eDNA metabarcoding in the ecological assessment and biomonitoring of the Gulf. It provides an overview of the status of the Gulf ecosystem and discusses the potential applications of eDNA metabarcoding in assessing biodiversity, monitoring invasive species, and evaluating ecosystem health. Additionally, the investigation addresses the challenges inherent in implementing this technique, considering environmental complexities, methodological intricacies, and data interpretation. Overall, this review emphasizes the immense potential of eDNA metabarcoding in advancing ecological assessment in the Gulf and calls for further research and collaboration to harness its benefits in this unique marine ecosystem

Preparation and performance evaluation of speek/polyaniline composite membrane for direct methanol fuel cell

Polymer composites comprising sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) and 10 to 50 wt% of Poly(trimellitic anhydride chloride-co-4,4'-methylenedianiline) (PTCMA) were prepared by solution casting. The effects of PTCMA concentrations on morphological, thermal and transport properties (water uptake, methanol permeability, ion exchange capacity and proton conductivity) were investigated. A morphological analysis revealed an homogenous dense microstructure for all the composites. Also, transport property tests revealed that the water uptake, methanol permeability and ion exchange capacity were enhanced by the addition of PTCMA whereas proton conductivity deteriorated. As shown by a thermogravimetric analysis, the difference between the thermal properties of the pure SPEEK and the composites was insignificant. Overall, the composites were observed to display a better global performance in terms of transport properties than pure SPEEK.Authors would like to thank the National Science, Technology and Innovation Program (NSTIP) of KACST for funding this research under project number 10-ENE1374-04. Also, authors extend their appreciation to Center for Integrative Petroleum Research, Center of Excellence in Renewable Energy, and King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Saudi Arabia for their support.Scopu

Proton conducting blend membranes: physical, morphological and electronic properties

Blend membranes of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) and sulfonated polyetherimide (SPEI) have been prepared and investigated as a potential polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). Polymers were dissolved in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) in different mixing ratios and membranes were casted using a semi-automatic casting machine on a pre-cleaned glass plate. The influence of SPEI percentage on ion exchange capacity (IEC), water uptake, methanol permeability and proton exchange capacity have been investigated. Blend membranes showed slightly better IEC, water uptake and methanol crossover properties as compare to pure SPEEK; but proton conductivity was slightly lower than that of pure SPEEK membrane. Membrane morphology was investigated by FESEM, TGA and AFM. Overall, a homogeneous surface was observed for most of the blend membranes, with minor phase separation at higher SPEI contents samples. AFM image of the membrane surface shows nanoscale surface roughness.Scopu

Mediation of the effect of childhood socioeconomic position by educational attainment on adult chronic disease in Chile

Objectives We estimated the roles of childhood socioeconomic position (ChSEP) and education attainment on chronic diseases in Chilean adults, mediated through structural determinants and health behaviors, to identify potential pro-equity interventions. Methods We analyzed Chile’s longitudinal Social Protection Surveys, a national sample of 14,788 adults with follow- up to 2009. Controlled direct effects (CDE) and natural effects (NDE and NIE) of ChSEP and education on number of chronic diseases were estimated with negative binomial models. Results CDE of low ChSEP with education fixed at 12 years showed a 12% increase with 4% indirect effects. CDEs at favorable levels of BMI, smoking, alcohol use, and physical activity were similar. CDE estimates for education adjusted for ChSEP were larger with negligible mediation. CDEs for women were generally larger. Conclusions Low ChSEP exerts a primarily direct effect on later chronic disease, modestly mediated by education. Education attainment showed larger direct effects with minimal mediation by behaviors. Strengthening current– early child development and education policies, particularly gender aspects, may reduce social inequalities and key pathways for reducing chronic disease inequalities in Chile.Chile’s National Fund for Health Research and Development (Fondo Nacional de Investigacio´n y Desarrollo en Salud, FONIS. Grant no. SA13|20138

Clinical Value of an Acute Popping Sensation in Throwing Athletes With Medial Elbow Pain for Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury

Background: Throwing athletes sustaining an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury may recall a popping sensation originating from the medial elbow at the time of injury. There are no studies available that inform clinicians how to utilize this salient anamnestic information and what amount of diagnostic weight to afford to it. Purpose: To assess the diagnostic value of a popping sensation for significant UCL injury in throwing athletes who sustained an injury causing medial elbow pain. Study Design: Cohort study (prognosis); Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 207 consecutive patients with throwing-related medial elbow pain were evaluated for UCL injury by the senior author between 2011 and 2016. The presence or absence of a popping sensation was routinely reported by the senior author. Magnetic resonance imaging was evaluated for UCL injury severity and classified into intact, edema/low-grade partial-, high-grade partial-, and full-thickness tears. Results: The overall frequency of a pop was 26%. The proportion of patients who reported a pop significantly increased with UCL tear severity (P <.001), from 13% in patients with low-grade UCL injuries to 26% in patients with high-grade partial-thickness tears and 51% in patients with full-thickness tears. The positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and odds ratio of a popping sensation for significant UCL injury were 3.2, 0.7, and 4.4 (P <.001), respectively (P <.001). A pop was not associated with either distal or proximal UCL tears (P ≥.999). Conclusion: A popping sensation at the time of injury in throwing athletes with medial elbow pain was associated with UCL injury severity. When a throwing athlete reports a pop, this should moderately increase a clinician’s suspicion for a significant UCL injury. Conversely, absence of a pop should not substantially decrease suspicion for significant UCL injury. The findings of this study allow for the clinical interpretation of the salient anamnestic finding of a pop at the time of injury, which can be used for diagnostic purposes as well as patient counseling. This study provides reference foundation for future studies of predictive and diagnostic factors for UCL injury in throwing athletes

Demarcation energy properties of regenerated fiber Bragg grating sensors in few-mode fibers

In this work, thermal regeneration of fiber Bragg gratings inscribed in single-mode fibers, two-mode step index fibers and four-mode step index fibers is performed, where the single-mode fibers are used as the reference in the analysis. Specifically, we investigate the behavior of the thermal decay, recovery and eventually the permanent erasure of the gratings in the temperature range from 25 to 1300°C. In the domain of demarcation energy, the thermal responses of the gratings can be normalized and they share similar characteristic curves despite the different temperature ramping rates used in the annealing treatment. It is found that the demarcation energy at the regeneration point and the attempt-to-escape frequency for each grating can be associated with the confinement factors of the fibers. The finding in this work has provided a new insight in the manufacture of regenerated fiber Bragg grating sensors by using few-mode fibers for multiparameter sensing in high temperature environments

A Review of Potential Neuropathological Changes Associated with Ketamine

Expert Opinion on Drug Safety216813-83

Proximal humerus and ilium are reliable sources of bone marrow aspirates for biologic augmentation during arthroscopic surgery

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the number of colony-forming units (CFUs) derived from concentrated bone marrow aspirates (BMAs) that were processed following arthroscopic harvest from either the proximal humerus or the body of the ilium during biologic augmentation of the rotator cuff and acetabular labral repairs. Methods: Between November 2014 and January 2019, BMA was harvested from the proximal humerus (n = 89) and the body of the ilium (n = 30) during arthroscopic surgery. Following concentration of the aspirate, a 0.5-mL aliquot was further processed and the number of nucleated cells (NC) was counted. Bach aliquot was cultured until CFUs were quantifiable. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to confirm presence of mesenchymal stem cells. BMA harvest sites were prospectively assessed and evaluated for differences in age, sex, volume of aspirated BM, and CFUs per milliliter of BMA. Results: The prevalence (38.57 +/- 27.92(ilium) vs. 56.00 +/- 25.60(humerus) CFUs per 10(6) nucleated cells) and concentration (979.17 +/- 740.31(ilium) vs. 1,516.62 +/- 763.63(humerus) CFUs per 1.0 mL BMA) of CFUs was significantly higher (P .05, respectively). Conclusion: Both proximal humerus and the body of the ilium can be considered reliable sources of bone marrow aspirate for the use in biologic augmentation during their respective arthroscopic surgery. Samples of bone marrow aspirate from the proximal humerus yielded a significantly higher amount of CFUs when compared with samples of BMA obtained from the ilium