Does the neighborhood food environment contribute to ethnic inequalities in fast-food intake? findings from the ORiEL study.

The neighborhood food environment may contribute to ethnic inequalities in diet. Using data from 1389 participants in the Olympic Regeneration in East London (UK) study we assessed whether ethnic inequalities in neighborhood availability of fast-food restaurants mediated and/or modified ethnic inequalities in fast-food intake in 13-15?year-old adolescents. We compared the proportion of high fast-food consumers across "White UK", "Black", and "South Asian" ethnic categories. We used Poisson regression with robust standard errors to assess direct and indirect effects (mediation analysis) and risk ratios of high fast-food intake by ethnic category and fast-food restaurant availability level (effect measure modification analysis). There were ethnic inequalities in high fast-food intake, with risk ratios in adolescents of Black and South Asian background of 1.53 (95% CI: 1.25, 1.87) and 1.71 (95% CI: 1.41, 2.07) respectively compared to White UK participants. We found no evidence of a mediating effect by fast-food restaurant availability, but found some evidence of effect measure modification: ethnic inequalities in fast-food intake were largest in neighborhoods lacking fast-food restaurants, and narrowed as availability increased. Future research should explore why ethnic minorities are more likely to be high fast-food consumers than the majority ethnic group, especially when fast-food restaurant availability is lowest

Biomass-Derived Microporous Carbon Materials with an Open Structure of Cross-Linked Sub-microfibers with Enhanced Adsorption Characteristics

This document is the accepted manuscript version of a published work that appeared in final form in Energy and Fuels, © American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.6b02112Moringa oleifera seed shells exhibit a unique structure of cross-linked sub-microfibers (0.5-1.5 μm diameter) with a well-connected macroporous network. Controlled pyrolysis (500-800 °C) and cyclic activation of the precursor provided a porous carbon material with a structure that minimizes mass-transfer constraints. Under both slow (10 °C/min-1) and flash pyrolysis, the structure was preserved, while a significant microporosity was developed. By flash pyrolysis (700-800 °C), a material with enhanced characteristics for potential application as a molecular sieve (SDA = 450-470 m2 g-1, and SBET = 5 m2 g-1) was obtained. Cyclic activation of carbonized shells, consisting of an oxygen chemisorption stage (180 °C) followed by a desorption stage in an inert atmosphere (450-900 °C), resulted in a controlled development of microporosity upon successive activation cycles. After 10 activation cycles, respective SDA and SBET values of 1172 and 761 m2 g-1 were obtained. Higher development of the surface area and a wider distribution of micropores was observed when the desorption stage was carried out at 900 °C. The development of the surface area was achieved at low burnoff (22-33%), thus preserving the structure of the material. Thanks to its unique structure, the material obtained exhibited enhanced characteristics for gas sorption as a result of diminished mass-transfer limitations, assessed through the kinetics of carbon dioxide adsorption runs at ambient conditionsThe authors greatly appreciate financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (CTQ2012-32821

Bioactive Hydroperoxyl Cembranoids from the Red Sea Soft Coral Sarcophyton glaucum

A chemical investigation of an ethyl acetate extract of the Red Sea soft coral Sarcophyton glaucum has led to the isolation of two peroxide diterpenes, 11(S) hydroperoxylsarcoph-12(20)-ene (1), and 12(S)-hydroperoxylsarcoph-10-ene (2), as well as 8-epi-sarcophinone (3). In addition to these three new compounds, two known structures were identified including: ent-sarcophine (4) and sarcophine (5). Structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, with the relative configuration of 1 and 2 confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Isolated compounds were found to be inhibitors of cytochrome P450 1A activity as well as inducers of glutathione S-transferases (GST), quinone reductase (QR), and epoxide hydrolase (mEH) establishing chemo-preventive and tumor anti-initiating activity for these characterized metabolites

Primary gliosarcoma: key clinical and pathologic distinctions from glioblastoma with implications as a unique oncologic entity

This report presents the historical experience, clinical presentation, treatment, prognosis, and pathogenesis of gliosarcoma described to date in the English literature. PubMed query of term “gliosarcoma” was performed, followed by a rigorous review of cited literature. Articles selected for analysis included: (1) case reports of gliosarcoma, (2) review articles of gliosarcoma, and (3) studies of the pathogenesis or genetics of gliosarcoma in humans. Our review identified 219 cases of gliosarcoma in 34 reports and eight articles addressing the pathogenesis. Survival in larger series ranged 4–11.5 months. Features unique to gliosarcoma compared to glioblastoma (GBM) include their temporal lobe predilection, potential to appear similar to a meningioma at surgery, repeated reports of extracranial metastases, and infrequency of EGFR mutations. Published experience is limited to small case series, and the pathogenesis remains unclear. Clinical and pathologic characteristics distinct from GBM suggest that they may warrant specific treatment, separate from conventional GBM therapy

Thermal conductivity and thermal boundary resistance of nanostructures

International audienceWe present a fabrication process of low-cost superlattices and simulations related with the heat dissipation on them. The influence of the interfacial roughness on the thermal conductivity of semiconductor/semiconductor superlattices was studied by equilibrium and non-equilibrium molecular dynamics and on the Kapitza resistance of superlattice's interfaces by equilibrium molecular dynamics. The non-equilibrium method was the tool used for the prediction of the Kapitza resistance for a binary semiconductor/metal system. Physical explanations are provided for rationalizing the simulation results

The global burden of adolescent and young adult cancer in 2019 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background In estimating the global burden of cancer, adolescents and young adults with cancer are often overlooked, despite being a distinct subgroup with unique epidemiology, clinical care needs, and societal impact. Comprehensive estimates of the global cancer burden in adolescents and young adults (aged 15-39 years) are lacking. To address this gap, we analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019, with a focus on the outcome of disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), to inform global cancer control measures in adolescents and young adults. Methods Using the GBD 2019 methodology, international mortality data were collected from vital registration systems, verbal autopsies, and population-based cancer registry inputs modelled with mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIRs). Incidence was computed with mortality estimates and corresponding MIRs. Prevalence estimates were calculated using modelled survival and multiplied by disability weights to obtain years lived with disability (YLDs). Years of life lost (YLLs) were calculated as age-specific cancer deaths multiplied by the standard life expectancy at the age of death. The main outcome was DALYs (the sum of YLLs and YLDs). Estimates were presented globally and by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintiles (countries ranked and divided into five equal SDI groups), and all estimates were presented with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). For this analysis, we used the age range of 15-39 years to define adolescents and young adults. Findings There were 1.19 million (95% UI 1.11-1.28) incident cancer cases and 396 000 (370 000-425 000) deaths due to cancer among people aged 15-39 years worldwide in 2019. The highest age-standardised incidence rates occurred in high SDI (59.6 [54.5-65.7] per 100 000 person-years) and high-middle SDI countries (53.2 [48.8-57.9] per 100 000 person-years), while the highest age-standardised mortality rates were in low-middle SDI (14.2 [12.9-15.6] per 100 000 person-years) and middle SDI (13.6 [12.6-14.8] per 100 000 person-years) countries. In 2019, adolescent and young adult cancers contributed 23.5 million (21.9-25.2) DALYs to the global burden of disease, of which 2.7% (1.9-3.6) came from YLDs and 97.3% (96.4-98.1) from YLLs. Cancer was the fourth leading cause of death and tenth leading cause of DALYs in adolescents and young adults globally. Interpretation Adolescent and young adult cancers contributed substantially to the overall adolescent and young adult disease burden globally in 2019. These results provide new insights into the distribution and magnitude of the adolescent and young adult cancer burden around the world. With notable differences observed across SDI settings, these estimates can inform global and country-level cancer control efforts. Copyright (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Does the neighborhood food environment contribute to ethnic inequalities in fast-food intake? findings from the ORiEL study.

The neighborhood food environment may contribute to ethnic inequalities in diet. Using data from 1389 participants in the Olympic Regeneration in East London (UK) study we assessed whether ethnic inequalities in neighborhood availability of fast-food restaurants mediated and/or modified ethnic inequalities in fast-food intake in 13-15 year-old adolescents. We compared the proportion of high fast-food consumers across "White UK", "Black", and "South Asian" ethnic categories. We used Poisson regression with robust standard errors to assess direct and indirect effects (mediation analysis) and risk ratios of high fast-food intake by ethnic category and fast-food restaurant availability level (effect measure modification analysis). There were ethnic inequalities in high fast-food intake, with risk ratios in adolescents of Black and South Asian background of 1.53 (95% CI: 1.25, 1.87) and 1.71 (95% CI: 1.41, 2.07) respectively compared to White UK participants. We found no evidence of a mediating effect by fast-food restaurant availability, but found some evidence of effect measure modification: ethnic inequalities in fast-food intake were largest in neighborhoods lacking fast-food restaurants, and narrowed as availability increased. Future research should explore why ethnic minorities are more likely to be high fast-food consumers than the majority ethnic group, especially when fast-food restaurant availability is lowest

Dual functionality metamaterial enables ultra-compact, highly sensitive uncooled infrared sensor

Cointegration and coupling a perfect metamaterial absorber (PMA) together with a film bulk acoustic wave resonator (FBAR) in a monolithic fashion is introduced for the purpose of producing ultracompact uncooled infrared sensors of high sensitivity. An optimized ultrathin multilayer stack was implemented to realize the proposed device. It is experimentally demonstrated that the resonance frequency of the FBAR can be used efficiently as a sensor output as it downshifts linearly with the intensity of the incident infrared irradiation. The resulting sensor also achieves a high absorption of 88% for an infrared spectrum centered at a wavelength of 8.2 μm. The structure is compact and can be easily integrated on a CMOS-compatible chip since both the FBAR and PMA utilize and share the same stack of metal and dielectric layers