Hasil untuk "Environmental sciences"

Captain Y. B. Nusfield

The School of Public Health offers two professional degrees, the Master of Public Health (MPH) and the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH). The School of Public Health also offers academic degrees in Biostatistics (http://guide.berkeley.edu/graduate/degree-programs/biostatistics) (MA, PhD), Environmental Health Sciences (http://guide.berkeley.edu/ graduate/degree-programs/environmental-health-sciences) (MS, PhD), Epidemiology (http://guide.berkeley.edu/graduate/degreeprograms/epidemiology) (MS, PhD), Health and Medical Sciences (http:// guide.berkeley.edu/graduate/degree-programs/health-medical-sciencesprogram) (MS), Health Policy (http://guide.berkeley.edu/graduate/degreeprograms/health-policy) (PhD), and Infectious Diseases & Immunity (http://guide.berkeley.edu/graduate/degree-programs/infectious-diseasesimmunity) (PhD).

Calum J. Pritchard, Nabeil K. G. Salama, Iain Berrill et al.

Abstract Minimum landing sizes are a fisheries management tool conventionally used to exclude juveniles from fisheries. Harvest slot limits (HSL) are an alternative fisheries management tool used to exclude both juveniles and larger individuals from a fishery through the implementation of both minimum and maximum landing sizes. However, fishery‐dependent data from HSL‐managed fisheries are only representative of a small portion of the population. These data do not meet the requirements for conventional stock assessments nor harvest control rules, so these fisheries cannot be assessed without additional and expensive fishery‐independent data. The objective of this research was to develop a novel harvest control rule able to produce catch advice for fisheries managed by HSL using fishery‐dependent data. The SlotLim method, and corresponding R package, were developed and applied to the data‐limited Scottish live ballan wrasse Labrus bergylta fishery. Within SlotLim, the advised catch is a product of the previous catch and two multipliers: the targeted biomass adjustment (TBA) and size adherence multiplier (SAM). The TBA assesses the rate of change in an abundance or biomass index, adjusted for the proportion of the population targeted by HSL. The SAM assesses fishers' compliance with HSL. The methodology follows a simple premise: the advised catch increases with increasing abundance/biomass indices and adherence to HSL. The minimum data requirements are two consecutive years of catch, length frequency and an abundance or biomass index (all from fishery‐dependent sources), species‐specific growth rate coefficients and the natural mortality rate. The SlotLim method advised catch for a reduction in catch by 17% for the Scottish ballan wrasse fishery due to an observed reduction in abundances indices and non‐adherence to maximum landing sizes. Solution. The SlotLim method allows HSL‐managed fisheries to be assessed at limited expense, contributing to the continued sustainable use of these resources. HSL may also be considered a viable strategy for other data‐limited fisheries upon the availability of this harvest control rule.

PoChung Chou, Ahmad Shannar, Yuxin Pan et al.

Abstract Purpose of review Physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling is a powerful tool to understand drug movements throughout the human body. Unlike classical PK methods that often lack sufficient physiological detail, PBPK integrates drug-specific properties with organism-specific physiological parameters to predict drug behavior in major body compartments, particularly site of action and providing high physiological realism. The aim of the review is to summarize application of PBPK modeling in drug development and in dietary phytochemicals. Recent findings PBPK modeling is a versatile tool in drug development and phytochemical research. It predicts human PK from preclinical data, aiding lead optimization and candidate evaluation. The model mechanistically predicts drug-drug interactions (DDIs), supporting dose adjustments and reducing clinical trials. PBPK also enables formulation simulation for oral and modified-release drugs, optimizing bioavailability and predicting performance from in vitro data, thus reducing costly in vivo studies. Importantly, it extends drug knowledge to pediatric and special populations via virtual group simulations, enabling efficient, cost-effective dosage determination and less clinical trials. For dietary phytochemicals, PBPK modeling is well-suited for their complex mixture and variability. PBPK studies of phytochemicals demonstrate their utility for single components, mixtures, cross-species extrapolation, and complex metabolic processes, although challenges exist. Summary PBPK modeling is a dynamic and quantitative tool offering comprehensive pharmacokinetic integration across various populations and regimens. Its importance is growing due to its application at diverse stages of drug development and its ability to adapt to complex substances, including natural products. Ultimately, PBPK modeling is significant for enhancing scientific rigor, expediting drug development and ensuring patient safety. Graphical Abstract

Ankit Aryal, Ashlyn C. Harmon, Alexandra Noël et al.

Abstract Particulate matter containing environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) is formed when organic pollutants are incompletely burned and adsorb to the surface of particles containing redox-active metals. Our prior studies showed that in mice, EPFR inhalation impaired vascular relaxation in a dose- and endothelium-dependent manner. We also observed that activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in the alveolar type-II (AT-II) cells that form the air-blood interface stimulates the release of systemic factors that promote endothelial dysfunction in vessels peripheral to the lung. AhR is a recognized regulator of microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis, and miRNA control diverse signaling pathways. We thus hypothesized that systemic EPFR-induced vascular endothelial dysfunction is initiated via AhR activation in AT-II cells, resulting in a systemic release of miRNA. Using a combustion reactor, we generated EPFR of two free radical concentrations—EPFRlo (1016–17 radicals/g particles) and EPFR (1018–19 radicals/g)—and exposed mice by inhalation. EFPR inhalation resulted in changes in a distinct array of miRNA in the plasma, and these miRNAs are linked to multiple systemic effects, including cardiovascular diseases and dysregulation of cellular and molecular pathways associated with cardiovascular dysfunction. We identified 17 miRNA in plasma that were altered dependent upon both AhR activation in AT-II cells and ~ 280 ug/m3 EPFR exposure. Using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, we found that 5 of these miRNAs have roles in modulating endothelin-1 and endothelial nitric oxide signaling, known regulators of endothelial function. Furthermore, EPFR exposure reduced the expression of lung adherens and gap junction proteins in control mice but not AT-II-AhR deficient mice, and reductions in barrier function may facilitate miRNA release from the lungs. In summary, our findings support that miRNA may be systemic mediators promoting endothelial dysfunction mediated via EPFR-induced AhR activation at the air-blood interface. Graphical Abstract

Dennis Khodasevich, Nina Holland, Lars van der Laan et al.

Background DNA methylation (DNAm) provides a window to characterize the impacts of environmental exposures and the biological aging process. Epigenetic clocks are often trained on DNAm using penalized regression of CpG sites, but recent evidence suggests potential benefits of training epigenetic predictors on principal components. Methodology/findings We developed a pipeline to simultaneously train three epigenetic predictors; a traditional CpG Clock, a PCA Clock, and a SuperLearner PCA Clock (SL PCA). We gathered publicly available DNAm datasets to generate i) a novel childhood epigenetic clock, ii) a reconstructed Hannum adult blood clock, and iii) as a proof of concept, a predictor of polybrominated biphenyl exposure using the three developmental methodologies. We used correlation coefficients and median absolute error to assess fit between predicted and observed measures, as well as agreement between duplicates. The SL PCA clocks improved fit with observed phenotypes relative to the PCA clocks or CpG clocks across several datasets. We found evidence for higher agreement between duplicate samples run on alternate DNAm arrays when using SL PCA clocks relative to traditional methods. Analyses examining associations between relevant exposures and epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) produced more precise effect estimates when using predictions derived from SL PCA clocks. Conclusions We introduce a novel method for the development of DNAm-based predictors that combines the improved reliability conferred by training on principal components with advanced ensemble-based machine learning. Coupling SuperLearner with PCA in the predictor development process may be especially relevant for studies with longitudinal designs utilizing multiple array types, as well as for the development of predictors of more complex phenotypic traits.

Mingwei Su, Yunbo Zheng

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to understand the spatial and temporal evolution of the level of rule of law government construction in China and the mechanism of influence, in an attempt to expand the research direction of legal geography, and to provide empirical cases for how developing countries can promote the rule of law construction under unbalanced geographic, economic and institutional conditions. The study investigates the spatiotemporal variations and influencing factors of law-based government construction levels in each of China’s 31 provincial administrative regions from 2015 to 2022, employing the Moran index and geographic detectors. The results show: (1) The construction level of law-based government in each provincial administrative region has exhibited a clear upward trend, shifting from predominantly “low” and “medium-low” levels to predominantly “medium-high” and “high” levels. (2) The construction level of law-based government and its development type exhibit clear spatial aggregation in each region. The spatial distribution of the four categorized types shows continuity and obvious characteristics of agglomeration. (3) The construction of a law-based government is influenced by economic, social, environmental, and political factors. The basic economic system, level of economic development, and resources per capita available to the administration have the greatest impact. The interaction between these factors significantly enhances their influence on the level of law-based government construction. The improvement of the level of rule of law government construction not only depends on the economic foundation and institutional resources, but is also affected by multiple factors such as urbanization development, demographic structure, public service provision, and institutional innovation path.

Phyllis Waruguru, Dasel Mulwa, Michael Okoth et al.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) effectively suppresses HIV viral load. However, people living with HIV (PLWH) fail to achieve optimal viral suppression and especially in resource limited settings. Nutritional supplements such as Moringa oleifera have been traditionally used to improve health outcomes in PLWH, yet their effects on viral load remain under researched. Objective: To evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with Moringa oleifera seed flour on HIV viral load among adult women receiving ART in a resource-limited setting. Methods: This was a crossover clinical trial involving 70 HIV-positive women with viral loads ≤1000 copies/mL at Marigat Sub-County Hospital, Kenya. First, Mothers living with HIV were subjected to 6 months of standard care followed by 6 months of dietary supplementation with Moringa oleifera seed flour alongside standard care. Viral load assessments were done at baseline, after 6 months of standard care, and after another 6 months of Moringa supplementation. Statistical analyses included paired t-tests and regression models. Results: Both standard care and supplementation phases yielded statistically significant reductions in viral load (p < 0.001). Supplementation with Moringa oleifera showed a slightly greater reduction in absolute mean viral load than standard care alone, though the difference between the two was not statistically significant (p = 0.09). No statistically significant associations were found between viral load and age, education, marital status, employment, or BMI. Conclusion: Supplementation of the diet with Moringa oleifera seed flour alongside ART may enhance viral suppression, the observed effects were not statistically significant compared to standard care alone. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term efficacy and dosage optimization.

Johnathan D. Holman, Dorivar A. Ruiz Diaz, Augustine K. Obour et al.

Abstract Identifying the limiting nutrient, fertilizer source, rate, placement, additives, and timing of application are critical components of fertilizer management. The objective of this study was to quantify the impact of nitrogen (N) fertilizer source, rate, placement method, additives, application timing, and environment on yields of grain sorghum, forage sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], and corn (for grain, Zea mays L.). Independent field experiments were conducted at 13 different environments in Kansas from 2008 through 2013 on grain sorghum, forage sorghum, and corn. Treatments were an incomplete factorial combination of four fertilizer placement methods, three fertilizer types, five fertilizer additives, three fertilizer application times, and six fertilizer rates that varied by location and across years. Results showed grain and forage sorghum yields responded to N fertilizer in environments that were not extremely dry (<136 mm) or wet (>651 mm). Corn responded to N fertilizer application only in high‐precipitation environments. For grain sorghum, where rate × placement × source × additive interaction was significant, broadcast application of urea (source) at high rates (67–134 kg N ha−1), with summer application timing, or with additive in winter (with environmentally smart nitrogen [ESN]) resulted in up to 43% greater yield compared with application of urea‐ammonium nitrate (UAN; source) and surface band (placement) at 67 kg ha−1 without additives. In the one site‐year where forage sorghum responded to fertilizer application, forage yields with preplant application of UAN at 56–140 kg ha−1 were 164% greater than the control. For corn, application of either urea or UAN fertilizer, UAN in coulter or surface band, with ESN blend, applied at planting, and at highest rates (160 kg ha−1) resulted in best yields compared with the alternatives and 110% greater yield compared with the unfertilized control. We concluded that fertilizer rate is an important management component as it consistently affected yield regardless of crop considered. Fertilizer placement and timing have crop‐specific importance as they were significant for only corn, but the main effect of additives (N stabilizers) was not significant for any of the crops. Environment and crop type influenced crop response to N fertilizer rate, timing, placement, and additives.

Ragavendran Chinnasamy, Kamaraj Chinnaperumal, Natarajan Devarajan et al.

Lauren M. Petrick, Noam Shomron

Zana Percy, Aimin Chen, Heidi Sucharew et al.

Charles Onyutha, Saeed Golian, Saeed Golian et al.

Rongshuo Zhang, Hongfei Chen, Peiyuan Xie et al.

Enhancing gasoline detergency is pivotal for enhancing fuel efficiency and mitigating exhaust emissions in gasoline vehicles. This study investigated gasoline vehicle emission characteristics with different gasoline detergency, explored synergistic emission reduction potentials, and developed versatile emission prediction models. The results indicate that improved fuel detergency leads to a reduction of 5.1% in fuel consumption, along with decreases of 3.2% in total CO₂, 55.4% in CO, and 15.4% in HC emissions. However, during low-speed driving, CO₂ and CO emissions reductions are limited, and HC emissions worsen. A synergistic emission reduction was observed, particularly with CO exhibiting a pronounced reduction compared to HC. The developed deep-learning-based vehicle emission model for different gasoline detergency (DPVEM-DGD) enables accurate emission predictions under various fuel detergency conditions. The Pearson correlation coefficients (Pearson’s r) between predicted and measured values of CO₂, CO, and HC emissions before and after adding detergency agents are 0.913 and 0.934, 0.895 and 0.915, and 0.931 and 0.969, respectively. The predictive performance improves due to reduced peak emissions resulting from improved fuel detergency. Elevated gasoline detergency not only reduces exhaust emissions but also facilitates more refined emission management to a certain extent.

Karen Anderson, Brandi M. Shabaga, Serge Wich et al.

Summary This journal (Drone Systems and Applications; DSA) conducted a targeted “horizon scan” during 2022 within our team of editors and associate editors. We asked—Which research areas currently under-represented in Drone Systems and Applications would you like to see more heavily represented in the future? The process highlighted five areas of interest and potential growth: Drones in the geosciences Aquatic drones Ground drones Drones within calibration/validation experiments Drones and computer vision Over the past two years (2020–22), the journal has published over 50 papers with a strong leaning towards aerial drones for ecology and also with an engineering focus. DSA is keen to receive new submissions addressing the five highlighted areas, which lie firmly within the aims and scope of the journal. Further to the horizon scan, we propose two special collections for the coming year—one addressing drone applications (drones in geoscience applications) and a second addressing drone systems (aquatic drone systems). We would like to hear from scientists and practitioners in these fields as both contributors and (or) collection editors.

Mirella Kanerva, Nguyen Minh Tue, Tatsuya Kunisue et al.

The Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) population in the Baltic Sea consists of wild and hatchery-reared fish that have been released into the sea to support salmon stocks. During feeding migration, salmon migrate to different parts of the Baltic Sea and are exposed to various biotic and abiotic stressors, such as organohalogen compounds (OHCs). The effects of salmon origin (wild or hatchery-reared), feeding area (Baltic Main Basin, Bothnian Sea, and Gulf of Finland), and OHC concentration on the differences in hepatic proteome of salmon were investigated. Multi-level analysis of the OHC concentration, transcriptome, proteome, and oxidative stress biomarkers measured from the same salmon individuals were performed to find the key variables (origin, feeding area, OHC concentrations, and oxidative stress) that best account for the differences in the transcriptome and proteome between the salmon groups. When comparing wild and hatchery-reared salmon, differences were found in xenobiotic and amino acid metabolism-related pathways. When comparing salmon from different feeding areas, the amino acid and carbohydrate metabolic pathways were notably different. Several proteins found in these pathways are correlated with the concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The multi-level analysis also revealed amino acid metabolic pathways in connection with PCBs and oxidative stress variables related to glutathione metabolism. Other pathways found in the multi-level analysis included genetic information processes related to ribosomes, signaling and cellular processes related to the cytoskeleton, and the immune system, which were connected mainly to the concentrations of Polychlorinated biphenyls and Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and their metabolites. These results suggest that the hepatic proteome of salmon in the Baltic Sea, together with the transcriptome, is more affected by the OHC concentrations and oxidative stress of the feeding area than the origin of the salmon.

Alison M. Neff, Mary J. Laws, Genoa R. Warner et al.

G. L. Trigg, S. J. Rothman, R. Benedek et al.

Carolyn W. Kinkade, Zorimar Rivera-Núñez, Ludwik Gorcyzca et al.

Contamination of the world’s food supply and animal feed with mycotoxins is a growing concern as global temperatures rise and promote the growth of fungus. Zearalenone (ZEN), an estrogenic mycotoxin produced by Fusarium fungi, is a common contaminant of cereal grains and has also been detected at lower levels in meat, milk, and spices. ZEN’s synthetic derivative, zeranol, is used as a growth promoter in United States (US) and Canadian beef production. Experimental research suggests that ZEN and zeranol disrupt the endocrine and reproductive systems, leading to infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome-like phenotypes, pregnancy loss, and low birth weight. With widespread human dietary exposure and growing experimental evidence of endocrine-disrupting properties, a comprehensive review of the impact of ZEN, zeranol, and their metabolites on the female reproductive system is warranted. The objective of this systematic review was to summarize the in vitro, in vivo, and epidemiological literature and evaluate the potential impact of ZEN, zeranol, and their metabolites (commonly referred to as mycoestrogens) on female reproductive outcomes. We conducted a systematic review (PROSPERO registration CRD42020166469) of the literature (2000–2020) following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The data sources were primary literature published in English obtained from searching PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. The ToxR tool was applied to assess risk of bias. In vitro and in vivo studies (n = 104) were identified and, overall, evidence consistently supported adverse effects of mycoestrogens on physiological processes, organs, and tissues associated with female reproduction. In non-pregnant animals, mycoestrogens alter follicular profiles in the ovary, disrupt estrus cycling, and increase myometrium thickness. Furthermore, during pregnancy, mycoestrogen exposure contributes to placental hemorrhage, stillbirth, and impaired fetal growth. No epidemiological studies fitting the inclusion criteria were identified.

Maria José Rosa, Marcela Tamayo-Ortiz, Adriana Mercado Garcia et al.

Nirupama Putcha, Han Woo, Meredith C. McCormack et al.

Abstract Rationale Environmental exposures have been associated with adverse outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Approximately one-third of individuals with COPD have allergic sensitization, but it is unknown whether exposure to allergens in the home is associated with outcomes. Objectives To determine the prevalence and associations of allergen sensitization with exposure to common indoor allergens with symptoms and exacerbation risk in COPD. Methods Allergen sensitization to five common indoor allergens was assessed in former smokers with COPD. Home settled dust was assessed for presence of corresponding allergens. Sensitization and exposure status was determined and associations evaluated in adjusted models with longitudinal outcomes including symptoms, lung function, and exacerbations. Interactions were assessed between sensitization/exposure status and lung function. Measurements and Main Results One hundred eighty-three individuals studied were on average 67.3 years of age (SD, 8.22) with average FEV1 of 53.2% (SD, 17.6%). Seventy-seven percent of participants were exposed to at least one tested allergen, and 17% had sensitization with corresponding allergen exposure. After adjustment, sensitization with exposure was associated with lower lung function (β, −8.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], −14.80 to −1.77), higher St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire Total Score (β, 6.71; 95% CI, 0.17 to 13.25), and higher exacerbation risk (odds ratio, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.11 to 4.79). Associations appeared to be more pronounced among individuals with lower lung function. Conclusions Allergen exposures are common in COPD and associated with adverse outcomes among those with concomitant allergen sensitization. This study establishes allergens as an important home exposure that potentially could be addressed with comprehensive home environmental modification strategies to improve COPD outcomes.