Thirdhand vaping exposures are associated with pulmonary and systemic inflammation in a mouse model.

Thirdhand smoke (THS) is the accumulation of secondhand smoke on surfaces that ages with time. THS exposure is a potential health threat to children, partners of smokers, and workers in environments with current or past smoking, and needs further investigation. In this study, we hypothesized that thirdhand Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) exposures elicit lung and systemic inflammation due to resuspended particulate matter (PM) and inorganic compounds that remain after active vaping has ceased.

Spectral characterization of dissolved organic matter in groundwater to assess mixing with oil-field water near selected oil fields, southern California.

Samples of oil-field water (oil wells, injectate, disposal ponds) and groundwater near selected oil and gas fields in southern California were analyzed for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration and by optical spectroscopic techniques (i.e., absorbance and fluorescence) to assess whether these measurements can be used to distinguish between oil-field water (Oil Field), native groundwater (WG), and native groundwater mixed with oil-field water from surface (WG) or subsurface sources (WG), and if so whether commonly reported optical measurements can be used as a screening tool to identify such water.

Optical Properties of Water for Prediction of Wastewater Contamination, Human-Associated Bacteria, and Fecal Indicator Bacteria in Surface Water at Three Watershed Scales.

Relations between spectral absorbance and fluorescence properties of water and human-associated and fecal indicator bacteria were developed for facilitating field sensor applications to estimate wastewater contamination in waterways. Leaking wastewater conveyance infrastructure commonly contaminates receiving waters. Methods to quantify such contamination can be time consuming, expensive, and often nonspecific.

Phoretic dispersal influences parasite population genetic structure.

Dispersal is a fundamental component of the life history of most species. Dispersal influences fitness, population dynamics, gene flow, genetic drift and population genetic structure. Even small differences in dispersal can alter ecological interactions and trigger an evolutionary cascade.

Wetlands receiving water treated with coagulants improve water quality by removing dissolved organic carbon and disinfection byproduct precursors.

Constructed wetlands are used worldwide to improve water quality while also providing critical wetland habitat. However, wetlands have the potential to negatively impact drinking water quality by exporting dissolved organic carbon (DOC) that upon disinfection can form disinfection byproducts (DBPs) like trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). We used a replicated field-scale study located on organic rich soils in California's Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to test whether constructed flow-through wetlands which receive water high in DOC that is treated with either iron- or aluminum-based coagulants can improve water quality with respect to DBP formation.

Molecular mechanisms of Slo2 K channel closure.

Key Points: Intracellular Na -activated Slo2 potassium channels are in a closed state under normal physiological conditions, although their mechanisms of ion permeation gating are not well understood. A cryo-electron microscopy structure of Slo2.2 suggests that the ion permeation pathway of these channels is closed by a single constriction of the inner pore formed by the criss-crossing of the cytoplasmic ends of the S6 segments (the S6 bundle crossing) at a conserved Met residue.

Associations between Markers of Glucose and Insulin Function and Cognitive Function in Healthy African American Elders.

Background: Glucose and insulin are important moderators of cognitive function. African Americans have poorer glycemic control across the glycemic spectrum and are at increased risk for type 2 diabetes and poor cognitive health. It is unclear which glucoregulatory markers predict cognitive function in this at-risk population.

Hydrophobic interactions between the S5 segment and the pore helix stabilizes the closed state of Slo2.1 potassium channels.

Under normal physiological conditions, Slo2.1K(+) channels are in a closed state unless activated by an elevation in [Na(+)]i. Fenamates such as niflumic acid also activate Slo2.

Social Work Assessment Notes: A Comprehensive Outcomes-Based Hospice Documentation System.

This article describes the development of an integrated psychosocial patient and caregiver assessment and plan of care for hospice social work documentation. A team of hospice social workers developed the Social Work Assessment Notes as a quality improvement project in collaboration with the information technology department. Using the Social Work Assessment Tool as an organizing framework, this comprehensive hospice social work documentation system is designed to integrate assessment, planning, and outcomes measurement.

Trace Element Concentrations in Liver of 16 Species of Cetaceans Stranded on Pacific Islands from 1997 through 2013.

The impacts of anthropogenic contaminants on marine ecosystems are a concern worldwide. Anthropogenic activities can enrich trace elements in marine biota to concentrations that may negatively impact organism health. Exposure to elevated concentrations of trace elements is considered a contributing factor in marine mammal population declines.

Concerted all-or-none subunit interactions mediate slow deactivation of human ether-à-go-go-related gene K+ channels.

During the repolarization phase of a cardiac action potential, hERG1 K(+) channels rapidly recover from an inactivated state then slowly deactivate to a closed state. The resulting resurgence of outward current terminates the plateau phase and is thus a key regulator of action potential duration of cardiomyocytes. The intracellular N-terminal domain of the hERG1 subunit is required for slow deactivation of the channel as its removal accelerates deactivation 10-fold.

SLC6 family transporter SNF-10 is required for protease-mediated activation of sperm motility in C. elegans.

Motility of sperm is crucial for their directed migration to the egg. The acquisition and modulation of motility are regulated to ensure that sperm move when and where needed, thereby promoting reproductive success. One specific example of this phenomenon occurs during differentiation of the ameboid sperm of Caenorhabditis elegans as they activate from a round spermatid to a mature, crawling spermatozoon.