Educating the Future Environmental Health Workforce During COVID-19: Developing a Virtual Curriculum for Navajo Student Interns Using the Environmental Health and Land Reuse Certificate Program.

Beginning in 2016, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) launched a partnership to create a free online course with the goal of building capacity within communities to help remediate and redevelop brownfields sites. Brownfields are land reuse sites often contaminated by harmful chemicals or redeveloped without proper environmental oversight. Due to their potentially hazardous status, brownfields sites can lead to harmful exposures in humans while accentuating and often exacerbating socioeconomic disparities within their communities.

Environmental Factors Associated With Nitrogen Fixation Prediction in Soybean.

Biological nitrogen (N)-fixation is the most important source of N for soybean [ (L.) Merr.], with considerable implications for sustainable intensification.

Factors Influencing Risk for COVID-19 Exposure Among Young Adults Aged 18-23 Years - Winnebago County, Wisconsin, March-July 2020.

On May 13, 2020, the Wisconsin Supreme Court declared the state's Safer at Home Emergency Order (https://evers.wi.gov/Documents/COVID19/EMO28-SaferAtHome.

All that glitters is not gold: Mercury poisoning in a family mimicking an infectious illness.

Three siblings with inhalational elemental mercury toxicity presented with fever, rash, and upper respiratory tract symptoms. The patients were heavily exposed to elemental mercury that was spilled in their home and then vacuumed. Initial whole blood mercury levels were elevated at >200 µg/L, 153 µg/L and 130 µg/L (Mayo Clinic Laboratories lab reference range <9 µg/L) for Cases 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

Soybean yield, biological N fixation and seed composition responses to additional inoculation in the United States.

It is unclear if additional inoculation with Bradyrhizobia at varying soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] growth stages can impact biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), increase yield and improve seed composition [protein, oil, and amino acid (AA) concentrations].

Assessing Variation in US Soybean Seed Composition (Protein and Oil).

Soybean [ (L.) Merr.] seed composition and yield are a function of genetics (G), environment (E), and management (M) practices, but contribution of each factor to seed composition and yield are not well understood.

Bioaccessibility and relative oral bioavailability of cobalt and nickel in residential soil and dust affected by metal grinding operations.

Including measures of relative bioavailability (RBA) improves the accuracy of site-specific risk assessment when evaluating metals bound in matrices that resist acid digestion (alloys, slag, tailings). In vitro gastrointestinal bioaccessibility and in vivo RBA assessments were conducted using baghouse dust, surface dust, and soil collected in a neighborhood near a metal forge, which emitted metals in the form of corrosion resistant alloys. The study objective was to characterize the in vitro bioaccessibility and relative bioavailability (RBA) of cobalt and nickel when ingested as freely soluble forms (ionic salts used as the basis for oral toxicity criteria), compared to when incidentally ingested in the forms found in the environment.

Spatial Characterization of Soybean Yield and Quality (Amino Acids, Oil, and Protein) for United States.

Continued economic relevancy of soybean is a function of seed quality. The objectives of this study were to: (i) assess the spatial association between soybean yield and quality across major US soybean producing regions, (ii) investigate the relationship between protein, oil, and yield with amino acids (AAs) composition, and (iii) study interrelationship among essential AAs in soybean seed. Data from soybean testing programs conducted across 14 US states from 2012 to 2016 period (n = 35,101 data points) were analyzed.

Physiological and transcriptomic responses of reproductive stage soybean to drought stress.

The dynamic alterations of the physiological and molecular processes in reproductive stage soybean indicated the dramatic impact caused by drought. Drought is a major abiotic stress that limits soybean (Glycine max) production. Most prior studies were focused on either model species or crops that are at their vegetative stages.

Biomarker responses of Peromyscus leucopus exposed to lead and cadmium in the Southeast Missouri Lead Mining District.

Biomarker responses and histopathological lesions have been documented in laboratory mammals exposed to elevated concentrations of lead and cadmium. The exposure of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) to these metals and the potential associated toxic effects were examined at three contaminated sites in the Southeast Missouri Lead Mining District and at a reference site in MO, USA. Mice from the contaminated sites showed evidence of oxidative stress and reduced activity of red blood cell δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD).

Arsenic Speciation of Contaminated Soils / Solid Wastes and Relative Oral Bioavailability in Swine and Mice.

Arsenic (As) is one of the most widespread, toxic elements in the environment and human activities have resulted in a large number of contaminated areas. However abundant, the potential of As toxicity from exposure to contaminated soils is limited to the fraction that will dissolve in the gastrointestinal system and be absorbed into systemic circulation or bioavailable species. In part, the release of As from contaminated soil to gastrointestinal fluid depends on the form of solid phase As also termed "As speciation.

Mouse assay for determination of arsenic bioavailability in contaminated soils.

A mouse assay for measuring the relative bioavailability (RBA) of arsenic (As) in soil was developed. In this study, results are presented of RBA assays of 16 soils, including multiple assays of the same soils, which provide a quantitative assessment of reproducibility of mouse assay results, as well as a comparison of results from the mouse assay with results from a swine and monkey assay applied to the same test soils. The mouse assay is highly reproducible; three repeated assays on the same soils yielded RBA estimates that ranged from 1 to 3% of the group mean.

Measurement of arsenic relative bioavailability in swine.

This study describes a method for measuring the relative oral bioavailability (RBA) of arsenic (As) in soil and other soil-like media using young swine as the animal model. Groups of animals are exposed to site soil or sodium arsenate orally for 12 d. Forty-eight-hour urine samples were collected from each animal on d 6-7, 8-9, and 10-11 and were analyzed for total As.

An investigation of the effect of gastrointestinal microbial activity on oral arsenic bioavailability.

In vitro gastrointestinal (GI) microbial activity in the colon compartment facilitates the arsenic release from soils into simulated GI fluids. Consequentially, it is possible that in vitro models that neglect to include microbial activity underestimate arsenic bioaccessibility when calculating oral exposure. However, the toxicological relevance of increased arsenic release due to microbial activity is contingent upon the subsequent absorption of arsenic solubilized in the GI lumen.

Laminin receptor specific therapeutic gold nanoparticles (198AuNP-EGCg) show efficacy in treating prostate cancer.

Systemic delivery of therapeutic agents to solid tumors is hindered by vascular and interstitial barriers. We hypothesized that prostate tumor specific epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCg) functionalized radioactive gold nanoparticles, when delivered intratumorally (IT), would circumvent transport barriers, resulting in targeted delivery of therapeutic payloads. The results described herein support our hypothesis.

Broiler breeder manure phosphorus forms are affected by diet, location, and period of accumulation.

Phosphorus (P) modifications of poultry diets have successfully decreased the total P (TP) in manures, but the effects on manure water-soluble P (WSP(M)) remain unclear. Our objectives were to characterize P forms in broiler breeder manures as affected by dietary P modification, location within the pen, and manure accumulation period. Two diets were formulated with and without phytase to attain 0.

An inter-laboratory trial of the unified BARGE bioaccessibility method for arsenic, cadmium and lead in soil.

The Bioaccessibility Research Group of Europe (BARGE) has carried out an inter-laboratory trial of a proposed harmonised in vitro physiologically based ingestion bioaccessibility procedure for soils, called the Unified BARGE Method (UBM). The UBM includes an initial saliva phase and simulated stomach and intestine compartments. The trial involved the participation of seven laboratories (five European and two North American) providing bioaccessibility data for As (11 samples), Cd (9 samples) and Pb (13 samples) using soils with in vivo relative bioavailability data measured using a swine model.

An effective strategy for the synthesis of biocompatible gold nanoparticles using cinnamon phytochemicals for phantom CT imaging and photoacoustic detection of cancerous cells.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to explore the utilization of cinnamon-coated gold nanoparticles (Cin-AuNPs) as CT/optical contrast-enhancement agents for detection of cancer cells.

Methods: Cin-AuNPs were synthesized by a "green" procedure, and the detailed characterization was performed by physico-chemical analysis. Cytotoxicity and cellular uptake studies were carried out in normal human fibroblast and cancerous (PC-3 and MCF-7) cells, respectively.

Bombesin functionalized gold nanoparticles show in vitro and in vivo cancer receptor specificity.

Development of cancer receptor-specific gold nanoparticles will allow efficient targeting/optimum retention of engineered gold nanoparticles within tumors and thus provide synergistic advantages in oncology as it relates to molecular imaging and therapy. Bombesin (BBN) peptides have demonstrated high affinity toward gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) receptors in vivo that are overexpressed in prostate, breast, and small-cell lung carcinoma. We have synthesized a library of GRP receptor-avid nanoplatforms by conjugating gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with BBN peptides.

Gold nanoparticle contrast in a phantom and juvenile swine: models for molecular imaging of human organs using x-ray computed tomography.

Rationale And Objectives: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the application of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) as a contrast agent for a clinical x-ray computed tomography (CT) system using a phantom and juvenile swine.

Materials And Methods: A tissue-mimicking phantom with spherical inclusions containing known concentrations of Au was scanned. Swine were injected with gum Arabic stabilized Au nanoparticles (GA-AuNP), up to 85 mg kg(-1) body weight.

Evaluation of small arms range soils for metal contamination and lead bioavailability.

Although small arms ranges are known to be contaminated with lead, the full extent of metal contamination has not been described, nor has the oral bioavailability of lead in these soils. In this work, soil samples from ranges with diverse geochemical backgrounds were sieved to <250 microm and analyzed for total metal content. Soils had consistently high levels of lead and copper, ranging from 4549 to 24 484 microg/g and 223 to 2936 microg/g, respectively, while arsenic, antimony, nickel, and zinc concentrations were 100-fold lower.

Radioactive gold nanoparticles in cancer therapy: therapeutic efficacy studies of GA-198AuNP nanoconstruct in prostate tumor-bearing mice.

Unlabelled: Biocompatibility studies and cancer therapeutic applications of nanoparticulate beta-emitting gold-198 (198Au; beta(max) = 0.96 MeV; half-life of 2.7 days) are described.

Biodistribution of maltose and gum arabic hybrid gold nanoparticles after intravenous injection in juvenile swine.

This article describes several experiments performed to test our hypothesis that the agent used to coat/stabilize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) will act to direct the AuNPs to specific tissues within the body and that changing the coating will change the target organ. Samples were also collected for pathological examination. Gum arabic- (GA) and maltose- (MALT) stabilized AuNPs were administered intravenously to juvenile swine, and blood, tissue, and urine samples were collected for gold analysis.

A pilot study of oral bioavailability of dioxins and furans from contaminated soils: Impact of differential hepatic enzyme activity and species differences.

An in vivo pilot study of the oral bioavailability of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in two soils with distinct congener profiles (one dominated by PCDDs, the other by PCDFs) was conducted in rats and juvenile swine. The pilot study revealed potential confounding of relative bioavailability estimates compared to bioavailability in spiked corn oil gavage for tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF) in the rat study due to differential EROD induction between groups receiving soil and those receiving spiked control PCDDs/PCDFs. A follow-up study in rats with the furan-contaminated soil was then conducted with reductions in the spiked control doses to 20%, 50% and 80% of the soil-feed dose in order to bracket hepatic enzyme induction levels in the soil group.