Biocatalytic oxyfunctionalization of unsaturated fatty acids to oxygenated chemicals via hydroxy fatty acids.

The selective oxyfunctionalization of unsaturated fatty acids is difficult in chemical reactions, whereas regio- and stereoselective oxyfunctionalization is often performed in biocatalytic synthesis. Fatty acid oxygenases, including hydratases, lipoxygenases, dioxygenases, diol synthases, cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, peroxygenases, and 12-hydroxylases, are used to convert C16 and C18 unsaturated fatty acids to diverse regio- and stereoselective mono-, di-, and trihydroxy fatty acids via selective oxyfunctionalization. The formed hydroxy fatty acids or hydroperoxy fatty acids are metabolized to industrially important oxygenated chemicals such as lactones, green leaf volatiles, and bioplastic monomers, including ω-hydroxy fatty acids, α,ω-dicarboxylic acids, and fatty alcohols, by biocatalysts.

Understanding of enhanced nitrate in fine particles at agricultural sites in summer with high ammonia level.

Nitrate is one of the major constituents of fine particles and has not been effectively alleviated in Northeast Asia. Field measurements of various gases and the chemical composition of fine particles were conducted at two agricultural sites (cropland and livestock) in ammonia-rich environments to understand the effect of ammonia on nitric acid-nitrate partitioning using a thermodynamic model and to suggest a possible strategy to control total nitrate (i.e.

Assessing the Overall Technical Efficiency, Pure Technical Efficiency, and Scale Efficiency of United States Department of Defense Hospitals.

Introduction: This study aims to evaluate US Department of Defense hospital efficiency.

Methods: Drawing on the American Hospital Association's annual survey data, the study employs data envelopment analysis, slack analysis, and the Malmquist Productivity Index to identify the differences in hospital efficiency between Air Force, Army, and Navy hospitals as well as the trends of their efficiency from 2010 to 2021.

Results: US Department of Defense hospitals operated inefficiently from 2010 to 2021, although the average technical efficiency of all DOD hospitals increased slightly during this period.

Adjuvant sequential chemotherapy for salivary duct carcinomas: a retrospective comparative analysis.

Introduction: This study aimed to report the efficacy and safety of adjuvant sequential chemotherapy after definitive treatment of salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) compared with the standard treatment alone (surgery with postoperative radiation therapy).

Methods: This was a retrospective study of pathologically confirmed 135 SDC patients (study period 2009 to 2022). After curative surgery and adjuvant radiation therapy, 55 of 135 patients decided to receive additional chemotherapy (OP+RT+Chemo group), while 80 opted for surgery and radiation (OP+RT group).

Secondary glaucoma as a late complication of a primary iris stromal cyst.

An 18-year-old woman with a congenital iris stromal cyst was referred for sudden-onset increased intraocular pressure (IOP) that did not respond to medical therapy. Ultrasound biomicroscopy demonstrated synechial angle closure from 9:00 to 12:00 in addition to a large cyst occupying much of the inferior angle. After implantation of an Ahmed glaucoma valve, her visual acuity returned to baseline, and IOP normalized.