Surface soil-dust contamination of Phalaris arundinacea grown on former lead mine sites: Implications for biomass use, phytoremediation and phytomanagement.

This study evaluated the contribution of soil dust deposited on the surface of reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) grown on historic lead (Pb) mine sites to the overall contamination of the biomass, with implications for phytoremediation, valorization and utilization. By applying a novel combination of imaging of plant material using X-ray computed tomography (XCT) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), with washing experiments and bulk analysis, the research aimed to distinguish between (a) Pb uptake through biological processes (phyto-extraction), and (b) surficial dust and physical entrapment of Pb-rich dust on plants cultivated in contaminated soils (surface-contamination). The study established the presence and distribution of Pb-rich particles, which were difficult to remove even by means of sequential washing in 1 M hydrochloric acid and surfactant.

Factors influencing the cost-effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation for Barrett's esophagus with low-grade dysplasia in Australia.

Endoscopic eradication therapy using radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is considered an acceptable alternative to surveillance monitoring for Barrett's esophagus with low-grade dysplasia (LGD). This study aimed to estimate whether RFA for LGD is cost-effective and to determine which factors influence cost-effectiveness. A Markov model was developed to estimate the incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained for RFA compared with endoscopic surveillance.

Fluorinated -Heterocyclic Carbene Silver(I) Complexes with High Cancer Cell Selectivity.

This work presents the synthesis of five new functionalized (benz)imidazolium -heterocyclic (NHC) ligands () and four new (benz)imidazole silver(I) NHC (Ag(I)-NHC) complexes of mononuclear or binuclear type. The complexes have been fully characterized, including single crystal X-ray diffraction of three new structures. The complexes and their corresponding free NHC ligands have been screened against breast cancer and noncancerous cell lines, showing the mononuclear benzimidazole complex has the highest activity, while the binuclear benzimidazole complex has the highest cancer cell selectivity.

Ferrocenyl β-Diketonate Compounds: Extended Ring Systems for Improved Anticancer Activity.

A library of ferrocenyl β-diketonate compounds with varying degrees of aromatic functionality have been synthesized and fully characterized. This includes cyclic voltammetry and the analysis of four new structures by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The compounds cytotoxic potential has been determined by MTT screening against pancreatic carcinoma (MIA PaCa-2), ovarian adenocarcinoma (A2780), breast adenocarcinomas (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) and normal epithelial retinal (ARPE-19).

Resistance- and endurance-trained young men display comparable carotid artery strain parameters that are superior to untrained men.

Purpose: Central arterial stiffness, a predictor of cardiovascular risk, attenuates with endurance-exercise in ageing populations. However, in young individuals, this effect is inconsistent and emerging evidence suggests resistance-exercise may increase arterial stiffness. Two-dimensional (2D)-Strain imaging of the common carotid artery (CCA) is more sensitive at detecting endurance-training induced alterations in CCA stiffness than conventional methods, but has not been used to examine CCA stiffness in young resistance-trained individuals.