Metals in sediment of the lower Great Lakes and region-wide discoveries.

Thirteen elements were measured in 76 surface grab sediment samples and 90 segments of four cores from Lakes Erie and Ontario. By combining the data obtained previously from Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron, the spatial distribution, temporal trends, major influencing factors, anthropogenic enrichments, categorization, and ecological risks of target metals in sediment were evaluated for the Great Lakes region. Regionwide, Lake Ontario had the highest median concentrations for Ag, As, Cd, Zn, and Pb, while the highest Cr concentration was found in the Western Basin of Lake Erie.

Demonstration of adapted packed-bed bioreactor for accurate and rapid estimation of biochemical oxygen demand: insights into the influence of microbial community structure and functions.

This study demonstrated a novel approach to accurately estimate 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in textile wastewater using a microbial consortium from food processing wastewater fixed on coconut fibers. Although glucose-glutamic acid (GGA) has been widely known as the most preferred substrates for microbial respiration, its calibration surprisingly resulted in an overestimation of BOD in textile wastewater due to its lower utilization rate compared to that of textile wastewater. After being adapted with a new nutrient environment composed of GGA and textile wastewater, the adapted packed-bed bioreactors (PBBRs) was capable of accurate estimation of BOD in textile wastewater using GGA standard solution.

YAP-driven malignant reprogramming of oral epithelial stem cells at single cell resolution.

Tumor initiation represents the first step in tumorigenesis during which normal progenitor cells undergo cell fate transition to cancer. Capturing this process as it occurs in vivo, however, remains elusive. Here we employ spatiotemporally controlled oncogene activation and tumor suppressor inhibition together with multiomics to unveil the processes underlying oral epithelial progenitor cell reprogramming into tumor initiating cells at single cell resolution.

An appropriate DNA input for bisulfite conversion reveals LINE-1 and Alu hypermethylation in tissues and circulating cell-free DNA from cancers.

The autonomous and active Long-Interspersed Element-1 (LINE-1, L1) and the non-autonomous Alu retrotransposon elements, contributing to 30% of the human genome, are the most abundant repeated sequences. With more than 90% of their sequences being methylated in normal cells, these elements undeniably contribute to the global DNA methylation level and constitute a major part of circulating-cell-free DNA (cfDNA). So far, the hypomethylation status of LINE-1 and Alu in cellular and extracellular DNA has long been considered a prevailing hallmark of ageing-related diseases and cancer.

Advances in Novel Targeted Therapies for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive malignancy with limited therapeutic options and poor prognosis. Recent advances in targeted therapies have opened new avenues for intervention in PDAC, focusing on key genetic and molecular pathways that drive tumor progression.

Methods: In this review, we provide an overview on advances in novel targeted therapies in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.