Association between vitamin D receptor gene variants and neonatal sepsis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was elucidating the association of VDR SNPs (FokI, TaqI, BsmI, BgII, and ApaI) with neonatal sepsis. Literature search was performed to retrieve records published until August 2nd, 2023 (PROSPERO registration: CRD42023451355). Meta-analysis was carried out to determine the pooled estimates for Odds Ratio (OR). A total of four studies were included with 500 neonates (250 sepsis cases and 250 healthy controls). There was an association observed between TaqI SNP with neonatal sepsis for CT vs. CC+TT (OR=1.95) and TT vs CT+CC (OR=0.40). Moreover, the pooled estimates also suggested that CC vs. CT+TT (OR= 0.37) and C vs. T (OR=0.66) of FokI SNP were significantly associated with neonatal sepsis. SNP of BgII was found to be significantly associated with neonatal sepsis, but only reported in a single study.

Characterization and Performance Evaluation of Cellulose Acetate-Polyurethane Film for Lead II Ion Removal

Global pollution from toxic metal waste has resulted in increased research on toxic metal adsorption. A cellulose acetate–polyurethane (CA–PU) film adsorbent was successfully prepared in this research. The cellulose acetate–polyurethane film adsorbent was prepared with a polycondensation reaction between cellulose acetate and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate. The CA–PU bond formation was confirmed by functional group analysis obtained from Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The obtained film was characterized for improved tensile and thermal properties with the addition of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). The adsorption ability of the obtained film was evaluated with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The best film adsorbent from the LIBS was selected and studied for adsorption isotherm. The FTIR analysis confirmed the formation of the CA–PU bond from the polycondensation between cellulose acetate and the methylene diphenyl diisocyanate. The result showed that the addition of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) resulted in the urethane network’s growth. The characterization result showed an improvement in the morphology, thermal stability, and tensile strength of the film. The LIBS studies showed improvement in the adsorption of Pb²⁺ with CA–PU compared with the neat CA. The isotherm studies revealed that Pb²⁺ adsorption by cellulose acetate–polyurethane film adsorbent was heterogeneously dependent on the Freundlich isotherm model (R² = 0.97044). Overall, the polycondensation method proposed by this study enhanced the Pb²⁺ removal, and was comparable to those reported in previous studies.

H-D Analysis Employing Energy Transfer from Metastable Excited-State He in Double-Pulse LIBS with Low-Pressure He Gas

A laser-induced-breakdown-spectroscopy (LIBS) experiment with a unique double-pulse setup and operated in low-pressure (3 kPa) He ambient gas is performed to study the detection of light elements, such as hydrogen (H) and deuterium (D), as well as elements of high excitation energies, such as fluorine (F) and chlorine (Cl), which are usually difficult to detect using ordinary LIBS techniques. A nanosecond Nd:YAG laser operated in its fundamental wavelength with energy of 54 mJ is focused onto the Al target to generate the He plasma. Another picosecond Nd:YAG laser operated in its fundamental wavelength with energy of 2 mJ is focused onto the sample surface and activated 2 μs before the operation of the nanosecond laser. The application to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) samples produces sharp and high-intensity Cl- and F-emission lines. Meanwhile, the sharp and well-resolved H-D-emission lines with merely 0.18 nm wavelength separation are also clearly detected from a zircaloy sample. Further measurement of a set of zircaloy samples containing different concentrations of D yields a linear calibration curve with a zero intercept. The detection limit of D is found to be about 10 ppm.

Quantitative analysis of deuterium in zircaloy using double-pulse laser-induced breakdown spectrometry (LIBS) and helium gas plasma without a sample chamber

A crucial safety measure to be strictly observed in the operation of heavy-water nuclear power plants is the mandatory regular inspection of the concentration of deuterium penetrated into the zircaloy fuel vessels. The existing standard method requires a tedious, destructive, and costly sample preparation process involving the removal of the remaining fuel in the vessel and melting away part of the zircaloy pipe. An alternative method of orthogonal dual-pulse laser-induced breakdown spectrometry (LIBS) is proposed by employing flowing atmospheric helium gas without the use of a sample chamber. The special setup of ps and ns laser systems, operated for the separate ablation of the sample target and the generation of helium gas plasma, respectively, with properly controlled relative timing, has succeeded in producing the desired sharp D I 656.10 nm emission line with effective suppression of the interfering H I 656.28 nm emission by operating the ps ablation laser at very low output energy of 26 mJ and 1 μs ahead of the helium plasma generation. Under this optimal experimental condition, a linear calibration line is attained with practically zero intercept and a 20 μg/g detection limit for D analysis of zircaloy sample while creating a crater only 10 μm in diameter. Therefore, this method promises its potential application for the practical, in situ, and virtually nondestructive quantitative microarea analysis of D, thereby supporting the more-efficient operation and maintenance of heavy-water nuclear power plants. Furthermore, it will also meet the anticipated needs of future nuclear fusion power plants, as well as other important fields of application in the foreseeable future.