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Heliyon Feb 2024The Upper Awash sub-basin characterized by urban, industrial, agricultural and population growth, has impacted the quality of its water sources. This study focuses on...
The Upper Awash sub-basin characterized by urban, industrial, agricultural and population growth, has impacted the quality of its water sources. This study focuses on the assessment of public health risks associated with drinking water sources in the sub-basin. In accordance with WHO guidelines, 120 water samples were collected from 60 water supply schemes in dry and wet seasons located in areas with low and high water pollution risk (WPR). Multi-meter, Photometer, Digital Arsenator, and Microbiological test kit measured the concentration of parameters. The assessment uses methods of hazard identification, exposure and dose-response analysis, and risk characterization, including Hazard Quotient (HQ), Cancer Risk (CR), Hazard Index (HI), and probability of infection. Monte Carlo simulation analyzes non-cancer risks from Nitrite, Nitrate, Chromium, Iron, Fluoride, and Arsenic, and CRs from Chromium and Arsenic, and infection risks from (). As a result, the Hazard Quotient (HQ) of Nitrate was beyond unity (HQ > 1) in the dry season for all groups. HQ of Chromium was HQ > 1 for Women (1.1E+00) and Children (1.4E+00) in the wet season in the high WPR area. Chromium HQ > 1 for children (1.4E+00) in the wet season and Fluoride (HQ > 1) for Children (3.2E+00) in the dry season in the low WPR area. Arsenic CR was above 1 in 10,000 persons for children in the dry season, for all groups, and for women and children in the wet season in the high WPR areas. The CR of chromium ranged from 1 in 1000 persons, which is beyond the limit. Moreover, the Hazard Index (HI) was higher than the unity (HI > 1) for most cases. All infection risks daily and annually exceeded the acceptable risks. Therefore, Public health concerns in the Sub-basin were quantified, and evidences were generated for risk management to undertake source protection through integrated watershed management and appropriate water treatment technologies.
PubMed: 38314286
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24790 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Dec 2023The objective of the present study was to determine the effects that the reproductive season has on the motility, kinematics, morphology, and sperm morphometry of...
The objective of the present study was to determine the effects that the reproductive season has on the motility, kinematics, morphology, and sperm morphometry of Brahman bulls evaluated with a commercial CASA system. The experiment was carried out at the Costa Rica Institute of Technology from March to August 2021. A total of eight Brahman bulls were used. A total of 28 ejaculates were collected in the pre-mating period (PMP), during it (DMP), and after it (AMP) using an electroejaculator. The sperm concentration was measured with the Accuread photometer. The motility was measured using a Spermtrack counting chamber. The analyses were performed with the CASA-Mot ISASv1 system. The morphology was analyzed using a microscope with a negative phase contrast objective. Morphometry was evaluated with the CASA-Morph. The sperm concentration did not present differences between the PMP and AMP; however, it was significantly higher than DMP ( > 0.05). Regarding the progressiveness variables, linearity on forward progression (LIN), straightness (STR), and wobble (WOB) were higher ( < 0.05) DMP. A kinematic principal component analysis grouped all the variables into three factors and an effect on the reproductive period was found ( < 0.05) in the parameters of the head and middle part of the sperm, such as width and perimeter, which were greater in the PMP. The length of the sperm head in the PMP and DMP did not show differences; however, both were larger ( < 0.05) than AMP. The insertion distance of the middle piece of the sperm was significantly greater than DMP. Finally, the PMP contained cells with a larger insertion angle ( < 0.05) than AMP. These findings are important to understand the implications of reproductive status on sperm quality and to consider them in andrological evaluations.
PubMed: 38200863
DOI: 10.3390/ani14010132 -
Cureus Aug 2023One of the most important aspects that determines the clinical lifetime of aesthetic restorations, is the color stability (CS) over the long term. This study aims to...
OBJECTIVES
One of the most important aspects that determines the clinical lifetime of aesthetic restorations, is the color stability (CS) over the long term. This study aims to assess the effect of artificial aging and thermocycling in different staining solutions on the CS of bioactive restorative materials compared to conventional ones.
METHODS
The following four material groups were investigated: ACTIVA™ Bioactive (AB) (Pulpdent Corporation, Massachusetts, United States), Beautifil II (BF) (SHOFU Inc., Kyoto, Japan), Fuji II (FJ) (GC Corporation, Tokyo Japan), and Filtek™ Z350 XT (FT) (3M, Minnesota, United States). A total of 100 specimens were fabricated using an acrylic mold and then immersed in five staining solutions groups: coffee, black tea, Cola, mixed berry juice, and saline. Baseline shade (T0) was recorded using two spectro-photometer devices, VITA Easyshade® Advance (VITA Zahnfabrik, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) and Color-Eye® 7000A (X-Rite, Inc., Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States). Following this, the shade was recorded at 30 days (T1), three months (T2), and after 5000 thermocycles (5C-55C) (T3). CIE L*a*b* (International Commission on Illumination color space) data was used to calculate ΔE for each group.
RESULTS
All samples showed a significant color change (P<0.001) following one and three months of storage and after thermocycling. AB and BF showed the highest CS over time, whereas FT and FJ showed the least CS.
CONCLUSION
The CS of restorative materials is mostly determined by their type, followed by staining solution type and thermocycling. The most potent solutions were coffee, tea, and berry juice.
PubMed: 37674947
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.43038 -
Environment International Aug 2023This study analyzed the variability of equivalent black carbon (eBC) mass concentrations and their sources in urban Europe to provide insights into the use of eBC as an...
This study analyzed the variability of equivalent black carbon (eBC) mass concentrations and their sources in urban Europe to provide insights into the use of eBC as an advanced air quality (AQ) parameter for AQ standards. This study compiled eBC mass concentration datasets covering the period between 2006 and 2022 from 50 measurement stations, including 23 urban background (UB), 18 traffic (TR), 7 suburban (SUB), and 2 regional background (RB) sites. The results highlighted the need for the harmonization of eBC measurements to allow for direct comparisons between eBC mass concentrations measured across urban Europe. The eBC mass concentrations exhibited a decreasing trend as follows: TR > UB > SUB > RB. Furthermore, a clear decreasing trend in eBC concentrations was observed in the UB sites moving from Southern to Northern Europe. The eBC mass concentrations exhibited significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity, including marked differences in eBC mass concentration and variable contributions of pollution sources to bulk eBC between different cities. Seasonal patterns in eBC concentrations were also evident, with higher winter concentrations observed in a large proportion of cities, especially at UB and SUB sites. The contribution of eBC from fossil fuel combustion, mostly traffic (eBC) was higher than that of residential and commercial sources (eBC) in all European sites studied. Nevertheless, eBC still had a substantial contribution to total eBC mass concentrations at a majority of the sites. eBC trend analysis revealed decreasing trends for eBC over the last decade, while eBC remained relatively constant or even increased slightly in some cities.
Topics: Air Pollutants; Environmental Monitoring; Aerosols; Air Pollution; Europe; Seasons; Soot; Carbon; Particulate Matter
PubMed: 37451041
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108081 -
ACS Omega Oct 2023To clarify the coal structure, spatial distribution, and controlling factors of the 2# coal seam in Jiaozuo mining, the drilling coal samples were collected to observe...
To clarify the coal structure, spatial distribution, and controlling factors of the 2# coal seam in Jiaozuo mining, the drilling coal samples were collected to observe the coal type and coal structure. The coal macerals were identified by a MPVSP microscope photometer, and the spatial characteristics of the coal structure were obtained through interpreting deep lateral resistivity logging, natural gamma ray logging, density logging, and acoustic logging curves. The influence of coal properties, burial depth, geological stress, and faults on the coal structure were discussed correspondingly. The results exhibit that granulitic-mylonite coal was most developed in the 2# coal seam, followed by primary coal and cataclastic coal; the coal type was dominated by semibright coal, followed by clarain and semidull coal. Granulitic-mylonite, cataclastic, and primary coals were the main components of clarain, semibright coal, and semidull coal, respectively. Higher vitrinite and organic matter contents were conducive to the development of granulitic-mylonite. The coal structure combinations were spatially varied, and the granulitic-mylonite combinations were the most common. Granulitic-mylonite coal was developed in the east and south parts of the study area, and the coal structure was fragmented with a greater burial depth and larger thickness. The geological stress is the fundamental cause of coal structure damage as well as the cutting of faults.
PubMed: 37901576
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c04643 -
Poultry Science May 2024A total of 720 male Cobb 500 broiler chicks were used in a 5 treatment and 8 replicate experiment to explore dynamic changes in blood metabolites in response to...
A total of 720 male Cobb 500 broiler chicks were used in a 5 treatment and 8 replicate experiment to explore dynamic changes in blood metabolites in response to short-term nutrient depletion and repletion. Day old chicks were offered a corn and soybean meal-based common starter diet from d1 to 14 that was formulated to meet all nutrient requirements of the birds. From d15 to 17, the experimental diets were offered, before returning all groups to a common diet from d18 to 20, at which point the experiment was terminated. A total of 5 experimental diets were designed. A standard grower diet served as a control and was offered to 1 of the 5 groups of chicks. The additional 4 experimental groups comprised diets that were low in digestible phosphorus (P), total calcium (Ca), crude protein and digestible amino acids (AA) or apparent metabolizable energy (AME). The common grower diet that was offered from d18-20 was designed to be nutritionally complete and was intended to explore dynamic response to nutrient repletion. Blood was drawn from 8 chicks per treatment at time 0 (immediately prior to introduction of the experimental diets) and then again 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48h after introduction of the nutrient depleted diets. Additionally, blood was drawn 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48h after the introduction of the nutritionally complete common grower diet. Chicks were not sampled more than once. Feed intake, body weight and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were assessed on d14, 17, and 20. Blood metabolites were analyzed using the iSTAT Alinity V handheld blood analyzer, the Vetscan VS2 Chemistry Analyzer and the iCheck Carotene Photometer. Live performance metrics were not affected by the short-term nutrient depletion and all chicks grew normally throughout the experiment. The diet with low digestible P generated a rapid temporary decrease in plasma P and an increase in plasma Ca, that were returned to baseline following the re-introduction of the common grower feed. Introduction of the diet with low total Ca resulted in a significant increase in plasma P, effects which were also mitigated during the nutrient repletion phase. Total plasma protein, albumin and uric acid (UA) were decreased, and plasma glucose increased, in the chicks that received the diet with low crude protein and digestible AA. There was a delayed increase in aspartate amino transaminase (AST) associated with the diets with low digestible P and low AME. These results demonstrate the capacity of blood biochemistry to adapt to quantitative and qualitative changes in nutrient intake. Point-of-care analysis of blood biomarkers offers nutritionists a valuable opportunity to calibrate nutritional matrices for common dietary ingredients, zootechnical feed additives and to optimize diet phase changes. It can be concluded that many blood biomarkers are plastic to changes in diet nutrient density and offer an objective index for optimization of nutritional programs for commercial broiler production.
PubMed: 38823292
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103859 -
Spectrochimica Acta. Part A, Molecular... Dec 2023Abnormal iron ions levels may lead to some diseases and serious environmental pollution. Herein, optical and visual detection strategies of Fe in water based on co-doped...
Abnormal iron ions levels may lead to some diseases and serious environmental pollution. Herein, optical and visual detection strategies of Fe in water based on co-doped carbon dots (CDs) were established in the present study. Firstly, a one-pot synthetic strategy for the preparation of the N, S, B co-doped CDs with a home microwave oven was developed. Secondly, the optical properties, chemical structures, and morphology of CDs were further characterized by fluorescence spectroscopy, Uv-vis absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscope. Finally, the results indicated that the fluorescence of the co-doped CDs was quenched by ferric ions via the static mechanism and the aggregation of CDs, accompanied by the increased red color. The multi-mode sensing strategies of Fe with fluorescence photometer, UV-visible spectrophotometer, portable colorimeter and smartphone had the advantages of good selectivity, excellent stability and high sensitivity. Fluorophotometry based on co-doped CDs was a powerful probe platform for measuring lower concentrations of Fe due to its higher sensitivity, better linear relationship, lower limit of detection (0.27 μM) and limit of quantitation (0.91 μM). In addition, the visual detection methods with a portable colorimeter and smartphone had been proven to be very suitable for rapid and simple sensing of higher concentrations of Fe. Moreover, the co-doped CDs utilized for Fe probes in tap water and boiler water obtained satisfactory results. Consequently, the efficient, versatile optical and visual multi-mode sensing platform could be extended to apply such a visual analysis of ferric ions in the biological, chemical and other fields.
PubMed: 37329831
DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2023.122995 -
JMIR Biomedical Engineering Dec 2023Clinicians face barriers when assessing lung maturity at birth due to global inequalities. Still, strategies for testing based solely on gestational age to predict the...
BACKGROUND
Clinicians face barriers when assessing lung maturity at birth due to global inequalities. Still, strategies for testing based solely on gestational age to predict the likelihood of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) do not offer a comprehensive approach to addressing the challenge of uncertain outcomes. We hypothesize that a noninvasive assessment of skin maturity may indicate lung maturity.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to assess the association between a newborn's skin maturity and RDS occurrence.
METHODS
We conducted a case-control nested in a prospective cohort study, a secondary endpoint of a multicenter clinical trial. The study was carried out in 5 Brazilian urban reference centers for highly complex perinatal care. Of 781 newborns from the cohort study, 640 were selected for the case-control analysis. Newborns with RDS formed the case group and newborns without RDS were the controls. All newborns with other diseases exhibiting respiratory manifestations were excluded. Skin maturity was assessed from the newborn's skin over the sole by an optical device that acquired a reflection signal through an LED sensor. The device, previously validated, measured and recorded skin reflectance. Clinical data related to respiratory outcomes were gathered from medical records during the 72-hour follow-up of the newborn, or until discharge or death, whichever occurred first. The main outcome measure was the association between skin reflectance and RDS using univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression. Additionally, we assessed the connection between skin reflectance and factors such as neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission and the need for ventilatory support.
RESULTS
Out of 604 newborns, 470 (73.4%) were from the RDS group and 170 (26.6%) were from the control group. According to comparisons between the groups, newborns with RDS had a younger gestational age (31.6 vs 39.1 weeks, P<.001) and birth weight (1491 vs 3121 grams, P<.001) than controls. Skin reflectance was associated with RDS (odds ratio [OR] 0.982, 95% CI 0.979-0.985, R=0.632, P<.001). This relationship remained significant when adjusted by the cofactors antenatal corticosteroid and birth weight (OR 0.994, 95% CI 0.990-0.998, R=0.843, P<.001). Secondary outcomes also showed differences in skin reflectance. The mean difference was 0.219 (95% CI 0.200-0.238) between newborns that required ventilatory support versus those that did not and 0.223 (95% CI 0.205-0.241) between newborns that required NICU admission versus those that did not. Skin reflectance was associated with ventilatory support (OR 0.996, 95% CI 0.992-0.999, R=0.814, P=.01) and with NICU admission (OR 0.994, 95% CI 0.990-0.998, R=0.867, P=.004).
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings present a potential marker of lung immaturity at birth using the indirect method of skin assessment. Using the RDS clinical condition and a medical device, this study demonstrated the synchrony between lung and skin maturity.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos (ReBEC) RBR-3f5bm5; https://tinyurl.com/9fb7zrdb.
INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)
RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027442.
PubMed: 38875690
DOI: 10.2196/52468 -
Applied Optics May 2024Planar and excilamps emitting noncoherent narrowband UVB light (280-315 nm) are now widely used to cure psoriasis and vitiligo as well as to improve vitamin D...
Planar and excilamps emitting noncoherent narrowband UVB light (280-315 nm) are now widely used to cure psoriasis and vitiligo as well as to improve vitamin D synthesis. The two-dimensional integral formula has been deducted in this study, which is a good method and has great practical significance to calculate the total radiant power and assess the energy efficiency of a planar UV lamp. The measured radiant power of planar white LED lamps through a two-dimensional Keitz formula has been compared to that of gonio-photometer, verifying the applicability of the formula. The optimum measurement distance is dependent on the lamp length (1.5≤≤3.5) for which the derivation from the two methods can be controlled within 10%. The planar excilamps have been measured and compared to coaxial excilamps, which show similar patterns of change for the radiant characteristics. Since the planar radiant power formula only needs to measure normal illuminance at a certain distance from the symmetric center of the lamp, it is more convenient to use and is a low-cost method to promote the development of large-sized planar ultraviolet lamps.
PubMed: 38856507
DOI: 10.1364/AO.520397 -
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2023ZnO is an effective photocatalyst applied to the degradation of organic dyes in aqueous media. In this study, the UV-light and sunlight-driven photocatalytic activities...
ZnO is an effective photocatalyst applied to the degradation of organic dyes in aqueous media. In this study, the UV-light and sunlight-driven photocatalytic activities of ZnO nanoparticles are evaluated. A handheld Lovibond photometer was purposefully calibrated in order to monitor the dye removal in outdoor conditions. The effect of ZnO defect states, i.e., the presence of zinc and oxygen defects on the photocatalytic activity was probed for two types of dyes: fuchsin and methylene blue. Three morphologies of ZnO nanoparticles were deliberately selected, i.e., spherical, facetted and a mix of spherical and facetted, ascertained via transmission electron microscopy. Aqueous and non-aqueous sol-gel routes were applied to their synthesis in order to tailor their size, morphology and defect states. Raman spectroscopy demonstrated that the spherical nanoparticles contained a high amount of oxygen vacancies and zinc interstitials. Photoluminescence spectroscopy revealed that the facetted nanoparticles harbored zinc vacancies in addition to oxygen vacancies. A mechanism for dye degradation based on the possible surface defects in facetted nanoparticles is proposed in this work. The reusability of these nanoparticles for five cycles of dye degradation was also analyzed. More specifically, facetted ZnO nanoparticles tend to exhibit higher efficiencies and reusability than spherical nanoparticles.
PubMed: 37446514
DOI: 10.3390/nano13131998