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Scientific Reports Oct 2023The problem of sky pollution with artificial light currently affects practically all branches that are related to the broadly understood environment. This is especially...
The problem of sky pollution with artificial light currently affects practically all branches that are related to the broadly understood environment. This is especially true for astronomical observations. This paper presents the results of measurements of the surface brightness of the night sky for the city of Rzeszów and the surrounding area, which were made in 2015, 2018 and 2021 using the photometer Sky Quality Meter (SQM-L). The measurements show that the surface brightness of the night sky in Rzeszów in 2015 was in the range from 19.20 to 18.67 mag/arcsec, in 2018 the value of brightness oscillated in the range from 18.53 to 16.47 mag/arcsec, and in 2021 this value was in the range from 17.13 by 15.11 mag/arcsec. Translating the obtained values on the Bortle scale, we can see an increase in the brightness of the night sky from class VI in 2015 to class IX in 2021. A similar trend applies to neighboring towns, for which an increase in brightness from class IV in 2015 to class VIII in 2021 was also observed. An increase in the surface brightness of the night sky causes a deterioration or even loss of visibility of astronomical objects in the night sky. This is especially true for comets and low-brightness stars. Based on the measurement results, a forecast of the development of light pollution was prepared for the study areas until 2025. This forecast shows that we will still have to deal with an increase in the surface brightness of the night sky. Due to the further projected increase in the brightness of the night sky, it should be expected that observers in small towns will experience changes in the quality of the sky over the coming years, which will undoubtedly make astronomical observations difficult, in particular for faint celestial bodies such as comets.
PubMed: 37816866
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44423-w -
Data in Brief Oct 2023This dataset highlights some of the water quality issues in Uganda. The rationale for collecting the water samples was to test and ascertain the level and source of...
This dataset highlights some of the water quality issues in Uganda. The rationale for collecting the water samples was to test and ascertain the level and source of contamination. A total of one hundred and eighty five samples were collected from sixteen districts. At each water point, a sample was collected using a sterile plastic container, which was pre-rinsed with the water to be sampled. Water samples were drawn from protected and unprotected springs, shallow wells, taps, rain tanks, water reservoirs, open and hand dug wells and boreholes and immediately transported on ice to the National Water Quality Reference Laboratory for analysis. At the laboratory, a BWB flame photometer, Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) titration and gallery plus-thermos fisher discreet analyzer were used to analyze metal, nutrient and anion elements. On-site testing of dissolved oxygen, pH, electrical conductivity and turbidity was done using a water data sonde. This data can be used to draw comparative analyses of water quality issues in rural and urban districts and help in identifying the factors that influence water quality variations. The data can further be used for trend analysis and identifying long-term patterns whilst providing insights into pollution sources and the impact of environmental and climate change. Consequently, mathematical and machine learning models can use this data together with other parameters to predict the changes in water quality which information is essential for policy and decisions making. This data can be used by environmental scientists to draw insights into the health of the aquatic biodiversity; geospatial analysts to ascertain proximal water contaminants; public health specialists to analyze pathogens leading to water-borne diseases; water chemists to study the source and cause of water pollution; data scientists to perform predictive and descriptive analyses; and policy makers to formulate laws and regulations.
PubMed: 37808544
DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2023.109601 -
Scientific Reports Oct 2023Photoelectric observations of night sky brightness (NSB) at different zenith distances and azimuths, covering all the sky, at the Egyptian Kottamia Astronomical...
Photoelectric observations of night sky brightness (NSB) at different zenith distances and azimuths, covering all the sky, at the Egyptian Kottamia Astronomical observatory (KAO) site of coordinates ϕ = 29° 55.9' N and λ = 31° 49.5' E, were done using a fully automated photoelectric photometer (FAPP). The Bessel wide range system (UBVRI) is used for the first time to observe NSB for three consecutive nights (1-3 August, 2022) under good seeing conditions after the moon sets. The deduced results were taken in photons and converted into mag/arcsec. The average zenith sky brightness for U, B, V, R and I filters are found to be 20.49, 20.38, 19.41, 18.60 and 17.94 mag/arcsec respectively. The average color indices (U-B), (B-V), (V-R) and (R-I), at the zenith are detected to be 0.11, 0.98, 0.81 and 0.66, respectively. We plotted the isophotes of the sky brightness at KAO in U, B, V, R and I colors (filters) and determined both the average atmospheric extinction and sky transparency through these UBVRI filters. The atmospheric and other meteorological conditions were taken into our consideration during the observational nights. The results of the current study illustrate the main impact of the new cities built around KAO on the sky glow over it, and which astronomical observations are affected.
PubMed: 37798327
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43844-x -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2023This paper analyzes the light-scattering standards currently used for calibration (verification) and systematic research in photo and spectrophotometry tools. The...
This paper analyzes the light-scattering standards currently used for calibration (verification) and systematic research in photo and spectrophotometry tools. The application specificities in studying the diffuse reflected and transmitted light during biomedical CCD photometry are considered. The advantages of a new class of photometers with non-spherical reflectors as ellipsoids of revolution truncated along the focal planes with the internal mirror surface are presented. The ellipsoid first focal plane is combined with the surface of the under-study media, and the second is optically coupled to the CCD image sensor plane. The principles of zone analysis of spatial distribution reproduced in photometric images on a CCD sensor are substantiated. The illuminance levels of photometric image areas in reflected and transmitted light from the thickness of the standard for the wavelength of laser radiation of 650 nm of different power was experimentally investigated. Polynomial dependences were obtained, and regression coefficients of the illuminance of the external and middle rings in photometric images for the reflected and transmitted light on the laser power were determined.
PubMed: 37765756
DOI: 10.3390/s23187700 -
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 -
Scientific Reports Sep 2023In 1924, the CIE published and standardized the photopic luminous efficiency function. Based on the standardized curve, luminous flux in lumens, luminance in...
In 1924, the CIE published and standardized the photopic luminous efficiency function. Based on the standardized curve, luminous flux in lumens, luminance in cd/m[Formula: see text], and illuminance in lux are determined by an integral of the curve and the incident light spectra in photometers and are considered physical brightness. However, human brightness perception is not only weighted by this simple determination, but is a more complicated combination of all L-cones, M-cones, S-cones, rods and later ipRGCs, which was partly described by the equivalent brightness of Fotios et al. with the correction factor [Formula: see text]. Recently, new research has demonstrated the role of ipRGCs in human light perception. However, it is still unclear how these signal components of the human visual system are involved in the overall human brightness perception. In this work, human brightness perception under photopic conditions was investigated by visual experiments with 28 subjects under 25 different light spectra. In this way, the contributions of the signal components can be investigated. An optimization process was then performed on the resulting database. The results show that not only the [Formula: see text] component, but also the S-cones and ipRGC play a role, although it is smaller. Thus, the visually scaled brightness model based on the database optimization was constructed using not only illuminance but also S-cones and ipRGC with [Formula: see text] of 0.9554 and RMSE of 4.7802. These results are much better than the brightness model after Fotios et al. using only S-cones ([Formula: see text] = 0.8161, RMSE = 9.7123) and the traditional model without S-cones and ipRGC ([Formula: see text] = 0.8121, RMSE = 9.8171).
Topics: Humans; Color Vision; Visual Perception; Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells; Databases, Factual; Light
PubMed: 37666893
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41084-7 -
Therapeutic Advances in Ophthalmology 2023Anthropometry facilitates the evaluation of risks associated with reduced macular pigment optical density (MPOD).
BACKGROUND
Anthropometry facilitates the evaluation of risks associated with reduced macular pigment optical density (MPOD).
OBJECTIVES
To investigate the predictors and anthropometric indices associated with MPOD in healthy adult in Arab population.
DESIGN
This is a cross-sectional study.
METHODS
The MPOD was measured at 0.5° from fovea using a heterochromatic flicker photometer. Healthy participants aged between 20 and 40 years were recruited. The study evaluated the following data of the participants: height, weight, body mass index, body fat percentage, basal metabolic rate, visceral fat level, muscle mass, bone mineral content, and percentage of protein and body water. The correlation between MPOD with anthropometrics and demographic data was evaluated using Spearman's correlation test. The differences among genders were investigated using the Mann-Whitney test. The smoking effect on MPOD was analyzed using the Friedman test.
RESULTS
In all, 143 participants were recruited. The median ± interquartile range was calculated for age (23 ± 4 years), visual acuity (0.00 ± 0.00 logMAR), and MPOD (0.41 ± 0.18). The average MPOD was higher in males than in females but it was not statistically significant ( > 0.05); on the other hand, they were statistically significantly different in most of the anthropometric data. A significant relationship was found between MPOD and percentage of body fat, protein, and body water ( = 0.30, < 0.05). The observed median MPOD value was higher in this study than that found in previous studies in white populations, but lower than that found in studies investigating Asian populations.
CONCLUSION
One of the most important risk factors of age-related macular degeneration is associated with a relative absence of macular pigment. This study brought into focus percentage of protein and body water for further studies as well as the well-established links with body fat and obesity. Unknown predictors of MPOD remain uncovered. The study also provided first report on normative values of MPOD for Arab population and confirmed the differences from other ethnicities.
PubMed: 37599800
DOI: 10.1177/25158414231189099 -
ACS Omega Aug 2023Herein, we present the immobilization of a technical grade β-d-galactosidase on amino-functionalized microtiter plates. Afterward, we transferred the results to a...
Herein, we present the immobilization of a technical grade β-d-galactosidase on amino-functionalized microtiter plates. Afterward, we transferred the results to a resin-based approach. For the covalent binding of the enzyme, an amino-functionalized microtiter plate was prefunctionalized with 1,4-phenylendiisothiocyanate. The cleavage of the substrate 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indoxyl-β-d-galactopyranoside (X-Gal) produces a deep blue dye, which was quantified in a microtiter plate reader at 595 nm. The maximum reaction rates and the Michaelis-Menten constant were calculated. In addition, the unwanted blue precipitate formed during the experiments could be minimized by optimizing the experiments. When transferring the immobilization method to Rink amide resin, -nitrophenyl-β-d-galactopyranoside was used as the substrate and the measurement was carried out in a photometer at 420 nm.
PubMed: 37546597
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c03279 -
Pharmaceutics Jul 2023Medicated chewing gum with lysozyme hydrochloride and ascorbic acid as active pharmaceutical ingredients was developed for application in dentistry. The aim of this...
The Study of the Cytotoxicity, Proliferative and Microbiological Activity of the Medicated Chewing Gum with Ascorbic Acid and Lysozyme Hydrochloride Using Different Culture of Cells.
Medicated chewing gum with lysozyme hydrochloride and ascorbic acid as active pharmaceutical ingredients was developed for application in dentistry. The aim of this research was to study the cytotoxicity, proliferative, and microbiological activities of the active ingredients in different types of cell cultures. The preclinical study of active pharmaceutical ingredients and their combinations was carried out using culture lines such as HepG2 (human hepatocarcinoma cells), Hek293 (human embryonic kidney cells), and MAEC (mouse aortic endothelial cells). MTT assays were used to analyse cytotoxicity and proliferative activity, while the state of antioxidant protection was assessed by the content of sulfhydryl groups and catalase activity. The determination of lipid peroxidation products was based on the level of TBA-active products. As a microbiological model for studying the effect of the developed dental medicine on the ability of the oral cavity microorganisms to form biofilms, the following strains were used: , , , , and . The optical density of the formed biofilm was evaluated by the intensity of the experimental sample's colour on a StatFax 303 Plus photometer at a wavelength of 630 nm. The combination of ascorbic acid and lysozyme hydrochloride in the established concentrations (20 mg and 10 mg per 1 gum, respectively) resulted in a slight stimulation of cell proliferation without any toxic effects and increased antioxidant protection, preventing the development of oxidative stress. It was found that, in contrast to the separately used active substances, the combination of lysozyme hydrochloride and ascorbic acid inhibits the biofilm formation of all studied microorganisms and shows the ability to destroy diurnal biofilms of and fungi of the genus , indicating potentiation and summation of the active pharmaceutical ingredients' composition effects in the developed dental medicine. Due to the observed positive pharmacological and microbiological action, the combination of lysozyme hydrochloride and ascorbic acid in the medicated chewing gum serves as a promising tool for the prevention and treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases of the periodontium and mucous membranes and the prevention of caries.
PubMed: 37514080
DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15071894 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Jul 2023This research shows the size composition of airborne dust fractions in selected dairy barns down to the smallest particles, including factors that influence this...
This research shows the size composition of airborne dust fractions in selected dairy barns down to the smallest particles, including factors that influence this composition. Measurements with a Dust-Track 8530 laser photometer took place in the summer at external temperatures of 29.5 to 36 °C. In barns with straw bedding, the average total dust concentration TDC was 66.98 ± 28.38 μg·m (PM 60.11 ± 19.93 μg·m, PM 49.48 ± 13.76 μg·m, PM 44.78 ± 10.18 μg·m, and PM 38.43 ± 9.29 μg·m). In barns without straw bedding, the average TDC was 55.91 ± 36.6 μg·m, PM 33.71 ± 13.86 μg·m, PM 30.69 ± 15.29 μg·m, PM 27.02 ± 13.38 μg·m, and PM 22.93 ± 10.48 μg·m. The largest TDC of 108.09 ± 32.93 μg·m (PM 69.80 ± 18.70 μg·m, PM 68.20 ± 18.41 μg·m, PM 53.27 ± 14.73 μg·m, and PM 38.46 ± 5.55 μg·m) was measured in an old cowshed with stanchion housing for 113 cows, straw bedding, and ventilation through windows. In a modern cowshed for loose housing of 440 lactating cows without straw bedding, with natural ventilation and 24 axial fans, TDC was 53.62 ± 49.52 μg·m, PM 20.91 ± 5.24 μg·m, PM 17.11 ± 3.23 μg·m, PM 13.71 ± 0.92 μg·m, and PM 12.69 ± 2.82 μg·m. In all investigated barns, a large proportion of airborne dust particles (54.38 ± 20.82% of TDC) consists of the smallest PM dust particles (from 12.69 ± 2.82 μg·m to 48.48 ± 1.18 μg·m).
PubMed: 37508099
DOI: 10.3390/ani13142322