-
Scientific Reports Jun 2024From the useless municipal solid waste (MSW) ashes, CeO, GdO and CeO + GdO doped borosilicate glasses were organized via melting-quenching procedure. Various...
From the useless municipal solid waste (MSW) ashes, CeO, GdO and CeO + GdO doped borosilicate glasses were organized via melting-quenching procedure. Various optical, structural, physical and radiation shielding parameters were examined towards the influence of 100 kGy of γ-radiation. UV-visible NIR spectra revealed UV peaks at 351, 348 and 370 nm corresponding to the trivalent states of Ce and Gd ions, while, photoluminescence (PL) spectra displayed asymmetric broad excitations of Ce and Gd ions due to 4f → 5d transitions, and emission intense bands at 412, 434, and 417 nm. CIE chromaticity shows that Gd ions increase the luminescence of Ce. FTIR absorption bands revealed an overlapping between tetrahedral groups of silicate (SiO), with trigonal (BO) and tetrahedral (BO) units of borate. The influence of 100 kGy obtains quite reduction in UV-visible NIR and PL peaks, large stability in FTIR and ESR spectra, and stability of thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) as well. The whole data revealed optical, structural and physical stability of glasses after irradiation besides an enhancement in microhardness owing to more structural compactness and high bonding connectivity. Radiation shielding parameters from PhyX/PSD program showed higher values of mass (MAC) and linear attenuation coefficients (LAC), and effective atomic number (Z) in the order of; glass > glass > glass . Ce + Gd doped glass revealed also the lowest half value layer (HVL) comparing to other shielding commercial concretes. The study recommends the beneficial and economical use of the useless MSW ash to produce CeO and/or GdO borosilicate glasses with hopeful radiation shielding features.
PubMed: 38871825
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63207-4 -
Environment International Jul 2024
Topics: Brain Neoplasms; Humans; Prospective Studies; Cell Phone; Cell Phone Use
PubMed: 38870580
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108808 -
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Currently, one of the most important problems of environmental protection is the deep and complex processing of mineral raw materials. This problem is especially...
Currently, one of the most important problems of environmental protection is the deep and complex processing of mineral raw materials. This problem is especially relevant when processing substandard ores and production waste, one of which is phosphogypsum. This study examines the process of CaSO/CaS composite material formation during the reduction of phosphogypsum with citric acid. The composite structure formation mechanism is proposed. The resulting materials are characterized using various methods, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy, the Scherrer method, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and FT-IR spectroscopy. The reduced sample emits orange radiation in the range of 500-750 nm with a quantum yield of 0.17. Experimental results showed that the sample decomposition process in the solid state consisted of two components with a predominant contribution from the long-lived component (~46 ns). The optimal conditions for producing luminescent materials by reducing phosphogypsum with citric acid were determined: a heat treatment temperature of 1073 K, a holding time of 60 min, and a reducing agent mole fraction of 37%. It was found that an increase in temperature with a simultaneous decrease in heat treatment time, as well as a decrease in temperature with a simultaneous increase in heat treatment time, led to a decrease in the luminescent properties of the synthesized material compared to optimal values. The results can be used to develop technology for recycling large-tonnage waste from the chemical industry into luminescent materials.
PubMed: 38869529
DOI: 10.3390/nano14110904 -
Microbiology Spectrum Jun 2024Earth's stratosphere is characterized by hypobaric conditions, low temperatures, and high intensities of ultraviolet (UV) and cosmic radiation as well as low water and...
UNLABELLED
Earth's stratosphere is characterized by hypobaric conditions, low temperatures, and high intensities of ultraviolet (UV) and cosmic radiation as well as low water and nutrient availability. While it is not considered a permanent habitat for microorganisms, they can be transported to the stratosphere by storms, volcanic action, or human activity. The impact of those extreme conditions on microorganisms and their survival were tested by sending a sample gondola to the stratosphere. The sample gondola was built to allow exposure of endospores at different angles to the sun. It moreover had holders for three environmental samples to test the effect of stratospheric conditions on complex microbial communities. The gondola attached to a stratospheric balloon was launched near Kiruna, Sweden, ascended to ~25 km, and drifted eastward for ~200 km. Samples were exposed to pressures as low as 2 kPa and temperatures as low as -50°C as well as high UV radiation. Survival rates of were determined by comparing the numbers of colony-forming units (CFUs) for the different exposure angles. Survival was negatively correlated with exposure angle, indicating the significant impact of UV radiation. The effect of stratospheric conditions on environmental samples was assessed by comparing most probable numbers, microbial community composition, and substrate-use profiles to controls that had stayed on the ground. Cultivation was possible from all samples with survival rates of at least 1%, and differences in community composition were observed. Survival of environmental microorganisms might have been supported by the sample matrix, which provided protection from radiation and desiccation.
IMPORTANCE
Earth's stratosphere is a hostile environment that has challenged microbial survival. We set out to test the effect of stratosphere exposure on survival of single species () and complex microbial communities from soils and sediment. survival was strongly impacted by sun exposure, i.e., ultraviolet (UV) radiation, with only 1% survival at full sun exposure. Complex microbial communities had high survival rates, and the soil or sediment matrix may have provided protection against radiation and desiccation, supporting the survival of environmental microorganisms.
PubMed: 38869294
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03982-23 -
Journal of Applied Physiology... Jun 2024The purpose of this study was to investigate which climate/heat indices perform best in predicting heat-induced loss of physical work capacity (PWC-loss). Integrating...
The purpose of this study was to investigate which climate/heat indices perform best in predicting heat-induced loss of physical work capacity (PWC-loss). Integrating data from earlier studies, data from 982 exposures (75 conditions) exercising at a fixed cardiovascular load of 130b.min, in varying temperatures (15-50°C), humidities (20-80%), solar radiation (0-800W.m), wind (0.2-3.5m.s) and two clothing levels, were used to model the predictive power of ambient temperature, Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), Modified Equivalent Temperature (mPET), Heat Index, Apparent Temperature (AT), and Wet Bulb Temperature () for the calculation of PWC-loss, skin temperature () and core-to-skin temperature gradient, and Thermal perception( TSV) in the heat. R, RMSD and Akaike stats were used indicating model performance. Indices not including wind/radiation in their calculation (, Heat Index, AT, ) struggled to provide consistent predictions across variables. For PWC-loss and TSV, UTCI and WBGT had the highest predictive power. For , and core-to-skin temperature gradient, the physiological models UTCI and mPET worked best in semi-nude conditions, but clothed, AT, WBGT and UTCI worked best. For all index predictions, , vapor pressure and were shown to be the worst heat strain predictors. While UTCI and WBGT had similar model performance using the full dataset, WBGT did not work appropriately in windy, hot-dry, conditions where WBGT predicted lower strain due to wind, whereas the empirical data, UTCI and mPET indicated that wind in fact increased the overall level of thermal strain. The findings of the current study highlight the advantages of using a physiological model-based index like UTCI when evaluating heat stress in dynamic thermal environments.
PubMed: 38867664
DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00613.2023 -
Nutrition Journal Jun 2024Although fish oil has been considered to have an anti-inflammatory effect and has been proven to play a beneficial role in the incidence of numerous diseases, the...
BACKGROUND
Although fish oil has been considered to have an anti-inflammatory effect and has been proven to play a beneficial role in the incidence of numerous diseases, the association between fish oil supplementation and the risk of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is still unknown. This study aimed at evaluating the correlation between fish oil use and incident SLE in a large population-based prospective cohort.
METHODS
390,277 participants without SLE at baseline from the UK Biobank were enrolled. Fish oil use was ascertained through a touchscreen questionnaire at baseline. The incidence of SLE was identified by the International Classification of Diseases version 10 code in medical records or self-report. Cox proportional hazard models were employed to estimate the association between fish oil use and SLE risk.
RESULTS
Fish oil users accounted for 31.47% of participants. During a median follow-up duration of 11.57 years, 141 participants without fish oil use (4.56/100 000 person-years) and 68 participants with fish oil use (4.78/100 000 person-years) developed SLE. In four models with adjustments for different amounts of confounders, there was no significant difference in the risk of SLE between fish oil users and fish oil non-users (all p-values > 0.05). In subgroup analyses, we found that fish oil supplementation was associated with a lower risk of SLE among females with ultraviolet radiation ≥ 3 h/day (hazard ratio: 0.63, 95% confidence interval: 0.40-0.98), which turned insignificant after further adjustment for female-related factors and sun protection measures.
CONCLUSIONS
No significant association between fish oil use and overall incident SLE was observed, except in females exposed to prolonged ultraviolet radiation. Subgroup analysis suggested that females exposed to prolonged ultraviolet radiation might benefit from fish oil supplementation in terms of preventing SLE, but it needs to be confirmed in further studies.
Topics: Humans; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Female; Fish Oils; Prospective Studies; Dietary Supplements; Middle Aged; Male; Incidence; Adult; Risk Factors; Proportional Hazards Models; United Kingdom; Surveys and Questionnaires; Aged
PubMed: 38862999
DOI: 10.1186/s12937-024-00965-x -
Stem Cell Research Aug 2024Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the main causes of sudden cardiac death and heart failure and is the leading indication for cardiac transplantation worldwide....
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the main causes of sudden cardiac death and heart failure and is the leading indication for cardiac transplantation worldwide. Mutations in dozens of cardiac genes have been connected to the development of DCM including the Troponin T2 gene (TNNT2). Here, we generated a human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) from a DCM patient with a familial history that carries a missense mutation in TNNT2. The hiPSCs show typical morphology of pluripotent stem cells, expression of pluripotency markers, normal karyotype, and in vitro capacity to differentiate into all three germ layers.
Topics: Humans; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells; Troponin T; Cell Differentiation; Cell Line; Male; Karyotype
PubMed: 38861774
DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2024.103467 -
Radiology and Oncology Jun 2024Spine stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for the treatment of metastatic disease is increasingly utilized owing to improved pain and local control over...
BACKGROUND
Spine stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for the treatment of metastatic disease is increasingly utilized owing to improved pain and local control over conventional regimens. Vertebral body collapse (VBC) is an important toxicity following spine SBRT. We investigated our institutional experience with spine SBRT as it relates to VBC and spinal instability neoplastic score (SINS).
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Records of 83 patients with 100 spinal lesions treated with SBRT between 2007 and 2022 were reviewed. Clinical information was abstracted from the medical record. The primary endpoint was post-treatment VBC. Logistic univariate analysis was performed to identify clinical factors associated with VBC.
RESULTS
Median dose and number of fractions used was 24 Gy and 3 fractions, respectively. There were 10 spine segments that developed VBC (10%) after spine SBRT. Median time to VBC was 2.4 months. Of the 11 spine segments that underwent kyphoplasty prior to SBRT, none developed subsequent VBC. No factors were associated with VBC on univariate analysis.
CONCLUSIONS
The rate of vertebral body collapse following spine SBRT is low. Prophylactic kyphoplasty may provide protection against VBC and should be considered for patients at high risk for fracture.
PubMed: 38861691
DOI: 10.2478/raon-2024-0033