Efficacy of UVC-LED radiation in bacterial, viral, and protozoan inactivation: an assessment of the influence of exposure doses and water quality.

Ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) have demonstrated the ability to inactivate microorganisms in water, offering an environmentally safer alternative to the conventional mercury lamp, in UV applications. While several studies have explored the microbiological effect of UVC-LEDs (200nm-280nm), limited information exists regarding their effects on waters with critical qualities. These critical qualities encompass bacteria, viruses, and protozoa - drinking water quality indicators defined by the World Health Organization for small water systems. For the first time, this work reports on the Escherichia coli, PhiX-174, MS2, and Cryptosporidium oocysts inactivation using a bench-scale UVC-LED (280 nm) water disinfection system. UV doses at a wavelength of 280 nm (UV280) of up to 143.4 mJ/cm2 were delivered under two quality-critical water conditions: filtered water (UV transmittance at 280 nm - UVT280 90.2 %) and WHO challenge water (UVT 15.7 %). Results revealed microbiological reductions dependent on exposure time and UVT. For UV280 dose of 16.1 mJ/cm2, 2.93-3.70 log E. coli reductions were observed in UVT 90.2 % and 15.7 %, 3.49-4.21 log for PhiX-174, 0.63-0.78 log for MS2, and 0.02-0.04 log for Cryptosporidium oocysts. Significantly higher UV280 doses of 143.4 mJ/cm2 led to reductions of 3.94-5.35 log for MS2 and 0.42-0.46 log for Cryptosporidium oocysts. Statistical analysis revealed that the sensitivity among the organisms to UV280 exposure was E. coli = PhiX-174 > MS2 >> Cryptosporidium oocysts. Although experiments with WHO challenge water posed greater challenges for achieving 1 log reduction compared to filtered water, this difference only proved statistically significant for PhiX-174 and MS2 reductions. Overall, UVC-LED technology demonstrated notable efficacy in microbiological inactivation, achieving significant reductions based on WHO scheme of evaluation for POU technologies in both bacteria and viruses even in critical-quality waters. The findings emphasize the potential for extending the application of UVC-LED as a viable solution for household water treatment.

Immunogenicity, safety and dual DIVA-like character of a recombinant candidate vaccine against neosporosis in cattle.

Neosporosis is the major infectious cause of abortion and reproductive losses in cattle worldwide; however, there are no available vaccines or drugs to control this disease. Recently, a dual (positive and negative) DIVA-like (Differentiation of Infected from Vaccinated Animals) vaccine was evaluated in a pregnant mouse model of neosporosis, showing promising immunogenic and protective results. The current report aimed to study the safety, the dose-dependent immunogenicity and the dual DIVA-like character of a recombinant subunit vaccine composed of the major surface antigen from Neospora caninum (rNcSAG1) and the carrier/adjuvant Heat shock protein 81.2 from Arabidopsis thaliana (rAtHsp81.2) in cattle. Healthy heifers were separated and assigned to experimental groups A-F and subcutaneously immunized with 2 doses of vaccine formulations 30 days apart as follows: A (n = 4): 50 µg rNcSAG1 + 150 µg rAtHsp81.2; B (n = 4): 200 µg rNcSAG1 + 600 µg rAtHsp81.2; C (n = 4): 500 µg rNcSAG1 + 1,500 µg rAtHsp81.2; D (n = 3): 150 µg rAtHsp81.2; E (n = 3):1,500 µg rAtHsp81.2, and F (n = 3) 2 ml of sterile PBS. The immunization of heifers with the different vaccine or adjuvant doses (groups A-E) was demonstrated to be safe and did not modify the mean value of the evaluated serum biomarkers of metabolic function (GOT/ASP, GPT/ALT, UREA, Glucose and total proteins). The kinetics and magnitude of the immune responses were dose-dependent. The higher dose of the vaccine formulation (group C) stimulated a broad and potent humoral and cellular immune response, characterized by an IgG1/IgG2 isotype profile and IFN-γ secretion. In addition, this was the first time that dual DIVA-like character of a vaccine against neosporosis was demonstrated, allowing us to differentiate vaccinated from infected heifers by two different DIVA compliant test approaches. These results encourage us to evaluate its protective efficacy in infected pregnant cattle in the future.

A Mix of Potentially Probiotic Limosilactobacillus fermentum Strains Alters the Gut Microbiota in a Dose- and Sex-Dependent Manner in Wistar Rats.

Multi-strain Limosilactobacillus (L.) fermentum is a potential probiotic with reported immunomodulatory properties. This study aimed to evaluate the composition, richness, and diversity of the gut microbiota in male and female rats after treatment with a multi-strain of L. fermentum at different doses. Thirty rats (fifteen male and fifteen female) were allocated into a control group (CTL), a group receiving L. fermentum at a dose of 108 CFU (Lf-108), and a group receiving L. fermentum at a dose of 1010 CFU (Lf-1010) for 13 weeks. Gut microbiota and serum cytokine levels were evaluated after L. fermentum treatment. Male CTL rats had a lower relative abundance of Bifidobacteriaceae and Prevotella and a lower alpha diversity than their female CTL counterparts (p < 0.05). In addition, male CTL rats had a higher Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio than female CTL rats (p < 0.05). In female rats, the administration of L. fermentum at 108 CFU decreased the relative abundance of Bifidobacteriaceae and Anaerobiospirillum and increased Lactobacillus (p < 0.05). In male rats, the administration of L. fermentum at 1010 CFU decreased the F/B ratio and increased Lachnospiraceae and the diversity of the gut microbiota (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae and the alpha-diversity of gut microbiota were negatively correlated with serum levels of IL1ß (r = -0.44) and TNFα (r = -0.39), respectively. This study identified important changes in gut microbiota between male and female rats and showed that a lower dose of L. fermentum may have more beneficial effects on gut microbiota in females, while a higher dose may result in more beneficial effects on gut microbiota in male rats.

In vitro efficacy testing of ivermectin against Tritrichomonas foetus trophozoites.

There are no recommended drugs to treat cattle infected with the protozoan Tritrichomonas foetus (TF). Ivermectin, widely used in the treatment of intestinal parasites, was found effective against some protozoa growing in vitro. Here, its effectiveness against a TF line was investigated. Trophozoites were incubated in media with increasing concentrations of ivermectin and mortality was determined after 24 h. Ivermectin killed cells with a mean maximum effective concentration (EC50) of 2.47 µg mL-1. The effective concentration of ivermectin was rather high for a formulation suitable for systemic treatment. However, topical treatment of animals against TF could still be considered and tested.

Climate change and air pollution impacts on cultural heritage building materials in Europe and Mexico.

Climate and air pollution have adverse effects on cultural heritage building materials. However, the quantified damage due to modeled changes in climate and air pollution is still poorly studied. Here, we review first the damage affecting these materials and the associated damage equations in the literature. Across all relevant studies (n = 87), we found only nine independent equations to estimate different damage categories, mainly limited to limestones. Then, by using current meteorological data and future bias-corrected CMIP6 climate and air pollution data at high resolution (1 km; historical and business-as-usual scenario) and applying these equations, we quantified the relative contributions of climate and air pollution changes on the building materials of eight cultural heritage sites of the European project Sustainable COnservation and REstoration of built cultural heritage (SCORE) from 2020 to 2100. On average across the sites, a significant decrease in damage is projected in surface recession (-10 % ± 10 %), biomass accumulation (-20 % ± 18 %), and wind-rain erosion (-7 % ± 6 %) in response to future climate and air pollution changes, except in the regions where precipitation substantially increases (Northern Europe). A large uncertainty in the relative magnitude of the damage to built cultural heritage materials was found for the same site, changes in surface recession vary up to a 40 % difference across the equations. Moreover, thermal expansion and lifetime multiplier equations project an increase in the related damage while all the other types of damage are significantly reduced. Finally, in general, but not systematically, climate-induced damage was found to be predominant over the pollution-induced one. Our results allow prioritizing cultural heritage maintenance decisions in regions where damage will further increase. Beyond simulated damages which are still limited use, we urge more campaign studies to determine real in situ damage in different climate locations to validate or build the best equations.

Minimum effective concentration of ropivacaine for ultrasound-guided transmuscular quadratus lumborum block in total hip arthroplasty: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: This trial aimed to identify the Minimum Effective Concentration (MEC90, defined as the concentration which can provide successful block in 90% of patients) of 30 mL ropivacaine for single-shot ultrasound-guided transmuscular Quadratus Lumborum Block (QLB) in patients undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA). METHODS: A double-blind, randomized dose-finding study using the biased coin design up-and-down sequential method, where the concentration of local anesthetic administered to each patient depended on the response from the previous one. Block success was defined as a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) score during motion ≤ 3 at 6 hours after arrival in the ward. If the block was successful, the next subject received either a 0.025% smaller dose (probability of 0.11) or the same dose (probability of 0.89); otherwise, the next subject received a 0.025% higher ropivacaine concentration. MEC90, MEC95 and MEC99 were estimated by isotonic regression, and the corresponding 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CIs) were calculated by the bootstrapping method. RESULTS: Based on the analysis of 52 patients, MEC90, MEC95, and MEC99 of ropivacaine for QLB were estimated to be 0.352% (95% CI 0.334-0.372%), 0.363% (95% CI 0.351-0.383%), and 0.373% (95% CI 0.363-0.386%). The concentration of ropivacaine at 0.352% in a volume of 30 ml can provide a successful block in 90% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: For ultrasound-guided transmuscular QLB in patients undergoing THA, 0.352% ropivacaine in a volume of 30 ml can provide a successful block in 90% of patients. Further dose-finding studies and large sample size are required to verify the concentration.

Safety and tolerability of inhaled N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (BMND01 candidate): A phase I clinical trial.

Psychedelics are being increasingly examined for their therapeutic potential in mood disorders. While the acute effects of ayahuasca, psilocybin, and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) last over several hours, inhaled N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) effects last around 10 min, which might provide a cost- and time-effective alternative to the clinical application of oral psychedelics. We aimed at investigating the safety and tolerability of inhaled DMT (BMND01 candidate). We recruited 27 healthy volunteers to receive a first, lower dose and a second, higher dose (5/20 mg, 7.5/30 mg, 10/40 mg, 12.5/50 mg, or 15/60 mg) of inhaled DMT in an open-label, single-ascending, fixed-order, dose-response study design. We investigated subjective experiences (intensity, valence, and phenomenology), physiological effects (blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen saturation, body temperature), biochemical markers (liver, kidney, and metabolic functions), and adverse events during the acute and post-acute effects of DMT. DMT dose-dependently increased intensity, valence and perceptual ratings. There was a mild, transient, and self-limited increase in blood pressure and heart rate. There were no changes in safety blood biomarkers and no serious adverse events. DMT dose-dependently enhanced subjective experiences and positive valence. Inhaled DMT might be an efficient, non-invasive, safe route of administration, which might simplify the clinical use of this substance. This is the first clinical trial to test the effects of inhaled DMT (BMND01 candidate).

Minimum effective concentration of ropivacaine for ultrasound-guided transmuscular quadratus lumborum block in total hip arthroplasty: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract Objective: This trial aimed to identify the Minimum Effective Concentration (MEC90, defined as the concentration which can provide successful block in 90% of patients) of 30 mL ropivacaine for single-shot ultrasound-guided transmuscular Quadratus Lumborum Block (QLB) in patients undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA). Methods: A double-blind, randomized dose-finding study using the biased coin design up-and-down sequential method, where the concentration of local anesthetic administered to each patient depended on the response from the previous one. Block success was defined as a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) score during motion ≤ 3 at 6 hours after arrival in the ward. If the block was successful, the next subject received either a 0.025% smaller dose (probability of 0.11) or the same dose (probability of 0.89); otherwise, the next subject received a 0.025% higher ropivacaine concentration. MEC90, MEC95 and MEC99 were estimated by isotonic regression, and the corresponding 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CIs) were calculated by the bootstrapping method. Results: Based on the analysis of 52 patients, MEC90, MEC95, and MEC99 of ropivacaine for QLB were estimated to be 0.352% (95% CI 0.334-0.372%), 0.363% (95% CI 0.351-0.383%), and 0.373% (95% CI 0.363-0.386%). The concentration of ropivacaine at 0.352% in a volume of 30 ml can provide a successful block in 90% of patients. Conclusions: For ultrasound-guided transmuscular QLB in patients undergoing THA, 0.352% ropivacaine in a volume of 30 ml can provide a successful block in 90% of patients. Further dose-finding studies and large sample size are required to verify the concentration.

Hormetic Effect Caused by Sublethal Doses of Glyphosate on Toona ciliata M. Roem.

This study aimed to evaluate the response of Toona ciliata seedlings to sublethal doses of glyphosate. The increasing use of glyphosate in agriculture concerns the scientific community, as the drift of this pollutant into aquatic systems or atmospheric currents can affect non-target species. Therefore, we need to understand how non-target species respond to small doses of this herbicide. T. ciliata seedlings (clone BV-1110) were exposed to sublethal doses of glyphosate (0, 9.6, 19.2, 38.4, 76.8 g ae ha-1). Anatomical, physiological, and photochemical analyses were performed 60 days after herbicide application, and growth assessments were carried out after 160 days of cultivation. We found that sublethal doses of glyphosate above 19.2 g ae ha-1 induced toxicity symptoms in Toona ciliata leaves. These symptoms were mild in some cases, such as chlorosis, but severe in other cases, such as tissue necrosis. We observed a positive relationship between increased plant height and photochemical yield with plant exposure to sub-doses 9.6 and 19.2 g ae ha-1. A sublethal dose of 38.4 g ae ha-1 improved the photosynthetic rate and carboxylation efficiency. Thus, we confirmed the hypothesis of a hormetic effect when T. ciliata was exposed to sub-doses of glyphosate equal to or lower than 38.4 g ae ha-1. However, the sublethal dose of 76.8 g ae ha-1 must be considered toxic, impacting photosynthetic activity and, consequently, the height of T. ciliata. The stem diameter of T. ciliata responded positively to increasing glyphosate doses. This occurs to compensate for the negative effect of glyphosate on water absorption. Further research will provide valuable information for harnessing the potential benefits of hormesis to improve the productivity of T. ciliata.

Modeling hormesis using multivariate nonlinear regression in plant biology: A comprehensive approach to understanding dose-response relationships.

For over a century, ecotoxicological studies have reported the occurrence of hormesis as a significant phenomenon in many areas of science. In plant biology, hormesis research focuses on measuring morphological, physiological, biochemical, and productivity changes in plants exposed to low doses of herbicides. These studies involve multiple features that are often correlated. However, the multivariate aspect and interdependencies among components of a plant system are not considered in the adopted modeling framework. Therefore, a multivariate nonlinear modeling approach for hormesis is proposed, where information regarding correlations among response variables is taken into account through a variance-covariance matrix obtained from univariate residuals. The proposed methodology is evaluated through a Monte Carlo simulation study and an application to experimental data from safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) cultivation. In the simulation study, the multivariate model outperformed the univariate models, exhibiting higher precision, lower bias, and greater accuracy in parameter estimation. These results were also confirmed in the analysis of the experimental data. Using the delta method, mean doses of interest can be derived along with their associated standard errors. This is the first study to address hormesis in a multivariate context, allowing for a better understanding of the biphasic dose-response relationships by considering the interrelationships among various measured characteristics in the plant system, leading to more precise parameter estimates.

Validation of automated image co-registration integrated into in-house software for voxel-based internal dosimetry on single-photon emission computed tomography images.

Objective: To develop an automated co-registration system and test its performance, with and without a fiducial marker, on single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images. Materials and Methods: Three SPECT/CT scans were acquired for each rotation of a Jaszczak phantom (to 0°, 5°, and 10° in relation to the bed axis), with and without a fiducial marker. Two rigid co-registration software packages-SPM12 and NMDose-coreg-were employed, and the percent root mean square error (%RMSE) was calculated in order to assess the quality of the co-registrations. Uniformity, contrast, and resolution were measured before and after co-registration. The NMDose-coreg software was employed to calculate the renal doses in 12 patients treated with 177Lu-DOTATATE, and we compared those with the values obtained with the Organ Level INternal Dose Assessment for EXponential Modeling (OLINDA/EXM) software. Results: The use of a fiducial marker had no significant effect on the quality of co-registration on SPECT images, as measured by %RMSE (p = 0.40). After co-registration, uniformity, contrast, and resolution did not differ between the images acquired with fiducial markers and those acquired without. Preliminary clinical application showed mean total processing times of 9 ± 3 min/patient for NMDose-coreg and 64 ± 10 min/patient for OLINDA/EXM, with a strong correlation between the two, despite the lower renal doses obtained with NMDose-coreg. Conclusion: The use of NMDose-coreg allows fast co-registration of SPECT images, with no loss of uniformity, contrast, or resolution. The use of a fiducial marker does not appear to increase the accuracy of co-registration on phantoms.

Objetivo: Desenvolver corregistro automático e testar seu desempenho com ou sem marcador fiducial em imagens de tomografia computadorizada de emissão de fóton único (SPECT). Materiais e Métodos: Três SPECT/CTs foram adquiridas para cada rotação de um simulador de Jaszczak em relação ao eixo da maca (0°, 5° e 10°), com e sem fiducial. Dois métodos de corregistro inelástico foram aplicados - SPM12 e NMDose-coreg -, e a porcentagem do erro quadrático médio (%RMSE) foi usada para analisar a qualidade do corregistro. Uniformidade, contraste e resolução foram medidos antes e após o corregistro. NMDose com corregistro automático foi usado para calcular a dose renal de 12 pacientes tratados com 177Lu-DOTATATE e comparado com OLINDA/EXM. Resultados: A marcação fiducial não modificou a qualidade do corregistro das imagens SPECT, medida pela %RMSE (p = 0,40). Não houve impacto na uniformidade, contraste e resolução após o corregistro de imagens adquiridas com ou sem fiduciais. Aplicação clínica preliminar mostrou tempo total de processamento de 9 ± 3 min/paciente para NMDose e 64 ± 10 min/paciente para OLINDA/EXM, com alta correlação entre ambos, apesar de menor dose renal em NMDose. Conclusão: NMDose-coreg permite o corregistro rápido de imagens SPECT, sem perda de uniformidade, contraste ou resolução. O uso da marcação fiducial não aumentou a precisão do corregistro em fantomas.

Validation of automated image co-registration integrated into in-house software for voxel-based internal dosimetry on single-photon emission computed tomography images / Validação do corregistro automático de imagem integrado a software de análise de dosimetria interna baseada em voxel para tomografia computadorizada de emissão de fóton único

Abstract Objective: To develop an automated co-registration system and test its performance, with and without a fiducial marker, on single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images. Materials and Methods: Three SPECT/CT scans were acquired for each rotation of a Jaszczak phantom (to 0°, 5°, and 10° in relation to the bed axis), with and without a fiducial marker. Two rigid co-registration software packages-SPM12 and NMDose-coreg-were employed, and the percent root mean square error (%RMSE) was calculated in order to assess the quality of the co-registrations. Uniformity, contrast, and resolution were measured before and after co-registration. The NMDose-coreg software was employed to calculate the renal doses in 12 patients treated with 177Lu-DOTATATE, and we compared those with the values obtained with the Organ Level INternal Dose Assessment for EXponential Modeling (OLINDA/EXM) software. Results: The use of a fiducial marker had no significant effect on the quality of co-registration on SPECT images, as measured by %RMSE (p = 0.40). After co-registration, uniformity, contrast, and resolution did not differ between the images acquired with fiducial markers and those acquired without. Preliminary clinical application showed mean total processing times of 9 ± 3 min/patient for NMDose-coreg and 64 ± 10 min/patient for OLINDA/EXM, with a strong correlation between the two, despite the lower renal doses obtained with NMDose-coreg. Conclusion: The use of NMDose-coreg allows fast co-registration of SPECT images, with no loss of uniformity, contrast, or resolution. The use of a fiducial marker does not appear to increase the accuracy of co-registration on phantoms.

Resumo Objetivo: Desenvolver corregistro automático e testar seu desempenho com ou sem marcador fiducial em imagens de tomografia computadorizada de emissão de fóton único (SPECT). Materiais e Métodos: Três SPECT/CTs foram adquiridas para cada rotação de um simulador de Jaszczak em relação ao eixo da maca (0°, 5° e 10°), com e sem fiducial. Dois métodos de corregistro inelástico foram aplicados - SPM12 e NMDose-coreg -, e a porcentagem do erro quadrático médio (%RMSE) foi usada para analisar a qualidade do corregistro. Uniformidade, contraste e resolução foram medidos antes e após o corregistro. NMDose com corregistro automático foi usado para calcular a dose renal de 12 pacientes tratados com 177Lu-DOTATATE e comparado com OLINDA/EXM. Resultados: A marcação fiducial não modificou a qualidade do corregistro das imagens SPECT, medida pela %RMSE (p = 0,40). Não houve impacto na uniformidade, contraste e resolução após o corregistro de imagens adquiridas com ou sem fiduciais. Aplicação clínica preliminar mostrou tempo total de processamento de 9 ± 3 min/paciente para NMDose e 64 ± 10 min/paciente para OLINDA/EXM, com alta correlação entre ambos, apesar de menor dose renal em NMDose. Conclusão: NMDose-coreg permite o corregistro rápido de imagens SPECT, sem perda de uniformidade, contraste ou resolução. O uso da marcação fiducial não aumentou a precisão do corregistro em fantomas.

Colloidal copper oxide nanoparticles leading to a biphasic dose-response in growth inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus.

Aim: The dose response in growth inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus treated with colloidal copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NP) was evaluated. Methods: An in vitro microbial viability assay was conducted with CuO-NP concentrations spreading over the 0.4-848.0 µg/ml range. The dose-response curve was modeled with a double Hill equation. UV-Visible absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopies allowed tracking concentration-dependent modifications in CuO-NP. Results: Two specific phases separated by the critical concentration of 26.5 µg/ml were observed in the dose-response curve, with each exhibiting proper IC50 parameters, Hill coefficients and relative amplitudes. Spectroscopy techniques reveal the occurrence of a concentration-triggered aggregation of CuO-NP starting from this critical concentration. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate a dose-related change in S. aureus sensitivity to CuO-NP, which probably arises from the aggregation of this agent.

Antibacterial agents are often used to stop the growth of bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NP) stand as a promising candidate for this purpose. Generally, the agent´s effectiveness is inspected following a dose-response curve in which de agent´s antibacterial response is plotted against its dose (concentration). In this work, employing an extended mathematical interpretation we were capable of discerning experimentally the existence of two stages of dose-response (biphasic dose-response) in the treatment of S. aureus with CuO-NP. These results in combination with insights from spectroscopic techniques lead to the understanding that the biphasic behavior arises from the aggregation of CuO-NP at high concentrations. Therefore, according to the adopted concentration to treat S. aureus, the agent can behave as a dispersed nanoparticle or as an aggregated nanoparticle. In summary, understanding whether antibacterial agents transform as a function of concentration is important in determining their practical applications.

Dose and time-response effect of photobiomodulation therapy on glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients combined or not with hypoglycemic medicine: A randomized, crossover, double-blind, sham-controlled trial.

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMt) combined or not with oral hypoglycemic medication has not been investigated in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients. All 10 T2DM patients were assessed randomly at 6 different occasions (3 with and 3 without regular oral hypoglycemic medication). Capillary glycemia was assessed after overnight fast (pre-prandial), 1 h postprandially (standardized meal, 338 kcal), and 30 min, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h post-PBMt (830 nm; 25 arrays of LEDs, 80 mW/array). Three doses (0 J-sham, 100 J, 240 J per site) were applied bilaterally on quadriceps femoris muscles, hamstrings, triceps surae, ventral upper arm and forearm; and randomly combined or not with oral hypoglicemic medication, totaling six different therapies applied for all 10 TDM2 patients (PBMt sham, PBMt 100 J, PBMt 240 J, PBMt sham + medication, PBMt 100 J + medication, PBMt 240 J + medication). Cardiac autonomic control was assessed by heart rate variability (HRV) indices. Without medication, there was reduction in glycemia after all PBMt doses, with 100 J as the best dose that persisted until 12 h and presented lower area under the curve (AUC). With medication, glycemia decreased similarly among doses. No differences between 100 J and sham + medication, but AUC was significantly lower after 100 J, suggesting better glycemic control. Low frequency component of HRV increased after sham + medication and 100 J, suggesting higher sympathetic activation. PBMt showed time- and dose-response effect to reduce glycemia in T2DM patients. Effects on HRV were consistent with glycemic control.

Do Higher Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Doses Lead to Greater Gains in Upper Limb Motor Function in Post-Stroke Patients?

Objective: To investigate whether a higher number of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) sessions results in a greater improvement in upper limb function in chronic post-stroke patients. Materials and methods: A randomized, sham-controlled, double-blind clinical trial was conducted in 57 chronic post-stroke patients (≥ 3 months after their injuries). The patients were allocated to receive sessions of tDCS combined with physiotherapy and divided into three groups (anodal, cathodal, and sham). The Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) was used to assess the sensorimotor impairment of the patients' upper limbs before (baseline) and after five and ten sessions. The percentage of patients who achieved a clinically significant improvement (> five points on the FMA-UE) was also analyzed. Results: The FMA-UE score increased after five and ten sessions in both the anodal and cathodal tDCS groups, respectively, compared to the baseline. However, in the sham group, the FMA-UE score increased only after ten sessions. When compared to the sham group, the mean difference from the baseline after five sessions was higher in the anodal tDCS group. The percentage of individuals who achieved greater clinical improvement was higher in the stimulation groups than in the sham group and after ten sessions when compared to five sessions. Conclusions: Our results suggest that five tDCS sessions are sufficient to augment the effect of standard physiotherapy on upper limb function recovery in chronic post-stroke patients, and ten sessions resulted in greater gains.

Childhood obesity risk increases with increased screen time: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The role of screen time in promoting obesity among children has been reported in previous studies. However, the effects of different screen types and the dose-response association between screen time and obesity among children is not summarized yet. In the current meta-analysis we systematically summarized the association between obesity and screen time of different screen types in a dose-response analysis. METHODS: A systematic search from Scopus, PubMed and Embase electronic databases was performed. Studies that evaluated the association between screen time and obesity up to September 2021 were retrieved. We included 45 individual studies that were drawn from nine qualified studies into meta-analysis. RESULTS: The results of the two-class meta-analysis showed that those at the highest category of screen time were 1.2 times more likely to develop obesity [odds ratio (OR) = 1.21; confidence interval (CI) = 1.113, 1.317; I2 = 60.4%; P < 0.001). The results of subgrouping identified that setting, obesity status and age group were possible heterogeneity sources. No evidence of non-linear association between increased screen time and obesity risk among children was observed (P-nonlinearity = 0.310). CONCLUSION: In the current systematic review and meta-analysis we revealed a positive association between screen time and obesity among children without any evidence of non-linear association. Due to the cross-sectional design of included studies, we suggest further studies with longitudinal or interventional design to better elucidate the observed associations.

Dynamic Removal of Nickel (II) on Elaeis guineensis Waste Bed: Study of the Breakage Curve and Simulation.

This research focused on the use of residual fiber from oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) for Ni (II) adsorption in a packed bed column. An analysis was conducted on the effect and statistical incidence of changes in temperature, adsorbent particle size, and bed height on the adsorption process. The results showed that particle size and bed height significantly affect the adsorption of Ni (II) ions, reaching adsorption efficiencies between 87.24 and 99.86%. A maximum adsorption capacity of 13.48 mg/g was obtained in the bed with a break time of 180 min. The Ni (II) adsorption in the dynamic system was evaluated by the analysis of the breakage curve with different theoretical models: Yoon-Nelson, dose-response, and Adams-Bohart; the dose-response model was the most appropriate to describe the behavior of the packed bed with an R2 of 84.56%. The breakthrough curve obtained from Aspen Adsorption® appropriately describes the experimental data with an R2 of 0.999. These results indicate that the evaluated bioadsorbent can be recommended for the elimination of Ni (II) in aqueous solutions in a dynamic system, and the simulation of the process can be a tool for the scalability of the process.

Dose-Response Transcranial Electrical Stimulation Study Design: A Well-Controlled Adaptive Seamless Bayesian Method to Illuminate Negative Valence Role in Tinnitus Perception.

The use of transcranial Electrical Stimulation (tES) in the modulation of cognitive brain functions to improve neuropsychiatric conditions has extensively increased over the decades. tES techniques have also raised new challenges associated with study design, stimulation protocol, functional specificity, and dose-response relationship. In this paper, we addressed challenges through the emerging methodology to investigate the dose-response relationship of High Definition-transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD tDCS), identifying the role of negative valence in tinnitus perception. In light of the neurofunctional testable framework and tES application, hypotheses were formulated to measure clinical and surrogate endpoints. We posited that conscious pairing adequately pleasant stimuli with tinnitus perception results in correction of the loudness misperception and would be reinforced by concurrent active HD-tDCS on the left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (dlPFC). The dose-response relationship between HD-tDCS specificity and the loudness perception is also modeled. We conducted a double-blind, randomized crossover pilot study with six recruited tinnitus patients. Accrued data was utilized to design a well-controlled adaptive seamless Bayesian dose-response study. The sample size (n = 47, for 90% power and 95% confidence) and optimum interims were anticipated for adaptive decision-making about efficacy, safety, and single session dose parameters. Furthermore, preliminary pilot study results were sufficient to show a significant difference (90% power, 99% confidence) within the longitudinally detected self-report tinnitus loudness between before and under positive emotion induction. This study demonstrated a research methodology used to improve emotion regulation in tinnitus patients. In the projected method, positive emotion induction is essential for promoting functional targeting under HD-tDCS anatomical specificity to indicate the efficacy and facilitate the dose-finding process. The continuous updating of prior knowledge about efficacy and dose during the exploratory stage adapts the anticipated dose-response model. Consequently, the effective dose range to make superiority neuromodulation in correcting loudness misperception of tinnitus will be redefined. Highly effective dose adapts the study to a standard randomized trial and transforms it into the confirmatory stage in which active HD-tDCS protocol is compared with a sham trial (placebo-like). Establishing the HD-tDCS intervention protocols relying on this novel method provides reliable evidence for regulatory agencies to approve or reject the efficacy and safety. Furthermore, this paper supports a technical report for designing multimodality data-driven complementary investigations in emotion regulation, including EEG-driven neuro markers, Stroop-driven attention biases, and neuroimaging-driven brain network dynamics.

Community Response to Noise from Hot-Spots at a Major Road in Quito (Ecuador) and Its Application for Identification and Ranking These Areas.

Environmental legislation in Ecuador is advancing with the legitimate aspiration of providing citizens with new standards of quality and environmental health. In the context of environmental noise, these legislative advances are based on the experience accumulated in other countries, which is an advantage that must be managed with caution by incorporating local factors into noise management procedures. This study advances two lines of work. The first is to survey the population about their attitude towards noise from a major road to try to detect local factors in the annoyance and sleep disturbances. The second uses this information to compare noise indicators for the detection and ranking of hot-spots from major roads. The interviewees exhibited a high level of annoyance and sleep disturbance due to noise compared with the results of other studies. Results show that there are small differences in the definition of hot-spots when using WHO's dose-response curves for Lden ≥ 68 dB for and for Lnight ≥ 58 dB, in comparison with the curves generated in this study (CS). Regarding the application of both dose-response curves (WHO vs. CS) to the estimation of the population at risk of the harmful effect of nighttime traffic noise (HSD), small oscillations are also observed even when Lnight ≥ 58 dB and Lnoche ≥ 60 dB are used.

Artificial light at night (ALAN) causes variable dose-responses in a sandy beach isopod.

Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) is expanding worldwide, and the study of its influence remains limited mainly to documenting impacts, overlooking the variation in key characteristics of the artificial light such as its intensity. The potential dose-response of fitness-related traits to different light intensities has not been assessed in sandy beach organisms. Hence, this study explored dose-responses to ALAN by exposing the intertidal sandy beach isopod Tylos spinulosus to a range of light intensities at night: 0 (control), 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 lx. We quantified the response of this species at the molecular (RNA:DNA ratios), physiological (absorption efficiency) and organismal (growth rate) levels. Linear and non-linear regressions were used to explore the relationship between light intensity and the isopod response. The regressions showed that increasing light intensity caused an overall ~ threefold decline in RNA:DNA ratios and a ~ threefold increase in absorption efficiency, with strong dose-dependent effects. For both response variables, non-linear regressions also identified likely thresholds at 80 lx (RNA:DNA) and 40 lx (absorption efficiency). By contrast, isopod growth rates were unrelated (unaltered) by the increase in light intensity at night. We suggest that ALAN is detrimental for the condition of the isopods, likely by reducing the activity and feeding of these nocturnal organisms, and that the isopods compensate this by absorbing nutrients more efficiently in order to maintain growth levels.