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Human-made chemicals are ubiquitous, leading to chronic exposure to complex mixtures of potentially harmful substances. We investigated chemical exposures in pregnant women in New York City by applying a non-targeted analysis (NTA) workflow to 95 paired prenatal urine and serum samples (35 pairs of preterm birth) collected as part of the New York University Children's Health and Environment Study. We analyzed all samples using liquid chromatography coupled with Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry in both positive and negative electrospray ionization modes, employing full scan and data-dependent MS/MS fragmentation scans. We detected a total of 1524 chemical features for annotation, with 12 chemicals confirmed by authentic standards. Two confirmed chemicals dodecyltrimethylammonium and N,N-dimethyldecylamine N-oxide appear to not have been previously reported in human blood samples. We observed a statistically significant differential enrichment between urine and serum samples, as well as between preterm and term birth (p < 0.0001) in serum samples. When comparing between preterm and term births, an exogenous contaminant, 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid (tentative), showed a statistical significance difference (p = 0.003) with more abundance in preterm birth in serum. An example of chemical associations (12 associations in total) observed was between surfactants (tertiary amines) and endogenous metabolites (fatty acid amides).

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and their metabolites are linked to developmental neurotoxicity, but their levels in the gestational and lactational environment remain unexplored. This study investigated the effects of dietary exposure to the Fox River Mixture (FRM) on serum levels of PCBs and their metabolites in female C57BL/6 J mice. Mice were exposed to 0.1, 1.0, or 6.0 mg/kg body weight/day of FRM beginning two weeks before mating and throughout gestation and lactation. Serum samples collected from the dams at weaning were analyzed using gas chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometry and nontarget liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. Results showed complex and dose-dependent differences in PCB and metabolite profiles. Untargeted metabolomics revealed alterations in metabolites involved in glucuronidation. Network analysis suggested disturbances in heme and amino acid metabolism associated with higher chlorinated PCBs. These findings suggested that PCBs and metabolites present in the gestational and lactation environment of mice may contribute to developmental neurotoxicity in rodents.

A February 3, 2023 train derailment and subsequent burn released hazardous chemicals into East Palestine, Ohio. One potential exposure was polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans, and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (cPCBs), collectively referred to as dioxins. Many studies have linked dioxins to numerous health effects. A pilot study was conducted July 17-18, 2023 to assess residents serum dioxin levels. Eighteen persons who were White, nonsmokers with a mean age of 55, and 56% female, provided serum for analysis. Measurement of 20 dioxins, furans, and cPCBs congeners was conducted using gas chromatography, isotope dilution, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. A toxic equivalency (TEQ) value for each participant was calculated by multiplying the reported concentration of each congener by its toxic equivalency factor and summing the results. TEQs were compared to 2011-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data by race/ethnicity, sex, and age group. All participants had serum TEQ values either below or within the range of NHANES values. Mean TEQ values were lower in younger age groups; we observed no sex-specific differences. These pilot data demonstrate that although dioxins may have formed during the derailment, exposures to participants did not increase their TEQ values compared with 2011-2012 NHANES.

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with sarcoidosis has been related to treatment, symptoms, organ involvement and disease severity, but little is known about its association with occupation. The aim was to quantify HRQL in occupationally exposed sarcoidosis patients compared to their nonexposed counterparts. Methods: A total of 221 sarcoidosis patients (median age 49 years, interquartile range (IQR) 37–60 years) with a histologically confirmed diagnosis were recruited from university hospitals and outpatient centers in Belarus, Kazakhstan, and the Russian Federation. General (with SF-8) and specific (with K-BILD) HRQL were compared between patients who were ever exposed to 24 occupational factors and nonexposed patients in adjusted multivariable models. Results: Work in the office and office equipment (beta − 3.60 (95% confidence interval (CI) -6.91;-0.29)) was significantly associated with a poorer SF-8 physical component score (PCS) independent of sex, whereas exposure to irritant gases was strongly associated with a worse mental component score (MCS), adjusted for sex and smoking beta − 7.11 (95% CI -12.83;-1.39). Irritant gas (beta − 17.2 (95% CI -29.3;-5.1)) and work in the office (beta − 7.9 (95% CI -14.7;-1.0)) were associated with worse K-BILD total scores, while only the latter was associated with breathlessness and activities (BA) scores. Exposure to flour, irritant gas and office work were associated with the psychological (P) domain. Exposure to flour, irritant gas and work in the office could predict chest symptom (CS) scores. Conclusions: In patients with sarcoidosis and occupational exposure, patients may exhibit worse HRQL, but further research is needed to ascertain the interplay of individual and occupational factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Information regarding children's exposure to tobacco smoke, posing significant risks, is usually reliant on parental reports. We aimed to adopt the scale of parental perception of children's tobacco smoke exposure (PPE) into Turkish, and investigate its correlation with sociodemographic factors. Methods: The language and cultural adaptation of the original scale was carried out according to the international guidelines. The participants consisted of 250 females and 250 males living in Samsun province who are over the age of 18, have children younger than 18 years old, without any visual impairment or communication barrier. The survey forms were administered through face-to-face interviews between November 2022 and April 2023. Results: Mean age of the parents was 36.7 ± 6.9 years. A total of 179 (35.5%) parents were current smokers, and 44% of the households had at least one parent who reported smoking indoors. The mean score of PPE scale was 4.9 ± 1.2. Female sex, parents with higher education, with healthcare profession and with no history of smoking had better awareness about children exposure to smoke. A positive correlation was found between educational level and PPE scale score (r = 0.13; p = 0.004). Parents not allowing smoking indoors or in the car, and those not bringing children to restaurants where smoking was allowed, had higher PPE scores. Conclusions: There is a need for multidisciplinary and community-based interventions, with more effective enforcement and monitoring of smoking bans in enclosed spaces and children's play areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and rapid urbanization have intensified the frequency and severity of flooding, resulting in substantial damage to communities and infrastructure. Existing research on flood risk addresses a wide range of dimensions, ranging from physical to managerial aspects, which adds complexity to the assessment process. This paper introduces the Integrated Risk Linkages (IRL) Framework to provide a systematic approach to flood risk assessment. The IRL Framework defines risk as the intersection of hazard and vulnerability, where vulnerability is shaped by exposure and susceptibility. Resilience, including coping and adaptive capacities, serves as a counterbalance to vulnerability, offering pathways to mitigate flood impacts. Guided by the IRL framework, this study conducts a comprehensive review of the literature to identify and organize a detailed set of 99 criteria and sub-criteria into three overarching hierarchical structures: hazard, susceptibility, and resilience. Furthermore, the paper evaluates existing flood risk assessment methods, emphasizing their characteristics and practical applicability. The IRL framework presented in this study offers essential insights for navigating the complexities of flood risk management, serving as a valuable reference for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners. Its flexibility empowers users to adapt the framework by utilizing specific components or its entire hierarchical structure, depending on data availability and research objectives, thereby enhancing its applicability across diverse contexts. Article Highlights: This study develops the Integrated Risk Linkages (IRL) framework which provides a systematic approach to flood risk assessment. A comprehensive review of existing literature is conducted, organizing 99 criteria/sub-criteria into three hierarchical structures for hazard, susceptibility, and resilience. The paper addresses challenges in data quality and integration by promoting flexibility and adaptability in applying the IRL framework along with the proposed hierarchical structures across diverse contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Bergen 4-Day treatment (B4DT) is a form of concentrated exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in which patients receive treatment over four consecutive days. Previous studies have shown B4DT to be a promising treatment format for panic disorder (PD), although the long-term stability of treatment gains requires additional study. Aim: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the longer-term effectiveness of B4DT for patients with panic disorder with or without agoraphobia. This study extends a previously published study by providing a long-term follow-up of the same cohort (n = 30), initially assessed at three months post-treatment. Method: Thirty patients with panic disorder were consecutively included in a retrospect open trial. The primary outcome measure was the Panic Disorder Severity Scale. The secondary outcome measures were the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Outcomes were assessed at pretreatment, posttreatment, 3-month follow-up, and longer-term follow-up (with a mean time of 18 months). Results: There was a significant reduction in panic disorder symptoms from pretreatment to longer-term follow-up (d = 5.03, 95% CI [18.55, 21.12] to [1.33, 3.87]). The Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) mean decreased from 19.83 (SD = 0.64, 95% CI [18.55, 21.12]) before treatment, to 4.37 (SD = 0.64, 95% CI [2.98, 5.76]) post-treatment, followed by further decreases at the 3-month follow-up to a mean of 2.84 (SD = 0.64, 95% CI [1.45, 4.22]), and at the longer-term follow-up to 2.60 (SD = 0.64, 95% CI [1.33, 3.87]). There was no significant difference in symptom severity between the 3-month and 18-month assessments, indicating a sustained improvement (p <.001). At the 18-month follow-up, 90% of the patients were classified as being in remission. There were also significant reductions in symptoms of depression (d = 1.44) and generalized anxiety (d = 1.62) that were maintained at the longer-term follow-up assessment. Conclusion: The results from the current study indicated that the treatment effects of B4DT are stable over time and that the treatment format appears to be promising for PD. Confirming these preliminary results in rigorous study designs is needed. Trial registration: The study was approved by the Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics of Northern Norway (REK Nord-2021/209619). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is now well established that climate changes is affecting smallholder farmers and threatening agricultural production and livelihoods in South Kivu Province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), due to their limited capacity to cope with climate change. In the DRC, data on smallholder farmers' perceptions of climate change effects and related shocks remain limited. This study was carried out to assess smallholder farmers' vulnerability to climate change and their perceptions of related disruptions in livestock production in South Kivu Province. Specifically, the study assesses smallholder farmers' exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity to climate change, as well as their perception of related shocks and the strategies they use to mitigate the shocks they experience. The study was conducted from May to October 2022 in five territories of South Kivu Province. Vulnerability was determined by considering the vulnerability index, potential impact index, and the adaptive capacity index. The findings revealed that livestock farmers in low-altitude zones are the most exposed and sensitive to the effects of climate change. However, their adaptive capacity is comparable to those of medium- and high-altitude zones. Most farmers believe that the observed effects of climate change and its impacts are due to poor agricultural and livestock practices. Their adaptive strategies include income diversification (57.6%), controlling livestock diseases (72%), adopting integrated production systems (65.2%), planting trees (56.9%), improving pasture management (45.5%), and using improved livestock breeds (41.3%). Despite their efforts, limited resources and access to technology constrain adaptation. This study highlights the critical role of farmers' attitudes and perceptions in shaping their adaptive behaviors. It underscores the need for localized interventions that integrate Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices, built on traditional knowledge systems, to enhance resilience. These findings provide actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners aiming to improve the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities in similar contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nanomaterial life-cycle risk assessment (Nano LCRA) was conducted for second-generation functionalized cellulose nanomaterials (CNs) in five case studies, including applications in water filtration, food contact packaging (including as an additive and coating), and food additives, to identify and prioritize potential occupational, health, consumer, and environmental risks. Exposure scenarios were developed and ranked for each product life-cycle stage. A Safer-by-Design Toolbox (SbD Toolbox) representing a compendium of high-throughput physical, chemical, and toxicological new approach methodologies (NAMs) was used for a screening-level hazard assessment. Overall, risks identified for the CN-enabled products were low. Of the exposure scenarios, occupational inhalation exposures during product manufacturing and application ranked the highest. Despite differences in chemistry and morphology, the materials behaved similarly in oral, dermal, and inhalation models, supporting their grouping and read-across. The screening-level hazard assessment identified potential lung inflammation associated with CN exposure, and a review of the literature supported this funding, suggesting CNs behave as poorly soluble, low-toxicity dusts with the potential to irritate the lung. Key research gaps to reduce uncertainty include evaluating long-term, low-dose exposures typical of the workplace, as well as the potential release and toxicity of CN-containing composite particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literatures and organising show us how, in contemporary racial financial capitalism, housing is formed through dispossessive histories and geographies. Here, we query how these enter into play in the visual regimes through which housing is seen and experienced. For if the visual realm is as much a construct as any other housing matter, finding a grammar to tap into its workings might become handy when its violent outcomes come to the fore. What is reproduced in the visual regimes of housing? What is offered and taken anyway? What might never be seen, and by whom? The article offers a tentative analytical approach to questioning what we call dispossessed exposures: the (en)visioning of homely futures that are deprived, already in the social construct of seeing with the house, the possibility of radical care for and of habitation. These ideas are unpacked through reflection on two films: Ladj Ly's Les Misérables and Fanny Liatard and Jérémy Trouihl's Gagarine. We offer these reasonings as a contribution to ongoing conversations in the renewed field of housing justice scholarship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Theories assert that avoidance maintains maladaptive anxiety over time, yet a clear prospective test of this effect in the day-by-day lives of people with social anxiety disorder (SAD) is lacking. Method: We used intensive longitudinal data to test prospective relationships between social fear and social avoidance in 32 participants with SAD who reported on a total of 4256 time points. Results: Results suggested that avoidance strongly predicted future anxiety, but only in a minority of people with SAD. Relationships between anxiety and avoidance varied considerably across individuals. Pre-registered tests found that the strength of autocorrelation for social fear is a good target for future testing of prediction of exposure response. Participants with lower autocorrelations were less likely to show between-session habituation. Conclusions: Overall, results suggest avoidance maintains fear in SAD for at least some individuals, but also indicates considerable variability. Further intensive longitudinal data is needed to examine individuals with SAD across varying time courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Murine pneumonia models play a fundamental role in the preclinical development of novel compounds seeking an indication for the treatment of pneumonia. It is vital that plasma exposures in these models are not used as a surrogate for exposure in pulmonary epithelial lining fluid (ELF). Herein, human-simulated regimens (HSRs) in both plasma and ELF of meropenem, cefiderocol and tobramycin are described in the standardized COMBINE murine neutropenic pneumonia model. Materials and methods HSRs were developed in both plasma and ELF for meropenem and cefiderocol as 2 g q8h 3 h infusions, and tobramycin 7 mg/kg 30 min infusion. Pharmacokinetic studies were performed to confirm plasma and ELF exposures in mice that recapitulated % f T > MIC for meropenem and cefiderocol, and f Cmax and f AUC0-24 for tobramycin in humans. Results Concentration–time profiles and relevant pharmacodynamic exposures for all three compounds were well matched in mice relative to humans. None of the plasma HSRs were able to appropriately humanize the ELF. Thus, modifications of the plasma HSRs were necessary to provide unique HSRs specific to ELF exposure for each compound. Conclusions It should not be assumed that lung penetration in mice relative to humans is equivalent. With HSRs confirmed for these three drugs with established clinical use in the treatment of patients with pneumonia, these humanized exposures within the standardized model will allow for back-translation of anticipated efficacy and provide purposeful quantitative benchmarks for cfu/lung assessments for researchers on an international scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractHuman exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a class of brominated flame retardants, can occur through consumption of contaminated foods. Since 2007, U.S. meat and poultry samples (beef, pork, chicken, turkey) have been collected every 5 years to assess PBDE levels and consumer exposure to seven PBDEs. Mean ∑PBDE concentrations from beef, pork, chickens, turkeys, dairy cows, and siluriformes (catfish) were 0.19, 0.48, 0.11, 0.60, 0.28 ng/g lipid weight (lw), and 2.5 ng/g wet weight (ww). The ΣPBDEs for all meat classes ranged from 0.005 to 17.7 ng/g lw. Comparison of the 2018–19 survey to the 2007–08 and 2012–13 surveys revealed an overall decrease in the median ΣPBDE residue for all four meat classes with significant reductions in the medians, at 40 - 45%, for pork, chicken, and turkey. As in the previous surveys, BDEs 47 and 99 had higher percentage contributions to the ΣPBDE concentrations than other PBDE congeners, which indicated the penta-BDE formulation was a likely exposure source for animals. An estimate of U.S. consumer daily intake of PBDEs from meat and poultry was 5.0 ng/day which is a decrease from the 2012–13 survey of 6.4 ng/day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure therapy is an efficacious treatment for anxiety-related disorders. Yet, fear often returns after treatment. Occasional reinforcement, in which the feared stimulus is intermittently presented during extinction, increases safety learning and slows fear renewal in conditioning paradigms and analogue samples, but no studies to date have examined this strategy in clinical samples. The present study examined the effects of vicarious occasional reinforcement on fear renewal in a snake-phobic sample across multiple levels of analysis. Fear was intermittently reinforced by providing reminders of the feared outcome (a snake bite) throughout a two-session analogue video exposure manipulation. Snake-phobic adults were randomized to one of three conditions: a single-cue [S], multiple-cue [M], or multiple-cue+fear-outcome [M+FO] exposure group. Results showed the three groups did not significantly differ in threat expectancy or attentional bias for threat at follow-up. Despite sustained anxiety, however, the M+FO condition completed significantly more steps on a visual avoidance task at follow-up than the M and S conditions and heightened mean distress during exposure mediated this effect. The M and S groups did not significantly differ in visual avoidance at follow-up. These findings suggest incorporating reminders of the feared outcome into exposure may be an effective strategy for increasing inhibitory retrieval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure of school children to aflatoxin and fumonisin is mainly through diet. In Kenyan public schools, children are given porridge made from maize flour for breakfast, a mixture of maize and beans, also known as githeri for lunch and ugali for dinner. Nixtamalization has proved to reduce mycotoxins in most cereals and not a mixture of maize and beans. This study, therefore, aimed to assess the exposure of primary school children in Turkana County to aflatoxin and fumonisin through maize-based food under the school meals program and the effectiveness of nixtamalization in the reduction of these mycotoxins. Samples of githeri were randomly collected from all public primary schools (n = 128) under the homegrown school meals program in Turkana County and analyzed for aflatoxin and fumonisin. The data was analyzed using SAS software, version 9.4. The deterministic model was used to calculate the estimated daily intake (EDI) and the margin of exposure (MOE) used to characterize the exposure risk. The contaminated samples were then treated with various concentrations of Ca(OH)2, 0.5–2.5%. The treated samples were cooked for 60 and 75 min and soaked for 6 and 8 h. Forty percent of the schools contained githeri samples with aflatoxin B1 levels above 5 µg/Kg, the maximum limit for Kenya. Exposure to aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxin was up to 2 µg/kg/bw/day. The range for fumonisin exposure was 60–80 µg/kg/bw/day. Ca(OH)2 concentration levels of up to 2.5% reduced aflatoxin by 75% and fumonisin by 72%. The findings indicate that githeri is contaminated with aflatoxin and fumonisin which exposes school children to these mycotoxins and nixtamalization can be used to reduce mycotoxin contamination in githeri. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) are poisons that contaminate poorly stored staple foods in resource-limited settings. Antenatal AFB1 and FB1 exposure may cause anaemia. We aimed to determine the associations of urinary aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and FB1, biomarkers of AFB1 and FB1 exposure, respectively, with erythrocyte parameters and anaemia. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in 68 HIV-infected and 61 HIV-uninfected pregnant women ≥ 20 weeks gestational age in Harare, Zimbabwe. AFM1 and FB1 were measured in urine via competitive ELISA, and levels were grouped into tertiles. The erythrocyte parameters assessed were haemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell (RBC), haematocrit (HCT), and red blood cell distribution width. Associations of urinary AFM1 and FB1 with erythrocyte parameters, and anaemia were assessed in a multiple regression controlled for potential confounders. The presence of FB1 in urine decreased Hb levels in all women (β= −0.98, 95% CI: −1.94, 0.02) and HIV-uninfected (β= −1.99, 95% CI: −3.71, −0.26). FB1 tertile 3 decreased Hb levels (β= −0.88, 95% CI: −1.74, 0.01) and HCT levels (β= −2.65, 95% CI: −5.26, 0.03) in HIV-infected. AFM1 tertile 2 decreased RBC levels in HIV-infected (β= −0.34, 95% CI: −0.71, −0.03). The presence of FB1 in urine increased anaemia risk in HIV-uninfected (OR: 10.68 95% CI: 1.02, 112.34). AFM1 tertile 2 increased macrocytic anaemia risk in HIV-infected (OR: 13.72, 95% CI: 0.92, 203.55). There is need to ensure food safety through monitoring and nutritional interventions to improve maternal-infant health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the effects of bilingualism on third language (L3) development set in bilingual communities is scarce, outdated, and has provided mixed results. This study investigated the effects of exposure and age of onset of acquisition (AOA) of L3-English, as well as first and second language (L1/L2) skills and use, in the development of L3-English lexical and grammatical receptive abilities in Catalan-Spanish bilingual learners in Catalonia. The study followed a longitudinal design with three data collection times: Times 1 and 2 took place at the onset and the end of Grade 1, respectively, and Time 3 happened at the end of Grade 2. Results showed an overall growth of vocabulary and grammar over the first two years of primary schooling. In addition to testing time, L3-English exposure outside of school predicted higher receptive vocabulary and grammar skills, whereas an older English AOA predicted lower skills. The L1/L2 variables showed different associations to the vocabulary and grammar scores. However, the minoritized language, Catalan, bore a stronger association with the two L3 outcomes than the majority language, Spanish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Assessing surgical skills is vital for training surgeons, but creating objective, automated evaluation systems is challenging, especially in robotic surgery. Surgical procedures generally involve dissection and exposure (D/E), and their duration and proportion can be used for skill assessment. This study aimed to develop an AI model to acquire D/E parameters in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and verify if these parameters could distinguish between novice and expert surgeons. Methods: This retrospective study used 209 RARP videos from 18 Japanese institutions. Dissection time was defined as the duration of forceps energy activation, and exposure time as the combined duration of manipulating the third arm and camera. To measure these times, an AI-based interface recognition model was developed to automatically extract instrument status from the da Vinci Surgical System® UI. We compared novices and experts by measuring dissection and exposure times from the model’s output. Results: The overall accuracies of the UI recognition model for recognizing the forceps type, energy activation status, and camera usage status were 0.991, 0.998, and 0.991, respectively. Dissection time was 45.2 vs. 35.1 s (novice vs. expert, p = 0.374), exposure time was 195.7 vs. 89.7 s (novice vs. expert, p < 0.001), and the D/E ratio was 0.174 vs. 0.315 (novice vs. expert, p = 0.003). Conclusions: We successfully developed a model to automatically acquire dissection and exposure parameters for RARP. Exposure time may serve as an objective parameter to distinguish between novices and experts in RARP, and automated technical evaluation in RARP is feasible. Trial registration number and date: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the National Cancer Center Hospital East (No.2020 − 329) on January 28, 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of impacts on and risks to citizens generated by climatic or environmental phenomena in urban settlements is made complex by the coexistence of events that can affect the risk assessment. In this work, a model for the assessment of impacts on and risks to the population generated by heatwaves in urban settlements in the presence of pandemic periods is proposed. The presence of epidemics is treated as a stressor that contributes to altering exposure. To assess the prevalence of this stressor, a fuzzy-based emotion detection method is utilized, which uses the FREDoC framework to categorize the subzones that comprise the urban study area according to the relevance of the pleasant and unpleasant emotions of the citizens, identified based on the examination of posts that have been published on social networks. The proposed model was tested on the urban area of study of the city of Naples in Italy, taking into consideration a heatwave scenario that occurred in the summer of 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic and analyzing the variation in exposure in the thirty districts into which the city is partitioned. The findings demonstrate that the model can accurately represent the range of impacts and hazards associated with the heatwave brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) are toxic secondary products of fungi that frequently contaminate staple crops in resource-limited settings. Antenatal AFB1 and FB1 exposure may cause adverse birth outcomes. We conducted a retrospective substudy nested in a case-control cohort of HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women ≥20 weeks gestation from Harare, Zimbabwe. Urinary aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and FB1, biomarkers of AFB1 and FB1 exposure, respectively, were quantified in random antenatal urine via ELISA and grouped into tertiles. The adverse birth outcomes considered were low birth weight, preterm birth (PTB), small for gestational age, stillbirth, birth defects, neonatal death, neonatal jaundice and perinatal death (PD). We evaluated any associations between adverse birth outcomes and exposure to AFB1, FB1, or the AFB1-FB1 combination via a multivariable logistic regression controlled for potential confounders. We enrolled 94 HIV-infected and 81 HIV-uninfected women. In HIV-infected, AFM1 was detected in 46/94 (49%), and FB1 was detected in 86/94 (91%). In HIV-uninfected, AFM1 was detected in 48/81 (59%), and FB1 was detected in 74/81 (91%). Among all women, AFM1 tertile 3 was associated with PD (OR: 6.95; 95% CI: 1.21-39.78). In the same population, AFM1 tertiles 2 (OR: 13.46; 95% CI: 1.20-150.11) and 3 (OR: 7.92; 95% CI: 1.08-58.19) were associated with PTB. In HIV-infected, AFM1 tertile 2 was associated with PTB (OR: 64.73; 95% CI: 2.37-177.93). Our results revealed an association between AFB1 exposure and PD and PTB in women, including those infected with HIV. Public health and nutrition measures are necessary to mitigate mycotoxins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For use in cosmetic products, 32 substances have been authorised in the EU as UV-filters as of August 2022 (Annex VI of the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009). Although these substances can enter the aquatic environment directly through bathing, authorisation for use in cosmetic products does not require a specific environmental risk assessment, whereas risks to human health are specifically assessed. Furthermore, no environmental quality standards have been proposed at EU level. For the current review, data on freshwater ecotoxicity, physicochemical properties, environmental fate and measured exposure were retrieved from ECHA registration information and public databases and assessed for reliability and relevance. Environmental quality standards (EQS) were proposed based on the EU technical guidance for EQS for the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Results: From a WFD perspective, there were significant or complete gaps for acute and chronic effects data, sediment organisms and rarely tested organisms at the time of data retrieval, as well as gaps for measured environmental concentrations in the assessed databases. The reliability of the reported data could not always be verified due to missing information. As expected from the heterogeneity of molecular structures, ecotoxicity data and environmental fate parameters vary considerably between the different substances. Our assessments indicate that the use of some of the substances in direct contact with surface water may pose a repeated risk to aquatic organisms. Conclusions: We recommend a revision of the process for the inclusion of UV-filters in the EU Cosmetics Product Regulation, taking into account the potential environmental risks. A full assessment of all UV-filters using standard test organisms as well as rarely tested species for acute and chronic effects and bioaccumulation would require, among other things, a large number of fish tests. Therefore, new assessment methods (NAMs) are recommended, including the use of fish cell lines for acute toxicity testing and alternatives for the assessment of chronic toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the relationship between hotel sites (current and planned) and exposure to hurricanes in Cuba. The hypothesis focused on demonstrating that Cuban tourist areas have differing degrees of exposure to tropical cyclones according to the month. The results indicate that although the whole Cuban archipelago is exposed to hurricanes, the tourist regions in Cuba's western provinces have a greater chance of being affected than those located in the center, east, and south. The tourism development that will take place by 2030 in Cuba includes significant hotel expansion in coastal areas that are highly exposed to hurricanes. Information on the risk of hurricanes in tourist regions provides information that could enable the creation of the organizational conditions needed to tackle these phenomena in the short to medium term and to refine spatial and tourism planning approaches in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article intends to demonstrate the interconnections between exposure, engagement, human rights (HRs) lens, and methods in social work. To achieve these aims, we used HRXSW, HRESW, HRLSW, and HRMSW index scales to carry out a survey amongst Portuguese social workers. This survey was sent to 4079 registered members (100%) of the Portuguese professional association, of which 259 were valid responses (6.3%). The results of this pilot study show that professionals are exposed to HR in the education system and in the professional practice and that the level of engagement with HR is strong. Professionals revealed that social problems and rights violations played a prominent role during their practices with clients; however, contradictions are noticed in relation with intervention methods. Their methods are mostly informed by individual rights and personal empowerment, collaboration, and accountability and, to a lesser extent, by non-discrimination, micro and meso approach, and activism. We conclude that professionals have the knowledge and courage to consolidate and promote HR; however, in order to advocate for and promote structural social changes that lead to the full realization of an HR utopia, they need to use methods based on structural and collective approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professional firefighters were unable to follow their health and safety protocols due to the nature and magnitude of the incident. The subsequent reporting and recording of fire emissions, individual exposure, and activities are crucial to ensure that lessons are learned. Objective: This study aimed to characterize the smoke exposure of firefighters who attended the Grenfell Tower fire during the initial 20 hours. Methods: As no compilation of exposure data exists, data were compiled from nine unconnected sources, including the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, firefighters' statements, incident logs, and the UK Firefighter Cancer and Disease Registry. Results: Of the 628 firefighters who attended, information was available from 524. Eighty-nine percent reported exposure to smoke without respiratory protection equipment (RPE), of whom 23% also reported exposure to excessive heat. Common reasons for smoke exposure were assisting casualties (18%), running out of air (15%), and climbing stairs without activating RPE to conserve air (17%). Conclusions: A significant proportion of firefighters reported inhaling smoke during the incident with potentially debilitating health effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The emergence of β-lactamase-producing bacteria has led to the use of β-lactam (BL) antibiotic and β-lactamase inhibitor (BLI) drug combinations. Despite therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) being endorsed for BLs, the impact of TDM on BLIs remains unclear. Objectives Evaluate whether BLIs are available in effective exposures at the site of infection and assess if TDM of BLIs could be of interest. Methods Population pharmacokinetic models for 9 BL and BLI compounds were used to simulate drug concentrations at infection sites following EMA-approved dose regimens, considering plasma protein binding and tissue penetration. Predicted target site concentrations were used for probability of target attainment (PTA) analysis. Results Using EUCAST targets, satisfactory (≥90%) PTA was observed for BLs in patients with typical renal clearance (CrCL of 80 mL/min) across various sites of infection. However, results varied for BLIs. Avibactam achieved satisfactory PTA only in plasma, with reduced PTAs in abdomen (78%), lung (73%) and prostate (23%). Similarly, tazobactam resulted in unsatisfactory PTAs in intra-abdominal infections (79%), urinary tract infections (64%) and prostatitis (34%). Imipenem-relebactam and meropenem-vaborbactam achieved overall satisfactory PTAs, except in prostatitis and high-MIC infections for the latter combination. Conclusions This study highlights the risk of solely relying on TDM of BLs, as this can indicate acceptable exposures of the BL while the BLI concentration, and consequently the combination, can result in suboptimal performance in terms of bacterial killing. Thus, dose adjustments also based on plasma concentration measurements of BLIs, in particular for avibactam and tazobactam, can be valuable in clinical practice to obtain effective exposures at the target site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Non-ferrous metals smelting workers had higher urinary metal(loid)s levels. • Workers co-exposed to arsenic, cadmium, lead, antimony, thallium and tin from smelting. • Workers had the lowest arsenic methylation capacity, followed by residents. • Residents living closer to the smelting plant suffered higher health risks. Non-ferrous metal smelting poses significant risks to public health. Specifically, the copper smelting process releases arsenic, a semi-volatile metalloid, which poses an emerging exposure risk to both workers and nearby residents. To comprehensively understand the internal exposure risks of metal(loid)s from copper smelting, we explored eighteen metal(loid)s and arsenic metabolites in the urine of both occupational and non-occupational populations using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with high-performance liquid chromatography and compared their health risks. Results showed that zinc and copper (485.38 and 14.00 µg/L), and arsenic, lead, cadmium, vanadium, tin and antimony (46.80, 6.82, 2.17, 0.40, 0.44 and 0.23 µg/L, respectively) in workers (n =179) were significantly higher compared to controls (n =168), while Zinc, tin and antimony (412.10, 0.51 and 0.15 µg/L, respectively) of residents were significantly higher than controls. Additionally, workers had a higher monomethyl arsenic percentage (MMA%), showing lower arsenic methylation capacity. Source appointment analysis identified arsenic, lead, cadmium, antimony, tin and thallium as co-exposure metal(loid)s from copper smelting, positively relating to the age of workers. The hazard index (HI) of workers exceeded 1.0, while residents and control were approximately at 1.0. Besides, all three populations had accumulated cancer risks exceeding 1.0 × 10−4, and arsenite (AsIII) was the main contributor to the variation of workers and residents. Furthermore, residents living closer to the smelting plant had higher health risks. This study reveals arsenic exposure metabolites and multiple metals as emerging contaminants for copper smelting exposure populations, providing valuable insights for pollution control in non-ferrous metal smelting. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have examined global foreign accent (GFA) in bilingual children, and little is known about how GFA changes over time and what factors determine change. Here, we examine GFA trajectories in Japanese–English bilingual returnees (Japanese children who returned to Japan after having lived in a majority English environment for several years). In two accent-rating tasks, first language (L1) speakers of English or Japanese rated returnee speech excerpts recorded at three time points over a five-year period. The ratings show a decrease in Japanese GFA one year after return to Japan, and an increase in English GFA, but only five years after return. These findings suggest rapid re-exposure effects of the L1 and relatively stable maintenance of the second language (L2). Changes varied by L2 English age of onset (AoO) and exposure to L2 English while abroad, suggesting a crucial role for these individual factors in transitory contexts such as returnee bilingualism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bird fancier's disease is a type of HP occurring due to exposure to bird's antigen. The diagnosis is quite difficult as it requires the identification of an inciting agent with findings of HRCT and lung biopsy. The exposure is usually done by history with antigen-specific IgG and/or specific inhalational challenge testing. The study aimed to investigate the role of pigeon allergens in house dust in bird exposure-related HP patients. Methods: This was a descriptive, mixed-method observational study. We retrospectively screened all the files of HP patients for exposure history and pigeon-specific IgG of one-year duration. Finally, Finally house dust from 18 cases with HP was collected for analysis of concentration of pigeon droppings and feather proteins. Results: The mean age was 47.8 ± 11.5 years with 78% being female. The median duration of symptoms was 1.75 years with a median exposure history to pigeons of 7 years. The level of specific IgG was raised in 11 (60%) patients with a mean level of 50.6 ± 39.5. The concentration of pigeon-drooping protein was present in all the dust samples with a mean of 17.6 ± 5.6 μg/mg. The highest concentration was 27 μg/mg and the lowest of 9 μg/mg. The concentration of pigeon father protein was present in nearly 50% of the dust sample with a mean of 5.6 ± 6.7 μg/mg and the highest concentration was 15.8 μg/mg. Conclusion: The confirmation history of exposure in bird exposure-related HP is difficult because bird antigen exposure can be presents anywhere. The house dust bird protein concentration measurement is a simple, non-invasive, adjunct test for confirmation of bird exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]