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The appropriate distribution of the guide signs in subway stations can allow passengers to obtain direction and wayfinding information quickly and accurately. The existing setting methods of subway station guide signs mainly consider the locations of facilities and pedestrian flowlines in the station. Therefore, this research proposes an optimization method based on pedestrian walking behavior to set guide signs more realistically and increase the guidance efficiency of signs. Firstly, through on-site investigation, this research analyzed the walking behavior characteristics of pedestrians and measured the average speed of pedestrians in different spaces to quantify the walking characteristics. Then, the guidance level of guide signs was defined to describe the guide ability of each sign and was the basis for determining the distribution of the guide signs. The constraint of the distance between two adjacent guide signs was added according to the short-term memory of pedestrian walking identification. Moreover, the variable of the number of floors between the two adjacent signs was added to avoid calculating floor-by-floor. Finally, Xi'an Xiaozhai Station was selected as an example to verify the proposed optimization method using the AnyLogic 8.7.6. The results show that the guide sign optimization method based on pedestrian walking behavior proposed in this paper can obtain an accurate distribution of guide signs, which can decrease the outbound time by 18.51s at the most, and the thickness at the bottleneck decreases by 5.90%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brevetoxins (BTXs) are marine biotoxins responsible for neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP) after ingestion of contaminated shellfish. NSP is characterized by neurological, gastrointestinal and/or cardiovascular symptoms. The main known producer of BTXs is the dinoflagellate Karenia brevis, but other microalgae are also suspected to synthesize BTX-like compounds. BTXs are currently not regulated in France and in Europe. In November 2018, they have been detected for the first time in France in mussels from a lagoon in the Corsica Island (Mediterranean Sea), as part of the network for monitoring the emergence of marine biotoxins in shellfish. To prevent health risks associated with the consumption of shellfish contaminated with BTXs in France, a working group was set up by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (Anses). One of the aims of this working group was to propose a guidance level for the presence of BTXs in shellfish. Toxicological data were too limited to derive an acute oral reference dose (ARfD). Based on human case reports, we identified two lowest-observed-adverse-effect levels (LOAELs). A guidance level of 180 µg BTX-3 eq./kg shellfish meat is proposed, considering a protective default portion size of 400 g shellfish meat.

The present study with 1-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) was conducted to evaluate the effects of deoxynivalenol (DON) at different levels (5 and 15 mg/kg feed) on growth performance, relative weight of organs, morphology of the small intestine, serum biochemistry, and welfare parameters of broiler chickens. Forty-five broiler chicks were randomly divided into three different experimental groups with five replicates each: (1) control group received a non-contaminated diet, (2) contaminated diet with 5 mg DON/kg of feed, and (3) contaminated diet with 15 mg DON/kg of feed for 42 days. Results showed that feed artificially contaminated with DON at guidance level (5 mg/kg diet) did not affect growth performance parameters. However, 15 mg/kg reduced body weight gain and altered feed efficiency. DON at two assayed levels significantly increased the absolute and relative weight of thymus and the relative weight of gizzard and decreased the absolute and the relative weight of the colon. Compared to controls, both doses affected small intestine morphometry parameters. In terms of biochemical indicators, DON at 5 mg/kg reduced the creatine kinase level and at 15 mg/kg DON reduced the cholesterol level. Furthermore, DON at 15 mg/kg induced more fear in broilers compared to broilers fed the guidance level. It was concluded that even the guidance level of DON did not affect the chickens’ performance. However, its toxic effect occurred in some organs and biochemical parameters.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the maximum skin dose (MSD) in patients undergoing interventional cardiology procedures, obtaining local reference levels and comparing these with the reference levels proposed in the literature. The patients'' MSD was measured using Gafchromic XR type R films. In order to evaluate reference levels, the number of images acquired, the fluoroscopy times and the KAPTOTAL were recorded for each procedure. For the evaluation of the MSD, 8 coronary angiography (CA) and 16 percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) procedures, carried out in the period from May to June 2008, were analyzed. For the CA procedures the MSD values were below 0.5 Gy. For the PTCA procedures, we found a fairly good correlation between fluoroscopy time and MSD (r = 0.80, p = 0.0002) and between MSD and WFP (r = 0.863, p < 0.0001); there was a strong correlation between KAPTOTAL and MSD (r = 0.904, p < 0.0001). Since the correlation between KAPTOTAL and MSD is more striking than that with fluoroscopic time and the WFP, KAP measurements are suitable for online skin dosimetry and may, therefore, be used to avoid radiation-induced skin injuries. A MSD greater than 3 Gy occurred in only one procedure. For calculus of the local reference levels, we extended the data-gathering to 30 procedure CA and to 40 PTCA: we compared local practice with that in other centers using the guidance levels proposed by Balter et al. Our median KAP values were below these proposed guidance levels; our mean KAP values were above these proposed action levels. From a first application of the proposed reference levels, it appears that, according to the recommendations of Balter et al. an investigation into local practice is not necessary. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article summarizes the dosimetric results of an International Atomic Energy Agency coordinated research program to investigate the feasibility of adopting guidance levels for invasive coronary artery procedures. The main study collected clinical data from hospitals located in five countries. A total of 2265 coronary angiograms (CA) and 1844 percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) were analyzed. Substudies evaluated the dosimetric performance of 14 fluoroscopes, skin dose maps obtained using film, the quality of CA procedures, and the complexity of PCI procedures. Kerma-area product (PKA) guidance levels of 50 and 125 Gy cm2 are suggested for CA and PCI procedures. These levels should be adjusted for the complexity of the procedures performed in a given institution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The presence of mycotoxins in feed is a really significant problem worldwide; it leads to adverse effects on animals and great economic losses, especially in the monogastric industry. Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of these mycotoxins that contaminates poultry feed and consequently has negative effects on this specie. Different concentrations of DON (5 and 15 mg/kg feed) were tested in broiler chickens. Results showed that high levels could adversely affect productive and welfare parameters; however, organ weights, morphological intestine indicators, and biochemical parameters were affected at low and high level of dietary DON. In general, even the low level of DON (5 mg/kg), which is the guidance level in complete poultry feed could affect the physiological status of birds. The present study with 1-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) was conducted to evaluate the effects of deoxynivalenol (DON) at different levels (5 and 15 mg/kg feed) on growth performance, relative weight of organs, morphology of the small intestine, serum biochemistry, and welfare parameters of broiler chickens. Forty-five broiler chicks were randomly divided into three different experimental groups with five replicates each: (1) control group received a non-contaminated diet, (2) contaminated diet with 5 mg DON/kg of feed, and (3) contaminated diet with 15 mg DON/kg of feed for 42 days. Results showed that feed artificially contaminated with DON at guidance level (5 mg/kg diet) did not affect growth performance parameters. However, 15 mg/kg reduced body weight gain and altered feed efficiency. DON at two assayed levels significantly increased the absolute and relative weight of thymus and the relative weight of gizzard and decreased the absolute and the relative weight of the colon. Compared to controls, both doses affected small intestine morphometry parameters. In terms of biochemical indicators, DON at 5 mg/kg reduced the creatine kinase level and at 15 mg/kg DON reduced the cholesterol level. Furthermore, DON at 15 mg/kg induced more fear in broilers compared to broilers fed the guidance level. It was concluded that even the guidance level of DON did not affect the chickens' performance. However, its toxic effect occurred in some organs and biochemical parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activity concentrations of 234 U, 235 U, 238 U, 226 Ra, 228 Ra, 222 Rn, 210 Po, 210 Pb, 40 K, 3 H, 14 C, 134 Cs and 137 Cs were determined in 20 different Japanese bottled drinking water commercially available in Japan. The origins of the mineral water samples were geographically distributed across different regions of Japan. Activity concentrations above detection limits were measured for the radionuclides 234 U, 235 U, 238 U, 226 Ra, 228 Ra and 210 Po. An average total annual effective dose due to ingestion was estimated for adults, based on the average annual volume of bottled water consumed in Japan in 2019, reported to be 31.7 L/y per capita. The estimated dose was found to be below the recommended World Health Organisation (WHO) guidance level of 0.1 mSv/y for drinking water quality. The most significant contributor to the estimated dose was 228 Ra.

Abstract: Radon programme in the Czech republic is now incorporated in national legislation (Atomic Act, Radiation Protection Decree, Governmental Decision, etc.), and includes prevention and remedial measures, research and development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]