Multi-walled carbon nanotube physicochemical properties predict pulmonary inflammation and genotoxicity

<p>Lung deposition of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) induces pulmonary toxicity. Commercial MWCNT vary greatly in physicochemical properties and consequently in biological effects. To identify determinants of MWCNT-induced toxicity, we analyzed the effects of pulmonary exposure to 10 commercial MWCNT (supplied in three groups of different dimensions, with one pristine and two/three surface modified in each group). We characterized morphology, chemical composition, surface area and functionalization levels. MWCNT were deposited in lungs of female C57BL/6J mice by intratracheal instillation of 0, 6, 18 or 54 μg/mouse. Pulmonary inflammation (neutrophil influx in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)) and genotoxicity were determined on day 1, 28 or 92. Histopathology of the lungs was performed on day 28 and 92. All MWCNT induced similar histological changes. Lymphocytic aggregates were detected for all MWCNT on day 28 and 92. Using adjusted, multiple regression analyses, inflammation and genotoxicity were related to dose, time and physicochemical properties. The specific surface area (BET) was identified as a positive predictor of pulmonary inflammation on all post-exposure days. In addition, length significantly predicted pulmonary inflammation, whereas surface oxidation (–OH and –COOH) was predictor of lowered inflammation on day 28. BET surface area, and therefore diameter, significantly predicted genotoxicity in BAL fluid cells and lung tissue such that lower BET surface area or correspondingly larger diameter was associated with increased genotoxicity. This study provides information on possible toxicity-driving physicochemical properties of MWCNT. The results may contribute to safe-by-design manufacturing of MWCNT, thereby minimizing adverse effects.</p

Digitalt dilemma: Museumsgæsters oplevelse af Sæby Museum

Museum visits have been an integral part of the Danish culture of leisure for more than a century. Objects representing the past have been displayed for the purpose of education and national and regional identity building. More recently, focus has shifted towards the goals of the experience economy, raising curiosity and excitement on behalf of the spectator. In fact the former spectator is now an active participant in modern museum curation, and in particular this has come by through the advent of the digital era. Investigating the exhibition, Tro &amp; Overtro at the Sæby Museum, this article explores the way in which a partly digital exhibition interacts with its audience. This interactive museum experience is investigated using interviews, document based analysis and participatory observation. Results reveal that the exhibit, over all had a strong appeal to schoolchildren, while the more mature museumgoers became somewhat alienated from the digital aspects of the exhibit

Effects of bendroflumethiazide on bone mineral density; results from the BONATHIAD randomized double-blind placebo-controlled cohort study

Purpose: Thiazide diuretics (TD) may play a role in preventing osteoporosis. The objective was to investigate the effects of bendroflumethiazide in combination with bisphosphonates on bone mineral density, selected blood parameters, blood pressure, pulse, and muscle function.Methods: Double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled interventional study in postmenopausal osteoporotic women over the age of 50 years consisting of four arms: 1) 24 weeks with bendroflumethiazide +24 weeks of washout, 2) 24 weeks with placebo +24 weeks of washout, 3) 48 weeks with bendroflumethiazide, or 4) 48 weeks with placebo. At inclusion, participants were on oral bisphosphonates. Intervention consisted of either bendroflumethiazide or placebo. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), vertebral fracture assessment (VFA), quantitative CT (QCT) and selected blood parameters were acquired at baseline and at 48 weeks and Timed-Up-and-Go, handgrip strength, blood pressure, pulse and balance additionally at 24 weeks.Results: 139 postmenopausal Caucasian women over 50 years were randomized (mean age 64.7 years (SEM 0.6, range 51-79)). 109 (78%) completed the study. No difference in the effect of bendroflumethiazide on DXA, VFA, QCT, biochemistry or muscle function were found between the treatment arms.Conclusion: Bendroflumethiazide for 24- or 48 weeks in combination with bisphosphonates does not improve bone mineral density, selected blood parameters or muscle function compared to placebo combined with bisphosphonates. Studies with longer treatment periods and more patients are needed to further characterize the effects of bendroflumethiazide on bone and subpopulations that might benefit from the treatment.</p

How does childhood socioeconomic position affect overweight and obesity in adolescence and early adulthood:a longitudinal study

Background: Childhood socioeconomic position (SEP) has previously been associated with increased risk of overweight among children and adolescents. However, it remains uncertain whether the timing of exposure is important in relation to developing overweight in early adulthood. We aimed to examine how SEP during early (0-8 years) and late childhood (9-14 years) relates to overweight at age 15, 18 and 21.Methods: Longitudinal study in Western Denmark of 2879 young people (aged 15 in 2004). Exposure variables from registers were yearly household income, parental highest educational level and parental labour market participation (LMP), supplemented with questionnaire information about "family functioning" (age 15). Outcome variables were overweight and obesity, measured at three-time points.We analyzed the adjusted associations between childhood SEP and overweight and obesity using multinomial logistic regression, stratified on gender.Results: Early childhood: Parental lower educational level increased girls' risk of overweight and obesity at age 18 and 21 between RR = 1.8 (95% CI 1.0;3.4) and RR = 5.2 (95% CI 1.4;19.3). Girls reporting poor "family functioning" had up to twice the risk of overweight and obesity at age 21. Boys, whose fathers had a lower level of education had up to 2.4 times the risk of obesity at age 21. Parental low LMP increased boys' risk of obesity at age 18 and 21 between RR = 2.2 (95% CI 1.3;3.8) and RR = 2.8 (95% CI 1.3;6.1). Late childhood: Parental lower level of education tripled the risk of overweight and obesity among girls at age 18 and among both genders at age 21.Conclusion: This study confirmed to some extent that economic, social and psychological insecurity and inequality as measured by lower parental educational level, lower household income, low labour market participation and poor family function during childhood was associated with an increased risk of overweight and especially obesity in adolescence and early adulthood in both genders. Despite some imprecise measures, the direction of the associations pointed to several associations, which all were in the hypothesized direction. Timing of lower household income and parental low LMP in childhood seemed to be gender-specific in some way, but this warrants more studies.</p

Specific prediction of mortality by oxidative stress-induced damage to RNA vs. DNA in humans

Modifications of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) from oxidative stress is a potential driver of aging per se and of mortality in age-associated medical disorders such as type 2 diabetes (T2D). In a human cohort, we found a strong prediction of all-cause mortality by a marker of systemic oxidation of RNA in patients with T2D (n = 2672) and in nondiabetic control subjects (n = 4079). The finding persisted after the adjustment of established modifiers of oxidative stress (including BMI, smoking, and glycated hemoglobin). In contrast, systemic levels of DNA damage from oxidation, which traditionally has been causally linked to both T2D and aging, failed to predict mortality. Strikingly, these findings were subsequently replicated in an independent general population study (n = 3649). The data demonstrate a specific importance of RNA damage from oxidation in T2D and general aging.</p

How does psychosocial stress affect the relationship between socioeconomic disadvantage and overweight and obesity? Examining Hemmingsson's model with data from a Danish longitudinal study

Background: Chronic stress in childhood may increase the risk of overweight and obesity in young people. Erik Hemmingsson has suggested a new obesity causation model which focuses on psychosocial stress. The aim was to examine the associations between socioeconomic disadvantage and overweight and obesity and examine if these associations attenuate, when the effect of the different domains from Eric Hemmingsson's obesity causation model were taken into account. Methods: A longitudinal study using data from The West Jutland Cohort Study (N = 2879). Outcome was overweight and obesity combined derived from self-reported weight and height at age 15, 18, 21 and 28 years. Exposure variables were equivalised household income, educational level and labour market participation of the mother derived from registers and psychosocial variables derived from questionnaires. A three-step adjustment model using logistic regression and stratified by gender was applied. Results: Mother's low educational level was associated with a 3-fold increased odds of obesity in 18 year-old-girls, which attenuated when adjusting for the domains adult distress, disharmonious family environment and offspring distress. In 28 year-old girls, a 2.5-fold increased odds of obesity was observed, which attenuated when mutual adjusted for other socioeconomic variables and attenuated even further when adjusting for all the domains. In 18-year-old boys, a 3-fold increased odds of obesity was observed which attenuated after adjustments for adult distress, disharmonious family environment and offspring distress. In 21-year old boys, a four-fold increased odds of obesity was observed that attenuated after adjustments. At age 28 years, a three-fold increased odds of obesity was observed, which vanished in the fully adjusted model. Conclusions: Our study confirms to some extent that the associations between socioeconomic disadvantage and overweight and obesity can be explained by the domains included in Erik Hemmingsson's model, although our results should be interpreted with caution. Adult distress, disharmonious family environment and offspring distress accounted for some of the association in girls, whereas in boys it was primarily offspring distress, which had the greatest impact. Young people's educational attainment can act as a buffer in the relationship between mother's lower educational level and obesity at age 28 years.</p

Drone and ground-truth data collection, image annotation and machine learning: A protocol for coastal habitat mapping and classification

Aerial drone imaging is an efficient tool for mapping and monitoring of coastal habitats at high spatial and temporal resolution. Specifically, drone imaging allows for time- and cost-efficient mapping covering larger areas than traditional mapping and monitoring techniques, while also providing more detailed information than those from airplanes and satellites, enabling for example to differentiate various types of coastal vegetation. Here, we present a systematic method for shallow water habitat classification based on drone imagery. The method includes: • Collection of drone images and creation of orthomosaics. • Gathering ground-truth data in the field to guide the image annotation and to validate the final map product. • Annotation of drone images into – potentially hierarchical – habitat classes and training of machine learning algorithms for habitat classification. As a case study, we present a field campaign that employed these methods to map a coastal site dominated by seagrass, seaweed and kelp, in addition to sediments and rock. Such detailed but efficient mapping and classification can aid to understand and sustainably manage ecologically and valuable marine ecosystems.publishedVersio