Bioavailability of plasticizers in dust and food after oral administration to model organism pig

For decades, phthalates are widely used as plasticizers in plenty of consumer products e.g. food packaging, toys, clothing and personal care products. They are not chemically bound to the polymer matrix, so they can easily be released into the environment for example by leaching or migration. Humans are exposed to phthalates via ingestion, inhalation or dermal uptake. They are rapidly metabolized in humans and excreted via urine, mainly within two days. Phthalates act as endocrine disruptors and target mainly the reproductive system. According to US-Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA), infants have an unintended uptake of 60 mg dust per day. Among other things, dust contains a various amount of pollutants as e.g. phthalates. Therefore, dust could pose a potential health risk to humans. Currently there are no information’s about the bioavailability of phthalate in dust. Consequently in risk assessments the bioavailability is determined as 100 %. In the case of phthalates, in vitro digestion tests are indicating a bioaccessibility of 10 – 32 %. The aim of this study was to determine the relative oral bioavailability of certain phthalates as butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP), bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) and di-isononyl phthalate (DINP) in house dust after oral ingestion. Study design: Seven five week old piglets were fed five different dust samples collected from daycare centers and one food sample. Overall, 0.43 to 0.83 g of dust samples sieved to 63 µm were administered orally. The urine was collected over a period of 38 hours. The excreted metabolites were quantified using an LC-MS/MS method. Results: The mean uptake rate of the applied dust dose for BBzP, DnBP, DEHP and DINP is 28 ± 18 %, 52 ± 18 %, 43 ± 11 % and 47 ± 26 %, respectively. The bioavailability in food is 37 ± 23 % for BBzP, 39 ± 16% for DnBP, 53 ± 15 % for DEHP and 43 ± 13 % for DINP. No significant difference between the quantities of plasticizers excreted in urine after dust administration compared to food was observed. The metabolites showed their maximum concentration three to five hours post dose. Conclusion: The bioavailability of the investigated phthalates is much higher compared to the bioaccessibility reported from in vitro digestion tests. Furthermore it is noticeable that the bioavailability of DEHP does not vary between the dust samples. A dose dependent saturation process for DINP was observed. Besides other intake pathways, dust could pose a relevant source of phthalates for toddlers.Seit Jahrzenten werden Phthalate in großen Mengen als Weichmacher in (Lebensmittel-) Verpackungsmaterial, Spielzeug oder Kleidung eingesetzt und zählen daher zu einer der wichtigsten Industriechemikalien. Phthalate sind nicht an die Polymermatrix gebunden und können durch (Ab-)Nutzung relativ leicht in die Umwelt abgegeben werden. Phthalate werden als endokrin aktive Substanzen eingestuft und haben eine negative Wirkung auf das Reproduktionssystem. Kleinkinder nehmen oral täglich 60 mg unbeabsichtigt Hausstaub auf. In Hausstaub kommen teils hohe Konzentrationen an Schadstoffen, wie z.B. Phthalate, vor. Derzeit gibt es keine Kenntnisse über die orale Bioverfügbarkeit von Weichmachern in der Matrix Staub. In einem in vitro Verdauungstest konnte eine Bioverfügbarkeit von Phthalaten aus dem Staub zwischen 10,2 % (DEHP) und 32 % (DMP) nachgewiesen werden. In dieser Studie soll anhand eines Tierversuchs die orale Bioverfügbarkeit von Butylbenzylphthalat (BBzP), Bis (2-ethylhexyl)phthalat (DEHP), Di-n-butylphthalat (DnBP) und Di-isononylphthalat (DINP) in Hausstaub und Lebensmitteln untersucht werden. Studiendesign: Sieben fünf Wochen alte Schweine erhielten jeweils fünf unterschiedliche Hausstaubproben (Staub aus Kindertagesstätten auf 63 µg gesiebt; verabreicht: 0,43-0,83g) und eine Lebensmittelprobe. Der Urin wurde über 38 Stunden gesammelt. Die ausgeschiedenen Metabolite wurden mittels einer LC/MS-MS Methode bestimmt. Ergebnisse: Die durchschnittliche Aufnahme von BBzP, DnBP, DEHP und DINP im Staub lag bei 28 ± 8 %, 52 ± 18 %, 43 ± 11 % und 47 ± 26 %. Bei der Lebensmittelprobe lag sie bei 37 ± 23 % für BBzP, 39 ± 16 % für DnBP, 53 ± 15 % für DEHP und 43 ± 13 % für DINP. Es konnte kein signifikanter Unterschied bei der Aufnahme zwischen Hausstaub und Lebensmittelprobe nachgewiesen werden. Das Konzentrationsmaximum der Phthalatmetabolite im Urin konnte drei bis fünf Stunden nach der Probengabe festgestellt werden. Schlussfolgerung: In dieser Studie konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Bioverfügbarkeit - je nach Weichmacher im Hausstaub - bei ca. 40 % liegt und somit höher als in den in vitro Verdauungstests (10 – 20 %). Außerdem zeigte sich, dass die Bioverfügbarkeit von DEHP innerhalb der getesteten Staubproben stabil und reproduzierbar ist. Bei DINP konnte ein dosisabhängiger Sättigungsprozess festgestellt werden. Zusammenfassend lässt sich sagen, dass Staub eine Expositionsquelle bei Kleinkindern darstellt

Ordinal Logistic Regression Analysis of the Frequency of Marijuana Use Among Adult Informal Caregivers in 20 U.S. States, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) 2021

Objectives. To examine the association between frequency of marijuana use among informal caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD) and other health conditions compared to non-caregivers in 20 U.S. states. Methods. We used complex survey data from the optional modules Caregiver and Marijuana Use of the 2021 BRFSS survey. Univariate and bivariate analyses were performed to determine the frequency and distribution of sample population characteristics and calculate crude relationships. Ordinal logistic regression modelled the relationship between the three-level outcome and covariates. Results. Frequency of marijuana use and caregiver status were not associated. There was no difference in increased use among individuals who take care of PWD or other health conditions, compared to non-caregivers. Being male, young, and Black were predictors for increased marijuana use, as were having poor mental health days, at least one chronic condition, and recent substance use. Conclusions. Associations between marijuana use and mental health and other substance use warrant future examination as a combination of these high-risk factors pose potential public health problems, particularly among younger adults and other populations at risk for frequent marijuana use

Control for an optically powered firing set using miniature photovoltaic arrays

The optically powered firing set looks to revolutionize the design of future electrical firing sets. Optically powered devices have many features that make them attractive, such as immunity to noise problems from Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR). Also, optically powered devices provide additional safety to prevent unintended usage and are small in volume in comparison to their electrical equivalent. These advancements have led to the design of a prototype firing set developed at Sandia National Laboratories. The main components are comprised of a miniature photovoltaic array (MPA) that transforms light energy to electrical energy and a capacitive discharge unit (CDU) used to store and deliver the transformed electrical energy to a detonator. In order for this system to be further optimized for implementation into an actual firing set, the output voltage state needs to be controlled and the temperature of the MPA and illuminating source minimized. This thesis reports on the development of an optical firing set model that represents the electrical, optical, and thermal characteristics of the system. A closed loop feedback control system with a PI controller is then developed to control the output voltage state as well as minimizing the MPA and illuminating source temperature

Methods of Classification of the Genera and Species of Bacteria Using Decision Tree, Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology, 2019, nr 4

This paper presents a computer-based method for recognizing digital images of bacterial cells. It covers automatic recognition of twenty genera and species of bacteria chosen by the author whose original contribution to the work consisted in the decision to conduct the process of recognizing bacteria using the simultaneous analysis of the following physical features of bacterial cells: color, size, shape, number of clusters, cluster shape, as well as density and distribution of the cells. The proposed method may be also used to recognize the microorganisms other than bacteria. In addition, it does not require the use of any specialized equipment. The lack of demand for high infrastructural standards and complementarity with the hardware and software widens the scope of the method’s application in diagnostics, including microbiological diagnostics. The proposed method may be used to identify new genera and species of bacteria, but also other microorganisms that exhibit similar morphological characteristic

HIST 461: Absent From the Bar: Absinthe’s History, Absinthism, and Anti-Absinthe Movements in the United States 1840-2007

This paper seeks to explore the history of absinthe in the United States, as well as anti-absinthe movements and the invented illness of absinthism. The primary focus of the project is from the beginnings of absinthe’s popularity in the United States (in the 1840s) to its banning in 1912 to its relegalization (in a form) in 2007. Absinthe in the United States was treated differently and actively singled out as worse than other forms of high-proof alcohol, with campaigns against absinthe specifically, absinthe bans before Prohibition, and relegalization well after Prohibition

Transformational Leadership of Principals in Middle Schools employing the Teaming Model

Some Southwestern Pennsylvania middle school (MS) principals who employ the teaming model, an aspect of transformational leadership (TL), are meeting the state proficiency standards. There are schools in the same geographic region whose principals employ the teaming model but are failing to meet the state proficiency standards. The purpose of this study was to obtain principals\u27 and teachers\u27 perceptions on aspects of TL as demonstrated by principals in MSs meeting the state proficiency standards. Using Burns\u27 (1978) conceptual framework of TL, specific characteristics such as idealized influence, individualized consideration, inspirational motivation, and intellectual stimulation, were explored using a collective case study. The criteria for selection of 3 MS sample sites were (a) employed the teaming model, (b) met the state proficiency standards, and (c) reflected similar demographic variables to the local MS target school. Thirteen teacher and 2 principal interviews were conducted using 3 sample sites. Data from the interviews were coded, analyzed, and categorized. Themes emerging from the categorization were: supportive leadership, mutual respect, trust, concern, collaboration, and encouragement. Teachers perceived that leaders understood the teacher\u27s perspective, helped create value in roles and modeled collegial equality with staff. Principals perceived that leaders encouraged collaboration and communicated with staff to build relationships and professional confidence. The resulting project was a professional development (PD) workshop for school leaders to improve understanding of aspects of TL; thereby, improving student learning, providing expanded educational opportunities, and creating positive social change