High Exposure Conditions Research Articles

Biphasic Effects of Ethanol Exposure on Waste Metabolites Clearance in the CNS.

We have shown that the effects of low-dose ethanol promote the clearance of waste metabolites, such as amyloid-beta (Aβ) proteins, from the brain through the perivascular space (PVS). We demonstrated that dilative reactivity of arterial smooth muscle and endothelial cells regulate this clearance. These findings indicate the importance of blood-brain barrier (BBB) transvascular clearance of large size metabolites from the central nervous system (CNS), where the lymphatic clearance system is absent. We next examined the contrasting effects of acute low-dose and chronic moderate ethanol exposure on BBB-associated perivascular clearance. We injected a high molecular weight fluorescent dye into the interstitial space or directly into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Bio-distribution of this tracer was then examined in different brain regions by multiphoton imaging and whole brain tissue section scanning. Ethanol-induced molecular/cellular mechanisms that drive the increase or decrease in movement of the fluorescent tracer were correlated to BBB integrity and arterial vessel reactivity. We found that activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) under low-dose ethanol conditions with a shift to activation of inducible NOS (iNOS) under chronic high ethanol exposure conditions, which appeared to regulate these contrasting effects. We validated these observations by qualitative and quantitative investigation of eNOS, iNOS, BBB integrity, and perivascular clearance of waste metabolites. We concluded that the effects of low-dose ethanol increased the diffusive movement of waste metabolites via eNOS-derived NO, which increased the arterial endothelial-smooth muscle cell dilative reactivity without affecting BBB integrity, whereas a prolonged induction of iNOS under chronic ethanol exposure conditions caused oxidative damage of the arterial endothelial-smooth muscle layers resulting in cerebral amyloid-like angiopathy. This led to dysfunction of the BBB, dilative reactivity, and impaired waste metabolites movement from the interstitial space or subarachnoid space (SAS) through perivascular clearance.

RhoG-Rac1 Signaling Pathway Mediates Metabolic Dysfunction of the Pancreatic Beta-Cells Under Chronic Hyperglycemic Conditions.

Published evidence suggests regulatory roles for small G proteins (Cdc42 and Rac1) in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) from pancreatic beta-cells. More recent evidence suggests novel roles for these G proteins, specifically Rac1, in the induction of metabolic dysfunction of the islet beta-cell under the duress of a variety of stress conditions. However, potential upstream regulators of sustained activation of Rac1 have not been identified in the beta-cell. Recent studies in other cell types have identified RhoG, a small G protein, as an upstream regulator of Rac1 under specific experimental conditions. Herein, we examined putative roles for RhoG in islet beta-cell dysregulation induced by glucotoxic conditions. Expression of RhoG or GDIγ was suppressed by siRNA transfection using the DharmaFect1 reagent. Subcellular fractions were isolated using NE-PER Nuclear and Cytoplasmic Extraction Reagent kit. The degree of activation of Rac1 was assessed using a pull-down assay kit. Extent of cell death was quantified using a Cell Death Detection ELISAplus kit. RhoG is expressed in human islets, rat islets, and clonal INS-1 832/13 cells. siRNA-RhoG markedly attenuated sustained activation of Rac1 and caspase-3 in INS-1 832/13 cells exposed to hyperglycemic conditions (20 mM; 24 hours). In a manner akin to Rac1, which has been shown to translocate to the nuclear fraction to induce beta-cell dysfunction under metabolic stress, a significant increase in the association of RhoG with the nuclear fraction was observed in beta-cells under the duress of metabolic stress. Interestingly, GDIγ, a known regulator of RhoG, remained associated with non-nuclear fraction under conditions RhoG and Rac1 translocated to the membrane. Lastly, siRNA-RhoG modestly attenuated pancreatic beta-cell demise induced by high glucose exposure conditions, but such an effect was not statistically significant. Based on these data we conclude that RhoG-Rac1 signaling module plays critical regulatory roles in promoting mitochondrial dysfunction (caspase-3 activation) of the islet beta cell under metabolic stress.

Smartphone Addiction and Cybercrime Victimization in the Context of Lifestyles Routine Activities and Self-Control Theories: The User's Dual Vulnerability Model of Cybercrime Victimization.

(1) Background: This paper combines lifestyle-routine activities (L-RAT) and self-control (SCT) theories along with the literature on smartphone addiction in a joint model that addresses the multiple vulnerabilities that make the smartphone user a potential victim of cybercrime. This model, which we call the dual vulnerability model of cybercrime victimization, was subjected to empirical testing on a nationally representative sample of smartphone users. (2) Methods: Data from 2837 participants from a nationally representative sample of Spanish smartphone users were modeled using Mplus causal modeling software. (3) Results: The results of the study confirm the predictions of L-RAT and SCT in explaining cybercrime victimization (higher cybercrime victimization under conditions of high exposure, proximity, and suitability, relative absence of capable guardian, and low self-control). A significant effect of smartphone addiction on cybercrime victimization was also observed above and beyond L-RAT and SCT predictors. (4) Conclusions: The potential victim of cybercrime presents a double vulnerability, on the one hand, those identified by criminological theories such as L-RAT and SCT, and on the other hand, those derived from the deregulated-addicted use of the Internet access device (smartphone in our work).

ARMCX3 Mediates Susceptibility to Hepatic Tumorigenesis Promoted by Dietary Lipotoxicity.

Simple SummaryAn excess fat in the liver enhances the susceptibility to hepatic cancer. We found that Armcx3, a protein only known to date to play a role in neural development, is strongly increased in mouse liver in response to lipid availability and proliferation-inducing insults. In patients, the levels of hepatic Armcx3 are also increased in conditions of high exposure of the liver to fat. We wanted to determine the role of Armcx3 in the hepatocarcinogenesis favored by a high-fat diet. We generated mice with genetically driven suppression of Armcx3, and we found that they were protected against experimentally induced hepatic cancer, especially in conditions of a high-fat diet. Armcx3 was also found to promote hepatic cell proliferation through the interaction with Sox9, a known proliferation factor in hepatocellular carcinoma. Armcx3 is identified as a novel factor in meditating propensity to liver cancer in conditions of high hepatic lipid insults.ARMCX3 is encoded by a member of the Armcx gene family and is known to be involved in nervous system development and function. We found that ARMCX3 is markedly upregulated in mouse liver in response to high lipid availability, and that hepatic ARMCX3 is upregulated in patients with NAFLD and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Mice were subjected to ARMCX3 invalidation (inducible ARMCX3 knockout) and then exposed to a high-fat diet and diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. The effects of experimental ARMCX3 knockdown or overexpression in HCC cell lines were also analyzed. ARMCX3 invalidation protected mice against high-fat-diet-induced NAFLD and chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis. ARMCX3 invalidation promoted apoptotic cell death and macrophage infiltration in livers of diethylnitrosamine-treated mice maintained on a high-fat diet. ARMCX3 downregulation reduced the viability, clonality and migration of HCC cell lines, whereas ARMCX3 overexpression caused the reciprocal effects. SOX9 was found to mediate the effects of ARMCX3 in hepatic cells, with the SOX9 interaction required for the effects of ARMCX3 on hepatic cell proliferation. In conclusion, ARMCX3 is identified as a novel molecular actor in liver physiopathology and carcinogenesis. ARMCX3 downregulation appears to protect against hepatocarcinogenesis, especially under conditions of high dietary lipid-mediated hepatic insult.

Natural deep eutectic solvent enhanced pulse-ultrasonication assisted extraction as a multi-stability protective and efficient green strategy to extract anthocyanin from blueberry pomace

A deep understanding upon the relation between anthocyanin extraction performance and physicochemical properties of natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) was obtained, and a high-efficiency NADES (Choline chloride-Oxalic acid (ChOa)) was selected and coupled with pulse-ultrasonication for anthocyanin extraction from blueberry pomace. Response surface methodology was adopted to analyzed the significant factors’ influence, interactive effects on extraction yield and optimize the extraction conditions. The theoretical optimal conditions with highest yield of total anthocyanins content (TAC) were 3.2 min of ultrasonic time, 325 W of ultrasonic power, 349.15 K of temperature, 60 mL/g of solvent to solid ratio, under which the experimental TAC value (24.27 ± 0.05 mg C3GE/g DW) was highly correlated with theoretical result (24.28 mg C3GE/g DW). Multi-stability protective effect of ChOa on anthocyanin over acidified ethanol was revealed by stability assays in high temperature, varying pH and light exposure conditions. FT-IR and DSC analysis further characterized the influence of ChOa over acidic ethanol on typical anthocyanins functional groups and thermal behavior of anthocyanin extracts. UPLC-Triple-TOF/MS analysis identified 10 anthocyanins that mainly consisted of delphinidin, petunidin, and malvidin compounds. Overall, this study provided a green, high-efficiency and multi-stability protective strategy for the recovery of anthocyanins from plant source by-products.

Growth and survival over ten years of Brazil-nut trees planted in three anthropogenic habitats in northern Amazonia

ABSTRACT We examined the growth and survival of Brazil-nut trees, Bertholletia excelsa (Lecythidaceae) under different environmental conditions and levels of canopy openness within experimental plantations in the Trombetas River valley, in northern Brazil. We planted 144 seedlings in three anthropogenic habitats with different levels of sunlight exposition: crop field (100% canopy opening), shrub fallow (20-80% canopy opening) and Brazil-nut forest (< 10% canopy opening). We measured plant height and diameter annually and recorded mortality and resprouting over ten years. The performance of B. excelsa differed significantly among habitats, with the highest growth rate observed at the highest level of canopy openness (crop field). Survival was highest in crop field (85%) and shrub fallow (63%) and lowest in Brazil-nut forest (17%). Resprouting capacity was higher in the crop field, as Brazil-nut plants recovered after fire episodes, with most plants resprouting more than one shoot. Some trees in the crop field began to produce flowers and fruits at 9-10 years. We showed that B. excelsa juveniles are light-demanding, with higher survival and growth under conditions of high light exposure. We suggest the use of Brazil-nut trees for reforestation, restoration of degraded lands and enrichment of secondary vegetation, as long as an adequate management is adopted (e.g., maintaining plants exposed to direct sunlight and control of competing pioneer species).

Confocal Raman spectroscopy as a tool to assess advanced glycation end products on solar-exposed human skin

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) consist of a complex and heterogeneous class of compounds frequently associated with the skin aging process. The formation of AGEs and its accumulation in the body have been related as the pathophysiological key to important age-related diseases, such as diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, AGEs are also related to skin aging as result of ultraviolet (UV) light exposure in both senescent and photo aged skin. Thus, establishing novel approaches for spatially assessing AGEs appears as a potentially useful strategy toward the investigation of the mechanistic role of these compounds in aging-related processes. Herein, we propose a direct and non-destructive approach to assess the biological changes on the human skin highly exposed to solar irradiation. Confocal Raman spectroscopy (CRS) was used to evaluate the presence and the differences in the AGEs content, by using reference spectra of the major AGEs present in human skin. Two different groups were considered from volunteers who had a daily history of high sun exposure: samples collected from the inner face of the arm (sun-protected or low direct sun exposure, SP) and samples from the forearm dorsum (sun-exposed or high direct sun exposure, SE). In this study, the main AGEs products were found to be carboxymethyl-lysine (CML), glucosepane (GLU) and pentosidine (PEN) for both groups; while CML were predominant at the stratum corneum and epidermis, GLU and PEN were found to be the main AGEs in dermis. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed a high discrimination rate in the stratum corneum region at around 93.8 %, while in the layers of the epidermis and dermis this value was found to be 68.8 %, according to the degree of discrimination of SP and SE groups. In sum, this investigation shows that CRS is able to assess AGEs in vivo and non-invasively on human skin and provided a better understanding on the effects and changes resulting from skin chronological aging caused by glycation under conditions of high exposure to UV irradiation.

Acute cardiorespiratory response to ambient air pollution exposure during short-term physical exercise in young males

BackgroundPhysical exercise in the presence of ambient air pollution may increase the absorbed dose of air pollutants. The combined effect of such exposure on cardiorespiratory function in young adults remains unclear. AimTo determine the acute cardiorespiratory responses in healthy young adults preforming submaximal physical exercise under exposure to high level winter-type ambient air pollution. MethodsHealthy young males (n=30) performed two separate 15-minute submaximal exercise trials on a cycle ergometer – when air pollutants’ concentrations were increased (exposure trial) and when air quality was good (control trial). Each time blood pressure, pulse oximetry, spirometry and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) were measured at baseline, directly after exercise and after 15-min of rest. ResultsHigh air pollutants concentrations were observed during exposure trials (PM2.5 24.0–157.0 μg/m3, SO2 8.7–85.8 μg/m3). Group-based correlation analysis showed statistically significant negative correlations between post-exercise declines in FEV1/FVC and SO2, PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations. In individual cases the decrease was recorded only in subjects who exercised under particularly high exposure, and was not related to their BMI, physical activity pattern or allergy status. In multivariate analysis SO2 was a statistically significant predictor of both immediate (OR: 1.09, 95%CI: 1.01–1.17) and delayed decrease in airflow (OR: 1.08, 95%CI: 1.01–1.16), and PM2.5 was also a statistically significantly explanatory variable of post-exercise decline in FEV1/FVC (OR: 1.03, 95%CI: 1.00–1.06). ConclusionIn young and healthy males exposure to ambient air pollution during short-term submaximal exercise is associated with a decrease in airflow (FEV1/FVC) and the decrease is more apparent when the exercise takes place under particularly high exposure conditions.

Identifying Genes Involved in alkaloid Biosynthesis in Vinca minor Through Transcriptomics and Gene Co-Expression Analysis.

The lesser periwinkle Vinca minor accumulates numerous monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIAs) including the vasodilator vincamine. While the biosynthetic pathway of MIAs has been largely elucidated in other Apocynaceae such as Catharanthus roseus, the counterpart in V. minor remains mostly unknown, especially for reactions leading to MIAs specific to this plant. As a consequence, we generated a comprehensive V. minor transcriptome elaborated from eight distinct samples including roots, old and young leaves exposed to low or high light exposure conditions. This optimized resource exhibits an improved completeness compared to already published ones. Through homology-based searches using C. roseus genes as bait, we predicted candidate genes for all common steps of the MIA pathway as illustrated by the cloning of a tabersonine/vincadifformine 16-O-methyltransferase (Vm16OMT) isoform. The functional validation of this enzyme revealed its capacity of methylating 16-hydroxylated derivatives of tabersonine, vincadifformine and lochnericine with a Km 0.94 ± 0.06 µM for 16-hydroxytabersonine. Furthermore, by combining expression of fusions with yellow fluorescent proteins and interaction assays, we established that Vm16OMT is located in the cytosol and forms homodimers. Finally, a gene co-expression network was performed to identify candidate genes of the missing V. minor biosynthetic steps to guide MIA pathway elucidation.

Trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress symptoms among Syrian refugee youth in Jordan: Social support and gender as moderators.

This study assessed relations between exposure to trauma and post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms, and whether perceived social support from family and friends and gender moderated these associations. Syrian refugee youth (N=418, 55.0% female) attending public schools in Jordan participated. Boys reported more age-adjusted PTS symptoms than girls. Analyses revealed that family support and gender moderated the association of trauma on PTS symptoms. For males, the benefits of family support were most evident under conditions of high traumatic stress exposure, while for females, benefits of family support were evident when no loss or injury to family members had been reported. Support from friends was not helpful for either gender. School- or family-based interventions designed to treat PTS symptoms need to consider the different needs of boys and girls, particularly within the Syrian Muslim cultural context.

Radiation induced strength enhancement of sulfur polymer concrete composites based on waste and residue fillers

The behavior and properties of sulfur polymer concrete composites (SPC) based on mineral fillers (industrial waste and residues) were investigated towards potential application under high radiation exposure conditions. The composites were irradiated in a dose range up to 1.5 MGy using Co-60 gamma source. The test specimens were subjected to compressive tests, SEM analysis, capillary water absorption tests, XRD, FTIR and DSC analysis. The obtained results indicate for a high radiation resistance of investigated materials. The irradiated samples exhibit up to 35% higher compressive strength in comparison with the native samples with retaining other parameters unchanged. According to the XRD, FTIR and DSC analyzes, the proposed mechanism laying behind enhancement of mechanical properties of SPC is the sulfur polymer binder amorphization with a possible simultaneous radiation induced polymerization and/or crosslinking. The SPC materials can be considered as promising alternative for hydraulic cement concrete composites, especially in radiation and nuclear technology sectors.

Motion-blurred star image restoration based on multi-frame superposition under high dynamic and long exposure conditions

Motion-blurred star image restoration based on multi-frame superposition under high dynamic and long exposure conditions

Adsorption extraction of nickel (II) from industrial aqueous solutions

A scheme for the primary unit of a technological means for the adsorption extraction of nickel from industrial solutions resulting from the processing of oxidised nickel ores is presented. The solutions comprise an aqueous extract of complex compounds of transition metals from an ore having an initial nickel content of 1-2 %. The traditional stepwise treatment of the solutions is oriented towards sequential precipitation of metals by ammonia water in the form of hydroxides, involving their decantation and filtration, etc., which significantly complicates the process of obtaining the target metal. The adsorption process significantly increases the economic efficiency of the extraction process for this valuable metal. In terms of their properties, carbon sorbents are chemically resistant, able to endure the harsh conditions of high temperature exposure and treatments based on strongly acidic and strongly alkaline solutions. Moreover, such sorbents have a developed porous structure, a significant specific surface area and high mechanical strength. The process of nickel extraction using carbon adsorbents from solutions in a weakly alkaline environment at elevated temperatures is described. The scheme of the nickel (II) ion extraction by adsorption unit is based on the use of a fluidised bed whose operational parameters are calculated directly by studying the sorption of nickel ions. The adsorption extraction of nickel (II) ions facilitates the complete selective separation and derivation of the metal following desorption of a saturated solution making the process suitable for direct electrolytic metal production.

<i>De novo</i> transcriptome analysis reveals an unperturbed transcriptome under high cadmium conditions in the Cd-hypertolerant fern <i>Athyrium yokoscense</i>

Athyrium yokoscense shows strong tolerance to cadmium exposure, even at levels that are many times greater than the toxic levels in ordinary plants. To determine the mechanism of Cd tolerance in A. yokoscense, we grew these plants under high Cd conditions and observed the tissue-specific accumulation of Cd and generation of reactive oxygen species, which is one of the major physiological responses to Cd stress. Fuchsin staining indicated the existence of a casparian strip in A. yokoscense roots, which may participate in Cd hypertolerance in A. yokoscense. Moreover, we performed RNA-seq of RNA samples from A. yokoscense plants treated with or without Cd exposure and obtained comprehensive RNA sequences as well as the Cd-responsive expression patterns of individual genes. Through de novo transcriptome assembly and gene expression analysis, we found that A. yokoscense showed normal features with no significant change in the expression levels of any transporter genes, even under high Cd exposure conditions. Our results demonstrate that A. yokoscense has an unusual mechanism that allows the invading Cd to partition into the distal roots, thus avoiding translocation of Cd into the xylem.

Development of a sweating thermal skin simulant for heat transfer evaluation of clothed human body under radiant heat hazard

Human perspiration highly affects body heat dissipation as well as heat and mass transfer in clothing systems. Nevertheless, current skin simulant systems for assessing heat transfer under high heat exposures simply simulate the dry skin state. This fact limits the validity of such systems as perspiration and mass transfer exist during high heat exposure conditions. In this study, an active sweating skin simulant was developed using the polydimethylsiloxane material and with controllable sweat rates for heat transfer assessment under radiant heat hazards, considering mass transfer as well. In the dry state, the temperature and its variation rate of the skin simulant with water-filled sweating channels showed good agreement with the ISO standard numerical model. For sweating conditions, the results showed that the wet conduction facilitated heat transfer towards the skin by 5–8 % at the beginning of sweating. With continuous sweat release, the surface temperature rise was attenuated due to the additional heat capacity induced by additional moisture in the clothing-skin system. The low standard deviations, below 2 °C, and coefficients of variation, below 10%, for the temperature measurements under various sweat rates, indicated good reproducibility of the skin simulant. This research provides the first approach to consider active sweating in skin simulant systems under high heat exposures. This further provides new insights into heat transfer in protective clothing-human skin systems under extreme heat exposures, contributing to realistically evaluating the thermal protective performance of clothing materials under sweating conditions.

Simultaneously enhanced intracellular lipogenesis and β-carotene biosynthesis of Rhodotorula glutinis by light exposure with sodium acetate as the substrate

In this study, light exposure was applied to simultaneously enhance lipogenesis and β-carotene biosynthesis of Rhodotorula glutinis with sodium acetate as the sole carbon source. The results showed that cell growth, intracellular lipogenesis and carotene biosynthesis were improved with an optimal exposure condition at 10 g/L and 20 g/L sodium acetate. Under high light exposure condition (8000 lx), cell growth and lipid production were inhibited while β-carotene accumulation was promoted. The fatty acid compositions moreover revealed that more polyunsaturated fatty acids and linoleic acid were generated under light exposure, which demonstrated its crucial role in the oxidative stress resistance in R. glutinis. The expression levels of some genes in acetate consumption, lipogenesis and β-carotene biosynthesis were found significantly upregulated under light exposure. The results proved that light exposure could be applied as an effective method to improve lipid and β-carotene production with sodium acetate as the substrate in R. glutinis.

Exploring how Family and Neighborhood Stressors Influence Genetic Risk for Adolescent Conduct Problems and Alcohol Use.

Previous research suggests that genetic risk factors may predispose to conduct problems and alcohol use in adolescence. Whether genetic risk factors interact with social contexts has not been well characterized among African American adolescents. Data came from a subsample of the Genes, Environment, and Neighborhood Initiative study comprising 501 African American adolescents, including 151 lifetime drinkers (56% female, mean age = 16.3, SD = 1.4). Genetic risk was assessed with polygenic risk scores for alcohol dependence. Analyses explored interactions between genetic risk and self-reported alcohol use, conduct problems, life stressors, and other covariates. The effects of two gene-environment interactions (G × E) were tested in the sample of alcohol exposed adolescents; one on conduct problems and the other on alcohol use. There were significant associations between polygenic risk for alcohol dependence and conduct problems. A significant G × E interaction showed the impact of genetic risk on conduct problems was stronger under conditions of high exposure to family and neighborhood stressors. Among this sample of African American adolescents, genetic risk for alcohol dependence was not directly associated with alcohol use but was related to more conduct problems. Further, the effect of genetic risk interacted with stressors from the family and neighborhood, so that the effect of genetic risk on conduct problems was stronger for individuals who reported greater stressors.

Effects of short-term exposure to particulate matter air pollution on cognitive performance

This paper assesses the effect of short-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) air pollution on human cognitive performance via a double cross over experimental design. Two distinct experiments were performed, both of which exposed subjects to low and high concentrations of PM. Firstly, subjects completed a series of cognitive tests after being exposed to low ambient indoor PM concentrations and elevated PM concentrations generated via candle burning, which is a well-known source of PM. Secondly, a different cohort underwent cognitive tests after being exposed to low ambient indoor PM concentrations and elevated ambient outdoor PM concentrations via commuting on or next to roads. Three tests were used to assess cognitive performance: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Stroop Color and Word test, and Ruff 2 & 7 test. The results from the MMSE test showed a statistically robust decline in cognitive function after exposure to both the candle burning and outdoor commuting compared to ambient indoor conditions. The similarity in the results between the two experiments suggests that PM exposure is the cause of the short-term cognitive decline observed in both. The outdoor commuting experiment also showed a statistically significant short-term cognitive decline in automatic detection speed from the Ruff 2 and 7 selective attention test. The other cognitive tests, for both the candle and commuting experiments, showed no statistically significant difference between the high and low PM exposure conditions. The findings from this study are potentially far reaching; they suggest that elevated PM pollution levels significantly affect short term cognition. This implies average human cognitive ability will vary from city to city and country to country as a function of PM air pollution exposure.

Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Exposure and the Resting EEG: Exploring the Thermal Mechanism Hypothesis.

There is now strong evidence that radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure influences the human electroencephalogram (EEG). While effects on the alpha band of the resting EEG have been repeatedly shown, the mechanisms underlying that effect have not been established. The current study used well-controlled methods to assess the RF-EMF exposure effect on the EEG and determine whether that effect might be thermally mediated. Thirty-six healthy adults participated in a randomized, double-blind, counterbalanced provocation study. A water-perfusion suit (34 °C) was worn throughout the study to negate environmental influences and stabilize skin temperature. Participants attended the laboratory on four occasions, the first being a calibration session and the three subsequent ones being exposure sessions. During each exposure session, EEG and skin temperature (8 sites) were recorded continuously during a baseline phase, and then during a 30 min exposure to a 920 MHz GSM-like signal (Sham, Low RF-EMF (1 W/kg) and High RF-EMF (2 W/kg)). Consistent with previous research, alpha EEG activity increased during the High exposure condition compared to the Sham condition. As a measure of thermoregulatory activation, finger temperature was found to be higher during both exposure conditions compared to the Sham condition, indicating for the first time that the effect on the EEG is accompanied by thermoregulatory changes and suggesting that the effect of RF-EMF on the EEG is consistent with a thermal mechanism.

Lung Microbiome Is Influenced by the Environment and Asthmatic Status in an Equine Model of Asthma.

There is evidence that the lung microbiome differs between patients with asthma and healthy humans, but the effect of environmental conditions and medication is unknown and difficult to study. Equine asthma is a naturally occurring chronic airway disease characterized by reversible airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction upon exposure to inhaled antigens. In the present study, we evaluated the effect that environmental conditions and disease status have on pulmonary, nasal, and oral microbiomes. Six asthmatic and six healthy horses were studied while at pasture ("low antigen exposure"), as well as when being housed indoors and fed good-quality hay ("moderate exposure") and poor-quality hay ("high exposure"). At each time point, lung function was recorded; BAL, oral, and nasal rinses were collected; and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed. Asthmatic horses developed airway obstruction and inflammation under moderate and high antigen exposure conditions, whereas nonasthmatic horses showed mild inflammation under high antigen exposure, without bronchoconstriction. Lung, oral, and nasal communities clustered by environmental condition, but only lung communities were different between healthy and asthmatic horses. The association between asthma and lung microbiome was strongest in horses under moderate antigen exposure. Pulmonary, oral, and nasal microbiomes are influenced by environmental conditions, but only the pulmonary microbiome differs between horses with and without asthma. This difference, seen mainly when airway inflammation was present in horses with asthma but not in control animals, suggests that the altered lung microbiome in asthma might not be inherent but coincident with inflammation.