Light Units Research Articles

Effect of curing distance for cure depth in composite resin.

The effect of altering the distance between light tip and outer layer of composite (DLR) on the depth of composite cure with a range of low to high light intensity curing lamps and with different types of light unit is of interest. Three LED units (T= Freelight,U = Ultrablue IS, V = Coltolux LED, one PAC unit (S=PAC) and three halogen light-curing units (P = XL2500, Q = HelioluxVL, R = Visiolux) were analyzed. A human molar tooth that was separated mesio-distally to buccal and lingual halves was used to create a natural tooth sample. Data shows that the depth of cure for the composite material decreased as the distance between the repair and the light source increased. There was no appreciable difference in performance between the LEDs and the other kinds of curing lamps as the distance between them grew.

Enzymatic Indicators in Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide Decontamination Cycles: Application-related Research focusing on Fractional Kill Time (FKT) and Reverse Fractional Kill Time (RFKT) Studies

The accepted standard from a regulatory perspective for vaporized hydrogen peroxide (vH2O2) cycle validation is the use of biological indicators (BIs). Novel enzymatic indicators (EIs) are gaining more importance in this field, relying on specific enzymatic reactions for their functionality. The aim of this work is to determine how enzymatic indicators can contribute to the cycle development process. Emphasis was placed on the initial informative study, the fractional kill time study, which is a basis for future studies. The results indicate that enzymatic indicators have the potential to facilitate further development of the cycle. This requires an analysis of the determined data, measured in relative light units (RLU), and aligning it with the BI growth, resulting in Full Kill/ No Kill limits. The use of enzymatic indicators for decontamination cycle development opens new perspectives and holds considerable potential for practical use in the development and validation of decontamination processes.

Angiotensin II-stimulated proximal nephron superoxide production and fructose-induced salt-sensitive hypertension.

Angiotensin II (ANG II) increases proximal tubule superoxide (O2-) production more in rats fed a 20% fructose normal-salt diet compared with rats fed a 20% glucose normal-salt diet. A 20% fructose high-salt diet (FHS) increases systolic blood pressure (SBP), whereas a 20% glucose high-salt diet (GHS) does not. However, it is unclear whether FHS enhances ANG II-induced oxidative stress in proximal tubules and whether this contributes to increases in blood pressure in this model. We hypothesized that FHS augments the ability of ANG II to stimulate O2- production by proximal tubules, and this contributes to fructose-induced salt-sensitive hypertension. We measured SBP in male Sprague-Dawley rats fed FHS and GHS and determined the effects of 3 mM tempol and 50 mg/kg losartan for 7 days. We then measured basal and ANG II-stimulated (3.7 × 10-8 M) O2- production by proximal tubule suspensions and the role of protein kinase C. FHS increased SBP by 27 ± 5 mmHg (n = 6, P < 0.006) but GHS did not. Rats fed FHS + tempol and GHS + tempol showed no significant increases in SBP. ANG II increased O2- production by 11 ± 1 relative light units/µg protein/s in proximal tubules from FHS-fed rats (n = 6, P < 0.05) but not in tubules from rats fed GHS. ANG II did not significantly stimulate O2- production by proximal tubules from rats fed FHS + tempol or FHS + losartan. The protein kinase C inhibitor Gö6976 blunted ANG II-stimulated O2- production. In conclusion, FHS enhances the sensitivity of proximal tubule O2- production to ANG II, and this contributes to fructose-induced salt-sensitive hypertension.NEW & NOTEWORTHY A diet containing amounts of fructose consumed by 17 million Americans causes salt-sensitive hypertension. Oxidative stress is an initiating cause of this model of fructose-induced salt-sensitive hypertension increasing blood pressure. This salt-sensitive hypertension is prevented by losartan and thus is angiotensin II (ANG II) dependent. Fructose-induced salt-sensitive hypertension depends on ANG II stimulating oxidative stress in the proximal tubule. A fructose/high-salt diet augments the ability of ANG II to stimulate proximal tubule O2- via protein kinase C.

Novel Method for Assessing the Protection Lifetime of Building Coatings against Fungi

The aim of this study was to develop a novel method for evaluating the service life of building coatings. In Stage 1, we assessed existing methods for determining the degree of fungal overgrowth on building materials (visual assessment, culture method, luminometric ATP (adenosine-5’-triphosphate) measurement, and spectrophotometric assessment of colour changes). Laboratory tests were carried out for 19 types of facade coating (mineral and silicone with/without primer, silicone paint, biocides) and 7 fungal strains (moulds Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger, Aureobasidium melanogenum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Fusarium sp., Penicillium citrinum, and the yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa). The number of fungi on the facade coatings after 28 days of incubation was 1.7 × 105–4.6 × 105 CFUs (colony-forming units)/sample. The ATP content was 12 RLUs–30333 RLUs (relative light units). Colour change was ΔE &gt; 5 depending on the coating type and fungal strain. A high or very high correlation was found between the ATP concentration (RLUs), colour change (ΔE), and the results of the culture method (CFUs/sample). In Stage 2, a new methodology for evaluating the protection lifetime of building coatings against fungi was developed, taking into account environmental conditions (impact of ultraviolet radiation, precipitation, presence of organic matter on the surface, quantitative and qualitative composition of bioaerosol). The developed method consists of one research cycle conducted in the laboratory, corresponding to one year under natural conditions. Preliminary verification showed the model to be compatible with long-term observations (3 years) of fungal growth on the facade coatings under real environmental conditions. The novel method could be used to design biodeterioration control and protection strategies for both new and cultural heritage buildings.

ANALISA PENGGUNAAN LAMPU SPOT LIGHT PADA PAGELARAN SENDRATARI MAHABRATA GUGURNYA BISMA DI OPEN STAGE, ART CENTRE, WERDI BUDAYA, DENPASAR, BALI

ABSTRACT:&#x0D; The series of Bali Arts Festival (PKB) activities are activities that the Balinese people have been waiting for, one of which is the Sendatari Performance which takes place on the open stage, Werdi Budaya, Art Center, Denpasar, Bali. The Mahabrata Ballet episode of the Fall of Bhishma which takes place on the open stage at the Art Center can be watched by the public directly at the location and broadcast live by the local television broadcaster TVRI Bali Station. The performance takes place at night so lighting is a very important factor in supporting the performance. With the correct placement of the lights, a clear image will be produced so that it can be viewed comfortably by viewers at home. The aim of the research is to analyze the types of lights and their placement in ballet performances. This research uses a qualitative research method by analyzing the data descriptively. The analysis was carried out via YouTube media on the Nurai Production Channel link with the content of the Mahabrata Ballet episode, The Fall of Bhishma, specifically regarding the use of lighting, including the types of lights used in the performance. The results of this research were that the lighting used utilized several types of spot lights, with 16 tungsten light units. The lights are directed to several areas, including the ballet area in the middle of the open stage as the main area, the area for traditional musical instruments and stringers, the audience and VIP areas as well as the building part of the open stage&#x0D; &#x0D;

Effects of vericiguat on redox signaling in cardiomyocyte

Abstract Background Reactive oxygen species (ROS) inhibits the nitric oxide (NO)-soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway in the patients with advanced heart failure (HF) and contributes to the prognosis of HF. Vericiguat stimulates sGC independently of NO and reduced morbidity/mortality for HF patients with reduced ejection fraction. However, the effects of vericiguat on the cardiomyocyte in terms of ROS is unclear. Purpose We explored the cardioprotective effects of vericiguat focusing on the oxidative stress. Methods Cardiomyocytes isolated from the whole heart of neonatal rats were incubated with vericiguat (0μM as control, 0.1μM, 1.0μM, 10μM) for 72 hours. Administration of angiotensin II (1.0μM) was used to induce excessive ROS. Superoxide was quantified using luminometry, and whole ROS or mitochondria-derived superoxide was evaluated by using live-cell fluorescent probes. ERK 1/2 signaling pathway activity were evaluated with western blot analysis. Results Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-stimulated superoxide was significantly increased by the treatment of angiotensin II (40208 ± 6107 reactive light unit (RLU) / mg, p = 0.0009) and the angiotensin II-induced superoxide was significantly attenuated by vericiguat at doses of 0.1μM (28240 ± 6507 RLU / mg, p = 0.03) , 1.0μM (25221 ± 6496 RLU / mg, p = 0.007) and 10μM (8230 ± 2568 RLU / mg, p &amp;lt; 0.0001). Corrected total cell fluorescence value of live-cell fluorescent probes revealed that whole ROS and mitochondria-derived superoxide were significantly increased by angiotensin II treatment (525.3 ± 119.6, p = 0.004 and 945.3 ± 153.0, p &amp;lt;0.0001), which were attenuated by vericiguat (0.1μM, 431.2 ± 45.7, p = 0.48 and 548.1 ± 103.9, p = 0.0004; 1.0μM, 336.1 ± 109.0, p = 0.04 and 421.3 ± 111.9, p &amp;lt; 0.0001; 10μM, 270.0 ± 44.4, p = 0.005 and 157.7 ± 48.3, p &amp;lt; 0.0005) dose-dependently. Angiotensin II-induced phosphorylation of ERK 1/2 was suppressed by vericiguat at doses of 1.0μM (fold change 0.58, p = 0.04) and 10μM (fold change 0.45, p = 0.006) treatment. Conclusion Our results indicated that vericiguat could suppress the oxidative stress induced by angiotensin II and following activation of ERK 1/2 signaling. Suppressing the oxidative stress could lead to further activation of NO-sGC-cGMP pathway not only the stimulation by vericiguat and favorable cardio-protective cycle is expected.Quantification of superoxideQuantification of ROS or superoxide

Provenance of far-traveled nappes in the eastern Mediterranean (Uppermost Unit, Crete): constraints from U–Pb zircon ages of detrital and igneous zircons

New U–Pb ages of detrital and igneous zircons of the Uppermost Unit of Crete shed light on its provenance and on Eohellenic to Eoalpine imprints in the eastern Mediterranean. The detrital zircons of all nappes show Variscan ages and are characterized by a Minoan-type age spectrum, which is typical for the NE margin of Gondwana. Parts of the metasedimentary rocks are unexpectedly young. Their detrital zircon ages continue via the Permian until the Late Triassic, Middle Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. The high-grade metamorphic rocks of the Asterousia crystalline complex are likely equivalents of the low-grade metamorphic trench and fore-arc deposits of the Vatos nappe pointing to Late Cretaceous slab roll back. The presence of both late Permian detrital zircons and Late Cretaceous arc-type granitoids suggest that the Uppermost Unit of Crete is derived from the late Permian/Late Cretaceous magmatic belt situated north of the Sava–Vardar–Izmir–Ankara Suture in the Strandja–Rhodope area. To achieve their recent position on Crete, the nappes had to travel more than 500 km. The traveling path is well tracked by rocks of the Upper Cycladic Unit, which are similar to those of the Uppermost Unit of Crete. The large displacement of the Cretan nappes was controlled not only by nappe transport, but probably also by dextral strike–slip along the North Anatolian Fault Zone and related counterclockwise rotation of the Anatolian block since the Eocene.Graphical abstract

A comparison of the shear bond strength of metal orthodontic brackets that have been treated with various light-emitting diode intensities and curing times: In-vitro research

The study aims to test the effects of LED light at three different power settings (500mW/cm2, 1000mW/cm2&amp; 1500m W/cm2) and three different exposure times (5sec, 10sec &amp; 20sec) adhesive composites for use with stainless steel orthodontic brackets, and their shear bond strengths. Current In-vitro work used 120 teeth, mostly premolars, separated into 10 equal groups of 12. After the crowns of the teeth were exposed by mounting them vertically into self-heal acrylics, the buccal-enamel exterior was prepared for bonding (PEA) 0.022”x 0.028” stainless steel premolar bracket using a thin layer of light cure adhesive primer and paste (Transbond-XT-3M Unitek Monrovia, Calif). Brackets in Group 1 comprising the Control group treated by usual halogen light source for forty sec, in remaining 9 groups (Experimental group) three commercially available LED curing light units i.e., Woodpecker, Guilin, Guangxi, China; Stealth Soft Equinox, Denmark, Holland; Radii plus, SDI, Australia, having three different light intensity 500mW/cm2, 1000mW/cm2, 1500mW/cm2 respectively were used to bond the brackets at three contact time (5/10/20 sec). The universal testing equipment was used to determine the shear bond strength of each specimen. The uppermost average SBS was found in the group cured with LED of intensity 1500 mW/cm2 for 20 sec (20.08 + 4.82 MPa) which was statistically significant compared the to control group (12.72 + 2.42 MPa). The lowest mean SBS values were obtained for groups cured with LED of intensity 500 mW/cm2 even at different curing times of 5, 10 and 20 sec i.e., 5.46 + 1.99 MPa, 8.77 + 2.38 Mpa and 11.24 + 2.59 MPa, respectively. Increasing the intensity of the LED light curing unit provides a clinically acceptable SBS even after reducing the curing times, thereby reducing the chairside time for bonding of orthodontic brackets.The study aims to test the effects of LED light at three different power settings (500mW/cm2, 1000mW/cm2&amp; 1500m W/cm2) and three different exposure times (5sec, 10sec &amp; 20sec) adhesive composites for use with stainless steel orthodontic brackets, and their shear bond strengths. Current In-vitro work used 120 teeth, mostly premolars, separated into 10 equal groups of 12. After the crowns of the teeth were exposed by mounting them vertically into self-heal acrylics, the buccal-enamel exterior was prepared for bonding (PEA) 0.022”x 0.028” stainless steel premolar bracket using a thin layer of light cure adhesive primer and paste (Transbond-XT-3M Unitek Monrovia, Calif). Brackets in Group 1 comprising the Control group treated by usual halogen light source for forty sec, in remaining 9 groups (Experimental group) three commercially available LED curing light units i.e., Woodpecker, Guilin, Guangxi, China; Stealth Soft Equinox, Denmark, Holland; Radii plus, SDI, Australia, having three different light intensity 500mW/cm2, 1000mW/cm2, 1500mW/cm2 respectively were used to bond the brackets at three contact time (5/10/20 sec). The universal testing equipment was used to determine the shear bond strength of each specimen. The uppermost average SBS was found in the group cured with LED of intensity 1500 mW/cm2 for 20 sec (20.08 + 4.82 MPa) which was statistically significant compared the to control group (12.72 + 2.42 MPa). The lowest mean SBS values were obtained for groups cured with LED of intensity 500 mW/cm2 even at different curing times of 5, 10 and 20 sec i.e., 5.46 + 1.99 MPa, 8.77 + 2.38 Mpa and 11.24 + 2.59 MPa, respectively. Increasing the intensity of the LED light curing unit provides a clinically acceptable SBS even after reducing the curing times, thereby reducing the chairside time for bonding of orthodontic brackets.

Aplikasi lampu bertenaga surya untuk penerangan

Electricity use tends to come from energy produced by PLN, where the energy produced in several areas is from non-renewable oil-fueled power plants. This causes several areas to remain dark because they do not have street lighting and are dependent on electricity services from the government, including Banguntapan Village which has minimal lighting. The absence of lighting makes the road dark and prone to crime such as theft, which is often due to darkness. To prevent theft, residents are required to guard the village system, but this is not optimal. For this reason, community service is carried out by creating a sense of security through the street lighting construction program in Banguntapan Village, especially the Muhammadiyah Islamic Center (MIC) complex. The aim of carrying out this community service activity is to provide an alternative, renewable electrical energy source by utilizing solar panels that the community can use. Activities were carried out in several stages, namely observation, outreach, and counseling, as well as training on solar-powered lighting installations. The activity partner is PRM 3 Banguntapan which is located in the Muhammadiyah Islamic Center (MIC) complex, precisely in Sorowajan Hamlet, Banguntapan Village. The results obtained are the availability of alternative electrical energy sourced from sunlight stored in batteries and solar-powered lighting units. Residents know and understand that the use of solar energy is a form of energy-independent village development.

Assisted Car Platooning and Congestion Control at Road Intersections

Enhancing road safety and traffic efficiency are the important aspects and goals that automakers and researchers trying to achieve in recent years. The autonomous vehicle technology has been identified as a solution to achieve these goals. However, the adoption of fully autonomous vehicles in the current market is still in the very early stages of deployment. The objective of this paper is to develop a Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC) model at a road intersection using platooning car-following mobility models, object detection at traffic light units, and Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication through vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs). The mobility model considers traffic simulation using the SUMO-PLEXE-VEINS platforms integration. Next, a prototype of an assisted car platooning system consisting of roadside unit (RSU) and on-board units (OBU) is developed using artificial intelligence (AI)-based smart traffic light for obstruction detection at an intersection and modified remote-control cars with V2X communication equipped with in-vehicle alert notification, respectively. The results show accurate detection of obstruction by the proposed assisted car platooning system, and an optimised smart traffic light operation that can reduce congestion and fuel consumption, improve traffic flow, and enhance road safety. The findings from this paper can be used as a baseline for the framework of CACC implementation by legislators, policymakers, infrastructure providers, and vehicle manufacturers.

Light use efficiency declines with water deficit and age in Eucalyptus plantations across Brazil

Eucalyptus plantations in Brazil are among the world’s most productive forests. We examined how differences in growth across an 1100 km environmental gradient related to light use and light use efficiency for 11 tropical Eucalyptus plantations, with the same 11 clones planted at each site. The long geographic gradient led to differences in precipitation, temperature, and soils, giving annual water deficits ranging from 40 to 500 mm yr−1. Mean annual increment (MAI) declined by about 2.2 Mg ha−1 yr−1 for each 100 mm yr−1 increase in water deficit. Across sites, about one-fourth of the differences in MAI related to light use (absorbed photosynthetically active radiation, APAR), and three-fourths to light use efficiency (LUE, wood growth per unit of light absorbed),. Light use did not relate to water deficit, so the decline in MAI resulted from a 0.1 g MJ−1 decline in LUE for each 100 mm yr−1 increase in water deficit. Though APAR accounted for a minor part of the decline in growth across sites, differences in both APAR and LUE among clones were important within each site. The pattern in wood growth per unit of light use likely includes the effects of water deficit on both total carbon (C) gain per unit of light use and partitioning of C belowground. A next step in harnessing production ecology insights for silviculture and breeding may be direct assessments of belowground partitioning (and perhaps respiration), and how opportunities vary with site conditions.

B-281 Analytical Validation of the Mindray High Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin I Assay

Abstract Background According to recent global guidelines for patients presenting with ischemia, high sensitivity cardiac troponin I and T (hs-cTn) are the preferred biomarkers for the diagnosis and risk assessment of acute myocardial infarction (MI) and myocardial injury. The purpose of our study was to perform an analytical validation study of the Mindray hs-cTnI assay. Methods Analytical studies were designed according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute protocols (CLSI). We used one reagent lot and one CL1200i chemiluminescence Immunoassay Analyzer (Mindray Bio Medical Electronics Co., Shenzhen, China). Following the CLSI EP17 A2 document, the limit of blank (LoB) and limit of detection (LoD) were assessed following analysis of a) Mindray controls without cTnI concentrations added for the LoB and b) 4 lithium heparin (LiHep) fresh samples with low cTnI concentrations, for 3 days for LoB and LoD, with 5 replicates per day (60 replicates per study). For the precision study, according to the CLSI EP15-A3 protocol, we used 12 LiHep fresh samples, measured for 10 days, with 2 runs per day (separated by a minimal time of 2 h) and in replicates of 3 (n = 720). For the 12 samples for the precision study, 7 were chosen with hs-cTnI concentrations close to the manufacturer sex-specific 99th percentile upper reference limits (URL; 31 ng/L for males and 15 ng/L for females). The CLSI EP06 protocol was followed to study linearity, using 9 fresh LiHep samples analyzed the same day in replicates of 7 (n = 63). A blank sample between every sample was used to avoid carryover. Our analytical specification for linearity was an allowable deviation &amp;lt;10%. Analyses were performed with Analyze it for Excel (Method Validation edition, version 6.15). Results Using both parametrical and non-parametrical analyses, LoB was &amp;lt;0.1 ng/L, with a relative light unit (RLU) of 5394. LoD was 0.1 ng/L according to the parametrical analysis. Regarding imprecision, for samples ranging from cTnI concentrations of 1 to 106 ng/L, repeatability had a coefficient of variation (%CV) from 1.15% to 3.83%, and within-laboratory imprecision ranging from 1.69% to 5.03%. Using samples with hs-cTnI concentrations close to the manufacture’s sex-specific upper reference limits (9–36 ng/L), the repeatability and within-laboratory precision was 1.27%–1.61% and 1.92%–2.52%, respectively. The measuring interval for the linearity study ranged from 1.1 to 30 772 ng/L. All analytical parameters met CLSI limits of acceptable performance. No carry over was detected. Conclusion Our analytical observations of the Mindray hs-cTnI assay demonstrate excellent LoB, LoD, imprecision and linearity, that were in alignment of with the manufacturer’s claims and published guidelines for hs-cTnI.

B-306 Performance Evaluation of an Automated Assay for Measurement of Tacrolimus* on the ADVIA Centaur XP System

Abstract Background Tacrolimus (FK506) (PROGRAF) is a macrolide antibiotic of fungal origin (Streptomyces tsukubaensis). Tacrolimus is an inhibitor of calcineurin, a phosphatase that activates T-cell proliferation. At the cellular level, tacrolimus binds a family of binding proteins termed FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs). The correlation between steady-state trough concentration and area under the curve (AUC) provides reliable therapeutic monitoring for tacrolimus exposure at the trough level. The objective of this study was to determine the performance characteristics of the Tacrolimus assay on the ADVIA Centaur® XP System. Methods The ADVIA Centaur Tacrolimus assay is a competitive immunoassay using direct chemiluminescent technology. Free tacrolimus in the patient sample competes with the bound tacrolimus in the solid phase for binding with the acridinium ester-labeled anti-tacrolimus antibody. The amount of tacrolimus present in the patient sample has an inverse relationship to the amount of relative light units detected by the system. Results The ADVIA Centaur Tacrolimus assay demonstrated a mean %CV of 3.1% for intra-assay and 6.0% for total precision (across a sample range of 3.10 to 26.15 ng/mL). Close correlation to LC-MS/MS was demonstrated, with r, slope, and intercept of 0.957, 0.973, and 0.475, respectively. LoD and LoQ were 0.7 ng/mL and 1.9 ng/mL, respectively. Likewise, comparison to the Atellica IM assay resulted in r, slope, and intercept of 0.966, 1.09, and -0.508, respectively. Linearity was demonstrated across a range from LoQ to 30.0 ng/mL. Tacrolimus metabolite percent cross-reactivity ranged from 1.7 to 34.2%. A panel of potential interferants including the following were tested and found not to interfere (≤10%): cephalosporin to 100 µg/mL, erythromycin to 13.8 mg/dL, phenobarbital to 10 mg/dL, rapamycin to 5 µg/mL, sulfamethoxazole to 150 µg/mL, tobramycin to 3.3 mg/dL, trimethoprim to 4.2 mg/dL, bilirubin (conjugated) to 60 mg/dL, bilirubin (direct) to 60 mg/dL, and rheumatoid factor to 500 IU/mL. Conclusion The resulting data demonstrates that the ADVIA Centaur Tacrolimus assay is an accurate and precise method of quantifying tacrolimus concentration in EDTA whole-blood samples. *Assay under development by Randox Laboratories Ltd. for Siemens Healthineers. Not available for sale. Future availability cannot be guaranteed.

Performance of light weight ferrocement composite walls

The aim of this research is to examine the performance of reinforced lightweight ferrocement walls under vertical and horizontal loading. The walls were made up of two thin layers of ferrocement reinforced with one, two, three, or four layers of welded wire mesh or expanded steel mesh. The panels’ core was constructed of lightweight extruded foam. An experimental program of thirteen lightweight walls with total dimensions of 100x650x1250 mm was casted to achieve this goal and tested until failure. ABAQUS finite-element package was conducted. The parameters in this study were the kind of reinforcement; welded and expanded wire meshes, the steel bars, and. the number of layers of steel mesh. Ultimate load, mode of failure, initial cracking load, service load, energy absorption, and ductility ratio were calculated and observation to evaluate the findings. The findings displayed that the performance of the ferrocement walls reinforced with expanded wire meshes is better than that of the walls reinforced with welded wire meshes. The energy absorbed increased by 40 % for specimens reinforced with expanded wire meshes is more than that of the walls reinforced with welded wire a good agreement was observed among the theoretical and experimental observations. This paper highlights uses of employing light weight ferrocement units in building of economic housing, which is particularly valuable for both developed and developing nations, with significant frugal benefits.

The effectiveness of disinfection protocols in osteopathic family medicine offices.

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) pose a substantial public health threat. Despite significant strides tocurb HAIs in hospital environments, outpatient settings have not received the same degree of attention. Given their emphasis on holistic, patient-centered care, osteopathic family medicine offices are pivotal in both disease prevention and comprehensive patient treatment. The importance of simple yet effective disinfection protocols, such as thorough cleaning between patient appointments, cannot be overstated in these settings because they are integral to minimizing disease transmission. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of the current disinfection protocols in osteopathic family medicine offices. A cross-sectional study evaluating disinfection practices on 18 examination tables in an osteopathic family medicine office was conducted. Two high-touch surfaces (midtorso region and table edge) were examined. Initial swab samples were collected after morning disinfection by Environmental Services, and terminal swab samples were gathered after day's-end disinfection by the medical staff. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence assays were performed utilizing AccuPoint Advanced HC Reader, which quantified ATP, indicating contamination levels in the samples. The higher the ATP levels found in a sample, the greater the amount of biological contamination. All samplers were handled and tested as per manufacturer's instructions. Apreliminary trial was conducted to confirm the internal validity of ATP bioluminescence measurements. The statistical analysis involved Shapiro-Wilk and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, with significance set at p<0.05. Cohen's d test was utilized to calculate the effect size, identifying meaningful differences in initial and terminal swab sample relative light units (RLUs). The midtorso region demonstrated an 11.1 % increase in failure rate after terminal disinfection when compared to initial disinfection. A Wilcoxon signed-rank testrevealed a median estimated pathogen level forthemidtorso region that was higher after terminal disinfection (median, 193 RLUs; range, 1-690 RLUs; n=18) compared to initial disinfection (median, 134 RLUs; range,4-946 RLUs; n=18). However, this increase was not statistically significant, p=0.9124, with a small effect size, d=0.04. The edge showed no change in failure rate after terminal disinfection, maintaining a 100 % failure rate both before and after disinfection. However, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed a slight reduction in the median estimated pathogen levels after terminal disinfection (median, 2095 RLUs; range, 891-5,540 RLUs; n=18) compared to before disinfection (median, 2,257 RLUs; range, 932-5,825 RLUs; n=18). However, this reduction wasnot statistically significant, p=0.61, with a small effect size, d=0.12. The findings from this study reveal a substantial disparity in outcomes between the two sample locations, midtorso and edge. The midtorso demonstrated arelatively low failure rate in both initial and terminal swab samples, indicating successful outcomes. In contrast, the edge consistently displayed a 100 % failure rate, emphasizing the need for more care and attention when cleaning the edge of the examination to ensure better outcomes. By prioritizing adequate disinfection protocols, including thorough cleaning between patients, osteopathic family medicine offices can more effectively prevent disease transmission and promote patient safety.

Abstract 044: Knocking Out Sodium Glucose-Linked Transporter 5 Prevents Fructose-Induced Salt-Sensitive Hypertension

We showed: 1) a 20% fructose high-salt (3.7% NaCl; FHS) but not a 20% glucose high-salt diet increases systolic blood pressure (SBP) in a sex independent manner; 2) on normal salt, 20% fructose augments the ability of angiotensin II (Ang-II) to increase proximal tubule superoxide (O 2 - ); and 3) rat proximal tubule brush borders express sodium glucose-linked transporters (SGLT) 4 and SGLT5, which transport fructose. However, whether FHS enhances Ang II-stimulated proximal tubule O 2 - , its role in FISSH and the roles of SGLT4 and 5 are unknown. We hypothesized that fructose transport mediated by SGLT5 but not SGLT4 is required for FHS to enhance Ang II-stimulated proximal tubule O 2 - in males and females, and this is required for fructose-induced salt-sensitive hypertension (FISSH). We measured SBP in wild-type, SGLT4 knockout, and SGLT5 knockout male and female rats on a Sprague Dawley background fed FHS for 7 days. We also measured basal and Ang II-stimulated (37 nM) O 2 - in proximal tubule suspensions from these rats using the lucigenin assay. FHS increased SBP in wild type male rats 11 ± 2 mmHg (from 131 ± 4 to 142 ± 5 mmHg; n = 5, p &lt; 0.01) and in female rats by 21 ± 5 mmHg (from 114 ± 4 to 130 ± 3 mmHg; n = 8; p &lt; 0.01), not significantly different from males. FHS increased SBP in SGLT4 males by 22 ± 3 mmHg (from 126 ± 5 to 149 ± 6 mmHg; n = 8, p &lt; 0.01) and in females 21 ± 5 mmHg (from 126 ± 3 to 138 ± 2 mmHg; n = 8; p &lt; 0.01), not significantly different from males. In SGLT5 males SBP was 128 ± 6 on day 0 and 129 ± 8 mmHg on day 7 (n = 7). In SGLT5 females SBP was 114 ± 4 on day 0 and 117 ± 5 mmHg on day 7 (n = 7). Ang-II increased O 2 - by 11 ± 3 relative light units (RLU)/μg/s from 53 ± 9 to 64 ± 8 RLU/μg/s (n = 11, p &lt; 0.01) in tubules from wild type males fed FHS for 7 days and by 10±3 RLU (n = 5; p &lt; 0.02) in females fed FHS for 7 days. Ang-II increased O 2 - by 8 ± 2 RLU/μg/s in proximal tubules from FHS-fed SGLT4 males (n = 6, p &lt; 0.02) and by 8 ± 2 in FHS-fed females (n = 6, p &lt; 0.01). Ang-II did not significantly stimulate O 2 - in proximal tubules from FHS-fed SGTL5 male or female rats (Δ 3±7 and 0±3 RLU/μg/s, n = 5 and 3, respectively). We conclude that transport by SGLT 5 but not SGLT4 is required for FHS to augment Ang II-stimulated proximal tubule O 2 - in males and females, and that the increase in proximal tubule oxidative stress is required for FISSH.

Hygiene management practices and adenosine triphosphate luminometry of feeding equipment in preweaning calves on dairy farms in Quebec, Canada

The objective of this study was to describe the cleaning practices currently used for preweaning calves on dairy farms in Quebec, Canada. In addition, contamination of feeding equipment for preweaning calves was described using ATP (expressed as relative light units, RLU), visual assessment, and bacteriological analysis. A questionnaire was administered on 50 commercial dairy farms in Quebec, Canada, regarding the self-reported cleaning protocol used for feeding equipment of preweaning calves. During the visit, a visual score was given to the feeding equipment available at the farm. Afterward, ATP luminometry measurements were obtained using Hygiene UltraSnap and MicroSnap swabs (Hygiene, Camarillo, CA), and the liquid rinsing technique for buckets, nipples, bottles, esophageal tube feeders (ET), the tube of automatic milk feeders (AMF), water samples, and milk replacer. An additional direct swabbing technique was performed on buckets and nipples. The fluid retrieved from the liquid rinsing technique was also used to determine the total bacterial count (TBC) and total coliform count. Based on the bacteriological analysis, optimal RLU cutoff values to determine contamination were obtained. The median (interquartile range) luminometer measurements using the UltraSnap and direct technique for buckets and nipples were 2,082 (348-7,410) and 3,462 (462-7,518) RLU, respectively; and, using the liquid technique for bottles, ET, AMF, water, and milk replacer were 43 (4-974), 15 (4-121), 301 (137-1,323), 190 (71-358), and 94 (38-218) RLU, respectively. Overall, for all equipment and both techniques used, higher RLU values were seen in UltraSnap samples compared with MicroSnap samples. Additionally, for buckets and nipples, higher RLU values were obtained for the direct swabbing method compared with the liquid sampling method for both swabs used. No differences in the level of contamination were seen between the different feeding equipment used within a farm. Overall, a higher correlation with bacteriological results was noticed for ATP luminometry compared with the visual score, with a high correlation for nipples and bottles using the UltraSnap and liquid technique. Based on the classification of "contaminated" (TBC ≥100,000 cfu/mL) or "not contaminated" (TBC <100,000 cfu/mL), optimal ATP luminometer cutoff values for buckets, nipples, bottles, AMF, water, and milk replacer were 798, 388, 469, 282, 1,432, and 93 RLU, respectively. No clear association was found between ATP measurements and the self-reported cleaning protocol. This study gave new insights into the current cleaning procedures and contamination of feeding equipment for preweaning calves on dairy farms in Quebec. In addition, ATP luminometry cutoff values could help benchmark farms regarding cleaning practices and provide customized advice, improving the overall hygiene management, and thus the health, of preweaning calves on dairy farms.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) sampling algorithm for monitoring the cleanliness of surgical instruments.

Timely detection of cleaning failure is critical for quality assurance within Sterilising Service Units (SSUs). Rapid Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) testing provides a real time and quantitative indication of cellular contaminants, when used to measure surface or device cleanliness. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of an ATP algorithm and to whether it could be used as a routine quality assurance step, to monitor surgical instruments cleanliness in SSUs prior to sterilisation. Cleanliness monitoring using rapid ATP testing was undertaken in the SSUs of four hospitals located in the western (Amazonia) region of Brazil. ATP testing was conducted (Clean Trace, 3M) on 163 surgical instruments, following manual cleaning. A sampling algorithm using a duplicate swab approach was applied to indicate surgical instruments as (i) very clean, (ii) clean, (iii) equivocal or (iv) fail, based around a 'clean' cut-off of 250 Relative Light Units (RLU) and a 'very clean' <100 RLU. The four cleanliness categories were significantly differentiated (P≤0.001). The worst performing locations (hospitals A & C) had failure rates of 39.2% and 32.4%, respectively, and were distinctly different from hospitals B & D (P≤0.001). The best performing hospitals (B & D) had failure rates of 7.7% and 2.8%, respectively. The ATP testing algorithm provides a simple to use method within SSUs. The measurements are in real time, quantitative and useful for risk-based quality assurance monitoring, and the tool can be used for staff training. The four-tiered approach to the grading of surgical instrument cleanliness provides a nuanced approach for continuous quality improvement within SSU than does a simple pass/fail methodology.

Development of Superconducting Cable and Coated Conductors for Electric Propulsion System of Airplane

The superconducting cable for an electric propulsion system of an airplane was developed using coated conductors (CCs). To lighten the cable-weight, stacked conductors without the center core were employed, leading to the reduction of the diameter and effectively reducing the weight. The cable demonstrated reasonable high <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">I_c</i> values for the DC current. Additionally, the cable was revised for loading the AC current. Gaps in the insulators of the craft-papers and spacers were added to separate each phase-conductor. Evaluation of the AC current loading confirmed no degradation at loads greater than 1900 Arms, which is sufficient for a 1 MW propulsion system. A low unit weight of 1.44 kg/kA/m of the cable was achieved. Considering the future goal of a 20 MW system, the performance of the coated conductors was developed to improve the infield values. The long CCs were successfully fabricated by the UTOC-MOD process, which is effective for refining the pinning centers. The pseudo-FFDS cable was confirmed to achieve a high <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">I_c</i> value of 304 A/cm-w at 70 K under 2.5 T. Finally, a light unit weight of 0.35 kg/kA/m for the future cable concept was proposed from the weight analysis.

Effect of β-cyclodextrin on the CO release kinetics and antimicrobial activity of [NEt4][Mo(CO)5Br

In the present work the possibility of improving the solubility, bioavailability and bactericidal activity of the carbon monoxide releasing molecule (CORM) [Mo(CO)5Br]− (as its tetraethylammonium salt) (1) by solvent-free co-grinding with β-cyclodextrin (βCD) in a planetary ball mill was investigated. Data obtained by FT-IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis showed that, other than a small decrease in the crystallinity of 1, the co-grinding process produced a finely dispersed physical mixture of crystalline CORM and crystalline excipient. The aqueous solubility of 1 in the 1-βCD product was enhanced with respect to sparingly soluble pure 1, which might be ascribed to increased wettability and a CD-CORM interaction in solution. Investigation of the CO release kinetics by the standard myoglobin assay showed that the half-life of CO release increased from ca. 6 min for 1 to ca. 19 min for 1-βCD, while the number of equivalents released decreased from 3.2 to 1.8. The antibacterial properties of 1 and 1-βCD were evaluated using the broth microdilution method to determine minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against the model Gram-negative bacterium, Escherichia coli. The compounds showed similar growth inhibitory (MIC values of 200 μM) and bactericidal (MBC/MIC ≈ 2) effects. Bacterial viability assays corroborated the MBC/MIC studies, showing 3 logs (99.9% of relative light units - RLU) reduction in viable cell count after 15 min exposure to 2 × MIC. Although the CORM-CD system displays a lengthening of the half-life of CO release and a decrease in the CO release efficiency relative to 1, the co-grinding with βCD does not affect the bactericidal activity of the CORM. Overall, the βCD could be a suitable excipient for the development of immediate-release formulations of CORMs like the pentacarbonyl complex 1.