Associations of early life per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure with body mass index and risk of overweight or obesity at age 2-18 years: Mixture analysis in the prospective Boston Birth Cohort.

Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of widespread persistent chemicals, which may have obesogenic effects during the fetal period. This study investigated the long-term association of maternal plasma PFAS concentrations at delivery and their mixture with child body mass index (BMI) and the risk of Overweight or Obesity (OWO) at the age of 2-18 years.

Methods: The study included 1189 mother-child dyads from the prospective Boston Birth Cohort.

Biomonitoring of toxic metal exposure in New Jersey adults in 2015-2018.

This study explores the potential of a convenience sample-based probing approach as a cost-effective alternative for state-level biomonitoring surveillance, addressing the logistical and practical challenges when applying comprehensive probability-based population studies at a state-level. The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) conducted a large-scale biomonitoring study using 2988 blood samples and 1007 urine samples collected from clinical laboratories and blood banks statewide from 2015 to 2018 to characterize toxic metal exposure patterns and trends. The resulting data were analyzed to identify contributing factors and compared to concurrent U.

A structural analysis of the rail unit of an indoor assistive mobility system.

Background: Individuals with gait disturbances, such as that post-stroke, are discharged home to undergo outpatient rehabilitation. Rehabilitation in the community is not as effective as that in hospital, due to long travel times and short program duration.

Objective: This study analyzed rail unit structure, with the aim of assisting home indoor assistive mobility system (HIAMS) development, allowing patients to undergo gait-related rehabilitation training at home.

Longitudinal trajectories and determinants of plasma per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) levels from birth to early childhood and metabolomic associations: A pilot study in the Boston Birth Cohort.

Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a major public health concern worldwide due to their ubiquitous exposures, environmental persistence, maternal-to-fetal transfer, and multi-organ toxicity. This pilot study aimed to generate preliminary data to inform future studies to address data gaps in the field, including early life PFAS exposure levels, longitudinal changes, determinants, and associated metabolomic alterations in understudied Black and Hispanic children in the United States (U.S.

Biomonitoring: A tool to assess PFNA body burdens and evaluate the effectiveness of drinking water intervention for communities in New Jersey.

Elevated perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) levels, one of many manmade per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), were detected in public water systems/private wells in New Jersey communities. Interventions to end exposure through drinking water were carried out from 2014 to 2016. To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, a community biomonitoring study was conducted for the communities between 2017 and 2020.

Prevalence and Predictors of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Serum Levels among Members of a Suburban US Volunteer Fire Department.

Background: Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are ubiquitous pollutants associated with adverse health outcomes. High PFAS levels have been demonstrated among career firefighters; less is known about PFAS levels among volunteer firefighters who comprise two-thirds of US firefighters.

Methods: Volunteer fire department members completed a survey and provided blood samples.

Development of an actuation system to apply hydrogen storage alloy for the rehabilitative system.

Background: Hydrogen has advantages that can be used as energy, but research on safe use is needed.

Objective: In this study, an actuation system for rehabilitation is developed to drive the actuator using hydrogen storage alloy and to analyze the hydrogen release characteristics of the alloy.

Methods: The system is automatically control and report the pressure, temperature and hydrogen flow using LabVIEW-based modules and LabVIEW software.

Concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls in serum from New Jersey biomonitoring study: 2016-2018.

The first statewide New Jersey Biomonitoring (NJBM) of serum polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was conducted from 2016 to 2018. Forty ortho-substituted PCBs were measured in serum samples collected from 920 NJ residents in compliance with the CDC method. The lipid adjusted geometric mean (GM) of ∑PCB concentration for all the 920 measured subjects was 65.

Study on injection molding analysis of glasses-type wearable device for facial skin care.

Background: With the improvement in the standard of living, there has been increasing interest in facial skin care. In particular, it has been observed that people pay extra attention to eye-skin when they visit skin care parlors for special treatment and care.

Objective: There is a need for skin care devices that would enable convenient skin care anywhere, including at home and on the move.

Rehabilitative training system based on a ceiling rail for detecting the intended movement direction of a user.

Background: Accurate detection of the intended movement direction of a patient plays an important role in the development of a training system for gait rehabilitation and enables to increase the effect of gait rehabilitation training.

Objective: This study investigated the detection of the intended movement of a user to operate a ceiling rail-based rehabilitative training system with accurate timing.

Methods: To detect the movement direction intention of a user, two potentiometers were used to measure the movement direction in the anterior, posterior, and left and right directions of the user when operating the driving motor of the rehabilitative training system.

Study on an actuation system development using temperature control of metal hydrides.

Background: Hydrogen storage using metal hydride (MH) offers various advantages so the global research and development using MH alloys keeps growing.

Objective: In this paper, we developed a new actuation system using temperature control of the MH module.

Methods: The actuation system consisted of an MH module, fan, mass flow controller (MFC), solenoid valve, actuator, and a temperature and pressure sensor.

Biomonitoring of emerging contaminants, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in New Jersey adults in 2016-2018.

New Jersey (NJ) residents in some areas may be exposed to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) due to PFAS contamination of public drinking water. This contamination stems from industrial discharges and the use of aqueous film-foaming foams at military bases and commercial airports for drills and locations where fires occurred. Exposure to PFAS has raised significant public health concerns due to its persistence both in the environment and human body.

Structural analysis of a rehabilitative training system based on a ceiling rail for safety of hemiplegia patients.

The body-weight support (BWS) function, which helps to decrease load stresses on a user, is an effective tool for gait and balance rehabilitation training for elderly people with weakened lower-extremity muscular strength, hemiplegic patients, etc. This study conducts structural analysis to secure user safety in order to develop a rail-type gait and balance rehabilitation training system (RRTS). The RRTS comprises a rail, trolley, and brain-machine interface.

Hydrogen-absorbing alloy-based metal-hydride actuation for application in rehabilitative systems.

Background: A lightweight rehabilitation assisting system is required to help the aged and disabled with daily life activities, thereby improving the quality of their lives.

Objective: This paper discusses the development of a metal-hydride (MH) actuator, with excellent heat transfer performance, for application in a rehabilitative system incorporating an MH module.

Methods: The operating mechanism of MH actuators requires that the mechanical power of the pneumatic actuator only be generated via heat transfer through a Peltier element and the absorption/desorption of a hydrogen-contained MH module.

A sensitive and accurate method for the determination of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in human serum using a high performance liquid chromatography-online solid phase extraction-tandem mass spectrometry.

A selective, sensitive, and accurate analytical method for the measurement of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in human serum, utilizing LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry), was developed and validated according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for biological sample analysis. Tests were conducted to determine the optimal analytical column, mobile phase composition and pH, gradient program, and cleaning procedure. The final analytical column selected for analysis was an extra densely bonded silica-packed reverse-phase column (Agilent XDB-C, 3.

Comparative analysis for evaluating the traceability of interventional devices using blood vessel phantom models made of PVA-H or silicone.

Objective: In this paper, we investigated the parameters with effective traceability to assess the mechanical properties of interventional devices.

Methods: In our evaluation system, a box-shaped poly (vinyl alcohol) hydrogel (PVA-H) and silicone were prepared with realistic geometry, and the measurement and evaluation of traceability were carried out on devices using load hand force. The phantom models had a total of five curve pathways to reach the aneurysm sac.

Effect of vibration on muscle strength imbalance in lower extremity using multi-control whole body vibration platform.

This study shows the improvement of muscle activity and muscle strength imbalance in the lower extremities through independent exercise loads in vibration platform. Twenty females of age 20 participated in this study. The subjects were divided into WBV group, with more than 10% of muscle strength imbalance between left and right the lower extremities, and control group, with less than 10% of muscle strength imbalance between left and right the lower extremities.

A post-remediation assessment in Jersey City of the association of hexavalent chromium in house dust and urinary chromium in children.

Although all chromite ore processing residue (COPR) sites near residential neighborhoods in Jersey City, New Jersey have undergone remediation, recent studies found widespread, but low levels of hexavalent chromium (Cr(+6)) in house dust both in Jersey City and in communities with no known sources of Cr(+6). This study was designed as a follow-up to determine whether there is an association between current Cr(+6) levels in house dust and urinary chromium concentrations in young children. Dust samples (N=369) were collected from 123 homes.

Measurement of Soluble and Total Hexavalent Chromium in the Ambient Airborne Particles in New Jersey.

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) in ambient airborne particulate matter (PM) is a known pulmonary carcinogen and may have both soluble and insoluble forms. The sum of the two forms is defined as total Cr(VI). Currently, there were no methods suitable for large-scale monitoring of total Cr(VI) in ambient PM.

Trivalent chromium solubility and its influence on quantification of hexavalent chromium in ambient particulate matter using EPA method 6800.

Measurement of carcinogenic Cr(VI) in ambient PM is challenging due to potential errors associated with conversion between Cr (VI) (a carcinogen) and Cr(III) (an essential nutrient). Cr(III) conversion is a particular concern due to its > 80% atomic abundance in total Cr. US.

Postural responses during the various frequencies of anteroposterior perturbation.

This study investigated the characteristics of dynamic postural responses when subjects attempted to maintain an upright standing position on a support plate during continuous sinusoidal perturbation in the anterior-posterior direction. Fifteen healthy young subjects participated in the experiment. Body movement patterns during the perturbation were captured and analyzed using a 3D motion analysis system (APAS 3D motion analysis, Ariel Dynamics Inc.

Effect of recovery from muscle strength imbalance in lower limb using four point weight bearing reduction system.

This study was performed to assess the improvement of muscle strength imbalance in the lower limbs using a four point weight bearing reduction system with a two-belt treadmill. Participants, each having differences in muscle function of the left and right legs of over 20%, were divided into two groups of ten. The participants were involved in experiments progressing 40 minutes per day, 3 days per week, during a period of 4 weeks.

Fundamental study of lower limb muscle activity using an angled whole body vibration exercise instrument.

This research was performed to assess the effects of angled whole body vibration on muscle activity of the lower limbs, by examining adults in their twenties during squat exercises, taking into account two variables of exercise intensity (vibration frequency and gradient). Twenty healthy males in their twenties with previous experience of more than 6 month's weight training and no past medical history were included in this study. The experiment was performed by participating in squat exercises which consisted of 3 sets (1 set = 5 seconds x 3 repetitions of exercise), and the muscle activities of the Rectus Femoris, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis were measured with variation in the gradients of 0°, 10°, and 20°, and vibration frequencies of 20, 30, and 40 Hz.