Comparing survival and outcomes in isolated versus polytrauma-associated TBI: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: One in four patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) also has other body district injuries (OBD). The impact of OBD on mortality and disability is debated. This study compared outcomes of TBI patients with polytrauma (p-TBI) versus isolated TBI (alone-TBI) and identified outcome determinants, focusing on survival time and prognosis.

In Utero and Lactational Exposure to an Environmentally Relevant Mixture of Phthalates Alters Hypothalamic Gene Expression and Sexual Preference in Rats.

Several phthalates, mainly used as plasticizers, are known for their adverse effects on the male genital system. Previously, we demonstrated that an environmentally relevant mixture of six antiandrogenic phthalates (PMix), derived from a biomonitoring study in pregnant Brazilian women, was able to disrupt the reproductive development in male rats. Experimental groups (control, 0.

PMUT-Based System for Continuous Monitoring of Bolted Joints Preload.

In this paper, we present a bolt preload monitoring system, including the system architecture and algorithms. We show how Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations aided the design and how we processed signals to achieve experimental validation. The preload is measured using a Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer (PMUT) in pulse-echo mode, by detecting the Change in Time-of-Flight (CTOF) of the acoustic wave generated by the PMUT, between no-load and load conditions.

Efficient ultra-broadband low-resolution astrophotonic spectrographs.

Broadband low-resolution near-infrared spectrographs in a compact form are crucial for ground- and space-based astronomy and other fields of sensing. Astronomical spectroscopy poses stringent requirements including high efficiency, broad band operation (> 300 nm), and in some cases, polarization insensitivity. We present and compare experimental results from the design, fabrication, and characterization of broadband (1200 - 1650 nm) arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) spectrographs built using the two most promising low-loss platforms - SiN (rectangular waveguides) and doped-SiO (square waveguides).

Three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations of laser-driven multiradiation sources based on double-layer targets.

Double-layer targets (DLTs), made of a low-density foam on top of a solid substrate, can efficiently convert the energy of a high-intensity laser to provide sources of photons and protons. We investigate a 30-fs pulse with a peak intensity of I∼8.7×10^{20}W/cm^{2} and a peak power of ∼120 TW interacting with a DLT using three-dimensional (3D) particle-in-cell simulations.

Reproductive toxicity following in utero and lactational exposure to a human-relevant phthalate mixture in rats.

This rodent (Wistar rats) study examined reproductive effects of in utero/lactational exposure to a mixture of 6 antiandrogenic phthalates (PMix): diisobutyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, diisopentyl phthalate, butylbenzyl phthalate, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, and diisononyl phthalate. The PMix was defined based on exposure data from pregnant women in Brazil. Experimental groups were established by extrapolating the estimated human dose to rats (0.

A framework for precision "dosing" of mental healthcare services: algorithm development and clinical pilot.

Background: One in five adults in the US experience mental illness and over half of these adults do not receive treatment. In addition to the access gap, few innovations have been reported for ensuring the right level of mental healthcare service is available at the right time for individual patients.

Methods: Historical observational clinical data was leveraged from a virtual healthcare system.

Towards compact laser-driven accelerators: exploring the potential of advanced double-layer targets.

The interest in compact, cost-effective, and versatile accelerators is increasing for many applications of great societal relevance, ranging from nuclear medicine to agriculture, pollution control, and cultural heritage conservation. For instance, Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) is a non-destructive material characterization technique applied to environmental analysis that requires MeV-energy ions. In this context, superintense laser-driven ion sources represent a promising alternative to conventional accelerators.

PMUTs Arrays for Structural Health Monitoring of Bolted-Joints.

Micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) have enabled new techniques for the miniaturization of sensors suitable for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) applications. In this study, MEMS-based sensors, specifically Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducers (PMUT), are used to evaluate and monitor the pre-tensioning of a bolted joint structural system. For bolted joints to function properly, it is essential to maintain a suitable level of pre-tensioning.

The Analgesic Dipyrone Affects Pregnancy Outcomes and Endocrine-Sensitive Endpoints in Female and Male Offspring Rats.

Dipyrone is an analgesic and antipyretic drug commonly used in many countries. Although generally not recommended during pregnancy, it is known that many women use dipyrone during the gestational period. In this study, we investigated the endocrine and reproductive effects of dipyrone in female and male offspring rats exposed in utero from gestational days 10-21.

Uterotrophic and in vitro screening for (anti)estrogenic activity of dipyrone.

Dipyrone is a commonly used analgesic in many countries and there is limited data on its possible endocrine disrupting effects. We performed a screening for in vivo and in vitro anti(estrogenic) activity of dipyrone. For the in vivo uterotrophic assay, immature female rats (22-days-old) were treated daily by oral gavage for three days with different doses of dipyrone alone (50, 100, 200 mg/kg/day) and associated with three ethynylestradiol (EE) doses (1, 3 and 10 μg/kg/day), which were based on a dose-response curve experiment.

Controversies on Endocrine and Reproductive Effects of Glyphosate and Glyphosate-Based Herbicides: A Mini-Review.

Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) are among the most used pesticides worldwide, presenting high potential for human exposure. Recently, a debate was raised on glyphosate risks to human health due to conflicting views over its potential carcinogenic and endocrine disruptive properties. Results from regulatory guideline studies, reports from Regulatory Agencies, and some literature studies point to a lack of endocrine disrupting properties of the active ingredient glyphosate.

The endocrine disrupting effects of sodium arsenite in the rat testis is not mediated through macrophage activation.

Arsenic (As) is an endocrine disrupting chemical that can disturb the male reproductive system. In a previous study, it was suggested that testicular macrophages could display a role in endocrine disruption induced by As exposure. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of chronic As exposure in the testis function of Wistar rats and examine the participation of macrophage activation and inflammatory response in these processes.

Integrated quantitative PIXE analysis and EDX spectroscopy using a laser-driven particle source.

Among the existing elemental characterization techniques, particle-induced x-ray emission (PIXE) and energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy are two of the most widely used in different scientific and technological fields. Here, we present the first quantitative laser-driven PIXE and laser-driven EDX experimental investigation performed at the Centro de Láseres Pulsados in Salamanca. Thanks to their potential for compactness and portability, laser-driven particle sources are very appealing for materials science applications, especially for materials analysis techniques.

Prenatal diclofenac exposure delays pubertal development and induces behavioral changes in rats.

Diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug widely used by the general population and, although generally contraindicated during pregnancy, it is also used by some pregnant women. This study investigated endocrine, reproductive and behavioral effects of diclofenac in male and female offspring rats exposed in utero from gestational days 10-20. Pregnant rats were treated with diclofenac at doses of 0.

Effects of (Jacq.) Gaertn. leaf extract on general toxicity and pubertal development of rats.

(Jacq.) Gaertn. (Talinaceae), popularly known as "major gomes," is a Brazilian Cerrado plant used in traditional medicine and as a food source.

From general toxicology to DNA disruption: A safety assessment of Plinia cauliflora (Mart.) Kausel.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Plinia cauliflora (Mart.) Kausel (Myrtaceae) is popularly known as "jaboticaba" or "jaboticaba". The fruit is appreciated for both fresh consumption and the manufacture of jelly, juice, ice cream, fermented beverages, and liqueurs.

In Utero and Lactational Exposure to Diisopentyl Phthalate Induces Fetal Toxicity and Antiandrogenic Effects in Rats.

A previous study has demonstrated exposure of Brazilian pregnant women to diisopentyl phthalate (DiPeP), which reduces fetal rat testosterone production in a dose-responsive manner. In this study, we examined gene expression of steroidogenic proteins in rat fetal testes and investigated the effects of in utero and lactational DiPeP exposure on male rat reproductive development and function. For the prenatal experiment, we orally exposed pregnant Wistar rats to DiPeP or di-n-butyl phthalate (reference phthalate) at 0, 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg/day from gestation day 14-18 and the fetal testis was evaluated for transcript expression of Star, Cyp11a1, Cyp17a1, Cyp19a1, Insl3, Ar, Esr1, Esr2, and Gper1 by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR).

Superintense Laser-driven Ion Beam Analysis.

Ion beam analysis techniques are among the most powerful tools for advanced materials characterization. Despite their growing relevance in a widening number of fields, most ion beam analysis facilities still rely on the oldest accelerator technologies, with severe limitations in terms of portability and flexibility. In this work we thoroughly address the potential of superintense laser-driven proton sources for this application.

Pulsed laser deposition of single-layer MoS on Au(111): from nanosized crystals to large-area films.

Molybdenum disulphide (MoS) is a promising material for heterogeneous catalysis and novel two-dimensional (2D) optoelectronic devices. In this work, we synthesized single-layer (SL) MoS structures on Au(111) by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) under ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions. By controlling the PLD process, we were able to tune the sample morphology from low-coverage SL nanocrystals to large-area SL films uniformly wetting the whole substrate surface.

Unexpected, ubiquitous exposure of pregnant Brazilian women to diisopentyl phthalate, one of the most potent antiandrogenic phthalates.

Background: Human exposure to phthalates and other non-persistent chemicals in developing countries is largely unknown. A preliminary analysis of urinary samples from pregnant Brazilian women revealed the presence of metabolites of Diisopentyl phthalate (DiPeP).

Objectives: Reliably quantify DiPeP metabolites in human urine and investigate the potential antiandrogenic activity of this phthalate in rats.

Optimizing band-edge slow light in silicon-on-insulator waveguide gratings.

A systematic analysis of photonic bands and group index in silicon grating waveguides is performed, in order to optimize band-edge slow-light behavior in integrated structures with low losses. A combination of numerical methods and perturbation theory is adopted. It is shown that a substantial increase of slow light bandwidth is achieved when decreasing the internal width of the waveguide and the silicon thickness in the cladding region.

Ultra-intense laser interaction with nanostructured near-critical plasmas.

Near-critical plasmas irradiated at ultra-high laser intensities (I > 10W/cm) allow to improve the performances of laser-driven particle and radiation sources and to explore scenarios of great astrophysical interest. Near-critical plasmas with controlled properties can be obtained with nanostructured low-density materials. By means of 3D Particle-In-Cell simulations, we investigate how realistic nanostructures influence the interaction of an ultra-intense laser with a plasma having a near-critical average electron density.