Heat efficiently inactivates coronaviruses inside vehicles

Heat is an established method to inactivate coronaviruses, and there is utility in using heat to reduce viral load on common touch points in vehicles exposed to a person shedding SARS-CoV-2. As SARS-CoV-2 is a Biosafety level (BSL)-3 pathogen, real world testing of heat as a sanitation method for public and private vehicles becomes a challenge, requiring a surrogate coronavirus that can be handled safely outside of a BSL-3 facility. In this study, we used Bovine Coronavirus (BCoV) as a surrogate for SARS-CoV-2 to test the efficacy of heat-based betacoronavirus inactivation. In vitro, a 30-minute exposure to 56°C completely inactivated BCoV in solution, and a 15-minute exposure reduced recovery of BCoV >1000-fold. When heated to 56°C for 15 minutes, the infectivity of BCoV spotted and dried on typical porous and non-porous automobile interior materials was reduced by 99 - 99.99%. When BCoV was spotted and dried on hard plastic (seat) material placed inside an out of service transit bus, 56°C heat for 30 minutes reduced BCoV infectivity 85 - 99.5%. Thus, 56°C is an accessible, rapid, and effective method to inactivate coronaviruses inside motor vehicles.

Hypochlorous Acid 0.01% vs Povidone-Iodine 5% for Ocular Antisepsis

Purpose: An alternative ocular antiseptic is needed for patients who do not tolerate povidone-iodine (PI). The purpose of this study is to compare the antimicrobial effect of hypochlorous acid (HA) 0.01% with PI 5% applied topically to the ocular surface. Methods: Swabs of the inferior conjunctiva and posterior lower eyelid margin of 40 patients were taken from both eyes and plated onto blood agar plates. One eye was treated with HA and the other with PI, and swabs were taken after 1-minute exposure. The eye treated with PI was rinsed with sterile saline and another swab was taken. Colony-forming units (CFUs) were recorded after 2 days. Patients rated the level of irritation after treatment in each eye. Results: HA and PI both gave significant reduction in CFUs from baseline ( P < .001 for HA and P = .002 for PI). The mean reduction in logCFU ± 95% CI was 0.850 ± 0.387 or greater for HA and 0.749 ± 0.385 or greater for PI; this was equivalent to a mean reduction of 7.1-fold or greater or 86% or greater (95% CI, 66%-94%) for HA and 5.6-fold or greater or 82% or greater (95% CI, 57%-93%) for PI. CFUs increased in 17 eyes after saline rinse. PI caused substantial irritation in 31 of the 40 participants, whereas no individuals had any irritation from topical HA. Conclusions: Both HA and PI were effective in reducing ocular bacterial load. Unlike PI, HA was not irritating to the eye. Saline rinse after topical PI may increase bacterial counts in some individuals.

Rooting Response of Boxwood Cultivars to Hot Water Treatment and Thermal Sensitivity ofCalonectria henricotiaeandC. pseudonaviculatain Diseased Boxwood (Buxusspp.)1

Boxwood blight is caused by Calonectria henricotiae (Che) and C. pseudonaviculata (Cps). Unrecognized symptoms on Buxus cuttings used for propagation could potentially serve as a source of inoculum and result in pathogen spread. In this study, cuttings of boxwood (Buxus spp.) cultivars ‘Justin Brouwers', ‘Nana', ‘Green Beauty', and ‘Green Velvet' were assessed for root production after exposure to 45 C (113 F) or 47.5 C (118 F) water for 0 to 60 minutes in 5 minute increments. The number of roots greater than 1 cm (0.4 in) in length produced by cuttings of all cultivars three months after treatment in 45 C water for up to 60 minutes was not statistically different from the non-immersed control. A similar response was observed for cuttings of all cultivars treated in 47.5 C water for up to 60 minutes, except for cv. ‘Nana,' which produced fewer roots than the non-immersed control after 35 minutes of exposure to heated water. Experiments conducted on diseased, detached boxwood leaves of susceptible cultivar ‘Justin Brouwers' at 47.5 C, 50 C (122 F) or 52.5 C (127 F) showed significantly reduced production of conidia and viability of Che and Cps after 25 to 30 minute exposure to 47.5 C water (44%) or 12 minute exposure to 50 C water (22%). After 8 minutes of exposure to 52.5 C water, little or no sporulation was observed for either pathogen.Index words: Boxwood blight, Calonectria pseudonaviculata, Calonectria henricotiae, Buxus, hot water treatment, rooting, cuttings, plant propagation.Species used in this study: Boxwood blight [Calonectria henricotiae Gehesquière, Heungens and J.A. Crouch and C. pseudonaviculata (Crous J.Z. Groenewald & C.F. Hill) L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf & Crous] Boxwood [Buxus sempervirens L. ‘Justin Brouwers'; Buxus sinica (Rehder & E. H. Wilson) M. Cheng var. insularis (Nakai) M. Cheng ‘Nana'; B. sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa'×B. sinica var. insularis ‘Green Beauty', and B. sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa' × B. sinica var. insularis ‘Green Velvet'].

Variability in venous gas emboli following the same dive at 3,658 meters

Exposure to a reduction in ambient pressure such as in high-altitude climbing, flying in aircrafts, and decompression from underwater diving results in circulating vascular gas bubbles (i.e., venous gas emboli [VGE]). Incidence and severity of VGE, in part, can objectively quantify decompression stress and risk of decompression sickness (DCS) which is typically mitigated by adherence to decompression schedules. However, dives conducted at altitude challenge recommendations for decompression schedules which are limited to exposures of 10,000 feet in the U.S. Navy Diving Manual (Rev. 7). Therefore, in an ancillary analysis within a larger study, we assessed the evolution of VGE for two hours post-dive using echocardiography following simulated altitude dives at 12,000 feet. Ten divers completed two dives to 66 fsw (equivalent to 110 fsw at sea level by the Cross correction method) for 30 minutes in a hyperbaric chamber. All dives were completed following a 60-minute exposure at 12,000 feet. Following the dive, the chamber was decompressed back to altitude for two hours. Echocardiograph measurements were performed every 20 minutes post-dive. Bubbles were counted and graded using the Germonpré and Eftedal and Brubakk method, respectively. No diver presented with symptoms of DCS following the dive or two hours post-dive at altitude. Despite inter- and intra-diver variability of VGE grade following the dives, the majority (11/20 dives) presented a peak VGE Grade 0, three VGE Grade 1, one VGE Grade 2, four VGE Grade 3, and one VGE Grade 4. Using the Cross correction method for a 66-fsw dive at 12,000 feet of altitude resulted in a relatively low decompression stress and no cases of DCS.

Protocol optimization for obtaining the culture of rat dermal fibroblasts

Introduction. Obtaining primary cultures of fibroblasts is necessary for conducting experimental studies to investigate the basic cell response mechanisms to various stimuli. Despite the widespread use of fibroblast cultures, methods for obtaining them from the skin are not standardized. The aim of the studywas to find the optimal conditions to obtain a fibroblast culture from rat skin using enzymatic tissue disaggregation. Materials and methods. The fibroblast culture was obtained from the dermis of 18 male Wistar rats (N=12, 5–6-week-old, and 60–65 g body weight; N=6, 8–10-week-old rats, and 160–180 g body weight). A series of experiments was carried out to obtain a fibroblast culture with selecting the collagenase type and defining its concentration and exposure time. Results.An optimized protocol to obtain rat dermis fibroblasts is presented. Moreover, the problems of obtaining a culture and practical aspects of its use are discussed. Conclusion. When obtaining a primary culture of rat skin fibroblasts we should consider the following fac-tors: the type of the enzyme, its concentration, and exposure time; the age of the animals; the area of skin graft collection. In young rats, the optimal result was achieved when the cells were isolated from the axillary zone using collagenase type II at a 1 mg/ml concentration during a 90-minute exposure. In adult animals, the enzymatic effect of collagenase type II on the skin graft obtained from the back was optimal at a 5 mg/ml concentration during a 120-minute exposure. Keywords: fibroblast culture, dermis, preparation protocols, rats

The effect of three-minute exposure of oxygen plasma on the properties of tin oxide films

Research devoted to the effect of three-minute exposure of oxygen plasma on the properties of tin oxide films investigation. The films were obtained by sol-gel method from five-water tin tetrachloride solution. The concentration of tin ions in the SnCl4/EtOH film-forming system was 0.14 mol/l. The solution system was deposed on the glass substrate by carring out a modified dipping method. Plasma treatment was performed at a pressure of 6.5 Pa and a power of about 20 Watts. The frequency of the oscillations produced by the generator was 27.12 ± 0.6 % MHz as well. The temperature of the samples during processing did not exceed 100 ºC. As a result of the formation of tin oxide (II), the film transmittance decreased after treatment with oxygen plasma. The width of the electric forbidden zone of the obtained samples was calculated, which was 3.95 eV for glass and 3.79 eV for film. The resistance of the films was determined by 10 measurements on different parts of the samples. The film without processing has a resistance of about 4255 ± 1158 kΩ, after processing, the resistance decreased by 25 times and amounted to 167 ± 26 kΩ. A decrease in resistance indicates an increase in the concentration of charge carriers in the sample. The resulting SnO is a semiconductor that lowers the transmittance of the studied films and contributes to reducing their resistance. X-ray structural analysis of the samples was also performed. After processing in oxygen plasma, the intensity of reflection from the (110) plane have increased. It should be noted that the number of planes with (101) indexes has decreased. The study of the sample surface showed the destructive nature of three-minute exposure by oxygen plasma. Keywords: thin films, SnO2, sol-gel method, oxygen plasma treatment, transparency, structure, resist

Status Kerentanan Nyamuk Anopheles spp. terhadap Lambdacyhalothrin 0.05% di Kecamatan Pituruh, Kabupaten Purworejo

Latar belakang: Nyamuk Anopheles spp merupakan vector penyakit Malaria di Kabupaten Purworejo. Selama ini belum dilakukan monitoring status kerentanan nyamuk Anopheles spp di Kabupaten Purworejo. Tujuanpenelitian ini adalah untuk mengukur status kerentanan nyamuk Anopheles spp di Kecamatan Pituruh, Kabupaten Purworejo.Metode: Penelitian ini mengginakan metode Quasi-experiment dengan sample yaitu nyamuk Anopheles spp hasil koloni F1. Pengujian status kerentanan nyamuk dilakukan pada nyamuk betina sejumlah 120 ekor nyamuk Anopheles spp. Pengujian dilakukan pengulangan sebanyak 6 kali, dengan menggunakan 4 tabung uji kerentanan dan 2 tabung control, masing-masing tabung berisi 20 ekor nyamuk. Hasil: Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa rata-rata knock down nyamuk Anopheles spp selama 60 menit paparan adalah 19 per repetisi (92,5%). Setelah holding 24 jam, rata-rata kematian nyamuk Anopheles spp adalah 20 per pengulangan (100%). Kematian nyamuk mencapai 80 nyamuk (100%) pada 12 jam. Pada kelompok kontrol, jumlah kematian nyamuk setelah 24 jam adalah 2 ekor (0,5%).Simpulan: Nyamuk Anopheles spp masih rentan terhadap lambdacyhalothrin, sehingga lambdacyhalothrin masih dapat digunakan sebagai kontrol vektor di Kabupaten PurworejoKata kunci: Anopheles spp, lambdacyhalothrin. Status Kerentanan.ABSTRACT Title: Susceptibility Status of Anopheles spp. to Lambdacyhalothrin 0.05% in Pituruh Subdistrict, Purworejo District.Background: Anopheles spp is a malaria mosquito vector in Purworejo Regency. The monitoring of the susceptibility status of Anopheles spp to insecticides not implemented. The purpose of this study was to determine the susceptibility status of Anopheles spp mosquitoes in Pituruh Subdistrict.Method: The design of this study used quasi-experiment with samples of Anopheles spp mosquitoes as a result of F1 colonization The mosquitoes used for testing are female Anopheles spp mosquitoes. The total number of mosquitoes tested was 120 mosquitoes. Repetition was carried out 6 times with the details of 4 tubes as a treatment and 2 tubes as controls for each tube containing 20 mosquitoes.Result: The results showed that the average knock down of Anopheles spp mosquitoes during the 60-minute exposure was 19 per repetition (92.5%). After a 24-hour holding, the average mortality of Anopheles spp mosquitoes was 20 per repetition (100%). Mosquito deaths reached 80 mosquitoes (100%) at 12 hours. In the control group, the number of mosquito deaths after 24 hours holding was 2 tails (0.5%), so there was no need to make corrections using the Abbots formulaConclusion: Anopheles spp mosquitoes are said to be susceptible to lambdacyhalothrin so lambdacyhalothrin can still be used as vector control in Purworejo RegencyKeywords: Anopheles spp, lambdacyhalothrin. Susceptibility

Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Enhances α1-Adrenergic Vasoconstriction via S1P2–G12/13–ROCK Mediated Signaling

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) has been implicated recently in the physiology and pathology of the cardiovascular system including regulation of vascular tone. Pilot experiments showed that the vasoconstrictor effect of S1P was enhanced markedly in the presence of phenylephrine (PE). Based on this observation, we hypothesized that S1P might modulate α1-adrenergic vasoactivity. In murine aortas, a 20-minute exposure to S1P but not to its vehicle increased the Emax and decreased the EC50 of PE-induced contractions indicating a hyperreactivity to α1-adrenergic stimulation. The potentiating effect of S1P disappeared in S1P2 but not in S1P3 receptor-deficient vessels. In addition, smooth muscle specific conditional deletion of G12/13 proteins or pharmacological inhibition of the Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) by Y-27632 or fasudil abolished the effect of S1P on α1-adrenergic vasoconstriction. Unexpectedly, PE-induced contractions remained enhanced markedly as late as three hours after S1P-exposure in wild-type (WT) and S1P3 KO but not in S1P2 KO vessels. In conclusion, the S1P–S1P2–G12/13–ROCK signaling pathway appears to have a major influence on α1-adrenergic vasoactivity. This cooperativity might lead to sustained vasoconstriction when increased sympathetic tone is accompanied by increased S1P production as it occurs during acute coronary syndrome and stroke.

Effect of intensity of short-wavelength light on electroencephalogram and subjective alertness

Short-wavelength light is known to have an effect on human alertness in the night-time. However, there are very few studies that focus on the effect of intensity of light on alertness. This study evaluates the acute alerting ability of short-wavelength light of three different intensities (40 lux, 80 lux and 160 lux). Eight subjects participated in a 60-minute exposure protocol for four evenings, during which electroencephalogram (EEG) as well as subjective sleepiness data were collected. EEG power in the beta range was significantly higher after subjects were exposed to 160 lux light than after they were exposed to 40 lux, 80 lux light or remained in darkness. Also, the alpha theta power was significantly lower under 160 lux light then in darkness. These results show that the effect of intensity on alertness is not linear and further work should be done to investigate the threshold intensity that is required to produce an alerting effect.