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Background and objectives The impact of death by suicide represents an important public health issue. The current study reports data relating depressive symptoms and psychological well-being to exposure to suicide in the family. Methods A final Portuguese community sample of 266 participants answered a protocol presented on a Google platform. Two groups were defined: a suicide exposure group (n = 45) and a control group (n = 210) who responded to the Echelle de Mesure des Manifestations du Bien-Etre Psychologique (Psychological Well-being Manifestation Measure Scale) and to the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Scale to access psychological well-being and depressive symptoms, respectively. Results Groups differ significantly on psychological well-being, even when contorting for unemployment and having physical disease, differed on depressive symptoms and tended to differ on depressive symptoms when contorting for unemployment and chronic physical disease. Conclusion Based on results, we suggest that therapeutic interventions should focus not only on reducing depressive symptoms in exposed individuals, but as well as promoting well-being. Limitations include the size of the sample and the cross-sectional nature of the design.

The evolution of the analytical techniques allowed the detection of pollutants so called contaminants of emerging concern (CEC). Water scarcity is a reality lived by some populations. Thus, water reuse is mandatory to minimize this problematic. This implies that wastewater treatments must be improved. The Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP) such as photocatalysis and ozonation can be suitable solutions for CECs abatement. Also, TiO2 powder catalyst is an important material in this field. However, its powder form presents a huge obstacle for industrial application, and the solution may be to support this material. This work studies the degradation of a mixture of 3 parabens by photocatalysis, catalytic and photocatalytic ozonation using TiO2 nanotube arrays (NTs). The studied catalysts were produced using electrolyte solutions with different ages, so the nanotubes growth ocurred at 5 (NTs_5) and 20 (NTs_20) anodization cycles. The toxicological assessment for the initial mixture, final samples and along the reaction time was performed using the cress seeds Lepidium sativum and the bacteria Aliivibrio fischeri. The photocatalysis with UVA radiation led to 50 % and 35 % parabens removal for NTs_5 and NTs_20 catalysts. This can be related to the different dimensional characteristics of the nanotubes. Ozone technologies led to total parabens degradation with an improvement when catalytic ozonation was applied. The use of NTs as catalysts in ozonation also reduced the transferred ozone dose (TOD) required for total parabens abatement when compared to single ozonation. The main parabens degradation mechanism seems to be via direct pathway by molecular ozone. Regarding the toxicity assessment, the toxicity did not change significatively, which can be explained by the intermediate’s formation.

Hypothesis The selective permeation of molecules and nanomedicines across the diseased vasculature dictates the success of a therapeutic intervention. Yet, in vitro assays cannot recapitulate relevant differences between the physiological and pathological microvasculature. Here, a double-channel microfluidic device was engineered to comprise vascular and extravascular compartments connected through a micropillar membrane with tunable permeability. Experiments The vascular compartment was coated by endothelial cells to achieve permeability values ranging from ~0.1 μm/sec, following a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) pre-treatment (25 μg/mL), up to ~2 μm/sec, upon exposure to Mannitol, Lexiscan or in the absence of cells. Fluorescent microscopy was used to monitor the vascular behavior of 250 kDa Dextran molecules, 200 nm polystyrene nanoparticles (PB), and 1,000 × 400 nm discoidal polymeric nanoconstructs (DPN), under different permeability and flow conditions. Findings In the proposed on-chip microvasculature, it was confirmed that permeation enhancers could favor the perivascular accumulation of ~200 nm, in a dose and time dependent fashion, while have no effect on larger particles. Moreover, the microfluidic device was used to interrogate the role of particle deformability in vascular dynamics. In the presence of a continuous endothelium, soft DPN attached to the vasculature more avidly at sub-physiological flows (100 μm/sec) than rigid DPN, whose deposition was larger at higher flow rates (1 mm/sec). The proposed double-channel microfluidic device can be efficiently used to systematically analyze the vascular behavior of drug delivery systems to enhance their tissue specific accumulation.

This study evaluated the contribution of psychological pain to self-harming behaviours, controlling for several co-variables. A convenience sample of 207 U.S. residents provided socio-demographic and clinical information and responded to the Psychache Scale. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that when controlling for the significant co-variables of drug use and having a psychiatric diagnosis, psychological pain provided a significant contribution in predicting self-harming behaviours. Psychological pain also correlated with the frequency of self-harming behaviours, controlling for significant co-variables. We conclude that, when clinicians collect life history and assess relevant risk factors for self-harming behaviours, it is also important to assess psychological pain.

The ubiquitous presence of CBZ, SMX and LRZ in water is a subject of increasing concern. This study represents a new approach in terms of these contaminants’ removal through Fenton process in three different ways, employing a solid catalyst, RM, which, alone, is a source of Fe3＋ just as much is a source of environmental problems. Alongside RM, 100 mg/L of H2O2 were utilized as the initial solution’s pH remained unaltered. It was observed that, at these operating conditions, an appreciable degradation rate of contaminants was achieved. Solar photo-Fenton under visible light radiation led the way by attaining more than 50% removal for all three contaminants, reaching its peak when degrading around 62% of LRZ initially present. Therefore, RM, a residue from the alumina industry, seems to be a promising choice in terms of CECs degradation through Fenton process. Nevertheless, some parameters still need optimization, in order to achieve a better understanding and certainty of this oxidation process’ skilfulness for detoxifying CECs from the world’s water resources. Keywords: Decontamination, Fenton process, Pharmaceuticals, Red mud, Sunlight radiation, Waste management

Self-organized TiO 2 nanotubes as immobilized photocatalysts were evaluated in detail for the photocatalytic degradation of parabens mixtures from ultrapure water. This kind of approach can be a very suitable option for emerging contaminants degradation considering the possibility of the catalyst reuse and recovery which will be simpler than when catalytic powders are used. The anodization method was applied for the TiO 2 nanotubes production under different preparation voltages (20, 30 and 40 V). These preparation conditions are important on the morphological characteristics of nanotubes such as length, as well as internal and external diameters. The photocatalytic efficiency was dependent on the materials preparation voltages. The photocatalytic oxidation was evaluated using two different irradiation sources, namely UVA and sunlight. These irradiation sources were evaluated for parabens mixture degradation using different number of catalytic plates. The increase of the number of plates improved the parabens degradation possibly due to the availability of more active sites which can be relevant for the hydroxyl radical's generation. The effect of the reactor design was also evaluated using sunlight irradiation. The configuration, position and solar concentrators can be important for the performance of degradation. The mechanism of degradation was analysed through by-products formation under sunlight irradiation. The main responsible for parabens degradation was hydroxyl radical. Decarboxylation, dealkylation and hydroxylation seem to be the most important reactional steps for the mixture decontamination.

The deep peribiliary glands (DPBG) are a niche of progenitor cells in the wall of the biliary duct (BD) and are the second line of multiplication when severe lesion of the epithelium occurs. Previous studies have identified DPBG injury as a cause of post-liver transplant (LT) biliary stenosis; this complication is a major cause of post-LT morbidity. The incidence of biliary stenosis in our center is high (38.1%). This study evaluates the lesion of DPBG in response to ischemia. Graft BD was collected in adult LT between August 2016-July 2017, from donation after brain death. Samples of 45 grafts were collected at 2 moments: BD1-during graft preparation and BD2-before biliary anastomosis. Histological analysis of the samples was performed and then classified according to degree of lesion (0, ≤50%, and >50%). A comparison was made between the degree of lesion and graft ischemia, graft histology, donor, and procurement variables. The DPBG lesion was more frequent in BD2 (20.9% vs 7%, P = .079). BD2 lesions with DPBG lesions had higher medians and means at all times of ischemia. The difference was greater in the warm ischemia time (0: 43.3 ± 12.53 minutes vs ≤50%: 52.4 ± 14.38 minutes, P = .068). The group of BD1 with DPBG lesion presented superior median cold ischemia time (CIT). In the analysis of the remaining variables there were also no statistically significant differences. We concluded that during the period of CIT there is already lesion of the DPBG, which increases after reperfusion of the graft, in greater association with longer warm ischemia time.

Parabens are widely used as antimicrobial and preservative ingredients in pharmaceutical and personal care products. Nevertheless, these compounds have been increasingly seen as emerging contaminants that can be toxic to a wide range of species. In this study, the toxic effect of a mixture of parabens (10 mg/L of each paraben: methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, benzyl- and butylparaben) and its degradation products through single and catalytic ozonation (using volcanic rock as low-cost catalyst) was investigated over several non-target species: cladocerans, microalgae, clams, macrophytes and cress. The analysis of the toxicity of parabens mixture is relevant since usually these compounds are used as blends rather than individually. While parabens were totally removed both by single and catalytic ozonation the toxicity of the samples resulting from both treatments was generally high. This toxicity was still compared to the one obtained for several dilutions of the initial parabens mixture and it was concluded that the by-products formed are more toxic than the most diluted parabens mixture sample (0.625 mg/L). While catalytic ozonation allows reducing the amount of ozone (about 3-fold) required for total removal of parabens, the resulting treated solution was more toxic than the sample taken at the endpoint of the single ozonation treatment. This suggests that the highest amount of ozone used for single ozonation allowed the elimination of toxic by-products such as hydroquinone and 1,4-benzoquinone. Still, the effect of by-products and parabens interaction depends on the species analyzed due to their different tolerances to potentially toxic products.

Parabens are widely used as antimicrobial and preservative in pharmaceutical and personal products. Their presence has been detected in rivers and wastewater treatment plants. Photocatalytic ozonation process using a low amount of 0.1 wt% Ag-TiO2 proved to be efficient on the degradation of a mixture of five parabens using a low transferred ozone dose (TOD). The pH effect was analyzed under acidic and neutral conditions. Also, the effect of hydroxyl radical scavenger on parabens degradation and on by-products formation was discussed. Hydroxyl radical present a significant role over parabens degradation and also on by-products formation. The reaction mechanism was analyzed using municipal wastewater as a matrix to infer about the behavior of the process at actual conditions. Municipal wastewater as a matrix clearly enhanced the parabens degradation when compared with the case where ultrapure water was used. In fact, the TOD required for total parabens degradation is lowered 10–20 mg/L of TOD. Therefore, to understand the main responsible species for this improvement, the effects of several ions naturally present in wastewater (HCO3−, Cl− and SO42−) were tested. According to the results it seems that sulfate radical improves the process, while chloride and bicarbonate radicals decrease the process efficiency. In terms of toxicity the luminescence inhibition for Vibrio fischeri was analyzed. The inhibition significantly decreased for treated spiked municipal wastewater.

OWT (Offshore Wind Turbine) support structures are exposed to harsh ocean environment with significant uncertainties in soil properties and environmental loads. Reliability assessment of OWT support structures taking into account those uncertainties is crucial in the development of more cost-effective OWT support structures. This paper presents a state-of-the-art reliability assessment of OWT support structures, providing a comprehensive review on the structural reliability, reliability-based calibration of codes, fatigue reliability and the implementation of reliability assessment. The current and future developments of reliability assessment of OWT support structures, such as reliability-based design optimisation, multi-hazard reliability analysis and risk-based inspection, are also presented. This paper has been written for both 1) researchers new to this research area through providing a comprehensive review on the latest research and summarising underlying theory; and 2) experts in this research area through presenting a comprehensive list of relevant references where the details of analysis methods can be acquired.

Using employer-employee level data linked to individual health records, we document that the incidence of stress, anxiety, depression, psychiatric medication usage, and even suicide increase following acquisitions. These effects are prevalent among employees from both targets and acquirers, in weak as well as in growing, profitable firms. Employees who experience negative career developments within the merging firms, 'blue-collar' workers, and employees with lower cognitive and non-cognitive skills are most affected. A variety of tests address endogeneity concerns, including an analysis exploiting failed mergers. Our findings point to mental illness as a significant non-pecuniary cost of acquisitions.