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The use of nanomaterials incorporated into plastic products is increasing steadily. By using nano-scaled filling materials, thermoplastics, such as polyethylene (PE), take advantage of the unique properties of nanomaterials (NM). The life cycle of these so-called nanocomposites (NC) usually ends with energetic recovery. However, the toxicity of these aerosols, which may consist of released NM as well as combustion-generated volatile compounds, is not fully understood. Within this study, model nanocomposites consisting of a PE matrix and nano-scaled filling material (TiO2, CuO, carbon nano tubes (CNT)) were produced and subsequently incinerated using a lab-scale model burner. The combustion-generated aerosols were characterized with regard to particle release as well as compound composition. Subsequently, A549 cells and a reconstituted 3D lung cell culture model (MucilAir™, Epithelix) were exposed for 4 h to the respective aerosols. This approach enabled the parallel application of a complete aerosol, an aerosol under conditions of enhanced particle deposition using high voltage, and a filtered aerosol resulting in the sole gaseous phase. After 20 h post-incubation, cytotoxicity, inflammatory response (IL-8), transcriptional toxicity profiling, and genotoxicity were determined. Only the exposure toward combustion aerosols originated from PE-based materials induced cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and transcriptional alterations in both cell models. In contrast, an inflammatory response in A549 cells was more evident after exposure toward aerosols of nano-scaled filler combustion, whereas the thermal decomposition of PE-based materials revealed an impaired IL-8 secretion. MucilAir™ tissue showed a pronounced inflammatory response after exposure to either combustion aerosols, except for nanocomposite combustion. In conclusion, this study supports the present knowledge on the release of nanomaterials after incineration of nano-enabled thermoplastics. Since in the case of PE-based combustion aerosols no major differences were evident between exposure to the complete aerosol and to the gaseous phase, adverse cellular effects could be deduced to the volatile organic compounds that are generated during incomplete combustion of NC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an intermediate stage characterized by cognitive impairment between healthy aging and dementia. Yet, there is not a pharmacological treatment of MCI. Virtual reality (VR)-based CT used for cognitive rehabilitation has a high ecological validity and promising results. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of VR-based CTin MCI. Methods: This study included 6 individuals with MCI. VR-based CT includes two bazaars which consist of real scenes recorded by 360° cameras. VR-based CT has applied for 2 sessions per week a total of 16 sessions for 8 weeks with VR-goggles and joysticks. The sessions were including tasks which aim to improve memory, attention, decision-making and visuospatial abilities. Neuropsychological tests and EEG recordings with an auditory oddball paradigm were applied pre-CT and post-CT. Independent Component Analysis (ICA) were performed to correct ocular artifacts and the remaining artifacts were eliminated automatically. Mean P300 amplitudes for target stimuli were automatically measured from Fz, Cz, Pz electrode locations in the 250-550 ms time window. Results: Wilcoxon Test showed a significant difference in Cz (Z=-1.992, p=0.046) and Pz (Z=-1.992, p=0.046) (Z=-1.992, p=0.046) electrode locations between pre- and post-CT indicating individuals with MCI had higher P300 amplitudes after VR-based CT. Conclusion: It is known that P300 amplitudes are associated with cognitive functions, especiallymemory and attention. The increased P300 amplitudes may relate to improvement in cognitive functions. Further studies should investigate the efficacy of VR-based CT by using a control group and a larger sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Water scarcity is determined for 17 irrigation subdivisions in Pakistan. • Water deprivation index varies from 0.08 to 1.0 m3 deprived /m3 consumed. • Southern areas are up to ten times more water-scare than the northern ones. • The Water Scarcity Footprint of cotton amounts to 1476–2483 m3 deprived per ton. The Water Scarcity Footprint (WSF) serves as a method to estimate the local impacts associated with water consumption in a certain region by considering the volume of water consumed and local water scarcity. Despite the broad application of the WSF on a country and river basin level, the need for further regionalization was recently emphasized by several authors. In this study, water scarcity factors are calculated on high spatio-temporal resolution for 17 irrigation subdivisions located in Punjab, Pakistan on a monthly level based on the WAVE + method using data provided by the hydrological model SWAT and hydraulic model Feflow. The calculated "water deprivation indices" (WDIs) are applied to quantify the WSF of cotton and wheat produced in the study area and compared to the WSFs obtained by using existing WDIs with lower spatial and temporal resolution. The calculated WDIs show a high variability in water scarcity throughout the year from 0.1 to 1.0 m3 deprived /m3 consumed. The production weighted average WSF of cotton calculated with the regionalized WDIs amounts to 2333 m3 deprived per ton, whilst the cotton produced in the south of the study area has a twice as high WSF as the cotton from the northern irrigation subdivisions. The result calculated based on the high resolution WDIs is more than 60% higher than the WSF calculated with the WDIs on the basin level. The regionalized WSF of wheat amounts to 1821 m3 deprived per ton, which aligns with the WSF calculated with the basin specific WDIs. The study underlines the need for water scarcity factors on high spatial (e.g. irrigation subdivision) and temporal (monthly) resolution to provide robust WSF results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B Background: b Transcriptomics and candidate gene/protein expression studies have indicated several biological processes modulated by methylphenidate (MPH), widely used in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatment. However, the lack of a differential proteomic profiling of MPH treatment limits the understanding of the most relevant mechanisms by which MPH exerts its pharmacological effects at the molecular level. After functional enrichment analysis of the differentially expressed proteins in rats, the significant biological pathways were tested for association with MPH response in adults with ADHD using genome-wide data. [Extracted from the article]