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CompSafeNano project: NanoInformatics approaches for safe-by-design nanomaterials
Full text linkThe CompSafeNano project, a Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) project funded under the European Union's Horizon 2020 program, aims to advance the safety and innovation potential of nanomaterials (NMs) by integrating cutting-edge nanoinformatics, computational modelling, and predictive toxicology to enable design of safer NMs at the earliest stage of materials development. The project leverages Safe-by-Design (SbD) principles to ensure the development of inherently safer NMs, enhancing both regulatory compliance and international collaboration. By building on established nanoinformatics frameworks, such as those developed in the H2020-funded projects NanoSolveIT and NanoCommons, CompSafeNano addresses critical challenges in nanosafety through development and integration of innovative methodologies, including advanced in vitro models, in silico approaches including machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven predictive models and 1st-principles computational modelling of NMs properties, interactions and effects on living systems. Significant progress has been made in generating atomistic and quantum-mechanical descriptors for various NMs, evaluating their interactions with biological systems (from small molecules or metabolites, to proteins, cells, organisms, animals, humans and ecosystems), and in developing predictive models for NMs risk assessment. The CompSafeNano project has also focused on implementing and further standardising data reporting templates and enhancing data management practices, ensuring adherence to the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles. Despite challenges, such as limited regulatory acceptance of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) currently, which has implications for predictive nanosafety assessment, CompSafeNano has successfully developed tools and models that are integral to the safety evaluation of NMs, and that enable the extensive datasets on NMs safety to be utilised for the re-design of NMs that are inherently safer, including through prediction of the acquired biomolecule coronas which provide the biological or environmental identities to NMs, promoting their sustainable use in diverse applications. Future efforts will concentrate on further refining these models, expanding the NanoPharos Database, and working with regulatory stakeholders thereby fostering the widespread adoption of SbD practices across the nanotechnology sector. CompSafeNano's integrative approach, multidisciplinary collaboration and extensive stakeholder engagement, position the project as a critical driver of innovation in NMs SbD methodologies and in the development and implementation of computational nanosafety.publishedVersio
Temporal and cross-sectional associations of serum per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and lipids from 1986 to 2016 − The Tromsø study
No full textIntroduction Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been linked to effects on human lipid profiles, with several epidemiological studies reporting associations between specific PFAS and blood lipid concentrations. However, these associations have been inconsistent, and most studies have focused on cross-sectional analyses with limited repeated measurements. Objective In this study, we investigated associations between serum PFAS concentrations and major blood lipid classes over a 30-year period (1986–2016) and up to five time points. Lipids analyzed included total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG). Methods This study included 145 participants from The Tromsø Study, Norway, who donated plasma samples three to five times over the study period. Linear mixed-effects (LME) models assessed longitudinal associations between PFAS and lipid classes, while multiple linear regression (MLR) models were used for cross-sectional associations. Results LME models demonstrated positive longitudinal associations between perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoDA), and perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) with TC. Additionally, PFOA, PFDA, PFUnDA, PFDoDA, and PFTrDA were associated with LDL-C, and PFUnDA and summed perfluorooctane sulfonate isomers (∑PFOS) with HDL-C. Cross-sectional analyses corroborated positive associations between the six PFAS compounds and TC at least three times, but the LDL-C and HDL-C associations were not confirmed. Summed perfluorooctane sulfonamide isomers (∑PFOSA) showed a negative association with LDL-C longitudinally, but this was not confirmed cross-sectionally. No associations were observed between PFAS and TG, longitudinally or cross-sectionally. Conclusion Concentrations of multiple PFAS were positively associated with blood lipids in longitudinal analyses, with the most consistent associations observed between six PFCA compounds and TC. These findings highlight the need for further investigation into these complex associations.publishedVersio
Are ingredients of personal care products likely to undergo long-range transport to remote regions?
No full textPersonal care products (PCPs) contain contaminants of emerging concern. Despite increasing reports of their presence in polar regions, the behavior of PCP ingredients under cold environmental conditions remains poorly understood. Snow collected around Villum Research Station at Station Nord, Greenland, between December 2018 and June 2019 was extracted in a stainless steel clean-room and analyzed for seven fragrance materials, four organic UV-filters and an antioxidant using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. All twelve target PCPs were detected, with elevated concentrations during two sampling events potentially tied to air mass transport from northern Europe and the northern coasts of Russia. To contextualize the presence of these PCP chemicals in high Arctic snow, we estimated their (i) partitioning properties as a function of temperature, (ii) equilibrium phase distribution and dominant deposition processes in the atmosphere at temperatures above and below freezing, and (iii) potential for long-range environmental transport (LRET). Even though most PCPs are deemed to be gas phase chemicals predominantly deposited as vapors, rapid atmospheric degradation is expected to limit their LRET. On the other hand, the less volatile octocrylene is expected to be sorbed to atmospheric particles, removed via wet and dry particle deposition, and possibly exhibit a higher potential for LRET by being protected from attack by photooxidants. The contrast between consistent detection of PCP chemicals in high Arctic snow and relatively low estimated LRET potential emphasizes the need for further research on their real-world atmospheric behavior under cold conditions.publishedVersio
Measurement of SO2 in the surroundings of Elkem Carbon. Calendar year 2024
No full textPå oppdrag fra Elkem Carbon AS har NILU utført målinger av SO2 i omgivelsene til Elkem Carbon i Kristiansand. Målingene ble utført med SO2-monitor i boligområdet på Fiskåtangen (Konsul Wilds vei). I tillegg ble SO2 målt med passive prøvetakere ved 3 steder rundt bedriften. Rapporten dekker målinger i perioden 1. januar – 31. desember 2024. Norske grenseverdier for luftkvalitet (SO2) ble overholdt ved Konsul Wilds vei for alle midlingsperioder (årsmiddel, vintermiddel, døgnmiddel og timemiddel). To døgnmiddelverdier var over nedre vurderingsterskel (50 μg/m3). Passive luftprøver viste at Fiskåveien, rett sør for bedriften, var det mest belastede stedet i måleperioden.On behalf of Elkem Carbon AS, NILU has carried out measurements of SO2 in the surroundings of Elkem Carbon in Kristiansand. The measurements were performed with an SO2 monitor in the residential area at Fiskåtangen (Konsul Wilds vei). In addition, SO2 was measured with passive samplers at 3 locations around the industry. The report covers measurements in the period 1 Jan. – 31 Dec. 2024. Norwegian limit values for air quality (SO2) were met at Konsul Wilds vei for all averaging periods (annual average, winter average, daily average and hourly average). Two daily averages were above the lower assessment threshold (50 μg/m3). Passive sampling results showed that the highest SO2 levels in the surroundings were found at Fiskåveien, just south of the industrial area.publishedVersio
MusicReco: Interactive Interface Modeling With User-Centered Design in a Music Recommendation System
Full text linkRecommendation technologies are widespread in streaming services, e-commerce, social media, news, and content management. Besides recommendation generation, its presentation is also important. Most research and development focus on the technical aspects of recommendation generation; therefore, a gap exists between recommendation generation and its effective presentation and user interaction. This study focuses on how personalized recommendations can be presented and interacted with in a music recommendation system using interactive visual interfaces. Interactive interface modeling with User-Centered Design (UCD) in a recommendation system is essential for creating a user-friendly, engaging, and personalized experience. By involving users in the recommendation process and considering their feedback, the system can deliver more relevant content, foster user trust, and improve overall user satisfaction and engagement. In this study, the visual interface design and development of a personalized music recommendation prototype (MusicReco) are presented using an iterative UCD approach, involving twenty end-users, one researcher, three academic professionals, and four experts. As the study is more inclined toward the recommendation presentation and visual modeling, we used a standard content-based filtering algorithm on the publicly available Spotify dataset for music recommendation generation. End-users helped to mature the MusicReco prototype to a basic working version through continuous feedback and design inputs on their needs, context, preferences, personalization, and effective visualization. Moreover, MusicReco captures the idea of mood-based tailored recommendations to encourage end-users. Overall, this study demonstrates how UCD can enhance the presentation and interaction of mood-based music recommendations, effectively engaging users with advancements in recommendation algorithms as a future focus.publishedVersio
Legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in eggs of yellow-legged gulls from Southern France
Full text linkMore than 70 years of industrial production of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have resulted in their ubiquitous presence in the environment on a global scale, although differences in sources, transport and fate lead to variability of occurrence in the environment. Gull eggs are excellent bioindicators of environmental pollution, especially for persistent organic pollutants such as PFAS, known to bioaccumulate in organisms and to be deposited in bird eggs by maternal transfer. Using yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) eggs, we investigated the occurrence of more than 30 PFAS, including the most common chemicals (i.e., legacy PFAS) as well as their alternatives (i.e., emerging PFAS) in the Bay of Marseille, the second largest city in France. Compared to eggs from other colonies along the Mediterranean coast, those from Marseille had PFAS concentrations ranging from slightly higher to up to four times lower, suggesting that this area cannot be specifically identified as a hotspot for these compounds. We also found several emerging PFAS including 8:2 and 10:2 FTS, 7:3 FTCA or PFECHS in all collected eggs. Although the scarcity in toxicity thresholds for seabirds, especially during embryogenesis, does not enable any precise statement about the risks faced by this population, this study contributes to the effort in documenting legacy PFAS contamination on Mediterranean coasts while providing valuable novel inputs on PFAS of emerging concern. Identifying exposure in free-ranging species also participate to determine the main target for toxicity testing in wildlife.publishedVersio
Dust in the arctic: a brief review of feedbacks and interactions between climate change, aeolian dust and ecosystems
Full text linkClimatic feedbacks and ecosystem impacts related to dust in the Arctic include direct radiative forcing (absorption and scattering), indirect radiative forcing (via clouds and cryosphere), semi-direct effects of dust on meteorological parameters, effects on atmospheric chemistry, as well as impacts on terrestrial, marine, freshwater, and cryospheric ecosystems. This review discusses our recent understanding on dust emissions and their long-range transport routes, deposition, and ecosystem effects in the Arctic. Furthermore, it demonstrates feedback mechanisms and interactions between climate change, atmospheric dust, and Arctic ecosystems.publishedVersio
A pooled analysis of host factors that affect nucleotide excision repair in humans
Full text linkNucleotide excision repair (NER) is crucial for repairing bulky lesions and crosslinks in DNA caused by exogenous and endogenous genotoxins. The number of studies that have considered DNA repair as a biomarker is limited, and therefore one of the primary objectives of the European COST Action hCOMET (CA15132) was to assemble and analyse a pooled database of studies with data on NER activity. The database comprised 738 individuals, gathered from 5 laboratories that ran population studies using the comet-based in vitro DNA repair assay. NER activity data in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were normalized and correlated with various host-related factors, including sex, age, body mass index (BMI), and smoking habits. This multifaceted analysis uncovered significantly higher NER activity in female participants compared to males (1.08 ± 0.74 vs. 0.92 ± 0.71; P = .002). Higher NER activity was seen in older subjects (>30 years), and the effect of age was most pronounced in the oldest females, particularly those over 70 years (P = .001). Females with a normal BMI (<25 kg/m2) exhibited the highest levels of NER, whereas the lowest NER was observed in overweight males (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2). No independent effect of smoking was found. After stratification by sex and BMI, higher NER was observed in smoking males (P = .017). The biological implication of higher or lower repair capacity remains unclear; the inclusion of DNA repair as a biomarker in molecular epidemiological trials should elucidate the link between health and disease status.publishedVersio
Sb-PiPLU: A Novel Parametric Activation Function for Deep Learning
Full text linkThe choice of activation function—particularly non-linear ones—plays a vital role in enhancing the classification performance of deep neural networks. In recent years, a variety of non-linear activation functions have been proposed. However, many of these suffer from drawbacks that limit the effectiveness of deep learning models. Common issues include the dying neuron problem, bias shift, gradient explosion, and vanishing gradients. To address these challenges, we introduce a new activation function: Softsign-based Piecewise Parametric Linear Unit (Sb-PiPLU). This function offers improved non-linear approximation capabilities for neural networks. Its piecewise, parametric design allows for greater adaptability and flexibility, which in turn enhances overall model performance. We evaluated Sb-PiPLU through a series of image classification experiments across various Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architectures. Additionally, we assessed its memory usage and computational cost, demonstrating that Sb-PiPLU is both stable and efficient in practical applications. Our experimental results show that Sb-PiPLU consistently outperforms conventional activation functions in both classification accuracy and computational efficiency. It achieved higher accuracy on multiple benchmark datasets, including CIFAR-10, CINIC-10, MWD, Brain Tumor, and SVHN, surpassing widely-used functions such as ReLU and Tanh. Due to its flexibility and robustness, Sb-PiPLU is particularly well-suited for complex image classification tasks.publishedVersio
An Introduction to prismAId: Open-Source and Open Science AI for Advancing Information Extraction in Systematic Reviews
Full text linkprismAId is an open-source tool designed to streamline systematic literature reviews by leveraging generative AI models for information extraction. It offers an accessible, efficient, and replicable method for extracting and analyzing data from scientific literature, eliminating the need for coding expertise. Supporting various review protocols, including PRISMA 2020, prismAId is distributed across multiple platforms – Go, Python, Julia, R – and provides user-friendly binaries compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux. The tool integrates with leading large language models (LLMs) such as OpenAI’s GPT series, Google’s Gemini, Cohere’s Command, and Anthropic’s Claude, ensuring comprehensive and up-to-date literature analysis. prismAId facilitates systematic reviews, enabling researchers to conduct thorough, fast, and reproducible analyses, thereby advancing open science initiatives.publishedVersio