Resistance of Nile tilapia fed with Padina boergesenii extract to Pseudomonas putida infection.

The aim of this research was to estimate the immunopotentiation effect of brown algae Padina boergesenii water extract on Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus through resistance to Pseudomonas putida infection. Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry was utilized to characterize the seaweed phytoconstituents. One hundred and twenty-six fish were divided in triplicates into two equal groups corresponding to two diet variants that used to feed Nile tilapia for 20 successive days: a basal (control), and P. boergesenii water extract supplemented group. Fish samples were collected at 10-days intervals throughout the experiment. Serum biochemical constituents, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and some immune related genes expression of the spleen and intestinal tissues of experimental fish were studied, as well as histological examination of fish immune tissues. Moreover, following 20 days of feeding, the susceptibility of Nile tilapia to P. putida infection was evaluated to assess the protective effect of the used extract. The findings indicated that the studied parameters were significantly increased, and the best immune response profiles were observed in fish fed P. boergesenii water extract for 20 successive days. A bacterial challenge experiment using P. putida resulted in higher survival within the supplemented fish group than the control. Thus, the lowered post-challenge mortality of the fish may be related to the protection provided by the stimulation of the innate immune system, reduced oxidative stress by higher activity of TAC, and elevated levels of expression of iterleukin-1beta (IL-1ß), beta-defensin (ß-defensin), and natural killer-lysin (NKl). Moreover, the constituents of the extract used showed potential protective activity for histological features of the supplemented fish group when compared to the control. Collectively, this study presents a great insight on the protective role of P. boergesenii water extract as an additive in Nile tilapia feed which suggests its potential for improving the immune response against P. putida infection.

Pontederia crassipes utilization for dual phytoremediation and adsorption in greywater treatment: a techno-economic and sustainable approach.

While phytoremediation has been widely employed for greywater treatment, this system suffers from the transfer of considerable amounts of surfactants to the aquatic environment through partially treated effluent and/or exhausted plant disposal. Hence, this study focuses on greywater phytoremediation followed by recycling the spent plant for preparing an adsorbent material used as post-treatment. P. crassipes was used to operate a phytoremediation unit under 23 °C, 60% relative humidity, plant density (5-30 g/L), dilution (0-50%), pH (4-10), and retention time (3-15 days). The optimum condition was 12.7 g/L density, 34.0% dilution, pH 8.4, and 13 days, giving chemical oxygen demand (COD), surfactant, and NH4-N removal efficiencies of 94.62%, 90.45%, and 88.09%, respectively. The exhausted plant was then thermally treated at 550 °C and 40 min to obtain biochar used as adsorbent to treat the phytoremediation effluent. The optimum adsorption process was biochar dosage of 1.51 g/L, pH of 2.1, and 137 min, providing a surfactant removal efficiency of 92.56%. The final discharge of this phytoremediation/adsorption combined process contained 8.30 mg/L COD, 0.23 mg/L surfactant, and 0.94 mg/L NH4+-N. Interestingly, this approach could be economically feasible with a payback period of 6.5 years, 14 USD net present value, and 8.6% internal rate of return.

The research succeeded in treating greywater by phytoremediation followed by recycling the exhausted P. crassipes plant to prepare an adsorbent material used in the post-treatment phase, giving an economically feasible scenario with 6.5-year payback period.

Dual phytoremediation and biochar production by Eichhornia crassipes in hydroponic system receiving different 1,4-dioxane dosages.

This study focuses on applying phytoremediation as a low-effective and simple process to treat wastewater laden with 1,4 dioxane (DIOX). A floating macrophyte (Eichhornia crassipes) was cultivated under hydroponic conditions (relative humidity 50-67%, photoperiod cycle 18:6 h light/dark, and 28-33 °C) and subjected to different DIOX loads between 0.0 (control) and 11.5 mg/g fresh mass (FM). The aquatic plant achieved DIOX and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies of 76-96% and 67-94%, respectively, within 15 days. E. crassipes could tolerate elevated DIOX-associated stresses until a dose of 8.2 mg DIOX/g, which highly influenced the oxidative defense system. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and total phenolic compounds (TPC) increased by 7.3, 8.4, and 4.5-times, respectively, in response to operating the phytoremediation unit at a DIOX load of 11.5 mg/g. The associated succulent value, proteins, chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, and pigments dropped by 39.6%, 45.8%, 51.5%, 80.8%, and 55.5%, respectively. The suggested removal mechanism of DIOX by E. crassipes could be uptake followed by phytovolatilization, whereas direct photodegradation from sunlight contributed to about 19.36% of the total DIOX removal efficiencies. Recycling the exhausted E. crassipes for biochar production was a cost-efficient strategy, making the payback period of the phytoremediation project equals to 6.96 yr.

Eichhornia crassipes could be used in phytoremediation of 1,4 dioxane (DIOX)-laden water at DIOX load< 8.2 mg/g FM. E. crassipes removed 77­97% DIOX via uptake and phytovolatilization. Recycling exhausted-plant to produce biochar was cost-efficient with 7 yr-payback period.

Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the water environment: A review on toxicity, microbial biodegradation, systematic biological advancements, and environmental fate.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are considered a major class of organic contaminants or pollutants, which are poisonous, mutagenic, genotoxic, and/or carcinogenic. Due to their ubiquitous occurrence and recalcitrance, PAHs-related pollution possesses significant public health and environmental concerns. Increasing the understanding of PAHs' negative impacts on ecosystems and human health has encouraged more researchers to focus on eliminating these pollutants from the environment. Nutrients available in the aqueous phase, the amount and type of microbes in the culture, and the PAHs' nature and molecular characteristics are the common factors influencing the microbial breakdown of PAHs. In recent decades, microbial community analyses, biochemical pathways, enzyme systems, gene organization, and genetic regulation related to PAH degradation have been intensively researched. Although xenobiotic-degrading microbes have a lot of potential for restoring the damaged ecosystems in a cost-effective and efficient manner, their role and strength to eliminate the refractory PAH compounds using innovative technologies are still to be explored. Recent analytical biochemistry and genetically engineered technologies have aided in improving the effectiveness of PAHs' breakdown by microorganisms, creating and developing advanced bioremediation techniques. Optimizing the key characteristics like the adsorption, bioavailability, and mass transfer of PAH boosts the microorganisms' bioremediation performance, especially in the natural aquatic water bodies. This review's primary goal is to provide an understanding of recent information about how PAHs are degraded and/or transformed in the aquatic environment by halophilic archaea, bacteria, algae, and fungi. Furthermore, the removal mechanisms of PAH in the marine/aquatic environment are discussed in terms of the recent systemic advancements in microbial degradation methodologies. The review outputs would assist in facilitating the development of new insights into PAH bioremediation.

Synergistic effects of paper mill sludge and sulfonated graphene catalyst for maximizing bio-hydrogen harvesting from sugarcane bagasse de-polymerization.

In this study, hydrogen harvesting from fermentation of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) was promoted by maintaining synergism between sulfonated graphene (SGR) catalyst and paper mill sludge (PMS). The sulfonic acid (-SO3H) groups in the catalyst played a major role in destructing the ß-1,4 glycosidic bonds of sugarcane bagasse, releasing readily biodegradable sugars into the fermentation medium. The cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin conversion efficiency were improved by 127.5%, 495.0%, and 109.2%, respectively with 20 mgSGR/gVS catalyst addition, compared with the control samples. These values were also higher than those obtained by non-sulfonated graphene catalyst. The hydrogenation of sugarcane bagasse was maximized at a sulfonated graphene catalyst dosage of 60 mgSGR/gVS, providing the highest hydrogen harvesting of 4104 ± 321 mL. This was associated with an increase of the Proteobacteria phyla up to 52.0%, Firmicutes phyla to 13.9%, and Acinetobacter sp. to 39.8% compared with only 37.0%, 11.3% and 11.1% in the control assay respectively. Moreover, sulfonated graphene catalyst supplementation promoted the acetate fermentation reaction pathway by increasing the acetate/butyrate ratio up to 4.1. Nevertheless, elevating the catalyst dosage up to 120 mgSGR/gVS reduced the hydrogen harvesting (1190 ± 92 mL) due to the release of furfural (1.76 ± 0.02 g/L) in the fermentation cultures, deteriorating the microbes' internal composition and metabolism bioactivities. Finally maximizing the hydrogen productivity from sugarcane bagasse is feasible by incorporation of paper mill sludge and sulfonated graphene catalyst at dosage not exceeding 60 mgSGR/gVS. However, investigating the recyclability and disposal of digestate containing sulfonated graphene catalyst and the associated economic feasibility needs more attention in the future.

Treatment of hazardous landfill leachate containing 1,4 dioxane by biochar-based photocatalysts in a solar photo-oxidation reactor.

This study investigates a combined photocatalytic and adsorption system to maximize the removal of 1,4 dioxane from hazardous landfill leachate (HLL). The production of transformation products was also investigated to obtain a comprehensive evaluation of the treatment system. Copper/iron doped zinc oxide (Cu-Fe-ZnO) was introduced to biochar to form a hybrid materials and used to treat HLL contaminated with 1,4 dioxane of 355.0 ± 11.7 mg/L. The Cu-Fe-ZnO/biochar removed 93.1 ± 8.7% of 1,4 dioxane at a dose of 0.6 g/L within 90 min, as compared with only 42.7 ± 3.3% by 1.2 g/L of bare biochar within 210 min. The Cu-Fe-ZnO/biochar degraded 1,4 dioxane into ethylene glycol, glycolic acid, and formic acid. The 1,4 dioxane removal mechanisms were investigated using the density functional theory, demonstrating that doping of ZnO with metal atoms (Cu-Fe) narrowed the bandgap from 3.307 eV to 2.736 eV. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of ZnO was also supported by the role of biochar in increasing the reactive species and adsorbing the pollutant molecules. The high degradation efficiency of 1,4 dioxane using small catalyst doses with short reaction times would reduce the treatment cost and improve the system's applicability for treating HLL and industrial effluents.

Topological analysis of the gp41 MPER on lipid bilayers relevant to the metastable HIV-1 envelope prefusion state.

The membrane proximal external region (MPER) of HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (gp) 41 is an attractive vaccine target for elicitation of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) by vaccination. However, current details regarding the quaternary structural organization of the MPER within the native prefusion trimer [(gp120/41)3] are elusive and even contradictory, hindering rational MPER immunogen design. To better understand the structural topology of the MPER on the lipid bilayer, the adjacent transmembrane domain (TMD) was appended (MPER-TMD) and studied. Membrane insertion of the MPER-TMD was sensitive both to the TMD sequence and cytoplasmic residues. Antigen binding of MPER-specific bNAbs, in particular 10E8 and DH511.2_K3, was significantly impacted by the presence of the TMD. Furthermore, MPER-TMD assembly into 10-nm diameter nanodiscs revealed a heterogeneous membrane array comprised largely of monomers and dimers, as enumerated by bNAb Fab binding using single-particle electron microscopy analysis, arguing against preferential trimeric association of native MPER and TMD protein segments. Moreover, introduction of isoleucine mutations in the C-terminal heptad repeat to induce an extended MPER α-helical bundle structure yielded an antigenicity profile of cell surface-arrayed Env variants inconsistent with that found in the native prefusion state. In line with these observations, electron paramagnetic resonance analysis suggested that 10E8 inhibits viral membrane fusion by lifting the MPER N-terminal region out of the viral membrane, mandating the exposure of residues that would be occluded by MPER trimerization. Collectively, our data suggest that the MPER is not a stable trimer, but rather a dynamic segment adapted for structural changes accompanying fusion.

Phytomanagement of textile wastewater for dual biogas and biochar production: A techno-economic and sustainable approach.

Phytoremediation has been widely employed for industrial effluent treatment due to its cost-effectiveness and eco-friendliness. However, this process generates large amounts of exhausted plant biomass, requiring appropriate management strategies to avoid further environmental pollution. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to address the recyclability of water hyacinth after textile wastewater (TWW) phytoremediation for dual biogas and biochar production. A hydroponic culture system was occupied by 163 g (plant mass) per L (TWW) and operated under 16:8 h light:dark cycle (sunlight), 70-80% relative humidity, and 22-25 °C temperature. This water hyacinth-based system achieved chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), and dye removal efficiencies of 58.60 ± 2.63%, 35.27 ± 1.65%, and 38.49 ± 2.24%, respectively, at a TWW fraction of 100 %v/v. The plant characterization study revealed that phytoabsorption and phytoextraction could be the main mechanisms involved in TWW pollution reduction. The lignin and hemicellulose of water hyacinth were slightly degraded during phytoremediation, making the cellulose fibers simply accessible to enzymes' attack in the subsequent anaerobic digestion process. This hypothesis was validated by increasing the crystallinity index from 50.13% to 60.21% during TWW phytoremediation. The spent plant was cleaned and then co-digested (37 °C) with cow dung at 1:1 (w/w, dry basis) for bioenergy production. The generated biogas was 162.78 ± 8.34 mL CH4/g COD (i.e., 225.63 ± 11.36 mL CH4/g volatile solids), representing about 490% higher than the utilization of raw water hyacinth in a mono-digestion process. The pyrolysis of digestate-containing plant residues yielded biochar with concentrated cationic macroelements (K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+). The economic feasibility of the phytoremediation/co-digestion/pyrolysis combined system showed an initial investment of 2090 USD and a payback period of 9.08 yr. Because the project succeeded in recovering the cost of its initial investment, it could fulfill the targets of several sustainable development goals related to economic profitability, social acceptance, and environmental protection.

Covalently circularized nanodiscs for studying membrane proteins and viral entry.

We engineered covalently circularized nanodiscs (cNDs) which, compared with standard nanodiscs, exhibit enhanced stability, defined diameter sizes and tunable shapes. Reconstitution into cNDs enhanced the quality of nuclear magnetic resonance spectra for both VDAC-1, a ß-barrel membrane protein, and the G-protein-coupled receptor NTR1, an α-helical membrane protein. In addition, we used cNDs to visualize how simple, nonenveloped viruses translocate their genomes across membranes to initiate infection.

Impact of sludge bulking on receiving environment using quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA)-based management for full-scale wastewater treatment plants.

During sludge bulking in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), high amounts of potentially pathogenic bacteria would release into the environment, causing various human-health risks. This is the first study attempting to assess the microbial infections associated with the reuse of WWTP effluents under various bulking conditions. Three common waterborne pathogens, viz., E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and Mycobacterium, were quantified from full-scale WWTPs using DNA extraction and qPCR at different sludge volume indices (SVIs). The detected pathogens were incorporated into a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) model to determine the applicability of WWTP discharge for recreational (bathing) activities and agricultural practices. The QMRA exposures were children, women, and men during swimming, and farmers and vegetable consumers during irrigation. Bacterial abundance in the treated wastewater increased in response to SVIs, and the QMRA values at all bulking events exceeded the tolerable risk of one case of infection per 10,000 people per year. Hence, various disinfection scenarios (chlorination, ultraviolet, and ozonation) were hypothetically tested to control the risks associated with pathogenic bacteria, allowing for safe disposal and reuse of the treated effluent. The ultraviolet application provided the highest ability to inactivate the pathogenic bacteria, except for the case of children exposed to Salmonella infection during swimming. The reduction of Mycobacterium infection risks with either chlorination or ozonation showed inefficient results. This study would be helpful for the management of human health risks associated with effluent wastewater containing pathogens, i.e., particularly concerning the case of sludge bulking.

Techno-economic and environmental approaches of Cd2+ adsorption by olive leaves (Olea europaea L.) waste.

In this study, the techno-economic approach of olive leaves (Olea europaea L.) wastes for the removal of Cd2+ from aqueous solutions was demonstrated. The adsorption process was illustrated regarding batch experiments and scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, and Fourier-transform infrared characterization. The optimum pH and contact time were 6.6 and 123 min, respectively, giving Cd2+ removal efficiencies of 94.9% at Co = 50 mg/L and 81.5% at Co = 100 mg/L. The monolayer adsorption capacity of the Langmuir isotherm model was 32.6 mg/g (R2 = 0.97). The adsorption mechanisms might be related to (a) ion exchange with cations (e.g., K+, Na+, and Ca2+), (b) formation of cadmium chloride complexes, (c) interaction with oxygen-containing functional groups, (d) physical agglomeration in the pore surface, and (e) precipitation interaction using inorganic minerals (i.e., carbonates, phosphates, and silicates). The total cost of the adsorption process for the treatment of ions-containing wastewater was 0.038 $USD/m3. Assuming a benefit-cost of tertiary treated water as 0.044 $USD/m3, the adsorption system could attain a payback period of 5.7 years. This period was shorter than the lifetime of the capital investment (i.e., 10 years), and hence, the project would be economically feasible for an application.

Techno-economic estimation of wastewater phycoremediation and environmental benefits using Scenedesmus obliquus microalgae.

This study investigated the dual application of Scenedesmus obliquus for wastewater phycoremediation and biochemical component accumulation in microalgal cells. The microalgae grown in wastewater showed micro-elements uptake and removal efficiencies of 71.2 ±â€¯3.5% COD, 81.9 ±â€¯3.8% NH4+, ∼100.0% NO3-, and 94.1 ±â€¯4.7% PO43-. The growth profile of Scenedesmus obliquus indicated a specific growth rate of 0.42 ±â€¯0.02 1·d-1 and carrying capacity of 0.88 ±â€¯0.04 g L-1. The lipid, protein, and carbohydrate yields (w·w-1 of dry weight) were 26.5 ±â€¯1.5%, 28.5 ±â€¯1.5%, and 27.5 ±â€¯1.6%, respectively. The de-oiled biomass was subjected to biochemical extraction, achieving protein and carbohydrate yields of 25.3 ±â€¯1.4% and 21.4 ±â€¯1.2%, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed several functional groups (e.g., NH, CH3, CH2, CO, CN, PO, and SiO) on the biomass surface, confirming the accumulation of biochemical elements in microalgae. The thermal analysis of microalgal biomass depicted sequential stages of dehydration (60-190 °C), devolatilization (200-490 °C), and solid residue decomposition (490-600 °C). The cost-benefit analysis of microalgae cultivated in wastewater was derived regarding amortization and operating costs and energy and environmental benefits. The net profit of phycoremediation was 16885 US$·y-1, resulting in a payback period of 14.8 years (i.e., shorter than the project lifetime). Accordingly, the proposed phycoremediation process was economically viable.

Comprehensive evaluation of water quality status for entire stretch of Yamuna River, India.

This study represented the first comprehensive assessment of the physicochemical water quality status of the entire Yamuna River stretch in India. The upper zone had "excellent-to-good" water quality index (WQI) with mean 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) values of 2.1 and 2.4 mg/L during monsoon and non-monsoon, respectively. The middle region was described by "poor-to-marginal" WQI with average BOD5 values of 13.1 mg/L (monsoon) and 32.3 mg/L (non-monsoon). The low WQI observations at the midstream region were due to the negative impact of two major drains, namely Najafgarh and Shahdara, that carry partially treated effluents from industrial units. Further, BOD5 decreased to 1.9 mg/L (monsoon) and 1.8 mg/L (non-monsoon) in the lower zone, and the WQI values improved to "good" and "excellent". The dilution and depuration effects of the Chambal, Sindh, Betwa, and Ken Rivers recovered the environmental conditions in downstream stations. The oxygen sag curve complied with the water quality status along the river stretch. Based on the principal component analysis, the Yamuna River was strongly influenced by dissolved mineral salts originating from atmospheric deposition, weathering of soils and rocks, and application of deicing chemicals and landfills. Moreover, organic and nutrient substances and biological activities resulting from the discharge of sewage, and the utilization of fertilizers in agriculture, were the second contributors to pollution. The statistical techniques employed in this work could be beneficial for decision-makers (government and stakeholders) to identify the pollution sources/factors and to determine the viability of water bodies for domestic applications.

DNA-Corralled Nanodiscs for the Structural and Functional Characterization of Membrane Proteins and Viral Entry.

Here we present a modular method for manufacturing large-sized nanodiscs using DNA-origami barrels as scaffolding corrals. Large-sized nanodiscs can be produced by first decorating the inside of DNA barrels with small lipid-bilayer nanodiscs, which open up when adding extra lipid to form large nanodiscs of diameters ∼45 or ∼70 nm as prescribed by the enclosing barrel dimension. Densely packed membrane protein arrays are then reconstituted within these large nanodiscs for potential structure determination. Furthermore, we demonstrate the potential of these nanodiscs as model membranes to study poliovirus entry.

Regression model, artificial neural network, and cost estimation for biosorption of Ni(II)-ions from aqueous solutions by Potamogeton pectinatus.

This study investigated the application of Potamogeton pectinatus for Ni(II)-ions biosorption from aqueous solutions. FTIR spectra showed that the functional groups of -OH, C-H, -C = O, and -COO- could form an organometallic complex with Ni(II)-ions on the biomaterial surface. SEM/EDX analysis indicated that the voids on the biosorbent surface were blocked due to Ni(II)-ions uptake via an ion exchange mechanism. For Ni(II)-ions of 50 mg/L, the adsorption efficiency recorded 63.4% at pH: 5, biosorbent dosage: 10 g/L, and particle-diameter: 0.125-0.25 mm within 180 minutes. A quadratic model depicted that the plot of removal efficiency against pH or contact time caused quadratic-linear concave up curves, whereas the curve of initial Ni(II)-ions was quadratic-linear convex down. Artificial neural network with a structure of 5 - 6 - 1 was able to predict the adsorption efficiency (R2: 0.967). The relative importance of inputs was: initial Ni(II)-ions > pH > contact time > biosorbent dosage > particle-size. Freundlich isotherm described well the adsorption mechanism (R2: 0.974), which indicated a multilayer adsorption onto energetically heterogeneous surfaces. The net cost of using P. pectinatus for the removal of Ni(II)-ions (4.25 ± 1.26 mg/L) from real industrial effluents within 30 minutes was 3.4 $USD/m3.

Zero-valent iron nanoparticles for methylene blue removal from aqueous solutions and textile wastewater treatment, with cost estimation.

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) particles were investigated for the removal of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions and the treatment of textile industry effluents. The nZVI material was characterized by XRD, TEM, EDS, FTIR, and SEM. It was demonstrated that several functional groups such as C-H, C = C, C-C, and C-O contributed to MB reduction. At initial MB concentration of 70 mg/L, the optimum pH was 6, achieving a removal efficiency of 72.1% using an nZVI dosage of 10 g/L, stirring rate of 150 rpm, and temperature of 30 °C within 30 min. The adsorption isotherm was described by the Langmuir model with monolayer coverage of 5.53 mg/g, and the Freundlich equation with multilayer adsorption capacity of 1.59 (mg/g)·(L/mg)1/n. The removal mechanisms of MB included reduction into colorless leuco-MB, precipitation as Fe(II)-MB, adsorption as ZVI-MB or FeOOH-MB, and/or degradation using •OH radicals. The synthesized nZVI particles were applied to reduce various organic and inorganic compounds, as well as heavy metal ions from real textile wastewater samples. The removal efficiencies of COD, BOD, TN, TP, Cu2+, Zn2+, and Pb2+ reached up to 91.9%, 87.5%, 65.2%, 78.1%, 100.0%, 29.6%, and 99.0%, respectively. The treatment cost of 1 m3 of textile wastewater was estimated as 1.66 $USD.

Multivariate analysis and health risk assessment of heavy metal contents in foodstuffs of Durban, South Africa.

This study presented a comprehensive analysis of heavy metal contents in foodstuffs and the associated health risk for the residential population in Durban, South Africa. The concentrations of elements in fruits and vegetables, respectively, were (in mg kg-1 dry weight) Cu, 0.52-1.47 and 0.27-2.25; Zn, 0.30-3.05 and 0.56-6.24, Fe, 1.70-22.60 and 0.73-44.90; Mn, 0.37-28.50 and 0.67-13.70; Cr, 0.47-1.47 and 0.37-3.06; Ni 0.03-1.14 and 0.11-2.5;, and Pb, 1.52-3.45 and 1.57-4.52. Multivariate analysis revealed that pineapple in fruits and turnip and carrot in vegetables contained remarkable components of trace metals. The target hazard quotient (THQ) values for heavy metals were arranged in the order of Pb > Mn > Cu > Ni > Zn > Cr. No potential health risks were reported for individual elements over a lifetime of exposure, except children's exposure to Mn in pineapple and Pb in banana, orange small, guava, grape green, grape red, yellow-orange, and kiwifruit. The total THQ due to the dietary intake of multiple metals demonstrated unsafe limits in banana, pineapple, orange small, guava, grape green, grape red, yellow-orange, kiwifruit, and spinach leaf for children and pineapple for adults.

Ultrasound-Guided Serratus Anterior Plane Block Versus Thoracic Epidural Analgesia for Thoracotomy Pain.

OBJECTIVE: Thoracotomy is one of the most painful surgical procedures. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) compared with thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) for controlling acute thoracotomy pain. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, observer-blinded, controlled study. SETTING: The study was performed as a single-institution study in the National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Egypt. PARTICIPANTS: All participants were cancer patients scheduled for thoracotomy. INTERVENTIONS: This study was conducted from February to December 2015. Forty patients scheduled for thoracotomy under general anesthesia were allocated randomly into 1 of 2 groups with 20 patients each. SAPB was performed before extubation with an injection of 30 mL of 0.25% levobupivacaine followed by 5 mL/hour of 0.125% levobupivacaine. In the TEA group, thoracic epidural catheters were inserted preoperatively to be activated before extubation using a lower dose regimen to the SAPB group. Heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and the visual analog pain score (VAS) measurements were recorded for 24 hours. Rescue analgesia using intravenous morphine, 0.1 mL/kg, was administered if the VAS was >3. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Compared with preoperative values, the mean arterial pressure in the SAPB group did not change significantly (p = 0.181), whereas it decreased significantly (p = 0.006) in the TEA group. VAS scores and the total dose of morphine consumed were comparable in the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: SAPB appeared to be a safe and effective alternative for postoperative analgesia after thoracotomy.

Artificial Intelligence for the Evaluation of Operational Parameters Influencing Nitrification and Nitrifiers in an Activated Sludge Process.

Nitrification at a full-scale activated sludge plant treating municipal wastewater was monitored over a period of 237 days. A combination of fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were used for identifying and quantifying the dominant nitrifiers in the plant. Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), Pearson's correlation coefficient, and quadratic models were employed in evaluating the plant operational conditions that influence the nitrification performance. The ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) abundance was within the range of 1.55 × 10(8)-1.65 × 10(10) copies L(-1), while Nitrobacter spp. and Nitrospira spp. were 9.32 × 10(9)-1.40 × 10(11) copies L(-1) and 2.39 × 10(9)-3.76 × 10(10) copies L(-1), respectively. Specific nitrification rate (qN) was significantly affected by temperature (r 0.726, p 0.002), hydraulic retention time (HRT) (r -0.651, p 0.009), and ammonia loading rate (ALR) (r 0.571, p 0.026). Additionally, AOB was considerably influenced by HRT (r -0.741, p 0.002) and temperature (r 0.517, p 0.048), while HRT negatively impacted Nitrospira spp. (r -0.627, p 0.012). A quadratic combination of HRT and food-to-microorganism (F/M) ratio also impacted qN (r (2) 0.50), AOB (r (2) 0.61), and Nitrospira spp. (r (2) 0.72), while Nitrobacter spp. was considerably influenced by a polynomial function of F/M ratio and temperature (r (2) 0.49). The study demonstrated that ANFIS could be used as a tool to describe the factors influencing nitrification process at full-scale wastewater treatment plants.

Correlation between angiogenic/inflammatory mediators in Wister rat model of liver dysplasia.

Angiogenesis plays a critical role in tumor development and progression. It is regulated through the elaboration of many inflammatory/angiogenic mediators. In this study, we followed angiogenesis in hepatocarcinogenesis process from cancer initiation to sever dysplasia by measuring several inflammatory/angiogenic mediators. Wister rat model of liver cancer was set up using diethylnitrosamine (DEN). One hundred twenty rats were divided into 7 groups: normal untreated and 1- to 6-month DEN-treated animals. Every month, group of DEN-treated animals were sacrificed. Histopathological examination of livers was done. Plasma levels of vascular endothelial and platelet derived growth factors (VEGF and PDGF), interleukin-8 (IL-8), IL-4, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Histopathological findings were confirmatory to the gradual formation of liver cancer with time (from mild to moderate to irreversible severe dysplasia). Increase in angiogenic (VEGF and IL-8) (P < 0.001) and inflammatory (IL-4 and COX-2) (P < 0.001) mediators were observed. Elevation in TNF-α and PDGF secretion levels was recorded after 3 months of DEN injection (P < 0.001). Our data stressed on the importance of inflammation/angiogenesis processes in dysplasia. The exact regulatory mechanisms of liver cancer remain to be clarified.