Membrane-processed honey samples for pollen characterization with health benefits.

Better processing techniques must be utilized widely due to the rising demand for honey. The most common honey processing techniques are applied to melissopalynomorphs to check the quality and quantity of valuable honey using microporous ultrafiltration membranes. It is essential to have the ability to selectively filter out sugars from honey using ultrafiltration. This study authenticated 24 honey samples using membrane reactors ultrafiltration protocol to describe the pollen spectrum of dominant vegetation. The purpose of this study was also to explore nutritional benefits as well as the active phytochemical constituents of honey samples. Honey samples were collected and labeled Acacia, Eucalyptus, and Ziziphus species based on plant resources provided by local beekeepers. A variety of honeybee flora was collected around the apiaries between 2020 and 2021. Honey analysis revealed that the pollen extraction of 24 bee foraging species belonging to 14 families. The honey membrane technology verified the identities of honey and nectar sources. Also, pollen identified using honey ultrafiltration membranes revealed dominant resources: Acacia spp. (69%), Eucalyptus spp. (52%) and Ziziphus spp. Honey filtration using a membrane technology classified 14 samples as unifloral, represented by six dominant pollen types. The absolute pollen count in the honey sample revealed that 58.33% (n = 14) belong to Maurizio's class I. Scanning ultrasculpturing showed diverse exine patterns: reticulate, psilate, scabrate-verrucate, scabrate-gemmate, granulate, perforate, microechinate, microreticulate, and regulate to fossulate for correct identification of honey pollen types. Honey ultrafiltration should be utilized to validate the botanical sources of honey and trace their biogeographic authenticity. Thus, it is imperative to look at the alternative useful method to identify the botanical origin of filtered honey. It is critical to separate honey from adulteration by a standardized protocol. Membrane technology has yielded significant outcomes in the purification of honey.

Impacts of microplastic-petroleum pollution on nutrient uptake, growth, and antioxidative activity of Chlorella vulgaris.

As one of the emerging pollutants, microplastics (MPs; <5 mm) can interact with co-contaminants such as petroleum in marine aquatic systems, and their combined toxicity has not been fully investigated. Therefore, this study focused on pollutants such as micro-sized polyethylene (mPE) and petroleum, aiming to explore their single and combined toxicities to microalga Chlorella vulgaris in terms of the cell growth, antioxidative enzymes, and nutrients utilization. The results showed that the MPs alone (particle sizes (i.e., 13, 165, 550 µm), concentrations (i.e., 0.01, 0.1, and 1 g/L), and aging degrees (i.e., aged for 0 d and 90 d under UVA)), and petroleum alone (5% water accommodated fraction, WAF), and their combinations (i.e., 5% WAF + 165 µm-0.1 g/L-aged 0 d mPE, 5% WAF + 165 µm-0.1 g/L-aged 90 d mPE) all posed toxicities risk to C. vulgaris, following an increase in oxidative stress. The cellular utilization of elements such as Fe, Si, Ca, and Mg was inhibited, whereas the uptake of Mn, NO3--N, and PO43--P increased as compared to the control experiments. Furthermore, the relationship between nutrients and growth indicators was analyzed using a structural equation model. The results indicated that Fe and Mn directly affected the indirect NO3--N absorption by C. vulgaris, which indirectly affected the dry cell weight (DCW) of the microalgae. The path coefficient of Fe and Mn affecting nitrate was 0.399 and 0.388, respectively. The absorption of N was the key step for C. vulgaris resist stress. This study provides a novel analysis of the effects of MPs on the growth of microalgae from the perspective of nutrient elements, thereby providing a useful basis for further exploration of the associated mechanisms.

Elucidating the negatively influential and potentially toxic mechanism of single and combined micro-sized polyethylene and petroleum to Chlorella vulgaris at the cellular and molecular levels.

Although microplastics (MPs; <5 mm) may interact with co-contaminants (e.g., petroleum) in marine aquatic systems, little is known about their combined toxicity. Therefore, this study explored the toxicities and their mechanisms of micro-sized polyethylene (mPE) and their combination with petroleum to Chlorella vulgaris. The single MPs at various particle sizes, concentrations, and aging degree, single petroleum, and their combinations, were found to pose toxicities to C. vulgaris. This study also found the microcosm's microbial diversity changed. The microbial communities in the C. vulgaris biotopes were altered under exposure to mPE and petroleum, and were disturbed by external factors such as MPs particle size, concentration, aging time, and the combination with petroleum. Furthermore, as compared with the toxicity of petroleum on microalgal transcriptional function, mPE caused less toxic to C. vulgaris, and only impact the posttranslational modification, protein turnover, and signal transduction processes. Most importantly, mPE reduced petroleum toxicity in C. vulgaris via regulating the ABC transporter, eukaryotic ribosome synthesis, and the citrate cycle metabolic pathways. Overall, our findings could fundamentally provide insights into the joint ecotoxicological effects of MPs and petroleum, and highlight the potential risks of co-exsiting pollutants.

Oil tea shell synthesized biochar adsorptive utilization for the nitrate removal from aqueous media.

Various reported methods are devoted to nitrate removal from water over the years. However, recently researchers are focusing on developing the materials that offer bio-based, non-toxic, inexpensive and yet an efficient solution for water treatment. In this study, removal of nitrates from water was carried out using oil tea shells (OTS) as a biosorbent. OTS powder was impregnated with ZnCl2 and biochar was prepared which was further treated with Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), a cationic surfactant. Both the Langmuir and the Freundlich models were satisfied by the nitrate adsorption of OTS biochar. The adsorption capacity was measured at 15.6 mg/g when the circumstances were at their best. The pseudo-second-order model provided an accurate description of the kinetic data that were collected from batch trials. The adsorption yield goes up when by usage of more adsorbent, but it goes down when adsorption start with a higher concentration of nitrate. The strong basis of analytical equipments were used to characterize the OTS biosorbent. According to the findings of the research, surface-modified OTS biochar is an effective material for the removal of nitrate from aqueous solutions. This means that it has the potential to be utilized in water treatment as an adsorbent that is both inexpensive and kind to the natural environment. Removal of heavy metals and other organic pollutants, both from groundwater and wastewater using OTS biochar seems like a promising and interesting area of study.

Organics removal and microbial interaction attributes of zeolite and ceramsite assisted bioretention system in copper-contaminated stormwater treatment.

Bioretention has been increasingly used recently to treat heavy metals contaminated stormwater. However, less is known about how metal accumulation influences microbial performance and organics removal mechanisms in different layers of the bioretention system. Two lab-scale bioretention columns (i.e., control and Cu treatment) were designed and filled with soil and fillers (zeolite and ceramsite). The results obtained from the time-series experiment of 121 days showed that the removal of organics markedly affected by Cu accumulation and microbial activities, varied between soil and filler layers of bioretention system. The overall organics removal rate was higher in filler than soil. However, at the individual level, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rate was higher than total organic carbon (TOC) in the soil, while the opposite trend was observed in fillers. Mixed media (soil + fillers) significantly reduced the bio-available and labile fractions of Cu from 33.5 to 8% and 67.5 to 33.4%, respectively. The bioretention column treated with Cu lost 14% more microbial biomass in soil than filler over the 121 days study period. Therefore mixed media in bioretention system can offset the substantial negative impacts of long-term metal accumulation on pollutant removal and microbial degradation function in the bioretention. The present study advanced our understanding to resolve the complex metals-impacted microbial pollutant biodegradation mechanisms and highlight importance of mixed media in the long-term maintenance of the bioretention system, which is imperative for developing effective and stormwater-specific remediation strategies.

The potential of microbes and sulfate in reducing arsenic phytoaccumulation by maize (Zea mays L.) plants.

Arsenic (As) contamination in soil-plant system is an important environmental, agricultural and health issue globally. The microbe- and sulfate-mediated As cycling in soil-plant system may depend on soil sulfate levels, and it can be used as a potential strategy to reduce plant As uptake and improve plant growth. Here, we investigated the role of soil microbes (SMs) to examine As phytoaccumulation using maize as a test plant, under varying sulfate levels (S-0, S-5, S-25 mmol kg-1) and As stress. The addition of sulfate and SMs promoted maize plant growth and reduced As concentration in shoots compared to sulfate-treated plants without SMs. Results revealed that the SMs-S-5 treatment proved to be the most promising in reducing As uptake by 27% and 48% in root and shoot of the maize plants, respectively. The SMs-S treatments, primarily with S-5, enhanced plant growth, shoot dry biomass, Chl a, b and total Chl (a + b) contents, and gas exchange attributes of maize plants. Similarly, the antioxidant defense in maize plants was increased significantly in SMs-S-treated plants, notably with SMs-S-5 treatment. Overall, the SMs-S-5-treated plants possessed improved plant growth, dry biomass, physiology and antioxidant defense system and decrease in plant shoot As concentration. The outcomes of this study suggest that sulfate supplementation in soil along with SMs could assist in reducing As accumulation by maize plants, thus providing a sustainable and eco-friendly bioremediation strategy in limiting As exposure.

Intussusception in 2 Children With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 Infection.

We note that intussusception was likely associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection in 2 infants in Wuhan and London. The intussusception was reduced by enemas in Wuhan; the outcome was fatal. The intussusception was not reduced by enemas in London and required surgery; the outcome was favorable.

Estimation of ionized calcium, total calcium and albumin corrected calcium for the diagnosis of hypercalcaemia of malignancy.

OBJECTIVE: To measure levels of ionized calcium, total calcium and albumin corrected calcium in patients with different malignant disorders for the diagnosis of hypercalcaemia of malignancy. DESIGN: A case control comparative study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The study was carried out in the Department of Pathology, Army Medical College Rawalpindi, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and Department of Oncology CMH, Rawalpindi from March 2003 to December 2003. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Ninetyseven patients of various malignant disorders, admitted in the Department of Oncology, CMH, Rawalpindi, and 39 age and gender-matched disease-free persons (as control) were included in the study. Blood ionized calcium (Ca++), pH, sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) were analysed by Ion selective electrode (ISE) on Easylyte auto analyser. Other related parameters were measured by colourimetric methods. RESULTS: Blood Ca(++) levels in patients suffering from malignant disorders were found significantly high (mean +/- SD: 1.30+017 mmol/L) as compared to control subjects (mean +/- SD 1.23+0.03 mmol/L) (p<0.001). The number of patients with hypercalcaemia of malignancy detected by Ca(++) estimation was significantly higher (38%) as compared to total calcium (8.4%) and albumin corrected calcium ACC (10.6%) (p<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in other parameters e.g. phosphate, urea, creatinine, pH, Na+ and K+ levels in study subjects and controls. CONCLUSION: Detection of hypercalcaemia can be markedly improved if ionized calcium estimation is used in patients with malignant disorders.