Submarine groundwater discharge and associated nutrient influx in surroundings of the estuary region at Gulf of Mannar coast, Indian Ocean.

The influx of fresh groundwater and re-circulated sea water into coastal ecosystem occurs through the submarine groundwater discharge (SGD). Measurement of salinity, radium tracers (224Ra, and 226Ra isotopes) and nutrients in estuarine water, coastal surface water and groundwater during December 2019 estimated the SGD and associated nutrient fluxes near the Karameniyar estuary (Gulf of Mannar) and surroundings of the Manapad region at southern part of Tamil Nadu state in India. The presence of excessive radium tracers revealed that the SGD was contributing to Ra desorption from the sediments and enrichment in the coastal waters. We estimated SGD of approximately 0.03-0.59 m3 m-2 d-1 for the Manapad region and relatively more homogeneous but comparatively less values in the Karameniyar estuary (0.03-0.34 m3 m-2 d-1). Higher average values of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN; 43.62 µmol L-1) and soluble reactive phosphate (SRP; 1.848 µmol L-1) suggested greater influence of SGD on the overall coastal water nutrient budget. This study also indicated simultaneous occurrence of fresh and saline SGD in this region.

Characteristics of microplastics in the beach sediments of Marina tourist beach, Chennai, India.

Marina beach in Chennai metropolitan city attracts numerous tourists from all around the world, and it is an important ecological habitat for many life forms. Rapid urbanisation and industrial developments have led to excessive use of plastics and increased the amount of plastic waste generated in the natural environment. This first baseline study evaluates the microplastic (MP) accumulation in beach surface sediments of Marina and Pattinapakkam beaches through FTIR, AFM and SEM analyses. Sediment samples were collected from 40 stations and different types of MP polymers were identified. On average, 459 (60.8%) and 297 (39.2%) MP particles were found in the samples from Marina and Pattinapakkam beaches, respectively. We found that polyethylene types and additives are the dominant MPs in both areas. This study provided us with new insights into the human activities and natural processes in these marine environments. To solve the problem of plastic accumulation in the marine environment, the government should first play an active role in addressing the problem of plastic waste by introducing laws to control the sources of plastic waste and the use of plastic additives.

Measurement of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) into Tiruchendur coast at southeast India using 222Rn as a naturally occurring tracer.

Application of natural tracers such as radon isotope mass balance has been useful in estimating the submarine groundwater discharge (SGD). This study used 222Rn and evaluated the magnitude of SGD at Tiruchendur coast of southeast India in the Gulf of Mannar (Indian Ocean). Higher magnitudes of 222Rn in the porewater and seawater in comparison with the groundwater suggest simultaneous SGD with fluxes of 0.1-0.25 m3 m-2 d-1 at offshore and 0.4-0.20 m3 m-2 d-1 at the near shore. These baseline data would contribute to the management and protection of the Gulf of Mannar region in near future.

Microplastics and trace metals in fish species of the Gulf of Mannar (Indian Ocean) and evaluation of human health.

The importance of microplastic (MPs) contamination in marine environments is reflected by increasing number of studies in fish species. Some even dedicated to the toxicological effects from the ingestion. Microplastics (MPs) and their trace metal composition were examined in the muscle and intestine of five commercially important fish species (i.e., Sufflamen fraenatus, Heniochus acuminatus, Atropus atropos, Pseudotriacanthus and Leiognathus brevirostris) from Thoothukudi at the Gulf of Mannar coast in south India. The abundance and morphology of MPs (size, shape, and texture) in muscle and intestinal were investigated by micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (µ-FT-IR) and atomic force microscope (AFM). ICP-OES was used to investigate the adsorption/leaching of trace metals in microplastics in order to assess health risk for adults and children. Particles of 100-250 µm and white color dominated, and the mean abundances (items/100 g) of total MPs were more in Pseudotriacanthus (muscle: 51.2; intestine: 50.1) compared to Heniochus acuminatus (muscle: 9.6; intestine: 15), Leiognathus brevirostris (muscle: 12; intestine: 13.2) and Atropus atropus (muscle: 15.2; intestine: 44.1). Polyethylene (35.3%), polypropylene (27.2%), polyamide (nylon) (22.2%) and fiber (15.3%) represented the MPs present in muscles, and polyamide (nylon) (30.2%), polyethylene (28.1%), polypropylene (25.9%), and fiber (15.8%) composed the intestine MPs. We estimated possible consumption of 121-456 items of MPs/week by adults and about 19-68 items of MPs/week by children by considering the sizes of safe meals. Zn, Cu, Mn and Cr in these fish species reflected influence of the sewage waste. However, the non-carcinogenic risk evaluated through EDI, THQ, HI, and CR did not suggest any immediate health problem for the consumers.

Assessment of groundwater from an industrial coastal area of south India for human health risk from consumption and irrigation suitability.

We assessed the groundwater quality in an industrial area (Tiruchendur Taluk) of Tamil Nadu state in coastal south India for human health risk from drinking as well as irrigation suitability by using the drinking water quality index (DWQI), irrigation factors (sodium adsorption ratio, sodium percentage, residual sodium carbonate and permeability index) and health hazard valuation (THQI- by consuming NO3- and F-). About 57% of the samples represented Ca2+-Mg2+-Cl--SO42- facies and the anthropological unhygienic inputs elevated the salinity. Our results indicated that all the samples are unsuitable for drinking (DWQI up to 1063) and almost half of them are also unsuitable for irrigation due to sodium risk. Total hazard quotient index (THQI; HQ nitrate and HQ fluoride) suggested the order of health risk as children > women > men with about 64%, 70% and 79% of the samples posing non-carcinogenic risks for men, women and children, respectively. Different mitigation measures and sustainable development should be enforced to minimize the health issues from contamination caused by industries, fertilizers in agro-fields and natural processes and reduce the sodium dominance in groundwater. The spatial distribution maps of this study could also be helpful in organization of proper treatment plans to provide safe and hygienic groundwater to the community.

Imprints of pandemic lockdown on subsurface water quality in the coastal industrial city of Tuticorin, South India: A revival perspective.

Globally, the incidences of environmental improvements owing to seizing the anthropogenic activities during the lockdown have been reported through news articles and photographs, yet a formal scholarly study has been lacking to substantiate the imprints of lockdown. We hereby present the imprints of lockdown on water quality (both chemical and biological) parameters during the nationwide lockdown (COVID-19 epidemic) in India between 25th March to 30th May 2020. The present study describes the changes in chemical and biological water quality parameters based on twenty-two groundwater samples from the coastal industrial city of Tuticorin in Southern India, taken before (10 and 11th February 2020) and during the lockdown (19 and 20th April 2020) periods. The physico-chemical parameters compared are pH, total dissolved solids (TDS) and electrical conductivity (EC), nitrate (NO3), fluoride (F), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and selenium (Se), and the bacterial parameters are total coliforms, fecal coliforms, E. coli, and fecal streptococci. Among the metals, the significant reductions in Se (42%), As (51%), Fe (60%) and Pb (50%) were noticed probably owing to no or very less wastewater discharges from metal-based industries, seafood-based industries and thermal power plants during the lockdown. Reduction in NO3 (56%), total coliform (52%) and fecal coliforms (48%) indicated less organic sewage from the fishing industries. Contents of Cr, Cu, Zn and Cd, however, remained similar and fluoride did not show any change, probably as they were sourced from rock-water interactions. Similarly, we did not observe alterations in E. coli and fecal streptococci due to no significant change in domestic sewage production during the lockdown. The multivariate analyses aptly illustrated this and the principal component analyses helped to identify the sources that controlled water qualities of the lockdown compared to the pre-lockdown period. Our observation implies that groundwater is definitely under active interaction with surface waters and thus a quick revival could be observed following the seizing of anthropogenic activities.

Microplastic presence in commercial marine sea salts: A baseline study along Tuticorin Coastal salt pan stations, Gulf of Mannar, South India.

The present baseline research infers that the salts present in the sea may contain microplastics (MPs), as the seawater is contaminated due to a number of anthropogenic activities. Herein, 25 types of sea salt samples were collected from salt pans located in the Tuticorin coastal region. The MPs present in the samples were separated and identified by various methods such as handpicking, visual classification, and micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (µ-FT-IR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The MPs that measured less than 100 µm formed the major part of the salts, accounting to 60% of the MPs among the total pollutants. The MPs that were found in abundance in the sea salts were polypropylene, followed by polyethylene, nylon, and cellulose. This study was conducted in salt pan areas and demarcated the percentage of MPs present in sea salts. Table salt, which is a prime edible commodity, was found to be contaminated with MPs through polluted seawater, which poses a threat to public health.

Tacrolimus-Induced Apoptosis is Mediated by Endoplasmic Reticulum-derived Calcium-dependent Caspases-3,-12 in Jurkat Cells.

Apoptotic signal pathways are delivered to caspase-3, caspase-9, or both in different cells via the death receptor pathway, mitochondrial pathway, or by the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) pathway through initiators of caspase-3, -8, -9, or -12. Tacrolimus (Tac)-induced apoptosis was characterized by nuclear fragmentation and caspase-3 activation. We examined the effect of tacrolimus on ER-derived calcium and caspase-3,-12-mediated apoptosis on Jurkat human T lymphocyte. Tac decreased the viability of Jurkat cells in a dose-dependent manner. Tac also increased continuously intracellular concentration of calcium from 24 hours to 72 hours. We did not find intracellular calcium changes on the treatment of calcium ionorpore (A23187) regardless of 1 nmol/L Tac concentration level. However, calcium adenosine triphosphatase inhibitor (thapsigargin) increased intracellular calcium accumulation and co-treating 1 nmol/L Tac further induced intracellular calcium accumulation. Interestingly, we found that 1 nmol/L Tac treatment induced activation of caspase-12 protease as well as the catalytic activity of caspase-3 but not catalytic activation of caspase-6, -8, and -9 proteases in Jurkat cells. These data advance our understanding of Tac-induced apoptosis is ER-derived calcium and caspases-3,-12- mediated apoptosis in human Jurkat cell line.

Expression of Endoplasmic Reticulum-Mediated Stress Proteins in FK506-Treated T-Lymphocytes.

BACKGROUND: FK506-induced apoptotic endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mediated stress protein expression was investigated in Jurkat human T-lymphocytes. METHODS: The effect of FK506 on apoptosis and cell viability were examined. FK506-induced apoptosis was confirmed by nuclear fragmentation after DAPI staining. Expression of apoptotic ER-mediated stress proteins was examined by means of Western blotting of Grp78/BiP, Grp94, double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR)-like ER kinase (PERK), phosphor-PERK, CHOP/GADD153, and Bak. A flow cytometry analysis was performed after DAF-DA or DCF-DA staining. FK506-induced apoptosis was dose-dependent (10 nmol/L) and time-dependent (72 hours). RESULTS: Grp78/BiP and Grp94 expressions were increased 36 hours after FK506 treatment. Increased phospho-PERK expression was observed 6 hours after FK506 treatment and peak activation of phospho-PERK was observed at 36 hours. CHOP/GADD153 expression was increased 48 hours after FK506 treatment. Expression of iNOS after FK506 treatment began to increase at 12 hours, peaked at 24 hours, and decreased after 36 hours. CONCLUSIONS: From these results, we confirmed that FK506 induces apoptosis and acts dose- and time-dependently to decrease the viability of Jurkat cells through activation of apoptosis signaling and expression of apoptotic ER-mediated stress proteins.

Cytomorphological characteristics of low-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma for differential diagnosis from benign papillary urothelial lesions: logistic regression analysis in SurePath(™) liquid-based voided urine cytology.

OBJECTIVE: The diagnosis of low-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma (LGPUC) in urine cytology specimens is challenging because of its subtle, minimally atypical findings. Furthermore, as SurePath(™) liquid-based cytology (LBC) is becoming a widely used method in urine cytology, the inevitable cytomorphological alterations resulting from this technique call for new morphological diagnostic criteria in LGPUC. METHODS: Logistic regression analysis was carried out on SurePath slides from surgically proven voided urine specimens. The study was designed to include a test set (n = 141) and a validation set (n = 61), and evaluated significant discriminative parameters between LGPUC and benign papillary urothelial neoplasm (BPUN). RESULTS: Of the seven cytological findings that were found to have statistical significance in univariate analysis, five were found to be independent variables: loss of polarity of papillaroid clusters, irregular contours, absence of columnar cells, hobnail features and hyperchromasia. These independent variables had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.781. CONCLUSIONS: The distinctive cytological criteria identified above may prove to be helpful in cases in which other conventional criteria for LGPUC are insufficient for diagnosis.

Environmental monitoring and assessment of heavy metals in surface sediments at Coleroon River Estuary in Tamil Nadu, India.

The combined studies on grain size distribution, organic matter contents of sediments, sequential extraction and bulk concentration of heavy metals, statistical analysis, and ecological risk assessments were carried out to investigate the contamination sources and ecological risks of surface sediments at Coleroon River Estuary in Tamil Nadu, India. The sequential extraction of metals showed that a larger portion of the metals was associated with the residual phase and also in other fractions. The low concentrations of heavy metals were found in exchangeable and carbonate bounds (bioavailable phases). It revealed that sediments of Coleroon River Estuary were relatively unpolluted and were influenced mainly by natural sources. The observed order of bulk concentrations of heavy metals in the sediments was as follows: Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Pb > Cr > Ni > Co. Factor analyses represented that the enrichment of heavy metals was mostly resulted from lithogenic origins associated with anthropogenic sources. These sources were reconfirmed by cluster analysis. Risk assessment code (RAC) suggested that all metals were not harmful in monsoon season. However, Fe was in medium risk, and Mn and Cu were in low risk in summer. According to pollution load index (PLI) of sediments, all heavy metals were toxic. Cu might be related with adverse biological effects on the basis of sediment quality guidelines (SQG) in both seasons. These integrated approaches were very useful to identify the contamination sources and ecological risks of sediments in estuarine environment. It is expected that this research can give a useful information for the remediation of heavy metals in sediments.

Transcriptional activation of nuclear-related factor 2 by FK506 in Jurkat T cells.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the effect of FK506 in transcriptional activation of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like2 (Nrf2) in human Jurkat T cells. METHODS: FK506 treatment increased the generation of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species in Jurkat cells in a dose-dependent manner. Generation of nitric oxide was also increased after treatment with FK506 in Jurkat cells. Peak levels of endothelial nitricoxide synthase expression occurred at 24 hours and then decreased after 48 hours. RESULTS: We found that a marked dissociation of Nrf 2 from Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1 and subsequently Nrf 2 nuclear translocation occurred in Jurkat cells treated with FK506 during 48 hours. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis data revealed that the FK506 treatment increased expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in Jurkat cells in a dose-dependent manner. HO-1 expression was induced after 6 hours of treatment of FK506 to Jurkat cells, peaked at 24 hours, and then decreased after 48 hours. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that FK506 induces Nrf 2-driven transcriptional activation of the antioxidant response element by activating HO-1 and free radicals such as reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide.

Comprehensive studies of hydrogeochemical processes and quality status of groundwater with tools of cluster, grouping analysis, and fuzzy set method using GIS platform: a case study of Dalcheon in Ulsan City, Korea.

This research aimed at developing comprehensive assessments of physicochemical quality of groundwater for drinking and irrigation purposes at Dalcheon in Ulsan City, Korea. The mean concentration of major ions represented as follows: Ca (94.3 mg/L) > Mg (41.7 mg/L) > Na (19.2 mg/L) > K (3.2 mg/L) for cations and SO4 (351 mg/L) > HCO3 (169 mg/L) > Cl (19 mg/L) for anions. Thematic maps for physicochemical parameters of groundwater were prepared, classified, weighted, and integrated in GIS method with fuzzy logic. The maps exhibited that suitable zone of drinking and irrigation purpose occupied in SE, NE, and NW sectors. The undesirable zone of drinking purpose was observed in SW and central parts and that of irrigation was in the western part of the study area. This was influenced by improperly treated effluents from an abandoned iron ore mine, irrigation, and domestic fields. By grouping analysis, groundwater types were classified into Ca(HCO3)2, (Ca,Mg)Cl2, and CaCl2, and CaHCO3 was the most predominant type. Grouping analysis also showed three types of irrigation water such as C1S1, C1S2, and C1S3. C1S3 type of high salinity to low sodium hazard was the most dominant in the study area. Equilibrium processes elucidated the groundwater samples were in the saturated to undersaturated condition with respect to aragonite, calcite, dolomite, and gypsum due to precipitation and deposition processes. Cluster analysis suggested that high contents of SO4 and HCO3 with low Cl was related with water-rock interactions and along with mining impact. This study showed that the effluents discharged from mining waste was the main sources of groundwater quality deterioration.

An assessment of selected hydrochemical parameter trend of the Nakdong River water in South Korea, using time series analyses and PCA.

Time series analyses (autocorrelation, spectral density, and cross-correlation) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to understand the characteristics of the selected hydrochemical parameters pH, turbidity, alkalinity, Cl, hardness, total dissolved solids (TDS), and metals Fe and Mn in the Nakdong River, South Korea. Autocorrelation and spectral density for pH, alkalinity, hardness, and Cl were very similar to TDS, whereas Fe, Mn, and turbidity showed different trends from TDS. Cross-correlograms of pH, alkalinity, hardness, and Cl versus TDS were very similar to each other. Those of Fe and turbidity represented the opposite relations with other components. Cross-correlation coefficients had the highest values at zero lag, indicating that pH, alkalinity, hardness, and Cl are controlling factors for TDS. On the other hand, Fe and turbidity showed the highest values at 6-month lag and Mn at a month lag. PCA indicated that TDS had very close relation with hardness, pH, and Cl and very small relation with Mn. Turbidity and Fe had relatively opposite relations with TDS. It was concluded that the geostatistical methods were very useful for evaluating the hydrochemical characteristics of the Nakdong River water in South Korea.

Initial report of the Korean Organ Transplant Registry: the first report of national kidney transplantation data.

PURPOSE: A national organ transplant registry is an indispensable organizational requirement for patient care, research, and planning. Even though the Korean Network for Organ Sharing (KONOS) has established a database for a waiting list, organ allocation, and incidence of organ transplantation since 2000, an integrated registry including post-transplantation data is needed for better understanding of organ transplantation. Recently, the Korean Society for Transplantation (KST) and the Korean Center for Disease Control (KCDC) designed a web-based organ transplant registry, named the Korean Organ Transplant Registry (KOTRY). As an initial project of KOTRY, we retrospectively analyzed kidney transplantations (KTs) performed in 2009 and 2010. METHODS: A total of 2292 KTs (91.9%) from 46 hospitals (80.7%) were collected and analyzed. Ninety-five elements related to KT were selected and analyzed. RESULTS: Proportions of male recipients and retransplantations were 58.4% and 7.1%, respectively. Even though glomerulonephritis was the most common cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) (28.4%), the number of diabetic nephropathy cases was increasing. The living donor (LD) to deceased donor (DD) ratio was 1.69:1. Because of a serious organ shortage in Korea, DD kidneys with a low initial estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <45 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (21.2%) and expanded criteria donors (ECDs; 18.3%) are frequently used. Other noticeable findings are the increasing number of wife donors and ABO-incompatible (ABOi) transplants for O(+) recipients. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiological profile of transplantation is different from country to country. The number of organ transplantations in East Asian countries is rapidly growing, however, there are few epidemiological data about this region in the literature. With the establishment of KOTRY, it was possible to present the first nationwide epidemiological data of Korean KTs.

Set-up uncertainty during breast radiotherapy. Image-guided radiotherapy for patients with initial extensive variation.

PURPOSE: The aim of this work was to establish a customized strategy for image-guided radiotherapy during whole breast irradiation. Risk factors associated with extensive errors were assessed. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A series of 176 consecutive breasts in 174 patients were retrospectively assessed. Electronic portal images from 914 medial and 807 lateral directions were reviewed. On the basis of the chest wall, the deviations between the simulation and each treatment were measured. The systematic (Σ) and random error (σ) of population, and the planning target volume (PTV) margin (2 Σ + 0.7σ) were calculated for each direction. Extensive set-up errors were defined as the fraction over the PTV margins in any direction. For extensive set-up errors, χ(2) tests and logistic regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS: The medial and lateral PTV margins for the right-left, superior-inferior, and anterior-posterior axes and the rotation of collimator were 2.6 and 2.4 mm, 4.6 and 4.6 mm, and 3.1 and 3.3 mm and 2.8 and 2.9 ° and cut-off values for extensive errors were 3, 5, and 4 mm and 3 °, respectively. In χ(2) tests, tumor in upper outer quadrant (p = 0.012) and chest wall thickness ≥ 2.0 cm (p = 0.003) for medial portals and age group (p = 0.036) for lateral portals were associated with extensive errors. In multivariate tests, the extensive error on the initial fraction had a high probability of extensive set-up errors in both medial (OR = 4.26, p < 0.001) and lateral portals (OR = 3.07, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In terms of the set-up uncertainty during breast irradiation, patients with extensive error in the initial treatment should be closely observed with serial image-guided radiotherapy.

Impact of chronically street homeless tenants in congregate supportive housing.

New initiatives to house chronically street homeless (CSH) adults have led to increasing proportions of this population living in congregate supportive housing, but little is known about the impact of this shift on supportive housing programs. The present multisite, mixed-methods study examined service utilization and lease compliance among 52 chronically street homeless and 46 long-term shelter stayer (LTSS) adults during their first 12 months in congregate supportive housing. Quantitative analysis of administrative data revealed that CSH tenants used significantly more service resources than LTSS tenants, including more advocacy, escorting, and psychiatric treatment and more assistance with financial, housing, and mental and physical health issues. The 2 groups did not differ significantly on measures of lease compliance. Qualitative focus groups with CSH tenants, service provider staff, and property management staff all indicated that existing supportive housing services are suitable for this population, although some adjustments, additional resources, or both, may be indicated.

Serial examination of serum IL-8, IL-10 and IL-1Ra levels is significant in neonatal seizures induced by hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy.

We investigated changes in the levels of significant cytokines in relation to neonatal seizures, a pattern of cytokine concentrations serially and the severity of brain insult. The hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy-induced seizure group consisted of 13 patients, and another 15 normal newborns were enrolled as a control group. All of the initial samples were obtained within the first 24 h of admission, and the second samples were obtained between 48 and 72 h in both groups. Only the third samples were taken in the seizure group on the 5th day. During neonatal seizures, the levels of most cytokines increased within 24 h, and, in particular, the levels of interleukin (IL)-8 significantly increased (P < 0.05). After 48-72 h of seizure onset, the levels of most cytokines decreased, especially, IL-1Ra; however, IL-8 and IL-10 remained increased (P < 0.05). During the prognosis, one patient who was diagnosed with quadriplegic cerebral palsy at 6 months of age presented extreme elevation of IL-1beta, IL-1Ra, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the initial sample, reflecting the severity of brain damage. A significant increase in IL-8 may serve as a biomarker for earlier detection of brain damage in neonatal seizure, if detected within 24 and 48-72 h of the seizure.