Multifunctional Ni(OH)2/Ag composites for ultrasensitive SERS detection and efficient photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin and methylene blue.

To enable the widespread application of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technique in practical sensing of organic pollutants, it is essential to develop a reliable SERS substrate that offers both high sensitivity and reusability. In this study, we employed a simple and rapid in-situ deposition method to coat Ag nanoparticles onto flower-like Ni(OH)2 spheres, resulting in the formation of Ni(OH)2/Ag composites with excellent photocatalytic performance and SERS activity. These composites were used as a promising SERS analysis tool for effective detection of organic pollutants, including ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CIP) and methylene blue (MB). Notably, the composites exhibited outstanding detection limits of 10-8 M for MB and 10-7 M for CIP, respectively, and showed a strong linear relationship between SERS intensities and the logarithmic concentration (R2 ≥ 0.97). Moreover, under simulated sunlight irradiation, the Ni(OH)2/Ag composites efficiently degraded MB and CIP molecules within a short period of 120 min for MB and 130 min for CIP. This demonstrated their practical reusability, as evidenced by their consistent performance over five cycles of SERS sensing. These findings underscore the significant potential of these composites for SERS-based detection of trace pollutants and ecological restoration through photocatalytic reactions in the future.

Heavy metal and genetic diversity studies in three populations of Snail (Achatina achatina Linnaeus, 1758) from Southwest, Nigeria / Estudos de heavy metal e diversidade genética em três populações de Snail (Achatina achatina Linnaeus, 1758) do sudoeste da Nigéria

Environmental pollutants may often alter the genetic components of natural populations. In this study, heavy metals and genetic diversity in land snail (Achatina achatina) from three populations of south-western Nigeria were investigated, using the Atomic Absorption Spectrometry and DNA Sequencing technology respectively. Metal analysis revealed that the snails accumulated lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni) in high concentrations in two of the three states, while cadmium (Cd) was the least detected. Editing and alignment of the sequences of all snail accessions generated a range of 384bp to 419 bp. Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) in all 18 accessions was low at only 16%. The query coverage (QC) ranged between 96% and 100%, with 14 (77.8%) of the 18 accessions showing 100% identity. Pairwise comparison of the accessions studied also showed a high genetic similarity. The unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) generated two main clusters. Cluster I was unique and contain one sample (AaOy06) while the other cluster are very closely related and can be further sub-divided into sub-clusters. The similarity index of between the clusters is 0.5357. The close similarity among the accessions may be due to the geographical proximity of the three states. The uniqueness of accession AaOy06 in comparison to other accessions might be due to the negative influence of heavy metal, particularly lead. The determination of evolutionary relationships among snail populations may be useful towards the breeding efforts of the species in Nigeria.

Os poluentes ambientais podem frequentemente alterar os componentes genéticos das populações naturais. Neste estudo, metais pesados e diversidade genética em caramujos terrestres (Achatina achatina) de três populações do sudoeste da Nigéria foram investigados, usando a tecnologia de espectrometria de absorção atômica e sequenciamento de DNA, respectivamente. A análise dos metais revelou que os caramujos acumularam chumbo (Pb) e níquel (Ni) em altas concentrações em dois dos três estados, enquanto o cádmio (Cd) foi o menos detectado. A edição e o alinhamento das sequências de todos os acessos de caramujos geraram uma faixa de 384pb a 419pb. A análise de variância molecular (AMOVA) em todos os 18 acessos foi baixa em apenas 16%. A cobertura da consulta (QC) variou entre 96% e 100%, com 14 (77,8%) dos 18 acessos apresentando 100% de identidade. A comparação pareada dos acessos estudados também mostrou alta similaridade genética. O método de grupo de pares não ponderados com média aritmética (UPGMA) gerou dois clusters principais. O cluster I era único e contém uma amostra (AaOy06), enquanto o outro cluster está intimamente relacionado e pode ser subdividido em subclusters. O índice de similaridade entre os clusters é 0,5357. A grande semelhança entre os acessos pode ser devido à proximidade geográfica dos três estados. A singularidade do acesso AaOy06 em comparação com outros acessos pode ser devido à influência negativa de metais pesados, particularmente chumbo. A determinação das relações evolutivas entre as populações de caramujos pode ser útil para os esforços de reprodução da espécie na Nigéria.

AQI prediction using layer recurrent neural network model: a new approach.

The air quality index (AQI) prediction is important to evaluate the effects of air pollutants on human health. The airborne pollutants have been a major threat in Delhi both in the past and coming years. The air quality index is a figure, based on the cumulative effect of major air pollutant concentrations, used by Government agencies, for air quality assessment. Thus, the main aim of the present study is to predict the daily AQI one year in advance through three different neural network models (FF-NN, CF-NN and LR-NN) for the year 2020 and compare them. The models were trained using AQI values of previous year (2019). In addition to main air pollutants like PM10/PM2.5, O3, SO2, NOx, CO and NH3, the non-criteria pollutants and meteorological data were also included as input parameter in this study. The model performances were assessed using statistical analysis. The key air pollutants contributing to high level of daily AQI were found to be PM2.5/PM10, CO and NO2. The root mean square error (RMSE) values of 31.86 and 28.03 were obtained for the FF-NN and CF-NN models respectively whereas the LR-NN model has the minimum RMSE value of 26.79. LR-NN algorithm predicted the AQI values very closely to the actual values in almost all the seasons of the year. The LR-NN performance was also found to be the best in post-monsoon season i.e., October and November (maximum R2 = 0.94) with respect to other seasons. The study would aid air pollution control authorities to predict AQI more precisely and adopt suitable pollution control measures. Further research studies are recommended to compare the performance of LR-NN model with statistical, numerical and computational models for accurate air quality assessment.

Bacterial community structure of water, sediment and microplastics in Poyang Lake wetland.

As a new type of pollutant, microplastics accumulate continuously in the environment. The environmental problems caused by microplastics have attracted wide attention. In this study, we collected water, sediment and four types of microplastics (film, foam, fiber and fragment) from wetland in East Lake area of Poyang Lake. We used high-throughput sequencing technology to analyze the bacterial diversity and community structure of water, sediment, and microplastics surface. The results showed that the bacterial richness and diversity of water and sediment were significantly higher than that on microplastics, and the bacterial richness of foaming microplastics was significantly lower than that of the other three types of microplastics. There were significant differences of bacterial communities between water, sediment, and microplastics. There were significant differences cross different types of microplastics. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria were the main bacterial communities of water, sediment, and microplastics. The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria in water was higher than that in sediments and microplastics, while the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria in foaming microplastics was higher than that in other three types. At the genus level, the dominant ones included Massilia, Flavobacteria, and Pseudomonas. The relative abundance of Massilia and Pseudomonas in water and sediments was lower than that on microplastics, and the relative abundance of Flavobacteria was not different among water, sediment and microplastics. The relative abundance of Massilia in microplastics followed an order of fragment>fiber>film>foam, and that of Pseudomonas was film>fiber>foam>fragment. The results of metabolic pathway prediction analysis showed that except for foaming microplastics, the bacterial metabolic pathways on the surface of the other three types of microplastics were significantly different from those in water and sediment. The cellular processes, organismal systems, environmental information processing, and human diseases in bacterial metabolic pathways on microplastics surface were significantly higher than those in water and sediment. Our results suggested that microbial community structure on the surface of microplastics was significantly different from that in water and sediment, and that the morphology type of microplastics affected microbial community structure on the surface.

[Analysis of the Environmental Risk of Livestock Manure Pollution and Resource Treatment Technology].

Rapid development of the livestock and poultry industry has greatly promoted the rural economic prosperity of China. However, the problems resulting from the livestock manure, such as large emissions, low utilization rate, and environmental pollution are also becoming increasingly serious. Based on the current situation of livestock manure discharge in China, the typical contaminants in livestock manure and their pollution characteristics in soil, water, and air were systematically analyzed in this study. Taking heavy metals and antibiotics as the characteristic pollutants, the common risk assessment methods for livestock manure pollution were described. Moreover, the main harmless disposal and recycling treatment technologies of livestock and poultry manure at home and abroad were compared and analyzed. The application prospect and value of these technologies such as the thermochemical conversion method and the biological method in energization or fertilization were evaluated. Furthermore, the prominent problems in the pollution control of livestock manure are discussed, and the development trends in the resource treatment technology of livestock manure were also prospected.

Effects of stubble burning and firecrackers on the air quality of Delhi.

Every year at the onset of winter season (October-November), crop residue/parali/stubble burning starts in Punjab and Haryana, leading to heavy air pollution in Delhi, and adversely affecting human and environmental health. During this time, the combination of unfavourable meteorological conditions, additional emissions from stubble burning, and firework activities in this area causes the air quality to further deteriorate. In this study, we have attempted to understand the influence of parali and firecracker incidents on air pollutants' variability over Delhi during the last three years (2020 to 2022). For this purpose, daily average particulate matter and gaseous pollutants data were fetched from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and daily total fire counts and fire radiative power (FRP) data were retrieved from NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS). A bigger area of severe burning is suggested by higher FRP values and higher fire counts in the middle of November in all the years considered. Three years satellite-based FIRMS data over Punjab and Haryana show the highest number of active fire counts in 2021 (n = 80,505) followed by 2020 (n = 75,428), and 2022 (n = 49,194). More than 90% parali burning incidents were observed in Punjab state only despite the considerable variability in numbers among the years. The significant effect of parali burning was seen on pollutant concentration variability. As the number of fire count increases or decreases in Punjab and Haryana, there is a corresponding increase or decrease in the particulate matter concentration with a time lag of few days (1 to 2 days). The trend in backward air mass trajectories suggests that the variable response time of pollutants' concentration is due to local and distant sources with different air mass speeds. Our estimates suggest that stubble burning contributes 50-75% increment in PM2.5 and 40 to 45% increase in PM10 concentration between October and November. A good positive correlation between PM2.5, PM10, NOX, and CO and fire counts (up to 0.8) suggests a strong influence of stubble burning on air quality over Delhi. Furthermore, the firecracker activities significantly increase the concentration of particulate matter with ~100% increment in PM2.5 and ~55% increment in PM10 mass concentrations for a relatively shorter period (1 to 2 days).

Spatio-temporal evolution patterns of influenza incidence and its nonlinear spatial correlation with environmental pollutants in China.

BACKGROUND: Currently, the influenza epidemic in China is at a high level and mixed with other respiratory diseases. Current studies focus on regional influenza and the impact of environmental pollutants on time series, and lack of overall studies on the national influenza epidemic and the nonlinear correlation between environmental pollutants and influenza. The unclear spatial and temporal evolution patterns of influenza as well as the unclear correlation effect between environmental pollutants and influenza epidemic have greatly hindered the prevention and treatment of influenza epidemic by relevant departments, resulting in unnecessary economic and human losses. METHOD: This study used Chinese influenza incidence data for 2007-2017 released by the China CDC and air pollutant site monitoring data. Seasonal as well as inter monthly differences in influenza incidence across 31 provinces of China have been clarified through time series. Space-Time Cube model (STC) was used to investigate the spatio-temporal evolution of influenza incidence in 315 Chinese cities during 2007-2017. Then, based on the spatial heterogeneity of influenza incidence in China, Generalized additive model (GAM) was used to identify the correlation effect of environmental pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, CO, SO2, NO2, O3) and influenza incidence. RESULT: The influenza incidence in China had obvious seasonal changes, with frequent outbreaks in winter and spring. The influenza incidence decreased significantly after March, with only sporadic outbreaks occurring in some areas. In the past 11 years, the influenza epidemic had gradually worsened, and the clustering of influenza had gradually expanded, which had become a serious public health problem. The correlation between environmental pollutants and influenza incidence was nonlinear. Generally, PM2.5, CO and NO2 were positively correlated at high concentrations, while PM10 and SO2 were negatively correlated. O3 was not strongly correlated with the influenza incidence. CONCLUSION: The study found that the influenza epidemic in China was in a rapidly rising stage, and several regions had a multi-year outbreak trend and the hot spots continue to expand outward. The association between environmental pollutants and influenza incidence was nonlinear and spatially heterogeneous. Relevant departments should improve the monitoring of influenza epidemic, optimize the allocation of resources, reduce environmental pollution, and strengthen vaccination to effectively prevent the aggravation and spread of influenza epidemic in the high incidence season and areas.

Effects of Road Dust Particle Size on Mineralogy, Chemical Bulk Content, Pollution and Health Risk Analyses.

Because of the rising environmental and health concerns associated with atmospheric pollution caused by potentially toxic elements (PTEs), several road dust studies have been performed across the world in recent decades. This paper illustrates the effects of particle size on the PTE contents, mineralogical composition, environmental pollution and health risk assessments in road dust from Barcelona (Spain). The samples were sieved into five size fractions ranging from <45 to 500-800 µm. Although the major mineral contents (tectosilicates, phyllosilicates, and carbonates) were profuse in all fractions, the identified inhalable PTE particles (e.g., Fe, Cr, Cu, Zn, Ni, and REE), with size < 10 µm, were more pervasive in the finest fraction (<45 µm). This is consistent with the concentrations measured: the finest fractions were richer in PTEs than the coarser ones, resulting in a direct correlation with the enrichment factor (EFx), geo-accumulation (Igeo), and non-carcinogenic (HI) and carcinogenic (CRI) values. Igeo and EFx values can be appropriate tracers for some common elements (e.g., Zn, Sb, Sn, Cu, and Cr), but they do not seem adequate for anthropogenic particles accumulated at concentrations similar to the geogenic background. Overall, the HI and CRI values obtained in Barcelona were acceptable, reflecting no serious health impacts in the study area, except for Cr. Our results suggest that fine dust particles are a more suitable fraction to conduct pollution and health risk assessments than coarser ones, although the EFx, Igeo, HI, and CRI threshold values should be redefined in the future to include all emergent pollutants as well. In summary, monitoring programs should include at least the road dust evaluation of <45 µm particles, which can be performed with a simple sieving method, which is both time- and cost-effective.

[Distribution and Biotoxicity of Endogenous Pollutants in Pennisetum sp. Biochar from Different Polluted Areas].

Due to the wide sources of biomass raw materials and the lack of limits for the endogenous pollutants in biochar and their dosage, some biochar with high endogenous pollutants may be used for environmental remediation, which results in potential environmental risks. In this study, three biochars were prepared from the straws of Pennisetum sp. grown in clean, moderately polluted and highly polluted soils, respectively. The total endogenous copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd), acid-soluble fraction, and persistent free radical (PFRs) distribution in biochars were investigated, and their biotoxicities were evaluated based on wheat root elongation inhibition rate and antioxidant enzyme activity. The results indicated that total Cu in Jiuniu biochar from the highly polluted soil and total Cd in Shuiquan biochar from the moderately-polluted soil were 3.73 and 4.43 times higher than that in Hongrang biochar from the clean soil, respectively. Moreover, acid-soluble Cu in Jiuniu biochar was 3.32 and 2.84 times higher than that in Shuiquan and Hongrang biochar, respectively, and acid-soluble Cd in Shuiquan and Jiuniu biochar was 7.95 and 5.11 times higher than that in Hongrang biochar, respectively. All three biochars had PFRs with adjacent oxygen atoms centered on carbon and followed the order of Hongrang>Jiuniu>Shuiquan. Three biochar leaching solutions significantly inhibited wheat root elongation but enhanced the enzyme activities of SOD, POD, and CAT for the wheat seedlings compared with that in the control. In particular, the highest inhibition rate (27.7%) was found in Jiuniu biochar. This study indicated that the interaction of endogenous heavy metals and PFRs in biochar exhibited significant biotoxicity to wheat seedlings. In the future, more attention should be paid to the potential environmental toxicity of endogenous pollutants from biochar to avoid new environmental pollution problems.

[Ecological Toxic Effect of Perfluorinated Compounds on Fish Based on Meta-analysis].

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are refractory organic pollutants, which are characterized by ubiquity, bioaccumulation, and biological toxicity. To explore the biotoxic effects of PFAS on fish, this study reviewed 64 publications. The toxicity of PFAS on functional traits of fish exposed to PFAS was analyzed based on Meta-analysis combined with effect sizes, which provided reference for the toxicity assessment of PFAS and was conducive to the priority control and management of PFAS pollution. The results showed that:① of the 12 functional traits studied, seven were found to be vulnerable in fish; the order of toxicity response was malformation (lnRR=-2.5599), development (lnRR=-0.4103), cell damage (lnRR=-0.3962), reproduction (lnRR=-0.3724), thyroid response (lnRR=-0.2492), growth (lnRR=-0.2194), and survival (lnRR=-0.2192). ② The aquatic toxicity of PFAS was significantly affected by the sex and developmental stage of fish. PFAS tended to have adverse effects on female fish (lnRR=-0.1628), and the physiological function of embryos was most significantly affected by PFAS (lnRR=-0.3553). ③ A total of 13 PFAS were involved in the study, among which PFAS with sulfonate groups and long-chains were more likely to have significant toxicity to the functional traits of fish (P<0.05).④ Existing data revealed that PFAS tended to produce acute toxicity to fish at medium and low concentrations (0.01-10 mg·L-1, P<0.05).

A double-quenching paperclip ECL biosensing platform for ultrasensitive detection of antibiotic resistance genes (mecA) based on Ti3C2 MXene-Au NPs as a coreactant accelerator.

The global spread of environmental biological pollutants, such as antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), has emerged as a critical public health concern. It is imperative to address this pressing issue due to its potential implications for public health. Herein, a DNA paperclip probe with double-quenching function of target cyclic cleavage was proposed, and an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensing platform was constructed using Ti3C2 MXene in-situ reduction growth of Au NPs (TCM-Au) as a coreactant accelerator, and applied to the sensitive detection of ARGs. Thanks to the excellent catalytic performance, large surface area and Au-S affinity of TCM-Au, the ECL performance of CdS QDs have been significantly improved. By cleverly utilizing the negative charge of the paperclip nucleic acid probe and its modification group, double-quenching of the ECL signal was achieved. This innovative approach, combined with target cyclic amplification, facilitated specific and sensitive detection of the mecA gene. This biosensing platform manifested highly selective and sensitive determination of mecA genes in the range of 10 fM to 100 nM and a low detection limit of 2.7 fM. The credible detectability and anti-interference were demonstrated in Yangtze river and Aeration tank outlet, indicating its promising application toward pollution monitoring of ARGs.

Exposure profiles in pregnant women from a birth cohort in a highly contaminated area of southern Italy.

Protecting the health of pregnant women from environmental stressors is crucial for reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases. In industrially contaminated sites, this action is particularly challenging due to the heterogeneous pollutant mixtures in environmental matrices. The aim of this study was to evaluate distribution patterns of mercury, hexachlorobenzene and polychlorobiphenyls in the serum of 161 pregnant women recruited in the framework of the Neonatal Environment and Health Outcomes (NEHO) cohort and living both inside and outside the National Priority Contaminated Site (NPCS) of Priolo. Food macro-categories were determined, and serum levels of contaminants were used to perform k-means cluster analysis and identify the role of food in pollutant transfer from the environment. Two groups of mothers with high and low measured pollutant levels were distinguished. Concentrations in mothers in the high-exposure cluster were at least twofold for all the evaluated pollutants (p < 0.0001) and included mothers living inside and outside NPCS, with a predominance of individuals from the NPCS (p = 0.045). Fish consumption was higher in the high-exposure cluster (p = 0.019). These findings suggest a link between contamination of environmental matrices such as sediment with maternal exposure, through the intake of local food. Such consideration appears poorly investigated in the context of contaminated sites.

The origin of suspended particulate matter in the Great Barrier Reef.

River run-off has long been regarded as the largest source of organic-rich suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), contributing to high turbidity, pollutant exposure and increasing vulnerability of coral reef to climate change. However, the terrestrial versus marine origin of the SPM in the GBR is uncertain. Here we provide multiple lines of evidence (13C NMR, isotopic and genetic fingerprints) to unravel that a considerable proportion of the terrestrially-derived SPM is degraded in the riverine and estuarine mixing zones before it is transported further offshore. The fingerprints of SPM in the marine environment were completely different from those of terrestrial origin but more consistent with that formed by marine phytoplankton. This result indicates that the SPM in the GBR may not have terrestrial origin but produced locally in the marine environment, which has significant implications on developing better-targeted management practices for improving water quality in the GBR.

Estrogens and endocrine-disrupting chemicals differentially impact the bioenergetic fluxes of mammary epithelial cells in two- and three-dimensional models.

Due to its sensitivity to hormonal signaling, the mammary gland is often referred to as a sentinel organ for the study of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), environmental pollutants that can interfere with the estrogen signaling pathway and induce mammary developmental defects. If and how EDCs impact mammary epithelial cell metabolism has not yet been documented. Herein, to study how estrogens and EDCs modulate mammary gland metabolism, we performed bioenergetic flux analyses using mouse mammary epithelial organoids compared to cells grown in monolayer culture. Several EDCs were tested, including bisphenol A (BPA), its close derivative BPS, a new BPA replacement copolyester called TritanTM, and the herbicide glyphosate. We report that estrogens reprogrammed mammary epithelial cell metabolism differently when grown in two- and three-dimensional models. Specific EDCs were also demonstrated to alter bioenergetic fluxes, thus identifying a new potential adverse effect of these molecules. Notably, organoids were more sensitive to low EDC concentrations, highlighting them as a key model for screening the impact of various environmental pollutants. Mechanistically, transcriptomic analyses revealed that EDCs interfered with the regulation of estrogen target genes and the expression of metabolic genes in organoids. Furthermore, co-treatment with the anti-estrogen fulvestrant blocked these metabolic impacts of EDCs, suggesting that, at least partially, they act through modulation of the estrogen receptor activity. Finally, we demonstrate that mammary organoids can be used for long-term studies on EDC exposure to study alterations in organogenesis/morphogenesis and that past pregnancies can modulate the sensitivity of mammary epithelial organoids to specific EDCs. Overall, this study demonstrates that estrogens and EDCs modulate mammary epithelial cell metabolism in monolayer and organoid cultures. A better understanding of the metabolic impacts of EDCs will allow a better appreciation of their adverse effects on mammary gland development and function.

A data-derived reference mixture representative of European wastewater treatment plant effluents to complement mixture assessment.

Aquatic environments are polluted with a multitude of organic micropollutants, which challenges risk assessment due the complexity and diversity of pollutant mixtures. The recognition that certain source-specific background pollution occurs ubiquitously in the aquatic environment might be one way forward to approach mixture risk assessment. To investigate this hypothesis, we prepared one typical and representative WWTP effluent mixture of organic micropollutants (EWERBmix) comprised of 81 compounds selected according to their high frequency of occurrence and toxic potential. Toxicological relevant effects of this reference mixture were measured in eight organism- and cell-based bioassays and compared with predicted mixture effects, which were calculated based on effect data of single chemicals retrieved from literature or different databases, and via quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs). The results show that the EWERBmix supports the identification of substances which should be considered in future monitoring efforts. It provides measures to estimate wastewater background concentrations in rivers under consideration of respective dilution factors, and to assess the extent of mixture risks to be expected from European WWTP effluents. The EWERBmix presents a reasonable proxy for regulatory authorities to develop and implement assessment approaches and regulatory measures to address mixture risks. The highlighted data gaps should be considered for prioritization of effect testing of most prevalent and relevant individual organic micropollutants of WWTP effluent background pollution. The here provided approach and EWERBmix are available for authorities and scientists for further investigations. The approach presented can furthermore serve as a roadmap guiding the development of archetypic background mixtures for other sources, geographical settings and chemical compounds, e.g. inorganic pollutants.

Fluorescent nanostructured carbon dot-aptasensor for chlorpyrifos detection: Elucidating the interaction mechanism for an environmentally hazardous pollutant.

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is a commonly used insecticide found in many water sources and is related to several health and environmental effects. Biosensors based on aptamers (single-stranded nucleic acid oligonucleotides) are promising alternatives to achieve the detection of CPF and other pesticides in natural waters. However, several challenges need to be addressed to promote the real application of functional aptasensing devices. In this work, an ssDNA aptamer (S1) is combined with carbon quantum dots (CD) and graphene oxide (GO) to produce a stable fluorescent aptasensor characterized through spectrophotometric and electrophoretic techniques. For a deeper understanding of the system, the mechanism of molecular interaction was studied through docking modeling using free bioinformatic tools like HDOCK, showing that the stem-loops and the higher guanine (G) content are crucial for better interaction. The model also suggests the possibility of generating a truncated aptamer to improve the binding affinity. The biosensor was evaluated for CPF detection, showing a low LOD of 0.01 µg L-1 and good specificity in tap water, even compared to other organophosphates pesticides (OPs) like profenofos. Finally, the recovery of the proposed aptasensor was evaluated in some natural water using spiked samples and compared with UPLC MS-MS chromatography as the gold standard, showing a good recovery above 2.85 nM and evidencing the need of protecting ssDNA aptamers from an erratic interaction with the aromatic groups of dissolved organic matter (humic substances). This work paves the way for a better aptasensors design and the on-site implementation of novel devices for environmental monitoring.

Microplastics influence on herbicides removal and biosurfactants production by a Bacillus sp. strain active against Fusarium culmorum.

The amounts of anthropogenic pollutants, e.g., microplastics (MPs) and pesticides, in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems have been increasing. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of MPs on the removal of herbicides (metolachlor, MET; 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2,4-D) and the production of biosurfactants (surfactin and iturin) by Bacillus sp. Kol L6 active against Fusarium culmorum. The results showed that Kol L6 eliminated 40-55% MET and 2,4-D from liquid cultures, but this process was inhibited in the presence of MPs. Although the pollutants did not strongly limit the production of surfactin, iturin secretion was found to decrease by more than 70% in the presence of all three pollutants. Interestingly, the strongest modification in the profile of iturin homologues was calculated for the cultures containing MET + MP and 2,4-D + MET + MP. The bacteria significantly limited the growth of the phytopathogenic F. culmorum DSM1094F in the presence of individual pollutants and their two-component mixtures. However, in the presence of all three tested pollutants, the growth of the fungus was limited only partially (by no more than 40%). The presented results are a starting point for further research on bacteria-fungi-plants interactions in the soil environment in the presence of multiple pollutants.

Short-term association of CO and NO2 with hospital visits for glomerulonephritis in Hefei, China: a time series study.

Objective: Recent studies suggest air pollution as an underlying factor to kidney disease. However, there is still limited knowledge about the short-term correlation between glomerulonephritis (GN) and air pollution. Thus, we aim to fill this research gap by investigating the short-term correlation between GN clinical visits and air pollution exposure. Methods: Between 2015 and 2019, daily GN visit data from two grade A tertiary hospitals in Hefei City were collected, along with corresponding air pollution and meteorological data. A generalized linear model integrated with a distributed lag nonlinear model was employed to analyze the relationship between GN visits and air pollutants. Moreover, we incorporated a dual pollutant model to account for the combined effects of multiple pollutants. Furthermore, subgroup analyses were performed to identify vulnerable populations based on gender, age, and season. Results: The association between 23,475 GN visits and air pollutants was assessed, and significant positive associations were found between CO and NO2 exposure and GN visit risk. The single-day lagged effect model for CO showed increased risks for GN visits from lag0 (RR: 1.129, 95% CI: 1.031-1.236) to lag2 (RR: 1.034, 95% CI: 1.011-1.022), with the highest risk at lag0. In contrast, NO2 displayed a more persistent impact (lag1-lag4) on GN visit risk, peaking at lag2 (RR: 1.017, 95% CI: 1.011-1.022). Within the dual-pollutant model, the significance persisted for both CO and NO2 after adjusting for each other. Subgroup analyses showed that the cumulative harm of CO was greater in the cold-season and older adult groups. Meanwhile, the female group was more vulnerable to the harmful effects of cumulative exposure to NO2. Conclusion: Our study indicated that CO and NO2 exposure can raise the risk of GN visits, and female and older adult populations exhibited greater susceptibility.

Dynamicity, emerging patterns, and spatiotemporal trends of scientific production on the use of activated carbon in oral health: a scientometric study.

BACKGROUND: The use of activated carbon (AC) in oral hygiene products has gained significant interest; however, its potential benefits for oral health remain uncertain. This study aimed to conduct a scientometric analysis to examine the dynamicity, emerging patterns, and trends over time in scientific production concerning the use of AC in oral health. METHODS: The Web of Science database was searched for articles published between 2005 and 2022. Various bibliometric indicators, including the H-index, annual growth, Lotka's law, Bradford's law, and Sankey diagram, were used for data analysis. Overlay maps, timezone visualization, and three field plots were used to evaluate visualization patterns, time-temporal relationships, and trends. Information retrieval process was performed on March 11, 2023. RESULTS: The analysis revealed that only six studies constituted the top references with the highest number of citations in recent years, with Brooks' 2017 study demonstrating the most significant increase in citation. The dual-map overlay demonstrated a close citation relationship between cluster 4 (Molecular Biology Immunology) and the areas of Environmental, Toxicology, and Nutrition. The visualization graph of publication patterns indicated the journals that accumulated the highest number of citations during the study period. CONCLUSION: This scientometric study provides valuable insights into the use of AC in oral health and its impact on the field of dentistry. It determines the most productive journals, authors, and countries with the greatest influence. AC effectively removes pollutants and is gaining interest for use in dental effluent treatment. Thus, it may be a viable option for professionals.

Recent advances in fungal xenobiotic metabolism: enzymes and applications.

Fungi have been extensively studied for their capacity to biotransform a wide range of natural and xenobiotic compounds. This versatility is a reflection of the broad substrate specificity of fungal enzymes such as laccases, peroxidases and cytochromes P450, which are involved in these reactions. This review gives an account of recent advances in the understanding of fungal metabolism of drugs and pollutants such as dyes, agrochemicals and per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), and describes the key enzymes involved in xenobiotic biotransformation. The potential of fungi and their enzymes in the bioremediation of polluted environments and in the biocatalytic production of important compounds is also discussed.