Search

To report cancer detection rate (CDR) and abnormal interpretation rate (AIR) in prostate MRI performed for clinical suspicion of prostate cancer (PCa). This retrospective single-institution, three-center study included patients who underwent MRI for clinical suspicion of PCa between 2017 and 2021. Patients with known PCa were excluded. Patient-level Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) score was extracted from the radiology report. AIR was defined as number of abnormal MRI (PI-RADS score 3-5) / total number of MRIs. CDR was defined as number of clinically significant PCa (csPCa: Gleason score ≥7) detected at abnormal MRI / total number of MRI. AIR, CDR, and CDR adjusted for pathology confirmation rate were calculated for each of three centers and pre-MRI biopsy status (biopsy-naive and previous negative biopsy). A total of 9,686 examinations (8,643 unique patients) were included. AIR, CDR, and CDR adjusted for pathology confirmation rate were 45.4%, 23.8%, and 27.6% for center I; 47.2%, 20.0%, and 22.8% for center II; and 42.3%, 27.2%, and 30.1% for center III, respectively. Pathology confirmation rate ranged from 81.6% to 88.0% across three centers. AIR and CDR for biopsy-naive patients were 45.5% to 52.6% and 24.2% to 33.5% across three centers, respectively, and those for previous negative biopsy were 27.2% to 39.8% and 11.7% to 14.2% across three centers, respectively. We reported CDR and AIR in prostate MRI for clinical suspicion of PCa. CDR needs to be adjusted for pathology confirmation rate and pre-MRI biopsy status for interfacility comparison. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of cancer detection rate (CDR) and abnormal interpretation rate (AIR) in prostate MRI for patients with low-grade prostate cancer (PCa). This three-center retrospective study included patients who underwent prostate MRI from 2017 to 2021 with known low-grade PCa (Gleason score 6) without prior treatment. Patient-level highest Prostate Imaging Reporting & Data System (PI-RADS®) score and pathologic diagnosis within 1 year after MRI were used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of prostate MRI in detecting clinically significant PCa (csPCa; Gleason score ≥ 7). The metrics AIR, CDR, and CDR adjusted for pathologic confirmation rate were calculated. Radiologist-level AIR-CDR plots were shown. Simulation AIR-CDR lines were created to assess the effects of different diagnostic performances of prostate MRI and the prevalence of csPCa. A total of 3,207 examinations were interpreted by 33 radiologists. Overall AIR, CDR, and CDR adjusted for pathologic confirmation rate at PI-RADS 3 to 5 (PI-RADS 4 and 5) were 51.7% (36.5%), 22.1% (18.8%), and 30.7% (24.6%), respectively. Radiologist-level AIR and CDR at PI-RADS 3 to 5 (PI-RADS 4 and 5) were in the 36.8% to 75.6% (21.9%-57.5%) range and the 16.3%-28.7% (10.9%-26.5%) range, respectively. In the simulation, changing parameters of diagnostic performance or csPCa prevalence shifted the AIR-CDR line. The authors propose CDR and AIR as performance metrics in prostate MRI and report reference performance values in patients with known low-grade PCa. There was variability in radiologist-level AIR and CDR. Combined use of AIR and CDR could provide meaningful feedback for radiologists to improve their performance by showing relative performance to other radiologists. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) component of the entry-level doctor of pharmacy degree program is essential in contributing to student pharmacists' education. Establishing an optimization process to assist students in matching to their highest preferred clinical sites is extremely important. The University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences uses a fourth year APPE match process designed to yield the best possible matches for the entire class while being perceived as fair and relatively easy to navigate. This article describes the evolution of this process. Across six years of data, satisfaction with the match process has been rated consistently high by students. Fairness with the process is also rated highly. Changes to the process have resulted in students receiving higher ranked preferences in more recent years. This was achieved while still following institution requirements for rural rotations and pre-matching. The APPE year yields a tremendous amount of learning for students as a culminating experience applying skills and knowledge to actual patients. Improving students' ability to customize their own schedule allows them to optimize these learning opportunities. A robust match process has been established and refined to meet the needs of the student pharmacists as they approach their fourth year of the curriculum. This process has been perceived as fair and relatively easy to navigate. Achievement of higher overall student rankings has been accomplished. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in body composition and metabolic factors may serve as biomarkers for the early detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The aim of this study was to capture the longitudinal changes in body composition and metabolic factors before diagnosis of PDAC. We performed a retrospective cohort study in which all patients (≥18 years) diagnosed with PDAC from 2002 to 2021 were identified. We collected all abdominal computed tomography scans and 10 different blood-based biomarkers up to 36 months before diagnosis. We applied a fully automated abdominal segmentation algorithm previously developed by our group for 3-dimensional quantification of body composition on computed tomography scans. Longitudinal trends of body composition and blood-based biomarkers before PDAC diagnosis were estimated using linear mixed models, compared across different time windows, and visualized using spline regression. We included 1690 patients in body composition analysis, of whom 516 (30.5%) had ≥2 prediagnostic computed tomography scans. For analysis of longitudinal trends of blood-based biomarkers, 3332 individuals were included. As an early manifestation of PDAC, we observed a significant decrease in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue (β = -1.94 [95% confidence interval (CI), -2.39 to -1.48] and β = -2.59 [95% CI, -3.17 to -2.02]) in area (cm2)/height (m2) per 6 months closer to diagnosis, accompanied by a decrease in serum lipids (eg, low-density lipoprotein [β = -2.83; 95% CI, -3.31 to -2.34], total cholesterol [β = -2.69; 95% CI, -3.18 to -2.20], and triglycerides [β = -1.86; 95% CI, -2.61 to -1.11]), and an increase in blood glucose levels. Loss of muscle tissue and bone volume was predominantly observed in the last 6 months before diagnosis. This study identified significant alterations in a variety of soft tissue and metabolic markers that occur in the development of PDAC. Early recognition of these metabolic changes may provide an opportunity for early detection. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additives may be present in amounts higher than 50% within plastic objects. Additives in plastics can be gradually released from microplastics (MPs) into the aquatic environment during their aging and fragmentation because most of them do not chemically react with the polymers. Some are known to be hazardous substances, which can cause toxicity effects on organisms and pose ecological risks. In this paper, the application of functional additives in MPs and their leaching in the environment are first summarized followed by their release mechanisms including photooxidation, chemical oxidation, biochemical degradation, and physical abrasion. Important factors affecting the additive release from MPs are also reviewed. Generally, smaller particle size, light irradiation, high temperature, dissolved organic matter (DOM) existence and alkaline conditions can promote the release of chemicals from MPs. In addition, the release of additives is also influenced by the polymer's structure, electrolyte types, as well as salinity. These additives may transfer into the organisms after ingestion and disrupt various biological processes, leading to developmental malformations and toxicity in offspring. Nonetheless, challenges on the toxicity of chemicals in MPs remain hindering the risk assessment on human health from MPs in the environment. Future research is suggested to strengthen research on the leaching experiment in the actual environment, develop more techniques and analysis methods to identify leaching products, and evaluate the toxicity effects of additives from MPs based on more model organisms. The work gives a comprehensive overview of current process for MP additive release in natural waters, summarizes their toxicity effects on organisms, and provides recommendations for future research. [Display omitted] • Common additives released from MPs include heavy metals, PAEs, BPA, BFRs and PFAS. • Polymers, temperature, light and co-existed pollutants mainly affect additive release. • Chemicals in MPs bioaccumulate in organisms by ingestion and exert toxicity effects. • Some additives cause neurotoxicity, inflammation, metabolic disorders and cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composting has emerged as a suitable method to convert or transform organic waste including manure, green waste, and food waste into valuable products with several advantages, such as high efficiency, cost feasibility, and being environmentally friendly. However, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), mainly malodorous gases, are the major concern and challenges to overcome in facilitating composting. Ammonia (NH 3) and volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), including hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), and methyl mercaptan (CH 4 S), primarily contributed to the malodorous gases emission during the entire composting process due to their low olfactory threshold. These compounds are mainly emitted at the thermophilic phase, accounting for over 70% of total gas emissions during the whole process, whereas methane (CH 4) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) are commonly detected during the mesophilic and cooling phases. Therefore, the human health risk assessment of malodorous gases using various indexes such as ECi (maximum exposure concentration for an individual volatile compound EC), HR (non-carcinogenic risk), and CR (carcinogenic risk) has been evaluated and discussed. Also, several strategies such as maintaining optimal operating conditions, and adding bulking agents and additives (e.g., biochar and zeolite) to reduce malodorous emissions have been pointed out and highlighted. Biochar has specific adsorption properties such as high surface area and high porosity and contains various functional groups that can adsorb up to 60%–70% of malodorous gases emitted from composting. Notably, biofiltration emerged as a resilient and cost-effective technique, achieving up to 90% reduction in malodorous gases at the end-of-pipe. This study offers a comprehensive insight into the characterization of malodorous emissions during composting. Additionally, it emphasizes the need to address these issues on a larger scale and provides a promising outlook for future research. [Display omitted] • Malodorous gases primarily detected during the thermophilic phase of composting. • NH 3 and H 2 S count more than 90% of total malodorous emissions from composting. • Bulking agents and additives effectively minimize emitted malodorous gases. • Biofilter is robust and environmentally friendly for VOCs treatment. • Human health risk assessment of malodorous emissions was quantified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorder is one of the major complications resulting in maternal death and serious adverse pregnancy outcomes. Uterine damage - principally that associated with cesarean section - is the leading risk factor for the development of PAS. However, the underlying pathogenesis of PAS related to uterine damage remains unclear.Methods: For this study, we constructed a mouse PAS model using hysterotomy to simulate a cesarean section in humans. Pregnant mice were sacrificed on embryonic days 12.5 (E12.5) and E17.5. Trophoblast invasion and placental vascularization were analyzed using Hematoxylin-Eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC), and the proportions of immune cells at the maternal-fetal interface were analyzed using flow cytometry. We analyzed the expressions of genes in the decidua and placenta using RNA sequencing and subsequent validation by QPCR, and measured serum angiogenic factors by ELISA.Results: Uterine damage led to increased trophoblast invasion and placental vascularization, with extensive changes to the immune-cell profiles at the maternal-fetal interface. The proportions of T and NK cells in the deciduas diminished significantly, with the decidual NK cells and M - 2 macrophages showing the greatest decline. The expression of TNF-α and IL4 was upregulated in the deciduas, while that of IFN-γ and IL10 was downregulated significantly. The expression of Mmp2, Mmp9, Mmp3, and Dock4 was significantly elevated in the placenta, and the serum levels of anti-angiogenic factors were significantly attenuated.Discussion: Uterine damage can cause immune imbalance at the maternal-fetal interface, which may contribute to abnormal trophoblast invasion and enhanced vascularization of the mouse placenta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet the evolving role of today's pharmacist, student pharmacists need to be given independent responsibilities that increase in rigor as they advance through the curriculum and be able to practice both autonomously and as part of an interprofessional team. Quality improvement methods: The University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SSPPS) experiential programs office undertook a 20-year process of developing independence for students. Students faced increasing challenges and responsibilities as they moved through experiential practice settings, with constant, cyclic adjustments made in response to feedback. The continuous focus on developing independence in students has established a culture of trust in the Colorado pharmacy practice community. Students are allowed autonomy, and are challenged with increasing rigor as they advance. Graduates are well-prepared to perform both independently and as part of a team. The curricular framework based on trust and independent learning has helped the SSPPS train student pharmacists to meet the demands of current pharmacy practice, as well as expected roles in the future. Requiring increasing responsibilities from students as they move through the curriculum allows them to move along the spectrum set up through the entrustable professional activity (EPA) assessments to achieve high ratings for an individual skill. Continuous feedback and adjustments are necessary to identify what can be accomplished in pharmacy practice settings. This 20-year approach to curricular design and modifications within experiential education has produced independent pharmacy practitioners upon graduation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed nano-priming can be used as an advanced technology for enhancing seed germination, plant growth, and crop productivity; however, the potential role of seed nano-priming in ameliorative cadmium (Cd) bio-toxicity under Cd stress has not yet been sufficiently investigated. Therefore, in this study we investigated the beneficial impacts of seed priming with low (L) and high (H) concentrations of nanoparticles including nSiO 2 (50/100 mg L−1), nTiO 2 (20/60 mg L−1), nZnO (50/100 mg L−1), nFe 3 O 4 (100/200 mg L−1), nCuO (50/100 mg L−1), and nCeO 2 (50/100 mg L−1) on lettuce growth and antioxidant enzyme activities aiming to assess their efficacy for enhancing plant growth and reducing Cd phytotoxicity. The results showed a significant increase in plant growth, biomass production, antioxidant enzyme activities, and photosynthetic efficiency in lettuce treated with nano-primed nSiH + Cd (100 mg L−1), nTiH + Cd (60 mg L−1), and nZnL + Cd (50 mg L−1) under Cd stress. Moreover, nano-priming effectively reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in lettuce shoots. Interestingly, nano-primed nSiH + Cd, nTiH + Cd, and nZnL + Cd demonstrated efficient reduction of Cd uptake, less translocation factor of Cd with high tolerance index, ultimately reducing toxicity by stabilizing the root morphology and superior accumulation of critical nutrients (K, Mg, Ca, Fe, and Zn). Thus, this study provides the first evidence of alleviating Cd toxicity in lettuce by using multiple nanoparticles via priming strategy. The findings highlight the potential of nanoparticles (Si, Zn, and Ti) as stress mitigation agents for improved crop growth and yield in Cd contaminated areas, thereby offering a promising and advanced approach for remediation of Cd contaminated environments. [Display omitted] • Seed nano-priming improved the growth and photosynthetic efficiency of lettuce. • Seed priming with Si, Ti, Zn nanoparticles (NPs) lowered Cd uptake/translocation. • Seed priming with Si, Ti and Zn- NPs improved lettuce antioxidant defense system. • Si, Ti and Zn- NPs alleviated Cd bio-toxicity and mitigated its bio-stress. • Seed nano-priming can be used as advanced approach for decontamination of soil Cd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone biochar (BC) has a high capacity for the immobilization of potentially toxic elements (PTEs); however, its effect on dendroremediation efficiency remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effects of various concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, and 2 wt%) of BC, ball-milled BC (MBC), and Fe–Mn oxide-modified BC (FMBC) on soil properties, plant growth, and metal accumulation in Salix jiangsuensis "172" (SJ-172) grown in cadmium (Cd)- and zinc (Zn)-contaminated soil. BC and MBC promoted the photosynthetic rate, mineral element absorption, and plant growth of SJ-172, whereas FMBC inhibited the growth of SJ-172. Different biochars greatly influenced the concentrations of Cd and Zn in tissues of SJ-172. BC and MBC elevated the Cd levels, whereas FMBC decreased the Cd content in the leaves, stems, and cuttings of SJ-172. Unlikely, BC, MBC and FMBC show no evident change to the Zn concentration in the aboveground tissues of SJ-172, while decreased root Cd and Zn content compared with the control. MBC, at a 2.0% application rate, significantly increased the translocation factors of Cd (55.0%) and Zn (40.87%), whereas BC and FMBC demonstrated no significant effects compared with the control (P > 0.05). Moreover, 2.0% BC and MBC increased Cd and Zn accumulation in SJ-172 by 28.40 and 41.14, and 25.89 and 36.16%, respectively, whereas 2.0% FMBC reduced Cd and Zn accumulation by 53.20% and 13.18 %, respectively, compared with the control. The phytoremediation potential of SJ-172 for Cd- and Zn-contaminated soils was enhanced by MBC and BC, whereas it was lowered by FMBC compared to the control. These results provide novel insights for the application of fast-growing trees assisted by biochar amendments in the dendroremediation of severely PTEs-contaminated soil. [Display omitted] • Ball-milled bone biochar shows greater capacity to reduce the bioavailability of soil Cd/Zn. • Ball milling can accelerate the release of available phosphate from bone biochar. • 2.0 wt% ball-milled bone biochar elevated Cd/Zn concentration and accumulation in aerial portion of Salix jiangsuensis "172". • Excessive FeO x and MnO x in Fe–Mn oxide-modified biochar seriously impeded the growth and Cd/Zn accumulation of willow. • Ball-milled bone biochar-phytoremediation synergy can effectively remediate the heavily PTEs-contaminated soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorder is a major cause of maternal and fetal morbidity, and in vitro biomarkers are highly desired in clinic. This study enrolled three phases of 186 pregnant women, including controls, PAS patients, placenta previa (PP) patients, and pre-eclamptic (PE) patients. Initial miRNA array screened 42 out of 768 serum miRNAs in the screening phase, and then validated four miRNAs by quantitative RT-PCR in the training phase and validation phase. Their performance for PAS prenatal screening was analyzed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, sensitivity, and specificity. Data validated that four miRNAs (miR-139-3p, miR-196a-5p, miR-518a-3p, and miR-671-3p) were down-regulated in PAS group comparing with controls in three phases of subjects. Except for miR-518a-3p, the expression levels of these miRNAs also were significantly different between the PAS and the group including PP and PE. In addition, these biomarkers demonstrated modest screening efficiency, as the AUC ranged from 0.59 to 0.74, sensitivity 0.54 to 0.80, and specificity 0.62 to 0.76. However, the AUC and specificity can improve greatly (AUC 0.91, specificity 0.92) using a 'diagnostic signature' that combined the four miRNAs and four clinical parameters into one panel. GO and KEGG signaling pathway analysis indicated their target genes were involved in angiogenesis, embryonic development, cell migration and adhesion, and tumor-related pathways. In conclusion, the four miRNAs discovered in this study not only can be used for future non-invasive prenatal PAS screening, but also provide a new experimental basis for future research on PAS etiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of our case-control study were (1) to develop an automated 3-dimensional (3D) Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) for detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) on diagnostic computed tomography scans (CTs), (2) evaluate its generalizability on multi-institutional public data sets, (3) its utility as a potential screening tool using a simulated cohort with high pretest probability, and (4) its ability to detect visually occult preinvasive cancer on prediagnostic CTs. A 3D-CNN classification system was trained using algorithmically generated bounding boxes and pancreatic masks on a curated data set of 696 portal phase diagnostic CTs with PDA and 1080 control images with a nonneoplastic pancreas. The model was evaluated on (1) an intramural hold-out test subset (409 CTs with PDA, 829 controls); (2) a simulated cohort with a case-control distribution that matched the risk of PDA in glycemically defined new-onset diabetes, and Enriching New-Onset Diabetes for Pancreatic Cancer score ≥3; (3) multi-institutional public data sets (194 CTs with PDA, 80 controls), and (4) a cohort of 100 prediagnostic CTs (i.e., CTs incidentally acquired 3–36 months before clinical diagnosis of PDA) without a focal mass, and 134 controls. Of the CTs in the intramural test subset, 798 (64%) were from other hospitals. The model correctly classified 360 CTs (88%) with PDA and 783 control CTs (94%), with a mean accuracy 0.92 (95% CI, 0.91–0.94), area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve of 0.97 (95% CI, 0.96–0.98), sensitivity of 0.88 (95% CI, 0.85–0.91), and specificity of 0.95 (95% CI, 0.93–0.96). Activation areas on heat maps overlapped with the tumor in 350 of 360 CTs (97%). Performance was high across tumor stages (sensitivity of 0.80, 0.87, 0.95, and 1.0 on T1 through T4 stages, respectively), comparable for hypodense vs isodense tumors (sensitivity: 0.90 vs 0.82), different age, sex, CT slice thicknesses, and vendors (all P >.05), and generalizable on both the simulated cohort (accuracy, 0.95 [95% 0.94–0.95]; AUROC curve, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.94–0.99]) and public data sets (accuracy, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.82–0.90]; AUROC curve, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.86–0.95]). Despite being exclusively trained on diagnostic CTs with larger tumors, the model could detect occult PDA on prediagnostic CTs (accuracy, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.79–0.88]; AUROC curve, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.86–0.94]; sensitivity, 0.75 [95% CI, 0.67–0.84]; and specificity, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.85–0.95]) at a median 475 days (range, 93-1082 days) before clinical diagnosis. This automated artificial intelligence model trained on a large and diverse data set shows high accuracy and generalizable performance for detection of PDA on diagnostic CTs as well as for visually occult PDA on prediagnostic CTs. Prospective validation with blood-based biomarkers is warranted to assess the potential for early detection of sporadic PDA in high-risk individuals. [Display omitted] An automated artificial intelligence model shows promise for early pancreas cancer detection on standard computed tomographic scans at a stage when surgical cure may be possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing food demand has led to more intensive farming, which threatens our ecosystem and human health due to toxic elements accumulation. This study aimed to estimate the vulnerability of different agricultural systems with unequal high fertilizer input practices regarding toxic element pollution in the greenhouse, kiwifruit orchard, cereal field, and forest/grassland. Soil samples were collected from 181 sites across Shaanxi Province, China, and analyzed for selected characteristics and toxic elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn). The contamination factor (CF x) represents the ratio of the measured value of the toxic element in the soil over the soil background values. The CF x values of all the toxic elements were above background values, while Cd and Hg contamination levels were more severe than those of Zn, Cu, As, Cr, and Pb. Kiwifruit orchards and greenhouse soils were contaminated with Cd, Hg, Cu, and Zn, but cereal fields and forest/grassland soils were contaminated with As, Cd, Hg, and Hg. Overall, the cumulative pollution load (PLI) of toxic elements indicated moderate contamination. The cumulative ecological risk (RI) results indicated that greenhouse (178.81) and forest/grassland (156.25) soils were at moderate ecological risks, whereas kiwifruit orchards (120.97) and cereal field (139.72) soils were at low ecological risks. According to a Pearson correlation analysis, Cd, Hg, Cu, and Zn were substantially linked with soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorous (TP), and total potassium (TK). The primary sources of toxic elements were phosphate and potash fertilizers, manure, composts, and pesticides in a greenhouse, kiwifruit orchards, and cereal fields, whereas, in forest/grassland soils parent material and atmospheric deposition were the sources identified by positive matrix factorization (PMF). Furthermore, the partial least square structural equation model (PLS-SEM) demonstrated that agriculture inputs largely influenced toxic elements accumulation. We conclude that high fertilizer inputs in greenhouse soils should be considered carefully so that toxic element pollution may be minimized. [Display omitted] • Intensity of agriculture inputs influenced the toxic elements accumulation. • Toxic elements pollution load was at a moderate level in the study area. • Toxic elements ecological risk was moderate in greenhouse and forest/grassland. • Agriculture inputs were the source of toxic elements except for forest/grassland. • Impact of inputs on toxic elements was highest in the greenhouse soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorption and oxidation are two potential pathways for the decontamination of trivalent antimony (Sb(III))-bearing water, using iron (Fe)-modified biochar (FeBC). Here we investigated the sorption and oxidation behavior of FeBC for Sb(III) in aqueous solutions. Results revealed that Sb(III) removal by FeBC was significantly improved showing the maximum Sb(III) sorption (64.0 mg g−1). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicated that magnetite (Fe 3 O 4) in FeBC offered a sorption energy of −0.22 eV, which is 5 times that of non-modified biochar. With the addition of peroxymonosulfate (PMS), the sorption of Sb(III) on FeBC was 7 times higher than that on BC, indicating the sorption capacity of FeBC for Sb(III) could be substantially increased by adding oxidizing agents. Electrochemical analysis showed that Fe modification imparted FeBC higher electron-donating capacity than that of BC (0.045 v. s. 0.023 mmol e− (g biochar)−1), which might be the reason for the strong Sb(III) oxidation (63.6%) on the surface of FeBC. This study provides new information that is key for the development of effective biochar-based composite materials for the removal of Sb(III) from drinking water and wastewater. The findings from this study have important implications for protecting human health and agriculture. [Display omitted] • Fe 3 O 4 loading can increase E ads of Sb(III) over C O on biochar. • Most of the Sb(III) was oxidized by FeBC500 after sorption. • The electron-donating capacities of Fe-modified biochar increased by 195.6%. • A combination of FeBC500 and peroxymonosulfate greatly increased Sb(III) adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical wastes include all solid and liquid wastes that are produced during the treatment, diagnosis, and immunisation of animals and humans. A significant proportion of medical waste is infectious, hazardous, radioactive, and contains potentially toxic elements (PTEs) (i.e., heavy metal (loids)). PTEs, including arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg), are mostly present in plastic, syringes, rubber, adhesive plaster, battery wastes of medical facilities in elemental form, as well as oxides, chlorides, and sulfates. Incineration and sterilisation are the most common technologies adopted for the safe management and disposal of medical wastes, which are primarily aimed at eliminating deadly pathogens. The ash materials derived from the incineration of hazardous medical wastes are generally disposed of in landfills after the solidification/stabilisation (S/S) process. In contrast, the ash materials derived from nonhazardous wastes are applied to the soil as a source of nutrients and soil amendment. The release of PTEs from medical waste ash material from landfill sites and soil application can result in ecotoxicity. The present study is a review paper that aims to critically review the dynamisms of PTEs in various environmental media after medical waste disposal, the environmental and health implications of their poor management, and the common misconceptions regarding medical waste. [Display omitted] • Safe management of hazardous medical wastes is a major global challenge. • A significant proportion of medical waste is infectious, hazardous and radioactive. • Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in medical waste occur mostly as oxides. • Incinerated medical waste ash application can release PTEs to environment. • Chemical stabilisation is effective in preventing PTEs release into the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beryllium (Be) is a relatively rare element and occurs naturally in the Earth's crust, in coal, and in various minerals. Beryllium is used as an alloy with other metals in aerospace, electronics and mechanical industries. The major emission sources to the atmosphere are the combustion of coal and fossil fuels and the incineration of municipal solid waste. In soils and natural waters, the majority of Be is sorbed to soil particles and sediments. The majority of contamination occurs through atmospheric deposition of Be on aboveground plant parts. Beryllium and its compounds are toxic to humans and are grouped as carcinogens. The general public is exposed to Be through inhalation of air and the consumption of Be-contaminated food and drinking water. Immobilization of Be in soil and groundwater using organic and inorganic amendments reduces the bioavailability and mobility of Be, thereby limiting the transfer into the food chain. Mobilization of Be in soil using chelating agents facilitates their removal through soil washing and plant uptake. This review provides an overview of the current understanding of the sources, geochemistry, health hazards, remediation practices, and current regulatory mandates of Be contamination in complex environmental settings, including soil and aquatic ecosystems. [Display omitted] • Mining and anthropogenic activities are major sources of Be in the environment. • High Be concentrations are toxic to ecosystems and human health. • Be contamination occurs via atmospheric deposition on aboveground plant parts. • Immobilization using soil amendments is a practical approach for Be-remediation. • Be-remediation via phyto- and microbial means can be environmentally sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil acidification in managed ecosystems such as agricultural lands principally results from the increased releasing of protons (H+) from the transformation reactions of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) containing compounds. The incorporation of liming materials can neutralize the protons released, hence reducing soil acidity and its adverse impacts to the soil environment, food security, and human health. Biochar derived from organic residues is becoming a source of carbon input to soil and provides multifunctional values. Biochar can be alkaline in nature, with the level of alkalinity dependent upon the feedstock and processing conditions. This review covers the fundamental aspects of soil acidification and of the use of biochar to address constraints related to acidic soil. Biochar is increasingly considered as an effective soil amendment for reducing soil acidity owing to its liming potential, thereby enhancing soil fertility and productivity in acid soils. The ameliorant effect on acid soils is mainly because of the dissolution of carbonates, (hydro)-oxides of the ash fraction of biochar and potential use by microorganisms. [Display omitted] • In managed ecosystem, soil acidification results mainly from the carbon and nutrient cycling. • Acidification is a major soil constraint impacting soil health and heavy metal toxicity. • The level of alkalinity in biochar depends on the feedstock and processing conditions. • Biochar liming value is derived from carbonates, and hydro-oxides of the ash fraction. • Biochar ameliorates acid soils by suppling base cations and reducing aluminium toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing metals phytoextraction using gentile mobilizing agents might be an appropriate approach to increase the phytoextraction efficiency and to shorten the phytoremediation duration. The effect of sulfur-impregnated organoclay (SIOC) on the redistribution of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) among their geochemical fractions in soils and their plant uptake has not yet been studied. Therefore, our aim is to investigate the role of different SIOC application doses (1%, 3% and 5%) on operationally defined geochemical fractions (soluble + exchangeable; bound to carbonate; manganese oxide; organic matter; sulfide; poorly- and well-crystalline Fe oxide; and residual fraction) of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn, and their accumulation by pea (Pisum sativum) and corn (Zea mays) in a greenhouse pot experiment using a polluted floodplain soil. The SIOC caused a significant decrease in soil pH, and an increase in organic carbon and total sulfur content in the soil. The addition of SIOC increased significantly the soluble + exchangeable fraction and bioavailability of the metals. The SIOC leads to a transformation of the residual, organic, and Fe-Mn oxide fractions of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn to the soluble + exchangeable fraction. The SIOC addition increased the potential mobile (non-residual) fraction of Cr and Pb. The SIOC increased the sulfide fraction of Cr, Ni, and Zn, while it decreased the same fraction for Cd, Cu, and Pb. The effect of SIOC on the redistribution of metal fractions increased with enhancing application dosages. Pea accumulated more metals than corn with greater accumulation in the roots than shoots. Application of the higher dose of SIOC promoted the metals accumulation by roots and their translocation to shoots of pea and corn. Our results suggest the potential suitability of SIOC for enhancing the phytomanagement of PTEs polluted soils and reducing the environmental risk of these pollutants. Image 1 • Organoclay decreased soil pH and increased Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn mobilization. • Organoclay addition to the soil altered the geochemical fractions of the metals. • Organoclay promoted the uptake of metals by pea and corn roots and shoots. • Organoclay demonstrates a great potential to enhance the phytoextraction of metals. Sulfur-impregnated organoclay altered the distribution of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn among their geochemical fractions and increased their uptake by roots and their translocation into the shoots of pea and corn in a polluted floodplain soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-impregnated biochars were fabricated by pyrolysis of spent coffee grounds (SCG) or glucose as carbon (C) sources under N 2 and CO 2 . The formed biochar samples were characterized with FE-SEM, TEM/EDS, XRD, TGA, Raman, XPS, and BET, and further used as catalytic medium for the reduction of p -nitrophenol in the presence of NaBH 4 . The physicochemical characteristics of biochar significantly changed with the types of C precursor and flow gas stream. The biochar from pyrolysis of SCG under N 2 gas stream showed good dispersion of Co nanoparticles (10–20 nm) in carbon matrix as compared to that produced under CO 2 stream, but BET surface area was very small (4.5 m 2 g −1 ) due to pore blockage by thermal degradation products. SCG-derived biochar formed in the presence of CO 2 possessed highly porous structure due to CO 2 -assisted C volatilization. In contrast, for glucose-derived biochar, significant reduction in porosity of biochar occurred with excess devolatilization of C under CO 2 conditions, while the pyrolysis under N 2 flow produced porous biochar. These contrasting results demonstrated the significance of structure crystallinity and thermal degradability of C precursors. The catalytic performance of biochar was better correlated with the external surface area rather than microporosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive analysis of content, pollution characteristics, health hazard, distribution, and source of some broadly concerned potentially toxic elements (PTEs, Pb, V, Mn, Cr, Ba, Zn, Ni, and Cu) in surface fine dust with particle size <63 μm (SFD63) from residence communities in Xi'an, a representative valley industrial city, was conducted in this research to analyze the quality of environment and influencing factors of valley industrial cities in China. The average contents of Ba (794.1 mg kg−1), Cu (61.3 mg kg−1), Pb (99.9 mg kg−1), Zn (408.1 mg kg−1), Cr (110.0 mg kg−1), and Ni (33.4 mg kg−1) in SFD63 of Xi'an residence communities surpassed their background contents of local soil. The high enrichment-value regions of PTEs were chiefly located in the regions with high traffic flow, high population density, and areas around industries. Zn and Pb had moderate enrichment, and the overall pollution level of PTEs was unpolluted-to-moderate and moderate pollution. Three source categories (including natural geogenic source, industrial anthropogenic source, and mixed anthropogenic source of transportation, residential activities, and construction) were identified as the predominant sources for the PTEs pollution in SFD63, with the contribution levels of 29.9%, 32.4%, and 37.7%, respectively. The assessment of health risks according to Monte Carlo simulation revealed that the 95% of the non-cancer risk of PTEs to residents (the elderly, working people, and children) was less than the threshold of 1, while the probability of cancer risk exceeding the acceptable threshold of 1E-6 was 93.76% for children, 68.61% for the elderly, and 67.54% for working people. Industrial source was determined as priority pollution source and Cr was determined as priority pollutant, which should be concerned. [Display omitted] • Source-specific probabilistic health risk assessment was conducted in this study. • Surface fine dust of residential area had elevated toxic elements. • Mixed source was the main anthropogenic source of toxic elements in the fine dusts. • Toxic elements in the fine dusts had a certain cancer risk to the residents. • Industrial source and Cr were the priority control factors for pollution control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radionuclides released from nuclear contamination harm the environment and human health. Nuclear pollution spread over large areas and the costs associated with decontamination is high. Traditional remediation methods include both chemical and physical, however, these are expensive and unsuitable for large-scale restoration. Bioremediation is the use of plants or microorganisms to remove pollutants from the environment having a lower cost and can be upscaled to eliminate contamination from soil, water and air. It is a cheap, efficient, ecologically, and friendly restoration technology. Here we review the sources of radionuclides, bioremediation methods, mechanisms of plant resistance to radionuclides and the effects on the efficiency of biological adsorption. Uptake of radionuclides by plants can be facilitated by the addition of appropriate chemical accelerators and agronomic management, such as citric acid and intercropping. Future research should accelerate the use of genetic engineering and breeding techniques to screen high-enrichment plants. In addition, field experiments should be carried out to ensure that this technology can be applied to the remediation of nuclear contaminated sites as soon as possible. [Display omitted] • A comprehensive review on bioremediation of radionuclides and influencing factors. • Radionuclides from nuclear contamination bring harm to environment and public. • Bioremediation offers a low-cost approach with little environmental impact. • In the future, it is necessary to use genetic engineering and breeding methods to breed high-enrichment plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimony (Sb–V), a carcinogenic metalloid, is becoming prevalent in water and soil due to anthropogenic activities. Biochar could be an effective remedy for Sb(V)-contaminated water and soil. In this study, we used pristine and engineered pinecone-derived biochar as an innovative approach for treating Sb(V)-contaminated water and shooting range soil. Biochar was produced from pine–cone waste (pristine biochar) and enriched with Fe and Al salts via saturation (engineered biochar). Adsorption tests in water revealed that iron-modified biochar showed higher adsorption capacity (8.68 mg g−1) than that of the pristine biochar (2.49 mg g−1) and aluminum-modified biochar (3.40 mg g−1). Isotherm and kinetic modeling of the adsorption data suggested that the adsorption process varied from monolayer to multilayer, with chemisorption as the dominant interaction mechanism between Sb(V) and the biochars. The post-adsorption study of iron-modified biochar by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) further supported the chemical bonding and outer-sphere complexation of Sb(V) with Fe, N–H, O–H, C–O and C C components. The pristine and iron-modified biochars also successfully immobilized Sb(V) in a shooting range soil, more so in the latter. Subsequent sequential extractions and post-analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and elemental dot mapping revealed that Sb in the treated soil transformed to a more stable form. It was concluded that iron-modified biochar could act as an efficient material for the adsorption and immobilization of Sb(V) in water and soil, respectively. [Display omitted] • Production and characterization of pinecone pristine and engineered biochars. • Adsorption and immobilization of Sb in water and soil were studied. • Adsorption of antimony (Sb) is higher for engineered biochar than pristine. • Immobilization of Sb is also higher for engineered biochar than pristine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar obtained from biomass waste through pyrolysis has significant potential in wastewater treatment due to its large specific surface area and multi-functional active sites. In current study, sorghum straw (SS) was pyrolyzed to prepare various biochar under nitrogen atmosphere. Adsorption kinetics of prepared biochar toward tartrazine (TTZ) was systematically investigated, and the biochar was also characterized by using multiple techniques to explore the contribution of physicochemical properties to adsorption. Then, the biochar with optimum TTZ adsorption performance, was also applied as a catalyst for peroxydisulfate (PDS) activation to degrade TTZ. Factors including PDS concentration, solution pH, and reaction temperature were examined. The optimized degradation rate constant of TTZ (1.1627 min−1) was achieved under the conditions at 2 mM PDS, pH of 3, and 23 °C. In addition, the free radical trapping experiments and EPR spectra revealed that the reactive substances of electron (e −), 1O 2 , SO 4 •−, O 2 •−, and •OH contributed to TTZ degradation. Density Functional Theory (DFT) also concluded that the atoms C(6), O(12), N(16), N(17), C(18) and N(22) in TTZ molecule showed larger f 0 values which are vulnerable to radical attack. Therefore, the synergistic mechanism embodying adsorption and radical/non-radical processes were proposed. Besides, the degradation pathways of TTZ were identified with the aid of HPLC/MS technique, indicating that multiple reaction processes containing the symmetrical cleavage of azo bonds, the asymmetrical cleavage of C–N, desulfonation, and benzene-like structure cracking were involved. Therefore, this study provides a simple and effective catalytic system for TTZ degradation, and also realizes the resource utilization of solid waste. [Display omitted] • Sorghum straw-based biochar showed good adsorption capacity to tartrazine (TTZ). • TTZ could be well degraded through the catalysis of biochar/PDS system. • The degradation activation energy of TTZ was greatly decreased. • TTZ removal was attributed to the synergism of adsorption and radical/non-radical processes. • Toxicity of most degradation products (intermediates) was lower than that of TTZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The road condition of heavy-duty vehicles is generally complex, which includes rugged and bumpy terrain etc. The undesired shifting phenomenon occurs easily. Thus, the fuel consumption and pollution increase and the vehicles’ dynamic driving performance decline significantly. In this paper, an intelligent shift control method based on the identification of road roughness level is developed. The road roughness level is reflected by engine speed change rate signal. Then, the shift control model is built to modify the shift points. The method is validated by the simulation and test data. The results prove that the methods are validity and feasibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are at the forefront of many technological breakthroughs in science and engineering. The extensive use of ENMs in several consumer products has resulted in their release to the aquatic environment. ENMs entering the aquatic ecosystem undergo a dynamic transformation as they interact with organic and inorganic constituents present in aquatic environment, specifically abiotic factors such as NOM and clay minerals, and attain an environmental identity. Thus, a greater understanding of ENM-abiotic factors interactions is required for an improved risk assessment and sustainable management of ENMs contamination in the aquatic environment. This review integrates fundamental aspects of ENMs transformation in aquatic environment as impacted by abiotic factors, and delineates the recent advances in bioavailability and ecotoxicity of ENMs in relation to risk assessment for ENMs-contaminated aquatic ecosystem. It specifically discusses the mechanism of transformation of different ENMs (metals, metal oxides and carbon based nanomaterials) following their interaction with the two most common abiotic factors NOM and clay minerals present within the aquatic ecosystem. The review critically discusses the impact of these mechanisms on the altered ecotoxicity of ENMs including the impact of such transformation at the genomic level. Finally, it identifies the gaps in our current understanding of the role of abiotic factors on the transformation of ENMs and paves the way for the future research areas. • ENM disposed in the aquatic environment interact with abiotic factors – clay and NOM. • Interactions of ENM with clay and NOM influence their transformation in aquatic media. • ENM attain a new environmental identity after interacting with abiotic factors. • The ecotoxic potential of ENM is governed by their interaction with abiotic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays a significant role in the photochemical behavior of nano- and micro-plastic particles (NPs/MPs). We investigated the influence of DOM on the mechanism on the photoaging of NPs/MPs with different molecular structures under UV 365 irradiation in water. DOM components used in this study are mainly humic acid and fulvic acid. The results showed that DOM promoted the weathering of aliphatic NPs/MPs (polypropylene (PP)), but inhibited or had only a minor effect on the photoaging of aromatic NPs/MPs (polystyrene (PS) NPs/MPs, carboxyl-modified PS NPs, amino-modified PS NPs, and polycarbonate MPs). NPs with a large surface area may adsorb sufficient DOM on the particle surfaces through π-π interactions, which competes with NPs for photon absorption sites, thus, can delay the photoaging of PS NPs. Aromatic MPs may release phenolic compounds that quench •OH, thereby weakening the photoaging process. For aliphatic MPs, the detection of peracid, aldehyde, and ketone groups on the polymer surface indicated that DOM promoted weathering of PP MPs, which was primarily because the generation of •OH due to DOM photolysis may attack the polymer by C–C bond cleavage and hydrogen extraction reactions. This study provides insight into the UV irradiation weathering process of NPs/MPs of various compositions and structures, which are globally distributed in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive study of advanced oxidation was conducted over Co-Cu layered double hydroxide (LDH) catalysts, while the Co-Cu interaction mechanism at interfaces as well as oxygen vacancies (O v) on the production of hydroxyl radicals (•OH) were studied. Cu could promote the oxidation of Co2+ by depressing the formation of β-Co(OH) 2 and replacing Co sites in octahedral environment in α-Co(OH) 2. A Co 4 Cu 1 LDH catalyst showed the highest sulfadiazine (SDZ) removal efficiency of 93.7%. The reaction mechanism was assumed on the base of kinetics study of SDZ removal. The formation of Co-O-Cu oxo-bridge in MO 6 surroundings can enhance the generation of ameliorated O v , which improves the formation of surface hydroxyl for H 2 O 2 adsorption by boosting electron-transfer rate under the Co-Cu interaction at interfaces. This study paves a new way to the Fenton-Like catalysts R&D, especially orientating to the remediation of non-biodegradable organic wastes from pharmaceutical industry. [Display omitted] • Oxygen vacancies in Co-Cu LDH enhancing the yielding of •OH in Fenton-like reaction. • Mono-Co/Cu catalyst with high Ov density benefiting H 2 O 2 adsorption and •OH generation. • Co-Cu interaction boosting electron transfer for defects generation in Co-Cu LDH catalyst. • Co 4 Cu 1 catalyst with improved LDH structure showed 79.2% removal for sulfadiazine within 1 h. • Kinetics mechanism of oxidative degradation for SDZ elucidated the contribution of surface defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-derived saponins are bioactive surfactant compounds that can solubilize organic pollutants in environmental matrices, thereby facilitating pollutant remediation. Externally applied saponin has potential to enhance total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) biodegradation in the root zone (rhizosphere) of wild plants, but the associated mechanisms are not well understood. For the first time, this study evaluated a triterpenoid saponin (from red ash leaves, Alphitonia excelsa) in comparison to a synthetic surfactant (Triton X-100) for their effects on plant growth and biodegradation of TPH in the rhizosphere of two native wild species (a grass, Chloris truncata , and a shrub, Hakea prostrata). The addition of Triton X-100 at the highest level (1000 mg/kg) in the polluted soil significantly hindered the plant growth (reduced plant biomass and photosynthesis) and associated rhizosphere microbial activity in both the studied plants. Therefore, TPH removal in the rhizosphere of both plant species treated with the synthetic surfactant was not enhanced (at the lower level, 500 mg/kg soil) and even slightly decreased (at the highest level) compared to that in the surfactant-free (control) treatment. By contrast, TPH removal was significantly increased with saponin application (up to 60% in C. truncata at 1000 mg/kg due to enhanced plant growth and associated rhizosphere microbial activity). No significant difference was observed between the two saponin application levels. Dehydrogenase activity positively correlated with TPH removal (p < 0.001) and thus this parameter could be used as an indicator to predict the rhizoremediation efficiency. This work indicates that saponin-amended rhizoremediation could be an environmentally friendly and effective biological approach to remediate TPH-polluted soils. It was clear that the enhanced plant growth and rhizosphere microbial activity played a crucial role in TPH rhizoremediation efficiency. The saponin-induced molecular processes that promoted plant growth and soil microbial activity in the rhizosphere warrant further studies. [Display omitted] • Extract from Alphitonia excelsa leaves (red ash saponin) exhibited surfactant properties. • The saponin showed positive effects on rhizosphere microbes and plant growth. • Hydrocarbon removal was significantly enhanced (up to 60%) under saponin application. • Soil dehydrogenase activity could be used to predict the rhizoremediation efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Nature-based systems (NbS) can be retrofitted into the existing urban environment. • NbS show good performance for stormwater hydrology management and treatment. • Roadside vegetation acts as a biofilter to capture airborne environmental pollutants. • NbS provide ecosystem services, improve public health, and contribute to circularities. • Long-term studies are needed to develop guidelines for NbS installation and operation. In recent years, increasing attention has been given to the application of Nature-based systems (NbS) for mitigation of environmental pollution in cities. NbS namely bioretention systems, green roofs and constructed wetlands are widely adopted in urban environments for stormwater hydrology management and treatment, while roadside vegetation is utilized for mitigating air pollution of local traffic origin. Both bioretention systems and wetlands are capable of removing diverse pollutants such as total suspended solids, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) and potentially toxic elements from runoff. Green roofs can act as a sink, or a source of pollutants to roof runoff outflow depending on the composition of engineered media used in support of vegetation growth. A holistic understanding of NbS in terms of their wide range of ecosystem services, multi-functionality nature, and contribution to circularity in cities is currently lacking. NbS can improve public health by providing clean air to breathe and natural waters of better quality for various purposes, but this application is not fully elucidated with an integrated approach involving both air and water quality assessments. For effective use of NbS, fundamental laboratory studies on the relative importance of phytoremediation versus bioremediation, laboratory studies to assess their actual performance under diverse weather conditions, and numerical simulations of hydrology and airflow should be conducted in tandem. Furthermore, it is important to develop guidelines for the design, installation, operation and maintenance of NbS for effective removal of environmental pollutants in the context of sustainable urban development. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar-oxalic acid composite application (BCOA) have shown to be efficient in the remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated soil, but the functional degraders and the mechanism of improving biodegradation remains unclear. In this study, with the help of stable isotope probing technology of phenanthrene (Phe), we determined that BCOA significantly improved Phe mineralization by 2.1 times, which was ascribed to the increased numbers and abundances of functional degraders. The BCOA increased contents of dissolved organic carbon and available nutrients and decreased pH values in soil, thus promoting the activity, diversity and close cooperation of the functional Phe-degraders, and stimulating their functions associated with Phe degradation. In addition, there is a relay activity among more and diverse functional Phe-degraders in the soil with BCOA. Specifically, Pullulanibacillus persistently participated in Phe-degradation in the soil with BCOA throughout the incubation period. Moreover, Pullulanibacillus , Blastococcus , Alsobacter , Ramlibacter , and Mizugakiibacter were proved to be potential Phe-degraders in soil for the first time. The specific Phe degraders and their relay and cooperation activity in soils as impacted by BCOA were first identified with DNA-stable isotope probing technology. Our findings provided a novel perspective to understand the efficient degradation of PAH in the BCOA treatments, revealed the potential of soil native microbes in the efficient bioremediation of PAH-contaminated natural soil, and provided a basis for the development of in-situ phytoremediation technologies to remediate PAH pollution in future. [Display omitted] • Biochar-oxalic acid composites (BCOA) improved phenanthrene (Phe) mineralization. • Phe-degraders were identified based on DNA-SIP technology. • BCOA enhanced close cooperation among degraders for efficient Phe degradation. • BCOA promoted relay activity among special degraders for efficient Phe degradation. • Pullulanibacillus is a newly identified Phe-degrader in BCOA applied soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garden pruning waste is becoming a problem that intensifies the garbage siege. It is of great significance to purify polluted water using biochar prepared from garden pruning waste. Herein, the interaction mechanism between BPS and oriental plane tree biochar (TBC) with different surface functional groups was investigated by adsorption experiments, spectroscopic analysis and theoretical calculations. Adsorption kinetics and isotherm of BPS on TBC can be satisfactorily fitted into pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir models, respectively. A rapid adsorption kinetic toward BPS was achieved by TBC in 15 min. As compared with TBC prepared at low temperature (300 °C) (LTBC), the maximum adsorption capacity of TBC prepared at high temperature (600 °C) (HTBC) can be significantly improved from 46.7 mg g−1 to 72.9 mg g−1. Besides, the microstructure and surface functional groups of HTBC were characterized using SEM, BET-N 2, and XPS analysis. According to density functional theory (DFT) theoretical calculations, the higher adsorption energy of HTBC for BPS was mainly attributed to π-π interaction rather than hydrogen bonding, which was further supported by the analysis of FTIR and Raman spectra as well as the adsorption thermodynamic parameters. These findings suggested that by improving π-π interaction through high pyrolysis temperature, BPS could be removed and adsorbed by biochar with high efficacy, cost-efficiency, easy availability, and carbon-negative in nature, contributing to global carbon neutrality. [Display omitted] • Bisphenol S (BPS) can be rapidly adsorbed by biochar. • Biochar prepared at high temperature is conducive to BPS adsorption. • Biochar showed excellent surface area normalized Q m. • Mechanisms of BPS-biochar interaction are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the ever-increasing demand for lithium (Li) for portable energy storage devices, there is a global concern associated with environmental contamination of Li, via the production, use, and disposal of Li-containing products, including mobile phones and mood-stabilizing drugs. While geogenic Li is sparingly soluble, Li added to soil is one of the most mobile cations in soil, which can leach to groundwater and reach surface water through runoff. Lithium is readily taken up by plants and has relatively high plant accumulation coefficient, albeit the underlying mechanisms have not been well described. Therefore, soil contamination with Li could reach the food chain due to its mobility in surface- and ground-waters and uptake into plants. High environmental Li levels adversely affect the health of humans, animals, and plants. Lithium toxicity can be considerably managed through various remediation approaches such as immobilization using clay-like amendments and/or chelate-enhanced phytoremediation. This review integrates fundamental aspects of Li distribution and behaviour in terrestrial and aquatic environments in an effort to efficiently remediate Li-contaminated ecosystems. As research to date has not provided a clear picture of how the increased production and disposal of Li-based products adversely impact human and ecosystem health, there is an urgent need for further studies on this field. [Display omitted] • Biogeochemistry of Li influence bioavailability, toxicity, and remediation. • High Li levels adversely affect human and ecosystem health. • Li is readily taken up by plants and likely transferred into the food chain. • An integrated risk management of Li contaminated environments is needed. • Mechanisms and remediation possibilities of Li warrant further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Stress-associated conditions such as psychoemotional reactivity and depression have been paradoxically linked to either weight gain or weight loss. This bi-directional effect of stress is not understood at the functional level. Here we tested the hypothesis that pre-stress level of adaptive thermogenesis and brown adipose tissue (BAT) functions explain the vulnerability or resilience to stress-induced obesity. Methods We used wt and triple β1,β2,β3−Adrenergic Receptors knockout (β-less) mice exposed to a model of chronic subordination stress (CSS) at either room temperature (22 °C) or murine thermoneutrality (30 °C). A combined behavioral, physiological, molecular, and immunohistochemical analysis was conducted to determine stress-induced modulation of energy balance and BAT structure and function. Immortalized brown adipocytes were used for in vitro assays. Results Departing from our initial observation that βARs are dispensable for cold-induced BAT browning, we demonstrated that under physiological conditions promoting low adaptive thermogenesis and BAT activity (e.g. thermoneutrality or genetic deletion of the βARs), exposure to CSS acted as a stimulus for BAT activation and thermogenesis, resulting in resistance to diet-induced obesity despite the presence of hyperphagia. Conversely, in wt mice acclimatized to room temperature, and therefore characterized by sustained BAT function, exposure to CSS increased vulnerability to obesity. Exposure to CSS enhanced the sympathetic innervation of BAT in wt acclimatized to thermoneutrality and in β-less mice. Despite increased sympathetic innervation suggesting adrenergic-mediated browning, norepinephrine did not promote browning in βARs knockout brown adipocytes, which led us to identify an alternative sympathetic/brown adipocytes purinergic pathway in the BAT. This pathway is downregulated under conditions of low adaptive thermogenesis requirements, is induced by stress, and elicits activation of UCP1 in wt and β-less brown adipocytes. Importantly, this purinergic pathway is conserved in human BAT. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that thermogenesis and BAT function are determinant of the resilience or vulnerability to stress-induced obesity. Our data support a model in which adrenergic and purinergic pathways exert complementary/synergistic functions in BAT, thus suggesting an alternative to βARs agonists for the activation of human BAT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burnout syndrome has negative consequences on the dentist's health and performance during work. This systematic review aimed to assess the prevalence of Burnout syndrome in dentists. Searches were carried out in Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, EMBASE, LILACS databases, and searches in the gray literature on January 27, 2021. There were no restrictions on language and search period. For the diagnosis of Burnout, only studies that used the Maslach burnout inventory questionnaire and its subscales emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and reduced personal accomplishment (PA) were included. Proportion meta-analyses were performed using the Stata 13.0 software. A total of 37 articles were included in the narrative and 31 in quantitative syntheses. The overall prevalence of Burnout syndrome in dentists was 13% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.006-0.21; I ²: 97.07%) and the total prevalence in the subscales EE, DP, and PA, were, respectively: 28% (95% CI: 0.24-0.32; I ²: 20.70%), 18% (95% CI: 0.08-0.28; I ²: 85.61%) and 10% (95% CI: 0.08-0.13; I ²: 0%). About the levels of Burnout syndrome in the subscales, 25% (95% CI: 0.19-0.31; I ² 92.58%) presented high EE, 18% (95% CI: 0.10-0.26; I ² 96.62%) high DP and 32% (95% 0.20-0.45; I ² 97.86%) low PA. About continuous data, the mean of EE, DP and PA was respectively 17.90 (95% CI: 9.36-26.43; I ² 94.8), 6.93 (95% CI: 3.41-10.45; I ² 80.2) and, 34.69 (95% CI: 23.82-45.55; I ² 98.8). No study presented all the positive criteria of the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal checklist. In conclusion, there was a considerable prevalence of burnout syndrome in dentists, mainly in the subscale of emotional exhaustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous harmful chemicals are introduced every year in the environment through anthropogenic and geological activities raising global concerns of their ecotoxicological effects and decontamination strategies. Biochar technology has been recognized as an important pillar for recycling of biomass, contributing to the carbon capture and bioenergy industries, and remediation of contaminated soil, sediments and water. This paper aims to critically review the application potential of biochar with a special focus on the synergistic and antagonistic effects on contaminant-degrading microorganisms in single and mixed-contaminated systems. Owing to the high specific surface area, porous structure, and compatible surface chemistry, biochar can support the proliferation and activity of contaminant-degrading microorganisms. A combination of biochar and microorganisms to remove a variety of contaminants has gained popularity in recent years alongside traditional chemical and physical remediation technologies. The microbial compatibility of biochar can be improved by optimizing the surface parameters so that toxic pollutant release is minimized, biofilm formation is encouraged, and microbial populations are enhanced. Biocompatible biochar thus shows potential in the bioremediation of organic contaminants by harboring microbial populations, releasing contaminant-degrading enzymes, and protecting beneficial microorganisms from immediate toxicity of surrounding contaminants. This review recommends that biochar-microorganism co-deployment holds a great potential for the removal of contaminants thereby reducing the risk of organic contaminants to human and environmental health. [Display omitted] • Biochar facilitates contaminant biotransformation via adsorption and electron exchange. • Biochar supports microorganisms via carbon and nutrient supply and habitat provision. • Adsorption on biochar reduces contaminant bioavailability and toxicity to microorganisms. • Chemical release from biochar or nutrient immobilization could inhibit microbial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaching of herbicides in cropping soils not only impacts the groundwater sources but also reduces their effect in controlling weeds. Leaching studies were carried out in two cropping soils and two forestry biowaste media, wood pulp and sawdust with two herbicides, atrazine and bromacil in a packed lysimeter with simulated rainfall. The hypothesis was that high organic matter forestry biowaste soil amendments reduce the leaching of herbicides through the soil profile. Results from the experimental setups varied due to the impact of the simulated rainfall on the surface structure of the media. Organic carbon content, pH and structure of the media were all factors which affected the leaching of the two herbicides. The hypothesis was true for wood pulp, but for sawdust, organic matter content had less bearing on the leaching of the herbicides than other over-riding factors, such as pH, that were media specific. In sawdust, its large particle size and related pore volume allowed preferential flow of herbicides. Overall, the data indicated that both forestry biowastes were retentive to herbicide leaching, but the effect was more pronounced with wood pulp than sawdust. • Wood pulp and sawdust are two soil amendments than can reduce herbicide contamination leaching. • Both media were retentive to herbicides when soils were topped with a layer of them. • Leaching of atrazine and bromacil was mitigated by both wood pulp and sawdust. • Organic carbon content of wood pulp contributed to limiting herbicide leaching. • Particle size and pore volumes of sawdust had more bearing on herbicide leaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We sought to determine potential risk factors for upper genital tract inflammation in women with cervical Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, or bacterial vaginosis.Study Design: In a case-controlled study we compared 111 women with cervical Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, or bacterial vaginosis (the study group) with 24 women who had negative tests for each of these infections (the control group). We evaluated potential risk factors for upper genital tract inflammation by use of bivariate and then logistic regression analysis.Results: We found plasma cell endometritis in 53 of 111 women in the study group and 3 of 24 controls (odds ratio = 6.4, 95% confidence interval 1.7 to 35.0). On logistic regression, the study group women who were in the proliferative phase had increased likelihood of plasma cell endometritis (odds ratio = 4.5, 95% confidence interval 1.6 to 12.4).Conclusion: The proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle seems to be the primary risk factor for ascending infection by organisms associated with pelvic inflammatory disease. This may be due to a hormonal effect or to the loss of the cervical barrier during menstruation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of land use type on the content of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the soils of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) and the associated ecological and human health risks has drawn great attention. Consequently, in this study, top- and subsurface soil samples were collected from areas with four different land uses (i.e., cropland, forest, grassland, and developed area) and the total contents of Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were determined. Geostatistical analysis, self-organizing map (SOM), and positive matrix factorization (PMF), ecological risk assessment (ERA) and human health risk assessment (HRA) were applied and used to classify and identify the contamination sources and assess the potential risk. Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) was applied to clarify the relationship of land use with PTE contents and risk. The PTE contents in all topsoil samples surpassed the respective background concentrations of China and corresponding subsurface concentrations. However, the ecological risk of all soil samples remained at a moderate or considerable level across the four land use types. Developed area and cropland showed a higher ecological risk than the other two land use types. Industrial discharges (32.8%), agricultural inputs (22.6%), natural sources (23.7%), and traffic emissions (20.9%) were the primary PTE sources in the tested soils, which indicate that anthropogenic activities have significantly affected soil PTE contents to a greater extent than other sources. Industrial discharge was the most prominent source of non-carcinogenic health risk, contributing 37.7% for adults and 35.2% for children of the total risk. The results of PLS-PM revealed that land use change associated with intensive human activities such as industrial activities and agricultural practices distinctly affected the PTE contents in soils of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. [Display omitted] • Most samples from developed area and cropland posed a moderate ecological risk. •Industrial discharge was the prominent source of non-carcinogenic health risk. •Intensive human activities affected PTE contents in soils of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Capsule : The land use change associated with intensive human disturbance affected the soil PTEs accumulation, ecological risk and human health risk in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil heavy metal contamination has increasingly become a serious environmental issue globally, nearing crisis proportions. There is an urgent need to find environmentally friendly materials to remediate heavy-metal contaminated soils. With the continuing maturation of research on using biochar (BC) for the remediation of contaminated soil, nano-biochar (nano-BC), which is an important fraction of BC, has gradually attracted increasing attention. Compared with BC, nano-BC has unique and useful properties for soil remediation, including a high specific surface area and hydrodynamic dispersivity. The efficacy of nano-BC for immobilization of non-degradable heavy-metal contaminants in soil systems, however, is strongly affected by plant rhizosphere processes, and there is very little known about the role that nano-BC play in these processes. The rhizosphere represents a dynamically complex soil environment, which, although having a small thickness, drives potentially large materials fluxes into and out of plants, notably agricultural foodstuffs, via large diffusive gradients. This article provides a critical review of over 140 peer-reviewed papers regarding nano-BC-rhizosphere interactions and the implications for the remediation of heavy-metal contaminated soils. We conclude that, when using nano-BC to remediate heavy metal-contaminated soil, the relationship between nano-BC and rhizosphere needs to be considered. Moreover, the challenges to extending our knowledge regarding the environmental risk of using nano-BC for remediation, as well as further research needs, are identified. [Display omitted] • First review of implications of nano-BC-rhizosphere interactions. • Rhizosphere behaviour of nano-BC affects its ability to immobilize heavy metals. • Nano-BC and rhizosphere interactions trigger bioavailability changes in heavy metals. • Summary of environmental risks from using nano-BC for soil remediation. • Analysis of strategic research needs for using nano-BC to remediate heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron (III) co-precipitation with dissolved organic matter (DOM) is pervasive in many natural environments. However, the effects of DOM on the formation of Fe(III) hydroxysulfate (FHS) and its environmental implications are poorly understood. In this study, fulvic acid (FA) was used as a model DOM compound, and experiments were devised to investigate the effects of FA on the formation of FHS. In addition, the Pb(II) adsorption capabilities of FHSs biosynthesized under various FA dosages, including kinetics and sorption isotherm experiments, were conducted. These experiments showed that co-precipitation of FA promoted the formation of Fe-FA composites, FA-doped schwertmannite, and small particles of jarosite. Co-precipitates are more enriched in carboxyl (–COOH) functional groups due to their preferential binding with FHS. The adsorption kinetics, isotherms and mechanisms of Pb onto the biosynthesized FHSs were then comprehensively characterized and modeled. Though the specific surface area decreased with increasing FA loading, the introduction of FA into FHSs increased Pb(II) adsorption, with the highest concentration of FA addition improving the removal capacity of Pb(II) to 91.54%. Kinetics studies and intra-particle diffusion models indicated that the adsorption of Pb(II) onto the FHSs was correlated with the number of active sites, and two adsorption steps: surface adsorption and the diffusion of Pb(II) in channels inside the biosynthesized FHSs, are suggested. The adsorption mechanism was attributed to cation exchange between Pb(II) and –OH and –COOH functional groups, and the co-precipitated FA provided additional sites for Pb(II) adsorption by FHS. [Display omitted] • Coprecipitation induces formation of FA-doped schwertmannite and jarosite. • Coprecipitates are more enriched in aromatic C. • The introduction of FA into FHSs increases Pb(II) adsorption. • Cation exchange is the major mechanism for Pb(II) adsorption onto FHS-FA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land application of sewage sludge is increasingly used as an alternative to landfilling and incineration owing to a considerable content of carbon and essential plant nutrients in sewage sludge. However, the presence of chemical and biological contaminants in sewage sludge poses potential dangers; therefore, sewage sludge must be suitably treated before being applied to soils. The most common methods include anaerobic digestion, aerobic composting, lime stabilization, incineration, and pyrolysis. These methods aim at stabilizing sewage sludge, to eliminate its potential environmental pollution and restore its agronomic value. To achieve best results on land, a comprehensive understanding of the transformation of organic matter, nutrients, and contaminants during these sewage-sludge treatments is essential; however, this information is still lacking. This review aims to fill this knowledge gap by presenting various approaches to treat sewage sludge, transformation processes of some major nutrients and pollutants during treatment, and potential impacts on soils. Despite these treatments, overtime there are still some potential risks of land application of treated sewage sludge. Potentially toxic substances remain the main concern regarding the reuse of treated sewage sludge on land. Therefore, further treatment may be applied, and long-term field studies are warranted, to prevent possible adverse effects of treated sewage sludge on the ecosystem and human health and enable its land application. [Display omitted] • Land application is one of the main disposal strategies for sewage sludge. • Pollutants and pathogens in sewage sludge cause potential environmental pollution. • Various treatments are applied to sewage sludge to enhance its land applicability. • Nutrients and pollutants in sewage sludge are transformed during the treatments. • Long-term field studies on the application of treated sewage sludge are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this article was to report a clinical case of a patient with solitary median maxillary central incisor syndrome. He was treated with rapid maxillary expansion and evaluated with computed tomography. The boy, aged 6 years 7 months, had a single maxillary central incisor in the midline, posterior crossbite, prominent midpalatal ridge, indistinct philtrum, no incisive papilla, and no labial frenulum. No other systemic anomalies were found. Posteroanterior cephalometric radiography showed skeletal atresia of the maxilla that was corrected with rapid maxillary expansion. A Haas expander was used and activated twice per day (quarter turn per activation) for 15 days. The procedure was monitored with computed tomography to evaluate any effect on the intermaxillary suture and tooth. Although the crossbite was clinically corrected after the expansion, radiographs and tomographs showed no opening of the midpalatal suture. Rapid maxillary expansion resulted in neither midpalatal suture opening nor transverse increase of the maxillary skeletal base in this patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perceptions of nursing have been linked to students' decisions to enter the nursing profession and their decision to continue in or withdraw from nursing programs. As part of a longitudinal study, the Nursing Attitude Questionnaire and Nursing Orientation Tool were used to explore the perceptions of nursing of students in a baccalaureate nursing program. The study began with 213 students, of which 140 completed the study. The Nursing Attitude Questionnaire (NAQ) measures attitudes towards nursing using statements that reflect nursing roles, values, responsibilities, characteristics of nurses/nursing, professionalism, and stereotypes of society. The Nursing Orientation Tool measures students' orientation to nursing using three sub-scales: caring, nursing expertise, and life orientation. Overall, the students held a positive image of nursing and total scores for the NAQ became significantly more positive as students progressed in the program. Life orientation continued to be the most dominant orientation to nursing over the four years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a histological analysis through optical microscopy of primary teeth with physiological and pathological resorptions to outline the histological profile of resorptions. Sixty teeth were examined: 19 primary teeth with physiological resorption and 41 primary teeth with pathological resorption. To analyze the histological conditions of the pulp, periradicular tissue, and the resorption areas, and to investigate the presence, intensity, and location of bacteria, slides were prepared using the hematoxylin-eosin and the Brown-Brenn techniques. For the teeth with physiological resorption, normal pulps and no evidence of bacteria were found. For the teeth with pathological resorption, pulpal alterations, atypical resorption, and bacteria were observed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Schools of nursing must recruit and retain qualified applicants in order to confront the current challenge to nursing resources. Perceptions of nursing have been linked to students’ decisions to enter the nursing profession and to continue in or withdraw from nursing programs. As part of an on-going longitudinal study in Canada, the nursing attitude questionnaire and nursing orientation tool were used to explore the perceptions of nursing of 213 beginning and 150 graduating students in a Baccalaureate nursing program. Overall, both groups of students held a positive image of nursing. There were however, significant differences between the groups in their orientation to nursing as well as their views on nursing roles, education, political issues, and the value of nursing as a profession. Implications for recruitment of nursing students are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]