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Past nuclear weapons testing (NWT) and nuclear power plant (NPP) accidents have resulted in the ubiquitous deposition of radionuclides in the environment. While radionuclide contamination of the environment is associated with concerning health risks, these fallout radionuclides (FRNs) are considered the privileged markers ("golden spikes") of the Anthropocene stratigraphic layers. Their deposition in the 1950s coincided with the "Great Acceleration", which is characterized by large-scale shifts in the Earth's systems, including increased land-use change and soil degradation. Among the FRNs deposited globally, 137Cs has been the most commonly used to assess soil erosion and/or the chronology of sediment deposition, and 239+240Pu is an emerging soil erosion tracer and chronological marker increasingly used due to a number of advantages. We compiled 137Cs and 239+240Pu data published from undisturbed (so called "reference") soils in the Equatorial and Southern Hemisphere regions to build a database under the AVATAR Project ("A reVised dATing framework for quantifying geomorphological processes during the Anthropocene"). Using this database, named the AVATAR-Soils Database, we determined the distributions of 137Cs and 239+240Pu inventories in Equatorial and Southern Hemisphere soils, along with the relative contributions of different fallout nuclear weapon sources by analysing their isotopic ratios. Additionally, we demonstrated how the database can be used to identify the environmental factors that influence the distributions of 137Cs and 239+240Pu in reference soils by applying a machine-learning algorithm. Our metanalysis revealed that high 137Cs and 239+240Pu inventories were recorded near the equator and within the 20–40° S latitudinal bands, which coincide with the location of multiple NWT. The 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratios suggest that sources other than the global fallout (primarily from US and USSR weapon testing with a 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratio of ~ 0.18) contributed to the reference inventories in the Southern Hemisphere. These additional sources have been relatively neglected so far. On average, the French fallout contributed ~20 % to the reference soil 239+240Pu inventories in South America and up to 70 % in French Polynesia. In contrast, the British fallout contributed ~27 % to the reference soil 239+240Pu inventories in the rest of Oceania. Our machine-learning algorithm identified precipitation of the coldest quarter, longitude, and latitude as the strongest predictors of 137Cs inventory. For 239+240Pu inventory, mean diurnal temperature range, temperature annual range, and precipitation of the driest quarter were the strongest predictors. Altogether, these findings demonstrate the potential of the AVATAR-Soils Database as resource for improving our understanding of the distribution and sources of 137Cs and 239+240Pu in Equatorial and Southern Hemisphere soils and refining their application as tools in various Earth Science research. The AVATAR-Soils Database may be accessed at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14008220 (Dicen et al., 2024). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silybum marianum, commonly known as milk thistle, is renowned for its potent antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties, primarily attributed to its active compound, silymarin. This study investigates the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of Silybum marianum extract against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. The extract was prepared through ethanol-based solvent extraction and subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening, revealing the presence of tannins, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, glycosides, steroids and terpenoids. Hepatoprotective efficacy was assessed by measuring serum biochemical markers such as AST, ALT, ALP, total bilirubin and MDA levels, alongside histopathological analysis of liver tissues. Rats treated with Silybum marianum extract showed significant improvements in liver function and oxidative stress markers compared to the CCl4 control group. The extract also enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). These findings suggest that Silybum marianum holds therapeutic potential for protecting the liver against oxidative damage and inflammation. Further clinical studies are warranted to validate its efficacy and optimize therapeutic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personalized medicine, also known as precision medicine, represents a revolutionary approach to healthcare, tailoring medical interventions to individuals based on their unique characteristics such as genetics, environment, and lifestyle. This shift from a one-size-fits-all model to a targeted approach holds great promise for enhancing patient outcomes, improving treatment effectiveness, and reducing adverse effects. Advancements in genomics, proteomics, and data analysis have facilitated the identification of biomarkers and treatment targets, leading to the development of personalized diagnostics and therapies across various medical fields. However, the widespread adoption of personalized medicine is hindered by challenges like data privacy, regulatory obstacles, and ensuring equal access to innovative technologies. This summary outlines the principles, technological progress, clinical applications, obstacles, and future prospects of personalized medicine, underscoring its potential to transform healthcare delivery and introduce a new era of precision medicine. Personalized medicine represents a healthcare model incorporating periodic, individualized, participatory, and predictive measures. It aims to improve treatment outcomes by pinpointing the genetic factors underlying an individual's illness. Personalized medicine holds promise for decreasing both financial and time costs while enhancing patients' quality of life and potentially extending their life spans. It represents an approach to improve treatment outcomes by identifying the genomic makeup responsible for causing diseases in individuals. Personalized medicine encompasses a wide range of applications and can be utilized for diagnosing various illnesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydro-pedotransfer functions (PTFs) relate easy-to-measure and readily available soil information to soil hydraulic properties (SHPs) for applications in a wide range of process-based and empirical models, thereby enabling the assessment of soil hydraulic effects on hydrological, biogeochemical, and ecological processes. At least more than 4 decades of research have been invested to derive such relationships. However, while models, methods, data storage capacity, and computational efficiency have advanced, there are fundamental concerns related to the scope and adequacy of current PTFs, particularly when applied to parameterise models used at the field scale and beyond. Most of the PTF development process has focused on refining and advancing the regression methods, while fundamental aspects have remained largely unconsidered. Most soil systems are not represented in PTFs, which have been built mostly for agricultural soils in temperate climates. Thus, existing PTFs largely ignore how parent material, vegetation, land use, and climate affect processes that shape SHPs. The PTFs used to parameterise the Richards–Richardson equation are mostly limited to predicting parameters of the van Genuchten–Mualem soil hydraulic functions, despite sufficient evidence demonstrating their shortcomings. Another fundamental issue relates to the diverging scales of derivation and application, whereby PTFs are derived based on laboratory measurements while often being applied at the field to regional scales. Scaling, modulation, and constraining strategies exist to alleviate some of these shortcomings in the mismatch between scales. These aspects are addressed here in a joint effort by the members of the International Soil Modelling Consortium (ISMC) Pedotransfer Functions Working Group with the aim of systematising PTF research and providing a roadmap guiding both PTF development and use. We close with a 10-point catalogue for funders and researchers to guide review processes and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of pharmacology and drug discovery is dynamic and ever-evolving, with constant advancements driving innovation and progress. This comprehensive review provides an in-depth examination of the latest developments in pharmacological research and drug discovery, encompassing a wide range of topics from novel therapeutic targets to innovative drug delivery systems. Key areas of focus include the exploration of molecular mechanisms underlying disease pathogenesis, the identification of new drug candidates through high-throughput screening and computational modeling, and the development of precision medicine approaches tailored to individual patient profiles. Additionally, this review discusses emerging trends such as the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning in drug discovery, the role of microbiome-based therapeutics, and the integration of pharmacogenomics into clinical practice. By synthesizing recent findings and trends in the field, this review aims to provide valuable insights into the future direction of pharmacology and drug discovery, ultimately contributing to the advancement of patient care and public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]