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This study investigates the environmental impact of burning herbicide-contaminated biomass, focusing on atrazine (ATZ) and diuron (DIU) sprayed on rice straw prior to burning. Samples of soil, biomass residues, total suspended particulate (TSP), particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 µm (PM 10 ), and aerosols were collected and analyzed. Soil analysis before and after burning contaminated biomass showed significant changes, with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) initially constituting 79.2% and decreasing by 3.3 times post-burning. Atrazine-desethyl, sebuthylazine, and terbuthylazine were detected post-burning. In raw rice straw biomass, terbuthylazine dominated at 80.0%, but burning ATZ-contaminated biomass led to the detection of atrazine-desethyl and notable increases in sebuthylazine and terbuthylazine. Conversely, burning DIU-contaminated biomass resulted in a shift to 2,4-D dominance. Analysis of atmospheric components showed changes in TSP, PM 10 , and aerosol samples. Linuron in ambient TSP decreased by 1.6 times after burning ATZ-contaminated biomass, while atrazine increased by 2.9 times. Carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including benzo[a]anthracene (BaA), benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), and benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF), increased by approximately 9.9 to 13.9 times after burning ATZ-contaminated biomass. In PM 10 , BaA and BaP concentrations increased by approximately 11.4 and 19.0 times, respectively, after burning ATZ-contaminated biomass. This study sheds light on the environmental risks posed by burning herbicide-contaminated biomass, emphasizing the need for sustainable agricultural practices and effective waste management. The findings underscore the importance of regulatory measures to mitigate environmental contamination and protect human health., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study delved into the impact of open biomass burning on the distribution of pesticide and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) residues across soil, rice straw, total suspended particulates (TSP), particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 µm (PM 10 ), and aerosols. A combination of herbicides atrazine (ATZ) and diuron (DIU), fungicide carbendazim (CBD), and insecticide chlorpyriphos (CPF) was applied to biomass before burning. Post-burning, the primary soil pesticide shifted from propyzamide (67.6%) to chlorpyriphos (94.8%). Raw straw biomass retained residues from all pesticide groups, with chlorpyriphos notably dominating (79.7%). Ash residue analysis unveiled significant alterations, with elevated concentrations of chlorpyriphos and terbuthylazine, alongside the emergence of atrazine-desethyl and triadimenol. Pre-burning TSP analysis identified 15 pesticides, with linuron as the primary compound (51.8%). Post-burning, all 21 pesticides were detected, showing significant increases in metobromuron, atrazine-desethyl, and cyanazine concentrations. PM 10 composition mirrored TSP but exhibited additional compounds and heightened concentrations, particularly for atrazine, linuron, and cyanazine. Aerosol analysis post-burning indicated a substantial 39.2-fold increase in atrazine concentration, accompanied by the presence of sebuthylazine, formothion, and propyzamide. Carcinogenic PAHs exhibited noteworthy post-burning increases, contributing around 90.1 and 86.9% of all detected PAHs in TSP and PM 10 , respectively. These insights advance understanding of pesticide dynamics in burning processes, crucial for implementing sustainable agricultural practices and safeguarding environmental and human health.

The escalating utilization of pesticides has led to pronounced environmental contamination, posing a significant threat to agroecosystems. The extensive and persistent global application of these chemicals has been linked to a spectrum of acute and chronic human health concerns. This review paper focuses on the concentrations of airborne pesticides in both indoor and outdoor environments. The collection of diverse pesticide compounds from the atmosphere is examined, with a particular emphasis on active and passive air sampling techniques. Furthermore, a critical evaluation is conducted on the methodologies employed for the extraction and subsequent quantification of airborne pesticides. This analysis takes into consideration the complexities involved in ensuring accurate measurements, highlighting the advancements and limitations of current practices. By synthesizing these aspects, this review aims to foster a more comprehensive and informed comprehension of the intricate dynamics related to the presence and measurement of airborne pesticides. This, in turn, is poised to significantly contribute to the refinement of environmental monitoring strategies and the augmentation of precise risk assessments.

Pesticides have been frequently used in agricultural fields. Due to the expeditious utilization of pesticides, their excessive usage has negative impacts on the natural environment and human health. This review discusses the successful implications of nanotechnology-based photocatalysis for the removal of environmental pesticide contaminants. Notably, various nanomaterials, including TiO 2 , ZnO, Fe 2 O 3 , nanoscale zero-valent iron, nanocomposite-based materials, have been proposed and have played a progressively essential role in wastewater treatment. In addition, a detailed review of the crucial reaction condition factors, including water matrix, pH, light source, temperature, flow rate (retention time), initial concentration of pesticides, a dosage of photocatalyst, and radical scavengers, is also highlighted. Additionally, the degradation pathway of pesticide mineralization is also elucidated. Finally, the challenges of technologies and the future of nanotechnology-based photocatalysis toward the photo-degradation of pesticides are thoroughly discussed. It is expected that those innovative extraordinary photocatalysts will significantly enhance the performance of pesticides degradation in the coming years., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Waste generation rates have increased with rapid population and economic growth worldwide, especially in tourism cities. Nan Province and Luang Prabang (LPB) are twin cities that have been popular tourist destinations. The impact of unmanaged waste threatens the socioeconomic environment in both places. Three waste management scenarios were developed to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the municipal solid waste (MSW) sector in Nan and LPB by 2030. Sensitivity and benefit-cost (B/C) analyses were performed, and alternative scenarios were proposed. With the use of available waste management technology, all developed scenarios in both locations could achieve net-zero emissions within the difference contexts of the city such as waste composition. From this study, on-site waste sorting is the key for waste management to achieve net-zero emissions. Sensitivity analysis revealed that, with an average carbon price of 28.42 USD/tCO 2 e, all scenarios in Nan and LPB were feasible, except for scenario 2 (off-site waste sorting) in LPB. This study found that it would be challenging but achievable to reach the net-zero emissions target. The challenge includes the increased on-site waste separation rate and raising public awareness concerning municipal solid waste management as well as its importance for effective waste management. These developed scenarios show a pathway for the waste sector to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030 with available waste management technology in Nan and Luang Prabang, and the possibilities for other locations facing similar situations., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

Titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) is a preferred catalyst for photocatalytic oxidation of many air pollutants. In an effort to enhance its photocatalytic activity, TiO(2) was modified by pulsed plasma treatment. In this work, TiO(2) nanoparticles, coated on a glass plate, were treated with a plasma discharge of hexafluoropropylene oxide (HFPO) gas. By appropriate adjustment of discharge conditions, it was discovered that the TiO(2) particles can be either directly fluorinated (Ti-F) or coated with thin perfluorocarbon films (C-F). Specifically, under relatively high power input, the plasma deposition process favored direct surface fluorination. The extent of Ti-F formation increased with increasing power input. In contrast, at lower average power inputs, perfluorocarbon films are deposited on the surface of the TiO(2) particles. The plasma surface modified TiO(2) nanoparticles were subsequently employed as catalysts in the photocatalytic oxidation of m-xylene in air, as carried out inside a batch reactor with closed loop constant gas circulation. Both types of modified TiO(2) were significantly more catalytically active than that of the unmodified particles. For example, the rate constant of m-xylene degradation was increased from 0.012 min(-1) with untreated TiO(2) to 0.074 min(-1) with fluorinated TiO(2). Although it is not possible to provide unequivocal reasons for this increased photocatalytic activity, it is noted that the plasma surface treatment converted the TiO(2) from hydrophilic to highly hydrophobic, which would provide more facile catalyst adsorption of the xylene from the flowing air. Also, based on literature reports, the use of fluorinated TiO(2) reduces electron-hole recombination rates, thus increasing the photocatalytic activity.

Solid-state nanopores have emerged as sensors for single molecules and these have been employed to examine the biophysical properties of an increasingly large variety of biomolecules. Herein we describe a novel and facile approach to precisely adjust the pore size, while simultaneously controlling the surface chemical composition of the solid-state nanopores. Specifically, nanopores fabricated using standard ion beam technology are shrunk to the requisite molecular dimensions via the deposition of highly conformal pulsed plasma generated thin polymeric films. The plasma treatment process provides accurate control of the pore size as the conformal film deposition depends linearly on the deposition time. Simultaneously, the pore and channel chemical compositions are controlled by appropriate selection of the gaseous monomer and plasma conditions employed in the deposition of the polymer films. The controlled pore shrinkage is characterized with high resolution AFM, and the film chemistry of the plasma generated polymers is analyzed with FTIR and XPS. The stability and practical utility of this new approach is demonstrated by successful single molecule sensing of double-stranded DNA. The process offers a viable new advance in the fabrication of tailored nanopores, in terms of both the pore size and surface composition, for usage in a wide range of emerging applications.

Background: In clinical studies of both heavily and minimally pretreated patients with advanced breast cancer, the combination of Gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC), given in a variety of schedules and doses, has demonstrated moderate safety and efficacy in both heavily and minimally pretreated advanced breast cancer with response rate from 29-63% (median 46%)., Methods: We evaluated the activity and toxicity of another GC regimen (gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) days 1, 8 plus cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) day 1 every 3 weeks) in 30 breast cancer patients who failed chemotherapy with anthracycline and/or taxanes as adjuvant or neoadjuvant, or primary therapy., Results: We obtained overall response in 15 of 29 evaluable patients (52%), with responses occurring in all subgroups of disease (unresectable locally advanced, locoregional recurrence, and distant metastasis). Toxicity was primarily hematologic, with grade 3/4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in 37% and 17% of patients, respectively. The only grade 3/4 non-hematologic toxicity was grade 3 nausea/vomiting in 12% of patients., Conclusion: Our data suggest that gemcitabine plus cisplatin appears to be effective and has an acceptable toxicity profile in anthracycline and/or taxane pretreated patients with advanced breast cancer.

Introduction: To analyse and determine the clinical value of lymphoscintigraphy for sentinel lymph node (SLN) localisation in woman undergoing surgery for breast cancer, and evaluate the predictive value of SLN versus axillary lymph node (ALN) status in these patients., Methods: Preoperative breast lymphoscintigraphy was performed in 35 female patients with breast cancer and clinically-negative ALNs. The mean age was 52.8 years (age range 38 to 73 years). The lymphoscintigraphy was performed using 74 MBq of Tc-99m nanocolloid subdermal injection over the tumour. The SLN location was marked on the skin. All patients underwent standard modified radical mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). A comparison of SLN and ALN histopathological results was completed in order to define the means by which the SLN biopsy was able to reflect the final status of ALNs., Results: In 20/35 (57.1 percent) cases, SLNs were visualised in 20-minute dynamic imaging. In 12 patients, SLNs were seen after delayed imaging and/or by repositioning the patient. Overall, the estimated SLN identification rate was 91.4 percent. Of 32 patients in whom SLNs were localised by lymphoscintigraphy, nine were positive for metastatic tumours and the rest were negative for tumour involvement. In four of these nine patients, SLN was the only node that contained metastatic tumour cells while in five patients, an additional concomitant ALN metastasis was detected. In four patients, SLN was negative on frozen section, but skip ALN metastases were noted. Of three patients in which SLNs were not localised by lymphoscintigraphy, two had positive ALNs for tumour cells and the remaining one was negative for tumour involvement., Conclusion: We concluded that SLN localisation using lymphoscintigraphy is an accurate minimally-invasive procedure for staging breast cancer patients with clinically-negative ALNs, and can substantially reduce the morbidity and costs of surgical treatment by avoiding unnecessary ALND in the majority of patients.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of a vinorelbine + doxorubicin combination in terms of response rate and time to progression in patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer., Methods: Vinorelbine (25 mg/m2) and doxorubicin (25 mg/m2) were administered intravenously in a rapid injection on days 1 and 8 every 21 days. Initially, 3 courses of vinorelbine + doxorubicin were given. Patients with responding or stable disease received 6 more courses to a maximum of 9 courses., Result: Twenty-nine patients were entered into the study and 27 eligible patients were considered evaluable for response. Median age was 45 years (range 33 to 63). Overall response rate was 66.67% (18/27) (CR = 5, PR = 13). Median time to progression was 7.8 months (range 4 to 16) and the median survival time was 25.9 months. Median follow-up time was 8.5 months (range 1.5 to 25). Toxicity was generally moderate. Hematologic complication was the dose limiting toxicity. WHO grade III/IV neutropenia was observed in 18.5%/3.7% of patients. The major non-hematologic toxicities were nausea and phlebitis. Grade III nausea/vomiting was observed in 7.4% and grade III/IV phlebitis in 3.7%/3.7% of patients. No toxic deaths were observed., Conclusion: The present vinorelbine + doxorubicin combination was highly effective and generally well tolerated in cases of advanced breast cancer. Further studies are required.