GIS-based spatial modeling of COVID-19 incidence rate in the continental United States

Insights into the enhanced adsorption of glyphosate by dissolved organic matter in farmland Mollisol: effects and mechanisms of action

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is easy to combine with residual pesticides and affect their morphology and environmental behavior. Given that the binding mechanism between DOM and the typical herbicide glyphosate in soil is not yet clear, this study used adsorption experiments, multispectral techniques, density functional theory, and pot experiments to reveal the interaction mechanism between DOM and glyphosate on Mollisol in farmland and their impact on the environment. The results show that the adsorption of glyphosate by Mollisol is a multilayer heterogeneous chemical adsorption process. After adding DOM, due to the early formation of DOM and glyphosate complex, the adsorption process gradually became dominated by single-layer chemical adsorption, and the adsorption capacity increased by 1.06 times. Glyphosate can quench the endogenous fluorescence of humic substances through a static quenching process dominated by hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces, and instead enhance the fluorescence intensity of protein substances by affecting the molecular environment of protein molecules. The binding of glyphosate to protein is earlier, of which affinity stronger than that of humic acid. In this process, two main functional groups (C-O in aromatic groups and C-O in alcohols, ethers and esters) exist at the binding sites of glyphosate and DOM. Moreover, the complexation of DOM and glyphosate can effectively alleviate the negative impact of glyphosate on the soil. This study has certain theoretical guidance significance for understanding the environmental behavior of glyphosate and improving the sustainable utilization of Mollisol.

Exposure to polyethylene microplastics exacerbate inflammatory bowel disease tightly associated with intestinal gut microflora

Polyethylene microplastics (PE MPs) have sparked widespread concern about their possible health implications because of their abundance, pervasiveness in the environment and in our daily life. Multiple investigations have shown that a high dosage of PE MPs may adversely impact gastrointestinal health. In tandem with the rising prevalence of Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in recent decades, global plastic manufacturing has risen to more than 300 million tons per year, resulting in a build-up of plastic by-products such as PE MPs in our surroundings. We have explored current advancements in the effect PE MPs on IBD in this review. Furthermore, we compared and summarized the detrimental roles of PE MPs in gut microbiota of different organisms viz., earthworms, super worm's larvae, yellow mealworms, brine shrimp, spring tails, tilapia, gilt-head bream, crucian carp, zebrafish, juvenile yellow perch, European sea bass, c57BL/6 mice and human. According to this review, PE MPs played a significant role in decreasing the diversity of gut microbiota of above-mentioned species which leads to the development of IBD and causes severe intestinal inflammation. Finally, we pinpoint significant scientific gaps, such as the movement of such hazardous PE MPs and the accompanying microbial ecosystems and propose prospective research directions.

Exploring the use of clay pots as sustainable storage containers to improve water quality

BACKGROUND

Currently, tap water consumption is not highly preferred in Egypt and around the world. People prefer to consume bottled water because they believe that it is much safer and tastes better than tap water. Unfortunately, this preference can create an economic burden for many people, especially in developing countries. Clay pots can be used to provide cool, alkaline drinking water because of their porous micro-texture, which traps pollutants. This study aimed to investigate the use of clay pots to store tap water and its impact on the requirements for drinking water quality. This is done with the intent to decrease the need for bottled water as a means of offering a more sustainable and economical option.

METHODS

In this study, the efficiency of clay pots as sustainable storage containers for drinking water was tested by measuring physicochemical parameters (pH, TDS, EC, turbidity, DO, ammonia, chloride, total hardness, Ca hardness, Mg hardness, chlorine, Zn, and CaCO3) and biological parameters (TPC and Legionella).

RESULTS

After 7 days of storage, the quality of the water stored in clay pots met the standards set by the Egyptian law with a significant difference (p < 0.05) before and after the storage of water It was found that the dissolved oxygen increased from 6.17 ppm to 7.52 ppm after 7 days. As for total hardness, it declined from 195 to 178 ppm. There was also a significant drop in terms of TDS from 338 to 275 ppm. Furthermore, clay pots effectively filtered out both total viable bacteria and Legionella.

CONCLUSION

This study proved the efficiency of using these containers with respect to some indicator values for tap water and tank water analysis. Clay pots are an excellent, cost-effective, and sustainable alternative for storing water.

Dissipation kinetics and the evaluation of dietary risks associated with deltamethrin, ethion, fenazaquin, and fenpropathrin on bell pepper (Solanum annuum L.)

Bell peppers, a globally significant crop, face infestations from various pests. In a study, bell peppers were treated with deltamethrin, ethion, fenazaquin, and fenpropathrin at recommended and double the doses, repeated twice with a 10-day interval. The QuEChERS method underwent validation for linearity, matrix match, accuracy, and precision in bell pepper matrices for residue analysis. The limit of detection for the tested pesticides on bell peppers was 0.01 mg/L, with a quantification limit of 0.05 mg/L. Recovery studies showed a range of 94.80% to 102.80%. Initial deposits of deltamethrin, ethion, fenazaquin, and fenpropathrin on bell peppers at recommended doses were 0.371, 1.237, 0.617, and 0.640 mg/L, respectively, and at double doses were 0.712, 1.945, 1.221, and 1.189 mg/L, respectively. Safe waiting periods of 10, 11, 10, and 8 days were suggested for deltamethrin, ethion, fenazaquin, and fenpropathrin, respectively. The corresponding half-lives for the pesticides were 1.96, 1.79, 2.06, and 1.69 days, all following first-order dissipation kinetics. Dietary risk assessment indicated Hazard Quotients (HQ) below 1 and Theoretical Maximum Daily Intake (TMDI) below Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) and Maximum Permissible Intake (MPI) levels. Therefore, at their recommended doses, the pesticides were deemed safe for bell pepper cultivation.

Pesticide contamination pattern of surface water in an urban-agricultural mediterranean watershed (Wadi Guenniche, Bizerte Lagoon, Northern Tunisia)

Two years of monthly sampling and hydrological monitoring were performed at the outlet of a Mediterranean watershed in northern Tunisia to determine the contents of 469 pesticide active ingredients and metabolites in water and evaluate their behavior. Wadi Guenniche is a tributary of the Bizerte coastal lagoon, with a watershed area of 86 km2, which exhibits pluvial cereal, legume, and orchid cultivation and irrigated market gardening. Twenty-nine pesticide active ingredients and 2 metabolites were detected in water. Twenty-four pesticide active ingredients were authorized for use in Tunisia. Among them, 14 had never been mentioned in previous farmer surveys. Five herbicides and their metabolites were the most frequently detected: aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) (100%), glyphosate (94%), simazine (94%), 2,4-D (70%), and deisopropylatrazine (DIA) (47%). The detection frequency and concentration range suggested that the phytosanitary pressure and resulting water contamination are close to those on the northern Mediterranean shore. These results, in addition to characterizing the pollution state, emphasized the need for additional studies on the use and fate of pesticides on the southern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, particularly in Tunisia.

Potential toxic element contamination and non-carcinogenic risk assessment of groundwater from rapidly growing urban areas in Telangana, India

Groundwater is a critical resource for drinking purposes that is under pressure and polluted with multiple inorganic contaminants. Among various contaminants, potentially toxic element contamination in groundwater has significant public health concerns due to their toxicity at a low level of exposure. This investigation aimed to assess the toxic element contamination and associated non-carcinogenic human health risk at rapidly growing urban centers in Telangana to ensure potable water and to generate baseline data in the study province. Thirteen potential toxic trace elements (Al, As, B, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn) were determined in 35 groundwater samples collected from the Karimnagar and Siddipet smart cities in lower Manair River basin using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The trace element concentration is found in the range for Al (1-112 µg/L), As (2-8 µg/L), B (34-438 µg/L), Cd (bdl-2 µg/L), Co (bdl-17 µg/L), Cr (bdl-4 µg/L), Cu (bdl-216 µg/L), Fe (4-420 µg/L), Mn (bdl-3311 µg/L), Ni (5-31 µg/L), Pb (bdl-62 µg/L), Se (1-18 µg/L), and Zn (3-1858 µg/L). Analytical data of groundwater revealed the occurrence of toxic elements observed as above the acceptable limits of Bureau of Indian Standards for drinking purposes found in the order of Al > Ni ≥ Mn > Se ≥ Cu ≥ Pb > Fe with 26% > 14% ≥ 14% > 9% ≥ 9% ≥ 9% > 6% of samples, respectively. The non-carcinogenic health risk to humans upon groundwater ingestion has been evaluated and found to be non-hazardous for all the individual elements studied except for aresenic. However, cumulative hazard quotient observed as > 1 in the category of infants and children might be a major potential health concern. This study provided baseline data and suggested implementing preventive measures to protect human health around the urban areas of lower Manair river basin, Telangana, India.

Biomass recovery of coastal young mangrove plantations in Central Thailand

Around one-third of the world's most carbon-rich ecosystems, mangrove forests, have already been destroyed in Thailand owing to coastal development and aquaculture. Improving these degraded areas through mangrove plantations can restore various coastal ecosystem services, including CO2 absorption and protection against wave action. This study examines the biomass of three coastal mangrove plantations (Avicennia alba) of different ages in Samut Prakarn province, Central Thailand. Our aim was to understand the forest biomass recovery during the early stages of development, particularly fine root biomass expansion. In the chronosequence of the mangrove plantations, woody biomass increased by 40% over four years from 79.7 ± 11.2 Mg C ha-1 to 111.7 ± 12.3 Mg C ha-1. Fine root biomass up to a depth of 100 cm was 4.47 ± 0.33 Mg C ha-1, 4.24 ± 0.63 Mg C ha-1, and 6.92 ± 0.32 Mg C ha-1 at 10, 12, and 14 year-old sites, respectively. Remarkably, the fine root biomass of 14-year-old site was significantly higher than those of the younger sites due to increase of the biomass at 15-30 cm and 30-50 cm depths. Our findings reveal that the biomass recovery in developing mangrove plantations exhibit rapid expansion of fine roots in deeper soil layers.

Novel approach for identifying VOC emission characteristics based on mobile monitoring platform data and deep learning: Application of source apportionment in a chemical industrial park

Refined volatile organic compound (VOC) emission characteristics are crucial for accurate source apportionment in chemical industrial parks. The data from mobile monitoring platforms in chemical industrial parks contain pollution information that is not intuitively displayed, requiring further excavation. A novel approach was proposed to identify VOC emission characteristics using the class activation map (CAM) technology of convolutional neural network (CNN), which was applied on the mobile monitoring platform data (MD) derived from a typical fine chemical industrial park. It converts a large amount of monitoring data with high spatiotemporal complexity into simple and interpretable characteristic maps, effectively improving the identification effect of VOC emission characteristics, supporting more accurate source apportionment of VOC pollution around the park. Using this method, the VOC emission characteristics of eight key factories were identified. VOC source apportionment in the park was conducted for one day using a positive matrix factorization (PMF) model and seven combined factor profiles (CFPs) were calculated. Based on the identified VOC emission characteristics, the main pollution sources and their contributions to surrounding schools and residential areas were determined, revealing that one pesticide factory (named LKA) had the highest contribution ratio. The source apportionment results indicated that the impact of the chemical industrial park on the surrounding areas varied from morning to afternoon, which to some extent reflected the intermittent production methods employed for fine chemicals.

Climate change and its impact on infectious diseases in Asia

ABSTRACT

Climate change, particularly increasing temperature, changes in rainfall, extreme weather events and changes in vector ecology, impacts the transmission of many climate-sensitive infectious diseases. Asia is the world's most populous, rapidly evolving and diverse continent, and it is already experiencing the effects of climate change. Climate change intersects with population, sociodemographic and geographical factors, amplifying the public health impact of infectious diseases and potentially widening existing disparities. In this narrative review, we outline the evidence of the impact of climate change on infectious diseases of importance in Asia, including vector-borne diseases, food- and water-borne diseases, antimicrobial resistance and other infectious diseases. We also highlight the imperative need for strategic intersectoral collaboration at the national and global levels and for the health sector to implement adaptation and mitigation measures, including responsibility for its own greenhouse gas emissions.

Identification of groundwater nitrate sources in an urban aquifer (Alborz Province, Iran) using a multi-parameter approach

High concentrations of NO3̄ in water resources are detrimental to both human health and aquatic ecosystems. Identification of NO3̄ sources and biogeochemical processes is a crucial step in managing and controlling NO3̄ pollution. In this study, land use, hydrochemical data, dual stable isotopic ratios and Bayesian Stable Isotope Mixing Models (BSIMM) were integrated to identify NO3̄ sources and estimate their proportional contributions to the contamination of the Karaj Urban Aquifer (Iran). Elevated NO3̄ concentrations indicated a severe NO3̄ pollution, with 39 and 52% of groundwater (GW) samples displaying the concentrations of NO3̄ in exceedance of the World Health Organization (WHO) standard of 50 mg NO3̄ L-1 in the rainy and dry seasons, respectively. Dual stable isotopes inferred that urban sewage is the main NO3̄ source in the Karaj Plain. The diagram of NO3̄/Cl‾ versus Cl‾ confirmed that municipal sewage is the major source of NO3̄. Results also showed that biogeochemical nitrogen dynamics are mainly influenced by nitrification, while denitrification is minimal. The BSIMM model suggested that NO3̄ originated predominantly from urban sewage (78.2%), followed by soil organic nitrogen (12.2%), and chemical fertilizer (9.5%) in the dry season. In the wet season, the relative contributions of urban sewage, soil nitrogen and chemical fertilizer were 87.5, 6.7, and 5.5%, respectively. The sensitivity analysis for the BSIMM modeling indicates that the isotopic signatures of sewage had the major impact on the overall GW NO3̄ source apportionment. The findings provide important insights for local authorities to support effective and sustainable GW resources management in the Karaj Urban Aquifer. It also demonstrates that employing Bayesian models combined with multi-parameters can improve the accuracy of NO3̄ source identification.

Characteristics of soil organic carbon fractions in four vegetation communities of an inland salt marsh

BACKGROUND

The study of soil organic carbon characteristics and its relationship with soil environment and vegetation types is of great significance to the evaluation of soil carbon sink provided by inland salt marshes. This paper reports the characteristics of soil organic carbon fractions in 0-50 cm soil layers at four vegetation communities of the Qinwangchuan salt marsh.

RESULTS

(1) The soil organic carbon content of Phragmites australis community (9.60 ± 0.32 g/kg) was found to be higher than that of Salicornia europae (7.75 ± 0.18 g/kg) and Tamarix ramosissima (4.96 ± 0.18 g/kg) and Suaeda corniculata community (4.55 ± 0.11 g/kg). (2) The soil dissolved organic carbon, particulate organic carbon and soil microbial biomass carbon in 0-50 cm soil layer of Phragmites australis community were higher, which were 0.46 ± 0.01 g/kg, 2.81 ± 0.06 g/kg and 0.31 ± 0.01 g/kg, respectively. (3) Soil organic carbon was positively correlated with dissolved organic carbon, particulate organic carbon, and microbial biomass carbon, and negatively correlated with easily oxidized organic carbon. (4) Above-ground biomass has a strong direct positive effect on soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and pH have a strong direct positive effect on microbial biomass carbon content, pH and average density have a strong direct negative effect on easily oxidized organic carbon, and particulate organic carbon.

CONCLUSIONS

The interaction between plant community characteristics and soil factors is an important driving factor for soil organic carbon accumulation in inland salt marshes.

Embryonic Development Effects of Basagran® Herbicide in Danio Rerio: A Preliminary Study

Bentazon (Basagran®) belongs to the chemical group of benzothiadiazinones. Thus, this study aimed to estimate the influence of herbicide bentazon (3 µg.L-1, 6 µg.L-1, 12 µg.L-1, 300 µg.L-1) in Danio rerio embryos development. The study tested environmental relevant concentrations of bentazon as well as the limit established for drinking water (300 µg.L-1) in Brazil. We performed behavioral and developmental analyzes during 96 h of exposure. The bentazon measurements after experimental period showed reduction ranging from 5.0 to 18.93% between exposed groups. Our results showed significant differences in the heart rate, which was significantly higher in groups exposed to all bentazon concentrations compared to control groups. The absence of alterations in the behavioral parameters showing that the herbicide bentazon at the concentrations tested had few adverse effects on the development and behavior of the Danio rerio embryos. Considering the toxic point of view, there is a chance that bentazon acts together with other environmental contaminants as an additive or synergistic way.

Mechanistic basis for mitigating drought tolerance by selenium application in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.): a multi-omics approach

The lack of irrigation water in agricultural soils poses a significant constraint on global crop production. In-depth investigation into microRNAs (miRNAs) has been widely used to achieve a comprehensive understanding of plant defense mechanisms. However, there is limited knowledge on the association of miRNAs with drought tolerance in cigar tobacco. In this study, a hydroponic experiment was carried out to identify changes in plant physiological characteristics, miRNA expression and metabolite profile under drought stress, and examine the mitigating effects of selenium (Se) application. The shoot dry weight of drought-stressed plants was approximately half (50.3%) of that in non-stressed (control) conditions. However, plants supplied with Se attained 38.8% greater shoot dry weight as compared to plants with no Se supply under drought stress. Thirteen miRNAs were identified to be associated with drought tolerance. These included 7 known (such as nta-miR156b and nta-miR166a) and 6 novel miRNAs (such as novel-nta-miR156-5p and novel-nta-miR209-5p) with the target genes of squamosa promoter-binding-like protein 4 (SPL4), serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2A (PPP2A), cation/calcium exchanger 4-like (CCX4), extensin-1-like (EXT1) and reduced wall acetylation 2 (RWA2). Further investigation revealed that the expression levels of Ext1 and RWA2 were significantly decreased under drought stress but increased with Se addition. Moreover, key metabolites such as catechin and N-acetylneuraminic acid were identified, which may play a role in the regulation of drought tolerance. The integrated analysis of miRNA sequencing and metabolome highlighted the significance of the novel-nta-miR97-5p- LRR-RLK- catechin pathway in regulating drought tolerance. Our findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying drought tolerance and Se-induced stress alleviation in cigar tobacco.

Transcriptome analysis showed that tomato-rootstock enhanced salt tolerance of grafted seedlings was accompanied by multiple metabolic processes and gene differences

Introduction

Grafting is a commonly used cultural practice to counteract salt stress and is especially important for vegetable production. However, it is not clear which metabolic processes and genes are involved in the response of tomato rootstocks to salt stress.

Methods

To elucidate the regulatory mechanism through which grafting enhances salt tolerance, we first evaluated the salt damage index, electrolyte permeability and Na⁺ accumulation in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) leaves of grafted seedlings (GSs) and nongrafted seedlings (NGSs) subjected to 175 mmol·L^{- 1} NaCl for 0-96 h, covering the front, middle and rear ranges.

Results

Compared with the NGS, the GSs were more salt tolerant, and the Na⁺ content in the leaves decreased significantly. Through transcriptome sequencing data analysis of 36 samples, we found that GSs exhibited more stable gene expression patterns, with a lower number of DEGs. WRKY and PosF21 transcription factors were significantly upregulated in the GSs compared to the NGSs. Moreover, the GSs presented more amino acids, a higher photosynthetic index and a higher content of growth-promoting hormones. The main differences between GSs and NGSs were in the expression levels of genes involved in the BR signaling pathway, with significant upregulation of XTHs. The above results show that the metabolic pathways of "photosynthetic antenna protein", "amino acid biosynthesis" and "plant hormone signal transduction" participate in the salt tolerance response of grafted seedlings at different stages of salt stress, maintaining the stability of the photosynthetic system and increasing the contents of amino acids and growth-promoting hormones (especially BRs). In this process, the transcription factors WRKYs, PosF21 and XTHs might play an important role at the molecular level.

Discussion

The results of this study demonstrates that grafting on salt tolerant rootstocks can bring different metabolic processes and transcription levels changes to scion leaves, thereby the scion leaves show stronger salt tolerance. This information provides new insight into the mechanism underlying tolerance to salt stress regulation and provides useful molecular biological basis for improving plant salt resistance.

Work accidents, climate change and COVID-19

The effects brought by climate change and the pandemic upon worker health and wellbeing are varied and necessitate the identification and implementation of improved strategic interventions. This review aims, firstly, to assess how climate change affects occupational accidents, focusing on the impacts of extreme air temperatures and natural disasters; and, secondly, to analyze the role of the pandemic in this context. Our results show that the manifestations of climate change affect workers physically while on the job, psychologically, and by modifying the work environment and conditions; all these factors can cause stress, in turn increasing the risk of suffering a work accident. There is no consensus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on work accidents; however, an increase in adverse mental effects on workers in contact with the public (specifically in healthcare) has been described. It has also been shown that this strain affects the risk of suffering an accident. During the pandemic, many people began to work remotely, and what initially appeared to be a provisional situation has been made permanent or semi-permanent in some positions and companies. However, we found no studies evaluating the working conditions of those who telework. In relation to the combined impact of climate change and the pandemic on occupational health, only publications focusing on the synergistic effect of heat due to the obligation to wear COVID-19-specific PPE, either outdoors or in poorly acclimatized indoor environments, were found. It is essential that preventive services establish new measures, train workers, and determine new priorities for adapting working conditions to these altered circumstances.

How to effectively prevent alienation behavior of prefabricated construction developers: an optimization analysis of regulatory strategies

Prefabricated buildings (PBs) contribute to sustainable development, and their development largely depends on the active participation of developers. However, based on the characteristics of different stages of PBs' development and the goals of "14th Five-Year Plan" for architecture in China, it is an urgent practical problem for the government to encourage developers' active participation while regulating their alienation behavior. To address such problem, this paper uses the evolutionary game method to explore the government's reasonable regulatory strategies for developers' behavior in different development stages of PBs. Meanwhile, this paper explores the boundary of government's regulatory strength on PBs based on actual situation in China, which help the government to drive high-quality development of PBs with effective policy resources. Results reveal that the strict regulatory strategies have limited effects in the incubation stage of PBs. In the growth stage, it is necessary to adjust the regulatory strategies appropriately. The dynamic linear regulatory strategy can enable the PBs to achieve the phased goal, and the dynamic nonlinear regulatory strategy can help to achieve the optimal goal of PBs in China. In the maturity stage, the government does not need to deliberately regulate due to the considerable profits of developers. The regulatory strategy of "light reward and heavy punishment" is better when it is adopted to promote the development of PBs in the growth stage. The research also provides valuable suggestions for government regulators to formulate reasonable and dynamic regulatory policies for PBs.

[Social inequalities in under-five mortality: a systematic review]

OBJECTIVE

To identify the characteristics of the published studies on social inequalities in under-five mortality, their theoretical perspectives, axes of inequality, methods and results.

METHOD

We carried out a systematic literature review. We consulted four electronic databases and Google Scholar, for studies published between 2010 and 2018.

RESULTS

We analyzed 126 articles. In 62.7%, territory was studied as the axis of inequality, followed by socioeconomic determinants (27.8%). Neonatal, infant and under-five mortality was analyzed as an output in health in 19.0%, 49.2% and 32.3%, respectively. It predominated ecological (62.7%) and longitudinal (50.0%) studies. Significant reductions in mortality rates were found, however, the decline was not homogeneous among subpopulations.

CONCLUSIONS

The literature reports a marked decrease in under-five mortality; however, the gaps between different axes of inequality continue and in some cases they have increased. Gaps varied according to time, place, axis of inequality and type of mortality analyzed.

[Predictions of a SEIR model for COVID-19 cases in Cali-Colombia]

OBJECTIVE

To predict the number of cases of COVID-19 in the city of Cali-Colombia through the development of a SEIR model.

METHODS

A SEIR compartmental deterministic model was used considering the states: susceptible (S), exposed (E), infected (I) and recovered (R). The model parameters were selected according to the literature review, in the case of the case fatality rate data from the Municipal Secretary of Health were used. Several scenarios were considered taking into account variations in the basic number of reproduction (R0), and the prediction until april 9 was compared with the observed data.

RESULTS

Through the SEIR model it was found that with the highest basic number of reproduction [2,6] and using the case fatality rate for the city of 2,0%, the maximum number of cases would be reached on June 1 with 195 666 (prevalence). However, when comparing the observed with the expected cases, at the beginning the observed occurrence was above the projected, but then the trend changes decreasing the slope.

CONCLUSIONS

SEIR epidemiological models are widely used methods for projecting cases in infectious diseases, however it must be taken into account that they are deterministic models that can use assumed parameters and could generate imprecise results.

COVID-19 environmental and operational impact for public transport in Kuwait

The corona virus disease pandemic (COVID-19) is one of the recent issues that spread in the world, which disrupted life, impacted the economy, and led to heavy losses, whether for government sectors or private companies. This paper focuses on the Kuwait public transport company KPTC and Kuwait Airways' experience during the pandemic, since they incurred major losses due to the decline of their users. Public transport is a place to catch COVID-19, as it is subjected to the use of a large number of passengers daily within a small closed environment. The causes that led to the spread of the virus among public transport users and develop solutions to limit its spread and preserve public transport pioneer's safety were discussed in the paper. Additionally, the environmental impact resulting from the reduction of public transportation using was also addressed. Data was obtained from the KPTC, Kuwait Airways office, the Ministry of Health (MOH) database, and the Environment Public Authority (EPA) database. A questionnaire was distributed to public transport users to determine the reasons for the decline in its user's number and their aspirations to reconsider their use and ensure their satisfaction. For airplane data, the risk of importation of COVID-19 was calculated. For KPTC data, COVID-19 impact on the emissions generated per passenger-km was computed where the emissions were estimated by MOVES. The survey responses were statically analyzed using the chi-square test on the SPSS program, and they were compared to numerical analysis results. The results showed the impact of COVID-19 on people's willingness to use public transportation which was associated with the increase in the number of buses to implement social distancing has negatively affected the environment. Thus, a comprehensive strategy solution was presented consisting of three basic approaches: providing a healthy, risk-free environment for public transportation users, achieving social distancing at a low cost to offset the losses, and ensuring a healthy environment.

Adverse effects of pristine and aged polystyrene microplastics in mice and their Nrf2-mediated defense mechanisms with tissue specificity

Health hazards associated with microplastics (MPs) remain largely unknown, and the effects of aged MPs, one of their persistent forms, are poorly characterized. Male ICR mice were intratracheally instilled with 0.01 and 1 mg/day pristine and ultraviolet (UV)-aged polystyrene microplastics (PS and APS) with an average diameter of 4 - 5 μm daily for 1 week. UV irradiation caused the PS to have a rough surface, become fragmented, and increase their carbonyl groups. Both PS and APS caused structural damage to the mouse gut, liver, spleen, and testis. Inflammatory infiltration in liver, swollen and congested gut, and loose spleen globules, as well as the loose interstitium of the seminiferous tubules in testis were found in 1 mg/day APS group. Increases in serum alanine aminotransferase and immunoglobulin A levels in 1 mg/day APS group (p < 0.05) demonstrated that APS exposure could induce greater liver and spleen functional damage than PS. Meanwhile, triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in liver were enhanced in 1 mg/day APS group (p < 0.05). Superoxide dismutase and glutathione contents in 0.01 and 1 mg/day APS groups significantly decreased (p < 0.05), which suggesting that PS and APS could interfere with the antioxidant capacity in mice. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) levels in the PS and APS groups showed significant increases in the liver and testis (p < 0.05), and a significant decrease in the spleen (p < 0.05), which were analyzed to get a first survey for Nrf2/HO-1-mediated tissue-specific defense mechanisms. In conclusion, acute exposure to PS and APS induced potential metabolic disorders, and APS could produce more serious immune damage and reproductive toxicity. These findings provide new insights in health risk assessment of aged MPs.

The intertwining of Zn-finger motifs and abiotic stress tolerance in plants: Current status and future prospects

Environmental stresses such as drought, high salinity, and low temperature can adversely modulate the field crop's ability by altering the morphological, physiological, and biochemical processes of the plants. It is estimated that about 50% + of the productivity of several crops is limited due to various types of abiotic stresses either presence alone or in combination (s). However, there are two ways plants can survive against these abiotic stresses; a) through management practices and b) through adaptive mechanisms to tolerate plants. These adaptive mechanisms of tolerant plants are mostly linked to their signalling transduction pathway, triggering the action of plant transcription factors and controlling the expression of various stress-regulated genes. In recent times, several studies found that Zn-finger motifs have a significant function during abiotic stress response in plants. In the first report, a wide range of Zn-binding motifs has been recognized and termed Zn-fingers. Since the zinc finger motifs regulate the function of stress-responsive genes. The Zn-finger was first reported as a repeated Zn-binding motif, comprising conserved cysteine (Cys) and histidine (His) ligands, in Xenopus laevis oocytes as a transcription factor (TF) IIIA (or TFIIIA). In the proteins where Zn²⁺ is mainly attached to amino acid residues and thus espousing a tetrahedral coordination geometry. The physical nature of Zn-proteins, defining the attraction of Zn-proteins for Zn²⁺, is crucial for having an in-depth knowledge of how a Zn²⁺ facilitates their characteristic function and how proteins control its mobility (intra and intercellular) as well as cellular availability. The current review summarized the concept, importance and mechanisms of Zn-finger motifs during abiotic stress response in plants.

Bioaccessible PAH influence on distribution of antibiotic resistance genes and soil toxicity of different types of land use

For a better understanding of the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in natural microbial communities, it is necessary to study the factors influencing it. There are not enough studies showing the connection of some pollutants with the dissemination of ARGs and especially few works on the effect of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAHs) on the spread of resistance in microbiocenosis. In this respect, the aim of the study was to determine the effect of bioaccessible PAHs on soil resistome. The toxicity and the content of bioaccessible PAHs and ARGs were studied in 64 samples of soils of different types of land use in the Rostov Region of Russia. In most soils, a close positive correlation was demonstrated between different ARGs and bioaccessible PAHs with different content of rings in the structure. Six of the seven studied ARGs correlated with the content of 2-, 3-, 4-, 5- or 6-ring PAHs. The greatest number of close correlations was found between the content of PAHs and ARGs in the soils of protected areas, for agricultural purposes, and in soils of hospitals. The diverse composition of microbial communities in these soils might greatly facilitate this process. A close correlation between various toxic effects identified with a battery of whole-cell bacterial biosensors and bioaccessible PAHs of various compositions was established. This correlation showed possible mechanisms of PAHs' influence on microorganisms (DNA damage, oxidative stress, etc.), which led to a significant increase in horizontal gene transfer and spread of some ARGs in soil microbial communities. All this information, taken together, suggests that bioaccessible PAHs can enhance the spread of antibiotic resistance genes.

A Review of Challenges and Approaches to Effective Medical Solid Waste Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic in India

With the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic, medical solid waste management became a crucial element to control the spread of the virus. Lack of manpower, infrastructure, and knowledge have jeopardised the waste management system in India. In this respect, the present study intends to recollect and discusses the policies and guidelines of solid waste management by outlining the challenges associated with its implementation. The study adopted a review approach, where a collective appraisal and analysis of prior research, reports, lead to the evaluation of the present situation and advocated remedial measures. The study discussed measures recommended by various international organisations for effective medical waste management to deal with the present situation, as well as to eliminate and confront similar challenges in the event of future probable epidemics. Moreover, the study is a guide to the policymakers, regulatory authorities and the community for efficient medical waste management during and post-pandemic days.

Effects of different cutting methods and additives on the fermentation quality and microbial community of Saccharum arundinaceum silage

To develop a new high-yielding and polysaccharide-containing forage resource for livestock, the effects of different cutting methods and additives on Saccharum arundinaceum silage were evaluated. The wilted S. arundinaceum were chopped and knead-wired. The silages from each cutting method were treated with Lactobacillus plantarum (LP), cellulase (CE) and the combination of LP and CE (LP + CE) for 3, 7, 15, 30, and 60 days. Compared with the CK treatment, CE treatment exhibited better effects in the degradation of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), LP exhibited a better performance in preserving the content of dry matter (DM), and adding LP + CE significantly enhanced (P &lt; 0.05) the contents of lactic acid (LA), crude protein (CP) and DM and significantly reduced (P &lt; 0.05) the pH and NDF content during ensiling. In addition, both additives exerted a remarkable effect on the silage bacterial community (P &lt; 0.05), with a dramatic increase in the Lactobacillus abundance and a decrease in the abundance of Enterobacter. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) became the most dominant bacteria that affected the fermentation quality of LP and LP + CE silages. Meanwhile, chopped silages showed better fermentation quality and nutrient preservation and a higher abundance of LAB. Our research indicated that the chopped S. arundinaceum ensiling with LP + CE could exert a positive effect on LA fermentation and preservation of nutrient substances by shifting the bacterial community. In conclusion, S. arundinaceum can serve as a new silage resource for feed utilization by the ensiling method of LP + CE-chopped.

Temporary reduction in VOCs associated with health risk during and after COVID-19 in Maharashtra, India

A novel coronavirus has affected almost all countries and impacted the economy, environment, and social life. The short-term impact on the environment and human health needs attention to correlate the Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and health assessment for pre-, during, and post lockdowns. Therefore, the current study demonstrates VOC changes and their effect on air quality during the lockdown. The findings of result, the levels of the mean for total VOC concentrations were found to be 15.45 ± 21.07, 2.48 ± 1.61, 19.25 ± 28.91 µg/m3 for all monitoring stations for pre-, during, and post lockdown periods. The highest value of TVOCs was observed at Thane, considered an industrial region (petroleum refinery), and the lowest at Bandra, which was considered a residential region, respectively. The VOC levels drastically decreased by 52%, 89%, 80%, and 97% for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and m-xylene, respectively, during the lockdown period compared to the previous year. In the present study, the T/B ratio was found lower in the lockdown period as compared to the pre-lockdown period. This can be attributed to the complete closure of non-traffic sources such as industries and factories during the lockdown. The Lifetime Cancer Risk values for all monitoring stations for benzene for pre-and-post lockdown periods were higher than the prescribed value, except during the lockdown period.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10874-022-09440-5.

Pollution assessment, source identification, and health risks of heavy metals: a case study in a typical wheat-maize rotation area of eastern China

Winter-wheat-summer-maize rotations are important cropping patterns in China, and the quality of the food produced from these systems can affect human health. However, the effects of heavy metal pollution on both crops remain unclear. We analyzed soil-wheat and soil-maize samples from eastern China for their Cd, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, and Pb contents. The concentrations of these metals in the soils analyzed were found to be lower than those recommended by the national guidelines, but the Cd, Cr, Cu, and Ni concentrations were higher than the natural soil background values in China. Quality indices showed that subpollution was predominant in wheat/maize (95.00%/81.25%) samples. Positive matrix factorization model data revealed that the contributions from natural sources, agricultural activities, and traffic to the heavy metal pollution levels were 30.40-43.07%, 34.67-26.63%, and 34.92-30.27%, respectively, in the wheat-maize rotations. Although the health hazard quotient values for wheat were higher than those for maize, there were no health risks for children or adults.

The efficiency of potato peel biochar for the adsorption and immobilization of heavy metals in contaminated soil

We investigated the potential application of potato peel biochar (PPB) for the adsorption and immobilization of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, and Ni) in contaminated acidic soil. The addition of PPB to the soil, especially at the application rate of 8%, increased soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and organic carbon (OC). The maximum adsorption capacity of Cd, Pb, and Ni in the soil amended with PPB at the application rate of 8% was 3215.9, 4418.67, and 3508.51 mg kg^-1, respectively. Compared to the control, the addition of 8% PPB to the soil decreased the soluble and exchangeable fraction of Cd, Pb, and Ni to 84.3, 90.6, and 79.1 mg kg^-1, respectively. In contrast, the addition of 8% PPB to the soil increased the organically-bound and residual fractions of metals in the following order: Pb > Cd > Ni, and Cd > Pb > Ni, respectively. The results of this study showed that potato peel biochar has the potential to stabilize and reduce the bioavailability of heavy metals in contaminated acidic soil. Therefore, potato peel biochar can serve as an eco-friendly, low-cost, and efficient adsorbent to immobilization of heavy metals in contaminated acidic soils.NOVELTY STATEMENTEffect of biochar produced from potato peel on the adsorption of the heavy metals in contaminated acidic soil.Immobilization of heavy metals in contaminated acidic soil amended with potato peel biochar.Improving the chemical properties of soil amended with potato peel biochar.

How Air Quality Affect Health Industry Stock Returns: New Evidence From the Quantile-on-Quantile Regression

This paper discusses the asymmetric effect of air quality (AQ) on stock returns (SR) in China's health industry through the quantile-on-quantile (QQ) regression method. Compared to prior literature, our study provides the following contributions. Government intervention, especially industrial policy, is considered a fresh and essential component of analyzing frameworks in addition to investors' physiology and psychology. Next, because of the heterogeneous responses from different industries to AQ, industrial heterogeneity is thus considered in this paper. In addition, the QQ method examines the effect of specific quantiles between variables and does not consider structural break and temporal lag effects. We obtain the following empirical results. First, the coefficients between AQ and SR in the health service and health technology industries change from positive to negative as AQ deteriorates. Second, AQ always positively influences the health business industry, but the values of the coefficients are larger in good air. In addition, different from other industries, the coefficients in the health equipment industry are negative, but the values of the coefficients change with AQ. The conclusions provide important references for investors and other market participants to avoid biased decisions due to poor AQ and pay attention to government industrial policies.

Development and application of a method to classify airborne pollen taxa concentration using light scattering data

Although automated pollen monitoring networks using laser optics are well-established in Japan, it is thought that these methods cannot distinguish between pollen counts when evaluating various pollen taxa. However, a method for distinguishing the pollen counts of two pollen taxa was recently developed. In this study, we applied such a method to field evaluate the data of the two main allergens in Japan, Chamaecyparis obtusa and Cryptomeria japonica. We showed that the method can distinguish between the pollen counts of these two species even when they are simultaneously present in the atmosphere. This result indicates that a method for automated and simple two pollen taxa monitoring with high spatial density can be developed using the existing pollen network.

DRASTIC model adjusted with lineament density to map groundwater vulnerability: a case study in Rania basin, Kurdistan, Iraq

Groundwater has never been heavily relied on as a water source in Northern Iraq as it has been in the last two decades due to the rapid and often unplanned urbanization, industrial and agricultural projects. This paper attempts to present a concise groundwater vulnerability assessment of Rania basin to the local and regional planning authorities to ensure a more sustainable development in the area. The focus of the study is the Rania basin, which is a part of Dokan subbasin in northeast Iraq. The initial groundwater vulnerability assessment is mapped with standard DRASTIC model. It is then modified by adding "lineament density index" to the original seven DRASTIC parameters due to the previously established close relationship between flow and yield of groundwater with lineament. The area is categorized into five vulnerability index zones of very low (26%), low (32%), medium (31%), high (11%), and very high (0.012%). The modified model offers a slightly different vulnerability classification of very low (16.61%), low (35.45%), medium (30.32), high (17.57), and very high (0.05%). Measured nitrate concentration is used to validate the assessment results. A progressive increase in nitrate level somehow reflects the different vulnerability zones identified by both DRASTIC models. Average nitrate values of samples taken in wet season show 14.99 mg/l, 17.94 mg/l, and 18.63 for very low vulnerability, low vulnerability, and medium vulnerability zones in the standard DRASTIC model. However, when the area is mapped by the modified DRASTIC model, the vulnerability classes of very low and medium show slightly higher nitrate values of 15.96 mg/l and 20.1 mg/l and a lower value of 17.68 mg/l for the low vulnerability class. This is despite a noticeable increase in nitrate level between wet and dry seasons due to the rise in water table in the wet season.

From Microns to Meters: Exploring Advances in Legume Microbiome Diversity for Agroecosystem Benefits

Legumes are of primary importance for agroecosystems because they provide protein-rich foods and enhance soil fertility through fixed atmospheric nitrogen. The legume-rhizobia symbiosis that makes this possible has been extensively studied, from basic research on biochemical signaling to practical applications in cropping systems. While rhizobia are the most-studied group of associated microorganisms, the functional benefit they confer to their legume hosts by fixing nitrogen is not performed in isolation. Indeed, non-rhizobia members of the rhizosphere and nodule microbiome are now understood to contribute in multiple ways to nodule formation, legume fitness, and other agroecosystem services. In this review, we summarize advances contributing to our understanding of the diversity and composition of bacterial members of the belowground legume microbiome. We also highlight applied work in legume food and forage crops that link microbial community composition with plant functional benefits. Ultimately, further research will assist in the development of multi-species microbial inoculants and cropping systems that maximize plant nutrient benefits, while reducing sources of agricultural pollution.

DRASTIC framework improvement using Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) and combination of Genetic Algorithm and Entropy

Hybrid and integrated techniques can be used to investigate intrinsic uncertainties of the overlay and index groundwater vulnerability assessment methods. The development of a robust groundwater vulnerability assessment framework for precise identification of susceptible zones may contribute to more efficient policies and plans for sustainable managements. To achieve an overall view of the groundwater pollution potential, the DRASTIC framework (Depth to the water table, net Recharge, Aquifer media, Soil media, Topography, Impact of the vadose zone, and hydraulic Conductivity) can be used for intrinsic vulnerability assessment. However, the unreliability of this index is because of its inherent drawbacks, including the weight and rating assignment subjectivity. To modify the rating range, this study recommended a new DRASTIC modification using a recently introduced Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) method, namely the Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA); in addition, the Entropy and Genetic Algorithm (GA) methods were employed to alter the relative weights of DRASTIC parameters. To improve the DRASTIC index, nitrate concentration data from 50 observation wells in the study site were used. To assess the models' overall performance, the datasets obtained from new observation wells, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and area under the ROC curve (AUC) were studied. The experiments were carried out in the aquifer of the Qazvin Plain in Iran. The results indicated the higher performance of the modified DRASTIC framework, manifested as an increase in the AUC value from 0.58 for generic DRASTIC to 0.68 for the SWARA-Ent framework and 0.74 for the SWARA-GA framework. The application of the SWARA technique, as an effective MCDM method, resulted in the DRASTIC rating system enhancement. The generic DRASTIC optimization by integrating SWARA and GA provided an effective framework to assess groundwater vulnerability to nitrate contamination in the Qazvin Plain.

Exploration of spatial-temporal varying impacts on COVID-19 cumulative case in Texas using geographically weighted regression (GWR)

Since COVID-19 is extremely threatening to human health, it is significant to determine its impact factors to curb the virus spread. To tackle the complexity of COVID-19 expansion on a spatial-temporal scale, this research appropriately analyzed the spatial-temporal heterogeneity at the county-level in Texas. First, the impact factors of COVID-19 are captured on social, economic, and environmental multiple facets, and the communality is extracted through principal component analysis (PCA). Second, this research uses COVID-19 cumulative case as the dependent variable and the common factors as the independent variables. According to the virus prevalence hierarchy, the spatial-temporal disparity is categorized into four quarters in the GWR analysis model. The findings exhibited that GWR models provide higher fitness and more geodata-oriented information than OLS models. In El Paso, Odessa, Midland, Randall, and Potter County areas in Texas, population, hospitalization, and age structures are presented as static, positive influences on COVID-19 cumulative cases, indicating that they should adopt stringent strategies in curbing COVID-19. Winter is the most sensitive season for the virus spread, implying that the last quarter should be paid more attention to preventing the virus and taking precautions. This research is expected to provide references for the prevention and control of COVID-19 and related infectious diseases and evidence for disease surveillance and response systems to facilitate the appropriate uptake and reuse of geographical data.

Robust empirical Bayes approach for Markov chain modeling of air pollution index

Air pollution is a matter of concern among the public, especially for those living in urban and industrial areas. Markov chain modeling is often used to model the underlying dynamics of air pollution, which involves describing the transition probability of going from one air pollution state to another. Thus, estimating the transition probability matrix for the data of the air pollution index (API) is an essential process in the modeling. However, one may observe many zero probabilities in the transition probability matrix, especially when faced with a small sample, interpreting the results with respect to the climate condition less realistic. This study proposes a robust empirical Bayes method, which incorporates a method of smoothing the zero frequencies in the count matrix, contributing to an improved estimation of the transition probability matrix. The robustness of the empirical Bayesian estimation is investigated based on Bayes risk. The transition probability matrices estimated based on the robust empirical Bayes method for the hourly API data collected from seven monitoring stations in Malaysia for the period 2012 to 2014 are used for determining the air pollution characteristics such as the mean residence time, the steady-state probability and the mean recurrence time. Furthermore, the proposed method has been evaluated by Monte Carlo simulations. Results suggest that it is quite effective in producing non-zero transition probability estimates, and superior to the maximum likelihood method in terms of minimizing the mean squared error for individual and entire transition probabilities. Therefore, the robust empirical Bayes method proves to be an improved approach to the estimation of the Markov chain. When applied to API data, it could provide important information on air pollution dynamics that may help guiding the development of proper strategies for managing the impact of air quality.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40201-020-00607-4.

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 lockdown and de-escalation on air-quality parameters

The SARS-CoV-2 health crisis has temporarily forced the lockdown of entire countries. This work reports the short-term effects on air quality of such unprecedented paralysis of industry and transport in different continental cities in Spain, one of the countries most affected by the virus and with the hardest confinement measures. The study takes into account sites with different sizes and diverse emission sources, such as traffic, residential or industrial emissions. This work reports new field measurement data for the studied pandemic period and assesses the air quality parameters within the historic trend of each pollutant and site. Thus, 2013-2020 data series from ground-air quality monitoring networks have been analysed to find out statistically significant changes in atmospheric pollutants during March-June 2020 due to this sudden paralysis of activity. The results show substantial concentration drops of primary pollutants, including NO_x, CO, BTX, NMHC and NH₃. Particulate matter changes were smaller due to the existence of other natural sources. During the lockdown the ozone patterns were different for each studied location, depending on the VOCs-NOx ratios, with concentration changes close to those expected from the historical series in each site and not statistically attributable to the health crisis effects. Finally, the gradual de-escalation and progressive increase of traffic density within cities reflects a slow recovery of primary pollutants. The results and conclusions for these cities, with different sizes and population, and specific emission sources, may serve as a behavioural model for other continental sites and help understand future crises.

Guidance plans for solid waste management during COVID-19 in Makkah, Saudi Arabia

The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized disasters related to environmental topics, human health, social lifestyles, and economic systems around the world. COVID-19 may further spread through municipal solid waste (MSW), if it is collected, handled, transported, or disposed in an improper way. The current paper provides an overview of the multiple challenges that COVID-19 has introduced to the various tasks of MSW management including the impact of the implemented precautionary measures on MSW management, priorities and hierarchy of MSW, direct impact on the constitution, and characterization of MSW in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, based on waste management characterization guidance. In addition, specific and alternative guidance plans for the potential critical points of the infection were suggested to protect public health during the pandemic. The results of the current study revealed that the hierarchical system of MSW was modified under pandemic conditions. Implementation of control measures in Makkah has led to a change of lifestyle, which resulted in a physical change of the MSW constitution in Makkah, with the following average rates: organic matter, 57%; plastics, 31%; paper and cardboard, 9%; metals, 1%; glass, 1%; and wood, 1%. In conclusion, a specific guidance plan for MSW management during the COVID-19 pandemic was developed, aimed at handlers, pickers, collection, transportation, transfer stations, and MSW disposal. Such a guidance plan may play a vital role in controlling the pandemic, especially in the outdoor environment. The suggested guidance plan describes and specifies structured and ordered practices of MSW management in Makkah during COVID-19 and other pandemics.

Anthropogenic Pb contribution in soils of Southeast China estimated by Pb isotopic ratios

Isotopic ratios were used to identify the source of Lead (Pb) contamination in rural soils from Southeast China. Enrichment of Pb in surface soils was detected from three sampling locations, with the ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratio indicating recent anthropogenic input. The ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratio from deeper soil profiles reflected the ratio from parent basalt. Mass fractions of anthropogenic-derived Pb for soil samples in the upper profiles was as high as 50%, implying that surface soils in the current study were impacted by anthropogenic activity. The ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb^/206Pb ratios were similar to anthropogenic sources including the combustion of coal, which has been common practice in the region for 2500 years. Considering the relatively short history of petroleum use in this area and the rural location of soils, anthropogenic Pb source from coal burning was considered to be the main cause of lead pollution.

Modeling Impact of Land Use Dynamics on Hydrology and Sedimentation of Megech Dam Watershed, Ethiopia

Land use/land cover dynamics change the hydrology and sediment yield of the watershed. This research on how land use dynamics alters catchment hydrology and reservoir sedimentation aids the government to implement appropriate response strategies to minimize undesirable future impacts on the upper Megech dam reservoir. For this study, the impacts were quantified and analyzed through hydrological modeling (SWAT). The overall analysis was performed by using 1998 historical and 2016 recent land use satellite images. The analysis has shown that the cultivated land has increased from 60.69% to 67.17% and urban land from 2.3% to 3.36% between 1998 and 2016. Whereas the grassland area has decreased from 11.42% to 5.33%, plantation forest from 1.84% to 0.9%, and bareland from 3.58% to 2.56%. A comparison of the simulated outputs of the model shows that the mean annual surface runoff for 1998 land use was 251.3 mm and had changed to 316.7 mm in 2016 land use. The mean annual streamflow changed from 150.3 m³/sec to 165.6 m³/sec for 1998 and 2016 land uses, respectively. Similarly, 10.23 t/ha mean annual sediment load gets into Megech dam reservoir in 1998 LULC and was changed to 13.61 t/ha in 2016 LULC. This shows that streamflow, surface runoff, and sediment yield increases by 10.2%, 26.03%, and 33.3% in 2016 land use as compared with 1998 land use. Finally, the most dynamic subbasins that have a significant impact on streamflow and sediment yield were identified. Based on this, subbasins 13, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24, and 25 were found to be the most dynamic and change sensitive subbasins that have a significant contribution to the increment of runoff and sediment yield in Megech dam watershed.

In Vivo Genotoxicity of Rice Husk Biochar on Eudrilus eugeniae in Soil

Biochar (char-product), generated by pyrolyzing organic materials, is produced for the intended use of land application to promote carbon sequestration, soil improvement and crop-yield. Despite the benefits biochar applications offers, scientific probing on impacts that may result from amendments with biochar is still fragmented. In this study, impact of biochar on Eudrilus eugeniae DNA was investigated. Rice-husk biochar was applied to soil at rates up to 80% d/w and earthworms were exposed for 35-day. Impact on DNA was measured using electrophoresis-gel-extraction-method. Data obtained showed that biochar application over 25% resulted in decreased survival. Electrophoresis-gel-analysis showed that DNA decreased from 450 to 300 bp in biochar soils (p = 0.002). Biochar rates (5%-25%) induced DNA damage. The DNA showed smeared bands or tail; indicating DNA degradation and/or damage. DNA damage is a clear evidence of negative impact of biochar(s) to soil-biota; suggesting that loading of soil with biochar could have serious consequences on soil-fauna.

Assessment of intensive agriculture on water quality in the Culiacan River basin, Sinaloa, Mexico

The percentage of agricultural land cover effect on water quality in Culiacan River basin is studied in this research. The basin contains only intensive cropland as primary economic activity with 60% of the total area. Mathematical relationships between percentages of cropland and total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations were established. Sampling sites in middle and lower basin and water quality information during 2013-2018 were considered, and percentages of cropland were obtained by geospatial methods including variable area buffers. During rainy season, coefficients of determination were less than 0.2, although quantified nutrient concentration was higher, related to point sources of pollution in the basin. During dry season, coefficients of determination were higher than 0.76 and 0.90 for TN and TP, respectively, with an exponential mathematical trend. Results suggest that intensive agriculture practices generate accelerated loss of soil consolidation, which is transported to water bodies. These soils are in continuous contact with fertilizers and pesticides, mostly organophosphates which have been transported by runoff and underground flows. Using the information generated will help to establish environmental management plans, and to improve environmental diagnosis and effect in countries where there is not enough historical cartographic information and/or water quality data.

Corporate social responsibility in agribusiness: climate-related empirical findings from Hungary

The corporate sector is one of the most important contributors to the global emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. According to a representative public opinion survey 34% of Hungarian citizens believe that corporations are responsible for climate change. The business sector is motivated to take an active role in the mitigation and adaptation of climate change. As a result, the last few decades saw a marked increase in corporate measures aiming at the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, as well as other initiatives to tackle climate-related problems which result in numerous social issues. The aim of this paper is to assess whether Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) can be applied as a tool in agribusiness fostering steps towards the implementation of the climate-oriented and sustainable agriculture in Hungary. The research makes an effort to explore the role and opportunities of the Hungarian agricultural sector in adapting to climate change, it also examines the extent of the mitigation and adaptation activities appearing in the CSR portfolio of the companies and what specific measures are taken to realize them. The results of the evaluation show that climate-oriented CSR activities of the companies are relatively undeveloped, but businesses are working to reduce the impact of climate change on the usage of exercising adaptation strategies. There are several actions that can help to reduce vulnerability to the consequences of climate change in the agriculture sector. The results can support not only companies but other decision-makers decisions in climate-oriented CSR activities in agribusiness.

Plastic driven pollution in Pakistan: the first evidence of environmental exposure to microplastic in sediments and water of Rawal Lake

Microplastic pollution is as an emerging environmental threat. Focus of most of the current researches has been on microplastics in the marine environment. However, there is limited information for microplastic availability in the fresh water, especially in Pakistan. The current study was conducted with the objective of investigating the microplastic presence and concentration in the surface water and sediments of the Rawal Lake, in the capital city of Pakistan. The average microplastic abundance for water and sediments was 0.142 items/0.1 L and 1.04 items/0.01 kg, respectively. Results indicated that the fibers and fragments were the most dominant types of microplastics. The dominant colors were blue, red, black, and transparent. FTIR analysis of visible microplastic particles displayed a greater similarity with polyethylene, polypropylene, polyesters, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyvinyl chloride because of the appearance of characteristic peaks of these polymers. The study also revealed greater concentration of microplastics in the sediments as compared with water of the Rawal Lake. High population density surrounding lake, improper waste disposal, tourism, and recreational activities may be the major reasons for the microplastic contamination of the lake.

Increasing Prevalence of ESBL-Producing Multidrug Resistance Escherichia coli From Diseased Pets in Beijing, China From 2012 to 2017

We investigated antimicrobial resistance trends and characteristics of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli isolates from pets and whether this correlates with antibiotic usage in the clinic. Clinical samples containing E. coli from diseased cats and dogs were screened for antibiotic sensitivity and associated genotypic features. We identified 127 E. coli isolates from 1886 samples from dogs (n = 1565) and cats (n = 321) with the majority from urinary tract infections (n = 108, 85%). High rates of resistance were observed for β-lactams and fluoroquinolones and resistance to > 3 antibiotic classes (MDR) increased from 67% in 2012 to 75% in 2017 (P < 0.0001). This was especially true for strains resistant to 6-9 antibiotics that increased from 26.67 to 60.71%. Increased rates in β-lactam use for clinical treatment accompanied these increasing resistance rates. Accordingly, the most frequently encountered subtypes were bla _CTX-M (n = 44, 34.65%), bla _CTX-M-65 (n = 19) and bla _CTX-M-15 (n = 18) and qnrB (n = 119, 93.70%). The bla _CTX-M-isolates possessed 36 unique pulsed field electrophoretic types (PFGEs) and 28 different sequence types (STs) in ST405 (7, 15.9%), ST131 (3, 6.8%), ST73, ST101, ST372, and ST827 (2, 4.5% each) were the most prevalent. This data demonstrated a high level of diversity for the bla _CTX-M-positive E. coli isolates. Additionally, bla _NDM-5 was detected in three isolates (n = 3, 2.36%), comprised of two ST101 and one ST405 isolates, and mcr-1 was also observed in three colistin-resistant E. coli with three different STs (ST6316, ST405, and ST46). Our study demonstrates an increasing trend in MDR and ESBL-producing E. coli and this correlated with β-lactam antibiotic usage for treatment of these animals. This data indicates that there is significant risk for the spread of resistant bacteria from pets to humans and antibiotic use for pets should be more strictly regulated.

Productivity and cost-effectiveness of short-rotation hardwoods on various land types in the southeastern USA

Despite the growing need to produce energy crops, information on comprehensive feasibility of growing short-rotation woody crops (SRWCs) on non-contentious and less-utilized lands and lands transitioning from previous uses in the southeastern USA is limited. An assessment model (SRWC-PEAM) was developed and tested for assessing the feasibility of SRWCs on lands targeted for ecosystem-service enhancements based on land conditions, species, and stand and economic variables in the southeastern USA. Productivity and economic returns of sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.), sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.), and poplar (Populus) stand differed due to land types, species' adaptability and biomass potential, and optimal land-type-based management schemes. Poplar stands had the greatest biomass and the highest returns on all land types although returns from the three species on most land types were poor using current reported regional delivered prices. Irrigating stands increased yields but returns were poorer than from non-irrigated stands due to high costs of irrigation. Longer rotations resulted in greater biomass and returns and were more crucial for irrigated stands. Significantly higher feedstock prices and productivities are requisite for SRWC viability in the southeastern USA. SRWC-PEAM is a web-based tool and can accommodate other SRWC species and assessment of environmental services associated with SRWCs.

Association between ambient PM2.5 and children's hospital admissions for respiratory diseases in Jinan, China

To determine the association between daily air pollution and the hospital admissions for respiratory diseases in children aged from 0 to 17 years in Jinan, China. Generalized linear models were used to explore the acute effects of ambient fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) on the children's hospital admissions for respiratory diseases. We evaluated the lag associations (including lag 0 to lag 3, lag 01, and lag 03) between daily PM_2.5 and the number of children's hospital admissions for respiratory diseases, and stratified by gender, age group (baby group: age 0-1 years; child group: age 1-5 years; student group: age 6-17 years), and cause-specific disease (including upper infection, pneumonia, and acute bronchitis) during 2011-2015. PM_2.5 had significant positive impacts on the number of children's hospital admissions for respiratory disease. The results showed that per 10 μg/m³ increase of PM_2.5 at lag 1 was associated with an increase in total and male hospital admissions of 0.23% (95% CI, 0.02%-0.45%) and 0.32% (95% CI, 0.04%-0.06%). The corresponding risk of the student group (age 6-17 years) hospital admissions was increased 0.90% (95% CI, 0.39%-1.42%) at lag 1 day. The corresponding risk of the upper infection was increased 0.96% (95% CI, 0.37-1.55%) at lag 1 day. Males and student groups (age 6-17 years) were more vulnerable to PM_2.5 exposure. Upper infection admission was identified as the sensitive disease for children. It is a better way to reduce children's outdoor activities to avoid health effects when the air pollution increases.

Elemental composition in feathers of a migratory passerine for differentiation of sex, age, and molting areas

The bulk analysis of single feathers of 263 feathers belonging to 238 individuals of a migratory passerine (collared flycatcher, Ficedula albicollis, originating from a breeding population in the Pilis-Visegrád Mountains in Hungary) by inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry (ICP-SF-MS) for determination of elements after proper dissolution allowed the quantitative determination of 38 elements. Calcium, Mg, Mn, Fe, and Zn were found to have a quantitative determination frequency larger than 80 % and a concentration greater than 100 μg/g. Among ecotoxicologically relevant elements, Ni, Cd, Hg, and Pb could be determined in more than 55 % of the tail feather samples. The concentration of Hg with a quantification limit of 0.006 μg/g and Pb with that of 0.015 μg/g was higher than 1 and 10 μg/g, respectively, in more than 80 % of the investigated samples, but generally lower than levels that could cause adverse behavioral effects. The principal component analyses of elemental concentration data followed by the application of general linear models revealed that, for male collared flycatchers, the concentration of Sn, Pb, Ni, Sr, Mg, Zn, Ba, and Sc differed significantly in the wing and tail feathers collected from the same individuals. With females, only the Ca and Sc concentration showed a significant difference between wing and tail feathers. Moreover, the concentration of rare earth elements, V, Fe, Sr, Mg, Mn, Zn, Pb, and Ba in tail feathers allowed differentiation between sexes while the concentration of Se, Bi, and Sc between yearling and adult male individuals. At the same time, Sc differentiated age categories in females. Distribution of major elements along the rachis of feathers could be monitored by laser ablation ICP-SF-MS after normalization of the intensities to either ¹³C or ³⁴S signals.

MiR-26a functions as a tumor suppressor in ambient particulate matter-bound metal-triggered lung cancer cell metastasis by targeting LIN28B-IL6-STAT3 axis

Exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) has been linked to the increasing incidence and mortality of lung cancer, but the principal toxic components and molecular mechanism remain to be further elucidated. In this study, human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells were treated with serial concentrations of water-extracted PM₁₀ (WE-PM₁₀) collected from Beijing, China. Our results showed that exposure to 25 and 50 μg/ml of WE-PM₁₀ for 48 h significantly suppressed miR-26a to upregulate lin-28 homolog B (LIN28B), and in turn activated interleukin 6 (IL6) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in A549 cells, subsequently contributing to enhanced epithelial-mesenchymal transition and accelerated migration and invasion. In vivo pulmonary colonization assay further indicated that WE-PM₁₀ enhanced the metastatic ability of A549 cells. In addition, luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that 3' untranslated region of LIN28B was a direct target of miR-26a. Last but not the least, the key toxic contribution of metals in WE-PM₁₀ was confirmed by the finding that removal of metals through chelation significantly rescued WE-PM₁₀-mediated inflammatory, carcinogenic and metastatic responses. Taken together, miR-26a could act as the tumor suppressor in PM₁₀-related lung cancer, and PM₁₀-bound metals promoted lung cancer cell metastasis through downregulation of miR-26a that directly mediated LIN28B expression.