Biological Indices Research Articles

First Report of Citrus Leaf Blotch Virus on Nagami Kumquat in Turkey.

Kumquat, known as the smallest of citrus fruits, has seen an increase in the number of commercial orchards in recent years. In May of 2022, a PCR-based survey for citrus virus diseases was conducted in commercial Nagami kumquat (Fortunella margarita (Lour.) Swingle) orchards in the Cukurova region of Turkey. During the survey, five trees with bud union disorder symptoms were found in two different kumquat orchards in the Erdemli district of Mersin province. Young leaf samples from the five trees showing bud union disorder symptoms and two symptomless trees were collected from 6-year-old kumquat. Common citrus viruses and viroids, such as citrus psorosis virus, citrus exocortis viroid, and hop stunt viroid, were not detected in PCR tests performed on all collected samples. The samples were also tested for citrus leaf blotch virus (CLBV; genus Citrivirus, family Betaflexiviridae), a virus associated with a bud union crease in kumquat (Vives et al.2001). Total RNA was isolated from collected leaf samples using the RNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen, USA). In the RT-PCR assay, two separate specific primer pairs were used to determine the presence of CLBV. The coat protein gene (CP), was amplified with primers KU-18 (5'-TTAAGATTACAGACACGAAGG- 3') and KU-19 (5' CTGTTTTTGAATTTTGCTCG-3'), and the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene (RdRp) was amplified with KU-27(5'-GATGCAAGCCAGGATGAATAC-3') and KU-15 (5'-CAGACACTCCAAGACCTTTCC-3') primers (Vives et al. 2002). All of symptomatic samples yielded amplicons of the expected size (456-bp RdRp and 438-bp CP). No amplicons were obtained from symptomless samples. Two PCR products were sequenced to confirm their identity by direct sequencing (GenBank accession no: OQ718432, OQ718433, PP726107, PP726108). Consensus sequences of these two genes showed 96% and 97% nt identity with CP and RdRP genes of the CLBV sequence in GenBank (MT038390, EU857539), respectively. For biological indexing, four RT-PCR-positive samples were used as inoculum sources. Four of Etrog citron (C. medica) and four of Dweet tangor (C. tangerina) seedlings were graft-inoculated for each source, and two seedlings for each cultivar were used as a negative control. Two months later, chlorotic blotching symptoms were observed on Dweet tangor leaves. Six months later, Etrog citron exhibited stem pitting symptoms. None of the negative control seedlings developed any symptoms. RT-PCR was performed to confirm the presence of CLBV in the virus-inoculated seedlings, and amplicons of the expected sizes (456-bp RdRp and 438-bp CP) were obtained. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the CLBV infection in citrus in Turkey. CLBV is thought to have originated from infected grafting material in the country, although it is not known where it may have originated. Further research is needed to determine the distribution of CLBV and its potential to impact commercial citrus production in Turkey.

Characterization of sediment organic matter in the outer Yangtze River Estuary using stable isotopes, optical techniques, and FT-ICR-MS: Implications for the carbon burial mechanism

The burial of sediment organic matter (SOM) in the estuary and shelf plays an important role in the global carbon cycle. However, it is challenging to determine the source, composition, and burial of SOM in the coastal sea, especially at the molecular level. This was explored in the coastal area outside the largest Yangtze River of China with multiple techniques including elemental and stable isotopic analysis, absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence excitation-emission matrices coupled with parallel factor analysis (EEMs-PARAFAC), and ultra-high resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS). The end-member mixing analysis based on δ13C and δ15N showed a dominance of marine contribution (up to 70%) at most stations while the terrestrial contribution increased to >55% nearshore in summer at a high fluvial sediment flux. This was consistent with the offshore decreasing humic-like C1 and C2, humification index (HIX), %lignin-like compounds, and %CHO but increasing tryptophan-like C3, biological index (BIX), %protein-like compounds, and %CHOS from EEMs-PARAFAC and FT-ICR-MS analysis. The %clay correlated positively with SOM content, HIX, %lignin-like compounds, O/C, and modified aromaticity index (AImod) but correlated negatively with %C3, H/C, and the relative abundance of labile formulas (MLBL), while %silt showed contrasting correlations. These results indicated the fine clay sediments adsorbed more humified, aromatic, oxygenated, and terrestrial compounds that were probably more resistant to biodegradation and thus had a higher burial efficiency than those on the silty sediments. Principal component analysis based on SOM indices further revealed different characteristics of SOM in the nearshore, northern offshore, and southern offshore regions, which were probably dependent on the delivery by local current systems. Overall, these findings contributed to unraveling the source and molecular composition of SOM associated with different grain size sediments and local current delivery, which are fundamental for understanding the factors underlying carbon burial in the complex coastal environment.

Remote Sensing of Chlorophyll-a in Clear vs. Turbid Waters in Lakes

Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), a proxy for phytoplankton biomass, is one of the few biological water quality indices detectable using satellite observations. However, models for estimating Chl-a from satellite signals are currently unavailable for many lakes. The application of Chl-a prediction algorithms may be affected by the variance in optical complexity within lakes. Using Lake Winnipeg in Canada as a case study, we demonstrated that separating models by the lake’s basins [north basin (NB) and south basin (SB)] can improve Chl-a predictions. By calibrating more than 40 commonly used Chl-a estimation models using Landsat data for Lake Winnipeg, we achieved higher correlations between in situ and predicted Chl-a when building models with separate Landsat-to-in situ matchups from NB and SB (R2 = 0.85 and 0.76, respectively; p < 0.05), compared to using matchups from the entire lake (R2 = 0.38, p < 0.05). In the deeper, more transparent waters of the NB, a green-to-blue band ratio provided better Chl-a predictions, while in the shallower, highly turbid SB, a red-to-green band ratio was more effective. Our approach can be used for rapid Chl-a modeling in large lakes using cloud-based platforms like Google Earth Engine with any available satellite or time series length.

Impact of early weaning and nutritional interventions on growth performance, digestive metabolism, and serum biomarkers in lambs: A biomechanical perspective

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of early weaning and nutritional interventions on growth performance, nutrient digestion and metabolism, and serological indices of hu sheep lambs, with a view to providing a basis for the feasibility of early weaning of hu sheep lambs under conditions of supplemental milk replacer. Ninety neonatal hu sheep lambs were weaned at 21 days (n = 60) (divided into two groups: early weaned, EW; and resveratrol-fed, RSV) as well as 49 days (n = 30) (control group, CON) weaning, and the trial period was 90 days. The results showed that: 1) there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the initial and final weights of the lambs, and the average daily gain (ADG) of the EW and RSV groups was significantly lower than that of the CON group (P < 0.05) from 31 to 45 days of age. Early weaned lambs were more susceptible to weaning stress compared to late weaned lambs and the effect of nutritional intervention (feeding resveratrol) on lamb growth performance was not significant. 2) The apparent digestibility of crude protein (CP) in the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05), and the nitrogen intake, net protein utilization and protein biological value indexes of lake lambs in the experimental group were significantly different from those of the control group (P < 0.05). 3) Early feeding of resveratrol was not significant in improving the digestive metabolism of nutrients. 4) Early weaning as well as the addition of resveratrol had a significant effect on the serum GLU and TC indexes of the lambs (P < 0.05), but did not show a significant effect on any of the other indexes.

Association between plant and animal protein and biological aging: findings from the UK Biobank

PurposeThis study aimed to evaluate the relationship between plant protein, animal protein and biological aging through different dimensions of biological aging indices. Then explore the effects of substitution of plant protein, animal protein, and their food sources on biological aging.MethodsThe data came from 79,294 participants in the UK Biobank who completed at least two 24-h dietary assessments. Higher Klemera-Doubal Method Biological Age (HKDM-BA), higher PhenoAge (HPA), higher allostatic load (HAL), and longer telomere length (LTL) were estimated to assess biological aging. Logistic regression was used to estimate protein-biological aging associations. Substitution model was performed to assess the effect of dietary protein substitutions.ResultsPlant protein intake was inversely associated with HKDM-BA, HPA, HAL, and positively associated with LTL (odds ratios after fully adjusting and comparing the highest to the lowest quartile: 0.83 (0.79–0.88) for HKDM-BA, 0.86 (0.72–0.94) for HPA, 0.90 (0.85–0.95) for HAL, 1.06 (1.01–1.12) for LTL), while animal protein was not correlated with the four indices. Substituting 5% of energy intake from animal protein with plant protein, replacing red meat or poultry with whole grains, and replacing red or processed meat with nuts, were negatively associated with HKDM-BA, HPA, HAL and positively associated with LTL. However, an inverse association was found when legumes were substituted for yogurt. Gamma glutamyltransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase mediated the relationship between plant protein and HKDM-BA, HPA, HAL, and LTL (mediation proportion 11.5–24.5%; 1.9–6.7%; 2.8–4.5%, respectively).ConclusionHigher plant protein intake is inversely associated with biological aging. Although there is no association with animal protein, food with animal proteins displayed a varied correlation.

A comparative study of optical and size properties of dissolved organic matter in the lower Mississippi River and Pearl River

Monthly water samples were collected from the lower Mississippi and Pearl Rivers between January 2009 and August 2011 to investigate the heterogeneity in the dynamic variations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), colloidal organic carbon, chromophoric and fluorescence dissolved organic matter (CDOM and FDOM), PARAFAC-derived fluorescent components, and other optical properties including spectral slope, specific UV absorbance (SUVA), and fluorescence indices between the two contrasting river systems. The lower Mississippi River exhibits relatively lower concentrations of DOC (306 ± 41 μM C) and CDOM (27.9 ± 5.7 m−1 at 254 nm), featuring lower aromaticity (indicated by SUVA254) and apparent molecular weight (or higher spectral slope) with weak seasonal variability. The Pearl River, in contrast, has elevated levels of DOC (537 ± 212 μM C) and CDOM (66.4 ± 31.4 m−1), characterized by higher aromaticity, higher molecular weight, and significant seasonality, primarily originating from soil-derived allochthonous sources. The abundance of the >1 kDa colloidal DOC was, on average, 58 ± 3 % of the bulk DOC in the lower Mississippi River and 68 ± 6 % in the lower Pearl River. The >1 kDa high-molecular weight DOM (HMW-DOM) consistently had lower spectral slope and biological index (BIX) values, but higher humification index (HIX) values compared to both bulk DOM and low-molecular-weight DOM (LMW-DOM) counterparts. These trends could be representative of other similar large and small rivers. Four PARAFAC-derived fluorescent components (three humic-like and one protein-like) were identified for both rivers. A positive correlation between discharge and terrestrial humic-like fluorescent components indicated their dominant allochthonous sources, while the protein-like component decreased with increasing discharge, consistent with its autochthonic source and a dilution effect during high flow seasons. The occurrence of large flood events during the sampling period contributed to large DOC pulses, with DOM of higher aromaticity and HMW-DOM. This has important implications for coastal ocean ecosystems, which are increasingly impacted by river flooding events under changing climate conditions. Our results also provide an improved understanding of DOM dynamics in two representative rivers and establish a baseline dataset for future studies to assess changes in sources and composition of DOM and their impacts on the coastal ocean in response to climate, hydrological, and anthropogenic influences.

Fundamentals of Determination of the Biological Tissue Refractive Index by Ellipsoidal Reflector Method

This paper presents the theoretical fundamentals, prerequisites for creation, and peculiarities of modeling a new method for determining the refractive index of biological tissues. The method uses a mirror ellipsoid of revolution as an optical element to ensure total internal reflection phenomena. This paper thoroughly analyzes the differences in the refractive index of healthy and pathological tissues on a biometric diagnostic basis. The analysis is used to model the measurement setup’s parameters. This paper also considers various methods of determining the refractive index of biological tissues based on different principles of physical optics, such as interferometry, refractometry, ellipsometry, and goniophotometry. It systematizes typical optical elements of total internal reflection that can be used in goniophotometry. It justifies the selection of the element base for the goniometric installation based on the ellipsoidal reflector method. A simulation of the installation operation was carried out for various parameters of the ellipsoidal reflector, ensuring the measurement of the biological tissue refractive index from 1.33 to 1.7. This paper also proposes a constructive solution for manufacturing an ellipsoidal reflector of the required configuration.

Community structure of macrozoobenthos as a water quality indicator at Margagiri-Grenyang coastal waters, Banten Bay

Abstract Macrozoobenthos live sedentary at the bottom of the waters with slow movements and a relatively long-life cycle, and they are able to respond continuously to changes in water conditions. The aim of this study is to analyze macrozoobenthic ecology as an indicator of water quality at Margagiri-Grenyang coastal waters, Banten Bay. The study was carried out for 5 months from July-November 2022 with six stations. Macrozoobenthos samples were taken using Petersen Grab, and water quality was measured in situ and ex situ. Data analysis was conducted to estimate abundance, biological indices, PCA, similarity index, and AMBI and M-AMBI. The macrozoobenthos at the study site were composed of six phyla (Molusca, Annelida, Echinodermata, Arthropoda, Hoplonemertea, and Nemertea). The highest density of the marozoobenthos was found in July (3178 ind/m2), with moderate diversity (H′) (2.535–2.758), medium-high evenness (E) (0.742–0.833), and low dominance (C) indices (0.157–0.241). Based on PCA, the distribution of macrozoobenthos is influenced by turbidity and TSS parameters. AMBI and M-AMBI analysis showed that macrozoobenthos undisturbed and indicated by good-high water quality.

Ambient ultraviolet radiation as a cardioprotective factor: A global and regional analysis.

Ambient ultraviolet radiation (UVR) has been found to have a greater cardioprotective effect than previously believed. This study aimed to quantitatively measure the role of UVR in protecting against the progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in general on a global and regional scale. Population-level data on UVR, CVD incidence, aging, economic affluence, CVD genetic background (indexed with the Biological State Index, Ibs), obesity prevalence, and urbanization were collected and analysed. The correlation between UVR and CVD was examined using bivariate correlations, partial correlation, and stepwise multiple linear regression. Countries were grouped to investigate regional correlations between UVR and CVD, and Fisher's r-to-z transformation was used to compare correlation coefficients. UVR showed a significant inverse correlation with CVD incidence rates in bivariate correlation analyses globally (r = - 0.775 and r = - 0.760, p < 0.001), as well as within high-income (r = -0.704, p < 0.001) and low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) (r = -0.851, p < 0.001). These correlations remained significant even after controlling for confounding variables (r = -0.689 to -0.812, p < 0.001). In stepwise regression models, UVR was found to be the most significant predictor of CVD incidence. The inverse correlation between UVR and CVD was stronger in LMICs compared to high-income countries (z = -1.96, p < 0.050). Low ambient UVR may be a significant risk factor for the progression of CVD worldwide. The protective effect of UVR appears to be stronger in LMICs than in high-income countries, suggesting a greater impact of UVR on CVD prevention in these regions. These findings emphasize the need for further research into the mechanisms underlying the cardioprotective effects of UVR and the development of public health strategies to mitigate CVD risk associated with low UVR exposure.

Characteristics of Dissolved Organic Matter as Affected by Decomposition of Different Organic Materials in Alpine Wetland

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays a significant role in the nutrient supply, energy flow, and pollutant transportation in the wetland ecosystem. However, little is known about the effect of the decomposition of different organic materials in alpine wetland water on the DOM characteristics. By conducting a 90-day decomposition experiment with the addition of different organic materials (peat soil, yak manure, and plant litter) alone or their combinations into alpine wetland water, we characterized the water DOM using three-dimension excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy. The results showed that the decomposition of organic materials significantly affected the chemical properties, sources, humification degree, and composition of the water DOM. The decomposition increased dissolved organic carbon and dissolved total nitrogen in the water. For most of the water samples, a fluorescence index ranging from 1.4 to 1.7 and a biological index of less than 0.8 may indicate that both autochthonous and allochthonous sources contributed to the water DOM, which may primarily rely on allochthonous sources. UVA (37.55–46.81% of total fluorescent components) and UVC fulvic-like substances (29.91–35.53% of total fluorescent components) dominated the water DOM compositions. Among the treatments, additions of peat soil and yak manure led to the highest and the lowest humification degree of the water DOM, respectively. For the treatment of the combination decomposition of all three organic materials, the yak manure may stimulate microbial activity and facilitate the decomposition of plant litter and peat soil and, therefore, boost the humic-like substances in the water DOM. These findings may help the development of wetland biomass management with the objective of maintaining alpine wetland ecosystem services.

Toxicological effects of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate on dandelions: Insights into physiological, metabolic, and molecular docking perspectives

Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) is one of the most widely used plasticizers in plastic manufacturing. However, the toxicological effects of DEHP on dandelions remain poorly understood. This study comprehensively analyzed and explored the response mechanisms of dandelions to 1, 10, 50, and 100 mg L−1 DEHP influencing the morphophysiological growth, metabolomics, and molecular docking. DEHP reduced chlorophyll synthesis, inhibited plant growth, and induced oxidative-state-associated stress, which was manifested by the excessive production of reactive oxygen species, an increase in antioxidant enzyme activities, and enhanced synthesis of some osmoregulatory compounds, including proline and soluble protein. An analysis of the integrated biological response index showed that the toxicity was dose-dependent. Molecular docking demonstrated that DEHP could bind stably to three enzymes, and the binding energy was peroxidase (POD) > catalase (CAT) > superoxide dismutase (SOD). Metabolomics revealed that metabolite abundance and metabolic pathways were altered by DEHP, with 88 and 72 primary metabolites identified in shoots and roots, respectively. Amino acid, sugar, and organic acid metabolism were severely disturbed, with the most significant effects being on carbohydrate metabolism, valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis. Our study elucidated the influence of DEHP exposure on dandelions, providing new insights into the toxicity mechanisms and toxicological risk assessment.

Effects of biochar and wood vinegar co-application on composting ammonia and nitrous oxide losses and fertility

Composting faces challenges with nitrogen (N) losses through ammonia (NH3) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. In this study, wood vinegar (WV) and biochar (BC) were applied individually or combined into wheat straw and chicken manure composting. Results showed that BC and WV reduced NH3 volatilizations by 22–23 % individually, but their combined application achieved a 59 % reduction. However, this combination increased N2O emissions by 174 %. The BC + WV treatment improved compost quality, evidenced by increased total N content by 22 % and enhanced the biological index, promoting additional dissolved organic matter production. Overall, BC and WV applications improved compost quality, reduced gaseous N losses, and supported the re-utilization of agricultural residues. The combined use of BC and WV significantly enhances compost quality and reduces NH3 emissions, offering a promising solution for sustainable agricultural residue management.

Components of dissolved organic carbon in relation to environmental factors in lakes along an altitudinal gradient in central China.

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is an important organic substance that affects biogeochemical processes and underwater light conditions in aquatic ecosystems. To explore altitudinal variations in DOC components and water quality, 66 surface water samples were collected along an altitudinal gradient (10-1857m) in three regions of central China, including a montane region (Enshi Prefecture) and two floodplain regions (Dongting Lake Basin and Wuhan City). DOC components were measured using a three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (3D-EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy, in conjunction with fluorescence regional integration (FRI) and fluorescence indices. Generally, lakes at high elevations (Enshi Prefecture) had higher DOC concentrations (a mean value of 6.43mgL-1) than floodplain lakes in Dongting Basin (4.51mgL-1) and Wuhan City (3.89mgL-1). Fluorescence index (FI, a range of 1.37-1.92) and biological index (BIX, a range of 0.47-0.74) indicated that DOC mainly originated from allochthonous sources in the three regions. Enshi Prefecture had relatively lower FI and BIX values, suggestive of a larger contribution of allochthonous carbon in this montane region in comparison with the floodplain regions. Humic-like substances were more abundant than other four fluorescent components, including tyrosine-like, tryptophan-like, fulvic acid-like, microbial-like substances. Spearman rank correlation analyses showed that tryptophane-like substances were positively correlated with K+, Mg2+, and Na+, while humic-like substances were negatively correlated with these cations. Taken together, the results can improve our understanding on altitudinal variations in DOC components and potential driving forces.

Co-amendment of dicyandiamide with waste carbonization products into composting: Enhanced fertility, reduced gas emission and increased economic benefits

Dicyandiamide (DCD) could reduce composting nitrogen (N) losses, but the decomposes at high temperatures limited its efficacy, which might be mitigated by co-application with biochar (BC) and wood vinegar (WV). Our study revealed that DCD alone or co-applied with BC and WV did not reduce N2O emissions during the composting of chicken manure and wheat straw. However, it significantly decreased NH3 and CH4 emissions by 22.6–45.6% and 53.8–85.6%, respectively, equivalent to a 24.1–44.8% reduction in GWP compared to the control. Furthermore, the combined use of DCD with BC and WV enhanced total N content by 5.6–36.6%, increased the compost accumulation temperature by 3.8–6.1%. DCD alone addition increased the compost dissolved organic matter (DOM) content by 12.2%, and when coupled with BC and WV, it enhances the biological index value to promote new DOM generation. DCD combined with BC could increase the final humus content of compost, thereby enhancing its quality, which approach also produced greater economic benefits (266.3 CNY t−1), compared to conventional composting. In conclusion, co-application of DCD with BC and WV in composting not only reduces the emission of NH3, N2O and CH4, but also increases the compost fertility and provides more economic benefits.

Shared whole environmental etiology between Alzheimer’s disease and age-related macular degeneration

The comorbidity of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has been established in clinical and genetic studies. There is growing interest in determining the shared environmental factors associated with both conditions. Recent advancements in record linkage techniques enable us to identify the contributing factors to AD and AMD from a wide range of variables. As such, we first constructed a knowledge graph based on the literature, which included all statistically significant risk factors for AD and AMD. An environment-wide association study (EWAS) was conducted to assess the contribution of various environmental factors to the comorbidity of AD and AMD based on the UK biobank. Based on the conditional Q-Q plots and Bayesian algorithm, several shared environmental factors were identified, which could be categorized into the domains of health condition, biological sample parameters, body index, and attendance availability. Finally, we generated a shared etiology landscape for AD and AMD by combining existing knowledge with our novel findings.

Rare earth elements and warming: Implications for adult mussel health and sperm quality

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of europium (Eu) exposure (10 μg/L), warming (a 4 °C increase), and their combination on Mytilus galloprovincialis. Biochemical and histopathological changes in adult mussels were evaluated after a 28-day exposure period. Additionally, biochemical and physiological alterations in sperm were measured following a 30-min exposure period. The overall responses to each treatment were assessed using the Integrated Biological Response index version 2 (IBRv2). In adult mussels, warming elevated metabolism and activated glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), leading to redox imbalance and cellular damage. Europium exposure alone slightly enhanced metabolism and GSTs activity, resulting in cellular damage and histopathological injuries in digestive tubules. The combined exposure to Eu and warming was the most detrimental treatment for adults, as indicated by the highest IBRv2 value. This treatment slightly increased metabolism and uniquely elevated the activity of antioxidant enzymes, as well as GSTs and carboxylesterases. Despite these responses, they were inadequate to prevent redox imbalance, cellular damage, and histopathological injuries in digestive tubules and gills. Regarding sperm, warming reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production but raised lipid peroxidation levels. Sperm exposed to this treatment also increased their oxygen consumption and exhibited reduced velocity. The IBRv2 indicated that Eu was the most harmful treatment for sperm, significantly increasing ROS production and notably decreasing sperm velocity. When combined with warming, Eu elevated superoxide anion (O2-) production, lowered sperm velocity, and increased oxygen consumption. This study underscores the importance of investigating the effects of rare earth elements and their interaction with climate change-related factors.

Moderating effect of social risk on the relationship between biological risk and child development.

Human development is influenced by the interaction between biological and social factors. This study aimed to verify the moderating effect of social risk on the relationship between biological risk and child development. Data were collected on 201 children, aged 6 to 72 months. The independent variable was measured by the biological risk index, and the moderator variable by the social risk index was assessed by the Denver II test. Linear regression, effect size, and analysis of moderation were used to verify the relationship between BRI and the child development (Denver II), and the moderating effect of the SRI. BRI was negatively associated with child development, the interaction between the BRI and SRI increased the explained variance in the Denver II result to 14%. The SRI was also a significant moderator of the Language and Gross Motor domains. This research evidence that social risk moderates the relationship between biological risk and child development, the more social risk factors, the stronger this relationship becomes. On the other hand, it can be said that some social factors favor child development, even in the presence of biological risk factors.

Evaluation of groundwater quality for drinking water using a quality index in Abyi Adi, Tigrai, Northern Ethiopia

High quality, safe and sufficient drinking water is essential for public health and well-being. However, the war on Tigrai damaged the water sources of communities and pose people to health problems. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the quality of water of the town of Abyi Adi, Tigrai, Northern Ethiopia using physicochemical and biological parameters and water quality indices. A total of 36 water samples were collected from four major water sources. The physicochemical and biological parameters were determined using standard analytical procedures for water analysis. The mean values of electrical conductivity and pH ranged from 273.63 to 881.27 μS/cm and 6.68 to 7.42, respectively. Moreover, the experimental results of major cations (Na+ = 3.70–14.77 mg/L and Ca2+ = 8.50–15.77 mg/L), and anions (HCO3− = 21.52–40.77 mg/L, Cl− = 13.56–40.29 mg/L, NO3− = 0.14–0.25 mg/L, NO2− = 0.24–0.76 mg/L and PO43− = 0.34–1.32 mg/L) were recorded below the World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limits set for drinking water. The water quality index (WQI) that is determined using a weighted arithmetic water quality index method (WAWQIM) was also found in the range of 5.3–37.2. Subsequently, all groundwater sources except Adibakla are classified as excellent or “A” rating. However, the total coliform of Maylomin and Chiny water sources were found to be 6.33 MPN/100 mL and 3.67 MPN/100 mL, respectively. Both are higher than the WHO permissible limit set for drinking water. Considering the susceptibility of groundwater to pollution and its impact to human health, regular monitoring and supervision should be performed to keep the water safe for drinking. Accordingly, chlorination water treatment process is recommended to provide safe drinking water.

Soil arthropods in bioindication and ecotoxicological approach: The case of the extreme environment Mefite (Ansanto Valley, Southern Italy)

Soil arthropods are pivotal in maintaining soil health and serve as sensitive indicators of soil alterations. The soil arthropod community in the Mefite Geological Site (Italy), characterized by a sulphurous lake and intense degassing, was the focus of this study. In details, the objectives were: i) to characterize soil arthropod community at different distances from the Mefite lake; ii) to identify resilient taxa acting as bioindicators to assess soil ecotoxicity. Soil cores were collected at A) 30m, B) 80m, C) 120m away from the lake; soil organic matter (SOM), and pH, ecotoxicity tests (Lepidium sativum: germination index, elongation inhibition; Folsomia candida: survival, reproduction), and identification of soil arthropods (orders, Collembola families, Protura species) have been carried out. Statistical analyses assessed the impact of sulphurous emissions on soil chemistry, ecotoxicity, and arthropod parameters (community structure, taxa associations, biodiversity indices like Shannon and Simpson, and soil biological quality index – QBS-ar). The results showed: no SOM differences; pH: A < B < C; the highest ecotoxic effects were observed in A for both target species; arthropod community composition and QBS-ar varied notably in A compared to C, with the lowest soil biodiversity found in A. Hypogastruridae (Collembola) showed a clear association with A, while Protura were notably absent in A. This study also provided the first records of 4 Protura species in Campania, updating existing knowledge. Overall, arthropod community biodiversity and composition proved to be effective soil bioindicators in highly acidic conditions, reflecting soil ecotoxicity. In particular, the QBS-ar index demonstrated sensitivity in sulphurous environments.

Developing a fluorescent probe containing benzofuranone moiety for imaging sulphite in living hypoxia pulmonary cells.

In this work, a benzofuranone-derived fluorescent probe BFSF was developed for imaging the sulphite level in living hypoxia pulmonary cells. Under the excitation of 510 nm, BFSF showed a strong fluorescence response at 570 nm when reacted with sulphite. In the solution system, the constructed hypercapnia and serious hypercapnia conditions did not affect the fluorescence response. In comparison with the recently reported probes, BFSF suggested the advantages including rapid response, steady signal reporting, high specificity and low cytotoxicity upon living lung cells. Under a normal incubation atmosphere, BFSF realized the imaging of both exogenous and endogenous sulphite in living pulmonary cells. In particular, BFSF achieved imaging the decrease of the sulphite level under severe hypoxia as well as the recovery of the sulphite level with urgent oxygen supplement. With the imaging capability for the sulphite level in living pulmonary cells under hypoxia conditions, BFSF together with the information herein was meaningful for investigating the anaesthesia-related biological indexes.