Ecosystem Disruption Research Articles

The Impact of Land Use and Biological Invasions on Ecological Service Values of Coastal Wetland Ecosystems: A Case Study in Jiangsu Province, China

Land use/land cover changes (LULCCs) and biological invasions significantly impact coastal wetlands (CWs) and their ecosystem services and functions. The exact impacts, however, are difficult to quantify and are often neglected in policymaking. The evaluation of ecological service value (ESV) is conducive to clarifying the ecological and environmental changes caused by LULCCs and biological invasions. The objective of this study was to investigate their impact on CWs in Jiangsu Province, China, and provide useful information and advice for policymakers concerned with sustainable development. In this paper, basic data were obtained through geographic information system technology, and CW ecosystems’ services were calculated via the ESV coefficients per unit area of different wetland types. Accordingly, this study found the current land use methods responsible for significant ecosystem disruption and reductions in the area of natural vegetation. Currently, the area of natural vegetation only accounts for 43% of the total area recorded in 1987. In 2018, the total ESV of wetland vegetation (Spartina, Phragmites, and Suaeda) was estimated to be USD 14.10 million, while that of farmland was USD 8.58 million, and that of forests was USD 2.09 million. Natural vegetation only covered 9% of the total land area but produced 60% of the total ESV. Spartina alterniflora exhibited the highest ESV per unit area, with USD 1.35 million. However, the CWs of Jiangsu Province have recently shown a shift in vegetation composition due to the invasion of Spartina alterniflora. Currently, the dominant species in these CWs are Spartina alterniflora and Phragmites australis, while the local population of Suaeda salsa has significantly declined. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the preservation and restoration of wetland vegetation, control the invasive potential of Spartina alterniflora, and consider the implementation of suitable protective measures for native plants.

THE EFFECT OF CRONIC ISOLATED ADMINISTRATION OF CADMIUM CHLORIDE ON THE MORPHOLOGICAL STRUCTURES IN THE WALLS OF SMALL INTESTINE OF PREGNANT FEMALE RATS

In recent years, the anthropopolitical environmental polluntion with heavy metals has become one of the main threats to living organisms, including humans, and economic and technological progress is increasingly resulting in the disruption of natural ecosystems. Heavy metals include more than forty chemical elements of the periodic table, including chromium, cadmium, manganese, mercury, iron, cobalt, nickel, and others. They are often used in industry and are part of herbicides, insecticides, and medicines. In excessive quantities, they can change the structure of proteins, negatively affect metabolism, lead to cellular mutations, disrupt the structure and permeability of cell membranes, and cause malfunctioning of internal organs. Today, it is important to determine the impact of heavy metal compounds on the body in case of their constant (chronic) intake and accumulation in the body.
 The purpose of this study was to determine morphological changes in the structure of the walls in the small intestine of rats subjected to the chronic isolated exposure to cadmium salts in a dose of 2.0 mg/kg (enteral administration).
 The study involved 32 young female Wistar rats, with weights ranging from 180 to 300 g. Female rats with confirmed pregnancies were divided into the following groups: the first group served as the control, and the second group underwent isolated injection of cadmium chloride solution at a dose of 2.0 mg/kg.
 The results of the experimental daily intragastric long-term administration of cadmium chloride showed morphological changes in the structure of the small intestine in rats. The analysis of the data obtained showed that exposure to cadmium chloride in a dose of 2.0 mg/kg leads to a significant thinning of the villi of the small intestine and mucous membrane compared to the control. When exposed to cadmium chloride in the specified dose, the number of goblet cells in the mucous membrane of the small intestine villi increased at both periods of the study, which indicates an increase in the protective function of the small intestinal mucosa against the action of a negative factor. Under the influence of cadmium, the narrowing of the outer and inner diameters of the crypt was also determined that is confirmed by the calculation of the index of the diameter of the small intestine crypt.

A trajectory of Zostera marina (eelgrass) ecosystem recovery: pre- and post-Hurricane Sandy degradation in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey

In 2012, Hurricane Sandy struck Barnegat Bay, New Jersey damaging extensive beds of Zostera marina and causing major benthic ecosystem disruptions. Pre-Sandy genetic surveys of eelgrass populations in Barnegat Bay indicated low heterozygosity and connectivity with high levels of inbreeding. After such devastation, we became concerned with the long-term fate of these populations and in previous work examined the present genetic condition of eelgrass in Barnegat Bay. Counter to our expectations, the 2021 Z. marina populations were more diverse, had greater connectivity and less inbreeding than the populations from 2008. These results further motivated us to examine the trajectory of changes between 2008 and 2021 through additional investigation of archival Z. marina samples from 2013 and 2017. This present study tracks the trajectory of Barnegat Bay eelgrass population genetics before and after Hurricane Sandy. Immediately post Sandy, populations were already more diverse with heterozygosity closer to Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium; by 2021, two populations, Oyster Creek and Ham Island, demonstrated a surplus of heterozygotes. Similarly, in 2013 there was a three to eight-fold reduction in inbreeding observed with clear outbreeding by 2017. There was no evidence of recent bottlenecks in any population, although Oyster Creek and Ham Island populations manifested historical bottlenecks. Our evidence supports that genetic recovery was already underway a year after Sandy.

Response of Arctic benthic foraminiferal traits to past environmental changes

The Arctic is subjected to all-encompassing disruptions in marine ecosystems caused by anthropogenic warming. To provide reliable estimates of how future changes will affect the ecosystems, knowledge of Arctic marine ecosystem responses to past environmental variability beyond the instrumental era is essential. Here, we present a novel approach on how to evaluate the state of benthic marine biotic conditions during the deglacial and Holocene period on the Northeast Greenland shelf. Benthic foraminiferal species were assigned traits (e.g., oxygen tolerance, food preferences) aiming to identify past faunal changes as a response to external forcing mechanisms. This approach was applied on sediment cores from offshore Northeast Greenland. We performed numerical rate-of-change detection to determine significant changes in the benthic foraminiferal traits. That way, the significant abrupt trait changes can be assessed across sites, providing a better understanding of the impact of climate drivers on the traits. Our results demonstrate that during the last ~ 14,000 years, bottom water oxygen is the main factor affecting the variability in the benthic foraminiferal faunas in this area. Our results show that significant changes in the traits correspond to drastic climate perturbations. Specifically, the deglacial-Holocene transition and mid-Holocene warm period exhibited significant change, with several trait turnovers.

Promoting sustainable development: Evaluating the influence of natural resources, high-tech export and corruption on CO2 emissions in developing economies

Natural resources accelerate climate change resulting in exacerbating the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, ecosystem disruption, and rising sea levels, with significant consequences for both human and natural systems. The extraction and combustion of fossil fuels, such as oil, gas, and coal, release vast amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, primarily carbon dioxide (CO2). The present article explores the impact of natural resource rents (NRR), export of high-technology (High-Tech), renewable energy (RE), Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and corruption (CR) on CO2 emissions for a panel of 141 developing economies between 2000 and 2021. The Westerlund co-integration test confirmed a long-run co-integration connection among the study variables. Based on the Method of Moment Quantiles Regression (MMQREG), renewable energy (RE) and control of corruption (CR) are the two key factors that can effectively reduce CO2 emissions. Contrarily, the outcomes illustrate that High-Tech, GDP, and natural resource rents (NRR) increase CO2 emissions. Moreover, the robustness checks of Fully-Modified Ordinary Least Square (FMOLS) and Dynamic Ordinary Least Square (DOLS), Canonical Co-integration Regression (CCR), and the Augmented Mean Group (AMG) confirmed and supported the main outcomes of MMQREG. These findings have significant implications for sustainable environment. Consequently, most energy utilization required in developing economies is presently met by the use of fossil fuels, exploitation of natural resource rents (NRR) and industrialization policies will be at odds with a sustainable environment.

EVALUATION OF THE BARK BEETLE GREEN ATTACK DETECTABILITY IN SPRUCE FOREST FROM MULTITEMPORAL MULTISPECTRAL UAV IMAGERY

Abstract. Forests have always been a major concern for public authorities given their significant role as a resource for timber production, as well as for climate regulation. The infestation of bark beetles poses a challenging problem in forests, causing tree mortality, reduced timber quality, and ecosystem disruption. Multispectral imagery (MS) captured from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly employed for forest health assessment and have been extensively used to map the tree mortality caused by bark beetles. However, its utilisation for the identification of the initial stage of infestation known as "green attack" when infested trees do not display any visible symptoms yet, is still uncertain. This study is innovative in the ways it works with so far rare dense and comprehensive time series of MS UAV imagery starting in the initial month prior to the infestation and before the development of the Bark Beetle (BB) infestation visual symptoms, aiming to evaluate the detectability of bark beetle (Ips typographus L.) green attack. The study area predominantly covered by Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) is located in the Krkonoše Mountains National Park, in the Czech Republic. From May to August 2022, a total of nine MS UAV datasets were acquired with a DJI Phantom 4 MS sensor. The research question is whether infested trees exhibit significantly different changes in the spectra compared to healthy trees at an early stage. The detectability of green attacks was statistically investigated along with the underlying factors (flowering, growth of new shoots) that can affect the accuracy of detection. The results showed a distinct reduction in tree vitality of the infested trees in the late summer season and later stages of infestations. Based on our findings, we conclude that the proposed methods using UAV MS images can be employed to map local infestations and evaluate the tree vitality throughout the season, but the early detection of the green attack stage (in the absence of visible symptoms at the crown level) of Bark Beetle infestation from UAV MS data remains unfeasible. The precision of the detection using statistical methods can be further investigated using a time series of UAV hyperspectral images that offer a higher spectral resolution.

Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence

Man-animal conflict is a very complex issue which not only involves disruption of forest ecosystem but also a very weak legal support system while establishing wildlife corridors in the protected areas. Developmental projects have also taken a heavy toll on the very existence of wildlife and its symbiotic relationship with the forest ecosystem. The most common causes of human-wildlife conflict are livestock predation, crop raiding, loss of human life, animal death, damage to property, and injuries to people and wildlife. There are some valid reasons for increased man-animal conflicts in the recent past and they are changes in land use patterns (change from protected forest patches to agricultural, horticultural, and monoculture plantations) which destroy wildlife, livestock grazing, unscientific structures and practices of forest management in the country, allowing cattle to graze into forest areas and decreased prey base caused by poaching of herbivores leading to carnivores wandering out of forests in search of prey to indulge in cattle lifting and preying on human children.

Ecosystem disruption and regulatory positioning: Entry strategies of digital health startup orchestrators and complementors

Through a multiple case study of six digital startups in the healthcare ecosystem, we develop a framework of entry through innovation in a regulated ecosystem. The framework reveals the interplay of two dimensions that have not been examined in conjunction so far: 1) the degree of ecosystem disruption brought by the entrant's innovation; 2) the impact of regulation/policy on the entrant's innovation. Based on these two dimensions, our data reveal four scenarios for entrants: dual constraint; regulatory-enabled orchestration; regulatory-constrained complementation; and dual enablement. The paper provides several contributions to ecosystem research, including a new definition of ecosystem disruption, the joint consideration of two key dimensions of ecosystem entry, and an emergent framework illustrating specific strategies, governance mechanisms, and the likelihood of success for each entry scenario. We show that start-up entrants can be successful orchestrators if they are enabled by regulation, that they can shift their positioning to seize enabling regulations, and that being an orchestrator or a complementor is a strategic choice related to an entrant's ecosystem disruption strategy.

Pd/Cu bimetallic nano-catalyst supported on anion exchange resin (A520E) for nitrate removal from water: High property and stability

High nitrate concentration in water can lead to eutrophication and the disruption of healthy aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, in the human digestive system, it has the potential to be reduced to nitrite, which can be damaging to people's physical health. Catalytic hydrogenation of nitrate is one of the strategies for removing nitrate from water. Using A520E resin as support, we prepared Pd/Cu nano-catalyst (Pd/Cu@A520E) according to a liquid phase reduction method. A520E could improve the transfer process of nitrate in the solution to the activity sites of Pd/Cu nanoparticles, thus increase the reaction rate of nitrate reduction. Pd/Cu bimetallic nano-particles were evenly distributed on/in the resin with a size range from 2 nm to 10 nm. The External Circulating System equipped with Venturi tube (ECSV) was designed to improve the utilization efficiency of H2 in both batch tests and long-term continuous-flow tests. Nearly 100% of nitrate removal efficiency and above 90% of N2 selectivity were achieved in both batch tests and continuous-flow tests. Coexisting Cl− and SO42− at 300 mg/L showed little impact on the property of Pd/Cu@A520E. Pd/Cu@A520E also showed high nitrate removal property and stability in continuous-flow tests of more than 800 h. NO3− was adsorbed onto the active sites (functional groups and Pd/Cu particle sites), meanwhile H2 was adsorbed onto the active sites of Pd/Cu@A520E to form Pd [H]. Then the adsorbed NO3− was reduced into N2 (main product) or NH4+ by Pd [H]. In addition, Pd/Cu@A520E showed high nitrate removal property from municipal waste water.

Evaluating the tensile strength of reinforced concrete using optimized machine learning techniques

Many environmental issues have arisen as a result of the widespread usage of concrete, which has led to a reduction of river sand. The excessive extraction of river sand has led to various negative consequences, such as ecosystem disruption, groundwater depletion, coastal erosion, and biodiversity loss. Manufactured sand (MS) from waste deposits may be used in lieu of river sand to address this problem. In this study, to facilitate the production of manufactured sand concrete (MSC), the potential of twelve machine learning (ML)-based models was examined. These models were trained and tested on 248 and 62 laboratory datasets containing nine features effective on the mechanical properties of MSC. MSC's splitting tensile strength (STS) was considered the model's target. The influences that the water-to-cement (W/C) ratio, the stone nano-powder content (SNPC), and the curing age (CA) have on the STS of MSC were also analyzed. Detailed analysis of the results revealed that all the well-tuned ML models have acceptable potential for estimating the STS of MSC; however, the extra tree regressor (ETR) model was in the highest agreement with the laboratory results. Both the ML and laboratory findings showed that MSC with 10% SNPC benefits the long-term STS of MSC. A graphical user interface for the ML-based models was also developed to further aid in the estimation of STS for engineering challenges.The proposed models can be a suitable alternative to time-consuming, expensive, and complex laboratory methods to facilitate the MSC production.

SARS-CoV-2 infection induces a long-lived pro-inflammatory transcriptional profile

BackgroundThe immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in COVID-19 patients has been extensively investigated. However, much less is known about the long-term effects of infection in patients and how it could affect the immune system and its capacity to respond to future perturbations.MethodsUsing a targeted single-cell multiomics approach, we have recently identified a prolonged anti-inflammatory gene expression signature in T and NK cells in type 1 diabetes patients treated with low-dose IL-2. Here, we investigated the dynamics of this signature in three independent cohorts of COVID-19 patients: (i) the Oxford COVID-19 Multi-omics Blood Atlas (COMBAT) dataset, a cross-sectional cohort including 77 COVID-19 patients and ten healthy donors; (ii) the INCOV dataset, consisting of 525 samples taken from 209 COVID-19 patients during and after infection; and (iii) a longitudinal dataset consisting of 269 whole-blood samples taken from 139 COVID-19 patients followed for a period of up to 7 months after the onset of symptoms using a bulk transcriptomic approach.ResultsWe discovered that SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to a prolonged alteration of the gene expression profile of circulating T, B and NK cells and monocytes. Some of the genes affected were the same as those present in the IL-2-induced anti-inflammatory gene expression signature but were regulated in the opposite direction, implying a pro-inflammatory status. The altered transcriptional profile was detected in COVID-19 patients for at least 2 months after the onset of the disease symptoms but was not observed in response to influenza infection or sepsis. Gene network analysis suggested a central role for the transcriptional factor NF-κB in the regulation of the observed transcriptional alterations.ConclusionsSARS-CoV-2 infection causes a prolonged increase in the pro-inflammatory transcriptional status that could predispose post-acute patients to the development of long-term health consequences, including autoimmune disease, reactivation of other viruses and disruption of the host immune system-microbiome ecosystem.

Animal-friendly behavioral testing in field studies: examples from ground squirrels.

Field studies of behavior provide insight into the expression of behavior in its natural ecological context and can serve as an important complement to behavioral studies conducted in the lab under controlled conditions. In addition to naturalistic observations, behavioral testing can be an important component of field studies of behavior. This mini review evaluates a sample of behavioral testing methods in field studies to identify ways in which behavioral testing can be animal-friendly and generate ethologically relevant data. Specific examples, primarily from studies of ground squirrels, are presented to illustrate ways in which principles of animal-friendly behavioral testing can be applied to and guide testing methods. Tests conducted with animals in their natural habitat and that elicit naturally occurring behavioral responses can minimize stress and disturbance for animals, as well as disruption of the larger ecosystem, and can have high ethological validity. When animals are trapped or handled as part of a study, behavioral testing can be incorporated into handling procedures to reduce overall disturbance. When behavior is evaluated in a testing arena, the arena can be designed to resemble natural conditions to increase the ethological relevance of the test. Efforts to minimize time spent in testing arenas can also reduce disturbance to animals. Adapting a behavioral test to a species or habitat conditions can facilitate reduced disruption to subjects and increased ethological relevance of the test.

Unravelling Relationships between In Vivo Effects on Plants and Detected Pesticide Mixtures in Freshwaters of a South-European Agro-Ecosystem

The multiple benefits agriculture provides to society depend on the long-term sustainable management of water resources, including the preservation of a good ecological and good chemical status of the water bodies. Presently, this good chemical status has not been reached in the majority of European river basins. Implemented monitoring strategies are targeted to identify the presence and magnitude of the ecological impacts that come from mixtures of chemicals but fail to give information on the causes of the ecosystem disruptions. This work aims to contribute to assessing the quality of surface waters used for irrigation in the LGVFX agricultural area (Central Portugal) by applying non-conventional in vivo phytotoxicity tests on three primary producers, a monocotyledon (Sorghum saccharatum) and two dicotyledons (Lepidium sativum and Sinapsis alba), complemented by chemical screening and mixture-risk modelling with component-based methods (summation of risk quotients) based on the classic concept of concentration addition (CA). Although inhibition percentages of the phytotoxicity parameter germination and root and shoot growth may be related to the presence of mixtures of pesticides, it was not possible to establish the fingerprinting of the detected compounds with the observed biological effects, mostly due to the large gap of ecotoxicological data on terrestrial plants exposed to contaminated water. In addition, pesticides can interact within the plant, leading to antagonism and synergism phenomena.

Media critiques on the Merauke Integrated Food and Energy state (MIFEE) program: A critical discourse perspective

The study is a critical discourse analysis (CDA) on the media critiques on the implementation of the Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) program. The study is aimed at describing the socio-cultural practices of the news items in the mass media about the MIFEE program. The sociocultural practice analysis is a CDA in the macro level, which is related to contexts outside the texts. Contexts, in this case, include situational contexts, i.e. related to a specific society, culture, or polity. The study is qualitative research; data sources are news items about critiques to the MIFEE; data collection is done by the listening and note taking technique; and data analyses are done by the pragmatic equivalence method. The study is backed by content and semantic data validities. Reliability of the study is assessed by intra- and inter-rater reliability techniques. Findings show that criticques to the MIFEE program can be described under five categories, namely: 1) critiques on the disruption of the forest ecosystem, 2) critiques on the system of the local food, 3) critiques on the violation of human rights, 4) critiques on land forfeiture, and 5) critiques on the failure of the MIFFE program. Keywords: MIFEE, critical discourse analysis (CDA), food resilience and self-provision, indigeneous culture

Novel insights on the adsorption ability of bentonite and its chitosan composite: Deep understanding of antibiotics removal as hazardous agents

Due to the inappropriate wastewater discharge, antibiotic contamination in the environment has caused significant public health issues and local ecosystem disruption. Given its benefits, which include low cost and a large variety of efficient adsorbents, the adsorption process represents a favorable way to reduce antibiotic contamination. This work theoretically investigated the adsorption of amoxicillin (AMO), ampicillin (AMP), and doripenem (DOR) onto raw bentonite (B) and its composite with chitosan (BC). Simulation studies using molecular dynamics were carried out to comprehend the interactions between these antibiotics and B and BC adsorbents between 30 and 50 °C, of which the interaction energies of −59.999, −59.279, and −66.877 kcal mol−1 were obtained for AMO/B, AMP/B, and DOR/B systems, respectively. Statistical physics models, i.e., the Gaussian Monolayer Multisite Model (GMMM) and Monolayer Model Coupled to Real Gas (MMRG) were also used to fit the experimental data with good results (R2>0.999). The findings indicated that the interactions between the chosen antibiotics and the adsorbents were mostly take place by Van der Waals forces (Non-bond energies of −20.442, −20.403, and −20.884 kcal mol−1 for AMO/B, AMP/B, and DOR/B systems, respectively), with multi-molecular (1 < n < 2.5) antibiotic adsorptions occurring primarily on both bentonite and BC.

MAKNA KONTEKSTUAL “SAMARINDA BEBAS TAMBANG” PADA BERITA DARING: KAJIAN EKOLINGUISTIK

The purpose of this research is to describe the contextual meaning of some online news on kaltimpost.id and Pojoksatu.id regarding "Samarinda Free of Mining". This research method uses qualitative method and descriptive approach. This type of research is literature, which is research whose data is taken mainly from literature (books, documents, articles, reports, newspapers, and so on). The data in this research are words, phrases, and sentences in online news that discuss "Samarinda Free of Mining". The source of data in this research is online news kaltimpost.id uploaded on April 5, 2023, Pojoksatu.id uploaded on April 3, 2023, and online news mediakaltim.com uploaded on March 20, 2023. The results of research on online news kaltimpost.id, Pojoksatu.id, and mediakaltim.com show that contextual meaning refers to natural damage and disruption of animal ecosystems in the sea and on land due to mining activities.

Green Synthesis of the Effectively Environmentally Safe Metakaolin-Based Geopolymer for the Removal of Hazardous Industrial Wastes Using Two Different Methods.

Untreated wastewater pollution causes environmental degradation, health issues, and ecosystem disruption. Geopolymers offer sustainable, eco-friendly alternatives to traditional cement-based materials for wastewater solidification and removal. In this study, we investigate how wastewater containing organic and inorganic pollutants can be removed using geopolymer mixes based on metakaolin incorporation with cement kiln dust as an eco-friendly material. The present investigation compares the efficacy of two different techniques (solidification and adsorption) for reducing dye contaminants and heavy metals from wastewater using a geopolymer based on metakaolin incorporation with cement kiln dust. This study investigated the adsorption capacity of a geopolymer based on metakaolin incorporating two different ratios (20% and 40% by weight) of cement kiln dust (MC1 and MC2) for the reactive black 5 dyeing bath effluent (RBD) only and in a combination of 1200 mg/L of Pb2+ and Cd2+, each separately, in aqueous solutions under different adsorption parameters. The results of the adsorption technique for the two prepared geopolymer mixes, MC1 and MC2, show that MC1 has a higher adsorption activity than MC2 toward the reactive black 5 dyeing bath effluent both alone and in combination with Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions separately. The study also looked at using MC1 mix to stabilize and solidify both the dyeing bath effluent alone and its combination with 1200 mg/L of each heavy metal individually inside the geopolymer matrix for different time intervals up to 60 days of water curing at room temperature. The geopolymer matrix formed during the process was analyzed using FTIR, SEM, and XRD techniques to examine the phases of hydration products formed. The results showed that MC1 effectively adsorbs, stabilizes, and solidifies the dying bath effluent for up to 60 days, even with high heavy metal concentrations. On the other hand, geopolymer mixes showed an increase in mechanical properties when hydration time was increased to 60 days. According to our findings, the type of geopolymer developed from metakaolin and 20 wt.% cement kiln dust has the potential to be employed in the treatment of wastewater because it has good adsorption and solidification activity for the reactive black 5 dye effluent alone and for a mixture of dye pollutants with both Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions separately. Our results have significant implications for wastewater treatment and environmental remediation efforts, as they offer a sustainable solution for managing hazardous waste materials.

Probiotics in Women and Pediatrics Health; A Narrative Review

Probiotic use to improve health is not new; but recently, it has attracted much attention concerning human health and diseases. The human gut is a delicate ecosystem where bacteria and host cells interact with each other. This is an important part of gut homeostasis and human development. Disruption of this sensitive ecosystem may have detrimental health repercussions linked to impaired gut microbiota (GM). GM were extensively examined as an underlying mechanism for disease development and progression. Additionally, it was used as a tailored method for preventing and treating disease. Because of the strong association between GM, health, and disease, there has been much interest in employing probiotics or living microorganisms, to regulate GM to prevent or cure specific diseases. Herein, probiotics' role in enhancing women's and pediatric well-being was addressed as a marker of disease and as therapeutic avenues; where we discussed probiotics indications, efficacy, safety profiles, and future prospects in clinical practice.

Trophic activity of amphibians as a factor influencing the state of ecosystems of the Dnipro River valley

The problems of disruption and transformation of natural ecosystems have reached a significant level and directly affect the state of human life: there is the existence of harmful insects, their resistance to chemical compounds, etc. Therefore, the functional significance of zoocenosis is manifested in various aspects: digging, excretory, trophic and other types of animal activity. The importance of the trophic activity of amphibians lies in their consumption of a significant number of harmful insect species. It is animals that act as consumers of various kinds in the conditions of natural ecosystems, take an active part in the movement of energy along trophic chains. The trophic activity of animals is also important in regulating the number of groups of invertebrates of different systematic groups, it is one of the factors that contributes to the maintenance of the system in a state of homeostasis and the speed of its recovery. Attention is also paid to regulating the number of invertebrates, as well as poisonous species among them, species that cause human diseases or are their carriers. Amphibians do not have a specific food specialization and are consumers of any available food. The food spectrum also expands as individuals grow and due to the consumption of larger prey. The main component of amphibian nutrition is insects, they make up about 75% of the diet. Phytophages on average make up 60–85% of the total weight of food in the food of amphibians. The coefficient of usefulness and the share of biomass of various pests in different types of amphibian floodplains range from 52 to 84. As a rule, the ratio of different food objects of amphibians corresponds to their ratio in individual parts of ecosystems. Thanks to the trophic activity of amphibians, the number of pests is regulated, which is important in floodplains of rivers, and the number of energy consumers of a higher level, such as birds and mammals, depends on the trophic activity of amphibians. This fact proves that amphibians are a necessary component of the food chains of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The trophic activity of amphibians affects the stability and plasticity of ecosystems, species diversity of both zoocenosis and phytocenosis in terrestrial and aquatic systems, as well as on the boundaries between them.

Disposable e-cigarettes and cigarette butts alter the physiology of an aquatic plant Lemna minor (Lemnaceae)

Cigarette butts are one of the most littered single-use plastic items worldwide and can have ecotoxicological effects. e-Cigarettes (or ‘vapes’) have gained popularity globally as an alternative to tobacco-based cigarettes in recent years. The increased availability of disposable e-cigarettes has resulted in a rise in their littering, presenting a complex form of e-waste in the environment, yet the environmental impacts of littered e-cigarettes are largely unknown. Here Lemna minor (common duckweed) was used as a model organism to understand the effects of smoked cigarettes, vaped e-cigarettes or e-liquid. Growth-related physiological responses were measured (biomass, root development and frond chlorophyll content). After 14 days of exposure to cigarette butts there was an increase of all measured growth variables. On the contrary, exposure to e-cigarettes or e-liquid caused a decrease in root length, biomass and frond number relative to controls. The significant deviations from control conditions suggest that the presence of either cigarette butts, e-cigarettes or e-liquid caused stress to the model plant which could indicate disruption of aquatic ecosystems at the primary producer level. Disposable vapes pose a novel threat to aquatic ecosystems and it would be prudent to prevent them from becoming the next top litter item.