Higher EC50 Values Research Articles

Surface water potential zones delineation and spatiotemporal variation characteristics of water pollution and the cause of pollution formation in Brahmani River Basin, Odisha

Waste water reuse is an effective method for reducing the quantity of wastewater that enters the environment. As a result, the appropriateness was assessed in accordance with its composition and the global criteria for drinking water quality. This study aims to evaluate the quality of surface water of Brahmani River, Odisha, by adapting multivariate statistical approaches, namely Cluster Analysis (CA) and multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods such as Simple Additive Weighting (SAW). Again, Geographical Information System (GIS) is employed to assess the drinking water's quality in relation to its application. Around 15 physicochemical parameters, gathered from seven distinct sites, following a period of 2022 till 2024. The results showed high values of EC, SO42−, NO3−, PO43−, F− and Ca2+, in three stations, while other studied parameters are within the permissible limits defined by WHO standards. The CA three distinct classifications of sites namely, low, medium, and high, based on how comparable the various physicochemical traits and pollutant levels were throughout the sampling locations. Sites H-(4–6) were included in cluster 1, site H-(3) and (7) classified under Cluster 2 and finally, H-(1–2) indicated as Cluster 3. Thus, as stated by CA, 42.86 % of tested water samples were fall into the group of good quality and about 57.14 % of examined locations resides in the poor category of water. The findings indicate which characteristics, as determined by the CA technique, were accountable for the alteration in the water quality and raise the potential of runoff from cities, farms, and industries. Subsequently, MCDM techniques has been implemented to facilitate rapid comprehension of surface water behavior and address problems with water resource management. The obtained SAW index ranges from 0.5 to 0.94. Here, H-(1), (2), and (7) grouped as highly polluted zone, and they seemed to be connected to runoff from farms and untreated industrial and municipal trash as well as local pollution sources. From this innovative study, it is found that even though the water is fit for drinking at 3 places, it is medium to highly suitable for human consumption. Therefore, there needs to be treated in some way before being used in addition to being protected against contamination. Most often, the findings indicate that appropriate management actions are important to restore the water quality of this catchment in order to support a robust and promising aquatic ecosystem. Additionally, the significance of this restoration for objective ecological policy and decision-making processes is underscored.

Anthropogenic Influence and Climate Change on Water and Nutrient Dynamics in the Kebir-Rhumel Basin, (Northeastern Algeria)

<p>This study investigates the Anthropogenic Influence and Climate Change: Water and Nutrient Dynamics in the Kebir-Rhumel Basin in Northeastern Algeria. Utilizing an advanced methodology and integrating 10 physicochemical variables, this research provides a novel insight into the environmental factors shaping the basin's ecosystem. By employing a PCA analysis, it highlights two distinct factors accounting for 80.90% of the total variance and identifies a strong positive correlation between various variables, particularly NH4+ and PO43-. Two contrasting river areas were noted: Oued Radjas and Oued Rhumel rivers, displaying evidence of anthropogenic activities, and Oued Kebir and Oued El-Kotone rivers, indicative of pristine conditions. Seasonal fluctuations were noted in atmospheric temperature, precipitation, humidity, and wind speed, as well as in physical parameters and nutrient concentrations of surface water, revealing new details about the potential impact of human activities on water quality and ecosystem health. The findings here are not only significant in understanding the dynamics of water quality but also crucial in devising effective management strategies. High EC and TDS values in the Oued Radjas River point to anthropogenic pollution, and high nitrogen nutrient concentrations in the Oued El-Kotonne River hint at potential eutrophication. The study underscores the importance of understanding the interplay between human activities and natural processes in managing water resources and ecosystems. This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by shedding light on specific aspects of water quality in the region, paving the way for more focused investigations and policy interventions for sustainable development.</p>

Hierarchical determinants in cytotoxic necrotizing factor (CNF) toxins driving Rho G-protein deamidation versus transglutamination.

The cytotoxic necrotizing factor (CNF) family of AB-type bacterial protein toxins catalyze two types of modification on their Rho GTPase substrates: deamidation and transglutamination. It has been established that E. coli CNF1 and its close homolog proteins catalyze primarily deamidation and Bordetella dermonecrotic toxin (DNT) catalyzes primarily transglutamination. The rapidly expanding microbial genome sequencing data have revealed that there are at least 13 full-length variants of CNF1 homologs. CNFx from E. coli strain GN02091 is the most distant from all other members of the CNF family with 50%-55% sequence identity at the protein level and 0.45-0.52 nucleotide substitutions per site at the DNA level. CNFx modifies RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42, and like CNF1, activates downstream SRE-dependent mitogenic signaling pathways in human HEK293T cells, but at a 1,000-fold higher EC50 value. Unlike other previously characterized CNF toxins, CNFx modifies Rho proteins primarily through transglutamination, as evidenced by gel-shift assay and confirmed by MALDI mass spectral analysis, when coexpressed with Rho-protein substrates in E. coli BL21 cells or through direct treatment of HEK293T cells. A comparison of CNF1 and CNFx sequences identified two critical active-site residues corresponding to positions 832 and 862 in CNF1. Reciprocal site-specific mutations at these residues in each toxin revealed hierarchical rules that define the preference for deamidase versus a transglutaminase activity in CNFs. An additional unique Cys residue at the C-terminus of CNFx was also discovered to be critical for retarding cargo delivery.IMPORTANCECytotoxic necrotizing factor (CNF) toxins not only play important virulence roles in pathogenic E. coli and other bacterial pathogens, but CNF-like genes have also been found in an expanding number of genomes from clinical isolates. Harnessing the power of evolutionary relationships among the CNF toxins enabled the deciphering of the hierarchical active-site determinants that define whether they modify their Rho GTPase substrates through deamidation or transglutamination. With our finding that a distant CNF variant (CNFx) unlike other known CNFs predominantly transglutaminates its Rho GTPase substrates, the paradigm of "CNFs deamidate and DNTs transglutaminate" could finally be attributed to two critical amino acid residues within the active site other than the previously identified catalytic Cys-His dyad residues. The significance of our approach and research findings is that they can be applied to deciphering enzyme reaction determinants and substrate specificities for other bacterial proteins in the development of precision therapeutic strategies.

Unravelling the signatures of submarine groundwater discharge and seawater intrusion along the coastal plains of Odisha, India: a multi-proxy approach.

Submarine Groundwater Discharge (SGD) and Seawater Intrusion (SWI) are two contrary hydrological processes that occur across the land-sea continuum and understanding their nature is essential for management and development of coastal groundwater resource. Present study has attempted to demarcate probable zones of SGD and SWI along highly populated Odisha coastal plains which is water stressed due to indiscriminate-exploitation of groundwater leading to salinization and fresh groundwater loss from the alluvial aquifers. A multi-proxy investigation approach including decadal groundwater leveldynamics, LANDSAT derived sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies and in-situ physicochemical analysis (pH, EC, TDS, salinity and temperature) of porewater, groundwater and seawater were used to locate the SGD and SWI sites. A total of 340 samples for four seasons (85 samples i.e., 30 porewater, 30 seawater and 25 groundwater in each season) were collected and their in-situ parameters were measured at every 1-2km gap along ~ 145km coastline of central Odisha (excluding the estuarine region). Considering high groundwater EC values (> 3000 μS/cm), three probable SWI and low porewater salinities (< 32 ppt in pre- and < 25 ppt in post-monsoons), four probable SGD zones were identified. The identified zones were validated with observed high positive hydraulic gradient (> 10m) at SGD and negative hydraulic gradient (< 0m) at SWI sites along with anomalous SST (colder in pre- and warmer in post-monsoon) near probable SGD locations. This study is first of its kind along the Odisha coast and may act as initial basis for subsequent investigations on fresh-saline interaction along the coastal plains where environmental integrity supports the livelihood of coastal communities and the ecosystem.

Tracing holocene paleoenvironmental changes along the northern Tyrrhenian coast (Cornia and Pecora coastal plains, Tuscany, Italy): data from geochemical and sedimentological proxies

In this paper, sedimentological and geochemical data from six cores are presented and discussed in order to better understand the Holocene palaeoenvironmental evolution of the coastal plains of the Pecora and Cornia Rivers (southern Tuscany, Italy). Overall, the stratigraphies show a general upward trend in the evolution of the sedimentary succession of lagoonal environments (low Zr/Rb, high EC values) connected or partially connected to the sea (low EC values), to a seaward progradation of marshy-swampy environments (Mn/Ti, high TOC values) and finally to continental environments with the progradation of distal alluvial plains (high Zr/Rb, low EC values) influenced by runoff phenomena or local water stagnation. This trend is closely related to the increasing input of sediments from inland due to soil erosion processes and, especially in the last two centuries, land reclamation works. In the Cornia coastal plain, the chronologies indicate that lagoonal environments were already present before ca. 8.2ka BC and started receding seaward at around 3.7ka BC. On the other hand, chronologies from ca. 0.5ka BC to ca. 0.6ka AD point to a persistence of lagoonal environments only in areas very close to those already identified as such in historical cartography. In the Pecora coastal plain, the chronologies show that the lagoon environments had already disappeared before ca. 3.3ka BC, whilst the peripheral environments were characterised by abundant vegetation. The latter gradually degraded in favour of the development of shallow to very deep, unvegetated marshlands, which persisted until ca. 1ka AD.

Sensitivity of Lithuanian Zymoseptoria tritici to Quinone Outside Inhibitor and Succinate Dehydrogenase Inhibitor Fungicides

Septoria tritici blotch (STB) ais one of the most damaging winter wheat diseases worldwide, presenting a significant threat to its yields. The causal STB agent, Zymoseptoria tritici, also presents a challenge to control due to its rapid adaptation to fungicides. This requires researchers to continuously monitor the pathogen and investigate and explore strategies to manage the spread of the disease and the development of resistance in the pathogen. Therefore, this study presents the current situation and describes changes in the sensitivity of Z. tritici isolates from Lithuania to quinone outside inhibitors (QoIs) and succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs) for the years 2019–2022. The isolates were tested at five different concentrations of two QoI fungicides (azoxystrobin and pyraclostrobin) and three SDHI fungicides (fluxapyroxad, benzovindiflupyr, and bixafen). During the test period, the EC50 values of the tested QoIs increased, while no clear changes were observed in the SDHIs. The most pronounced shift was observed for the active QoI substance pyraclostrobin. The distribution of the EC50 values of the SDHI fungicides showcased one isolate with an outstandingly high EC50 value of 2.6 mg L−1. The results of this study did not reveal any strong patterns of cross-resistance between the fungicides tested. However, a significant positive, moderate correlation (r = 0.55) was found between fluxapyroxad and benzovindiflupyr. Overall, the results of this study contribute to the understanding of the fungicide-resistance situation of Z. tritici in Lithuania and may complement management strategies for the pathogen and its fungicide resistance.

Assessing the physicochemical parameters of leachate from biowaste fractions in a laboratory setting, using the elusion method

Leachate emissions, which are regarded as one of the primary polluters of groundwater and the environment, are unavoidable side effect of landfill operation. The leachate includes hazardous chemicals, heavy metals, suspended particles, and soluble organic molecules. The objective of this study was to simulate the leachate quality from the biowaste and assess its impact on groundwater pollution in a laboratory setting. For laboratory analysis, a variety of waste fractions that make up the waste composition of household bins in Windhoek were collected and mimicked in the laboratory for analysis. The aim of modeling these scenarios in the laboratory was to examine the quality of the leachate in the eluate when substantial volumes of biowaste were added to the residual samples. The analysis was carried out in accordance with the German Institute for Standardization's (DIN 12457) with respect to the process for sampling strategy and sample preparation. From the laboratory analyses, the values of pH decreased from 6.9 to 4.4 as the biowaste was increasing from 0 to 100 %, while EC was increasing with the increase in biowaste input from 0.6 to 4.99 mS/cm; equally, the concentrations of COD were increasing with the increase of biowaste input from 643 to 24,616 mg/l. These parameters had the strongest influence on the properties of leachate, as the high level of COD indicates the presence of high level of organic strength and a sign of organic pollution. The low or acidic pH values were also as a result of the production of volatile organic acids, which can cause the landfill leachate of such a nature to enhance pH of drinking water and contribute in trihalomethane formation which is a toxic substance for human health. High values of EC on the other hand indicate the discharge or other sources of pollution that has lowered the water body’s relative quality. From the findings, it can be concluded that leachate in this study is biodegradable and un-stabilized, as shown by the low pH levels and high COD concentrations. It also alluded that a change in physicochemical parameters, regardless of how little the concentration is, has the ability to change the quality of groundwater. According to this study, leachate was highly contaminated with organic matters. This has proven that the more biowaste inputs, the higher the concentrations of the physicochemical metrics, which can then alter the quality of groundwater. Hence, a recommendation for organic waste to be diverted from landfill sites or treated before landfilled. The findings from the leachate and groundwater samples of the Kupferberg showed that the landfill is mature methanogenic and stabilized stage, when compared to the pH of the laboratory results. COD values in the leachate samples are way higher than the permissible limit of the Namibian standard guidelines for drinking water, as well as the WHO guidelines. As alluded to by many researchers, high COD concentrations indicate high organic strength and pollution. Just as observed in the laboratory, conductivity is equally high in the leachate samples of the Kupferberg landfill, indicating high salts or dissolved inorganic components. This study can conclusively say that there is a relationship between the observed laboratory results and the actual field results, because of the similar trends they portray, noting that the filed values are always higher than the laboratory values. Hence, a proper correlation method is recommended.

Characterization of Italian honeys: integrating volatile and physico-chemical data

This article focuses on the comprehensive characterization of Italian honeys using various physico-chemical analyses and their volatile organic compounds (VOCs) fingerprint obtained through the PTR-ToF-MS technology. Honey characteristics, including pH, electrical conductivity, moisture content, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), and sugar content, were analyzed to assess their quality and origin. Honey samples from different flowers, including acacia, chestnut, citrus, linden, and multifloral, were collected and investigated. Furthermore, a few aged honeys were collected and analyzed and compared with the fresh ones. Physico-chemical analysis revealed that chestnut honey is characterized by high pH and EC values. Acacia honey has a higher fructose content, while aging appears to influence HMF levels, a vital indicator of honey quality, with aged samples exhibiting significant increases in HMF content. The VOC profiles have been found to vary among different honey types, suggesting that VOCs could be used as indicators of honey origin. Multivariate statistical analyses, such as partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), have been applied to the VOCs data to differentiate honey types based on their volatile profiles. Acacia honey exhibited different physicochemical parameters but on the contrary, in the VOCs analysis, it displayed similarities with the linden honey due to their shared low emissions of volatile compounds. Citrus honey had similar chemical parameters to linden and multifloral honeys, but its distinctive VOCs emission allowed for a more accurate identification. In conclusion, the analysis performed with the PTR-ToF-MS was successful in obtaining specific volatile fingerprints of those samples and was effective for improving the characterization of honeys.

The crystallization kinetics analysis and the new prediction index of melilite-bearing slag under solid fuel gasification condition

Melilite represents a prevalent crystalline phase precipitated from the gasification slag produced by various solid fuels, including coal and biomass. The crystallization of melilite can lead to gasifier blockage, posing significant challenges. This study investigated the crystallization behavior of melilite-bearing slags during slag tapping. To achieve this, FactSage, XRD, SEM-EDS, and DSC were employed to investigate the crystallization thermodynamics and kinetics of 12 synthetic melilite-bearing slag samples. The results revealed that the crystallization temperatures of slags with the mass fraction of SiO2 + Al2O3 is 50 wt% (SiO2 + Al2O3 = 50 wt%) ranged between 1150 and 1100 °C. Slags with the SiO2 + Al2O3 = 60 wt% and mass ratio of SiO2 to Al2O3 > 1.0 (Si/Al > 1.0) showed no crystals precipitate, which is conducive to slag tapping. Thermodynamics plays a crucial role in melilite crystallization, as it involved the uphill diffusion of Ca and Al. To quantify the thermodynamic crystallization ability, a parameter called Thermodynamic Crystallization Ability (TCA) is defined. Increasing Si/Al contributes significantly to reducing TCA. When the TCA is less than 0.33 wt%/K, the melilite-bearing slag will not crystallize. Furthermore, the kinetic analysis results demonstrated that the crystallization activation energy (EC) of melilite-bearing slag ranged from 310.64 to 458.54 kJ/mol. Moreover, the rate-determining step is the surface reaction, which was influenced by cluster structure. The essential short-range ordered structure that composes the melilite crystal is Al-O-Al; however, due to higher Si/Al, the concentration of the Al-O-Al structure in the slag decreases, resulting in higher EC value. These findings provide theoretical guidance for the stable operation of the gasifier.

Assessment of groundwater vulnerability for seawater intrusion using DRASTIC model in coastal area at Patuakhali District, Bangladesh.

Seawater intrusion is a growing concern for coastal regions in Bangladesh. Overexploitation of groundwater, low rainfall, a high rate of evaporation, rising sea level, cyclones, storm surges, and shrimp cultivation are the causes of seawater intrusion that polluted the groundwater near the coastal area. High values of EC, TDS, Na+, and Cl- ions in groundwater indicate the seawater intrusion. Piper's Trilinear and Durov diagrams of groundwater indicated that most gathered groundwater show predominantly Na-Cl-type of water. Based on the USSL diagram, it is observed that the salinity of the study area is medium to high and the alkalinity is medium to very high. Also, in view of the Wilcox outline, most of the samples in the area of interest are permissible to doubtful, and doubtful to unsuitable. Chloride is moderately correlated with Na+ (R2 = 0.590) and poorly correlated with (HCO3- + CO32-) (R2 = 0.128), which indicates seawater intrusion. According to a comparison of the levels of Fe and Mn in the groundwater of the study area with those recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Department of the Environment (DOE), twenty-two out of thirty-one samples exceed the acceptable limit for Fe and thirty out of thirty-one samples fall within the acceptable limit for Mn. The calculated water quality index reveals that most samples are of low drinking water quality. The research area's poor water type is found in the north-central and southern parts. The WQI geographic variation map reveals that the study's water has a WQI of more than 100, making it unsuitable for consumption. The final seawater intrusion vulnerability map clearly identifies the moderate to highly vulnerable zone of the study area using DRASTIC index parameters. DRASTIC index parameters revealed that some portions of the northwestern part of the sample area show a moderately vulnerable zone. And the rest of the sampling area indicates the highly vulnerable zone.

Study of the effect of consortia of PGPR on the growth of Trichosanthes cucumerina in a hydroponic system

Hydroponics is the method of growing plants using soil-less cultivation systems. Plant growth-promoting bacteria are the rhizosphere bacteria that help plant growth and suppress plant diseases. In this study, we have isolated PGPR from the hydroponic systems and tested the efficacy of a consortium on the growth of Trichosanthes cucumerina. Ten organisms were isolated from a pre-set hydroponic system, of which three were selected based on their plant growth-promoting abilities. The isolated strains were identified as Chryseobacterium jejuense, Pseudomonas oryzihabitans and Sphingomonas paucimobilis. These isolates produced high levels of indole-3-acetic acid as well as other plant growth-promoting factors such as cellulase, pectinase, and siderophore production. All three isolates showed biofilm formation and growth in nutrient solutions with high EC values, indicating their ability to adhere to plant root surfaces and survive in nutrient solutions to promote plant growth. A consortium of these organisms used in the deep-water hydroponic system of T. cucumerina showed a significant increase in the number of leaves and root mass compared to control plants. Since these PGPR isolates exhibited multiple traits beneficial to the host plant, it has opened new possibilities for commercial application of these isolates in the hydroponic systems.

Corticosteroids as Selective and Effective Modulators of Glycine Receptors.

The mechanism of the negative impact of corticosteroids on the induction and progress of mental illness remains unclear. In this work, we studied the effects of corticosteroids on the activity of neuronal glycine receptors (GlyR) and GABA-A receptors (GABAAR) by measuring the chloride current induced by the application of GABA (2 or 5 μM) to isolated cerebellar Purkinje cells (IGABA) and by the application of glycine (100 μM) to pyramidal neurons of the rat hippocampus (IGly). It was found that corticosterone, 5α-dihydrodeoxycorticosterone, allotetrahydrocorticosterone, cortisol, and 17α,21-dihydroxypregnenolone were able to accelerate the desensitization of the IGly at physiological concentrations (IC50 values varying from 0.39 to 0.72 μM). Next, cortisone, 11-deoxycortisol, 11-deoxycorticosterone, 5β-dihydrodeoxycorticosterone, and tetrahydrocorticosterone accelerated the desensitization of IGly with IC50 values varying from 10.3 to 15.2 μM. Allotetrahydrocorticosterone and tetrahydrocorticosterone potentiated the IGABA albeit with high EC50 values (18-23 μM). The rest of the steroids had no effect on IGABA in the range of concentrations of 1-100 μM. Finally, our study has suggested a structural relationship of the 3β-hydroxyl group/3-oxo group with the selective modulatory activity on GlyRs in contrast to the 3α-hydroxyl group that is pivotal for GABAARs. In summary, our results suggest that increased GlyR desensitization by corticosteroids may contribute to brain dysfunction under chronic stress and identify corticosteroids for further development as selective modulators of GlyRs.

Surface water quality assessment in the Bach Dang river basin, Vietnam: using water quality index and geographical information system methods

The study evaluates the surface water quality of the Bach Dang river basin. During the rainy season, the temperature, pH, EC, BOD5, COD, coliforms, ammonium and phosphate values were 27 °C–37 °C, 6.6–8.9, 300–2200 μS cm−1, 5–25 mg l−1, 5–26 mg l−1, 0–3000 MPN/100 mL, below 0.01 mg l−1, and 0.02 mg l−1, respective. During the rainy and dry seasons, Zn, Pb, Cr, As, Fe and Mn levels were below drinking water limits. In the rainy season, the water quality index varied from 76 to 91, signifying medium to excellent water quality. The most outstanding water quality sites were the QN12, QN18, and QN22. During the dry season, most areas had moderate to excellent (WQI values between 61 and 93), except for QN01, QN03, QN04, QN05, QN06, QN07, QN11, QN16, QN17, QN19, and QN23, where it dropped to moderate (61–73). The temperatures were greater and higher EC values in the southeast. The DO concentrations were higher in the northwest and southeast in both seasons. The southern and southeastern regions exhibited more excellent COD and BOD5 values than the western, southwest, north, and northeast regions. The ammonium concentrations were higher in the southeast. During the dry season, the phosphate levels exceeded the permissible limit in the west, southeast, east, and northeast. Coliforms were below acceptable in both seasons, with greater levels in the northwest and northeast during the dry season. In addition, the Zn and Pb are favorably associated with the As, Mn, ammonium and phosphate in the rainy season. The COD positively correlated with the coliforms and BOD5. In the dry season, the pH inversely correlated with the Pb and Fe positively. The ammonium correlated negatively with the DO and positively with the phosphates. The pH negatively connected with the alkalinity, while the As positively correlated with the BOD5 and COD.

Thermal Stability of Lead-Free Transparent Cloisonné Glazes

Glazes of (70 − x) ZnO-30 B2O3-x Bi2O3 with different Bi2O3 contents were prepared by the conventional melt quench technique. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves were obtained to determine the glass transition temperature (Tg) and crystallization temperature (Tc) of the glazes. The activation energy of the glass transition (Eg) and crystallization (Ec) were calculated using the Moynihan and Kissinger models, respectively. The glass transition temperature (Tg) decreased linearly with increasing Bi2O3 content. This is because the larger Bi3+ ions reduced network connectivity and opened up the structure. The Tg increased gradually with increasing heating rate (β). This is because the higher heating rate provided more energy for the glass to transition to the liquid state. The activation energy of the glass transition (Eg) decreased with increasing Bi2O3 content. This indicates that the glass-forming ability of the system increased with increasing Bi2O3 content. The energy corresponding to the amorphous-to-crystalline transformation during nucleation and crystal growth (Ec) increased with increasing Bi content to about 30%, and then decreased above 40%. This suggests that higher Ec values have an advantage in preventing crystallization in the crystallization danger region. It can be seen that the addition of Bi2O3 in (70 − x) ZnO-30 B2O3-x Bi2O3 glazes affects the density and distribution of oxygen atoms in the glass structure. It can also be seen that the increased Bi content promotes the formation of Bi-O-Bi bonds, which act as network modifiers to reduce the number of non-cross-linked oxygen atoms and increase network connectivity.

Assessing the ecological health of River Ringim, Northwestern, Nigeria using macroinvertebrate-based Chanchaga Multimetric Index

ABSTRACT The ecological health of River Ringim, Jigawa State, northwestern Nigeria was assessed between November 2018 and March 2019. Key physico-chemical variables alongside macroinvertebrates assemblage were used to achieve the aim of the study. The result of the physico-chemical variables showed that the four stations sampled were relatively perturbed judging from the high values of turbidity, nitrate, phosphate, BOD, TDS, and EC. Twelve (12) taxa and 365 individuals of macroinvertebrates were recorded in the entire study period of five months, confirming the deteriorating state of the river system. Hemiptera which was represented by 126 individuals was the most preponderant macroinvertebrate Order, followed by Coleoptera with 100 individuals. The least represented Order was Crustacea with only five individuals. The result of the diversity indices conducted showed that the Margalef index (1.32), Simpson diversity (0.76), and Shannon-Weiner index (1.59) were highest in Station 1. The results were used to check the implementation of the Chanchaga multimetric index and it showed that that the four stations of River Ringim were of poor water quality with a corresponding D ecological category. This further, confirmed the deteriorating state of the four stations sampled. We recommend that macroinvertebrate-based multimetric index (MMI) be developed for the river using a macroinvertebrates particular to the river instead of using the results in this study in checking the implementation of MMI developed for another river. This will ascertain the actual level of degradation River Ringim is undergoing due to the numerous human disturbances within the river catchments.

Seaweed biochar (sourced from marine water remediation farms) for soil remediation: Towards an integrated approach of terrestrial-coastal marine water remediation

Biochar made from seaweed biomass of marine farms established for water pollutant remediation may be a promising amendment for soil remediation in the same coastal territory. The study aimed to assess the soil Cu-immobilizing, pH neutralizing, and nutrient improvement capabilities of a seaweed biochar when incorporated into degraded soil of the same coastal territory (Puchuncaví District, central Chile). Experimental design considered five treatments; degraded soil of Puchuncaví valley (C-), C- amended with either local seaweed biochar (B), vermicompost (V), or its mixture (BV), and a background soil (C+). Experimental soils were placed in pots and kept in a greenhouse (4 weeks). Lolium perenne was then sown and cultivated until week 11. Treatments amended with biochar (B and BV) significantly increased soil pH, available nitrogen and decreased Cu2+ ions. These treatments reached very high EC values but had no negative effect on plant yield. Regarding plant growth, V and BV significantly increased biomass, but V resulted in higher yield because of its higher nutritional status. It was concluded that seaweed biochar, made from local seaweed biomass of a coastal marine water pollutant remediation farm, may be an effective soil amendment for degraded soils of the same coastal territory, although its combination with an organic amendment should be considered.

Impact of Biochar as a Soil Conditioner to Improve the Soil Properties of Saline Soil and Productivity of Tomato

Biochar increases crop yield, soil reliability, and carbon sequestration. This study examined how biochar affected soil properties and tomato yield in saline soil. The experiment was conducted in areas surrounding Khulna Agricultural University and in farmers’ fields close to Khulna, Bangladesh. The experiment’s layout was a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Tomato cultivation with eight treatments and three replications used biochar with the recommended fertilizer dose (RFD). Using biochar in saline soil significantly influenced tomato growth and yield character. Days after planting, plant height was dramatically impacted by various biochar treatment levels. The height of tomato plants ranged from 65.38 to 46.37 cm, yielding 49.23 tons per hectare. The experiments used biochar treatments to grow more tomatoes than traditional fertilizers and a control treatment. Compared with control treatments, biochar also changed the properties of salty soil after it was harvested. The soil’s pH is 6.51 and its particle density is highest at 2.65. The control treatments had the highest EC value, which was 2800, and the biochar application treatments had the lowest EC values. At 100 s/cm, the EC value made the soil 0.6 ppt saltier in the control treatment without biochar, but adding biochar made the soil 0.1 ppt less salty. The percentages of carbon, nitrogen, and organic matter were also the highest that they had been (1.88%, 1.073%, and 2.58%, respectively). The phosphorus concentration in the soil was 19.47 g/g after harvesting. The majority of K and S values used to treat salty soils are interchangeable. Significant changes in tomato growth, yield, and soil properties occurred when biochar was combined with recommended fertilizer doses and applied to saline soil for tomato cultivation.

Individual and combined toxicity of imidacloprid and two seed dressing insecticides on collembolans Folsomia candida

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to examine the chronic toxicity of imidacloprid (IMI), clothianidin (CLO) and fipronil (FIP) as a single exposure, as well as binary mixtures of IMI with CLO or FIP toward collembolans Folsomia candida, which are fauna present in the soil. Chronic toxicity assays were performed following an ISO guideline in a Tropical Artificial Soil (TAS), and the influence on the number and growth of the juveniles produced were determined. The range of nominal concentrations used in the tests with the individual compounds was 0.08–1.28 mg/kg (IMI), 0.079–1.264 mg/kg (FIP) and 0.007–0.112 mg/kg (CLO), whereas the mixture assays were performed with half the value used in the tests with individual compounds. Based upon single exposures, IMI produced a similar impact of reducing reproduction by 50% (EC50 ranging from 0.74 to 0.85 mg/kg) compared to FIP (EC50 = 0.78 mg/kg), whereas CLO was the most toxic to F. candida (EC50 = 0.08 mg/kg). Their mixtures generally resulted in a diminished effect on reproduction, as evidenced by the higher EC50 values. In contrast, in the case of the IMI+FIP combination at high concentrations at the EC50 level, a synergistic effect on toxicity was observed. The single exposure to the three insecticides and the mixture of IMI-FIP also decreased the size of generated juveniles, which was evidenced by the reduction in the proportion of large juveniles and increased proportion of small juveniles. However, both binary mixtures (IMI-FIP and IMI-CLO) presented antagonistic effects as evidenced by less than expected reductions in growth. Data on the toxic effects of IMI in a mixture with other seed dressing insecticides to collembolans provides useful information to environmental risk assessors by diminishing the uncertainties on the ecological risk of exposure to pesticides, enabling soil management degradation by utilizing multiple insecticides.

Evaluation of the Intracellular Signaling Activities of κ-Opioid Receptor Agonists, Nalfurafine Analogs; Focusing on the Selectivity of G-Protein- and β-Arrestin-Mediated Pathways.

Opioid receptors (ORs) are classified into three types (μ, δ, and κ), and opioid analgesics are mainly mediated by μOR activation; however, their use is sometimes restricted by unfavorable effects. The selective κOR agonist nalfurafine was initially developed as an analgesic, but its indication was changed because of the narrow safety margin. The activation of ORs mainly induces two intracellular signaling pathways: a G-protein-mediated pathway and a β-arrestin-mediated pathway. Recently, the expectations for κOR analgesics that selectively activate these pathways have increased; however, the structural properties required for the selectivity of nalfurafine are still unknown. Therefore, we evaluated the partial structures of nalfurafine that are necessary for the selectivity of these two pathways. We assayed the properties of nalfurafine and six nalfurafine analogs (SYKs) using cells stably expressing κORs. The SYKs activated κORs in a concentration-dependent manner with higher EC50 values than nalfurafine. Upon bias factor assessment, only SYK-309 (possessing the 3S-hydroxy group) showed higher selectivity of G-protein-mediated signaling activities than nalfurafine, suggesting the direction of the 3S-hydroxy group may affect the β-arrestin-mediated pathway. In conclusion, nalfurafine analogs having a 3S-hydroxy group, such as SYK-309, could be considered G-protein-biased κOR agonists.

Impact evaluation with potential ecological risk of dumping sites on soil in Baglung Municipality, Nepal

This study is focused on the analysis of the impact caused by the municipal solid waste (MSW) dumping sites in Baglung Municipality of Nepal. For assessment of pollution level, physicochemical parameters of the dumping site's soil and potential ecological risk (PER) index was determined. The nature of the studied dumping site's soil was weakly acidic with high EC and TDS value. The result evidenced the higher values of available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) which signify disposed waste is with high organic content. The concentration of heavy metals in the soil of dumping sites is ranked as Zn>Cu>Pb>Ni>Cr>Cd for the older sites and Zn>Cu>Pb>Ni>Cd>Cr for newer sites. The correlation matrix visualizes that there are positive correlations between Cr-Cd, Pb-Cd, Cu-Zn and Zn-Cd. PCA analysis shows the strong associations of NPK and heavy metals which depict their common source of contamination. The estimated PER index of each and multiple heavy metals represent older dumping sites have a higher potential for causing risk to the environment than the newer ones. This reflects the prospect of environmental threats due to haphazard disposal of MSW. The major implication of this research outcome is the necessity of monitoring and management of possible source of toxic heavy metals in MSW which may contaminate the nearby source of waterbodies by the runoff and infiltration of leachate produced by the dumping site. Also, it is advised to ensure the intense segregation of the MSW prior to final disposal.