Natural Background Research Articles

ANTICIPATING BIOSECURITY HAZARDS: DISTRIBUTION AND RECOGNITION OF BIOLOGICAL THREATS

Understanding the potential biological weapons that can be created, the technologies involved, and the entities capable of producing them is crucial for biosecurity. Equally important is comprehending the various targets a biological weapon might be aimed at, the deployment methods, and available detection strategies to counteract illegal biological threats. This chapter delves into these aspects, starting with methods of deployment. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) categorizes disease transmission into direct and indirect modes. Direct transmission involves contact with an infected person or environmental reservoir, including droplet spread, proven highly effective in densely populated areas. Indirect transmission occurs through contaminated objects or vectors. Vehicle-based transmission involves contaminating inanimate objects like food, water, and biological products. Vector-based transmission involves organisms carrying and transmitting pathogens. Airborne transmission, receiving significant attention for its potential in biological attacks, involves pathogens suspended in the air, posing significant risks, especially in crowded areas. Biological weapons could target humans, agriculture, technology, and the environment. Attacks on humans, often the focus of biosecurity efforts, pose catastrophic outcomes. State-sponsored programs often focus on human pathogens like Bacillus anthracis and Yersinia pestis. Agroterrorism, targeting agriculture and livestock, can lead to economic losses and social instability. Attacks on technology, utilizing synthetic biology, have shown the potential to manipulate DNA to store and deploy malicious code, highlighting vulnerabilities in sequencing systems. While attacks on the environment remain theoretical, advancements in gene drives raise concerns about manipulating ecosystems. Effective biosecurity involves pre- and post-deployment screening techniques. Pre-deployment screening, particularly gene synthesis, focuses on preventing the acquisition of DNA fragments for weapon production. Current measures involve background checks and screening against pathogen lists, yet gaps exist, including inadequate international policies and the potential to hide malicious sequences within longer ones. Post-deployment detection relies on traditional molecular diagnostic methods, but synthetic pathogens may evade detection, necessitating ongoing advancements in detection techniques. Real-time sensors and biosensors offer promising avenues for quick and accurate pathogen recognition, although challenges remain in detecting novel pathogens against a natural background. In conclusion, understanding the range of biological weapons, their potential targets, deployment methods, and detection strategies is essential for effective biosecurity. Continued research and advancements in detection technologies are crucial to staying ahead of evolving biological threats, ensuring a safer and more secure future.

Planetary radio interferometry and Doppler experiment as an operational component of the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer mission

AbstractWe present an overview of the operations and engineering interface for Planetary Radio Interferometry and Doppler Experiment (PRIDE) radio astronomy observations as a scientific component of the ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission, as well as other prospective planetary and space science missions. The article discusses advanced scheduling and planning methods that make it possible to create observing schedules for observations of specific spacecraft in concurrence with observations of natural radio sources. In order to put this into practice and find suitable natural background calibrator sources for PRIDE of JUICE mission, we developed planning and scheduling software. The conventional scheduling software for natural celestial radio sources is not set up to include spacecraft as observation targets in the necessary control files. Therefore, difficulties already arise during observation planning. We report on the development of new and the adaptation of existing routines used in astrophysical and geodetic VLBI for satellite scheduling and planning. The analysis of the PRIDE science observations led to improved observational planning, and the mission’s scheduling methodologies were studied using a systems engineering approach. In addition, we highlighted the new procedures, like finding charts for selecting calibrator radio sources over a range of frequency bands and the outcomes of those strategies for science operation planning. A simulation of the flyby of Venus during the cruise phase of the JUICE spacecraft, based on the Tudat software, is also presented, resulting in a promising opportunity to test PRIDE techniques and evaluate the improvements that PRIDE observables can make to natural bodies’ ephemerides. The first $$\hbox {K}_{a}$$ K a -band (32 GHz) observations of the ESA’s BepiColombo by a radio telescope in the VLBI network, which employs a similar radio communications system as JUICE, were also demonstrated as a test case. The primary objective of these activities is to serve as a practice run for the upcoming operational PRIDE JUICE operations. We showcase the capabilities of the planning and scheduling software for other space missions.

Seasonal and spatial variations in concentration, diversity, and antibiotic resistance of ambient bioaerosols in an arid region

The airborne microbiome significantly influences human health and atmospheric processes within Earth's troposphere and is a crucial focus for scientific research. This study aimed to analyze the composition, diversity, distribution, and spatiotemporal characteristics of airborne microbes in Qatar's ambient air. Air samples were collected using a sampler from ten geographically or functionally distinct locations during a period of one year. Spatial and seasonal variations significantly impacted microbial concentrations, with the highest average concentrations observed at 514 ± 77 CFU/m3 for bacteria over the dry-hot summer season and 134 ± 31 CFU/m3 for fungi over the mild winter season. Bacterial concentrations were notably high in 80% of the locations during the dry-hot summer sampling period, while fungal concentrations peaked in 70% of the locations during winter. The microbial diversity analysis revealed several health-significant bacteria including the genera Chryseobacterium, Pseudomonas, Pantoea, Proteus, Myroides, Yersinia, Pasteurella, Ochrobactrum, Vibrio, and fungal strains relating to the genera Aspergillus, Rhizopus Fusarium, and Penicillium. Detailed biochemical and microscopic analyses were employed to identify culturable species. The strongest antibiotic resistance (ABR) was observed during the humid-hot summer season, with widespread resistance to Metronidazole. Health risk assessments based on these findings indicated potential risks associated with exposure to high concentrations of specific bioaerosols. This study provides essential baseline data on the natural background concentrations of bioaerosols in Qatar, offering insights for air quality assessments and forming a basis for public health policy recommendations, particularly in arid regions.

Analysis of Posidonia oceanica's Stress Factors in the Marine Environment of Tremiti Islands, Italy.

Posidonia oceanica significantly contributes to the health of oceans and coastal areas; however, its progressive decline is becoming an increasing source of concern. The present preliminary study aims to assess the chemical parameters that describe the state of preservation of the aforementioned plant meadows located in the Tremiti Islands archipelago. To better understand the plants' response to external factors, the emission of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) was investigated using Posidonia oceanica as a biological indicator. Subsequently, the heavy metal concentrations (Ag, Al, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, Ti, Tl, V, Zn) in sediments, leaves, and seawater were determined and pollution indicators were calculated to assess the deviation from the natural background levels of sediments. The dimethyl sulfoniopropionate (DMSP) to dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) ratio was calculated to evaluate the oxidative stress levels in the meadows because the DMSP naturally present in Posidonia oceanica is oxidized to DMSO and decreases the ratio of DMSP/DMSO. BVOC analysis revealed dimethyl sulphide (DMS) as the most abundant molecule. Morphological features led to variations in metal concentrations across sampling sites, with sheltered bays displaying a higher metal content. Degradation is indicated by a greater DMSO content in the outer leaves. In accordance with the metal content, the bioindicator ratio confirms greater degradation on the south side, which aligns with increased oxidative stress.

Uranium Mine Proposed Experimental Design for Natural Background Gross Gamma Exposure Rates, Post Remediation Final Status Survey Sampling Density, and Radiological Water Quality Modeling for a Worst-case Catastrophic Failure, Coles Hill, Virginia.

Completely randomized experimental design statistical modeling techniques were employed to analyze exposure rate measurements for evaluating hypothetical natural background post uranium mill operations at Coles Hill, Virginia uranium milling processes. The proposed Coles Hill Uranium Mine is situated upstream of the Banister River. This River is nearly homogenous throughout the reach length used in analysis and feeds into the mouth of Kerr Reservoir, Lake Gaston, which serves as the main drinking water source for cities in the Hampton Roads area including Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake. A critical scan value (=DCGLscan) was developed to flag anomalies of surface contamination during simulated post remediation final status surveys. The natural background was critical for meeting the Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual guidance for post remediation final status surveys. The overarching null hypothesis suggested that the selected mean natural background is equal to the survey unit's mean natural background. Using SAS Procedures Shapiro-Wilk Test, ANOVA, and CR, it was decided the exposure rate data was normal, had no extreme outliers, and no collinearity between the number of samples (=treatment) and the areas (=block). Using the q-hyper (hypergeometric) distribution, the soil sampling density was decided for a final status survey unit. The most likely worst-case catastrophic failure analysis, 500-year event, such as the1969 Hurricane Camille of 69 centimeters of rain in Nelson County, Virginia was included in the model. The model showed impact was minimal at most to the Banister River's drinking water and likely less than the Virginia's Drinking Water Standards for gross alpha, 226Ra and 228Ra, and total uranium.

Radon an indoor risk: In the Urban Devarakonda, Telangana state, India

Natural background radiation risk owing to radon and its progeny at indoors to the general public is a significant issue. The concern about indoor radon risk has been increasing at national and international level since its role to the overall dose is well known. The current study aims to assess the 222Rn and its progeny in different type of indoors with a passive (SSNTD) and active technique (RAD-7). The area of investigation (urban Devarakonda), is located near the proposed uranium mineralization area. The estimated radon levels in the indoors were ranging from 20 to 437 Bq. m−3 and with a geometric mean of 66 Bq.m−3. The estimated EERC values are ranging from 22 to 82 Bq.m−3 and these are higher than the range limit prescribed by ICRP. The computed average EF value in the present study (0.58) is relatively higher than the world average value of 0.4. An effort has been made to comprehend the radon distribution among the representative locations. Annual effective inhalation dose was also estimated using the occupancy factor 0.8 and it is found in the range of 0.52–11.00 m Sv y−1 with geometric mean of 2.20 mSv.y−1. The diurnal variation of 222Rn levels was studied using RAD-7 in a dwelling and seasonal variation of radon levels was also to be discussed in this paper.

Natural background level, source apportionment and health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in multi-layer aquifers of arid area in Northwest China

Groundwater contaminated by potentially toxic elements has become an increasing global concern for human health. Therefore, it is crucial to identify the sources and health risks of potentially toxic elements, especially in arid areas. Despite the necessity, there is a notable research gap concerning the sources and risks of these elements within multi-layer aquifers in such regions. To address this gap, 54 phreatic and 24 confined groundwater samples were collected from an arid area in Northwest China. This study aimed to trace the sources and evaluate the human health risks of potentially toxic elements by natural background level (NBL), positive matrix factorization (PMF) model, and health risk model. Findings revealed exceeding levels of potentially toxic elements existed in phreatic and confined aquifers. Source apportionment and NBL results indicated that mineral dissolution, evaporation, redox reactions, and human activities were the main factors for elevated concentrations of potentially toxic elements. High Fe and Mn concentrations were attributed to reduction environments, while F accumulation resulted from slow runoff, and irrigation from the Yellow River. Due to high F levels, more than one-third of groundwater samples (phreatic: 33.14 %, confined: 56.22 %) posed non-carcinogenic health risks to population groups. Adults displayed higher carcinogenic risks (phreatic: 19.47 %, confined: 34.16 %) than infants (phreatic: 0 %, confined: 0 %) and children (phreatic: 1.26 %, confined: 7.97 %) owing to the toxic elements of Cr. The confined aquifer presented greater health risks than the phreatic aquifer. Consequently, controlling the levels of F and Cr in multi-layered aquifers is key to reducing health risks. These findings provide valuable insights into protecting groundwater from contamination by potentially toxic elements in multi-layered aquifers worldwide.

Spatial heterogeneity: Necessary and feasible for revealing soil trace elements pollution, sources, risks, and their links

The source diversity and health risk of trace elements (TEs) in soil make it necessary to reveal the relationship between pollution, source, and risk. However, neglect of spatial heterogeneity restricts the reliability of existing identification methods. In this study, spatial heterogeneity is proposed as a necessary and feasible factor for accurately dissecting the pollution-source-risk link of soil TEs. A comprehensive framework is developed by integrating positive matrix factorization, Geodetector, and risk evaluation tools, and successfully applied in a mining-intensive city in northern China. Overall, the TEs are derived from natural background (28.5 %), atmospheric deposition (25.6 %), coal mining (21.8 %), and metal industry (24.1 %). The formation mechanism of heterogeneity for high-variance TEs (Se, Hg, Cd) is first systematically deciphered by revealing the heterogeneous source-sink relationship. Specifically, Se is dominated (76.5 %) by heterogeneous coal mining (q=0.187), Hg is determined (92.6 %) by the heterogeneity of metal mining (q=0.183) and smelting (q=0.363), and Cd is caused (50.9 %) by heterogeneous atmospheric deposition (q>0.254) co-influenced by the terrains and soil properties. Highly heterogeneous sources are also noteworthy for their potential to pose extreme risks (THI=1.122) in local areas. This study highlights the necessity of integrating spatial heterogeneity in pollution and risk assessment of soil TEs.

The degree of soil arsenic background enrichment by carbonate weathering is mainly controlled by climate in large spatial scale

Spatial distribution of soil arsenic (As) is heterogeneous. Making clear the dominant factor(s) controlling its spatial variation contributes to the differentiation of its natural background from anthropogenic pollution. Recent studies have found that the “high background” of soil heavy metals may be induced by the process of carbonate weathering. However, the extent, process, and factors that controls the degree of this enrichment, is still unclear, especially in large spatial scales. In this study, this problem is to be revealed by a compilation and spatial data mining of soil geochemical data for Australia, North America, Europe, and China with a collection and chemical analysis of bedrock and soil profiles in a typical region. The results indicated that the process of carbonate weathering strengthened the As enrichment in the soil; therefore, the carbonate rock underlaid regions could be distinguished from those of other bedrocks in the soil As maps. In the southwest region of China, an area larger than 12,000 km2 exceeding the intervention value of 100 mg/kg could be produced according to the national standard. Iron minerals play an important role for this enrichment as they serve as carriers for As during the stages of both carbonate leaching and the decomposition of silicate minerals. Geodetector results indicated a significant dependence on climate for the degree of enrichment, and both higher temperature and precipitation were necessary, which caused a decreasing trend of soil As on carbonate region from the warm and humid south to the cold and dry north in China. The dependence of soil As concentration on the mean average precipitation (MAP) and mean average temperature (MAT) was formulated using the data of the wider geographical regions across the world, and a theoretically predicted map has been produced to show the extent caused by this causation.

Natural radionuclide profiles and radiological risks in soils and rocks of the Koytash-Ugam Range, Uzbekistan.

This investigation quantifies the activity concentrations of natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th, and 40K) in the soils and certain rocks of the Koytash-Ugam Range, Uzbekistan, and assesses their radiological risks. Gamma-spectrometric analysis of soil and rock samples revealed activity concentrations ranging from 456.2 ± 56.0 to 813.9 ± 76.0Bqkg-1 for 40K, 18.2 ± 6.3 to 70.0 ± 12.0Bqkg-1 for 226Ra, and 30.1 ± 2.9 to 57.9 ± 10Bqkg-1 for 232Th. This data indicates a heterogeneous distribution of radionuclides, informing radiation safety and health risk assessments on a global scale. The calculation of radiological hazard indices, including the alpha-index (ranging from 0.09 to 0.35), gamma-index (ranging from 0.40 to 0.73), and both internal (ranging from 0.40 to 0.54) and external (ranging from 0.36 to 0.54) hazard indices, was undertaken to ascertain potential health risks. The radium equivalent activity ranged from 108.4 to 199.3Bqkg-1, and the absorbed dose rates were 51.0-93.3 nGy h-1 indoors and 96.6-178.2 nGy h-1 outdoors. These metrics underlie the estimated annual effective dose of 536.5-988.5 × 10-3mSv y-1, highlighting the variability in radiation exposure. Additionally, the potential lifetime cancer risk was projected at 1770.4 to 3262.0 per million, with an annual gonadal dose equivalent of 361.9 to 655.5 μSv y-1, reflecting natural background radiation influence. The results underscore the importance of safe material use in construction and the necessity for routine natural radioactivity monitoring. Radon flux density (RFD) values within acceptable construction limits (26-176mBqm-2s-1) suggest the area's suitability for development, considering recommended safety guidelines. This study not only aids local environmental and public health frameworks but also enriches the international knowledge base, facilitating comparative studies for the advancement of global radiation protection standards. Through a detailed examination of radionuclide distribution in an under-researched area, our research highlights the critical need for integrated international approaches to natural radiological hazard assessment.

Practical estimation and use of natural background concentrations in surface waters for nickel in Europe.

Estimates of ambient background concentrations in surface waters, referred to as natural background concentrations (NBCs) in European guidance documents, may be an important factor in determining whether a monitoring site meets the legally binding Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) when assessing naturally occurring substances. Here, we focus on utilizing routine regulatory surface water monitoring data to provide risk assessors and environmental practitioners with a transparent, implementable, repeatable, and resource-effective approach to estimate NBCs. The methodology does not use additional environmental sampling beyond that which is routine or require advanced statistical methods, or the incorporation of highly specialist, and not always readily accessible, local knowledge. It determines both whether a site is suitable for NBC assessment as well as the identification of suitable surrogate sites and local NBCs using 11 criteria: six for identifying if a site is suitable for NBC correction, and five for identifying suitable surrogate sites for local NBC values. The criteria consider both the extent of any EQS exceedance, after accounting for bioavailability in line with the European guidance and potential anthropogenic impacts at the site, and can be applied in a simple sequential procedure. The method has been applied to derive NBCs for nickel on three case-study countries-Cyprus, France, and Spain-to determine its useability and impact on compliance. The methodology presented addresses a gap in the current guidance regarding the practical and consistent implementation of NBCs and could be applied to other naturally occurring substances in an EQS or Water Quality Guideline compliance assessment process. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-14. © 2024 WCA Environment Ltd and NiPERA Inc. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

EQGraphNet: Advancing single-station earthquake magnitude estimation via deep graph networks with residual connections

Magnitude estimation is a critical task in seismology, and conventional methods usually require dense seismic station arrays to provide data with sufficient spatiotemporal distribution. In this context, we propose the Earthquake Graph Network (EQGraphNet) to enhance the performance of single-station magnitude estimation. The backbone of the proposed model consists of eleven convolutional neural network layers and ten RCGL modules, where a RCGL combines a Residual Connection and a Graph convolutional Layer capable of mitigating the over-smoothing problem and simultaneously extracting temporal features of seismic signals. Our work uses the STanford EArthquake Dataset for model training and performance testing. Compared with three existing deep learning models, EQGraphNet demonstrates improved accuracy for both local magnitude and duration magnitude scales. To evaluate the robustness, we add natural background noise to the model input and find that EQGraphNet achieves the best results, particularly for signals with lower signal-to-noise ratios. Additionally, by replacing various network components and comparing their estimation performances, we illustrate the contribution of each part of EQGraphNet, validating the rationality of our approach. We also demonstrate the generalization capability of our model across different earthquakes occurring environments, achieving mean errors of ±0.1 units. Furthermore, by demonstrating the effectiveness of deeper architectures, this work encourages further exploration of deeper GNN models for both multi-station and single-station magnitude estimation.

Natural vs. anthropogenic sources of N-Nitrosodimethylamine precursors in surface water

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a carcinogenic disinfection byproduct formed from reactions between dichloramine and organic nitrogen-containing precursors. It is unclear if NDMA precursors in surface water intakes originate in anthropogenic (i.e., wastewater) or natural sources. The Truckee River has a single point source release of treated wastewater effluent, making it an ideal system to study the relative importance of precursor sources. Three Lagrangian sampling events were conducted. NDMA formation potential (FP, a measurement of precursors) above the wastewater outfall indicated that the natural background of NDMA precursors was 2-28 ng/L. NDMA FP increased to 18-31 ng/L immediately downstream of the wastewater outfall, but decreased rapidly in a first order manner, and were not statistically different from the upstream samples in only ∼6 km. This suggests that the dominant source of NDMA precursors may be wastewater derived only near wastewater outfalls and deviates from the previous belief that wastewater-derived precursors are responsible for NDMA formation in drinking water sources located further downstream. Additionally, given the rapid loss of the wastewater precursors in this study, precursors which are slow to biodegrade/photolyze/adsorb to sediment are likely to be poor surrogates for the overall wastewater NDMA precursor pool. To understand temporal changes in the wastewater impact on environmental NDMA precursor loading, two 24-hour sampling events were conducted near (<3 km) the wastewater outfall and demonstrated that temporal changes in the NDMA precursors directly downstream of the wastewater outfall are directly linked to the wastewater flow contribution.

Spatial distribution, temporal variations and source of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in Taihu Lake, China

The detrimental impacts of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) on the ecosystem and organisms have aroused great public concerns. However, the information on their concentration in the real aquatic environment is still limited, hindering the rational evaluation of their potential hazards. In this study, water samples from Taihu Lake were collected in June and November 2023, to investigate the spatial distribution and temporal variations of TiO2NPs. Using phosphorylated Fe3O4 particles based magnetic solid phase extraction and ICP-MS determination, high concentrations of TiO2NPs were detected in the western and northern regions of Taihu Lake. These areas contribute to 83 % of the total runoff into the lake. Total Ti levels were typically higher in November than in June, but no marked seasonal difference was observed for TiO2NPs. Different shapes of TiO2NPs with both smooth and rough surfaces were observed in the surface water. To further distinguish whether these TiO2NPs were sourced from the natural background or anthropogenic sources, the ratios of Ti to other rare elements including Nb were calculated. In November, the Ti/Nb ratios at most sampling sites were significantly higher than those in June, indicating that a large amount of engineered TiO2NPs are discharged into Taihu Lake during the summer and autumn seasons. Our study contributes to the understanding of contamination levels, spatial distribution, and temporal variation of TiO2NPs in lake systems, and provides valuable data for their further risk assessment.

ДЕЙСТВИЕ ОРГАНИЧЕСКИХ И МИНЕРАЛЬНЫХ УДОБРЕНИЙ И ИХ СОЧЕТАНИЕ ПРИ ВНЕСЕНИИ ПОД КАРТОФЕЛЬ НА ЧЕРНОЗЕМАХ ЗАКАМЬЯ РЕСПУБЛИКИ ТАТАРСТАН

. The purpose of the research is to evaluate the effect of organic and mineral fertilizers and their combination on the yield and quality indicators of potato tubers during irrigation on chernozem soils of the Republic of Tatarstan. The research was carried out in 2021-2022 in Kama zone on leached chernozem of medium loamy granulometric composition. The medium-early variety of Gala potatoes served as the material for research. The experiment was performed to study the effect of organic and mineral fertilizers and their combination by creating the following nutrition backgrounds: mineral fertilizers with a rate of application of N60P60K90 d.v. kg/ha (general background); organic fertilizer (manure 60 t/ha); general background + manure 60 t/ha; general background + organic fertilizer (siderate); general background + siderate + straw; general background + organic matter (manure 60 t/ha) + straw; organic fertilizer (manure 60 t/ha + siderate + straw); natural background (control). The weather conditions in both years of research were both satisfactorily favorable for the growth and development of potatoes. In the budding and tuber formation phase, artificial sprinkling was carried out at the rate of 300 m3 of water per 1 ha, thereby the potato agrocenosis was fully provided with productive moisture. On average, over two years, the highest yield was achieved in variant 7 (background + manure + straw), and it amounted to 38.8 t/ha, which is 20.6 t/ha more than in the control, in other experimental variants this difference ranged from 10.46-18.8 t/ha. The dry matter content in tubers during the application of various types of fertilizers was lower by 0.49...1.49% than in the control, starch – by 0.25...0.79%. On average, over 2 years, the highest protein and vitamin C content was in variant 6 – 2.95% and 21,24 mg%, respectively, which is higher than the control by 0.37% and 3.03 mg%.

Environmental Radiological Impact and Risk Assessment of Natural Radioactivity at the Heap Leach Facility of Tarkwa Goldmine, Ghana: Radiotoxicity and Public Exposure

In this study, a comprehensive investigation was conducted to determine the radioactivity levels of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) in heap pads/soil and water samples within and around the operational area of Tarkwa Gold Mine in Ghana. Gamma-ray spectrometry was used to determine the activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, and 40K in heap pads/soil, and 226Ra, 228Th, and 40K in water samples. The average activity concentrations of 226Ra and 228Th in all water samples were below the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended guidelines for drinking water. Similarly, the average activity concentrations of measured radionuclides in heap pads/soil samples taken from depths of 0–20 cm and 20–50 cm were found to be below the worldwide average reported values. The annual effective dose to the public was estimated to be around 0.16 mSv, which is below the recommended limit. The values of the hazard indices are also below the recommended limits, implying that if heap pads/soils are used for building purposes and construction, they will not pose any significant radiation hazard. The results of this study indicate that radiation levels are within the natural background radiation levels reported in the literature and are consistent with findings from similar studies conducted in Ghana.

Cultivating Excellence: Future-Proofing Medical Affairs with Tailored Talent Programs.

In today's rapidly growing healthcare landscape, the role of Medical Affairs within pharmaceutical companies has transitioned from a traditional support function into a strategic one. Amidst acute challenges such as evolving globalization, digitization, and healthcare trends, effective talent development and professional standards in Medical Affairs emerge as a pivotal cornerstone to future-proof pharmaceutical companies. This article explores strategies, perspectives, and best practices for enhancing talent development with medical or natural sciences background in the field of Medical Affairs. From the historical development of Medical Affairs, we cover current challenges and provide a comprehensive approach to talent development strategies of next-generation talents in Medical Affairs. Drawing upon current literature and personal experiences, we discuss various aspects relevant for designing targeted training programs, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and enhancing both technical and soft skills essential for success in Medical Affairs roles. Furthermore, we highlight the significance of company-internal rotational programs in exposing talents to different facets of Medical Affairs. We advocate for a flexible and individualized approach to talent development, allowing next-generation talents to pursue personal interests and contribute to innovative projects. Overall, this article offers practical recommendations for pharmaceutical companies aiming to optimize their local talent development initiatives in Medical Affairs and align them with the evolving needs of the healthcare landscape.

Elevated Heavy Metal(loid) Blood and Feather Concentrations in Wetland Birds from Different Trophic Levels Indicate Exposure to Environmental Pollutants

The research assessed the exposure to total mercury (THg), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) in Colombian wetland species of different trophic levels Platalea ajaja, Dendrocygna autumnalis and Nannopterum brasilianus. The results show high THg blood levels in P. ajaja (811.00 ± 349.60 µg L–1) and N. brasilianus (209.50 ± 27.92 µg L–1) with P. ajaja possibly exhibiting adverse effects. Blood Pb concentration was high in D. autumnalis (212.00 ± 208.10 µg L–1) and above the threshold for adverse effects, suggesting subclinical poisoning. Levels of blood As were below the assumed threshold for detrimental effect (20 μg L−1). The mean concentration of feather THg was below the assumed natural background levels (5 µg g−1) for all three species. Feather Pb levels exceeded the levels for assumed threshold effects in all sampled N. brasilianus (7.40 ± 0.51 µg g–1). Results for feather As concentration were below the threshold for adverse impacts in all species, although a positive correlation between As and THg concentrations was detected in P. ajaja feathers. The overall results could help understand how metal(loid)s biomagnify through trophic levels and how wetland species may serve as environmental indicators. By exploring the interactions of metal(loid)s within different matrices and body, this study offers insights into the dynamics of contaminant accumulation and distribution in the environment. This concept can be applied to wetlands worldwide, where bird species can serve as indicators of ecosystem health and the presence of contaminants such as heavy metals and metalloids.

Consideration of natural scientific background in Russia’s climate policy

Aim. Based on normative acts to reveal the key importance of the domestic scientific background in the implementation of climate policy.Objectives. To characterize the historical experience of using scientific-balance calculations in the implementation of strategic planning, applied today in the process of climate policy implementation in the national economy; to consider the current trends in strategic management of climate policy, description of the system of key cross-sectoral documents of strategic planning, reflection of accounting for the implementation of the major innovative project of state importance (MIP SI) and federal scientific and technical program (FSTP) in the system of climate policy in Russia.Methods. The author used general scientific methods of theoretical research, including analysis, synthesis, deduction, induction, and presented a system of intersectoral documents of climate policy in the context of the need to ensure anti-sanctions resistance. The results of the implementation of MIP SI and FSTP in the system of documents of inter-sectoral strategic planning of climate policy in the Russian economy are investigated.Results. The article analyzes the system of key intersectoral strategic planning documents developed and approved for the implementation of climate policy. According to the approved acts, in the Russian economy are realized MIP SI and FSTP, which contribute to the aggregation and implementation of scientific developments necessary in the implementation of climate policy of the Russian Federation (RF). In addition, the connection of the relevant documents with the documents of intersectoral (including technological) nature, which take into account not only the implementation of climate policy, but also the need to form technological sovereignty in connection with the sanctions restrictions imposed on the Russian economy. It is shown that state-level projects implemented in connection with the climate agenda can form a domestic foundation that will provide a promising scientific calculations and developments aimed at the realization of low-carbon development of the domestic economy.Conclusions. The low-carbon economic development strategy developed on the basis of the input-output methodology (inter-sectoral balance), the approved state program to reduce the carbon intensity of the Russian economy, as well as the updated Climate Doctrine are the key intersectoral documents of climate policy, which take into account relevant scientific research, including in the natural-science plane. Aggregation of the results of the implementation of the MIP SI and FSTP will allow taking into account the advanced achievements of domestic research in the climate field, which will further ensure a more balanced implementation of the state climate policy in the long term, including in the context of the need to form and ensure technological sovereignty. This in the long term can positively affect the sustainable improvement of welfare in the country.

Lung counting with a highly segmented HPGe detector

A highly segmented High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector was used to measure 241Am activity located inside the lungs of an anthropomorphic phantom with various active and passive shield configurations. It was found that the background suppression shield does not play a significant role in reducing the Minimum Detectable Activity (MDA) after veto, based on the segmentation in the depth direction of the HPGe, when measuring low-energy gamma rays. A reduction of up to 57% in the MDA was achieved. The MDA could be further improved by a thinner lateral segmentation and an optimized anti-Compton shield coupled with an active or passive backplate. The new detector application would be particularly useful in mobile whole-body counting units, where the natural background radiation poses a challenge when measuring low-energy gamma rays.