Residual Dose Research Articles

Residual Level Of Deltamethrin Induced Gastritis And Preventive Role Of Curcumin On Stomach Mucosa.

Benefits of Curcumin for health have been explained by different experimental models and clinical trials. It is a very potent antioxidant. Curcumin was found to play a preventive and curative role in both acute and chronic gastritis. Deltamethrin is a useful pesticide when applied with caution to crops. However, it also has noxious effects on gastric mucosa once ingested with sprayed crops. Its maximum permissible limit, MRL (Maximum Residual Level) as pesticide food residues is 5 mg/kg body weight as defined by WHO. However, there is still a potential to cause harm at these levels and maybe a serious potential health hazard. The present study aimed to: (a) determine the prevalence and severity of gastritis induced by deltamethrin when administered at MRL doses and (b) To observe the preventive effect on gastric mucosa against the action of Deltamethrin present as a residual pesticide in different vegetables and fruits. In this two-phase subacute toxicity study of seven weeks, forty Sprague Dawley rats were divided into eight subgroups. Control groups were kept on a normal diet and sesame oil. Out of the two treatment groups, one group was given deltamethrin (5 mg/kg body weight) orally along with curcumin 100 mg/kg body weight. The second group was first given deltamethrin (5mg/kg body weight) and curcumin (200mg/kg). All were culled at its end. The stomach samples were collected and processed to obtain histology slides for analysis via microscopy and micrometry. Grading was done to look for changes according to the "Visual Analogue Scale and Operative Link on Gastritis Assessment (OLGA)". The experimental deltamethrin group when compared to control groups, revealed mild changes in stomach histomorphology while curcumin-treated both groups; Group D (100 mg/kg) and Group E (200 mg/kg) showed no changes. Administration of Deltamethrin even in maximum residual dose (permissible) is proven to be toxic. Curcumin is hence proven to protect the gastric mucosa against the toxic effects of deltamethrin ingested in residual form.

Three Biannual Rotations Cycles with Residue Incorporation Affect Wheat Production and Chemical Soil Properties.

There are few reports of crop rotations with high residue incorporation in terms of their effects on indicator crop yields and soil properties, so this study evaluated the effect of two medium-term biannual rotations on wheat yield development and soil chemical properties after six years of rotation. The experiment was conducted with two biannual rotations (canola-wheat and bean-wheat) and four residue incorporation levels (0%, 50%, 100%, and 200%) in an Andisol in south central Chile. Wheat grain yield and residue production were evaluated during each biannual cycle during three cycles of crop rotation, and soil chemical properties were evaluated at final evaluation. The use of beans as a wheat preculture partially improved grain yield in 7.3%. The chemical properties of the soil showed an increase in pH (0.08 units), organic matter content (15 g kg-1), and concentrations of P (2.8 mg kg-1), S (7.4 mg kg-1), and Al (0.03 cmol+ kg-1) after canola cultivation, while after bean cultivation there was an increase in the available N concentration (3.7 mg kg-1). The use of increasing doses of residue allowed for an increase in the soil pH and decrease in the exchangeable Al concentration. The continuous incorporation of the residues produced within the biannual rotations evaluated in this volcanic soil did contribute to improving some chemical properties of the soil without affecting wheat crop yield.

LARCalc, a tool to estimate sex- and age-specific lifetime attributable risk in populations after nuclear power plant fallout

A tool called LARCalc, for calculating the radiological consequences of accidental large scale nuclear power plant releases based on estimates of 137Cs ground deposition, is presented. LARCalc is based on a previously developed models that has been further developed and packaged into an easy-to-use decision support tool for training of decision makers. The software visualises the radiological impact of accidental nuclear power plant releases and the effects of various protective measures. It is thus intended as a rapid alternative for planning protective measures in emergency preparedness management. The tool predicts projected cumulative effective dose, projected lifetime attributable cancer risk, and residual dose for some default accidental release scenarios. Furthermore, it can predict the residual dose and avertable cumulative lifetime attributable risk (LAR) resulting from various protective measures such as evacuation and decontamination. It can also be used to predict the avertable collective dose and the increase in cancer incidence within the specified population. This study presents the theoretical models and updates to the previous models, and examples of different nuclear fallout scenarios and subsequent protective actions to illustrate the potential use of LARCalc.

Hematological, biochemical, and hormonal effects of organochlorine pesticide residues found in canal and tap waters on albino white rats

Analysis of water from the canal that feeds the Damanhour water station and tap water in Damanhour, Beheira Governorate, Egypt, revealed the presence of gamma-HCH, beta-HCH, heptachlor epoxide, p, p D.D.E., dieldrin, endrin aldehyde, endosulfan sulfate, and endrin ketone. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the adverse effects of administration of the OCl pesticide residues found in canal water (0.0448 µg/ kg b. wt.) and tap water (0.022 µg/ kg b. wt.) to white Albino rats. Results revealed that treatment of male and female rats with a single oral dose of OCl pesticide residues found in both canal and tap water caused slight alteration in Hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cells (RBC) in male rats, and packed cell volume (PCV) in male and female treated rats relative to control. There was a significant increase in Hb, a decrease in RBC counts in treated female rats, and a significant decrease in WBC count in both male and female rats. There was a slight alteration in GOT, GPT, and G.GT activity in both male and female rats and a significant increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in male rats. Compared to controls, treated rats had substantial increases in uric acid and albumin concentrations and a slight alteration in total protein concentration in the serum. Administration of OCl residues to rats caused no significant effect on male or female progesterone. It caused a significant increase in testosterone concentration in treated female rats and a decrease in the serum of male rats. Compared to controls, treated male rats had slightly lower follicle stimulation hormone (FSH) levels, and treated female rats had higher levels. Also, no significant difference was observed in T4 levels between the control and treated females in treated rats. However, the T4 level increased significantly in the males administered the high O.C.s found in canal water. T3 levels decreased in the serum of male and female rats, but T3 was significantly reduced in male rats given an oral dose of OCl residues in canal water. Unlike their effects on T3 levels, the impact of OCl residues on T4 levels in this study was inconsistent in treated rats. Conclusions: Administration of a single oral dose of OCl pesticide residues found in both canal and tap water to rats caused significant and non-significant alteration in some hematological, biochemical, and hormonal biomarkers in the serum of treated rats compared to control.

Antibacterial and antioxidant activities of a novel biosynthesized selenium nanoparticles using Rosa roxburghii extract and chitosan: Preparation, characterization, properties, and mechanisms

Developing efficient and safe antibacterial agents to inhibit pathogens including Physalospora piricola and Staphylococcus aureus is of great importance. Herein, a novel compound composed of Rosa roxburghii procyanidin, chitosan and selenium nanoparticle (RC-SeNP) was bio-synthesized, with the average diameter and zeta potential being 84.56 nm and −25.60 mV, respectively. The inhibition diameter of the RC-SeNP against P. piricola and S. aureus reached 18.67 mm and 13.13 mm, and the maximum scavenging activity against DPPH and ABTS reached 96.02% and 98.92%, respectively. Moreover, the RC-SeNP completely inhibited the propagation P. piricola and S. aureus on actual apples, suggesting excellent in vivo antimicrobial capacity. The transcriptome analysis and electron microscope observation indicated that the antibacterial activity would be attributed to adhering to and crack the cell walls as well as damage the cytomembrane and nucleus. Moreover, the RC-SeNP effectively maintained the vitamin C, total acid, and water contents of red bayberry, demonstrating potential application for fruit preservation. At last, the RC-SeNP showed no cell toxicity and trace selenium residual dose (0.03 mg/kg on apple, 0.12 mg/kg on red bayberry). This study would enlighten future development on novel nano-bioantibacterial agents for sustainable agriculture.

IRSL and post-IR IRSL dating of multi-grains, single grains, and cobble surfaces to constrain fluvial responses to climate changes during the last glacial period in the Tokachi Plain, northern Japan

Accurate chronologies of fluvial terraces are necessary to understand fluvial responses to climate and sea-level changes and uplift. Although feldspar post-infrared infrared stimulated luminescence (post-IR IRSL, or pIRIR) dating has been used to establish chronologies for Pleistocene fluvial terraces, the signals can be partially bleached in short, high-gradient river systems typical of Japanese rivers, resulting in overestimated ages. This study investigated aggradational fluvial terraces formed on the Tokachi Plain, northern Japan, during the last glacial period, and true depositional ages of the deposits were estimated by comparing multi-grain IRSL50/150, pIRIR50/150, and pIRIR50/225 ages, with single-grain pIRIR50/225 ages. IRSL50/225 and pIRIR50/225 ages of granite cobbles were also obtained and compared with the ages of multi-grains to evaluate the reliability of cobble ages. Fading-corrected IRSL 50/150 ages of multi-grains were consistent with pIRIR50/150 ages, indicating that the fading correction of IRSL50/150 signal was successful. Although equivalent dose distributions of single grains suggest that the pIRIR50/225 signal was completely bleached at deposition, pIRIR50/225 ages were slightly older than fading-corrected IRSL 50/150 and pIRIR50/150 ages possibly because of small residual doses. Fading-corrected IRSL50/225 and fading-corrected pIRIR50/225 ages of granite cobbles were consistent with the fading-corrected IRSL50/150 and pIRIR50/150 ages of multi-grains. However, comparison of cobble ages with climate records seems difficult due to their large errors. The fading-corrected IRSL50/150 and pIRIR50/150 ages of multi-grains indicate that fluvial aggradation occurred at 70–60 ka, followed by incision. Changes in the strength of East Asian summer monsoon precipitation are sufficient to explain fluvial evolution in the Tokachi Plain. Although some previous studies have argued that the ages of fluvial terraces might not be simply correlated to climate changes because of complex fluvial responses, significant changes in precipitation in the study area might have dominated the evolution of the entire fluvial system. Comparison with other fluvial systems in Japan suggests that slight differences in the responses of different fluvial systems to climate changes might be due to the spatial variability of those changes.

Vortex-assisted resin y90 delivery via 175 cm Truselect microcatheter: case factors for high residual despite double-flush protocol.

To report efficiency of resin y90 delivery using SIROS via 175 cm TruSelect microcatheter with double-flush protocol (40 ml dextrose total). IRB-approved retrospective review of all patients undergoing SIROS injection of y90 Sir-Spheres via TruSelect from 2019 through 2022 at one quaternary-care academic institution, including medical records. Included were 48 infusions in 25 patients across 11 cancer histologies. Mean planned, delivered, and residual activities were 28 ± 17, 27 ± 17, 1.1 ± 0.56 mCi respectively (mean residual 4.9% ± 2.8%) across flex-dosing precalibrations including 1-day, 2-day, and 3-day SIROS (4/51, 16/51, and 28/51). Mean liver treatment volume was 483 ± 306 ml with target dose mean of 128 ± 26 Gy in non-segmentectomy cases; Radiation segmentectomy was performed in 15/48 (31%). Arterial stasis was documented in 9/48 (19%) of cases. Use of a 3-day precalibrated SIROS dose, use of activity <10 mCi, treatment of smaller liver volumes (<200 ml) and documentation of stasis were associated with higher residual activity (P = 0.025, P = 0.0007, P = 0.0177, and P = 0.049, respectively) were associated with higher residuals. Combining the new technologies of SIROS and the Truselect microcatheter with a double-flush protocol yielded <10% residual in 94% of y90 infusions. Future studies may clarify if the predictors of high residual dose seen here may warrant microcatheter-specific considerations for dosimetry or dose preparation at the Radiopharmacy level.

Design and performance of the shielded DTL4 Faraday cup for the commissioning of the high-power ESS proton linac

The final as-built version of the DTL4 Faraday cup for the ESS proton accelerator is presented; the beam-interceptive device acted as beam dump to support the commissioning and tuning of the ESS proton accelerator up to the DTL4 section. The DTL4 Faraday cup was designed, optimized and validated via MCNPX/ANSYS simulations in order to dump [21, 74] MeV protons, proton pulses up to 50 μs long, repetition rates up to 14 Hz and an unprecedented proton beam current up to 62.5 mA. The maximum volumetric power density was computed to be 20 GW/cm3 and 25 MW/cm3 for 21 MeV and 74 MeV protons, respectively.During the DTL4 commissioning, the DTL4 Faraday cup absorbed and safely dissipated the proton beam power, measured in real-time the proton beam current as well as the pulse duration. Examples of measured proton pulses are included to demonstrate the transport and acceleration of the high-power proton beam all the way down to the ESS DTL4 section. The control system for the data acquisition, operation under vacuum, motion control and cooling water system was based on EPICS. The operational parameters are presented following the results of thermo-mechanical calculations. In the most demanding operational condition, the predicted temperature of the core was around 1010 °C. The cooling water temperature was continuously monitored and remained below 23 °C during the operational period.Neutronics simulations were performed in order to quantify the activation, residual dose rates, radiation shielding and necessary decay time to be waited after the end of the commissioning. After four weeks of decay, a residual dose rate of 1.1 mSv/h was measured at 30 cm from the device. The DTL4 Faraday cup and its shielding were uninstalled in order to proceed with the installation of the DTL5 section. The Faraday cup is planned to be permanently installed in the DTL4 intertank once the DTL5 section is in place.

Herbicide exposure alters the effect of the enthomopathogen Beauveria bassiana on immune gene expression in mealworm beetles

Concerns have grown worldwide about the potentially far-reaching effects of herbicides on functional biodiversity in agroecosystems. Repeated applications over time can lead to accumulation of residues in soil, water, and food and may have negative impacts on non-target organisms. However, the effects of herbicide residues on interspecific relationships, such as host-pathogen interactions, are poorly studied. In this study, we evaluated the effects of two different concentrations of a commercial pendimethalin-based formulation (PND), the residual contamination (S, 13 ppm) in treated soils and the maximum residue level allowed by the European Commission in cereals (EU, 0.05 ppm). We tested the effect of PND on the biological interaction between the mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus, 1758 and the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana Vuillemin, 1912 (Bb, strain KVL 03–144) at two concentrations (LC50 5 × 105 conidia mL−1 and LC100 1 × 107 conidia mL−1). We checked the survival of beetles exposed to PND or/and inoculated with B. bassiana, the expression of four antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and finally how PND affects in vitro germination of fungus. The exposure to PND had no significant effects on the survival of either control or Bb-exposed beetles. In the mealworm beetle, upregulation of gene expression of the inducible AMPs Tenecin 1, 2, and 4 was observed in PND-treated beetles after inoculation with Bb, while the levels of the non-inducible AMP Tenecin 3 were similar between treatments. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that admitted residual doses of currently used herbicides modify an important component of the inducible immune response of an insect. This did not translate into an effect on the survival to B. bassiana in our system. However, residual doses of the herbicide at 13 ppm may temporarily affect fungal germination. These results raise questions about the compatibility of bioinsecticides with synthetic pesticides and the effects of herbicide residues on host-pathogen interactions.

Luminescence fingerprints fluvial sediment transport from the Tibetan Plateau to the Bangladesh Delta

Fluvial sediment fingerprinting employs various methods, directly link sink and source. However, the identification and quantification of the transformation that sediments experience during fluvial transport remain unclear. The luminescence properties of quartz and K-feldspar change during the burial/exposure to sunlight cycles undergone by fluvial sediments, potentially allow scientists to trace fluvial sediment transport. Here, we report on changes in luminescence properties in active river bars from source to sink along the Yarlung Tsangpo-Brahmaputra River system. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) sensitivities and residual doses of quartz and K-feldspar within the fluvial sediments are used for the fingerprint method. Source rock is identified as the primary determinant of regional variations in quartz OSL sensitivities within fluvial sediments along the Yarlung Tsangpo River, while transportation distance governs local changes. Samples from narrower river channels with higher normalized channel steepnesses (Ksn) along the Yarlung Tsangpo River exhibit higher residual doses. Furthermore, the Brahmaputra River exhibits higher residual dose values compared to the Old Brahmaputra River. The sediments' residual doses are therefore employed to fingerprint fluvial erosion ability. Our luminescence fingerprint results indicate that coarse-grained fractions experience a “dilution” effect due to the input of new sediments after traveling approximately 50-200 km along the Yarlung Tsangpo River and about 50-100 km along the Brahmaputra-Old Brahmaputra River course. The comparison of luminescence (quartz and feldspar) and detrital zircon fingerprinting within the fluvial sediment holds the potential to trace weathering and erosion cycles during transportation in large river contexts.

Exploring beamline momentum acceptance for tracking respiratory variability in lung cancer proton therapy: a simulation study

Objective. Investigating the aspects of proton beam delivery to track organ motion with pencil beam scanning therapy. Considering current systems as a reference, specify requirements for next-generation units aiming at real-time image-guided treatments. Approach. Proton treatments for six non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients were simulated using repeated 4DCTs to model respiratory motion variability. Energy corrections required for this treatment site were evaluated for different approaches to tumour tracking, focusing on the potential for energy adjustment within beamline momentum acceptance (dp/p). A respiration-synchronised tracking, taking into account realistic machine delivery limits, was compared to ideal tracking scenarios, in which unconstrained energy corrections are possible. Rescanning and the use of multiple fields to mitigate residual interplay effects and dose degradation have also been investigated. Main results. Energy correction requirements increased with motion amplitudes, for all patients and tracking scenarios. Higher dose degradation was found for larger motion amplitudes, rescanning has beneficial effects and helped to improve dosimetry metrics for the investigated limited dp/p of 1.2% (realistic) and 2.4%. The median differences between ideal and respiratory-synchronised tracking show minimal discrepancies, 1% and 5% respectively for dose coverage (CTV V95) and homogeneity (D5-D95). Multiple-field planning improves D5-D95 up to 50% in the most extreme cases while it does not show a significant effect on V95. Significance. This work shows the potential of implementing tumour tracking in current proton therapy units and outlines design requirements for future developments. Energy regulation within momentum acceptance was investigated to tracking tumour motion with respiratory-synchronisation, achieving results in line with the performance of ideal tracking scenarios. ±5% Δp/p would allow to compensate for all range offsets in our NSCLC patient cohort, including breathing variability. However, the realistic momentum of 1.2% dp/p representative of existing medical units limitations, has been shown to preserve plan quality.

Zeroing of IRSL signals in cobbles surfaces from a modern river floodplain in the Manas river, Tian Shan

A newly developing method, rock surface luminescence dating, provides a novel means of constraining the burial age of fluvial gravel and unveiling the transport and exposure-burial process of fluvial bed-load. A crucial requirement for successful age determination in luminescence dating of buried rock surfaces is that a sufficiently thick surficial layer was reset to a near-zero level of signal prior to deposition and burial. However, little such effort has been made on modern fluvial gravels from various depositional environments to provide a sound justification for the use of luminescence dating in such settings. In this study, we reported an investigation of daylight bleaching in modern cobbles with different sizes and shapes at a modern river floodplain from the Manas River, Tian Shan, to test the reliability and applicability of fluvial cobble optical dating. Four multi-elevated-temperature post-infrared infrared (MET-pIRIR) stimulated luminescence signals of rock slices were measured using a modified MET-pIRIR protocol to establish residual luminescence-depth profiles. The residual does of pIRIR and MET-pIRIR signals of sub-surface rock slices were also estimated using different modified SAR protocols. The results showed that the high temperature IRSL signal could be reset to ∼2–3 mm depth into cobbles surface and flat cobbles seem easier to bleach than spherical cobbles. The residual doses of sub-surface rock slices of cobbles from modern river floodplain was ∼0.4 Gy and ∼1.1 Gy for the IR50 and the pIRIR170 signal respectively, suggesting a residual age of ∼0.1 ka and ∼0.2 ka. The residual ages of MET-pIRIR signals of sub-surface rock slices of cobble MNS2-5 were ∼0.5–1 ka at higher stimulation temperature. Our results show that the fluvial cobble optical dating techniques have great potential for providing reliable chronologies for river floodplain gravel and other fluvial depositional events.

Assessment of Hungarian Consumers’ Exposure to Pesticide Residues Based on the Results of Pesticide Residue Monitoring between 2017 and 2021

The short-term intake (ESTI) of pesticide residues in Hungarian consumers was assessed based on 2331 test results obtained during the 2017–2021 monitoring program on frequently analyzed apples, sour cherries, table grapes, peaches, nectarines, peppers, and strawberries (23.5% of all samples taken from 119 crops). The age-specific consumption data were obtained from national food consumption surveys (2009 and 2018–2020). The exposure was characterized by Hazard Quotient and Hazard Index considering the acute reference doses of pesticide residues detected in the samples. When ESTI was calculated with all detected “single” residues and a variability factor of 3.6, recommended for evaluation of monitoring results, the HI only exceeded 1 for children &lt;3 years old eating grapes (1.50–1.81). HI was &lt;1 when any of the six foods were eaten together within one day. Between forty and fifty percent of samples contained 2–23 residues. Though the individual residue concentrations were below the corresponding MRLs, multiple residues being present in one sample resulted in maximum HI values in apples (1.14); grapes (6.57); peaches and nectarines (2.57); strawberries (2.74); and peppers (10.44). Residues with low ARfD values contributed the most. Applying HI is simple, but provides only point estimates; therefore, it should only be used in first-tier risk assessment.

Risk assessment of 369 pesticide residues in banana from Hainan province of China through UPLC-Q-TOF/MS

In this study, residues of 369 pesticides were determined in 123 banana samples by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS/MS to evaluate the potential risk of pesticide residues in bananas and investigate the quality and safety situation in Hainan province, China. The results indicated that 107 samples contained 1–10 residues. Insecticides and fungicides were the groups with the highest detection frequencies in bananas. The most frequently detected pesticides in bananas were pyraclostrobin (50.41%), prochloraz (38.21%), imidacloprid (33.33%), acetamiprid (25.20%) and carbendazim (19.51%); 13 samples were unqualified with the failure rate 10.57%. The index of food safety (IFS) of all detected pesticides in bananas was less than 1, and the value of the acute reference dose (ARfD) and acceptable daily intake (ADI) of pesticide residues detected in different populations were less than 100%, indicating an acceptable safety risk of the pesticide residues. As for risk coefficient (R), there was a high early warning risk for fluxapyroxad and imidacloprid, as well as a moderate early warning risk for propiconazole. According to the risk ranking, we found 3 kinds of medium-risk pesticides, including acetamiprid, difenoconazole and prochloraz. They should be considered in the key control risk factors and continuously monitored to protect people’s health. However, undue concern was unnecessary since the assessment was based on a conservative assumption.

Restoring areas after a radioactive fallout: A multidisciplinary study on decontamination

Land remediation is an important part of restoration measures after a radioactive fallout containing long-lived fission products such as 137Cs. In this multidisciplinary study, we focused on three main issues related to remediation of contaminated urban areas. First, we assessed how much decontamination contributes to reducing resident radiation exposure and how much this reduction depends on the timing of implemented measures. Second, we calculated direct and indirect costs of decontamination in an industrialized country such as Sweden. Finally, in a survey study, we considered reactions of Swedish citizens to being given the hypothetical option of moving to a site decontaminated after radioactive fallout and how this predicted response might influence the design of contingency plans.The main findings are that clean-up operations must be done within the first few years after a fallout to contribute significantly to reducing residual dose. If conducted within 1–2 years, large-scale decontamination can, on average, avert 20–200 manSv per km2 residential area and unit ground deposition of 137Cs (1 MBq). The estimated direct costs (in 2020 purchasing power) would amount to 100 million Euro per km2 decontaminated residential area (comparable to Japanese estimates after the Fukushima accident), generating 39,000 m3 of radioactive waste on average, mainly in the form of 137Cs-contaminated topsoil. In our survey study of 2291 Swedish respondents about their willingness to return to decontaminated homes, women, families with resident children, and high-income earners exhibited more skepticism about returning, even if authorities were to deem it safe. The demographic pattern in attitudes was similar to that found among evacuees in the Fukushima prefecture after 2011.We conclude that predefined ranges of measured 137Cs ground deposition can be used as guidance for rescue leaders in the early post-accident phase in long-term planning for affected areas. This planning should include timing and intensity of decontamination measures, duration of evacuation, and risk communication to citizens. Because some citizens expressed both high risk perception and risk aversion, however, timely and dialogic communication is unlikely to limit a shift after the incident to an older and more male-dominated population composition. There is a risk that those who can afford to do so will move away, whereas people whose wealth is locked in property (houses or businesses) will feel stuck. Perceptions of unfairness may fray the social fabric and complicate resettlement, which in some cases may mean inefficient outlay of decontamination costs. We believe that the issue of monetary compensation to affected residents requires priority in future work.

Activation Analysis in Preparation for a Tungsten Irradiation Experiment at LANSCE

To organize the safe handling of activated material, knowing the residual dose rates is crucial. In this work, we present the pre-experiment activation analysis for an experiment in which tungsten blocks are irradiated by 800-MeV protons. In this analysis, we use the Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) code for radiation transport, Attila4MC for unstructured mesh generation, and Activation in Accelerator Radiation Environments (AARE), including CINDER2008, for activation analysis. If the tungsten blocks must be removed within a day after the experiment, then exposure to personnel entering the room must be reduced. One exposure-reduction strategy is to add carbon steel shielding around the tungsten blocks, efficiently reducing the dose from the activated tungsten. However, the shielding becomes activated itself during irradiation: 56Mn is the dominant contributor for short decay times. The actual schedule at the time of the experiment allowed sufficient cool-off time for the tungsten in the room so that additional shielding was not necessary. A less rigorous comparison of the calculated values with the post-experiment measurements showed reasonable agreement.

Stress Response in the Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) Gut Induced by Chlorinated Paraffins at Residue Levels Found in Bee Products.

Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) have become global pollutants and are of considerable concern as a result of their persistence and long-distance transmission in the environment and toxicity to mammals. However, their risks to pollinating insects are unknown. Honeybees are classical pollinators and sensitive indicators of environmental pollution. Herein, the effects of CPs on the gut microenvironment and underlying mechanisms were evaluated and explored using Apis mellifera L. Both short- and medium-chain CPs had significant sublethal effects on honeybees at a residue dose of 10 mg/L detected in bee products but did not significantly alter the composition or diversity of the gut microbiota. However, this concentration did induce significant immune, detoxification, and antioxidation responses and metabolic imbalances in the midgut. The mechanisms of CP toxicity in bees are complicated by the complex composition of these chemicals, but this study indicated that CPs could substantially affect intestinal physiology and metabolic homeostasis. Therefore, CPs in the environment could have long-lasting impacts on bee health. Future studies are encouraged to identify novel bioindicators of CP exposure to detect early contamination and uncover the detailed mechanisms underlying the adverse effects of CPs on living organisms, especially pollinating insects.

Technological Quality of Sugarcane Inoculated with Plant-Growth-Promoting Bacteria and Residual Effect of Phosphorus Rates.

Phosphate fertilization in highly weathered soils has been a major challenge for sugarcane production. The objective of this work was to evaluate the foliar levels of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) and the technological quality and productivity of second ratoon cane as a function of inoculation with plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPBs) together with the residual effect of phosphate fertilization. The experiment was carried out at the research and extension farm of Ilha Solteira, state of São Paulo, Brazil. The experiment was designed in a randomized block with three replications in a 5 × 8 factorial scheme. The treatments consisted of five residual doses of phosphorus (0, 45, 90, 135 and 180 kg ha-1 of P2O5, 46% P) applied at planting from the source of triple superphosphate and eight inoculations from three species of PGPB (Azospirillum brasilense, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens), applied in single or co-inoculation at the base of stems of sugarcane variety RB92579. Inoculation with PGPBs influenced leaf N concentration, while inoculations with Pseudomonas fluorescens and combinations of bacteria together with the highest doses exerted a positive effect on leaf P concentration. Co-inoculation with A. brasilense + Pseudomonas fluorescens associated with a residual dose of 135 kg ha-1 of P2O5 increased stem productivity by 42%. Thus, it was concluded that inoculations with Pseudomonas fluorescens and their combinations are beneficial for the sugarcane crop, reducing phosphate fertilization and increasing productivity.

Indole-3-acetonitrile is a critical molecule with weed allopathic suppression function in broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica).

Cruciferous plants are frequently used for ecologically benign weed control in agricultural production. The varieties were the most effective, Most effective Broccoli varieties were screened using the entropy method-based topsis model at first. Result showed that Lvwawa and Lvbaoshi were most effective in allelopathic suppression on radishes. Column and thin-layer chromatography were used to extract the allelopathic compounds from broccoli residues, which contained various herbicidal active substances; among them, purified single-molecule indole-3-acetonitrile has a stronger inhibitory effect than pendimethalin (commercial herbicide). The weed inhibition rate increased with increasing broccoli residue dosage, with a 40 g/m2 broccoli residue dose yielding the highest suppression rate. Its effect was similar to that of indole-3-acetic acid. Too much of this substance leads to the plant's death. Moreover, broccoli residues had effective control effect on weeds in natural soils in greenhouse and field trials. The results demonstrated that broccoli residue could be used for weed management in field for abundant allopathic suppression molecules to weeds, and that Indole-3-acetonitrile is one of the most important allopathic molecule.

Long-term residual effects of biochar from tobacco scraps on red spinach (Amaranthus tricolor) growth in Entisols: a five-year field experiment with urea fertilizer addition

The residual effects of biochar doses on Entisols after five years of application have not received attention. However, there is an assumption that the positive effects of biochar can last longer in the soil. Therefore, field experiments were carried out in polybags to assess the residual impact of applying biochar doses in the fifth year and the addition of urea fertilizer on the growth of red spinach (Amaranthus tricolor) in Entisol. The growing media used in this study was a medium previously used for five years containing biochar in Entisols. This study used a 2-factor randomized block design consisting of residual doses of biochar (3 levels) and the addition of urea fertilizer (2 levels). There was no interaction between biochar and N fertilizer. Application of biochar at a dose of 500 g/polybag gave a better follow-up effect than 250 g/polybag on the growth of red spinach in the fifth year. Chlorophyll content increased with N fertilization. Applying biochar in the fifth year and N fertilization positively impacted the growth of red spinach in Entisol. Spinach yield increased 30% at the remaining dose of biochar 500 g/polybag and 52% with N fertilization. Within five years, using higher doses of biochar and adding urea will result in better growth of red spinach in Entisol.