Human Health Safety Research Articles

(Invited) Triboelectricity Based Self-Powered Sensing Towards Ecological Protection and Health Monitoring

In recent years, the necessity for the evolution of effective research approaches to develop self-powered sensing networks has gained significant attention in view of their importance as the element of Internet of Things (IoTs) in the present scenario of global energy crisis and ecological dilemma. In these circumstances, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) manifest remarkable potentiality and versatility in the eco-friendly approaches of self-powered sensing, considering their appreciable sensitivity to the environmental and applied conditions. By harvesting wasted energy, the triboelectricity based self-powered sensing networks exhibit promising prospect to be applicable in ecological protection and smart health monitoring by rapid detection of chronic diseases, as an effective step towards the wellbeing of human health and environment synchronically. In this talk, I will represent novel mechanisms for implementing the TENGs based on nano/micro-structured tribo-materials comprising polymer/semiconducting metal oxide composites and problematic waste materials into self-powered ultra-broadband photodetection, toxic gas sensing and early detection of chronic disease for the human health and environmental safety. This novel method for the instantaneous response of the triboelectric signals to the biomarker for specific disease provides a prospective framework for painless, rapid, very cost-efficient, and eco-friendly disease detection, which is anticipated to be widely preferred as more advantageous than some traditional methods owing to the convenience of both the patients and medical professionals. Additionally, the approach of reusing the problematic waste materials in these TENG devices presents an effective step towards the circular economy, in light of the environmental pillar of ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance).

Source Apportionment and Response to Landscape Pattern of Health Risk of Cultivated Soil Heavy Metals

Heavy metal pollution mainly caused by human activities is becoming increasingly prominent and threatening human health and ecosystem safety in soil, which is a non-renewable natural resource that humans rely on for survival and development. Assessment and analysis of soil heavy metal health risk is significant for protecting human health, preventing soil pollution, and maintaining ecosystem security. Based on the investigation of heavy metals, including Cr, Pb, Cd, As, and Hg, in cultivated soil in Liuhe District, the health risk assessment model was used to identify the health risk characteristics of heavy metals, and the spatial distribution, main sources, and responses to landscape patterns were explored by using inverse distance weight interpolation, positive definite matrix factorization, landscape pattern index, and redundancy analysis. The results showed that the coefficients of variation corresponding to Cr, Pb, Cd, As, and Hg in the study area were 0.19, 0.36, 0.23, 0.52, and 1.16, respectively, all of which belonged to moderate or high variability, indicating that they had high spatial heterogeneity and were susceptible to human factors. Cr, Pb, and As were the main health risk characteristic factors in the study area, with the carcinogenic risks to children ranging from 13.307×10-6 to 38.400×10-6, 0.839×10-6 to 3.250×10-6, and 4.548×10-6 to 16.680×10-6, respectively, which were higher than those in adults. Agricultural production activities, industrial production, and transportation activities were the main sources of heavy metals, with carcinogenic risks to children of 17.946×10-6 and 12.941×10-6, respectively. Furthermore, high-risk areas caused by agricultural production activities were mainly concentrated in the northern area of Liuhe District and showed an increasing trend from south to north and from the center to the periphery. The surrounding areas caused by industrial production activities and transportation were mainly concentrated in the chemical industry park and economic development zone of Liuhe District and showed a spatial agglomeration feature of decreasing from south to north and from the core to the periphery. The cumulative explanatory value of the landscape pattern index for the comprehensive carcinogenic risk to children was 0.463, and patch density, patch proportion in landscape area, patch aggregation degree, and maximum patch index had significant effects on the comprehensive carcinogenic risk in children, and the corresponding explanatory values were 0.422, 0.274, 0.351, and 0.232, respectively. This study had important theoretical and practical significance for expanding the perspective of environmental health research, promoting the transformation of soil heavy metal management methods and safeguarding regional population health.

Plant natural product-based pesticides in crop protection: semi-synthesis, mono-crystal structures and agrochemical activities of osthole ester derivatives, and study of their toxicology against Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval).

Owing to large amounts of synthetic pesticides being extensively and unreasonably used for crop protection, currently, resistance and negative impacts on human health and environment safety have appeared. Therefore, development of potential pesticide candidates is highly urgent. Herein, a series of ester derivatives of osthole were designed and synthesized as pesticidal agents. Six spatial configurations of 4'-(p-toluenoyloxy)osthole (4b), 4'-(m-fluorobenzoyloxy)osthole (4f), 4'-(p-fluorophenylacetyloxy)osthole (4m), 4'-(3'',4''-methylenedioxybenzoyloxy)osthole (4q), 4'-formyloxyosthole (4u) and 4'-acetyloxyosthole (4v) were determined by X-ray mono-crystal diffraction. Compounds 4b, 4'-(p-chlorobenzoyloxy)osthole (4g), 4'-(m-chlorobenzoyloxy)osthole (4h), 4'-(p-bromobenzoyloxy)osthole (4i) and 4'-(2''-chloropyridin-3''-ylcarbonyloxy)osthole (4p) showed higher insecticidal activity than toosendanin against Mythimna separata Walker; notably, compound 4b displayed 1.8 times insecticidal activity of the precursor osthole. Against Tetranychus cinnabarinus Boisduval, compounds 4g and 4h showed 3.3 and 2.6 times acaricidal activity of osthole, and good control effects in the glasshouse. Scanning electron microscopy assay demonstrated that compound 4g can damage the cuticle layer of T. cinnabarinus resulting in death. Compounds 4g and 4h can be further studied as lead pesticidal agents for the management of M. separata and T. cinnabarinus. These results will pave the way for application of osthole derivatives as agrochemicals. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Determination of heavy metal concentration in African pike (Hepsetus odoe) from Alape River, Southwestern Nigeria

Aquatic ecosystems in Nigeria face significant environmental challenges because of anthropogenic activities, resulting in heavy metal contamination. Fish body weight and length and heavy metal concentrations in African pike (Hepsetus odoe) from Alape River, Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Southwestern Nigeria, were investigated. Copper (Cu), Cadmium (Cd), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Nickel (Ni), and Lead (Pb) concentrations were measured in the gills, intestines, and trunks of the fish over six months (i.e., from May 2022 to October 2022) using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Buck Scientific’s 210VGP). Significant variations in heavy metal concentrations were observed across different months and organs. The order of concentrations for the six months, from highest to lowest, was Fe (2.26 mg/kg) > Ni (0.37 mg/kg) > Cu (0.23 mg/kg) > Mn (0.27 mg/kg) > Pb (0.05 mg/kg) > Cd (0.01 mg/kg). Higher concentrations were generally observed in the gills and intestines in May and June, whereas elevated levels were observed in the gills in September and October. These concentrations were compared with the maximum permissible limits established by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization for fish consumption, and all measured heavy metal concentrations were determined to be below the permissible limits. Body weight ranged from 172 to 362 g, and length ranged from 15.7 cm to 23.5 cm. The regression coefficient (b) ranged from − 0.134 to 0.204, indicating a relatively weak length–weight relationship. The condition factor (K) exhibited variations in the overall health and well-being of the fish. Based on these findings, the consumption of African pike from the Alape River is currently considered safe for humans, regardless of fish size, with all of the heavy metal concentrations within the permissible limits. However, continuous monitoring is crucial to ensure the ongoing safety of aquatic ecosystems and human health.

Development of highly adaptable RT-PCR methods for identifying Delta and BA.1 variants in inactivated COVID-19 vaccines.

Background The emergence and rapid spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), poses a significant threat to human health and public safety. While next-generation sequencing (NGS) is capable of detecting and tracking new COVID-19 variants for disease diagnosis and prevention, its high cost and time-consuming nature limit its widespread use. In this study, our aim was to develop a highly adaptable and accurate RT-PCR method for identifying the Delta or BA.1 variants in inactivated COVID-19 vaccine. We devised three two-plex RT-PCR methods targeting specific mutation sites: S: Δ156-157, S: N211-, L212I, and S: Δ142-144, Y145D. The RT-PCR method targeting the S: Δ156-157 mutation site was able to distinguish the Delta variant from other COVID-19 virus strains, while the RT-PCR methods targeting the S: N211-, L212I or S: Δ142-144, Y145D mutation sites were able to distinguish the BA.1 variant from other COVID-19 virus strains. We separately validated these three two-plex RT-PCR methods, and the results demonstrated good linearity, repeatability, reproducibility, and specificity for each method. Moreover, all three methods can be applied in the production of SARS-CoV-2 variant inactivated vaccines, enabling the identification of Delta or BA.1 variants in virus cultures as well as in inactivated vaccine stocks. This study presents a systematic approach to identify COVID-19 variants using multiple RT-PCR methods. We successfully developed three two-plex RT-PCR methods that can identify Delta and BA.1 variants based on specific mutation sites, and we completed the validation of these three methods.

Environmental Facility of Food Products as a Factor of Market Positioning

The purpose of the article is to analyze the reactions of consumers to the quality characteristics of food products, in particular related to the level of their environmental friendliness, in order to develop proposals for improving the communication programs of manufacturers of these products in Ukraine. The authors describe the reactions of consumers to the qualitative characteristics of food products based on the results of a sociological study. 1269 people participated in the study, including 539 (42.5%) men and 730 (57.5%) women. The distribution of respondents by age is as follows: from 18 to 20 years old - 68 people or 5.4%; from 21 to 30 years old - 367 people or 28.9%; from 31 to 40 years old - 705 people or 55.5%; over 40 years old – 129 people or 10.2%. The age structure of respondents shows that about 90% of respondents belong to generations Y and Z, according to the well-known American classification. The intensifying competition among food manufacturers in Ukraine requires them to improve their own communication programs and positioning strategies by identifying significant emotional and functional attributes of the specified products. The conducted sociological study of the purchasing behavior of consumers on the food market in Ukraine contributes to the solution of this problem. The authors identified a number of factors influencing the formation of stereotypes of food quality perception. Indicators of environmental friendliness and safety for human health turned out to be the most important attributes in market positioning. The results of the study serve as a methodological basis for improving the communication programs of food manufacturers, contribute to the development of healthy competition among them. The findings of this study can be considered important as a guide for future research.

Membrane-based technologies for removing emerging contaminants in urban water systems: Limitations, successes, and future improvements

Emerging contaminants (ECs) have been continuously discovered in recent years, posing high risks to human health and environmental safety. Due to their characteristics, such as environmental persistence and bioaccumulation, ECs have severe and often hidden hazards, necessitating effective control measures. Membrane-based technologies possess satisfactory feasibility in the treatment of ECs, which are considered green, efficient, and economically beneficial. Membrane technologies such as membrane separation and membrane bioreactor (MBR) treatment can efficiently remove some ECs. With the rapid development of materials science, membrane-based coupled technologies such as catalytic membranes and adsorption membranes have also achieved significant success, offering effective solutions for the treatment of refractory organic contaminants. This article systematically elucidated the effectiveness, progress, and shortcomings of membrane-based technologies in the field of ECs treatment in recent years. The trends of membrane-based technologies in the field of removal of ECs in the past two decades were described in detail, with a bibliometric analysis. The management situation of newly discovered microplastics (MPs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) was also discussed. This review provided reasonable insights into the application of membrane-based technologies in the removal of ECs and offers suggestions for future research directions.

Highly sensitive and specific uranyl ion detection by a fluorescent sensor containing uranyl-specific recognition sites

Uranium pollution has become a serious threat to human health and environmental safety, making the detection of environmental uranium contamination of great importance. The sensitive and specific detection of uranyl ions, which are the dominant form of uranium in the environment, depends on the specific recognition of uranyl ions by chemical groups. In this study, a novel fluorescent sensor containing a highly specific uranyl ion recognition group is synthesized via the reaction of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) and 1,1,2,2-tetra(4-carboxylphenyl)ethylene (TPE-(COOH)4). Owing to the effects of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), the fluorescent sensor, named TPE-EDC, exhibits significant fluorescent properties in aqueous environments. The binding of uranyl ions by specific recognition groups in TPE-EDC leads to a decrease in the ICT effect, thus causing a significant reduction in the emission intensity of TPE-EDC. The attenuation of the fluorescence intensity of TPE-EDC shows an excellent linear relationship with an increase in uranyl ion concentration. TPE-EDC exhibits ultra-sensitive and ultra-selective detection ability for uranyl ions with an ultra-low detection limit of 69 pmol/L and an ultrashort response time of 30 s. These high detection performances render the fluorescent sensor TPE-EDC a promising candidate for early warning of uranium pollution.

Spatiotemporal distribution of lipophilic shellfish toxins in plankton and shellfish in the offshore regions of Shandong province, China

Lipophilic shellfish toxins (LSTs) threaten the ecosystem health and seafood safety. To comprehensively investigate the spatiotemporal distribution of common LSTs in phytoplankton, zooplankton and economic shellfish, three cruises were conducted in five typical offshore aquaculture regions of Shandong province, China, including Haizhou Bay, Jiaozhou Bay, Sanggou Bay, Sishili Bay and Laizhou Bay, in spring (March–April), summer (July–August) and autumn (November–December). This study revealed significant variability in the composition and content of LSTs in phytoplankton samples collected from different regions. Pectenotoxin-2 (PTX2), dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX1) and okadaic acid (OA) were mainly detected in the ranges of not detected (nd)–5045 pmol g-1 dry weight (dw), nd–159 pmol g-1 dw, and nd–154 pmol g-1 dw, respectively. In zooplankton, DTX1 and OA were the predominant components of LSTs, with the highest levels of ∑LSTs in spring ranging from nd to 406 pmol g-1 dw. Spearman's correlation analysis between LSTs and environmental factors indicated significant correlations for the contents of homo-yessotoxin (hYTX), gymnodimine-A (GYM-A), and spirolide-1 (SPX1) with these factors. Totally relatively low levels of LSTs with dominative DTX1 were detected in economic shellfish, which showed a low risk to seafood safety for human health.

Exploring the thermoluminescence characteristics of smartphone screen safety glasses for retrospective dosimetry applications

In clinical settings, standard dosimeters might miss radiation mishaps. Retrospective dosimeters could help to track personnel (such as patients and other staff who don't wear dosimeters) exceeding safe limits and assess long-term exposure trends. This study has investigated key thermoluminescence (TL) dosimetric characteristics, including the glow curve structure, dose-response, energy dependence, sensitivity and fading of various safety glasses that are used as screen protectors of smartphones subjected to photon irradiation. Among the studied glasses, the HD Anti-Peep safety glass for iPhone has been found to exhibit a linear dose-response with a regression coefficient of 99% within the dose range of 2–10 Gy. Moreover, all the safety glasses showed independence with respect to photon energy of 6 MV and 10 MV. The TL glow curves of the samples showed a broad glow peak between 125 °C and 325 °C at 10 Gy. The TL kinetic parameters of the safety glasses were also studied by analyzing the glow curves using the peak shape and initial rise method. The geometric factor (μg) is found to be within the range of 0.43–0.53, which indicates the suitability of applying Chen's general-order formula to calculate the kinetic parameters such as activation energy, frequency factor and trap lifetime. The activation energy (E) and frequency factor (s) are found in the range of 0.31–0.54 eV and 4.55 × 103 to 2.12 × 106 s−1 respectively obtained via the peak shape method. The relatively long trap lifetime and observed thermoluminescence features indicate that the HD Anti-Peep safety glass offers a better option to estimate dose retrospectively to ensure the safety of human health.

Sustainable water sterilization by nano-ZnO using anisotropic polysaccharide columns derived from agro-waste stalk

The escalating demand for clean water and proliferation of microbial contamination in water have challenged ecosystems and human health safety. ZnO NPs are widely used as environmental restoration agents, but their efficacy in water decontamination is hindered by low biological toxicity. In order to enhance its sterilization efficiency, we propose a top-down strategy utilizing the unique maze structure of corn stalk pith (CSP) as a germ trapper for ZnO. The in-situ delignified CSP offers abundant active sites for the adsorption of Zn2+, exhibiting the typical behaviors of monolayer, physisorption, endothermicity, spontaneity, and randomness. This adsorption behavior exerts an influence on microscopic morphology of the composite column, consequently resulting in alterations to antibacterial properties. The results show that the hybrid column fabricated under the Zn2+ initial dosage of 1.00 mol/L at 30 h for 40 °C, possesses such optimal features as stacked grain-shaped ZnO NPs of 669.3 mg/g loading amount with adhesion coefficients of 0.73 ∼ 0.86 for bacterial microparticles. Consequently, the assembled bio-filter can eliminate E. coli and S. aureus as high as 99.7 % and 96.5 % respectively, attributed to CSPP labyrinth structure to enhance pathogen capture from water and facilitate ZnO-mediated inactivation. The collective findings emphasize the viability of agro-waste stalks as bio-filters for water purification.

Design strategies of cementitious metamaterials (CMs) with tunable bandgaps: Density customization and geometric optimization

The propagation of low-frequency elastic waves may exert significant stress on both human health and environmental safety. This study presents a new kind of cementitious metamaterials (CMs) characterized by tunable bandgaps for efficient absorption of low-frequency elastic waves. A dynamic system model is employed to examine and analyze the eigenfrequencies of these CMs. Herein, the porous alkali-activated municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (AAFMs) is modulated with customed density and then combined with rubber for generating CMs. Two distinct strategies are proposed to modulate the bandgap properties of the CMs: density customization and geometric optimization. The AAFMs' density is meticulously regulated by altering the foaming aluminum content, allowing the customization of CMs' bandgaps. Additionally, the CMs' bandgaps can also be tailored through geometric optimization, a process that involves a numerical method focused on examining the impact of varying inclined angles in inner and outer re-entrant structures. A transmission loss model is also developed to validate the bandgap characteristics of these CMs. Overall, the study explores the potential applications of these CMs, with a specific focus on their efficacy in mitigating low-frequency vibrations and attenuating noise. The successful utilization of these materials in such domains holds promising prospects for substantial advancements across diverse industrial sectors.

Review on: Public Perception of Biotechnology on Genetically Modified Crops, Bio Policy and Intellectual Property Rights

Public discussion about genetically modified crops is strongly heavily influenced by debates over their risks and benefits. Supporters of biotechnology point to its potential to reduce hunger, prevent malnutrition, treat diseases, and improve overall health and quality of life. However, there is considerable opposition to biotechnology. Some critics argue that it poses risks to human health and the environment, while others oppose it on moral and ethical grounds. The transfer of genes between different species is often criticized as "playing God" or breaking the "Law of Nature." Biosafety on (GM) crops is a rapidly growing field that includes scientific research, ethical issues, and policy and regulatory frameworks to assess and manage risks to human and animal health, including food and feed safety, as well as environmental risks related to modern biotechnology products. Bio-policy refers to the rules, norms, and ethical considerations that govern the development, production, and use of biotechnology products. These policies differ by country and can be influenced by international agreements and organizations. A key international agreement (TRIPS) Agreement, which sets global standards for intellectual property protection. The Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement requires governments to issue patents in technological sectors, including modern biotechnology, to protect innovations in this field. This ensures that biotechnological advancements, including GM crops, are protected under intellectual property laws, aiding their development and commercialization while addressing ethical and safety concerns.

Quick methylene blue dye elimination via SDS-Ag nanoparticles catalysts

Methylene blue dye, being toxic, carcinogenic and non-biodegradable, poses a serious threat for human health and environmental safety. The effective and time-saving removal of such industrial dye necessitates the use of innovative technologies such as silver nanoparticle-based catalysis. Utilizing a pulsed Nd:YAG laser operating at the second harmonic generation of 532 nm with 2.6 J energy per pulse and 10 ns pulse duration, Ag nanoparticles were synthesized via an eco-friendly method with sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) as a capping agent. Different exposure times (15, 30, and 45 min) resulted in varying nanoparticle sizes. Characterization was achieved through UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging, and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). Lorentzian fitting was used to model nanoparticle size, aligning well with SEM results. Mie’s theory was applied to evaluate the absorption, scattering, and extinction cross-sectional area spectra. EDX revealed increasing Ag and carbon content with exposure time. The SDS-caped AgNPs nanoparticles were tested as catalyst for methylene blue degradation, achieving up to 92.5% removal in just 12 min with a rate constant of 0.2626 min−1, suggesting efficient and time-saving catalyst compared to previously reported Ag-based nanocatalysts.

Nitrogen-doped carbon dots as efficient turn-on fluorescent probe for assay of organophosphorus pesticides

Concerns regarding human health and food safety have generated interest in developing simple, accurate, and cost-effective strategies for evaluating organophosphorus pesticide (OP) residues. In this study, nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) were synthesized from a common low-cost precursor via a simple pyrolysis process. The fluorescence of the N-CDs can be suppressed by p-nitrophenol, which is the hydrolysis product of the p-nitrophenyl phosphate salt catalyzed by alkaline phosphatase (ALP). A fluorescent turn-on assay for the inhibitory effect of glyphosate was developed with a low detection limit and wide linear range. Moreover, the feasibility of visualizing OPs in vegetables was demonstrated by the fluorescence imaging of glyphosate on cabbage leaves. This research not only offers a facile method for the synthesis of highly fluorescent CDs but also inspires the development of effective multi-mode sensing platforms that include fluorescent testing and imaging for monitoring pesticide residues.

Epidemiological characteristics and strategies for prevention and elimination of malaria in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China from 1949 to 2021.

Malaria is an insect-borne disease transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes or the importation of Plasmodium-infected blood, posing a serious threat to human health and life safety. This study aims to analyze the incidence of malaria in Qingdao at various stages from 1949 to 2021, to collate the control measures taken at different epidemic stages to assess the effectiveness of malaria control, and to identify a set of malaria control strategies suitable for Qingdao, while providing Chinese experience for other countries or cities in their malaria elimination efforts. A retrospective survey was used to collect information on malaria cases, control measures and prevention and control effects in Qingdao from 1949 to 2021, and to evaluate malaria control strategies and measures in Qingdao. 704 155 cases have been reported from 1949 to 2021, with three epidemic peaks: the incidence rate was 1715.9/100 000 in 1961, 1409.7/100 000 in 1965, and the most severe case occurred in 1972, with an incidence rate of 1635.6/100 000 and a case count exceeding 90 000. Throughout the various stages of malaria epidemics, Qingdao has effectively eliminated indigenous malaria by implementing diverse preventive and control measures. Since the last indigenous case of Plasmodium vivax was reported in 2002, all locally reported cases have been imported, mainly by returning migrant workers from Africa. This study examines a range of malaria prevention and control strategies and interventions that are appropriate for Qingdao. These measures have enabled Qingdao to successfully eliminate malaria and maintain malaria-free status for more than 20 years. These measures can also serve as a reference for similarly situated cities in Africa and Southeast Asia.

Natural and polyanionic heparin polysaccharide functionalized upconversion nanoparticles for highly sensitive and selective ratiometric detection of pesticide

Pesticide contamination is a global concern, threatening human health and food safety. Herein, we developed heparin (HEP) functionalized upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs)-based ratiometric nanosensor for the sensitive detection of 2,6-dichloro-4-nitroaniline (DCN) pesticide via inner filter effect. The strategy for HEP functionalization of UCNPs is based on adjusting the surface potentials of UCNPs with polyanionic HEP through the electrostatic interaction. UCNPs (NaYbF4:Gd/Y/Tm@NaYbF4@NaYF4) was designed with core-shell-shell structure and extra sensitizer layer for efficient and strong upconversion luminescence (UCL) in the range of UV to NIR. After incorporation of DCN, the upconverted UV emission of UCNPs-HEP ratiometric nanosensor was considerably quenched with the NIR UCL at 800 nm remaining unchanged as internal standard. The UCNPs-HEP ratiometric nanosensor can achieve outstandingly selective and sensitive detection of DCN at the wide linear range of 5–300 μM with a detection limit of 0.41 μM. The remarkable applicability of the UCNPs-HEP ratiometric nanosensor was verified in apple, cucumber and grapes samples. The developed UCNPs-HEP ratiometric nanosensor with excellent biocompatibility and water dispersion capability, is promising for convenient, selective and sensitive sensing of DCN towards food and aqueous samples.

Phenanthroimidazole-based fluorescence probe for discriminative detecting of hydrazine and bisulfite and its applications in environmental samples

Hydrazine (N2H4) and bisulfite (HSO3–) detection methods are urgently needed due to its harmful to the human health and environment safety. Herein, we reported a dual-response fluorescence probe EPC, which is capable of sequential detection of N2H4 and HSO3– by two different fluorescence signals. The probe EPC itself showed yellow florescence. In presence of N2H4, probe EPC exhibited an obviously fluorescence change (from yellow to green). However, a new addition product came into being after probe EPC mixed with HSO3–, followed with weak yellow emission. More important, probe EPC exhibited excellent fluorescence response properties for N2H4 and HSO3–, such as high sensitivity (0.182 µM for N2H4, 0.093 µM for HSO3–), rapid response (55 s for N2H4, 45 s for HSO3–), excellent selectivity and anti-interference performance. The sensing mechanisms for N2H4 and HSO3– were proved by 1H NMR and MS spectra. Practical applications were studied. EPC based test paper can be utilized for quantitative detecting N2H4 in actual water samples. And, probe EPC has been successfully applied to recognize N2H4 contaminant in soil samples. Moreover, EPC has great potential to be used to detect HSO3– in real food samples.

Research Progress on Detection of New Psychoactive Substance Piperazines in vivo.

Piperazines are a class of new psychoactive substances with hallucinogenic effects that affect the central nervous system by affecting the level of monoamine neurotransmitters. Abuse of piperazines will produce stimulating and hallucinogenic effects, accompanied by headache, dizziness, anxiety, insomnia, vomiting, chest pain, tachycardia, hypertension and other adverse reactions, and may even cause cardiovascular diseases and multiple organ failure and lead to death, seriously affecting human physical and mental health and public safety. The abuse of new psychoactive substance piperazines has attracted extensive attention from the international community. The study of its pharmacological toxicology and analytical methods has become a research hotspot in the field of forensic medicine. This paper reviews the in vivo processes, sample treatment and analytical methods of existing piperazines, in order to provide reference for forensic identification.

Evaluating the MDCK cell permeability of greenly synthesize bimetallic Ag/Zn Nanoparticles using leaf extract of Vallaris solanacea as a potential antipesticide-resistant agent.

Bimetallic nanoparticles, particularly Ag/Zn bimetallic nanoparticles, have gained increasing attention due to their unique properties, making them suitable for a variety of applications such as catalysis, water treatment, and environmental remediation. This study aimed to elucidate the use of bimetallic nanoparticles of Ag/Zn as an alternative to resistant pesticides for pest control. Furthermore, this research demonstrates that BNPs can target specific pollutants and degrade them through various mechanisms. BNP docking with the Nilaparvata lugens cytochrome P450 (CYP6ER1) protein exhibited the lowest binding energy of-7.5 kcal/mol. The cell permeability analysis of BNP in plant cells reveals that the BNP has 0 % permeability towards any cell at-10 kcal/mol energy, which is the lowest free energy translocation pathway. The harmful leftover residues of the pesticides have a higher chance of degradability in case of interaction with BNP validated by chemical-chemical interaction analysis. Additionally, MDCK permeability coefficient of small molecules based on the regression model was calculated for BNP which authenticated the efficiency of BNP. Moreover, Swiss ADMET simulated absorption using a boiled egg model with no blood-brain barrier and gastrointestinal crossing for the expected BNP molecule has been observed. Significantly, the findings indicate that employing bimetallic nanoparticles like Ag/Zn is a crucial strategy for bioremediation because they proficiently decompose pesticides while posing no risk to humans. Our results will facilitate the design of novel BNPs materials for environmental remediation and pest control ensuring human health safety that are predicated on bimetallic nanoparticles.