Amide heterocyclic disinfection byproducts with overlooked disinfectant capacity during chlorination.

Exposure-driven adaptation of Listeria monocytogenes to disinfectants yields distinct resistance phenotypes depending on the strain.

Achieving durable adhesion of composite-resins to dentin remains a key challenge in restorative dentistry, highlighting the need for biomodification strategies. Therefore, this umbrella review aims to systematically overview dentin biomodifiers and evaluate their influence on the durability of composite-resin restorations. Literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to October 2024, focusing on three concepts: dentin, biomodification, and bond strength (PROSPERO: CRD42024588804). The corrected covered area (CCA) was calculated to evaluate overlap among the included systematic reviews (SRs). Among 486 identified papers, 9 SRs were selected including 7 meta-analyses. Twenty biomodification agents were identified and classified into natural, physical and chemical agents. These agents were assessed in 51 different setups with micro-tensile bond strength used in 68.62% of them. Timing of bond strength assessments varied from immediate to a 36-months period. As natural agents, Grape Seed Extract and chitosan improved bond strength after long-term aging, while induced riboflavin improved the short and medium-term periods only. Among all categories, the most studied biomodifier was Non-Thermal Atmospheric Plasma, a physical agent, which consistently enhanced resin-dentin bonding over time. However, chemical approaches did not show promising bond strength results at some exceptions. Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and hypochlorous acid both immediately decreased bond strength. Overlap among reviews was slight (CCA = 1.52 %). Various biomodifiers show promise for enhancing adhesion and durability of composite-resin restorations, with their combinations potentially offering synergistic effects. Systematically identifying and characterizing dentin biomodifiers within their limitations lays the groundwork for evidence-based frameworks that guide dentists and shape future research. At present, physical scrubbing and air abrasion are the only readily available dentin biomodification techniques. Riboflavin and chitosan show promise as effective natural and affordable agents; however, their clinical use needs regulatory approval. In contrast, NaOCl should be avoided as it compromises composite restoration's durability.

Mouthrinses differentially rewire salivary virus-microbiome interaction dynamics in COVID-19 patients: A randomized controlled trial.

Oxidation of phosphonates to orthophosphate by in situ electrochemical generation of H2O2 and free chlorine: Mechanistic insights and environmental implications

To evaluate the cleaning efficacy and biological effects of ultrasonic (US)-activated sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) for root surface decontamination and decellularisation in delayed tooth replantation. Cementum discs prepared from extracted healthy single-rooted teeth were treated with varying NaOCl concentrations (1%-5.25%), with or without US activation. Necrotic periodontal ligament (PDL) tissue clearance, cementum integrity and elemental composition were inspected by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Biocompatibility of the treated cementum discs with human periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) and rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells was assessed, alongside osteogenic differentiation, inflammatory cytokine expression, collagen type I (COL-I) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)/osteoprotegerin (OPG) signalling. A Sprague-Dawley rat maxillary incisor delayed replantation model was established to assess invivo healing outcomes of US-activated NaOCl, evaluated by micro-computed tomography, haematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson's trichrome staining and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) histochemistry. Increasing NaOCl concentration accelerated removal of necrotic PDL. US activation significantly shortened NaOCl treatment time (p < 0.05) and allowed effective necrotic PDL removal at 1% NaOCl without damaging cementum. Treated cementum surfaces showed higher calcium/phosphorus and lower carbon/nitrogen contents (p < 0.01). US-assisted 1% NaOCl enhanced cell adhesion, osteogenic differentiation and COL-I expression while reducing interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor-α and the RANKL/OPG ratio. Invivo, NaOCl combined with US activation significantly reduced root resorption volume (p < 0.05), preserved periodontal architecture, and decreased TRAP-positive osteoclast counts compared with saline or untreated controls. US-activated 1% NaOCl achieves rapid, selective removal of necrotic periodontal tissue while preserving cementum and producing a decellularised surface. This strategy attenuates inflammatory responses, suppresses osteoclastogenesis, mitigates inflammatory root resorption and may extend the therapeutic window for delayed tooth replantation.

Sustainable hierarchical carbon architectures from bamboo for enhanced electromagnetic wave dissipation.

A three-dimensional, bioartificial human skin equivalent as an innovative technology for studying the decontamination of the nerve agent VX.

Targeted water treatment and hygiene (WASH) programs for those residing near diarrhoea patients can be a cost-effective approach during outbreaks to reduce diarrhoea spread by targeting those at highest risk. We designed the WASHmobile mobile health (mHealth) program for high risk populations for diarrhoea. In our previous randomised controlled trials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (PICHA7) and Bangladesh (CHoBI7), WASHmobile delivery to diarrhoea patient households through a healthcare facility visit and mobile messages from a doctor significantly reduced diarrhoea, cholera, and improved child growth. Building on this, we adapted WASHmobile for large scale implementation through a mHealth and e-voucher program for diarrhoea outbreak areas. A pilot program evaluation of this approach was conducted in DRC health areas with ongoing diarrhoea outbreaks among 2022 participants. Voice and SMS messages from a doctor were sent to those within 500 m of diarrhoea patients stating there was a diarrhoea outbreak nearby and emphasising the importance of treating and safely storing household drinking water and handwashing with soap for the next 7-day high-risk period. The SMS messages contained an e-voucher to redeem for free chlorine tablets at a pharmacy or shop. Unannounced spot checks assessed WASH behaviours 7 days after program initiation. Fifty-seven percent of WASHmobile households redeemed e-vouchers. Compared to control, WASHmobile households redeeming e-vouchers had higher stored drinking water with free chlorine concentrations > 0.2 mg/L (Odds Ratio: 6.93, [95% Confidence Interval: 1.76, 27.24]) (64% [WASHmobile] vs. 20% [control]), higher stored drinking water completely covered (4.55 [2.68, 7.70]) (73% vs. 38%), and higher presence of a cleansing agent within 10 steps of latrine and cooking areas (latrine: 3.64 [1.47, 9.02] [70% vs. 39%] and cooking: 2.50 [1.31, 4.77] [70% vs. 49%]). The WASHmobile PICHA7 mHealth and e-voucher program significantly increased water treatment, safe water storage and hygiene behaviours in diarrhoea outbreak areas in DRC.

Potential effectiveness of ultrasonication (US) with different chemical solutions on the decontamination of titanium implant healing abutments (HAs) and their surface characteristics was investigated. Ninety-five HAs, representing two distinct brands/designs, were retrieved from patients after 4-6 weeks for the present study. They were precleaned by immersing in enzymatic detergent (ED) and randomized into five groups: autoclaving only (control), US in 40°C tap water and autoclaving, US in 40°C 1% sodium hypochlorite (SH) and autoclaving, US in 80°C citric + maleic + lactic acid (CA) solution and autoclaving, US in 40°C ED and autoclaving. HAs were stained and photographed from lateral and occlusal aspects before and after decontamination. Stained areas were calculated and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analyses were conducted to assess surface morphology and elemental composition. Control group showed the lowest debridement potential (mean 54.4%) and highest residual contamination. SH almost entirely removed the debris (mean 99.7%, Brand1: 99.6%, Brand2: 99.9%) showing an outperforming cleansing efficacy among all groups (p < 0.05). SEM and EDS analyses demonstrated that surface morphology and elemental composition of decontaminated surfaces in SH group was similar to that of unused HAs. After precleaning HAs by soaking in ED, 1% SH, used in combination with US, can be preferred for decontaminating HAs due to its superior cleaning efficiency and minimal surface alteration regardless of HA macrogeometry. In cases where placing unused HAs is not feasible, this three-step protocol may present an efficient and cost-effective alternative for at least one reuse cycle.

Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) is a major nut crop worldwide with increasing economic relevance in Spanish agro-industrial systems (Tous, 2005). A survey conducted in October 2024 in approximately 20 ha in Tarragona area revealed an incidence of 30% of trunk diseases (TDs). Plants belonging to the cultivars Daria, Negret, Pauetet, San Giovanni, Tombul, Tonda Giffoni showed branch dieback with internal discolored wedge-shaped cankers, reddish conidia masses and, in the severe cases, broken branches and plant death. In Spain, this symptomatology, known as “solcuit”, was associated with the fungal species Cytospora corylicola. Twenty symptomatic samples were sterilized in 1% sodium hypochlorite, rinsed twice in sterile distilled water, plated on PDA amended with streptomycin sulfate (PDA-S) and incubated at 25 °C for five days. Pure cultures obtained by hyphal-tip transfer were classified as Botryosphaeriaceae-like (20% isolation rate) and Diatrypaceae-like (75%), according to colony morphology (Zhang et al., 2021; Stoykov &amp; Alvarado, 2023). Both morphotypes were recovered from all symptomatic samples. Twenty-six Diatrypaceae-like (CVG2522–CVG2547) and 12 Botryosphaeriaceae-like (CVG2566–CVG2577) isolates were morphologically and molecularly characterized. Diatrypaceae-like colonies showed cottony, multiseptated, white to cream–white hyphae, producing hyaline, lunate and unicellular conidia measuring 6.1 ± 0.7 × 1.5 ± 0.3 µm (mean ± SD). Botryosphaeriaceae-like strains showed fast growing white–black mycelium, globose pycnidia containing aseptate, hyaline, ellipsoidal and unicellular conidia (12.4 ± 0.7 × 4.5 ± 0.3 µm). These morphological characteristics were consistent with the species Anthostoma decipiens and the genus Neofusicoccum, respectively (Zhang et al., 2021; Stoykov &amp; Alvarado, 2023). The sequencing of ITS region (PX482467–PX482492) for Diatrypaceae-like strains and of ITS (PX482544–PX482555), tef1 (PX560460-PX560471) and tub2 (PX560448-PX560459) for Botryosphaeriaceae-like strains was performed (Linaldeddu et al., 2016; Martino et al., 2024). ITS sequences of Diatrypaceae-like strains showed 100% identity with the strains IPV-FW349 of A. decipiens (DC.) Sacc. The sequences of Botryosphaeriaceae-like strains exhibited 100% identity for ITS, 99% for tef1 and tub2 with the ex-type strains CMW9081 of N. parvum (Pennycook &amp; Samuels) Crous, Slippers &amp; A.J.L. Phillips. Pathogenicity of two strains of A. decipiens (CVG2526, CVG2531) and two of N. parvum (CVG2574, CVG2576) was confirmed on 2-year-old potted plants of C. avellana cv. Pauetet. Ten plants for each strain were wounded with scalpel, inoculated with mycelial plugs (5 mm diameter) from 7-day-old cultures and kept in greenhouse. PDA-S plugs were used as control. After 4 months, the inoculated plants showed the symptoms observed in field while control plants remained healthy. Colonies of A. decipiens and N. parvum were reisolated and identified with ITS and tef1, respectively. A. decipiens was reported in Italy causing hazelnut TDs (Martino et al., 2024), while N. parvum was found causing dieback in Chile and fruit rot in Italy (Waqas et al., 2022; Lolas et al., 2024). To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. decipiens and N. parvum causing hazelnut TDs in Spain where represent a serious threat to hazelnut production.

Ormosia hosiei Hemsl. &amp; E. H. Wilson, one of the Chinese endemic legume trees, possesses significant economic, medicinal, and ornamental values (Dai et al. 2023). In September 2025, leaf blight symptoms were observed on O. hosiei seedlings in a forest nursery located in Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, China (26.38°N, 107.37°E), with a disease incidence of approximately 47% (n = 300). Initially, brown discoloration and drying appeared on the leaf tips. The symptomatic tissue continued to expand basipetally. Twelve leaves with drying symptoms were collected for pathogen isolation. Symptomatic leaf tissues (5 × 5 mm) were excised from infected margins, surface sterilized sequentially with 1% sodium hypochlorite (30 s) and 75% ethanol (60 s), rinsed three times in sterile water, air-dried, and plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. Cultures were incubated at 25°C under dark conditions for 3 d. Sixteen isolates showed similar morphology on PDA with dense light brown mycelia. The conidia were brown and contained 2-septate rod spindle (longitudinal septate connection between two transverse septates), averaging 25.1 × 8.2 μm (n = 30) and the crossed septum was ovoid, averaging 17.6 × 19.3 μm (n = 30). These morphological characteristics were consistent with Alternaria sp. (Woudenberg et al. 2013). For molecular identification, genomic DNA from a representative isolate YK1-24 was used to amplify and further sequence three loci: the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region using primers ITS1 and ITS4 (White et al. 1990), the Alternaria major allergen gene (Alt a 1) using primers Alt-for and Alt-rev (Woudenberg et al. 2015), and the large subunit (LSU) using primers LROR and LR5 (Vilgalys and Hester 1990). BLASTn analysis revealed that the ITS, Alt a 1 and LSU sequences of isolate YK1-24 had 100% (548/548), 100% (479/479), and 100% (852/852) sequence identity to the ex-type strain A. gossypina (PX048794, PP057865, OR272091), respectively. Sequences from isolates YK1-24 were deposited in GenBank (ITS: PX670549, Alt a 1: PX677460, LSU: PX670541). Phylogenetic analysis based on the concatenated sequences (ITS, Alt a 1, and LSU) revealed that the isolate YK1-24 clustered with A. gossypina strains. A pathogenicity test was conducted by spraying a conidial suspension (105 conidia/mL) onto the leaves of 5 pots of healthy 1-year-old O. hosiei seedlings. Five seedlings sprayed with distilled water served as the negative control. Plants were maintained in a greenhouse at 25°C with 85% humidity and 12 h photoperiod. By 20 days post-inoculation, all inoculated leaves exhibited symptoms consistent with those observed in the field, except controls. The pathogen was reisolated and confirmed as the inoculated fungus based on morphology. A. gossypina has been reported to cause leaf blight in tobacco and Castilleja tenuiflora (Guo et al. 2024; Solano-Báez et al. 2024). To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. gossypina causing O. hosiei leaf blight in China. These results support future phytosanitary monitoring and sustainable disease management strategies for this leaf blight.

Nitrates and nitrites are inorganic anions which, beyond specific concentration threshold, are classified as water pollutants. Nitrate compounds are commonly used as fertilizers; however, their high concentration in soil and in wastewater, as well as their reduction to nitrites, pose serious environmental and human health risks. Therefore, detecting these ions in water intended for human consumption, zootechnical use, and agricultural applications is essential. This work presents a proof of concept for a spectroscopic prototype setup enabling simple, direct, and simultaneous detection of nitrates and nitrites in water. The device employs solid-state sensor technology and requires no sample pretreatment or chemicals. Ultimately, this apparatus will allow real-time, in-line process analysis. UV absorption bands centered at approximately 302 nm and 355 nm were selected for detecting nitrates and nitrites, respectively. Because nitrite exhibits a slight absorption at 302 nm as well, a straightforward method for simultaneous nitrate and nitrite detection is proposed. The proposed system incorporates a UV deuterium lamp, a 10 cm path length optical cuvette, and a custom home-built silicon carbide detector. This configuration enables testing various concentrations, achieving detection limits of 2.2 mg/L for nitrates and 0.5 mg/L for nitrites. Potential interferences from substances commonly found in drinking and treated agricultural wastewaters, including sodium bicarbonate, sodium sulfate, ammonium chloride, hydrogen peroxide, and sodium hypochlorite, were also investigated. Finally, a compact on-site and online monitoring future device is illustrated.

Influence of Sodium Hypochlorite Heating Method, Activation Technique, and Concentration on Organic Tissue Removal in Simulated Internal Resorption Cavities.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of time and different disinfecting agents on nanocomposite filler composed of natural clay nanoparticles (modified and non-modified) added to maxillofacial silicone elastomers and readymade pigment additives. A total of 360 disk-shaped samples were divided into nine pigment-based groups, each with four subgroups (n = 10) exposed to different disinfectants: distilled water, 1% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 2% chlorhexidine (CHX), and effervescent tablets. Color changes (ΔE) were measured before and after disinfection using a colorimeter. The ΔE values were assessed against perceptibility (ΔE = 1.1) and acceptability (ΔE = 3) thresholds. Nanoclay additives were also characterized using FTIR, XRD and EDX. Statistical analysis, including ANOVA and post hoc HSD tests, revealed that while all samples exhibited some color change, most remained below the acceptability threshold. Colorless silicone showed minimal, non-significant change according to perceptibility threshold (ΔE = 1.1). Blue pigments displayed significant change only with effervescent tablets. Red and mixed pigments showed perceptible changes with NaOCl, CHX, and effervescent tablets. However, nanoclay-containing specimens showed no significant perceptible alterations. Overall, despite minor perceptible changes in some pigments, all disinfecting agents tested resulted in color differences below the acceptability threshold, indicating their safe use for disinfecting maxillofacial silicone materials without compromising esthetics. Nevertheless, nanoclays are more reliable agents for the pigmentation of maxillofacial silicone as they show non-significant chromatic alteration.

The growing demand for strategically important metals, coupled with the depletion of high-quality ores, has highlighted the potential of man-made waste as a secondary source of vanadium and molybdenum. This study investigates the alkaline leaching of technogenic vanadium-containing waste (filter cake) using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) as an oxidiser. Chemical and X-ray fluorescence analyses confirmed significant contents of vanadium (3.44%), molybdenum (0.75%), and other valuable metals, indicating the feasibility of complex metal recovery. An experimental design based on the response surface methodology (RSM) and a central composite plan was employed to evaluate the effects of leaching time, reagent concentration, pH, and temperature on metal extraction. Quadratic regression models were constructed and validated using analysis of variance (ANOVA), demonstrating high adequacy (vanadium: F = 9.55, p &lt; 0.001; molybdenum: F = 9.84, p &lt; 0.01). Under optimal conditions, extraction efficiencies were 88–89% for vanadium and 80–82% for molybdenum, increasing to 89–93% and 82–83%, respectively, with the addition of NaOCl. X-ray phase analysis revealed the formation of stable aluminium and nickel oxide phases, which partially limited extraction and explained deviations from predicted values. The results demonstrate that combining alkaline leaching with an oxidiser and statistical modelling enables effective optimisation of multicomponent waste processing, enhancing metal recovery and reducing environmental impacts, thereby providing a basis for resource-efficient, environmentally friendly metallurgical technologies in Kazakhstan.

Unveiling the significant role of N-monochlorinated primary amines in nitrile and nitroalkane formation in the UV/chlorine process.

Label-free confocal Raman microscopy (CRM) is characterized by its high chemical specificity, making it a promising tool for the in situ quantitative analysis of plant cell walls. However, the simultaneous quantification of components in Gramineous species remains challenging. This is due to the complex "lignin-ferulate-carbohydrate" cross-linked network, as well as the amorphous property of hemicellulose, specifically its weak Raman signal and severe spectral overlap with cellulose. To address these issues, this study developed a quantitative strategy that combines CRM with cosine similarity (CRM-CS). We acquired CRM mapping images of rice stems pretreated with acidified sodium chlorite (ASC) for varying durations. The CS values between the preprocessed cell wall spectra and reference spectra (milled wood lignin, microcrystalline cellulose, and xylan) were then calculated and used as quantitative indicators. The results showed that CS values allow for accurate profiling, exhibiting significant positive correlations with the contents of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose. These correlations follow piecewise linear relationships with high determination coefficients (R2) of 0.9728 and 0.9809 for lignin, 0.9592 and 0.9810 for cellulose, and 0.9004 and 0.9901 for hemicellulose. The CS-based method consistently outperforms the conventional characteristic peak intensity approach. In particular, it resolves the difficulty of accurately quantifying hemicellulose, a task where single-band methods typically underperform (R2 < 0.65). Furthermore, the method successfully achieved pixel-scale in situ simultaneous quantification of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose contents in rice stem cell walls during ASC pretreatment. Thus, the CRM-CS algorithm enables simultaneous in situ quantification in Gramineous cell walls, offering a valuable approach for crop breeding and the high-value utilization of lignocellulosic biomass.

Hospital wastewater (HWW) carries a high and variable burden of pathogenic microorganisms, along with a diverse spectrum of emerging contaminants, such as pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinants, posing significant challenges to conventional municipal treatment systems. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified the global use of disinfection technologies for infection control, inadvertently leading to the generation and release of novel classes of disinfection by-products (DBPs) and transformation products (TPs). These emerging by-products, alongside the persistent release of pharmaceuticals and AMR elements, have exposed critical limitations in conventional and advanced disinfection processes when applied to such complex matrices. This review synthesizes recent literature on disinfection-oriented advanced treatment strategies and other contaminants of emerging concern in hospital effluents worldwide. The discussed technologies include chlorine-based disinfection (e.g., free chlorine and chlorine dioxide), ozonation, ultraviolet irradiation (UV), electrochemical disinfection (ECD), nanomaterial-enabled disinfection, and combined multi-barrier schemes. While real-time monitoring of key compounds in HWW is increasingly feasible, critical bottlenecks remain: culture-based indicators may underestimate viable but non-culturable populations, molecular assays quantify genes without directly reflecting infectivity or transfer potential, and complex matrices hinder methodological harmonization. Future efforts should prioritize risk-based multi-barrier design, activity-informed monitoring, and intelligent process control to achieve robust co-mitigation of pathogens, PhACs, and AMR while minimizing disinfection by-products (DBPs) and life-cycle energy consumption.

Abstract Johnsongrass [ Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.] is a highly invasive, persistent, and problematic perennial weed in Australian cropping systems; however, its germination ecology has largely been inferred from studies conducted outside eastern Australia, where environmental conditions differ markedly. This limits accurate prediction of emergence timing and optimization of management strategies. The objectives of this study were to characterize seed dormancy mechanisms and to quantify the germination and emergence response of two populations of S. halepense from central Queensland to temperature, light, salinity, osmotic stress, and burial depth under controlled conditions. Seeds from both populations exhibited strong primary dormancy, which was partially alleviated by sodium hypochlorite immersion and more effectively by mechanical scarification using sandpaper, indicating that seed coat-related dormancy is the principal barrier to germination. Temperature significantly influenced germination, with no germination at 15/5 C and high germination (&gt; 90%) at 25/15 C to 35/25 C under both light/dark and dark conditions, demonstrating that warm temperatures largely override light requirements. Germination declined steadily with increasing sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations, and the NaCl concentration required to reduce maximum germination by 50% was approximately 173 mM. Moderate water stress −0.2 to −0.4 MPa had less germination in comparison to the control, while −0.8 MPa greatly inhibited germination (11%). Emergence was highest from shallow burial depths of 1 to 4 cm and declined sharply beyond 8 cm. These results demonstrate that S. halepense recruitment occurs in a range of environmental conditions; however, environmental stresses or deep soil burial may help manage this weed. This study provides regionally relevant information to enhance emergence prediction and inform integrated weed management strategies in eastern Australian cropping systems.