Watch List Research Articles

Evaluation, comparison and combination of molecularly imprinted polymer solid phase extraction and classical solid phase extraction for the preconcentration of endocrine disrupting chemicals from representative whole water samples

Estrogens are endocrine disrupting chemicals and of high concerns due to demonstrated harmful effects on the environment and low effect levels. For monitoring and risk assessment, several estrogens were included in the "watch list" of the EU Water Framework Directive which sets very low environmental quality standard (EQS) levels for Estrone (E1) and 17β-Estradiol (E2) of 0.4 ng L−1 and for 17α-Ethinylestradiol (EE2) of 0.035 ng L−1 requiring sensitive detection methods, as well as extensive sample preparation. A sensitive, derivatization-free, isotope dilution calibration HPLC-MS/MS method for a panel of 5 selected estrogens (including the 3 estrogens of the EU WFD watchlist), and a procedure for the reproducible preparation of a representative whole water matrix including mineral water, humic acids and solid particulate matter are presented. These are used in a diligent comparison of classical solid phase extraction (SPE) on hydrophilic-lipophilic balanced (HLB) phase to SPE on an estrogen-specific molecularly imprinted polymer phase (MISPE) for ultra-trace levels of the analytes (1–10 ng L−1). Additionally, a two-step procedure combining HLB SPE disks followed by MISPE is evaluated. The tow-step procedure provides superior enrichment, matrix removal and sample throughput while maintaining comparable recovery rates to simple cartridge SPE. Estimated method quantification limits (MQLs) range from 0.109–0.184 ng L−1 and thus meet EQS-levels for E1 and E2, but not EE2. The representative whole water matrix provides a reproducible comparison of sample preparation methods and lays the foundation for a certified reference material for estrogen analysis. The presented method will serve as the basis for an extended validation study to assess its use for estrogen monitoring in the environment.

Fan Tokens as A Financial Source and Digital Marketing Tool in Football: An Analysis with The Entropy-Based Waspas Method

Considering that the revenues of the five most important leagues in Europe reached 15.6 billion euros in the 2020-2021 season (Deloitte, 2022), it is clear that the competition in football, whose global economic weight is gradually increasing, is no longer just limited to the sporting field but has expanded to include financial and marketing efforts. The concept of "token" is taken as a tool that can display fan-oriented experiential and financial efforts combined in the context of current developments, which will be seen as the reflection of the digitization process on football. This study analyzes the activities of 'fan tokens' belonging to thirty-six different football clubs listed on the coinmarketcap.com crypto asset instant information platform, in terms of market value, 90-day return, change from the highest value (1 Year), number of exchanges traded and watchlist. (watch list)”, it aims to analyze by using Entropy in the determination of criterion weights and WASPAS methods in the multi-criteria decision-making process. The global reach of the football economy and the extent of the audience it appeals to reveal the necessity of studies to be carried out in the relevant field. Therefore, as a result of this study, which was prepared with the aim of contributing to the literature for current practices, the fan token with the highest efficiency value belongs to the 'Paris Saint-Germain' club, and the related club is followed by the 'Lazio' and 'Santos' clubs; it has been determined that the club with the lowest efficiency value is 'Bayer 04 Leverkusen'.

Multicomponent Educational-Rehabilitation Approach in Rehabilitation of Patients After Stroke.

Rehabilitation must be based on the individual needs and specific goals of the person and must be adapted to his abilities. According to the recommendation of the World Stroke Organization, the team involved in conducting rehabilitation should be multidisciplinary. One of the treatments that are applied within the multidisciplinary approach to a neurological patient is educational-rehabilitation treatment, which is multicomponent in nature. Before starting educational-rehabilitation treatment, an educational-rehabilitation clinical assessment is necessary, which aims to detect difficulties caused by impairment; identify potentials and constraints in these areas; determine the specifics, course, and forecasts of difficulties; formulate clear treatment recommendations; form a watch list that will be available to all team members in the process of diagnosis, treatment, education, and to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment; and continuously monitor the ability and adaptive behavior of the person. Educational-rehabilitation clinical treatment includes treatment of cognitive abilities, treatment of motor skills, relaxation, treatment of adaptive skills, as well as informing the person about the disease and counseling. This review focuses on some aspects of rehabilitation such as treatment of cognitive and motor disorders, treatment of adaptive skills, relaxation issues, and informing and counseling patients from the perspective of an educational rehabilitator with practical experiences in this area of rehabilitation.

Occurrence of organic pollutants in the River Itchen and River Test—two chalk streams in Southern England, UK

The River Itchen and River Test, two chalk streams in Southern England, are sites of special scientific interest. These ecosystems face a number of environmental pressures from anthropogenic inputs of organic pollutants. Hence, we investigated the occurrence of these chemicals within the two catchments. Spot water samples (1 L) were collected at nineteen sites along the catchment on two occasions (March and June 2019). Samples were extracted (HLB-L sorbent disks) and analysed using high-resolution liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Compounds were identified against commercially available databases. Using this approach, we found 115 pharmaceutical and personal care products, 81 plant protection products and 35 industrial chemicals. This complex mixture of pollutants covered a range of physico-chemical properties and included priority substances in the EU Water Framework Directive or currently on the third Watch List. Both rivers had similar chemical profiles for both months. Herbicides and fungicides were dominant in the spring, whereas insecticides occurred more frequently in the summer. Point discharges from wastewater treatment plants were the main source of pharmaceutical and personal care products. Agricultural activities were the main contributor to the presence of plant protection products. The impact of these organic chemicals on the ecology, particularly on macroinvertebrate biodiversity, is unknown and warrants further investigation. Our suspect screening approach could guide future toxicological investigations to assess the environmental impacts of these diverse chemicals.

Extraction of neonicotinoid pesticides from aquatic environmental matrices with sustainable terpenoids and eutectic solvents

The potential environmental impact and adverse effects of the occurrence of pesticides in the aquatic environment have raised great social and political concern, leading to their control by means of several regulations, such as the European Directive 98/83/EC. In this regard, the three neonicotinoid pesticides analyzed in this work (acetamiprid, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam) have been included in the surface water European Watch Lists under the Water Framework Directive. This research proposes the use of terpenoid-based solvents for the extraction of the three emerging contaminants previously mentioned. An initial screening of the extraction solvents was carried out through the COSMO-RS methodology, selecting the most favourable pure terpenes, eutectic terpenoid-based and conventional solvents. Furthermore, relevant issues were experimentally analyzed, such as extraction in more realistic multicomponent mixtures together with key parametric studies covering operating temperature and matrix influence. Carvacrol, a pure terpenoid not applied before as an extraction solvent of pesticides, has been revealed as an effective and sustainable substitute for conventional solvents for the first time to the best of our knowledge. Specifically, carvacrol exhibited overall extraction yields of around 97.5 % from a river water matrix at a volumetric S/F ratio of 0.1 and 303.2 K. High extraction yields from river water matrices regardless of temperature pointed to the potential of this solvent for a wide range of industrial application.

Veterinary consumption of highest priority critically important antimicrobials and various growth promoters based on import data in Pakistan.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health emergency driven by the indiscriminate use of antimicrobial agents in humans and animals. Antimicrobial consumption surveillance guides its containment efforts. In this study, we estimated, for the first time, veterinary consumption of Critically Important Antimicrobials with Highest Priority (CIA-HtP) for Pakistan. The study used an export/import database which provided imports data collected from the Pakistan Customs Authority. We investigated imports of 7 CIA-HtP and various poultry feed additives/growth promoters (FAs/GPs) identified from a survey of 10 poultry and dairy farms in Punjab province in Pakistan and a previously published study, over a three-year period of 2017-2019. Antimicrobial consumption was estimated in mg/kg of country's animal biomass. Imports, in tonnes, for these 7 CIA-HtP were for the years 2017-19: tylosin 240.84, enrofloxacin 235.14, colistin 219.73, tilmicosin 97.32, spiramycin 5.79, norfloxacin 5.55, ceftiofur 1.02 for a total 805.39 tonnes. The corresponding antimicrobial consumption was 10.05 mg/kg of animal biomass. The poultry FAs/GPs contained: zinc bacitracin, enramycin, bacitracin methylene disalicylate, tylosin, tiamulin, colistin, lincomycin, streptomycin, flavophospholipol, tilmicosin, and penicillin with a total antimicrobial chemical compound (ACC) import volume of 577.18 tonnes for the years 2017-2019; and an estimated consumption of 96.53 mg/kg of poultry biomass. These antimicrobials were a mix of macrolides, quinolones, polymyxins and cephalosporins, among which are some also on the Watch or Reserve list by the WHO, indicating the need for stewardship and to conserve essential antimicrobials to contain AMR. The finding that a yearly average of 192.39 tonnes of the ACC imported were FAs/GPs further highlight the need for stronger regulation and enforcement.

Invasion risks and social interest of non-native woody plants in urban parks of mainland Spain

Urban parks and gardens are one of the most important pathways for the deliberate introduction of non-native plant species, some of which cause environmental and socioeconomic impacts. We conducted a risk assessment on 388 non-native woody plant species from 46 urban parks of mainland Spain to classify them in lists based on their invasion status, being invasive elsewhere, climate matching with the area of origin, and potential to cause negative impacts. Only Ficus benjamina has no potential to invade (Green list). Four species are invasive and regulated (Priority list); 47 invasive or potentially invasive species can cause more impact types than the median value (Attention list), while 12 can cause less impacts than the median (Watch list). There is no park without any invasive or potentially invasive species. The most common potential impacts could be competition with native species (80% species) and the physical modification of the habitats (71%). We also identified 31 species with potential to cause human health impacts. Some species could cause several impact types. The most correlated potential impacts are among competition, toxicity, and alteration of natural succession and habitat structure. The most frequently planted invasive and potentially invasive species are the ones with the largest standard trending value from Google Trends, and therefore the ones with more societal interest.

Elimination of neonicotinoids by ozone-based advanced oxidation processes: Kinetics and performance in real water matrices

The Decision 2018/840 included some neonicotinoid insecticides (thiamethoxam (TMX), imidacloprid (ICP), clothianidin (CTD), thiacloprid (TCP), and acetamiprid (AMP)) within the watch list of substances for Union-wide monitoring in the field of water policy due to their potential risk to human health and the environment. In this work, the study of the elimination of these five neonicotinoids present in waters by ozone-based oxidation treatments has been carried out. While AMP and TCP presented very low rate constants with ozone and were hardly degraded, CTD (ozone rate constant of 116 M−1 s−1 at pH ≥ 7) and TMX (ozone rate constant of 22.7 M−1 s−1 for the studied pH range) were partially degraded by ozone. Furthermore, ICP ozonation showed a great pH dependence, with increasing ozone rate constant values from 2.7 M−1 s−1 at pH 5 to 160 M−1 s−1 at pH 9. In addition, rate constants for the reaction of neonicotinoids with hydroxyl radicals (•OH) were determined to be in the range (2.0–4.5)·109 M−1 s−1. The specific contribution of direct ozonation and radical pathways to the overall neonicotinoid degradation was evaluated, being the indirect oxidation with •OH dominant over direct ozone reactions. The influence of real water constituents such as dissolved organic matter (DOM) and bicarbonate, both acting as radical scavengers, on the ozonation process was negative. The ozone dose and the specific ozone dose required to remove neonicotinoids from real water matrices were higher than 5 mg/L and 1 mg O3 mg DOC-1, respectively, typically applied in water treatment. However, the application of the ozone-based advanced oxidation processes O3/H2O2 and O3/activated carbon provided an appreciable improvement in the elimination of neonicotinoids compared to ozone alone. Therefore, ozone-based advanced oxidation processes are needed to sufficiently abate neonicotinoids in contaminated waters.

Antibiotics in the Basque coast (N Spain): Occurrence in waste and receiving waters, and risk assessment (2017–2020)

The study of the presence of antibiotics in the aquatic environment is a preliminary step to analyse their possible harmful effects on aquatic ecosystems. In order to monitor their occurrence in the aquatic environment, the European Commission established in 2015, 2018, and 2020 three Watch Lists of substances for Union-wide monitoring (Decisions (EU) 2015/495, 2018/840, and 2020/1161), where some antibiotics within the classes of macrolides, fluoroquinolones and penicillins were included.In the Basque coast, northern Spain, three macrolide antibiotics (erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin) and ciprofloxacin were monitored quarterly from 2017 to 2020 (covering a period before and after the COVID19 outbreak), in water samples collected from two Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTPs), and three control points associated with receiving waters (transitional and coastal water bodies). This work was undertaken for the Basque Water Agency (URA).The three macrolide antibiotics in water showed a frequency of quantification >65 % in the Basque coast, with higher concentrations in the WWTP emission stations than in receiving waters. Their frequency of quantification decreased from 2017 to 2020, as did the consumption of antibiotics in Spanish primary care since 2015. Ciprofloxacin showed higher frequencies of quantification in receiving waters than in wastewaters, but the highest concentrations were observed in the WWTP emission stations. Although consumption of fluoroquinolones (among which is ciprofloxacin) in primary care in the Basque Country has decreased in recent years, this trend was not observed in the waters sampled in the present study. On the other hand, concentrations of clarithromycin, azithromycin, and ciprofloxacin in receiving waters exceeded their respective Predicted No-Effect Concentrations, so they could pose an environmental risk. These substances are widely used in human and animal medicine, so, although only ciprofloxacin is included in the third Watch List, it would be advisable to continue monitoring macrolides in the Basque coast as well.

Characteristics and Management of Children With Suspected COVID-19 Admitted to Hospitals in India: Implications for Future Care.

Introduction: There is a growing focus on researching the management of children with COVID-19 admitted to hospital, especially among developing countries with new variants alongside concerns with the overuse of antibiotics. Patient care can be improved with guidelines, but concerns with the continued imprudent prescribing of antimicrobials, including antibiotics, antivirals, and antimalarials.Objective: Consequently, a need to document the current management of children with COVID-19 across India. Key outcome measures included the percentage of prescribed antimicrobials, adherence to current guidelines, and mortality.Methodology: A point prevalence study using specially developed report forms among 30 hospitals in India.Results: The majority of admitted children were aged between 11 and 18 years (70%) and boys (65.8%). Reasons for admission included respiratory distress, breathing difficulties, and prolonged fever. 75.3% were prescribed antibiotics typically empirically (68.3% overall), with most on the Watch list (76.7%). There were no differences in antibiotic prescribing whether hospitals followed guidelines or not. There was also appreciable prescribing of antimalarials (21.4% of children), antivirals (15.2%), and antiparasitic medicines (27.2%) despite limited evidence. The majority of children (92.2%) made a full recovery.Conclusion: It was encouraging to see low hospitalization rates. However, concerns about high empiric use of antibiotics and high use of antimalarials, antivirals, and antiparasitic medicines exist. These can be addressed by instigating appropriate stewardship programs.

The flora of Fair River Farm, Lincoln County, Mississippi, U.S.A.

Southwest Mississippi is a poorly studied, but biologically diverse region, encompassing the broad transition from the East Gulf Coastal Plain longleaf pine-bluestem ecosystem to the rich hardwood forests of the Loess bluffs and hills. A floristic inventory of an approximately 694.7-hectare privately owned natural area in Lincoln County was conducted. The Fair River Farm is situated in a region of highly dissected terrain around the Little Fair River and Kees Creek, near the transition between two major level III ecoregions, and the boundary between the Pearl River and lower Mississippi River drainage basins. 744 vascular plant taxa and 72 bryophytes were documented. 495 taxa are new to Lincoln County, and 3 are new to the state of Mississippi; 27 species are designated special concern by the Mississippi Natural Heritage Program, 13 are on the watch list and 14 are on the tracking list. Photographic records available on iNaturalist are used for some species as an alternative to physical vouchers. Plant communities present on the tract are discussed and briefly and qualitatively compared to General Land Office records, original county soil surveys, and historic descriptions of the region, with emphasis on the distribution of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.), now very rare on the tract. The number of county records highlights the need for more survey work and potentially underreported biological diversity and conservation value of the southwest region of Mississippi and other poorly collected areas of the Southeastern U.S.; this inventory may inform land management decisions on the tract and elsewhere in the region.

Spatiotemporal analysis of multi-pesticide residues in the largest Central European shallow lake, Lake Balaton, and its sub-catchment area

BackgroundThe present study aimed to gain a comprehensive knowledge of the presence and environmental risks of pesticide and repellent residues in Lake Balaton and its sub-catchment area (Hungary). A unique analysis of 439 active substances and 17 metabolites was carried out on surface waters and one effluent wastewater as the only direct discharge into Lake Balaton from June 2017 until August 2020. Altogether 203 water- and 85 sediment samples were collected and analysed during the 3-year monitoring period. To determine the environmental risks of the detected pesticides to aquatic ecosystems, environmental risk assessment (ERA) was carried out using two approaches (worst- and general-case scenarios).ResultsFifty-two pesticides and one insect repellent were detected, of which 26 belonged to herbicides (24 active substances and two metabolites), 15 to fungicides (15 active substances), and 11 to insecticides (eight active substances and three metabolites), of which only nine of the total analysed compounds are listed to be monitored in surface waters with threshold limit values (TLVs). The most frequently detected compounds were terbuthylazine, diethyltoluamide (DEET), desethyl-atrazine, and metolachlor. Glyphosate, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), and DEET were found with the highest concentrations of 3.0, 2.0, and 1.57 µg/L, respectively. The pesticide exposures were higher during the summer periods indicating a stable seasonal pattern. According to the performed ERA, the calculated Risk Quotients (RQs) indicated 18 compounds with a high level of risk including nine that had been banned for at least a decade.DiscussionThis study expands knowledge on the spatiotemporal occurrence of pesticides in inland surface waters and highlights the need to consider widening the number of analysed pesticides beyond the European Water Framework Directive (EWFD). According to our results, additional authority and legislation procedures should come into force for pesticides not indexed in the priority European Union Watch List.

Enantioselective Ecotoxicity of Venlafaxine in Aquatic Organisms: Daphnia and Zebrafish

Venlafaxine is a chiral antidepressant detected in aquatic compartments. It was recently included in the 3rd Watch List from the European Union. The present study aimed to investigate venlafaxine toxicity effects, targeting possible enantioselective effects, using two aquatic organisms, daphnia (Daphnia magna) and zebrafish (Danio rerio). Specimens were exposed to both racemate, (R,S)-venlafaxine (VEN), and to pure enantiomers. Acute assays with daphnia showed that up to 50 000 μg/L of the (R,S)-VEN induced no toxicity. Organisms were also exposed to sublethal concentrations (25-400 μg/L) of (R,S)-, (R)- and (S)-VEN, for 21 days. No significant effects on mortality, age at first reproduction, and size of the first clutch were observed. However, a decrease in fecundity was observed for both enantiomers at the highest concentration. Regarding zebrafish, the effects of venlafaxine on mortality, embryo development, behavior, biochemistry, and melanin pigmentation were investigated after 96 h of exposure to the range of 0.3-3000 μg/L. (R)-VEN significantly increased the percentage of malformations in comparison with (S)-VEN. Behavior was also enantiomer dependent, with a decrease in the total distance moved and an increase in avoidance behavior observed in organisms exposed to (R)-VEN. Despite the biochemical variations, no changes in redox homeostasis were observed. (R)-VEN also led to an increase in zebrafish pigmentation. The different susceptibility to venlafaxine and enantioselective effects were observed in zebrafish. Our results suggest that at environmental levels (R,S)-VEN and pure enantiomers are not expected to induce harmful effects in both organisms, but (R)-VEN increased malformations in zebrafish larvae, even at reported environmental levels. These results highlight the importance of including enantioselective studies for an accurate risk assessment of chiral pollutants. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:1851-1864. © 2022 SETAC.

Establishment of criminal/profile DNA database and use of forensic intelligence to combat nationwide insecurity issues in Nigeria

Criminal activity is on the rise in Nigeria. The nefarious activity of bandits is on the increase with kidnapping of students and attack on farmers. This creates fear in the terrorized communities. Armed robbery as well as rape of citizens going about their normal duties is also on the increase. The road is becoming increasingly unsafe for the citizenry as well as government officials. The government has mandated individuals to register in the National Identification Number NIN which is linked to the Bank Verification Number (BVN) (a database established to curb crime in the banking sector) and the Subscriber Identity module (SIM). The Establishment of such databases is pertinent however the NIN, BVN, SIM-NIN linkage and fingerprints may not be sufficient in solving criminal cases without DNA profiling of convicted individuals, establishment of forensic laboratories and the creation of criminal DNA profile database CRODER – a Criminal offender DNA Exert Repertoire. The role of DNA profiling as an additional measure is to keep a record of all convicted individuals and the CRODER will be an additional useful measure in profiling criminals and individuals can be adopted as a forensic tool in addition to the captured databases of NIN, BVN and NIN-SIM and will be on the watch list of security operatives. The CRODER forensic tool can be done stepwise by availability of an emergency number to dial for emergency, a dispatch personnel to respond to the call, and vigilante groups or other adhoc security officer in the vicinity of the emergency call to get to the vicinity and preserve the crime scene environment for investigators and detectives to work on. CRODER Forensic tool can then be adopted to solve the crime. Offenders trying to escape enroute the airport, can be checked via CRODER and fingerprint compared and matched with the collection in the database. The CRODER may be a necessary stride to bring kidnappers, bandits, and armed robbers to book in record time and curb the rise in criminal activity, insurgency, banditry, and insecurity in general. If properly done, Nigeria will be a haven for citizens and would-be investors.

The Value of Drawing Instruction in the Visual Arts and Across Curricula: Historical and Philosophical Arguments for Drawing in the Digital Age

With the “death of drawing” proclaimed to us from all sides—but, at the same time, enmeshed within an intensely visual culture, and therefore continuing to be receptive to the all-encompassing “cognitive, creative, and communicative” possibilities inherent in putting pencil to paper—we are delighted to discover this historical beacon on page 114 of the volume under review: Passed into law by its legislature five years after the end of the Civil War, and as a result of having foreseen a need to rapidly modernize its own industrial design capabilities, the Massachusetts Drawing Act of 1870 established instruction in that subject as compulsory within the state’s school systems.Indeed, an actual and quite relevant piece of history—and this but one small section of the remarkable tapestry that Seymour Simmons presents to us in The Value of Drawing in the Visual Arts and across Curricula. The author, moreover—faithfully following each of its threads—does not hesitate to dive into the question at hand: What has changed in the 150 years since the Drawing Act of 1870?!Today, of course, legislatures mandate instruction in computer technology as opposed to hand drawing, and they are correct in doing so: It is difficult for a visual communicator to get hired these days if they are not adept in one or more of a multitude of the well-known engineering/graphic/video/animation programs. And yes, Simmons acknowledges that a program like Adobe Illustrator is able, in some sense, to exercise some of the same mind/body interactions of sketching by hand.But, as ably documented in The Value of Drawing in the Digital Age, there is also a growing clamor to reinstitute hand drawing as a formally recognized subject; and if, furthermore, we are to include not only our own kindergarteners but also immigrant families who have perhaps available to them only a tiny blackboard, we will do well to pay careful attention to Simmons and his book: Drawing, no less than writing, is universal and fundamental, and together at the root of all of our unique accomplishments as a species.Cognition: As per Barbara Wittman, “Drawing makes visible something that no other technology can make visible,” and this is still very much true in the fields of medical, botanical and zoological illustration. Creativity: As per Simmons himself, “Children early on gain from drawing a sense of themselves as agents … and not just at the mercy of their environment.” Communication: As per Claudia Betti and Teel Sale, “The healing effect of expressing one’s feelings through visual means is employed by people of all ages and from all parts of the globe.”One will note, furthermore, that two of the three above citations are by authors other than Simmons; i.e. this is one of those refreshing books in which the author is not so much beating their own drum but rather asking us to listen, via their own extensive research, to drumbeats from across historical and philosophical space—all of which proclaim that drawing is an innate and vital human activity. (Simmons’s “References” section—12 dense pages!—actually amounts to a rather thorough bibliography on the subject of drawing.)And here let the reviewer name, in addition to the author’s triadic formula, a fourth “C”—for “compassion”: his both explicitly and implicitly present throughout Simmons’s book and perhaps his ultimate message. Indeed—given that aesthetics might contain within itself some of the seeds of compassionate behavior and given further that he everywhere makes this connection—educators of today might be well advised to put The Value of Drawing Instruction on their watch lists.

A miniaturized passive sampling-based workflow for monitoring chemicals of emerging concern in water

The miniaturization of a full workflow for identification and monitoring of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) is presented. Firstly, successful development of a low-cost small 3D-printed passive sampler device (3D-PSD), based on a two-piece methacrylate housing that held up to five separate 9 mm disk sorbents, is discussed. Secondly, a highly sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method reduced the need for large scale in-laboratory apparatus, solvent, reagents and reference material quantities for in-laboratory passive sampler device (PSD) calibration and extraction. Using hydrophilic-lipophilic balanced sorbents, sampling rates (Rs) were determined after a low 50 ng L−1 exposure over seven days for 39 pesticides, pharmaceuticals, drug metabolites and illicit drugs over the range 0.3 to 12.3 mL day−1. The high sensitivity LC-MS/MS method enabled rapid analysis of river water using only 10 μL of directly injected sample filtrate to measure occurrence of 164 CECs and sources along 19 sites on the River Wandle, (London, UK). The new 3D-PSD was then field-tested over seven days at the site with the highest number and concentration of CECs, which was down-river from a wastewater treatment plant. Almost double the number of CECs were identified in 3D-PSD extracts across sites in comparison to water samples (80 versus 42 CECs, respectively). Time-weighted average CEC concentrations ranged from 8.2 to 845 ng L−1, which were generally comparable to measured concentrations in grab samples. Lastly, high resolution mass spectrometry-based suspect screening of 3D-PSD extracts enabled 113 additional compounds to be tentatively identified via library matching, many of which are currently or are under consideration for the EU Watch List. This miniaturized workflow represents a new, cost-effective, and more practically efficient means to perform passive sampling chemical monitoring at a large scale. SynopsisMiniaturized, low cost, multi-disk passive samplers enabled more efficient multi-residue chemical contaminant characterization, potentially for large-scale monitoring programs.

Enhanced removal of neonicotinoid pesticides present in the Decision 2018/840/EU by new sewage sludge-based carbon materials

Due to the increasingly strict legislation about the disposal of sewage sludge, it is necessary to find sustainable solutions to manage this waste at low-cost conditions. In addition, priority contaminants are now attracting much attention since they are usually detected in WWTP effluents. In this work, five sludge have been used as precursors for the synthesis of activated carbons subsequently tested in the removal by adsorption of three neonicotinoid pesticides listed in the EU Watch List: acetamiprid (ACT), thiamethoxam (THM), and imidacloprid (IMD). Generally, the activated carbons were prepared by chemical activation using ZnCl2 as an activating agent and then the resulting materials were pyrolyzed at 800 °C for 2 h. The synthesized activated carbons showed different textural properties; thus, the best adsorption results were found for AC-Industrial activated carbon, obtained from an industrial origin sewage sludge, with high equilibrium adsorption capacities (qe = 104.2, 137.0, and 119.9 mg g−1), for ACT, THM, and IMD, respectively. Furthermore, it was elucidated that the use of CO2 in the synthesis generated an opening, followed by widening, of the narrowest microporosity, increasing the specific surface area of the carbon materials. The kinetic and isotherm adsorption experimental data were obtained for each of the pesticide-activated carbon systems; thus, the kinetic curves were well-fitted to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, as well as, Freundlich and Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer (GAB) empirical models were used for the fitting of the equilibrium adsorption isotherms, finding that GAB model best fitted the experimental data. Additionally, the regeneration of the activated carbons using methanol as a regenerating agent and the single and simultaneous adsorption of a hospital wastewater effluent, fortified with the three studied pesticides have been explored.

2022 Health Technology Trends to Watch: Top 10 List


 The 2022 Health Technology Trends to Watch list presents the top 10 technologies that have the potential to fundamentally shift the way health care is provided and accessed in Canada within the next 2 years. The list was developed with direction and insights from pan-Canadian stakeholders, which included patients, health care decision-makers, researchers, representatives from government agencies, and industry experts.
 The Top 10 List includes technologies for remote care monitoring, artificial intelligence for public health, and portable dialysis machines, among others. These technologies have the potential to transform health systems and improve health outcomes. For example, they may allow for more convenient and improved access to screening, diagnosis, and treatments; provide more tailored approaches to care; and help facilitate more person-centred care.
 Implementing these new and emerging technologies would cause varying levels of disruption; for example, some would require new training for health care providers, new frameworks for integrating the technologies into practice, and/or new infrastructure to address issues of equity, accessibility, and data privacy.

EVENT STUDY: ONE FIRM, TWO MARKETS AND INFORMATION ASYMMETRY

This study is an event window study specific to Turkey's agriculture, forestry and fishing sector. The changes that a company in the relevant sector has gone through in 2020 and 2021 are under the microscope. In the study, a firm 'story' is presented, ranging from the Borsa İstanbul emerging companies market to the close monitoring market(the watch list), and then to the actions that resulted in 'failure'. As of 2022, there are only two companies listed in the sector. The company, which was excluded from the sector, was both subject to the sanctions of the Capital Markets Board and engaged in market-distorting actions. More strict control is required in the approval and activity processes of the company that has changed the title and the companies that will want to enter the sector. As a prerequisite for the protection of small investors, transparency should be treated more strictly. The common desired situation in capital markets is to ensure transparency. When disruptions occur in public disclosure, the operation may be impaired. When such faulty situations arise, the probability of financial market crimes such as information fraud will increase, and the attractiveness of the financial market to investors will decrease. These possible realizations become clear as problematic points, for economies that want to grow through financial markets.

Telemental Health

Telemental Health