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Interactions of microplastics (MPs) biofilm with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotics in aquatic environments have made microplastic biofilm an issue of keen scholarly interest. The process of biofilm formation and the degree of ARGs enrichment in the presence of antibiotic-selective pressure and the impact on the microbial community need to be further investigated. In this paper, the selective pressure of ciprofloxacin (CIP) and illumination conditions were investigated to affect the physicochemical properties, biomass, and extracellular polymer secretion of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastic biofilm. In addition, relative copy numbers of nine ARGs were analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). In the presence of CIP, microorganisms in the water and microplastic biofilm were more inclined to carry associated ARGs (2–3 times higher), which had a contributing effect on ARGs enrichment. The process of pre-microplastic biofilm formation might have an inhibitory effect on ARGs (total relative abundance up to 0.151) transfer and proliferation compared to the surrounding water (total relative abundance up to 0.488). However, in the presence of CIP stress, microplastic biofilm maintained the abundance of ARGs (from 0.151 to 0.149) better compared to the surrounding water (from 0.488 to 0.386). Therefore, microplastic biofilm act as abundance buffer island of ARGs stabilizing the concentration of ARGs. In addition, high-throughput analyses showed the presence of antibiotic-resistant (Pseudomonas) and pathogenic (Vibrio) microorganisms in biofilm under different conditions. The above research deepens our understanding of ARGs enrichment in biofilm and provides important insights into the ecological risks of interactions between ARGs, antibiotics, and microplastic biofilm. [Display omitted] • Characteristics of PVC biofilm formation by different conditions were summarized. • Selective pressure of CIP had enrichment effect on ARGs in water and biofilm. • PVC biofilm created conditions for selective pressure to generate ARGs. • Biofilm maintained the abundance of ARGs better than the surrounding water. • Characterization of bacterial community composition in PVC biofilm was studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new generation of the particle method known as Particle Finite Element Method (PFEM), which combines convective particle movement and a fixed mesh resolution, is applied to free surface flows. This interesting variant, previously described in the literature as PFEM-2, is able to use larger time steps when compared to other similar numerical tools which implies shorter computational times while maintaining the accuracy of the computation. PFEM-2 has already been extended to free surface problems, being the main topic of this paper a deep validation of this methodology for a wider range of flows. To accomplish this task, different improved versions of discontinuous and continuous enriched basis functions for the pressure field have been developed to capture the free surface dynamics without artificial diffusion or undesired numerical effects when different density ratios are involved. A collection of problems has been carefully selected such that a wide variety of Froude numbers, density ratios and dominant dissipative cases are reported with the intention of presenting a general methodology, not restricted to a particular range of parameters, and capable of using large time-steps. The results of the different free-surface problems solved, which include: Rayleigh–Taylor instability, sloshing problems, viscous standing waves and the dam break problem, are compared to well validated numerical alternatives or experimental measurements obtaining accurate approximations for such complex flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last decade, biochars have been considered as attractive and eco-friendly materials with various applications including wastewater treatment, energy production and soil amendments. However, the important nitrogen losses during biochars production using the pyrolysis process have limited their potential use in agriculture as biofertilizer. Therefore, it seems necessary to enrich these biochars with nitrogen sources before their use in agricultural soils. This paper is the first comprehensive review on the assessment of biomass type and the biochars' properties effects on N recovery efficiency from aqueous solutions as well as its release and availability for plants when applying the N-enriched chars in soils. In particular, the N recovery efficiency by raw biochars versus the type of the raw feedstock is summarized. Then, correlations between the adsorption performance and the main physico-chemical properties are established. The main mechanisms involved during ammonium (NH 4 –N) and nitrates (NO 3 –N) recovery process are thoroughly discussed. A special attention is given to the assessment of the biochars physico-chemical modification impact on their N recovery capacities improvement. After that, the application of these N-enriched biochars in agriculture and their impacts on plants growth as well as methane and nitrous oxide greenhouse gas emissions reduction are also discussed. Finally, the main future development and challenges of biochars enrichment with N from wastewaters and their valorization as biofertilizers for plants growth and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction are provided. This systematic review is intended to promote the real application of biochars for nutrients recovery from wastewaters and their reuse as eco-friendly fertilizers. [Display omitted] • Biochars have low nitrogen contents which limit their use in agriculture. • Biochars hybrid modifications allow high recovery yields of ammonium and nitrates. • N-laden biochars promote the seedling stage and the vegetative growth. • N-enriched biochars significantly reduce the N 2 O and CH 4 emissions. • N-enriched biochars promote sustainability and circular economy concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The general public is increasingly aware of the health benefits associated with consumption of omega-3 fatty acids. While evidence of health benefits continues to mount, the underlying science is complex. Omega-3 fatty acids vary in their physiological efficacy. Consumers are typically unaware of differences in the efficacy of different omega-3 fatty acids and this lack of knowledge can result in consumers being misled within the marketplace. There is a need for consumers to be educated about the distinctions between omega-3 fatty acids. In the interim consumers remain at risk of purchasing premium fortified products and supplements that will not correspond to their desired health outcomes. This paper summarises the current understanding of fatty acid physiological metabolism and interaction for the purpose of highlighting this complex and multifaceted concern. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In immiscible two-phase flows, jumps or kinks are present in the velocity and pressure fields across the interfaces of the two fluids. The extended finite element method (XFEM) is able to reproduce such discontinuities within elements. Robust and accurate interface capturing schemes with no restrictions on the interface topology are thereby enabled. This paper investigates different enrichment schemes and time-integration schemes within the XFEM. Test cases with and without surface tension on moving or stationary meshes are studied and compared to interface tracking results when possible. A particularly useful setting is extracted which is recommended for two-phase flows. An extension of this formulation for the simulation of free-surface flows and of floating objects is proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Population dynamics can reflect the body mass distribution of species because there is an allometric relationship between the average body mass of species and its metabolic timescale. Since predators are generally larger than their prey, a hierarchical structure from fast timescales to slow timescales can be a general structure in food webs. In this paper, we show that changes of the metabolic timescale ratio can cause catastrophic shifts. Then, we investigate a two-dimensional parameter space with the timescale ratio and the carrying capacity of basal species, and reveal that the timescale ratio characterizes the response of the system to environmental variation. Finally, in a bistable regime, we try to clarify the relationship between the trophic position of a species and the extent to which the species induces attractor switching. We saw that, in a 4-species food chain, top predators and second consumers induce attractor switching easily compared to first consumers and basal species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phospholipids are major building blocks for biological membranes. In addition, metabolites derived from their degradation are important signals in major cellular events, such as proliferation and apoptosis. The concept of lipid signaling in cells is derived mainly from the measurement of change in the concentration of lipid molecules. However, these changes in concentration are only a small part of the underlying metabolic change induced by a perturbation in the cell. In contrast, metabolic kinetic studies documenting product–precursor relationships and turnover rates are useful in elucidating the responsible mechanisms. Historically, metabolic studies of phospholipids in cells have been carried out with pulse or pulse–chase methods using radioactive isotopes. While these studies provide valuable information, their scope is restricted by inherent limitations. In this paper we describe a method using [1,2,3,4-13C4]palmitate as the tracer for studying the metabolic kinetics of the molecular species of diacylglycerol, ceramide, phosphatidylcholine, and sphingomyelin. After growing cells in the presence of labeled palmitate complexed to serum albumin, the lipids are extracted and separated into lipid classes. After enzymatic hydrolysis, diacylglyerols and ceramides as bis-trimethylsilyl derivatives are determined quantitatively with capillary column gas chromatography. Internal standards for each lipid class are used in the procedure. In addition, the isotopic enrichments of the lipid molecular species are determined with gas chromatograph–mass spectrometry. We applied this method to the study of HL60 cells. Different turnover rates were found for various molecular species. In addition, the sn-1 and sn-2 acyl groups appear to be synthesized at different rates for different molecular species. Other information, such as chain elongation and desaturation, might also be derived through the use of this method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]