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Water quality in Lake Pontchartrain was deteriorating and recreational activities along the beach were restricted by the end of the 20th Century. A microbial source tracking (MST) study was conducted to determine the fecal contamination sources at public beach of the lake, so that effective pollution control strategies can be developed. Water samples were collected over an eight-month period at ten locations along the lake in 2016 and 2017. E. coli and Enterococcus were detected in 90.6% (culture) and 97.5% (qPCR), 95.8% (culture) and 91.8% (qPCR) of water samples from all sampling sites, respectively. Significant positive relationship between E. coli and Enterococcus results was observed for both qPCR and culture methods. HF183 marker was detected in 94.3% water samples (149 of 158), with concentrations ranging from 29.0 to 6073.5 GC/100 ml and from 129.8 to 38,465.6 GC/100 ml in summer and winter, respectively. The results also indicate that significant rainfall events have the potential to supply considerable loads of fecal bacteria to lake waters. Further research is needed to determine the contribution of other animals to fecal contamination in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein aggregation and associated amyloid formation is linked with several harmful human pathophysiologies including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and cerebrovascular diseases. A potential approach for modulating and exploring amyloid fibrillization is the control of protein self-assembly. Herein, anti-aggregation effects of salidroside, its influence on the kinetics of amyloid fibrillization of Aβ 1-42 peptide and its cytotoxicity against cerebrovascular endothelial cells (bEnd.3) were assessed by using a wide range of spectroscopic and cellular techniques. The present outcome of Thioflavin T (ThT) and 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid (ANS) fluorescence, Congo red (CR), and circular dichroism (CD) analyses indicated that salidroside potentially inhibits protein fibril formation. The cellular studies inferred that salidroside protects bEnd.3 cells against Aβ 1-42 oligomers -triggered cytotoxicity through modulation of oxidative stress [reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities] and apoptosis (caspase-3 activity). Therefore, the data signifies the role of salidroside as a promising small molecule in inhibiting Aβ 1-42 aggregation and associated cerebrovascular endothelial cell toxicity. Hence, salidroside can serve as a potential inhibitor in the therapeutic advancement to combat cerebrovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this study, quantitative polymerase chain reaction targeting the atrazine catabolism gene, atzA, was used to detect the presence of atrazine degrading bacteria as an indicator of atrazine contamination in 11 sites in Georgia, nine coastal sites in Puerto Rico and 11 coastal sites in Trinidad. The atzA gene was detected in five stations in Georgia (Oak Grove Island entrance, Blythe Island Recreation Park, Jekyll Island., Village Creek Landing and Dunbar Creek Sea Island Rd Bridge). In Puerto Rico gene was detected in five sites (Boquilla, Oro Creek, Fishers Association, Ceiba Creek and Sabalos Creek) while seven sites in Trinidad (Carli Bay, Las Cuevas Bay, Quinam Bay, Salybia River, Salybia Bay, Maracas River and Maracas Bay) showed the presence of atzA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Analysis of the physical, chemical and biological parameters assessing water quality in Harris Neck estuary indicated that the average dissolved oxygen level was 8.6mg/L, it maintained moderate levels of total dissolved nitrogen (2.7–4.6mg/L) and total dissolved phosphorous (<0.05mg/L), chlorophyll a was above 5.0μg/L and it is contaminated with low levels of fecal bacteria. Bifidobacterium adolescentis, a putative marker of human fecal pollution, was detected once at stations 3 and 5. Overall the Harris Neck water quality analyses indicated a relatively pristine and a healthy functioning marine environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although many studies have examined broad patterns of effects on pregnancy and infant outcomes after disasters, the causes of adverse outcomes are not always clear. Disasters cause interrelated exposure to environmental pollutants, psychological stressors, and lack of health care, and interacts with other social determinants of health. This topical review examines the short- and long-term effects of disasters on pregnancy and how they are mediated by social, behavioral, and environmental effects. In the short term, disasters are associated with physical trauma, adverse environmental exposures, and unstable housing. In the longer term, disasters may lead to relocation, changes in family functioning, and negative economic effects. These aspects of disaster exposure, in turn, lead to lack of access to health care, increased stress and negative mental health outcomes, and negative behavioral changes, including smoking and substance use, poor nutrition, physical overexertion and limited activity, and reduction in breastfeeding. All of these factors interact with social determinants of health to worsen effects on the most vulnerable women, infants, and communities. Few interventions after disasters have been tested. With the increase in disasters due to climate change and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the models of effects of disasters and their human health consequences need increasing refinement, and, more importantly, should be applied to interventions that improve disaster prevention, mitigation, and response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade, several flood early warning systems have been established in Nepal, helping reduce the number of people affected and killed by floods. However, there are still challenges in communicating flood warning to the most vulnerable. The unavailability of real-time monitoring in smaller streams and tributaries has created challenges for communicating early warning. The ongoing restructuring process of the multilevel governance system in the country also presents challenges, specifically institutional such as insufficient coordination among relevant agencies, lack of adequate personnel, limited budget, and unclear roles and responsibilities. This study uses the Alexander framework (2015) to identify gaps in flood early warning communication in relation to their technical, institutional and socio-cultural components. Qualitative research methods in the form of key informant interviews and on-site focus group discussions were conducted at the national, district and local levels to collect data, taking Ratu watershed as a case study. Based on our analysis, we conclude that, first, while progress has been made in the monitoring and forecasting of floods, integration of socio-cultural aspects that can make early warning information accessible to the most vulnerable has to be strengthened. Second, warning messages need to be co-designed with communities and tailored to meet their diverse needs for proper dissemination and timely protective action. Finally, for flood risk communication to bridge 'the last mile' in terms of reaching the most vulnerable in the community must take account of their distinct social, economic and political experiences in both content and delivery of the information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]