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Living and working for a month at the Sanskriti Foundation in Delhi, the artist’s life was watched and observed by a group of resident monkeys. This paper is based on notes begun during that studio residency and represents the critical reflections emerging alongside the hands-on sculptural practice. It is illustrated with close-up photographs of the artist’s sculpture that asks how encounters with fabled animals in densely populated 21st century urban areas can alter our understanding of the gaze as an inter-species gaze. The sculpture and paper begin to ask broader questions, including how can sculpture provide a different, and perhaps more tacit and empathetic, encounter with the other to enable a physical, mental or spiritual experience of cultural entanglement between the various onlookers? In how far is modelling the other’s gaze a form of embodiment and mimicry? Do the fast-changing camera angles and soundtracks of natural history programmes hinder an empathic inter-species encounter? Or, does the slow animation of the artist’s sculpted surface heighten a sense of being alongside equally curious, cunning and adaptable others such as crows, foxes and monkeys?

Immature individuals move from their natal area to the area where they settle and reproduce, and this may take several years. This process is essential for long-lived species such as vultures and condors, which spend long periods as immature and move extensively. We studied the movement behavior of 26 GPS-tagged immature Andean condors (Vultur gryphus) from northwestern Patagonia throughout the immature stage, analyzing whether these patterns differed according to age, sex and season. We found that season and age influenced home range size and flight distances, the warm season being when immature condors move most; movement patterns were greater in sub-adults than in juveniles. The age effect was associated with the sex of individuals, with males increasing their home range more than females. Our results provide the first description of how immature Andean condor movement patterns are affected by internal and external factors. This information could be key to understanding condor responses to environmental change and threats at different stages during their immature phase. Until now, condor conservation efforts have not considered the areas used by dispersing individuals. Our results increase our understanding of ranging behavior during the immature stage of this threatened bird, enabling us to improve the conservation policies and management strategies designed to protect them.

Extreme weather events such as hurricanes and tornadoes have been found to change the spatial and temporal abundance of raptors by decreasing survival and forcing the emigration of individuals, or by increasing habitat heterogeneity and facilitating recolonization of disturbed areas. Nonetheless, little is known about how extreme weather events could affect raptors’ movements and their space use in areas disturbed by large-scale weather events. We studied how extreme weather affected the movements of black and turkey vultures (Coragyps atratus and Cathartes aura, respectively) in Mississippi, USA, facing Hurricane Zeta in November 2020, winter storm Viola in February 2021, and tornados MS-43 and MS-44 in May 2021. We GPS-tracked 28 vultures in the paths of these events. We compared movement rates, net-squared displacements, and use of forest cover, before, during, and after the events. Since storm avoidance behavior has been observed in other birds, we expected that vultures would shift their movements out of the path of these events before storms hit. Further, we forecasted that vultures would make greater use of forested areas as protection against harsh conditions such as strong winds and heavy rain. Vultures responded differently to each weather event; they shifted their movements out of the predicted path of the hurricane and tornadoes but not the snowstorm. These findings reveal that both species use avoidance behavior and adjust their navigation and hazard detection accordingly. Avoidance behavior was more pronounced in turkey vultures than in black vultures. In general, vultures did not make greater use of forest areas as we expected, but turkey vultures did select forest areas during the snowstorm. We propose that olfaction and audition may be key in vultures’ response to extreme weather events.

Pesticide residues, when present in agricultural wastewater, constitute a potential risk for the environment and human health. Hence, focused actions for their abatement are of high priority for both the industrial sectors and national authorities. This work evaluates the effectiveness of the photocatalytic process to decompose two frequently detected pesticides in the water effluents of the fruit industry: thiamethoxam-a neonicotinoid compound and flonicamid-a pyridine derivative. Their photocatalytic degradation and mineralization were evaluated in a lab-scale photocatalytic batch reactor under UV-A illumination with the commercial photocatalyst Evonik P25 TiO2 by employing different experimental conditions. The complete degradation of thiamethoxam was achieved after 90 min, when the medium was adjusted to natural or alkaline pH. Flonicamid was proven to be a more recalcitrant substance and the removal efficiency reached ~50% at the same conditions, although the degradation overpassed 75% in the acidic pH medium. Overall, the pesticides’ degradation follows the photocatalytic reduction pathways, where positive charged holes and hydroxyl radicals dominate as reactive species, with complete mineralization taking place after 4 h, regardless of the pH medium. Moreover, it was deduced that the pesticides’ degradation kinetics followed the Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) model, and the apparent rate constant, the initial degradation rate, as well as the L-H model parameters, were determined for both pesticides.

The reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capacities of ginkgolides and bilobalide, which are the peculiar constituents of the extract of Ginkgo biloba, are investigated in silico (level of theory: (SMD)-M06-2X/6-311+G(d,p)//M06-2X/6-31G(d)). Unlike other popular antioxidant natural substances, the carbon backbones of these compounds are entirely aliphatic and exclusively single C–C bonds are present. The selectivity for alkoxyl radicals via hydrogen-atom transfer (HAT) is assessed; importantly, the scavenging of peroxyl radicals is also possible from a peculiar site, here labeled C10 both for ginkgolides and bilobalide. The energetics are described in detail, and the analysis discloses that the studied compounds are powerful scavengers, with thermodynamic and kinetic properties similar to those of Trolox and melatonin, and that, in addition, they display selectivity for peroxyl radicals. These are all chemical-reactivity features contributing to the therapeutic action of the extract of G. biloba.

In the current Anthropocene Era, with numerous escalating challenges for biodiversity conservation, the inclusion of the social dimension into management decisions regarding wildlife and protected areas is critical to their success. By conducting 354 questionnaires in a Mediterranean protected area (the Biosphere Reserve of Bardenas Reales, Northern Spain), we aim to determine sociodemographic factors influencing knowledge levels and perceptions of species and functional groups as, emblematic and threatened. We found that hunters and animal husbandry workers knew more species than other social actors. Additionally, the perception of functional groups as threatened or emblematic differed between social actor groups, with statistically significant associations between perceptions and the characteristics of respondents. Interestingly, we found that although elusive steppe species are globally considered as endangered, these species were the least known by all social actor groups and rarely perceived as emblematic. This research is a novel approach and provides a better understanding of how perceptions can facilitate conservation decisions, particularly regarding endangered species [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many avian and mammalian predators are facultative scavengers and will opportunistically forage from carcasses. A food source as large as a whale carcass could be valuable to wildlife because of its size and high lipid content. Large carcasses can elicit unique behaviors and interactions in wildlife, but because whale beachings are relatively uncommon, little research has examined the scavenging dynamics at whale carcasses. Here, we used a remote camera to investigate the composition and interactions of scavengers at a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) carcass that washed ashore in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska, in 2016. We split the consumption process into 3 stages based on how much soft tissue remained. Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) were the first to feed on the carcass and appeared to dominate the food source, preventing many smaller birds from feeding. Gray Wolves (Canis lupus), corvids (Corvus spp.), and gulls (Larus spp.) were also regularly detected. Scavenger numbers remained high during the first 2 stages of carcass consumption and declined by the 3rd stage. Most interactions observed were between individual Bald Eagles and occurred during the 1st stage. Following the eagles' departure after the 1st stage, interactions between individuals were far less common. These results suggest that a carcass of this size in the intertidal zone is utilized primarily by avian scavengers and that interactions between individuals decrease as the food resource declines. These findings help advance our understanding of scavenger dynamics and the general ecology of coastal Pacific Northwest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the hydrothermal method was utilized for the facile synthesis of copper chromite nanoparticles in the absence (abbreviated as CC1) and presence of citric acid (abbreviated as CC2) and tartaric acid (abbreviated as CC3) as templates. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using different tools such as XRD, FT-IR, UV–Vis, FE-SEM, HR-TEM, and BET. The average crystallite size of the CC1, CC2, and CC3 samples is 25.45, 20.26, and 12.75 nm, respectively. The FT-IR spectra show two bands in the range 613–616 cm−1 and 511–514 cm−1, which are characteristic of the spinel copper chromite crystalline structure. The optical energy gaps of the CC1, CC2, and CC3 samples are 1.25, 1.88, and 1.92 eV, respectively. The synthesized nanoparticles were used for the degradation of the acid orange 7 dye under visible light irradiations. The highest % degradation was obtained at pH 2.5 and irradiation time = 40 min. The % degradation of the acid orange 7 dye using CC1, CC2, and CC3 photocatalysts at pH 2.50 and time = 40 min is 87.38, 96.52, and 98.81, respectively. The degradation of the acid orange 7 dye was markedly reduced with the addition of isopropyl alcohol or disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, confirming that the hydroxyl radicals and holes routes play a fundamental role in the degradation process of the acid orange 7 dye. The degradation of the acid orange 7 dye is slightly affected by the addition of ascorbic acid, confirming a minor concentration of oxygen anion radicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post‐release mortality and movements are critical factors of translocation failure. Yet, survival and movement reflect different demographic and behavioral processes and may therefore have contrasted responses to management, although they are often very difficult to disentangle in animal populations. To provide guidance in animal translocations, we discriminated the respective roles of survival and movement in the long‐term dynamic of a translocated metapopulation of Cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus) in France using multievent capture–recapture analyses of reintroduced (n = 119) and wild‐born individual (n = 163) observations. Annual apparent survival rates were high and structured in age (>0.8 for young and >0.9 for adults) and did not differ between individual origin (wild‐born or released), release methods (aviary or hacking) nor between regions (Alps and Causses), except for those released in the Alps experiencing a reduced survival for one year after release. In contrast, age structure movements differed between populations and origin status. Wild‐born young from the Causses were more erratic than those from the Alps and older individuals, whereas vultures reintroduced in the Causses demonstrated restricted movements during their first year after release. Despite such asymmetric movements, we overall highlight a strong tropism of individuals whatever the region and their origin. Since movement and survival were respectively higher and lower in young compared with adults, we recommend to first release adults in the primary stage of metapopulation translocations for increasing the establishment success at the release site. Further releasing young and securing successful breeding into the wild would increase demographic growth and between‐population connections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Namibia’s Etosha National Park (ENP) is home to many different animals such as lions, jackals, hyenas, zebras, elephants, etc. Each year, grazing animals are infected and die from anthrax caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis. This increases the number of carcasses in the park, which serve as food for scavengers such as jackals. This study investigates the interplay between anthrax transmission in zebras and the scavenging of zebra carcasses in ENP, using a deterministic mathematical model to describe the population dynamics. We strive to answer the following research questions: Under what conditions can the presence of scavengers control anthrax outbreaks in zebra populations? Does carcass production by anthrax help or hurt scavengers in the long term? Standard qualitative analysis techniques distinguished outcomes (stable equilibria) using reproduction numbers as threshold quantities. We found that, when scavengers feed on anthrax-laden carcasses, the scavengers help the zebras, by eliminating potential infection zones for the zebras. In this way they reduce anthrax’s spread by orders of magnitude. We also identify conditions under which the presence of anthrax benefits the scavengers, in terms of death-to-birth ratios for zebras, scavengers and anthrax.

ERADICATING ILLITERACY OF AL-QUR'AN LETTERS ON RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY OF SCAVENGERS AT THE FINAL WASTE DISPOSAL SITE (TPA) OF KARYABARU VILLAGE, PALEMBANG. The purpose of this community service program is to overcome literacy of the Koran in the scavenger community in the garbage dumps of Karyabaru Village, Alang-alang District, Palembang City. The method used The method used in this service is participatory action research (PAR) in the form of assistance in learning. Based on this service activity, it can be concluded that the ability of learning citizens to show an increase in writing and reading hijaiyah letters, this can be seen from the results of the evaluation at each meeting, namely: (1) the ability to write and read hijaiyah letters of learning citizens who are declared complete as many as 18 (90 %) and incomplete 2 (10%). (2) the ability to write and read changes in hijaiyah letters, namely 17 (85%) learning citizens were declared complete and 3 (15%) learning citizens were declared incomplete. (3) the ability of citizens to learn to pronounce letters correctly and fluently according to their meaning 15 (75%) learning citizens were declared complete and 5 (25%) learning residents were declared not complete, and (4) the ability of residents to learn to pronounce letters that were already marked with a long and short line according to the level in tajwid, namely there are 15 (75%) learning residents who have completed and 5 (25%) learning residents are declared incomplete.

Abstract Post‐release mortality and movements are critical factors of translocation failure. Yet, survival and movement reflect different demographic and behavioral processes and may therefore have contrasted responses to management, although they are often very difficult to disentangle in animal populations. To provide guidance in animal translocations, we discriminated the respective roles of survival and movement in the long‐term dynamic of a translocated metapopulation of Cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus) in France using multievent capture–recapture analyses of reintroduced (n = 119) and wild‐born individual (n = 163) observations. Annual apparent survival rates were high and structured in age (>0.8 for young and >0.9 for adults) and did not differ between individual origin (wild‐born or released), release methods (aviary or hacking) nor between regions (Alps and Causses), except for those released in the Alps experiencing a reduced survival for one year after release. In contrast, age structure movements differed between populations and origin status. Wild‐born young from the Causses were more erratic than those from the Alps and older individuals, whereas vultures reintroduced in the Causses demonstrated restricted movements during their first year after release. Despite such asymmetric movements, we overall highlight a strong tropism of individuals whatever the region and their origin. Since movement and survival were respectively higher and lower in young compared with adults, we recommend to first release adults in the primary stage of metapopulation translocations for increasing the establishment success at the release site. Further releasing young and securing successful breeding into the wild would increase demographic growth and between‐population connections.

Abstract Carrion represents an unpredictable and widely distributed primary food source for vultures and other avian scavengers. Avian scavengers in African savanna ecosystems are reported to rely exclusively on visual stimuli to locate carcasses. However, carnivores’ predation of large mammalian herbivores and subsequent competition for access to the carcass can result in considerable noise, often audible over long distances and for prolonged periods. Vultures and other avian scavengers may therefore detect and respond to these auditory cues, as do the mammalian carnivores alongside which vultures have coevolved, but this has not been investigated to date. Working in the Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania, we used diurnal auditory broadcasts to simulate predation and competitive carnivore feeding interactions. Based on the current understanding of avian scavenger ecology, we hypothesized that avian responses to call‐in stations would be evoked exclusively by visual, rather than auditory, cues. We therefore predicted that (a) the arrival of avian scavengers at call‐in stations should be preceded and facilitated by mammalian carnivores and that (b) the arrival of avian scavengers would be positively correlated with the number of mammalian scavengers present, which would increase detectability. We recorded 482 birds during 122 separate playback events. In 22% of these instances, avian scavengers arrived first, ruling out responses based exclusively on visual observations of mammalian carnivores, thereby contradicting our first prediction. Furthermore, the first avian arrivals at survey sessions were inversely related to the number of hyenas and jackals present, contradicting our second prediction. Since no bait or carcasses were used during the experiments, these responses are indicative of the birds’ ability to detect and respond to audio stimuli. Our findings challenge the current consensus of sensory perception and foraging in these species and provide evidence that avian scavengers have the ability to use sound to locate food resources.

The present study has been conducted to document information on breeding behaviour of Egyptian Vultures Neophrons percnopterus from Punjab. This study is based on 688 hours of video records documenting breeding behaviour of a pair of endangered Egyptian Vultures Neophrons percnopterus occupying the same nesting site over three consecutive breeding seasons from 2015 to 2017. The site is located in the hollow of a ventilation window of the Space Observatory in Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab. During the third breeding period (February to August 2017), the nest activity has been extensively video-recorded in egg laying and incubation period, and chick rearing period using a Dome CCTV Camera. Both parents participated in nest building, and of the total recorded incubation time of 339.39h over 23 days the nest was attended for 199.35 and 139.46h by the female and male respectively, and unattended for 0.58h. The incubation period was 42 to 43 days, and the egg laying/hatching intervals between eggs/chicks was five days. A total of six young ones hatched and fledged from three broods of two eggs each. All chicks survived to fledging and no mortality or siblicide of younger chick occurred due to aggression/starvation by elder chick. The high fledging success rate indicates a healthy habitat and food source in the nesting area.

Abstract Scavenging is a common feeding behavior by many species that plays an important role in ecosystem stability and function while also providing ecosystem services. Despite its importance, facultative scavenging on large animal carcasses has generally been overlooked in Asian temperate forest ecosystems. The aim of this study was to determine the composition and feeding behavior of the facultative scavenger guild as it relates to sika deer (Cervus nippon) carcasses in Japanese forests. There are no obligate scavengers or large predators that kill adult ungulates, but humans fill the role of large predators by culling deer for population management. We documented nine vertebrate species scavenging on deer carcasses and found that mammals were more frequent scavengers than birds and also fed for longer durations. This result suggests that there is a facultative scavenger guild composed mainly of mammals in our forest ecosystem and that carcass utilization by birds was restricted to only forest species. Raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and Asian black bears (Ursus thibetanus) were the most frequent scavenger species and also fed for longer durations than other scavengers. There were significant seasonal differences in scavenging by Asian black bear, Japanese marten (Martes melampus), and mountain hawk‐eagle (Nisaetus nipalensis), suggesting the availability of other food resources may alter facultative scavenging by each species. Our results support that scavenging is widespread in this system and likely has important functions including building links in the food web.

Background: Scavengers in landfills have high risk to pollution exposure. Carbon monoxide (CO) is one of important pollutants produced by burning process. Exhaled CO levels in scavengers is predicted to increase, caused by pollution exposure in workplace area. There has been no data on exhaled CO levels in scavengers, especially in Bantar Gebang, Bekasi. Methods: This study used cross-sectional design to the scavengers who work and live in Ciketing Udik, Bantar Gebang, Bekasi. This study was conducted in January - March 2015, by doing interviews and giving questionnaires, and conducted exhaled CO test. Results: Total sample was 108 subjects. Exhaled CO test result was 46 subjects (42.6%) had exhaled CO 5-10 ppm, 36 subjects (33.3%) > 10 ppm, and 26 subjects (24.1%) ≤ 4 ppm. Multivariate analysis between exhaled CO levels with characteristics of the subjects found smoking habits were significantly correlated with CO exhalation levels (p=0,000). Conclusion: There were 33.3% scavengers who had exhaled CO > 10 ppm. Smoking habits were the only factor that significantly correlated with CO in scavengers’ exhalation.

In this study, three different reusable photocatalysts containing different amino acids as a source of non-metals, including L-Arginine, L-Proline, and L-Methionine, have been synthesized for the first time. Using a kinetic study and degradation efficiency test, these visible driven photocatalysts were investigated for their photocatalytic activity in removing antibiotics, including metronidazole (MNZ) and cephalexin (CEX). The morphology, structure and optical properties of the fabricated catalysts were characterized by X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS)/mapping, Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Photoluminescence Spectroscopy (PL) and UV-Vis Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS) analyses. Based on the results of the PL analysis, it was confirmed that doping TiO2 with amino acids containing C, N, and S inhibited the recombination of induced electrons and holes. Among the three catalysts, L-Arginine-TiO2 demonstrated the highest photocatalytic activity for antibiotic degradation, followed by L-Proline-TiO2. According to the response surface methodology (RSM), the optimum operating conditions were a concentration of 50 mg/L MNZ, pH = 4, and catalyst concentration = 1.5 g/L under 90 min of irradiation time. At this condition, 99.9% of MNZ and 81% of TOC were removed. In addition, 97.2% of CEX and 75% TOC were eliminated at the optimum conditions of 1g/L catalyst concentration, 50 mg/L CEX concentration, at neutral pH, and after 120 min irradiation. L-Arginine (1 wt.%)-TiO2 was tested for stability and reusability, and it showed that after five cycles, 10% of its performance had been lost. The role of reactive species in photocatalysis was identified and •OH had the most significant impacts on MNZ and CEX photodegradation. Antibiotic degradation efficiency was adversely affected by the presence of anions and humic acid, but this reduction was not significant for inorganic anions, as only 13% of degradation was lost.

Scavenging fauna plays an integral role in ecosystem functioning, nutrient cycling and circulating organic matter. Thus, baseline data of scavenger assemblages on the NW coast of the Iberian Peninsula that provides information on the abundance of species in different habitats is crucial to understanding the distribution of this understudied group. Two different types of baited traps, to capture scavenging megafaunal and scavenging benthopelagic macrofaunal assemblages, were deployed to compare them among rocky, pebbled and sandy bottoms at shallow subtidal on the northern coast of Portugal. Results showed significant differences in the structure of scavenger assemblages. Scavenging megafaunal assemblages differed between sandy and the other two studied habitats, whereas benthopelagic macrofaunal assemblages differed between pebbles and rocky habitats. This suggests that different drivers seem to shape the structure of benthopelagic macrofauna and megafauna. Regarding megafauna, the dominance of Tritia gastropods in sand habitats in comparison with its absence in rock and its very low abundance in pebbles was mainly responsible for the differences. However, in benthopelagic macrofauna, differences in assemblages between pebbles and rock were more related to changes in the relative abundance of crustacean species (Cirolana cranchii and Socarnes erythrophthalmus) that were less abundant in pebbles.

This study examines the activities of the informal recycling sector in Abuja, Nigeria. This is no formal recycling programme in Abuja. Scavengers carry out waste segregation and identification for recyclable materials. The questionnaires were administered to one thousand, five hundred (1500) scavengers and scrap dealers (stakeholders) to obtain socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. The questionnaires contain age distribution, gender, marital status, education level, working hours, number of stakeholders, citizenship, experience on the job, materials recovered, quantities of recyclables, and income. The majority of the scavengers are between the ages of 21 and 40 years, and they work between 10–12 h. The scavengers are predominantly male. The scavengers sort out recyclables 19.76 kg/c/d. The estimated quantity of recyclables generated in Abuja is 133,688 kg per day (133.688 tons per day). A waste picker earns between N1000 ($2.8) and N1500 ($4.2) per day; itinerant dealers earn between N1500 ($2.8) and N2000 ($5.6) per day, and scrap dealers earn between N10, 000 ($27.77) and N15, 000 ($41.67) per day in Abuja. The activities of stakeholders contribute to the recovery and sorting of secondary waste recyclables. The study highlighted the challenges of scavengers.

Water pollution has become a serious environmental issue. The textile industries using textile dyes are considered to be one of the most polluting of all industrial sectors. The application of solar-light semiconductor catalysts in wastewater treatment, among which TiO2 can be considered a prospective candidate, is limited by rapid recombination of photogenerated charge carriers. To address these limitations, TiO2 was tailored with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) to develop a heterostructure of g-C3N4@TiO2. Herein, a simple hydrothermal synthesis of TiO2@g-C3N4 is presented, using titanium isopropoxide (TTIP) and urea as precursors. The morphological and optical properties and the structure of g-C3N4, TiO2, and the prepared heterostructure TiO2@g-C3N4 (with different wt.% up to 32%), were analyzed by various laboratory methods. The photocatalytic activity was studied through the degradation of methylene blue (MB) aqueous solution under UV-A and simulated solar irradiation. The results showed that the amount of g-C3N4 and the irradiation source are the most important influences on the efficiency of MB removal by g-C3N4@TiO2. Photocatalytic degradation of MB was also examined in realistic conditions, such as natural sunlight and different aqueous environments. The synthesized g-C3N4@TiO2 nanocomposite showed superior photocatalytic properties in comparison with pure TiO2 and g-C3N4, and is thus a promising new photocatalyst for real-life implementation. The degradation mechanism was investigated using scavengers for electrons, photogenerated holes, and hydroxyl radicals to find the responsible species for MB degradation.

This study investigated whether high-intensity exercise training alters the effect of N-acetylcysteine (a precursor of antioxidant glutathione) on exercise-related muscle ionic shifts. We assigned 20 recreationally-active men to 6 weeks of high-intensity exercise training, comprising three weekly sessions of 4–10 × 20-s all-out bouts interspersed by 2 min recovery (SET, n = 10), or habitual lifestyle maintenance (n = 10). Before and after SET, we measured ionic shifts across the working muscle, using leg arteriovenous balance technique, during one-legged knee-extensor exercise to exhaustion with and without N-acetylcysteine infusion. Furthermore, we sampled vastus lateralis muscle biopsies for analyses of metabolites, mitochondrial respiratory function, and proteins regulating ion transport and antioxidant defense. SET lowered exercise-related H+, K+, lactate−, and Na+ shifts and enhanced exercise performance by ≈45%. While N-acetylcysteine did not affect exercise-related ionic shifts before SET, it lowered H+, HCO3−, and Na+ shifts after SET. SET enhanced muscle mitochondrial respiratory capacity and augmented the abundance of Na+/K+-ATPase subunits (α1 and β1), ATP-sensitive K+ channel subunit (Kir6.2), and monocarboxylate transporter-1, as well as superoxide dismutase-2 and glutathione peroxidase-1. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that high-intensity exercise training not only induces multiple adaptations that enhance the ability to counter exercise-related ionic shifts but also potentiates the effect of N-acetylcysteine on ionic shifts during exercise.

Persulfate (PS)-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for pollutant removal have attracted extensive interest, but some controversies about the identification of reactive species were usually observed. This critical review aims to comprehensively introduce basic concepts and rectify cognitive biases and appeals to pay more attention to experimental details in PS-AOPs, so as to accurately explore reaction mechanisms. The review scientifically summarizes the character, generation, and identification of different reactive species. It then highlights the complexities about the analysis of electron paramagnetic resonance, the uncertainties about the use of probes and scavengers, and the necessities about the determination of scavenger concentration. The importance of the choice of buffer solution, operating mode, terminator, and filter membrane is also emphasized. Finally, we discuss current challenges and future perspectives to alleviate the misinterpretations toward reactive species and reaction mechanisms in PS-AOPs.

X‐ray‐based techniques are a powerful tool in structural biology but the radiation‐induced chemistry that results can be detrimental and may mask an accurate structural understanding. In the crystallographic case, cryocooling has been employed as a successful mitigation strategy but also has its limitations including the trapping of non‐biological structural states. Crystallographic and solution studies performed at physiological temperatures can reveal otherwise hidden but relevant conformations, but are limited by their increased susceptibility to radiation damage. In this case, chemical additives that scavenge the species generated by radiation can mitigate damage but are not always successful and the mechanisms are often unclear. Using a protein designed to undergo a large‐scale structural change from breakage of a disulfide bond, radiation damage can be monitored with small‐angle X‐ray scattering. Using this, we have quantitatively evaluated how three scavengers commonly used in crystallographic experiments – sodium nitrate, cysteine, and ascorbic acid – perform in solution at 10°C. Sodium nitrate was the most effective scavenger and completely inhibited fragmentation of the disulfide bond at a lower concentration (500 µM) compared with cysteine (∼5 mM) while ascorbic acid performed best at 5 mM but could only reduce fragmentation by ∼75% after a total accumulated dose of 792 Gy. The relative effectiveness of each scavenger matches their reported affinities for solvated electrons. Saturating concentrations of each scavenger shifted fragmentation from first order to a zeroth‐order process, perhaps indicating the direct contribution of photoabsorption. The SAXS‐based method can detect damage at X‐ray doses far lower than those accessible crystallographically, thereby providing a detailed picture of scavenger processes. The solution results are also in close agreement with what is known about scavenger performance and mechanism in a crystallographic setting and suggest that a link can be made between the damage phenomenon in the two scenarios. Therefore, our engineered approach might provide a platform for more systematic and comprehensive screening of radioprotectants that can directly inform mitigation strategies for both solution and crystallographic experiments, while also clarifying fundamental radiation damage mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Animal migrations influence ecosystem structure, dynamics and persistence of predator and prey populations. The theory of migratory coupling postulates that aggregations of migrant prey can induce large‐scale synchronized movements in predators, and this coupling is consequential for the dynamics of ecological communities. The degree to which humans influence these interactions remains largely unknown. We tested whether creation of large resource pulses by humans such as seasonal herding of reindeer Rangifer tarandus and hunting of moose, Alces alces, can induce migratory coupling with Golden Eagles, Aquila chrysaetos, and whether these lead to demographic consequences for the eagles. Location: Fennoscandia. Methods: We used movement data from 32 tracked Golden Eagles spanning 125 annual migratory cycles over 8 years. We obtained reindeer distribution data through collaboration with reindeer herders based on satellite tracking of reindeer, and moose harvest data from the national hunting statistics for Sweden. We assessed demographic consequences for eagles from ingesting lead from ammunition fragments in moose carcasses through survival estimates and their links with lead concentrations in eagles' blood. Results: In spring, eagles migrated hundreds of kilometres to be spatially and temporally coupled with calving reindeer, whereas in autumn, eagles matched their distribution with the location and timing of moose hunt. Juveniles were more likely to couple with reindeer calving, whereas adults were particularly drawn to areas of higher moose harvest. Due to this coupling, eagles ingested lead from spent ammunition in moose offal and carcasses and the resulting lead toxicity increased the risk of mortality by 3.4 times. Main conclusions: We show how migratory coupling connects landscape processes and that human actions can influence migratory coupling over large spatial scales and increase demographic risks for predators. We provide vital knowledge towards resolving human–wildlife conflicts and the conservation of protected species over a large spatial and temporal scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scavenger birds are common species frequently associated with open habitats, but sympatric vulture species have differing natural history traits that may influence seasonal habitat relationships and responses to natural disturbances, such as hurricanes. We evaluated seasonality and habitat relationships of Black Vultures (Coragyps atratus) and Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) at sites within and outside the path of maximum winds of Hurricane Patricia in western Mexico. We used 1.5-km line transects to survey vultures during dry and rainy seasons in four habitats of the tropical dry forest biome over a 2-yr period after hurricane landfall. We measured habitat structure along each transect using the point-centered quarter method, and determined landscape composition within a 3000-ha circular plot centered around the midpoint of each transect. Vulture abundance was influenced by habitat structure variables of open areas, but at sites affected by hurricane disturbance vulture abundance was positively associated with increased cover of wetlands and agricultural land. Both species of vultures had low abundance in forests, and Black Vultures had significantly higher abundance in agricultural land and wetlands. Season significantly influenced vulture abundance by habitat: agricultural land and wetlands had higher vulture abundance in the rainy season, but forests had higher abundance in the dry season. Disturbance by a major hurricane induced species-specific changes in spatial-temporal abundance of vultures: the Black Vulture in particular had higher abundance in all habitats except wetlands during the dry season, and greater abundance in the first months after hurricane landfall. Hence, although vultures occur predominantly in open areas, they show species-specific habitat associations and responses to hurricane disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic degradation of organic dye by AOP's is an effective method to minimize water pollution. The semiconducting materials have a larger bandgap and difficult to fabricate in the form of 2 D-films. Here we report a simple method for the effective fabrication of undoped and La-doped Bi2O3 thin films by a chemical solution deposition method. The incorporation of lanthanum dopant was successfully done and confirmed with the help of SEM, EDAX, XRD, and other advanced characterization techniques. A brilliant flower-like morphology and incorporation of La ions in Bi2O3 lattice helped the fabricated doped thin film for efficient degradation of carbol fuchsin (CF) organic dye, and Chlorpyrifos (CPS) organic pesticide under 120 min of stimulating light source irradiation. Detailed deposition effect on morphology is discussed. The narrowing of bandgap (2.85 eV) in the doped thin film as compared to undoped Bi2O3 film (3.01 eV) resulted in efficient degradation of CF up to 89% with a rate constant of 0.520 min−1 and CPS to 67% with 0.366 min−1. The scavenger addition confirmed ●OH as the major ROS and, metabolites formed during the degradation are identified by LC-MC analysis of degraded samples of both CF and CPS. The reusability study confirmed the efficiency of films up to multiple catalytic cycles. The work confirmed La-Bi2O3 film was effective for the degradation of moieties from a separate class of organic framework.

In this study, we designed Fe3O4 nanoparticles and heterogeneous Fe3O4-Au nanocomposites with a mean size of 21 and 27 nm that synthesized by Foeniculum vulgare seed extract to photodegrade organic micropollutants under UV and visible light irradiation. The physiochemical characteristics of biogenic nanoparticles/nanocomposite are described by XRD, FTIR, UV-Vis, SEM, EDX, and X-ray elemental mapping. In the presence of nanoparticles and nanocomposites under UV irradiation, the total degradation of contaminants is about 85–90% after 2100 s, while under visible light irradiation, degradation efficiencies are about 70–85% after 4800-s irradiation. Total organic carbon analysis results confirmed photodegradation efficacies. Also, the scavenger's experiments show that hydroxyl radical is the most important specie in the degradation of pollutant model. It can be concluded clearly that Fe3O4 green nanoparticles and Fe3O4-Au green nanocomposite are very simple and effective photocatalyst for degradation of organic pollutants in very short time under illumination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While scavenging has been repeatedly reported for several felid species, surprisingly little information is available on scavenging behavior of the European wildcat (Felis silvestris). To fill this knowledge gap, we used camera traps to document scavenging behavior at the 48 experimentally set deer carcasses at random locations throughout the year. We recorded European wildcats scavenging on 38% of the eight carcasses set in winter and on none set in the other parts of the year. Wildcats fed on two carcasses for extended periods (up to 22 days) with an average of 3.3 visits per day and 7.8‐h interval between the visits. We recorded scavenging throughout the day, but analysis indicated a crepuscular pattern. We also recorded caching behavior on 7% of the visits (n = 105), when wildcats used leaves or snow to partly or completely cover the carcasses. Beside wildcats, 12 other vertebrate species of scavengers were recorded at the carcasses. We recorded agonistic interaction with European badger (Meles meles) and despite its smaller size, the wildcat managed to defend the carcass. The extensive feeding, frequent caching behavior and active defense from scavengers indicate that the wildcats recognized the ungulate carcasses as an important food source in winter and that scavenging could be a neglected aspect of the European wildcat ecology. We also suggest that caching behavior could be regularly used by the European wildcat when feeding on larger carcasses, but was likely previously missed due to limited research effort to record scavenging and caching behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our research demonstrates an improved visible light driven photocatalytic and anti-microbial activity of ZnS/Ag 2 WO 4 nanocomposite (NCs). ZnS/Ag 2 WO 4 NCs was synthesized via chemical co-precipitation method and the characterization was done by using UV–vis DRS, EDAX, XRD, XPS, FTIR, PL, HR-TEM, and N 2 adsorption-desorption. The crystalline nature and co-existence of ZnS and Ag 2 WO 4 NPs were verified by HRTEM, XRD and SAED analysis. The EDAX and XPS validate the presence of Ag, W, O, Zn and S. On comparison of ZnS/Ag 2 WO 4 with pure ZnS (3.52 eV), its band gap was shifted to 3.1 eV which enhanced the photocatalytic performance in visible region. The investigation of mechanism of methylene blue degradation by NCs was performed by scavenging test. The results suggests that hydroxyl radicals as the key species responsible for the photodegradation of MB. The photocatalytic degradation using ZnS/Ag 2 WO 4 (3 mg/L) reached 84% after 140 min. The pseudo-first-order kinetics suits well with MB degradation providing a good correlation coefficient values (R2 > 0.92) and it was fitted to the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model. XRD spectra of recycled ZnS/Ag 2 WO 4 remains same as prepared one indicates its resistance against photo-corrosion. The ZnS/Ag 2 WO 4 NCs showed excellent photocatalytic degradation efficiency compared to that of bare ZnS NPs and Ag 2 WO 4 NPs. The NCs exhibits a broad-spectrum antibacterial property against E. coli (gram -ve bacteria) and B. subtilis (gram +ve bacteria). The novel ZnS/Ag 2 WO 4 could be used as an efficient photocatalysts for the toxic pollutant degradation under visible light and as potent antibacterial agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The porous rod-like Ce-Cr nickelates were fabricated via hydrothermal method. • The best catalyst CNr-d eliminated 91% BPB, 82% AB, and 86% mixed dye effluent. • The phytotoxic properties of BPB dye solutions were studied by Phaseolus vulgaris. • The CNr-d electrode showed superior specific capacitance and excellent cycle life. • The two-electrode symmetric cell was evaluated using CNr-d electrode. Herein, porous rod-like mixed Ce-Cr nickelate perovskites, Ce 1-x Cr x NiO 3 (x = 0, 0.05, 0.15, and 0.25), were fabricated by facile hydrothermal-annealing method. Perovskite rods were characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, EDAX, HRTEM, XPS, ICP-OES, BET, Raman, FT-IR, and UV–Vis analysis. The photocatalytic activity (PCA) of the best catalyst, CNr-d was found to be 91 %, 82 %, and 86 % for the removal of Bromophenol blue (BPB), Azure B (AB), and mixed dye effluent (BPB + AB, 1:1 v/v), respectively, and it maintained 88 % of its catalytic performance after 4 recycle runs under visible light. The scavenger test validated that OH and O 2 − are the active species in CNr-d mediated photodegradation. Degradation products originated from the photodegradation were identified by LC-MS analysis. The phytotoxic characteristics of BPB samples (treated, control, and untreated) were investigated in kidney bean for real-life applications. The electrochemical performance was assessed through CV, GCD, and EIS. The CNr-d material exhibited remarkable specific capacity (309 Fg−1 at 0.5 Ag−1) and superior cycling performance (91 % after 3000 cycles). The capacitive contribution enhanced from 73 to 90 % along with the increase in scan rates. A symmetrical two-electrode cell was assembled, utilizing CNr-d as the negative and positive electrodes, suitable for real-time application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study focused on developing Cerium (Ce)-modified Titanium dioxide Oxide (TiO 2)/Graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-C 3 N 4) nanocomposites (NCs) using a hydrothermal synthesis approach to enhance photocatalytic activity under visible-light exposure. The as-prepared Ce-TiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 NCs were investigated by PXRD, UV-Vis DRS, FE-SEM with EDX mapping, HRTEM, XPS spectra and transient photocurrent response, respectively. The assessment of photocatalytic activity was conducted on the prepared materials, revealing a significant improvement in the photocatalytic performance of the Ce-TiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 NCs compared to pure TiO 2 or g-C 3 N 4 by facilitating the effective visible-light utilization ability, separation and transfer of photoinduced electron-hole pairs within the coupling of TiO 2 and g-C 3 N 4 matrix. The Ce-TiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 NCs exhibited remarkable degradation efficiency for the decomposition of cationic dyes, including Crystal Violet (CV), Methylene Blue (MB), and Rhodamine B (RhB), achieving degradation rates of 98%, 93%, and 83% within 120 min. Moreover, Trapping experiments revealed that the predominant reactive oxygen species responsible for degrading CV, MB, and RhB dyes with the Ce-TiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 catalyst was the O2̅ • radical. The possible photo-degradation mechanism and stability of the prepared Ce-TiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 catalyst were also proposed. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The preparation of ZnO through a co-precipitation technique and ZnO@GO through a solid-state method without solvents. • Nanohybrid exhibits a smaller particle size compared to the unadorned ZnO. • The band gap of ZnO@GO was further decreased to 2.5 eV after GO was loaded onto ZnO. • The close interfacial interaction between GO and ZnO facilitated the photocatalytic degradation process, resulting in the intriguing elimination of nearly 98.5 % of MB within a superior 22 min. • The hydroxyl radicals are the primary factor in the breakdown of MB dye molecules. • The composite of GO@ZnO(2 wt%) exhibited remarkable synergistic efficiency for both functions. The band gap plays a critical role in determining the photocatalytic efficiency of semiconductor catalysts. Zinc oxide (ZnO) photocatalysts have gained significant attention in sustainable energy and environmental pollution remediation. However, despite its potential, ZnO photocatalytic performance has been hindered by its wide band gap and rapid charge carrier recombination. Numerous techniques have been created to tackle this problem, including doping, nanostructuring, creating oxygen defects, surface modification, and utilizing hybrid nanomaterials. The ZnO and ZnO@GO with different GO contents were synthesized using uncomplicated co-precipitation and solid-state reaction techniques. The ZnO@GO possesses bandgap (Eg) values of 2.5 eV, which is advantageous for achieving more significant photocatalytic activity compared to the unadorned ZnO with Eg values of 3.24 eV. This study investigated the effectiveness of the synthesized catalysts in treating methylene blue (MB) dye through visible light-induced photoreaction. The ZnO@GO nanohybrid exhibited remarkable performance, achieving a decomposition rate of 98.4 % for MB within a 22-minute timeframe. The rate constant of 0.1343 min−1 is significantly greater than that of the unadorned ZnO 0.0448 min−1. Graphene oxide (GO) plays a crucial role in the photocatalytic process by facilitating the gathering and transportation of electrons. This enhancement generates reactive oxygen species and hydroxyl radicals, effectively breaking down MB. The scavenger test results provided compelling evidence that the degradation of MB primarily occurred due to the presence of hydroxyl radicals, which were identified as the most active species in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subjective wellbeing is a negative or positive assessment of the experience experienced in all aspects of life. The purpose of this study was to identify the subjective welfare level of scavengers based on sociodemography. Using a quantitative approach with survey design methods and with incidental sampling techniques, the sample in the study involved 87 scavengers composed of 41 men and 46 women, aged 17-55 years, and domiciled in Banda Aceh. Subjective prosperity was measured using Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE). The analysis methods used were descriptive statistics and chi square test for independent. The result of chi square statistic analysis showed that there was no correlation between subjective welfare of the scavengers in sociodemographic group (gender p > 0.05; age p > 0.05; last education p > 0.05; marital status p > 0.05; income p > 0.05). The result of descriptive analysis showed that the dominant research subjects were at high subjective well-being level (58 subjects or 66,7%).

Background. Electronic waste (e-waste) contains both valuable and hazardous materials. E-waste scavengers specialize in the collection and crude recycling of waste electronics to retrieve valuable metals, which are then sold. These activities provide an income for scavengers, but also expose them to toxic heavy metals such as lead (Pb) and copper (Cu). Objectives. The aim of the present study was to investigate the level of awareness and concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Cu, zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn)) in the blood levels of e-waste scavengers at Jakande dumpsite, Alaba International Market, Lagos, Nigeria. Methods. Material and data were collected by empirical survey with the use of a questionnaire to obtain information from e-waste scavengers. Blood samples of the scavengers in the present study (30 adult males exposed to recycling processes) were collected and concentrations of heavy metals were determined through acid digestion and the use of an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AGILENT 55B AA, 2010). Results. The geometric means of blood levels of Pb, Cu, Zn and Mn were 11.0, 33.85, 126.15 and 19.38 μg / dL, respectively. High concentrations of Pb and Mn (11.0 and 19.38 μg / dL) were found in the blood samples, while Zn and Cu (126.15 and 33.85 μg / dL) showed low concentrations. The maximum blood level of lead (BPb) (24.0 μg / dL) was extremely high compared to the maximum BPb of occupationally exposed males. Statistical analysis of the questionnaires showed that all of the respondents were male, and more than half (56.7%) were between 21–30 years of age and had been involved in recycling of e-waste for 1–5 years. The results showed that 83% of the respondents were aware that hazardous fractions in e-waste require special treatment, while 76.7% were aware of the possible negative impact on their health. Conclusions. Lack of education, poverty and lack of effective enforcement of e-waste management and regulations are the major contributors to the current situation and thus scavengers carry on with their activities unhindered. The authors recommend the use of protective clothing, sensitization visits and awareness campaigns on the safe disposal of hazardous components. Participant consent. Obtained Ethics Approval. The study was approved by the ethics committee of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja Lagos. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Oxidative stress is generated by the imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and antioxidant scavenger system’s activity. Increased ROS, such as superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical and peroxynitrite, likely contribute to the development and complications of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD). In genetically modified mouse models of atherosclerosis, the overexpression of ROS-generating enzymes and uncontrolled ROS formation appear to be associated with accelerated atherosclerosis. Conversely, the overexpression of ROS scavenger systems reduces or stabilizes atherosclerotic lesions, depending on the genetic background of the mouse model. In humans, higher levels of circulating biomarkers derived from the oxidation of lipids (8-epi-prostaglandin F2α, and malondialdehyde), as well as proteins (oxidized low-density lipoprotein, nitrotyrosine, protein carbonyls, advanced glycation end-products), are increased in conditions of high cardiovascular risk or overt ASCVD, and some oxidation biomarkers have been reported as independent predictors of ASCVD in large observational cohorts. In animal models, antioxidant supplementation with melatonin, resveratrol, Vitamin E, stevioside, acacetin and n-polyunsaturated fatty acids reduced ROS and attenuated atherosclerotic lesions. However, in humans, evidence from large, placebo-controlled, randomized trials or prospective studies failed to show any athero-protective effect of antioxidant supplementation with different compounds in different CV settings. However, the chronic consumption of diets known to be rich in antioxidant compounds (e.g., Mediterranean and high-fish diet), has shown to reduce ASCVD over decades. Future studies are needed to fill the gap between the data and targets derived from studies in animals and their pathogenetic and therapeutic significance in human ASCVD.

We present new specimens of a teratorn (Aves, Teratornithidae) from the Chasicoan (early late Miocene) of southwestern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The specimens consist of an incomplete left ulna without its proximal end and two fragments of a radius. The ulna is very similar to, but larger than, Vultur, and its size and the relative slenderness of the distal shaft excludes it from Cathartidae and is diagnostic of Teratornithidae. Its length is very similar to Teratornis merriami, so its wingspan would have been around 4 m. Coming from sediments of the Barrancas Member of the Arroyo Chasicó Formation is older than Argentavis magnificens and so far the oldest record for Teratornithidae in Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pacific pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) invasions, thought to originate from populations introduced and established in Russia, occurred along the Norwegian coast in 2017 and 2019. Despite several thousand pink salmon entering and establishing in northern Norwegian rivers, current understanding of the ecological effect of the species in northern Europe is limited. Scavengers feeding on pacific salmon carcasses are important vectors for the transport of marine derived energy and nutrients to terrestrial ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest, North America, where the salmon naturally occur. However the role of terrestrial and aquatic scavengers in the consumption and removal of pink salmon beyond the salmon's native range is unknown. This study has identified terrestrial and sub-aquatic vertebrate scavengers on pink salmon carcasses in a sub-arctic river in northern Norway. Avian scavengers filmed by a camera placed near sites baited with pink salmon carcasses included the Eurasian magpie (Pica pica), hooded crow (Corvus cornix), common raven (Corvus corax), the European herring gull (Larus argentatus), redwing (Turdus iliacus) and goosander (Mergus merganser). However, the largest carcass weight was removed by red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Carcasses entering Vesterelv River in 2019 were estimated to provide energy and nutrients to the river ecosystem an order of magnitude lower than in the Pacific Northwest. This study provides some of the first information in northern Europe on the mechanisms and quantification of energy and nutrient transfer from the ocean to riparian environments via introduced Pacific pink salmon. Results help to begin to determine the ecological effect of pink salmon and the development of appropriate management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater containing a high concentration of organic and emerging pollutants has been and remains a common and urgent issue, though many conventional methods are losing their effectiveness due to wastewater's chemical complexity. Electron beam (EB) is a common type of irradiation used in wastewater treatment, as it has the ability to create free radicals to break down chemical bonds, which is beneficial for treating modern wastewater complex matrix. As a result, many systems have been developed that make EB cheaper and easier to scale up. This paper reviews the application of EB in wastewater treatment along with many factors (especially scavengers) attributing to the effectiveness of this treatment. It has been proven that EB is used in a variety of ways and is ultimately effective in wastewater treatments. However, in order to achieve high efficiency, EB has been utilized in a relatively high dose, which results from the competition between scavengers and target compounds and the complex structure of many organic compounds. Also, the subordinate radical forming also plays an important role in the pollutants degradation by using EB when there is still a limitation in this field. It is important to perform more research on scavengers and secondary radicals in order to overcome the limitation of EB and make it become state-of-the-art technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CeVO4 as black-light-driven photocatalysts were successfully synthesized by a sol-gel method using citric acid as a complexing agent with subsequent 450–600°C calcination for 2 h. The as-synthesized products were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The TGA analysis shows three-step weight losses caused by evaporation and decomposition of adsorbed water, organic compound, citric complex and phase transformation. X-ray diffraction and SEM results show that the samples were specified as tetragonal CeVO4 structure with particle sizes of 50–60 nm, 100–200 nm, 600–1000 nm and 800–1500 nm for 450, 500, 550, and 600°C calcination, respectively. In this research, CeVO4 nanoparticles with 450°C calcination showed the highest photocatalytic activity with •OH radical as the main active species involved in photodegradation of MB under black light irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bi 12 GeO 20 nanowires uniformly decorated with ultrafine Ag 3 PO 4 nanoparticles (Bi 12 GeO 20 /Ag 3 PO 4) were synthesized. The Bi 12 GeO 20 /Ag 3 PO 4 nanowire composite with 10 wt% of Ag 3 PO 4 exhibited significantly improved photocatalytic performance and excellent stability over pure Bi 12 GeO 20 , Ag 3 PO 4 and other composites, with the RhB dye decomposition efficiency reaching 94.2%. The electrochemical and photocurrent response measurements suggested that the electrons generated in Bi 12 GeO 20 during the photocatalytic reaction could be quickly transferred to the Ag 3 PO 4 surface, resulting in increased electron/hole separation. The trapping experiments with different scavengers and ESR results revealed that holes and ·O 2− were the dominant active species for the photocatalytic decomposition of RhB, and the presence of Ag 3 PO 4 was beneficial to generate more ·O 2− species and enlarge the active surface area, leading to significantly improved photocatalytic performance. The presented photocatalyst heterostructure composed of appropriate semiconductor nanoparticles and one-dimensional nanowires in this study could be extended to the construction of other photocatalysts for a wide variety of photocatalytic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The glass-supported zinc oxide (ZnO)-catalyzed photodegradation of Allura Red AC (AR) was studied in aqueous solution as function of solar light irradiation time, solution pH, amount of ZnO, initial dye concentration, some inorganic anions ( , , Cl‒, ), and hydrogen peroxide. The maximum rate of AR degradation was observed in the acidic solution at pH 3. The degradation rate of AR increased with increased dosage of the ZnO, and decreased with increased initial concentration of the dye solution. The presence of ion increased the photodegradation rate while, , , and Cl‒ decreased the reaction rate. The addition of H2O2 showed a synergistic effect on dye degradation. However, mannitol and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) significantly reduced the photodegradation of AR indicating hydroxyl radicals played a key role in dye degradation process. Hence, these results confirm that the glass-supported ZnO-catalyzed photodegradation can be used to clean dye-contaminated industrial wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Each year, hunters from 12 of the 27 European Union (EU) countries and the UK shoot over 6 million large game mammals, 12 million rabbits and hares and over 80 million birds. They support an international game meat market worth over 1.1 thousand million Euros. Animals shot with lead ammunition frequently contain lead fragments in the carcass which contaminate meals made from game meat with concentrations of lead substantially above the maximum allowable level (ML) set by European Commission Regulation EC1881/2006 for meat from domesticated animals. This poses a health risk to frequent consumers of wild-shot game meat, with children and pregnant women being particularly vulnerable. Total replacement of lead rifle and shotgun ammunition with available non-toxic alternatives is needed for all hunting in EU nations to prevent exposure of humans and wildlife to ammunition-derived lead and to allow the depletion of the long-term environmental legacy of lead from spent ammunition. We propose that EC1881/2006 is amended to incorporate an ML for game meats as a supplementary measure to the replacement of lead ammunition. This would harmonise food safety standards for lead in meats traded across and imported into the EU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]