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Background: Acute fish toxicity test (AFT) is one of the cornerstones of environmental risk assessment (ERA) of chemicals for the aquatic environment. Despite many efforts to find an alternative able to fully replace the test, there is still lasting pressure from stakeholders for AFT results. Results: Here, we present the results of a case study with eight pharmaceuticals from various pharmaceutical groups with different levels of expected toxicity to fish. Selected compounds were tested in two validated alternative tests—fish embryo toxicity test with zebrafish (Danio rerio) (zFET) and in vitro RTgill-W1 assay according to their corresponding OECD guidelines TG 236 and TG 249, respectively. Data for AFT were collected from PubMed and ECOTOX knowledgebase databases, and acute toxicity to fish was further predicted in silico by the ECOSAR program. Predicted environmental risks (risk quotients, RQ, calculated using the exposure data from NORMAN) from both zFET and RTgill-W1 well correlated with the average RQs based on AFT LC50s. The strongest and most significant correlation was observed while comparing the AFT results with the median of combined alternative methods (zFET, RTgill-W1, ECOSAR). Conclusions: This proposed approach combining experimental data with modeling could serve as a reliable tool for predictions of environmental risks promoting the 3R alternatives to acute fish toxicity testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is no doubt that when solid surfaces are modified, the functional groups and atoms directly bonded to solid atoms play a major role in adsorption interactions with molecules or resins. In this study, the adhesion and dissociation between epoxy resin and molecules containing Si atoms were analyzed. The analysis, conducted in contact with the solid surface of silicon, utilized quantum chemical calculations based on a molecular model. We compared some Si-containing molecular models to test quantum chemical calculations that contribute to the study of adhesion and dissociation between epoxy resins and solid surfaces somehow other than simple potential energy curve calculations. The AFIR (artificial force induced reaction) method, implemented in the GRRM (global reaction route mapping) program, was employed to separate an epoxy resin model molecule and three types of silicon compounds (Si(CH3)2(OH)2, Si(CH3)4, and (CH3)2SiF2) in three directions, determining their minimum dissociation energy when changing the applied energy by 2.5 kJ/mol. In systems with weak hydrogen bonds, such as Si(CH3)4 or (CH3)2SiF2, the energy required for dissociation was not large; however, in systems with strong hydrogen bonds, such as Si(CH3)2(OH)2, dissociation was more difficult in the vertical direction. Although anisotropy due to hydroxyl groups was calculated in the horizontal direction, dissociation remained relatively easy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Lynch syndrome (LS) carries a substantial lifetime risk of colorectal cancer which is currently mitigated by biennial colonoscopy surveillance. Paramount to the surveillance programme is the removal of adenomas before malignant transformation but there is an associated service burden and morbidity of repeated endoscopy. We investigated if faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) for faecal haemoglobin has the diagnostic performance to replace colonoscopy. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, patients due to undergo planned surveillance for LS between November 2020 and April 2022 were sent two FIT kits prior to colonoscopy. Test diagnostic performance of colorectal cancer (CRC), advanced and non-advanced adenoma detection was calculated for single and double FIT strategies. A faecal-Hb of 10 µg Hb/g was considered positive. Results: In total, 78 patients, with 45 (57.7%) female, median age 52 years (IQR 41–63), completed at least one FIT and colonoscopy. The median time from FIT to colonoscopy was 47 days. A single FIT was positive in 7/30 cases of adenoma (2/3 advanced, 5/27 non-advanced). A total of 64 (82.1% of FIT1T returners) completed a second FIT. Using the greatest of the two FITs (FIT2TMAX) 8/26 (2/3 advanced, 4/23 non-advanced), patients with adenomas were identified. There were no cases of CRC. The sensitivity for adenoma detection was 23.3% and 23.1%, respectively. Conclusions: In patients with LS awaiting colonoscopy, FIT has a low sensitivity for detecting adenomas and advanced adenomas. This is not improved by the addition of a second FIT test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-Content Crumb Rubber Asphalt (HCRA) binder improves road performance and address waste tyre pollution, yet its ageing behaviour is not fully understood. In this study, 70# neat asphalt binder and HCRA with rubber contents of 35% and 50% were selected and aged through the Thin Film Oven Test (TFOT) and Pressure Ageing Vessel (PAV) tests. FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) and DSR (Dynamic Shear Rheometer) were employed to investigate their chemical composition and rheological properties. The FTIR results show that HCRA's chemical test results are similar to those of 70#, but HCRA is more susceptible to ageing. I(C=C) strength decreases with age. The DSR results show that HCRA outperforms 70# neat asphalt binder in terms of viscoelasticity, high temperature performance and fatigue resistance, and exhibits greater resistance to ageing. The ageing index (AI) was obtained through a calculation using the formula, and overall, 70# neat asphalt binder is more sensitive to ageing behaviour and less resistant to ageing, and HCRA is particularly outstanding for fatigue resistance. A strong correlation is observed between chemical composition and some rheological property indicators. Therefore, we are able to predict the rheological properties using chemical composition indicators. This study provides insight into the ageing behaviour of a neat asphalt binder and an HCRA binder and demonstrates that the HCRA binder outperforms conventional asphalt in several performance areas. It also provides theoretical support for the consumption of waste tyres to prepare high content crumb rubber asphalt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-throughput transcriptomics (HTTr) uses gene expression profiling to characterize the biological activity of chemicals in in vitro cell-based test systems. As an extension of a previous study testing 44 chemicals, HTTr was used to screen an additional 1,751 unique chemicals from the EPA's ToxCast collection in MCF7 cells using 8 concentrations and an exposure duration of 6 h. We hypothesized that concentration-response modeling of signature scores could be used to identify putative molecular targets and cluster chemicals with similar bioactivity. Clustering and enrichment analyses were conducted based on signature catalog annotations and ToxPrint chemotypes to facilitate molecular target prediction and grouping of chemicals with similar bioactivity profiles. Enrichment analysis based on signature catalog annotation identified known mechanisms of action (MeOAs) associated with well-studied chemicals and generated putative MeOAs for other active chemicals. Chemicals with predicted MeOAs included those targeting estrogen receptor (ER), glucocorticoid receptor (GR), retinoic acid receptor (RAR), the NRF2/KEAP/ARE pathway, AP-1 activation, and others. Using reference chemicals for ER modulation, the study demonstrated that HTTr in MCF7 cells was able to stratify chemicals in terms of agonist potency, distinguish ER agonists from antagonists, and cluster chemicals with similar activities as predicted by the ToxCast ER Pathway model. Uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) embedding of signature-level results identified novel ER modulators with no ToxCast ER Pathway model predictions. Finally, UMAP combined with ToxPrint chemotype enrichment was used to explore the biological activity of structurally related chemicals. The study demonstrates that HTTr can be used to inform chemical risk assessment by determining in vitro points of departure, predicting chemicals' MeOA and grouping chemicals with similar bioactivity profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computational Medicine encompasses the application of Statistical Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence methods on several traditional medical approaches, including biochemical testing which is extremely valuable both for early disease prognosis and long-term individual monitoring, as it can provide important information about a person's health status. However, using Statistical Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence algorithms to analyze biochemical test data from Electronic Health Records requires several preparatory steps, such as data manipulation and standardization. This study presents a novel approach for utilizing Electronic Health Records from large, real-world databases to develop predictive precision medicine models by exploiting Artificial Intelligence. Furthermore, to demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach, we compare the performance of various traditional Statistical Machine Learning and Deep Learning algorithms in predicting individuals' future biochemical test outcomes. Specifically, using data from a large real-world database, we exploit a longitudinal format of the data in order to predict the future values of 15 biochemical tests and identify individuals at high risk. The proposed approach and the extensive model comparison contribute to the personalized approach that modern medicine aims to achieve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guava is a popular fruit of the tropics and subtropics region due to its enormous health potential. High ethylene evolution, poor postharvest handling, and insufficient postharvest treatments limit its shelf life. The present study explored the role of UV-C light (1.6, 2.0, and 2.4 kJ m−2) on physicochemical parameters, antioxidative compounds, and defense-related enzymes in cold-stored guava. The results demonstrated that UV-C (2.0 kJ m–2) significantly delayed weight loss (8.12%), firmness loss (3.94 N), and decay incidence (9.63%) in guava fruits. Likewise, UV-C treatment enhanced bioactive compounds such as total phenols (251.42 mg GAE 100 g–1 FW), flavonoids (80.86 mg CE 100 g–1 FW), ascorbic acid (160.20 mg 100 g–1 FW), and antioxidant capacity (4.17 µmol TE g–1 FW) as compared to control. The UV-C (2.0 kJ m−2) was also effective against defense enzymes reporting higher levels of catalase (2.18-fold), superoxide dismutase (1.34-fold), peroxidase (1.44-fold), and proline (1.19-fold) activity. In addition, the 2.0 kJ m−2 dose of UV-C light also displayed the elevated activity of the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (1.71-fold) enzyme. Further, multiple linear regression analysis suggested that test defense chemicals and antioxidant systems contributed 97.62, 99.71, and 89.99% variation in physiological weight loss, firmness, and decay incidence, respectively. Finally, the current study suggests that UV-C treatment of 2.0 kJ m−2 offers a non-chemical and eco-friendly method to extend the shelf life of cold-stored guava fruits by 20 days via upregulating the levels of defense chemicals and antioxidant systems while preserving their quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to prepare alkyd–melamine–ketone combinations from short‐oil alkyd resins synthesized using coconut oil fatty acid and waste poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) intermediate (bis(2‐hydroxyethyl) terephthalate, BHET) for coating applications with a green technology approach. For this aim, waste PET flakes obtained from post‐consumer water bottles were depolymerized by the glycolysis reaction. Purified depolymerization intermediate (BHET) was incorporated into the formulation of the four‐component alkyd resin, completely instead of the diol. For comparison, reference alkyds without waste PET were also synthesized. Then, ketone modifications of alkyd resins were carried out using cyclohexanone formaldehyde (CHF) resin by blending method. For this, firstly, melamine formaldehyde (MF) resin was added to the alkyd resin at a ratio of 40% by weight to obtain alkyd–melamine formaldehyde (Alkyd–MF) resin. Then, ketone‐modified blends were prepared at ratios of Alkyd–MF/CHF of 80/20, 70/30, 60/40, and 50/50 by weight. The effect of using ketone (CHF) resin at different ratios and the presence of BHET on the coating properties and thermal behaviors of alkyd–ketone blend films were investigated. At the end of the study, high‐gloss (151–154 GU) and medium‐hard (71–120 König second) films exhibiting excellent adhesion (100%) were obtained from alkyd–ketone blends. In both the reference and PET‐based blend series, adding CHF resin to the alkyd–amino (Alkyd–MF) resin improved all physical coating properties. Moreover, with increasing CHF resin ratios, hardness, gloss, and abrasion properties increased in both series. Although acceptable and usable results have been obtained in all ratios of CHF resin (20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%), the optimum CHF resin ratio for each physical coating properties has changed depending on the desired properties and expectations. These blend films resisted corrosive chemicals such as concentrated alkali, acid, and salt solutions for 72 h without damage, and at the end of the 18 h not affected by water. Acetone, toluene, methanol, and ethyl acetate did not affect these films in any way. All films performed excellently in repeated environmental resistance testing over 10 cycles, simulating changing climate conditions. In the chemical coating tests, superior results were obtained with all CHF resin ratios. The thermal resistance of Alkyd–MF/CHF blend films was found to be quite high. The incorporation of CHF resin into the alkyd–amino (Alkyd–MF) resin improved thermal resistance, and as the amount of CHF resin increased the thermal stability increased in both blend series. Moreover, the thermal resistance of PET‐based blend films was higher than their counterparts in reference blends due to the use of long‐chain BHET having an aromatic unit. Highlights: Alkyd–MF/CHF blends using alkyds with and without PET were prepared.Good physical/excellent chemical coating properties/high thermal resistance.Incorporation of CHF into Alkyd–MF improved coating/thermal properties.CHF significantly improved the individual alkali resistances of the alkyd.As CHF increased, physical coating properties/thermal resistance increased.The thermal stabilities of the PET‐based blend were even higher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skin sensitization is a key endpoint for safety assessment, especially for cosmetics and personal care products. The adverse outcome pathway for skin sensitization and the chemical and biological events driving the induction of human skin sensitization are now well understood. Several non‐animal test methods have been developed to predict sensitizer potential by measuring the impact of chemical sensitizers on these key events. In this work, we have focused on Key Event 1 (the molecular initiating step), which is based on formation of a covalent adduct between skin sensitizers and endogenous proteins and/or peptides in the skin. There exists three in‐chemico assays approved by the Organization for Economic Co‐operation and Development—(1) Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (DPRA), (2) Amino Acid Derivative Reactivity Assay (ADRA), and (3) Kinetic Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (kDPRA) to quantify peptide/amino acid derivative depletion after incubation with test chemicals. However, overestimated depletion of the cysteine‐based peptide/amino acid derivatives is known in such assays because of the dimerization of the thiol group. In this present work, we report the synthesis and structural confirmation of the dimer of N‐(2‐[1‐naphthyl]acetyl)‐L‐cysteine (NAC) from the ADRA assay to allow simultaneous determination of (a) peptide depletion by quantifying NAC monomer and (b) peptide dimerization by quantifying NAC dimer thereby eliminating the overestimation. We present a case study with three chemicals to demonstrate the importance of this approach. Thus, this simultaneous assay gives a more informed view of the peptide reactivity of chemicals to better identify skin sensitizers. Guidelines for skin sensitization addressing Key Event 1 include three in‐chemico methods: DPRA, ADRA, and kDPRA. However, overestimated depletion of the Cysteine‐based peptide/amino acid derivatives is known in such assays because of the dimerization of the thiol group. In this present work, we synthesized NAC dimer from the ADRA assay to allow simultaneous determination of peptide depletion and dimerization, thus eliminating the overestimation. We present a case study with three chemicals to demonstrate the importance of this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blending biopolymer is a key objective in development of innovative materials and effectively enhances the characteristics of the components to achieve tailored properties. This study introduces five eco-friendly blends in different ratios, created by melt-blending polymers, incorporating Pistacia atlantica subsp. mutica gum into plasticized poly (lactic acid) with 16% acetyl tributyl citrate. To perform a comprative analysis of blends ratios, comprehensive techniques were applied, including differential scanning calorimetry, tensile testing, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and evaluations of water absorption behavior, chemical resistance, and biodegradability. The 70/30 (plasticized poly (lactic acid)/P. atlantica) blend was mechanically superior, exhibiting the greatest elongation at break and the lowest yield strength and Young's modulus. FTIR analysis showed consistent spectral patterns across the 3000 to 650 cm− 1 range, with numerous absorption bands. DSC analysis identified the highest and lowest glass transition temperatures for the 90/10 and 70/30 blends, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy highlighted the development of more distinct island-sea structures as the proportion of P. atlantica gum increased. Water absorption tests differentiated the 90/10 blend as the most absorbent, while the 70/30 blend absorbed the least. Chemical resistance testing revealed all blends gained weight in HCl, but only the 90/10 blend lost weight in NaOH. All samples were confirmed to be highly biodegradable, surpassing 50% degradation after 6 months. Overall, the findings suggest that blending plasticized poly (lactic acid) and P. atlantica gum enhances the flexibility and performance of poly (lactic acid), warranting further attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complexity of cancer requires a comprehensive approach to understand its diverse manifestations and underlying mechanisms. Initially outlined by Hanahan and Weinberg in 2000 and updated in 2010, the hallmarks of cancer provide a conceptual basis for understanding inherent variability in cancer biology. Recent expansions have further elucidated additional hallmarks, including phenotypic plasticity and senescent cells. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has identified the key characteristics of carcinogens (KCCs) to evaluate their carcinogenic potential. We analyzed chemicals of concern for environmental exposure that interact with specific receptors to induce genomic instability, epigenetic alterations, immune suppression, and receptormediated effects, thereby contributing to chronic inflammation. Despite their varying degrees of carcinogenicity, these chemicals have similar KCC profiles. Our analysis highlights the pivotal role of receptor binding in activating most other KCCs, underscoring their significance in cancer initiation. Although KCCs are associated with early molecular or cellular events, they do not encompass processes directly linked to full cellular malignancy. Thus, there is a need to integrate clear endpoints that anchor KCCs to the acquisition of a complete malignant phenotype into chemical testing. From the perspective of toxicology and cancer research, an all-encompassing strategy that incorporates both existing and novel KCCs and cancer hallmarks is essential to enable the targeted identification of prevalent carcinogens and facilitate zone-specific prevention strategies. To achieve this goal, collaboration between the KCC and cancer hallmarks communities becomes essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Current guidelines recommend colonoscopy‐based surveillance to decrease the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) among these participants with above‐average risk. The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) holds promise as a viable alternative surveillance tool, but the existing evidence regarding the use of settings remains limited. Therefore, our aim is to evaluate the CRC incidence rates in individuals with above‐average CRC risk and the relationship between FIT surveillance and CRC incidence. Methods: The retrospective cohort study was performed based on the CRC screening program between January 2012 and December 2022, in Tianjin, China. This cohort study included 12,515 participants aged 40–74 years with above‐average risk. The primary outcomes were the incidence rates of CRC and advanced colorectal neoplasia which were expressed as the number of events per 100,000 person‐years. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models. Results: We included 12,515 participants aged 40–74 years, of whom 4980 received subsequent FIT surveillance during the study period. Among these participants, 51 CRC cases occurred in the non‐FIT surveillance group (incidence rate, 233.88 per 100,000 person‐years) and there were 29 cases of CRC in the FIT surveillance group (incidence rate, 184.85 per 100,000 person‐years), resulting in an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 0.58 (95% CI, 0.37–0.91). Meanwhile, 428 advanced colorectal neoplasia cases were reported in the non‐FIT surveillance group, while 269 cases occurred in the FIT surveillance group, with significantly lower incidence of advanced colorectal neoplasia in the FIT surveillance group (IRR: 0.64; 95% CI, 0.55–0.74). Compared with the non‐FIT surveillance group, the FIT surveillance group had a 54% decreased risk of developing CRC (HR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.29–0.74) and a 45% decreased risk of developing advanced colorectal neoplasia (HR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.47–0.64). Conclusions: In this retrospective cohort study, above‐average risk individuals who received subsequent FIT in the intervals between colonoscopies were associated with a reduction of CRC and advanced colorectal neoplasia incidence, which indicated the value and utility of FIT in the surveillance program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the key event 1 of skin sensitization defined as covalent binding or haptenization of sensitizer to either thiol or amino group of skin proteins, a sensitizer not only covalently binds with skin proteins but also interacts with nucleophilic small molecules such as glutathione (GSH). Although GSH would not be directly associated with skin sensitization, this interaction may be applied for developing an alternative test method simulating key event 1, haptenization. Thus, the aim of the present study was to examine whether N-acetyl-L-cysteine methyl ester (NACME), a thiol-containing compound, was selected as an electron donor to determine whether NACME reacted with sensitizers. Following a reaction of NACME with a sensitizer in a 96-well plate, the remaining NACME was measured spectrophotometrically using 5,5'-dithio-bis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB). Following the optimization of test conditions with two different vehicles, such as acetonitrile (ACN) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 64 test chemicals were tested to determine the predictive capacity of current NACME test method. The results obtained showed, the predictive capacity of 94.6% sensitivity, 88.9% specificity, and 92.2% accuracy utilizing DMSO as a vehicle with a cutoff NACME depletion of 5.85%. The three parameters were also over 85% in case of ACN. These values were comparable to or better than other OECD-approved test methods. Data demonstrated that a simple thiol-containing compound NACME might constitute as a reliable candidate for identifying reactive skin sensitizers, and that this method be considered as practical method as a screening tool for assessing a chemical's tendency to initiate skin sensitization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biological early warning system with fish behavior as the detection index is an efficient and rapid early warning technology for the ecological damage caused by water pollutants. However, the attempt to apply the scototaxis (dark preference) behavior of fish to biological early warning is still relatively lacking. In this study, we delved into the dark and light preferences of the rare minnows (Gobiocypris rarus), employing three distinct tank configurations. Additionally, we systematically examined the modulating effects of environmental illumination, nutritional status, and the number of test subjects on this behavior, aiming to establish optimal experimental parameters for its observation. Furthermore, cadmium ions [Cd2+], tricaine methanesulfonate [MS222], and p-chloroaniline were employed as representative heavy metal ions, neuroactive agents, and organic toxicants, respectively, to test the impact of chemicals on scototaxis in gradient concentrations. The results demonstrated that the rare minnow exhibited a clear scototaxis (dark preference), and this behavior was not affected by the nutritional status of the test fish, the illumination, or the number of subjects. While the dark chamber was consistently the preferred location of rare minnows during the chemical exposure tests, the degree of scototaxis by the rare minnow significantly decreased at Cd2+ ≥ 3 mg/L, MS222 ≥ 11 mg/L, and p-chloroaniline ≥ 29 mg/L, suggesting a potential disruption of their innate behavioral patterns by these chemicals. These findings underscore the sensitivity of rare minnows to water pollutants. Therefore, the scototaxis behavior of rare minnows can be a potential and useful behavioral indicator for biological early warning, which can be used for early biological warning of sudden water pollution caused by chemicals such as Cd2+, MS222, and p-chloroaniline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the domain of healthcare, wearable health monitoring devices have emerged as essential tools for the advancement of patient health tracking. These devices facilitate the provision of real-time medical data to clinicians, enabling early diagnosis, timely intervention, and enhanced management of individual health. This study introduces an innovative trimodal wearable health monitoring device in the form of a wristwatch. The device integrates a breath analyzer for the assessment of gaseous phase biomarkers, a sweat analyzer for the evaluation of aqueous-phase biomarkers, and an infrared sensor for the measurement of body temperature in the optical phase. Engineered on a compact 3 cm × 3 cm printed circuit board, the device has been optimized for wearability, power efficiency, and seamless integration with both wired and wireless charging and communication systems. Furthermore, custom software applications, designed for both Windows and Android platforms, have been developed to facilitate intuitive data visualization and storage on personal computers and smartphones. Empirical results from real-time chemical testing substantiate the device's efficacy and potential as an advanced solution for wearable health monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In the past few years, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the interest towards textiles with antimicrobial functionalities faced a significant boost. This study proposes a rapid and convenient method, in terms of reactants and equipment, for fabricating antimicrobial coatings on textiles. Through the electroless silver plating reaction, silver coatings were successfully applied on cotton and polyester, rapidly and at room temperature. Functionalized samples were characterized by morphological (optical and scanning electron microscopies) and chemical tests (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, XPS) to investigate the nature of the silver coating. Although distinct nanoparticles did not form, XPS analysis detected the presence of silver, which resulted in an increased surface roughness and hydrophobicity of both cotton and polyester textiles. Ag-coated samples exhibited approximately 80% biocompatibility with murine L929 fibroblasts or human HaCaT cells, and strong antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli in direct contact tests. In antiviral experiments with SARS-CoV-2 virus, treated cotton showed a 100% viral reduction in 30 min, while polyester achieved 100% reduction in 1 h. With a human norovirus surrogate, the Feline Calicivirus, both treated textiles have a faster antiviral response, with more than 60% viral reduction after 5 min, while achieving a 100% reduction in 1 h. In conclusion, this study presents a fast, efficient, and low-cost solution for producing antimicrobial textiles with broad applications in medical and healthcare scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: House flies are important carriers of diseases and can cause economic losses in livestock by reducing feeding activity. Overuse of chemical insecticides has led to resistance in many house fly populations worldwide. This study aimed to assess how two house fly populations in Antalya, Türkiye respond to the insecticides cyfluthrin and etofenprox. By exposing adult flies to these chemicals, the researcher found that the Kemer population showed very low resistance to cyfluthrin, while the Serik population exhibited moderate resistance. For etofenprox, Kemer flies showed no resistance, and Serik flies showed very low resistance. The findings suggest that integrated pest control methods and regular resistance monitoring are necessary to manage and prevent further resistance in house fly populations. The house fly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), is a significant vector for many pathogens and parasites. Presence of this vector causes economic losses due to decreased feeding activity in livestock, resulting in reduced yields of products. The repeated and unconscious application of chemical insecticides has resulted in the development of resistance in the majority of house fly populations worldwide. The aim of this research was to determine the susceptibility levels of two field M. domestica populations to cyfluthrin and etofenprox in Antalya, Türkiye. The LD50 values, resistance ratios, and resistance status were determined by exposing adult house flies to the test chemicals for one hour. The Kemer population exhibited very low resistance to cyfluthrin, with a 5-fold increase, while the Serik population, in contrast, showed moderate resistance with a 29.67-fold increase. The resistance ratios of field populations to etofenprox were 2.33-fold (no resistance) for Kemer and 6.44-fold (very low resistance) for Serik, respectively. This is the first study to determine the resistance levels of house flies against cyfluthrin and etofenprox insecticides in Türkiye. To prevent or reduce the development of resistance to insecticides in house flies, integrated control methods and resistance management programs should be employed. Furthermore, it is advised that regular monitoring tests be conducted to observe the level of resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture technologies allow us to overcome the constraints of two-dimensional methods in different fields like biochemistry and cell biology and in pharmaceutical in vitro tests. In this study, a novel 3D hydrogel sponge scaffold, composed of a crosslinked polyacrylic acid forming a porous matrix, has been developed and characterized. Methods: The scaffold was obtained via an innovative procedure involving thermal treatment followed by a salt-leaching step on a matrix-containing polymer along with a gas-forming agent. Based on experimental design for mixtures, a series of formulations were prepared to study the effect of the three components (polyacrylic acid, NaHCO3 and NaCl) on the scaffold mechanical properties, density, swelling behavior and morphological changes. Physical appearance, surface morphology, porosity, molecular diffusion, transparency, biocompatibility and cytocompatibility were also evaluated. Results: The hydrogel scaffolds obtained show high porosity and good optical transparency and mechanical resistance. The scaffolds were successfully employed to culture several cell lines for more than 20 days. Conclusions: The developed scaffolds could be an important tool, as such or with a specific coating, to obtain a more predictive cellular response to evaluate drugs in preclinical studies or for testing chemical compounds, biocides and cosmetics, thus reducing animal testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and rare ginsenosides are good antioxidant and anti-fatigue active components that can be enriched via probiotic fermentation. In this study, ginseng and germinated brown rice were used as raw materials to produce six fermented purees using fermentation and non-fermentation technology. We tested the chemical composition of the purees and found that the content of GABA and rare ginsenoside (Rh4, Rg3, and CK) in the puree made of ginseng and germinated brown rice (FGB) increased significantly after fermentation. The antioxidant activity of the six purees was determined using cell-free experiments, and it was found that FGB had better ferric-ion-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging rates, exhibiting better antioxidant effects. We then evaluated the antioxidant effect of FGB in HepG2 cells induced by H2O2 and found that FGB can reduce the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in HepG2 cells and increase the membrane potential level, thereby improving oxidative damage in these cells. In vivo experiments also showed that FGB has good antioxidant and anti-fatigue activities, which can prolong the exhaustive swimming time of mice and reduce the accumulation of metabolites, and is accompanied by a corresponding increase in liver glycogen and muscle glycogen levels as well as superoxide dismutase and lactate dehydrogenase activities. Finally, we believe that the substances with good antioxidant and anti-fatigue activity found in FGB are derived from co-fermented enriched GABA and rare ginsenosides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the use of omics data, such as genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data, in chemical grouping and read-across for chemical risk assessment. It explains that traditional approaches to chemical safety rely on in vivo toxicity data, but there is a growing recognition of the need for more mechanistically based approaches that do not involve animal testing. The article introduces non-experts to the concept of grouping and read-across, discusses the value of omics technologies in this context, presents case studies, and identifies challenges and next steps for incorporating omics data into chemical grouping. It also discusses the regulatory landscape and the need for standardized reporting templates. However, it acknowledges that there are limitations to chemical grouping, as structural similarity does not always predict similar biological responses. Overall, the article highlights the potential of omics data in chemical grouping and the need for further research and implementation in this area. [Extracted from the article]

Diabetes mellitus is a severe condition that has the potential to impair strength. The disease known as diabetes mellitus, which is a chronic condition, is brought on by a significant rise in blood glucose levels. The diagnosis of this condition is made using a variety of chemical and physical testing. Diabetes, however, can harm the organs if it goes undetected. This study develops a hybrid deep-learning technique to recognize Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The data is cleaned up at the pre-processing stage using a data transformation technique based on the Yeo-Jhonson transformation. The tanimoto similarity is used in the feature selection process to select the best features from the data. To prepare data for future processing, data augmentation is performed. The Deep Residual Network and the Rider-based Neural Network are recommended and trained separately for the T2DM identification using the Competitive Multi-Verse Rider Optimizer. The outputs generated by the RideNN and DRN classifiers are blended using correlation-based fusion. The suggested CMVRO-based NN-DRN has shown improved performance with the highest accuracy of 91.4%, sensitivity of 94.8%, and specificity of 90.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Evaluate the inflammatory outcome of a two-piece novel titanium dental implant (test article) vs. a one- piece titanium dental implant (control article) inducing experimental peri-implantitis in a dog model. Materials & Methods: A novel, two-piece pre-assembled implant with a 0.2-thickness sleeve in its coronal 4.2 mm part was developed (Test article). Ligature-induced experimental periimplantitis model was applied, followed by decontamination and bone grafting in seven dogs. Four groups were assessed according to decontamination and resurfacing protocol: E1 (Experimental 1): test article- sleeve removed, mechanical and chemical decontamination, new rough surface non-threaded sleeve was inserted; E2 (Experimental 2): test article- sleeve removed, mechanical and chemical decontamination, test article remained denuded presenting a turned non-threaded surface; C1 (Control 1): sleeve remained, mechanical and chemical decontamination in test article, original rough surface, non-threaded sleeve; C2 (Control 2): control article cleaning, mechanical and chemical decontamination of original rough surface, threaded implant. Buccolingual and mesiodistal sections were prepared for each site. Resin qualitative and semi-quantitative histopathologic inflammatory parameters were analyzed. Results: Group C1 showed statistically significant highest signs of residual long-term inflammation, followed by groups E1, and C2. Group E2 displayed the lowest local inflammation. Mesio/Distal aspects displayed increased long-term inflammatory infiltrate albeit not statistically significant. Conclusions: Within the limits of the present study, it may be concluded that – (1) The decontamination procedure is more effective in a commercial one-piece vs. a two-piece dental implant. (2) Mechanical and chemical decontamination outcome is insufficient. Resurfacing improves the decontamination outcome. (3) Decontamination of the turned surface is superior to the rough surface. Clinical relevance: When choosing the most appropriate dental implant for individuals with a high risk for peri-implant disease, a one-piece dental implant with a turned crestal surface is preferable. Once occurring, the control of peri-implant disease inflammation may be more successful. Decontamination is usually not enough. Resurfacing is highly recommended if possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food commerce, especially for the general public, is greatly impacted by the capacity to identify and recognize chemical samples for food applications. Every chemical sample response has a unique, distinguishing smell. These advancements highlight the method of an artificial neural networks (ANN) to distinguish the distinctive fragrance from the reaction of substances. The categorization of various smell patterns has diminished confidence in ANN technology. Using an ANN technique and a sensor-based e-nose system for food applications, each chemical's identification has been done commercially. The system comprises a 5-gas sensor selection that recognizes chemical talk while allowing for an improvement in permitting while falling gas is planned outside. To build a model of a different signal reaction, individual sensors are equally collected and merged into the innovation -favored sensor array. Demonstrates how it is related to the chemical test. The e-nose categorization has been tested with five different chemical samples and five different sensor classes. The e-nose approach, which comprises five sensors, can classify each chemical reaction model, starting with the results. With more sensors being employed, the classification accuracy of the precise chemical reaction improves. These data demonstrate that the ANN-based e-nose method promises a successful classification system for chemical sample responses for a characteristic odor sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect cell lines are finding utility in many areas of biology, but their application as an in vitro tool for ecotoxicity testing has been given less attention. Our study aimed to demonstrate the utility and sensitivity of Sf21 cells to commonly used fungicides: Propiconazole and CuSO4, as well as dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) an industrial solvent. Sf21 cells were readily cultured from frozen stocks in 3-4 days and showed utility as an invertebrate in vitro acute toxicity test. The data showed the threshold levels of cell survivability against propiconazole and CuSO4. The EC50 values were 135.1 μM and 3.31 mM respectively. The LOAEL (lowest observed adverse effect level) was ≈ 1 μM for propiconazole and ≈ 10 μM for CuSO4. Culturing of Sf21 cells in media containing the solvent DMSO showed that 0.5% DMSO concentration did not effect cell viability. Sf21 cells are sensitive and useful as a robust ecologically relevant screening tool for acute toxicity testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for superhydrophobic fabric with self‐cleaning and antibacterial features as potential practical applications has been rising steadily with the passage of time. In this research work, the wet chemical method is used to manufacture cotton with a superhydrophobic coating. Thus, Nanoparticles of silver were produced by using an in situ method. Afterward, the fabric is treated with a solution of perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane to make it superhydrophobic. The cotton fabric performs remarkably with exceptional hydrophobicity as it had a contact angle of 157 ± 1° and less than 10° in sliding angle. Water droplet's dynamic behavior is also studied so that the superhydrophobic fabric development can be proven. The fabric shows excellent chemical durability by performing chemical tests. The antimicrobial and self‐cleaning properties are greatly enhanced by the superhydrophobic coating on cotton. Particle density on the superhydrophobic cotton before and after self‐cleaning was found 5.1 and 0.4 mg/cm2. In addition, the treated cotton fabric also exhibited superior antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli bacteria. Therefore, the developed multifunctional cotton fabric can be used in real‐life applications. Highlights: Cotton fabric enables to repelling of dirt, oil, and water‐based stains more effectively.Silver nanoparticles possess potent antibacterial properties.Incorporation of PFOTS controls the release of silver into the environment.Versatile applications from healthcare and hospitality to outdoor and athletic apparel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Methods Results Conclusion People with HIV (PWH) are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to HIV‐negative individuals. We sought to evaluate the adherence to medications for CVD in PWH and identify factors associated with non‐adherence to these medications.We conducted a cross‐sectional study at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust between 16 April 2019 and 8 November 2022. We recruited consecutive PWH, who were attending a routine follow‐up outpatient appointment and were prescribed at least one medication for CVD. In addition, we included urinary adherence results of patients with samples collected as part of routine clinical care. We used liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) to assess if their prescribed medications (antihypertensives, diuretics, beta‐blockers, lipid‐lowering agents, antiplatelets, anticoagulants, antidiabetic medications) were present in the participant's urine sample. Multivariable models were used to identify demographic or clinical features that were associated with non‐adherence.A total of 162 PWH were included in the analysis. Median age was 55 [interquartile range (IQR): 50–61] years, 63% were male, average time living with HIV was 15 years (IQR: 11–19) and the majority (98%) had an undetectable HIV viral load. In approximately one‐third of patients (59/162), at least one prescribed medication of interest was not detected in urine. Non‐adherence to lipid‐lowering agents was common (35/88, 40%). On multivariable logistic regression, the number of prescribed cardiovascular medications, was associated with medication non‐adherence [medication non‐adherence, per one medication increase: adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 1.78 (1.34–2.36); p < 0.001].We found sub‐optimal adherence to medications for CVD in PWH. In order to maximize the clinical benefit of statin therapy in PWH, factors requiring consideration include: improved medication adherence, awareness of polypharmacy, educational interventions and quantitative assessment of sub‐optimal adherence through chemical adherence testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Faecal immunochemical testing is used to help aid the detection of bowel cancers and other serious bowel problems. It is a stool test that looks for non-visible blood. It has been shown that doing more than one test may improve the rate of detection of serious bowel problems; however, the evidence for this is not well described and has not been reviewed. We aimed to review the available data for using more than one test in different risk groups, exploring the effect on positivity and workload for additional tests along with assessing how well multiple tests work at detecting bowel cancer and other problems. The results of this are important as they help in the development of services to detect colorectal cancer. Background: Faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) is widely used in bowel screening programmes and assessing symptomatic patients for suspected colorectal cancer (CRC). The evidence for single test performance of FIT in both settings is considerable; however, the use of a repeat test to increase sensitivity remains uncertain. We aimed to review what increase in test positivity would be generated by additional FITs, whether a repeated FIT detects previously missed CRC and advanced colorectal neoplasia (ACRN), and to estimate the sensitivity of double-FIT strategies to diagnose CRC and ACRN. Methods: A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) was performed using key search terms. Studies reporting the use of more than one FIT in the same screening round or planned assessment of a single symptomatic patient episode were included. Studies were categorised by the reported study population into asymptomatic, mixed (cohorts of combined asymptomatic, symptomatic, or high-risk surveillance), or symptomatic cohorts. Results: A total of 68 studies were included for analysis (39 asymptomatic, 21 mixed, 7 symptomatic, and 1 study with discrete asymptomatic and symptomatic data). At a threshold of 10 µg Hb/g, the two-test positivity ranged between 8.1 and 34.5%, with an increase from the second test of 3–9.2 percentage points. Four out of five studies comparing one versus two tests for diagnosing CRC at 10 µg Hb/g identified additional cases with the second test, with a minimum of 50% reduction in missed CRC. At a threshold of 20 µg Hb/g, the second test increased the positivity by 1.3–6.7 percentage points, with a two-test positivity of between 5.1 and 25.0%. Using a threshold of 20 µg Hb/g, five out of seven studies had a 25% reduction in missed CRC. A meta-analysis estimated the double-FIT sensitivity at 10 µg Hb/g for CRC in mixed-risk and symptomatic cohorts to be 94% and 98%, respectively. Conclusions: Repeated use of FIT helps to diagnose more cases of CRC with a moderate increase in positivity. A double-FIT strategy at 10 µg Hb/g in mixed and symptomatic cohorts has a very high sensitivity for CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to evaluate the functional properties of muffins fortified with white clover flowers (Trifolium repens L.), which were added to the dough in the following amounts: (i) 0% (control); (ii) 2.5%; (iii) 5.5%; (iv) 7.5%; and (v) 10%. The organoleptic properties were assessed by a panel of consumers. Additionally, the following parameters were also tested: basic chemical composition, total polyphenols, the antioxidant activity together with antiproliferative effects on the A375 melanoma cell line, starch nutritional fractions and the in vitro glycemic index. As a result, replacing wheat flour with white clover flour significantly affected the color, aroma and taste of the muffins. The content of proteins, fats, total ash, dietary fiber, resistant starch (RS), slowly digestible starch (SDS),total polyphenols and antioxidant activity increased statistically significantly with the elevated amount of white clover flour added to the dough. At the same time, the content of free glucose (FG), rapidly available glucose (RAG) and rapidly digestible starch (RDS), the value of the in vitro glycemic index and the viability of melanoma cancer cells decreased significantly. The muffins enriched with white clover flowers might constitute an interesting proposition and extension of the existing assortment of confectionery products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing interest in the effects of climate warming on olfaction, as temperature may affect this essential sense. In insects, the response of the olfactory system to developmental temperature might be mediated by body size or mass because body size and mass are negatively affected by developmental temperature in most ectotherms. We tested this hypothesis of a mass-mediated effect of developmental temperature on olfaction in the moth Spodoptera littoralis. We measured the olfactory sensitivity of male to female sex pheromone and five plant odors using electroantennography. We compared males reared at an optimal temperature (25 °C with a daily fluctuation of ±5 °C) and at a high temperature (33 ± 5 °C) close to the upper limit of S. littoralis. On average, the olfactory sensitivity of males did not differ between the two developmental temperatures. However, our analyses revealed an interaction between the effects of developmental temperature and body mass on the detection of the six chemicals tested. This interaction is explained by a positive relationship between antennal sensitivity and body mass observed only with the high developmental temperature. Our results show that the effect of developmental temperature may not be detected when organism size is ignored. An interaction between the effects of developmental temperature and body mass on olfaction in a moth is explained by a positive relationship between antennal sensitivity and body mass observed only with a high temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, heavy rainfall disasters linked to climate change have become more frequent, raising concerns about the release of chemicals stored in factories. Assessing chemical contamination during such emergencies therefore necessitates the development of a quick and easy method for evaluating hazardous contaminants in combination with toxicity testing. This study proposes a "toxicity screening" method that combines biological response testing and chemical analysis to systematically evaluate hazardous contaminants in emergency situations. The toxicity screening method evaluates the water quality in three steps, including water quality measurements and a delayed fluorescence (DF) assay, metal content measurements and a DF assay, and targeted screening analysis and a DF assay. The efficacy of this method was tested using industrial wastewater from 14 locations. Seven of the samples were non-toxic, while the other seven samples were toxic, displaying no observed effect concentration (NOEC) values ranging from 0.625 to 20%. Two toxic samples in the first phase possessed high total chlorine concentrations (0.4 mg L−1) and conductivities (2200 mS m−1), indicating that the main sources of toxicity were residual chlorine and a high salt concentration. In the second phase, metal content analysis identified metals as the toxicity cause in four samples. In the third phase, the organic contaminants were analyzed, and tri-n-octyl phosphate (TNOP) was detected at a concentration of 0.00027 mg L−1. The results of solid-phase extraction experiments and exposure tests with TNOP alone indicated that the contribution of TNOP to the toxicity was negligible and that chemicals not adsorbed on the solid-phase extraction cartridges were the cause of toxicity. The proposed method can therefore be considered effective for disaster-related water quality assessment, delivering results within 12 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a collection of summaries of various research articles related to dermatology. The first article focuses on occupational contact dermatitis (OCD) among professional cleaners, highlighting the prevalence, risk factors, and prevention methods. The second article discusses allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) caused by topical antibacterials/antiseptics, examining the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients in Turkey. The third article explores changes in sensitization patterns in chronic actinic dermatitis (CAD) and the frequency of positive patch testing in CAD patients. The fourth article presents a systematic review and meta-analysis of hand eczema (HE) in healthcare workers, providing an overview of the prevalence and incidence of HE, as well as the severity of the condition. The final article focuses on a genome-wide association study of HE, identifying a genetic locus associated with the condition and exploring the genetic overlap between HE and atopic dermatitis (AD). This collection of abstracts includes studies on various topics related to dermatology and skin sensitization. [Extracted from the article]

The quality of the yellowfin tuna caught by small-scale fishers is heavily influenced by how the catches are handled and stored on board. One effective method that small-scale fishers can use to maintain the quality of their catch is by cooling it with ice. This helps prevent the growth of bacteria in the fish, which can cause sensory, physical, microbiological, and chemical damage. Such damage can result in poor catch quality and lower market value. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the quality of the yellowfin tuna catches by small-scale fishermen in Bone Bay, specifically at the Lonrae fish landing site. This assessment involved conducting sensory, physical, microbiological, and chemical tests on the catch. The results indicated that the catch had high quality, as evidenced by a sensory score of 8. The fish had a pH ranging from 5.7 to 5.8 and a temperature close to 0°C. The average total bacteria count was 1.1 x 104 colonies/g, and there were no traces of Salmonella or Escherichia coli (<3 MPN/g). The histamine values ranged from 6.99 to 7.31. Heavy metals, specifically mercury, lead, and cadmium, were measured at 0.05, 0.0166, and 0.0049mg/ k, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on natural sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) for both food and nutraceutical prospects has significantly grown in recent years. Some plant oils and lipid extracts contain carotenoids, xanthophylls, sterols, and/or phenolic compounds that can provoke a lipid hydroperoxides (LOOHs) overestimation when quantifying them using nonselective colorimetric assays. Herein, we have optimized a mid‐infrared method using Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy coupled with attenuated total reflectance (ATR) to quantify LOOHs in oils or lipid extracts. This method is based on the conversion of triphenylphosphine (TPP) to triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO) in the presence of hydroperoxides, with a direct assessment of TPPO levels following the formation of an oil film on the ATR crystal's surface, allowing for a low detection limit of 0.5 mmol of LOOH kg−1. The concentration of oil and TPP, as well as the reaction time, were optimized. It was demonstrated that the presence of pigments, unsaponifiable compounds, phenolics, and/or PUFAs on oils, do not disrupt the analysis. Furthermore, the stoichiometry of the TPP/LOOH reaction was examined, confirming the reliability of the method in detecting various forms of hydroperoxides. An accelerated oxidation study was carried out and the hydroperoxide contents measured using TPP/TPPO were found to be comparable to those obtained using the ferric thiocyanate method. Our method offers a fast, simple, robust, and sensitive approach to accurately quantify hydroperoxides, regardless of the chemical composition of oil or lipid extracts. Practical Application: The hydroperoxide assay method outlined in this study allows for the rapid and straightforward detection of hydroperoxides in pure oil matrices. The method's elevated sensitivity facilitates the early identification of oxidation indicators in oils, especially those with significant carotenoid or xanthophyll contents since these compounds may affect the results when using methods based on colorimetric quantification of hydroperoxides. This accurate, precise, and reproducible approach requires only small quantities of test samples and chemical products, making it well suited to routine application in laboratories and industrial environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In connection with the requirements of international and national organizations to comply with ethical principles for experiments using animals, alternative test systems are being sought and tested to replace animals in ecological, toxicological, and genotoxicological studies. One such alternative may be the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which has a biotransformation system of chemical compounds similar to the mammalian system. The genotoxicity of the pesticide paraquat and the antibacterial agent furacilin was studied on C. elegans by horizontal gel electrophoresis of total DNA in order to assess its integrity. It has been shown that paraquat in concentrations of 0.01 to 0.05 mol/L and furacilin in concentrations of 0.0001 and 0.00025 mol/L caused DNA breaks in nematode cells. The antioxidant N-acetylcysteine at a concentration of 0.01 mol/L reduced the genotoxicity of both compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae are unicellular, photosynthetic organisms in aquatic environments and are sensitive to water quality and contaminants. While green algae and diatoms are widely used for toxicity assessments, there is a relatively limited amount of toxicity data available for freshwater dinoflagellates. Here, we evaluated the sub‐lethal effects of the metals Cu, Cr, Ni, and Zn and the herbicides atrazine and S‐metolachlor on the freshwater dinoflagellate Palatinus apiculatus. Based on the 72‐h median effective concentration (EC50), P. apiculatus showed sensitive responses to metals in the order of Cu (0.052 mg L−1), Cr (0.085 mg L−1), Zn (0.098 mg L−1), and Ni (0.13 mg L−1). Among the tested herbicides, P. apiculatus was more sensitive to atrazine (0.0048 mg L−1) than S‐metolachlor (0.062 mg L−1). In addition, we observed morphological alterations and significant increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in cells exposed to 0.05 mg L−1 of Cu and 0.005 mg L−1 of atrazine. These indicated that metals and pesticides induced oxidative stress in cellular metabolic processes and consequently caused severe physiological damage to the cells. Our results provide baseline data on the toxic effects of typical environmental contaminants on freshwater dinoflagellate, suggesting that P. apiculatus could be used as a bioindicator in freshwater toxicity assessments. Practitioner Points: The sub‐lethal effects of metals and pesticides on the freshwater dinoflagellate Palatinus apiculatus were evaluated.Palatinus sensitively responded to metals and pesticides; of test chemicals, atrazine (0.0048 mg L−1 of EC50) was the most sensitive.Metals and pesticides induced oxidative stress and consequently caused severe physiological damage to the Palatinus cells.The freshwater dinoflagellate Palatinus can be used as a bioindicator in freshwater toxicity assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of their topical application in patients and meaningful UV/VIS absorptive properties, the degradation and potential toxicity under irradiation of diflunisal (DIF) and naphazoline (NAF) were studied. In addition, the impact of pH on their photostability was examined, showing the highest degradation of acidic DIF at pH 1 and 13 and the highest degradation of basic NAF at pH below 7. An LC–UV analysis and chemical tests showed the first-order kinetics for their degradation and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). A UPLC-HRMS/MS analysis allowed us to identify four degradants of DIF (from DD-1 to DD-4) and six degradants of NAF (from ND-1 to ND-6). When Toxtree software was used, a high class III of toxicity was observed for DD-2, DD-3, and DD-4, and for all the NAF degradants. Furthermore, the ND-2 product, i.e., 2-[(1-methylnaphthalen-2-yl)methyl]-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole, was shown to present medium mutagenic and high tumorigenic effects according to OSIRIS Property Explorer. In addition, two in vitro tests on BALB/c 3T3 mouse fibroblasts showed a phototoxic effect of DIF and NAF at the lowest concentrations tested, i.e., 5 µg/mL. Thus, our present results could be useful to design further phototoxicity studies for DIF and NAF to minimize the risk of phototoxicity due to their photodegradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early brain development depends on adequate transport of thyroid hormones (THs) from the maternal circulation to the fetus. To reach the fetal brain, THs have to cross several physiological barriers, including the placenta, blood–brain-barrier and blood–cerebrospinal fluid-barrier. Transport across these barriers is facilitated by thyroid hormone transmembrane transporters (THTMTs). Some endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can interfere with the transport of THs by THTMTs. To screen chemicals for their capacity to disrupt THTMT facilitated TH transport, in vitro screening assays are required. In this study, we developed assays for two THTMTs, organic anion transporter polypeptide 1C1 (OATP1C1) and organic anion transporter 4 (OAT4), both known to play a role in the transport of THs across barriers. We used overexpressing cell models for both OATP1C1 and OAT4, which showed an increased uptake of radiolabeled T4 compared to control cell lines. Using these models, we screened various reference and environmental chemicals for their ability to inhibit T4 uptake by OATP1C1 and OAT4. Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) was identified as an OATP1C1 inhibitor, more potent than any of the reference chemicals tested. Additionally perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluoroctanic acid (PFOA), pentachlorophenol and quercetin were identified as OATP1C1 inhibitors in a similar range of potency to the reference chemicals tested. Bromosulfophthalein, TBBPA, PFOA and PFOS were identified as potent OAT4 inhibitors. These results demonstrate that EDCs commonly found in our environment can disrupt TH transport by THTMTs, and contribute to the identification of molecular mechanisms underlying TH system disruption chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is the most important basic need for sustaining life, and groundwater remains the primary source of this need in the coastal area of Semarang City. This indicates that the recharge of the source must be monitored as an important part of water resource management. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the origin of groundwater through the analysis of stable isotopes 18O and ²H, as well as the calculation of the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) in Semarang City. The purpose is to determine the origin of deep wells and the quality of water for irrigation. The methods used in this study included hydrogeological mapping, testing groundwater samples, and the analysis of stable isotopes 18O and ²H. Semarang City was located in an area with geological components, including the Alluvium and Damar Formation, as well as geological structures such as rectification. Chemical parameter testing was carried out by comparing the SAR aspect of 30 samples with their electrical conductivity (EC). From the analysis of stable isotopes 18O and ²H, most of the samples were obtained from deep groundwater, while 1 was found in shallow aquifers. Furthermore, the stable isotope composition of 29 samples still followed the Global Meteoric Water Line (GMWL), indicating that they were obtained from global rainwater and had experienced mixing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tire and road wear particles (TRWP) contain complex mixtures of chemicals and release them to the environment, and potential toxic effects of these chemicals still need to be characterized. We used a standardized surrogate for TRWP, cryogenically milled tire tread (CMTT), to isolate and evaluate effects of tire‐associated chemicals. We examined organic chemical mixtures extracted and leached from CMTT for the toxicity endpoints genotoxicity, estrogenicity, and inhibition of bacterial luminescence. The bioassays were performed after chromatographic separation on high‐performance thin‐layer chromatography (HPTLC) plates. Extracts of CMTT were active in all three HPTLC bioassays with two estrogenic zones, two genotoxic zones, and two zones inhibiting bacterial luminescence. Extracts of CMTT artificially aged with thermooxidation were equally bioactive in each HPTLC bioassay. Two types of aqueous leachates of unaged CMTT, simulating either digestion by fish or contact with sediment and water, contained estrogenic chemicals and inhibitors of bacterial luminescence with similar profiles to those of CMTT extracts. Of 11 tested tire‐associated chemicals, two were estrogenic, three were genotoxic, and several inhibited bacterial luminescence. 1,3‐Diphenylguanidine, transformation products of N‐(1,3‐dimethylbutyl)‐N′‐phenyl‐p‐phenylenediamine, and benzothiazoles were especially implicated through comparison to HPTLC retention factors in the CMTT samples. Other bioactive bands in CMTT samples did not correspond to any target chemicals. Tire particles clearly contain and can leach complex mixtures of toxic chemicals to the environment. Although some known chemicals contribute to estrogenic, genotoxic, and antibacterial hazards, unidentified toxic chemicals are still present and deserve further investigation. Overall, our study expands the understanding of potential adverse effects from tire particles and helps improve the link between those effects and the responsible chemicals. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1962–1972. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effect concentrations of ammonia, nickel, sodium chloride, and potassium chloride from short‐term 7‐day tests were compared to those from standard chronic 28‐day toxicity tests with juvenile mussels (fatmucket, Lampsilis siliquoidea) to evaluate the sensitivities of the 7‐day tests. The effect concentrations for nickel (59 µg Ni/L), chloride (316–519 mg Cl/L, a range from multiple tests), and potassium (15 mg K/L) obtained from the 7‐day tests were within a range of effect concentrations for each corresponding chemical in the 28‐day tests (41–91 µg Ni/L, 251–>676 mg Cl/L, 15–23 mg K/L), whereas the 7‐day ammonia effect concentration (0.40 mg/L total ammonia nitrogen; TAN) was up to 3.3‐fold greater than the 28‐day effect concentrations (0.12–0.36 mg TAN/L) but with overlapped 95% confidence limits. These results indicate that the 7‐day tests produced similar estimates compared to the 28‐day tests. Further studies are needed to evaluate the 7‐day test sensitivity using additional chemicals with different modes of toxic action. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:2020–2025. Published 2024. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, there is a move towards using local, native species for ecotoxicological risk assessments. Anthropogenic stressors from urban, agricultural, and industrial activities can impact the health of receiving ecosystems. Biomarkers can provide valuable insights as early warning signals of the potential environmental impacts of stressors. The aim of this study was to develop biomarkers in the green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus), a potential bioindicator of environmental health for coastal marine ecosystems in New Zealand. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assays targeting the expression of genes involved in oxidative stress, xenobiotic transfer, membrane transportation, cellular and DNA response/repair, and endocrine disruption were developed and validated for P. canaliculus. We found significant modulation of genes associated with oxidative stress, xenobiotic transfer, membrane transport, endocrine disruption, and genotoxicity in P. canaliculus following 48-hour exposures to copper and benzo[α]pyrene. These results demonstrate the potential of P. canaliculus as a bioindicator species for environmental risk assessment. The gene expression assays showed potential as early indicators of exposure to the chemicals tested but require additional validation to assess their ability to predict effects at higher levels of biological organisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article compares chemical coagulation with electrocoagulation, two popular methods for the primary treatment of wastewater generated in the process of underground coal gasification (UCG). The primary aim was to determine which method is more effective in the removal of cyanide and sulphide ions, metals and metalloids, as well as organic compounds. In both cases, experiments were conducted in batch 1 dm3 reactors and using iron ions. Four types of coagulants were tested during the chemical coagulation study: FeCl2, FeSO4, Fe2(SO4)3, and FeCl3. In the electrocoagulation experiments, pure iron Armco steel was used to manufacture the sacrificial iron anode. Both processes were tested under a wide range of operating conditions (pH, time, Fe dose) to determine their maximum efficiency for treating UCG wastewater. It was found that, through electrocoagulation, a dose as low as 60 mg Fe/dm3 leads to >60% cyanide reduction and >98% sulphide removal efficiency, while for chemical coagulation, even a dose of 307 mg Fe/dm3 did not achieve more than 24% cyanide ion removal. Moreover, industrial chemical coagulants, especially when used in very high doses, can be a substantial source of cross-contamination with trace elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is an experimentally tractable model system that has recently emerged as a powerful "new approach methodology" (NAM) for chemical safety testing. As oogenesis is well conserved at the molecular and cellular level, measurements of Drosophila fecundity can be useful for identifying chemicals that affect reproductive health across species. However, standard Drosophila fecundity assays have been difficult to perform in a high-throughput manner because experimental factors such as the physiological state of the flies and environmental cues must be carefully controlled to achieve consistent results. In addition, exposing flies to a large number of different experimental conditions (such as chemical additives in the diet) and manually counting the number of eggs laid to determine the impact on fecundity is time-consuming. We have overcome these challenges by combining a new multiwell fly culture strategy with a novel 3D-printed fly transfer device to rapidly and accurately transfer flies from one plate to another, the RoboCam, a low-cost, custom-built robotic camera to capture images of the wells automatically, and an image segmentation pipeline to automatically identify and quantify eggs. We show that this method is compatible with robust and consistent egg laying throughout the assay period and demonstrate that the automated pipeline for quantifying fecundity is very accurate (r2 = 0.98 for the correlation between the automated egg counts and the ground truth). In addition, we show that this method can be used to efficiently detect the effects on fecundity induced by dietary exposure to chemicals. Taken together, this strategy substantially increases the efficiency and reproducibility of high-throughput egg-laying assays that require exposing flies to multiple different media conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to evaluate changes in the degree of C=C conversion (DC%), chemical structure, optical properties and roughness of one-shade composites before/after photoaging. Τhe one-shade materials tested were Charisma Topaz One (CHT), Clearfil Majesty ES-2 Universal (MES), Essentia Universal (ESU) and Omnichroma (OMN), with G-aenial Anterior (CNA) serving as control. Specimens (2 mm thickness) were prepared and tested for DC% and chemical structure (ATR–FTIR spectroscopy), optical properties (L*a*b*–ΔΕ, translucency parameter–TP, opalescence parameter–OP, contrast ratio–CR and total transmittance–TT by UV–Vis spectroscopy) and roughness (Sa, Sz, Sdr, Sds and Sc by optical profilometry) before and after photoaging (Xe-arc weatherometer). Significant differences were found in DC% between top–bottom surfaces (ESU, OMN before; ESU, CNA after). Photoaging improved DC%, reduced ester peaks implying photodegradation, reduced L* (CHT, OMN, CNA), a* (CHT, CNA), b* (OMN, CNA), TP (all, except for MES), OP (only MES), CR (only MES, but an increase in CNA) and TT (CHT, OMN). OMN, CNA and MES demonstrated ΔΕ > 3.3. Photoaging significantly increased all roughness parameters in all materials, except for MES (Sz, Sdr, Sc) and OMN (Sdr). Although listed in the same group, significant differences were found in one-shade composites before and after photoaging. Several products were strongly affected by photoaging, demonstrating evidence of photodegradation, an increased roughness and color changes exceeding the clinically acceptable levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interest in the quality control of the raw materials, intermediates, and final products, as well as production methods, of beer has increased significantly in recent decades due to the needs and expectations of consumers. Increasing in the industrialization and globalization of beer supply chains led to a need for novel analytical tools suitable for the rapid and reliable characterization of the materials involved. In this study, an ultracompact instrument operating in the NIR region of the spectrum, microNIR, was tested for the chemical investigation of barley malts. The essential raw materials for brewing require careful control since they deeply affect the characteristic flavor and taste of the final products. Therefore, a robust prediction model able to classify base and specialty barley malts was developed starting from NIR measurements. Soft Independent Class Analogy (SIMCA) was selected as the chemometric technique for the optimization of two prediction models, and ground and sieved materials were investigated using spectroscopy. The microNIR/chemometric approach proposed in this study permitted the correct prediction of the malt samples included in the external validation set, providing false positive and false negative rates no higher than 3.41% and 0.25%, respectively, and confirming the feasibility of the novel analytical platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Airborne particulate pollution, which contains heavy metals (HMs) among other contaminants, is associated with many health effects related to respiratory problems, such as cardiopulmonary lesions and systemic diffusion. This study aimed to evaluate the levels of HMs contamination using different plants and monitors, as well as to evaluate the relationship between HMs content and magnetic properties in leaves of different types of biomonitors. For analysis, 180 samples were taken from biomonitors; Cupressus lusitanica (Cupressaceae), Citrus (Rutaceae), and Ficus benjamina (Moraceae), and monitors (road dust, surface and, deep soil). Seven HMs were measured: Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr, Fe, V, and Zn in all samples. Specific susceptibility (χlf), and isothermal remanent magnetization curves (IRM) were assessed in biomonitors samples. The results revealed that the major biomonitor was C. lusitanica, which also showed the highest χlf (20.54 × 10–8 m3/kg) and IRM (2.66 mAm2/kg). Additionally, given the low coercivity of the magnetic material found in the χlf and SIRM values, those magnetic properties can be used interchangeably to determine the magnetic minerals in the biomonitors studied. We conclude that the use of biomonitors and monitors presents a potential to be used as an alternative method for contaminant monitoring and the use of magnetic properties is feasible to measure air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of pre-tensile deformation at different directions on the corrosion properties of AZ31 rolled sheet has been investigated. Uniaxial tensile test with the strain of 6% has been carried out at angles of 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75° and 90° with rolling direction (RD), respectively. The corrosion behavior of specimens with different deformation directions in 3.5% NaCl solution and 8.5% Na2SO4 solution was measured by immersion test, potentiodynamic polarization method and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. After immersion tests, the surface characteristics of various specimens were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results showed that the tensile directions had a significant influence on the corrosion behavior. With the increase of the angle between tensile direction and RD, the hydrogen evolution rate in the 3.5% NaCl increased first and then decreased. The turning point was A45 specimen with the minimum value of 2.1 mm/y. The similar trends were also observed in the 8.5% Na2SO4 solution. In electrochemical testing, the A45 specimen exhibited the best corrosion resistance with the largest diameter of the impedance arc and lowest self-corrosion current. The further the angle of the specimen deviated from 45° direction, the lower corrosion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application of hydraulic fracturing to produce "unconventional" oil and gas from shale formations and other low-permeability geological units has raised concerns about the potential environmental impacts, including potential adverse effects of fracturing fluids (FF) on groundwater. In this study, laboratory batch test experiments and new analytical methods were developed to analyze FF chemicals as potential indicators (tracers) to detect impacts of fracturing fluids on groundwater. The tests, conducted over 101–196 days, included FF with synthetic chemicals (~40,000–4,000,000 µg/L), placed in batches with groundwater and sediment at 5° and 25 °C, along with sterile controls. Using the new methods, measurable concentrations of the FF chemicals were many orders in magnitude lower (~3000 to 3,000,000 X) compared to their concentrations in synthetic fracturing fluids, indicating that these chemicals are excellent candidates as indicators of FF contamination in groundwater, if they are relatively persistent, and not prone to extensive loss by sorption during migration in the subsurface. Variable sorption and degradation of the chemicals was observed in both batch and column tests. Sorption was negligible (sorption coefficient, Kd~0.0) for some synthetic chemicals (polyethylene glycol, ethanolamines, isopropanol, and ethyl hexanol) in some tests. At the other extreme, strong sorption was observed for some of the higher molecular weight cocamido propyl betaine (max Kd = 1.17) and polyethylene glycol (max Kd = 1.12) components, and triethanolamine (max Kd = 0.47) in other tests. Apparent loss by degradation was observed for each chemical in some tests, but negligible in others. The shortest apparent half-lives were for isopropanol and ethyl hexanol at 25 °C (t½ < 11 days), and the most persistent synthetic chemicals were polyethylene glycols (t½ ≥ 182 d) and the ethanolamines (t½ ≥ 212 d). Of the potentially diagnostic FF chemicals investigated, the relatively hydrophilic and persistent lower molecular weight polyethylene glycols are some of the most promising as potential indicators of contamination of groundwater by FF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]