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Copyright of Tropical Ecology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Tropical Ecology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Tropical Ecology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Shows that dense nanostructured titania, with density greater than 99 percent of the theoretical maximum and an average grain size of less than 60 nm, can be prepared by sintering a titanium oxide sol-gel near the anatase-rutile phase transformation temperature.

Currently, primaquine is the only malaria transmission-blocking drug recommended by the WHO. Recent efforts have highlighted the importance of discovering new agents that regulate malarial transmission, with particular interest in agents that can be administered in a single low dose, ideally with a discrete and Plasmodium -selective mechanism of action. Here, our team demonstrates an approach to identify malaria transmission-blocking agents through a combination of in vitro screening and in vivo analyses. Using a panel of natural products, our approach identified potent transmission blockers, as illustrated by the discovery of the transmission-blocking efficacy of brusatol. As a member of a large family of biologically active natural products, this discovery provides a critical next step toward developing methods to rapidly identify quassinoids and related agents with valuable pharmacological therapeutic properties.

Aims: Due to new evidence on fluoride neurotoxicity during early life, this study examined maternal exposure to fluoride through tea consumption in a low-fluoride region and measured fluoride releases from commercially available teas (tea bags and loose teas) to determine the need to limit fluoride exposure., Methods: Maternal urine fluoride (MUF) concentrations were measured in spot urine samples ( N =118) from first-trimester pregnant women and in prepared tea infusions made with deionised water from 33 brand teas and 57 loose-tea products, as determined by the direct method of using a fluoride-selective electrode., Results: The fluoride concentration in the local drinking water supplies ranged from 0.10 to 0.18 mg/L, and the creatinine-adjusted MUF ranged from 0.09 to 1.57 mg/L. Seventeen per cent of the women were daily tea drinkers, and their MUFs were higher than those with no consumption ( p =0.002). The fluoride concentration from tea bags ranged from 0.34 to 2.67 mg/L, while loose teas showed 0.72-4.50 mg/L (black), 0.56-1.58 mg/L (oolong), 1.28-1.50 mg/L (green), and 0.33-1.17 mg/L (white tea)., Conclusions: Fluoride exposure among pregnant women increases with tea consumption, with likely risks of developmental neurotoxicity to their children. As the fluoride release from tea varies widely, the fluoride concentration should be indicated on tea packages in order to allow consumers to make informed decisions on minimising their fluoride exposure.

Bauxite and iron ore mining is the major contributor to metal pollution in Tasik Chini, Malaysia. Deforestation of the protected zone of reserve forest exacerbates the problem. The current study is to understand the speciation of metals spatially in sediment to analyse the risk associated in terms of its mobility and bioavailability. The samples of sediment are collected from Sungai Jemberau, Laut Jemberau, and Laut Gumum of Tasik Chini. Four samplings were conducted for a year, by collecting the surface sediment. Sequential extraction method was followed for speciation of sediment and classified it into exchangeable, reducible, Fe-Mn oxides, organic and residual fractions. The results were also analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA). The result reveals that Fe, Al, Mn, Zn, and Pb are the primary constituents of sediment contributing to about 98% of residual fraction. Co, Cd, Cr, As, and Ni are found in trace metal concentration and are identified to be mainly released from anthropogenic sources nearby. Although the individual proportion is less than major metals in exchangeable and carbonate fraction, they possess geochemically significant concentration above the permissible limit. More than 70-80% of all its total concentration proportion is hence found in mobile and bioavailable state. These possess toxic and have chronic effects to aquatic life and public health even in trace elemental concentration. Hence, these metals are the most toxic and bioavailable metals pausing risk for aquatic and public health. PCA analysis highlights that the enrichment of heavy metals in bioavailable fraction is mostly contributed from anthropogenic sources. The same results are emphasized by cluster analysis.

Fracture of tooth after trauma is distressing to a person because of the discomfort and pain due to pulpal injury. Crown root fractures of anterior teeth cause concomitant periodontal injury and there will be concern about appearance, and aesthetics. Management of pulpal and periodontal tissue relieves pain and restoration of tooth form regains patients confidence. Restoration of fractured tooth will be accepted readily if it is minimally invasive, less expensive, and aesthetically acceptable. Reattachment is an option for restoration of anterior teeth compared to other artificial replacements because of its appearance as natural. This method is favourable when the fractured fragment is intact and available. Utilization of pulp space for retention of fragment is achieved by the insertion of a dentine bonding post. This case report describes a case of tooth reattachment after trauma in which the pulp space is utilized to bond a fiber-reinforced post for retention after periodontal tissue management.