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The pervasive spread of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) has raised significant concerns on their toxicity in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. These polymer-based materials have implications for plants, wildlife and human health, threatening food chain integrity and ultimate ecosystem resilience. An extensive – and growing – body of literature is available on MP- and NP-associated effects, including in a number of aquatic biota, with as yet limited reports in terrestrial environments. Effects range from no detectable, or very low level, biological effects to more severe outcomes such as (but not limited to) increased mortality rates, altered immune and inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, genetic damage and dysmetabolic changes. A well-established exposure route to MPs and NPs involves ingestion with subsequent incorporation into tissues. MP and NP exposures have also been found to lead to genetic damage, including effects related to mitotic anomalies, or to transmissible damage from sperm cells to their offspring, especially in echinoderms. Effects on the proteome, transcriptome and metabolome warrant ad hoc investigations as these integrated “omics” workflows could provide greater insight into molecular pathways of effect. Given their different physical structures, chemical identity and presumably different modes of action, exposure to different types of MPs and NPs may result in different biological effects in biota, thus comparative investigations of different MPs and NPs are required to ascertain the respective effects. Furthermore, research on MP and NP should also consider their ability to act as vectors for other toxicants, and possible outcomes of exposure may even include effects at the community level, thus requiring investigations in mesocosm models. © 2021 Elsevier B.V., Hrvatska Zaklada za Znanost, HRZZ: IP-2018-01-5351 Environment and Climate Change Canada, ECCC, Support from the Croatian Science Foundation under project IP-2018-01-5351 is gratefully acknowledged. Thanks are due to Environment and Climate Change Canada for their support.

Education is necessary to improve child physical abuse detection and management. A few studies have described national child abuse training programs, but none has measured changes in knowledge among participants. A collaboration of child abuse experts from the USA, an academic pediatric department, and a non-governmental organization in child protection aimed at (a) training hospital physicians in a train-the-trainer course for the detection and management of child physical abuse and (b) conducting workshops and measuring attendance and gain of knowledge of participants. A train-the-trainer and a national curriculum were created. A 78-item and a 20-item knowledge questionnaire were used pre and post the train-the-trainer course and all workshops, respectively. Nineteen physicians from all pediatric departments of the seven medical schools in Greece attended the course. Eight workshops in seven cities took place with a total attendance of 1220 health care professionals. Gain of knowledge was demonstrated for participants in the train-the-trainer course (p = 0.0015) and local workshops (p < 0.001). Conclusion: We successfully engaged physicians from all medical schools in Greece and conducted a train-the-trainer module and eight workshops in major cities that improved the participants’ knowledge in child physical abuse. This approach may help address physician deficiencies in emerging areas of child abuse clinical practice.What is Known:• Education is necessary to improve child physical abuse detection and management.• Although national training programs have been described, none has measured participants’ changes in knowledge.What is New:• A collaboration of child abuse experts, all medical schools in Greece, and a non-governmental organization resulted in a national educational campaign in child physical abuse and gains in knowledge for participants.• This approach may help address deficiencies in emerging areas of clinical practice. © 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

The present study was aimed at evaluating sediment pollution and toxicity in the Bay of Pozzuoli (BoP) (Tyrrhenian Sea, southern Italy), characterized by high anthropic pressure and by previous industrial facilities. Analyses were carried out to evaluate the content of metals, total hydrocarbons (CIO-C40) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediment samples collected along five transects from the coast. Sediment samples were tested for toxicity as whole sediment (WS) suspensions to sea urchins (Arbacia lixula), or as elutriate (EL) in diatoms (Phaeodactylum tricornutum). WS-exposed sea urchin embryos and sperm underwent significant increase of developmental defects (DD), or inhibition of fertilization success and increased DD in the offspring of WS-exposed sperm. Diatoms were reared in sediment EL and the effects were evaluated as growth inhibition. Different pollution and toxicity patterns were observed along the five sediment sampling transects, without a monotonic trend vs. distance from coast, suggesting increased sediment toxicity in samples collected at intermediate distances. © 2020 Parlar Scientific Publications. All rights reserved.

Marine sediment contamination was evaluated in a set of sediment specimens collected from Izmir Bay (Turkey) and from Mytilene Harbor (Greece) in the Aegean Sea. Eight sediment specimens from Izmir (#IZ to #IZ8) and seven sediment specimens from Mytilene (#MYT1 to #MYT7) were analyzed for their content in different classes of contaminants, i.e. inorganics, organic carbon (OC), and seven polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Significantly higher levels of inorganic contaminants were detected in Izmir vs. Mytilene sediment, and the highest inorganic contamination was detected in the innermost sampling sites in Izmir Bay, namely sites #IZ1 to #IZ4. This was the case for Al, As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Pb, Ti and Zn. Granulometric analysis, OC and individual PAH congeners failed to show any significant differences between total Mytilene and total Izmir Bay sediment samples. Nevertheless, the sum of PAHs in sites #IZ2 to #IZ4 displayed significantly higher levels both vs. the other Izmir sites and vs. all Mytilene sediment samples. The overall results point to higher pollution status in Izmir Bay, especially in the innermost sampling sites, compared to Mytilene harbor, detected as inorganic contamination and as PAH contamination in some Izmir sampling sites.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate marine contamination and toxicity in sediment and pore water from the areas of Izmir Bay (Turkey) and Mytilene Harbor (Greece). The evaluation was performed in terms of selected toxic metals, polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAH) and toxicity to sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) early development and fertilization. Significantly higher levels of metals and total PAH were detected in Izmir vs. Mytilene sediment, and the highest contamination was detected in Izmir Bay innermost sites. Bioassays were carried out in P. lividus embryos and sperm, by evaluating developmental defects and changes in fertilization success by exposing sea urchin embryos or sperm to sediment/seawater suspensions. Whole sediment (WS) showed a higher toxicity of Izmir vs. Mytilene samples both in terms of developmental defects and of spermiotoxicity. Pore water (PW) and solid phase (SP) were separated by WS centrifugation and tested on embryos or sperm. The induction of developmental defects showed a significantly higher toxicity of WS compared to SP and, even more so, to PW. A significant decrease in fertilization success was observed following sperm suspension in SP from both Izmir and Mytilene sediment samples, whereas PW-exposed sperm failed to display any decrease of fertilization success vs. controls. The use of WS bioassays is suggested as a default procedure in sediment toxicity testing, especially in a topographic characterization of polluted sediments.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of two rare earth elements (REE), cerium and lanthanum on sea urchin embryos and sperm. Sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) embryos were reared for 72 h in Ce(IV)- or La(III)-contaminated seawater at concentrations ranging from 10(-8) to 10(-5) M. Cleaving embryos (5h post-fertilization) were submitted to cytogenetic analysis, scoring mitotic activity and a set of mitotic aberrations. Embryological analysis was carried out to determine percent developmental anomalies and/or embryonic mortality. P. lividus sperm were suspended in Ce(IV) or La(III) (10(-8)-10(-5)M) for 1h, and percent fertilized eggs were scored in cleaving embryos that were cultured up to pluteus stage to score any developmental defects. Embryos reared in 10(-5)M Ce(IV) resulted in 100% embryonic mortality, whereas 10(-5)M La(III) induced 100% developmental defects, without causing any embryonic mortality. A significant concentration-related mitotoxic effect and induction of mitotic aberrations were observed in Ce(IV)-exposed, but not in La(III)-exposed embryos, at concentrations ranging from 10(-7)M to 3 x 10(-6)M. Following sperm exposure, both Ce(IV) and La(III) induced a decrease in sperm fertilization success at the highest tested concentration (10(-5)M). The offspring of Ce(IV)-exposed, but not of La(III)-exposed sperm displayed a significant concentration-related increase in developmental defects. The results may suggest adverse impacts in REE-exposed biota and warrant further studies of a more extended REE series.

Aim: This study aimed to determine the frequencies of negative childhood experiences in the past years and negative childhood experiences throughout life in 11, 13 and 16 year-age group children who attended school in three separate provinces. Material and Methods: Approval was obtained from the provincial National Education Directorates and educated investigators applied the ISPCAN child abuse screening tool questionnaire form which measures negative childhood events experienced at home in children. Statistical analysis was performed with chi-square test using SPSS 16.0 program. Approval from the ethics committee was obtained from İzmir Tepecik Education and Research Hospital Chief Physician Office Local Ethics Committee (29/11/2011-29). Results: The study was conducted with 7 540 children in İzmir, Denizli and Zonguldak. The frequency of psychological and physical negative childhood experiences and neglect throughout life was found to be 70.5%, 58.3% and 42.6% in the 11, 13 and 16-year age groups, respectively; the frequencies in the last one year was found to be 62.7%, 46.0% and 37.5%, respectively. Psychological negative childhood experiences were found with a higher rate in children who lived in urban areas compared to children who lived in rural areas. Neglect was found with a higher rate in girls and physical negative childhood experiences were found with a higher rate in boys. The frequency of negative childhood experiences increased proportionally with the age of the child independent of the type of experience. Conclusion: The frequencies of negative childhood experiences for the last one year and for the life-long period were determined using ISPCAN child abuse screening tool in Turkey for the first time in three provinces and in such a large population. The frequency of negative childhood experiences related with child abuse and neglect screened were found to be 42%-70% and it was elucidated that we are confronted with a very significant public health problem and adult health risk in these regions of Turkey. © 2014 by Turkish Pediatric Association.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate marine contamination and toxicity in sediment and pore water from the areas of Izmir Bay (Turkey) and Mytilene Harbor (Greece). The evaluation was performed in terms of selected toxic metals, polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAH) and toxicity to sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) early development and fertilization. Significantly higher levels of metals and total PAH were detected in Izmir vs. Mytilene sediment, and the highest contamination was detected in Izmir Bay innermost sites. Bioassays were carried out in P. lividus embryos and sperm, by evaluating developmental defects and changes in fertilization success by exposing sea urchin embryos or sperm to sediment/seawater suspensions. Whole sediment (WS) showed a higher toxicity of Izmir vs. Mytilene samples both in terms of developmental defects and of spermiotoxicity. Pore water (PW) and solid phase (SP) were separated by WS centrifugation and tested on embryos or sperm. The induction of developmental defects showed a significantly higher toxicity of WS compared to SP and, even more so, to PW. A significant decrease in fertilization success was observed following sperm suspension in SP from both Izmir and Mytilene sediment samples, whereas PW-exposed sperm failed to display any decrease of fertilization success vs. controls. The use of WS bioassays is suggested as a default procedure in sediment toxicity testing, especially in a topographic characterization of polluted sediments. © Published by Central Fisheries Research Institute (CFRI) Trabzon, Turkey.

In this study, whey protein concentrates (WPC) samples were stored for 2 years and analyzed for hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content. Apparent density and moisture content were found to be similar to those reported in the literature. The amount of HMF in samples varied from 9.86 to 26.59 mu mole 100 g(-1) at the start of shelf life. Having been stored for two years, HMF values of the WPC examined ranged from 39.53 to 89.24 mu mole 100 g(-1) at the storage temperature of 20 degrees C. It was found that HMF and moisture levels of WPC were significantly affected by shelf life. However, the apparent density values of WPC did not change significantly and were not affected by the storage period. It is concluded that adulteration of WPC can be detected on the basis of HMF content. HMF level of WPC should be further considered as a criterion in the specification of WPC.

In this study, commercial whey protein concentrate (WPC) samples were analyzed for hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content. Samples had apparent density (AD) and moisture content similar to those reported in the literature. In all samples of WPC HMF was found. The amount of HMF in samples varied from 9.86+/-0.52 to 26.59+/-2.44 mu mole 100 g(-1). The mean value of the 9 analyzed samples was 17.95+/-1.62 mu mole HMF 100 g(-1) product. HMF content should be under consideration for end product quality and nutritional value. In general terms, the formation of HMF in typical WPC maybe an indication of differences in processing conditions. Thus, HMF level of WPC should be further considered as a criterion in the specification of WPC.

The present study was aimed at evaluating sediment pollution and toxicity in the Bay of Pozzuoli (BoP) (Tyrrhenian Sea, southern Italy), characterized by high anthropic pressure and by previous industrial facilities. Analyses were carried out to evaluate the content of metals, total hydrocarbons (C10-C40) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediment samples collected along five transects from the coast. Sediment samples were tested for toxicity as whole sediment (WS) suspensions to sea urchins (Arbacia lixula), or as elutriate (EL) in dia-toms (Phaeodactylum tricornutum). WS-exposed sea urchin embryos and sperm underwent significant increase of developmental defects (DD), or inhibition of fertilization success and increased DD in the offspring of WS-exposed sperm. Diatoms were reared in sediment EL and the effects were evaluated as growth inhibition. Different pollution and toxicity patterns were observed along the five sediment sampling transects, without a monotonic trend vs. distance from coast, suggesting increased sediment toxicity in samples collected at intermediate distances.

Sweet whey powder (SWP) and skim milk powder (SMP) are widely used as food ingredients. These products are sensitive to Maillard reaction because of high sugar and protein content. Furfural products of the Mail lard reaction are used as specific indicators of the effects of heating treatments and storage conditions on SW P and SMP quality. Therefore, hydroxymethyl furfural (5-HMF) levels were measured in representative samples which were stored 8 months at three different temperatures (25, 35 and 45 degrees C) and moisture (2.5, 5,0, 7.5% for WPC and 5.5, 7.5, 10% for SMP) using Reverse Phase-High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC) with DAD detection during storage period (8 months). The HMF contents ranged from 4.25 to 128.56 mg/kg and from 2.07 to 98.23 mg/kg in WPC and SMP, respectively. Although the HMF level of WPC increased with increasing moisture content, SMP samples reached the maximum quantity of HMF at 7.5%.

The pervasive spread of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) has raised significant concerns on their toxicity in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. These polymer-based materials have implications for plants, wildlife and human health, threatening food chain integrity and ultimate ecosystem resilience. An extensive – and growing – body of literature is available on MP- and NP-associated effects, including in a number of aquatic biota, with as yet limited reports in terrestrial environments. Effects range from no detectable, or very low level, biological effects to more severe outcomes such as (but not limited to) increased mortality rates, altered immune and inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, genetic damage and dysmetabolic changes. A well- established exposure route to MPs and NPs involves ingestion with subsequent incorporation into tissues. MP and NP exposures have also been found to lead to genetic damage, including effects related to mitotic anomalies, or to transmissible damage from sperm cells to their offspring, especially in echinoderms. Effects on the proteome, transcriptome and metabolome warrant ad hoc investigations as these integrated “omics” workflows could provide greater insight into molecular pathways of effect. Given their different physical structures, chemical identity and presumably different modes of action, exposure to different types of MPs and NPs may result in different biological effects in biota, thus comparative investigations of different MPs and NPs are required to ascertain the respective effects. Furthermore, research on MP and NP should also consider their ability to act as vectors for other toxicants, and possible outcomes of exposure may even include effects at the community level, thus requiring investigations in mesocosm models.