The <Emphasis Type="Italic">AhRR</Emphasis>-c.565C&gt;G transversion may increase total antioxidant capacity levels of the seminal plasma in infertile men

The Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-repressor (AhRR) is a regulator of the AhR pathway, which plays an important role in xenobiotic and reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) is a major factor in semen quality that protects sperm against ROS stress. Malondialdehyde (MDA) is the indicator of lipid peroxidation damage that is occurred due to ROSs. In this study, we determined and compared the MDA and TAC levels of infertile men’s semen and blood plasma regarding genotype groups of AhRR-c.565C>G transversion. Semen and blood samples of 123 infertile males were collected from the Fatemeh Zahra IVF Centre, Babol, Iran. TAC and MDA levels of seminal and blood plasma were measured by TBARS and FRAP methods, respectively. Cases were genotyped by the PCR-RFLP method. The frequency of c.565C>G genotypes was determined as CC (34.14%), CG (55.28%) and GG (10.58%). Mean levels of TAC μm/L and MDA nmol/mL in semen plasma of CC, CG and GG groups were (1365.7, 1.28), (1542.8, 1.51) and (1860.2, 0.82), respectively. Also, mean levels of TAC μm/L and MDA nmol/mL in blood plasma samples in CC, CG and GG genotypes were (806.14, 1.168), (727.1, 1.006) and (635.7, 0.83), respectively. Comparison of marker levels between genotypes revealed that the TAC level of semen plasma in the GG genotype was significantly higher than its level in the CC group (p < 0.05). Our findings showed that in seminal plasma of infertile men with the GG genotype of AhRR-c.565C>G transversion, the level of total antioxidant capacity is significantly higher in comparison with the CC genotype. Then, the G allele of AhRR-c.565C>G transversion may have a role in the increase in antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma.     

On the successful use of a simplified model to simulate the succession of toxic cyanobacteria in a hypereutrophic reservoir with a highly fluctuating water level

Many freshwater bodies worldwide that suffer from harmful algal blooms would benefit for their management from a simple ecological model that requires few field data, e.g. for early warning systems. Beyond a certain degree, adding processes to ecological models can reduce model predictive capabilities. In this work, we assess whether a simple ecological model without nutrients is able to describe the succession of cyanobacterial blooms of different species in a hypereutrophic reservoir and help understand the factors that determine these blooms. In our study site, Karaoun Reservoir, Lebanon, cyanobacteria Aphanizomenon ovalisporum and Microcystis aeruginosa alternatively bloom. A simple configuration of the model DYRESM-CAEDYM was used; both cyanobacteria were simulated, with constant vertical migration velocity for A. ovalisporum, with vertical migration velocity dependent on light for M. aeruginosa and with growth limited by light and temperature and not by nutrients for both species. The model was calibrated on two successive years with contrasted bloom patterns and high variations in water level. It was able to reproduce the measurements; it showed a good performance for the water level (root-mean-square error (RMSE) lower than 1 m, annual variation of 25 m), water temperature profiles (RMSE of 0.22–1.41 °C, range 13–28 °C) and cyanobacteria biomass (RMSE of 1–57 μg Chl a L^?1, range 0–206 μg Chl a L^?1). The model also helped understand the succession of blooms in both years. The model results suggest that the higher growth rate of M. aeruginosa during favourable temperature and light conditions allowed it to outgrow A. ovalisporum. Our results show that simple model configurations can be sufficient not only for theoretical works when few major processes can be identified but also for operational applications. This approach could be transposed on other hypereutrophic lakes and reservoirs to describe the competition between dominant phytoplankton species, contribute to early warning systems or be used for management scenarios.     

Hospital admissions in Iran for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases attributed to the Middle Eastern Dust storms

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The main objective of this study was to assess the possible effects of airborne particulate matter less than 10&nbsp;μm in diameter (PM10)...     

Green preparation of a novel red mud@carbon composite and its application for adsorption of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid from aqueous solution

This study reports the eco-friendly preparation of a novel composite material consisting of red mud and carbon spheres, denoted as red mud@C composite, and its application for the removal of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid herbicide (2,4-D) from aqueous solution. The preparation route has a green approach because it follows the low-energy consuming one-step hydrothermal process by using starch as a renewable carbon precursor and red mud as a waste from aluminum production industry. Characterization of the red mud@C composite was performed by FT-IR, TGA, SEM, TEM, BET, XRD, and Raman microscopy analyses. The batch adsorption studies revealed that the red mud@C composite has higher 2,4-D adsorption efficiency than those of the red mud and the naked carbon spheres. The maximum removal at initial pH of 3.0 is explained by considering the pKa of 2,4-D and pH of point of zero charge (pH_pzc) of the composite material. The adsorption equilibrium time was 60 min, which followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model together with intra-particle diffusion model. The isotherm analysis indicated that Freundlich isotherm model better represented the adsorption data, with isotherm parameters of k [15.849 (mg/g) (mg/L)^?1/n] and n (2.985). The prepared composite is reusable at least 5 cycles of adsorption-desorption with no significant decrease in the adsorption capacity.

     

Assessment of hospitalization and mortality from exposure to PM10 using AirQ modeling in Ilam,Iran

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The aims of this study were to assess the health impact of PM10 on inhabitants and to investigate the trend of PM10 concentrations in Ilam, Iran, from...     

Policy Utopias for Nutrient Credit Trading Programs with Nonpoint Sources

A promising program to address water contamination from nutrients is water quality trading (WQT), whereby entities with high abatement costs purchase credits from entities with lower abatement costs. The concept has found some success with point source water pollution, but very few trades have occurred in over 50 programs in the United States (U.S.) that have focused on nonpoint sources (NPSs). To understand why success has been slow, we identified three environments needed for programs to succeed: physical, economic, and institutional. We estimate that only 5% of watersheds in the U.S. currently listed as nutrient impaired provide a viable physical environment for trading nitrogen; 13% are suitable for phosphorus. Economic and institutional challenges would shrink that domain even further. Therefore, we find places with the ideal physical, economic, and institutional environments necessary for feasible WQT programs are virtual policy utopias — rare places with ideal environments. Fortunately, a growing literature provides the tools necessary to identify where these policy utopias are and to expand that domain through a better understanding about how to manage WQT programs more effectively.     

Use of Maize (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> L.) for phytomanagement of Cd-contaminated soils: a critical review

Maize (Zea mays L.) has been widely adopted for phytomanagement of cadmium (Cd)-contaminated soils due to its high biomass production and Cd accumulation capacity. This paper reviewed the toxic effects of Cd and its management by maize plants. Maize could tolerate a certain level of Cd in soil while higher Cd stress can decrease seed germination, mineral nutrition, photosynthesis and growth/yields. Toxicity response of maize to Cd varies with cultivar/varieties, growth medium and stress duration/extent. Exogenous application of organic and inorganic amendments has been used for enhancing Cd tolerance of maize. The selection of Cd-tolerant maize cultivar, crop rotation, soil type, and exogenous application of microbes is a representative agronomic practice to enhance Cd tolerance in maize. Proper selection of cultivar and agronomic practices combined with amendments might be successful for the remediation of Cd-contaminated soils with maize. However, there might be the risk of food chain contamination by maize grains obtained from the Cd-contaminated soils. Thus, maize cultivation could be an option for the management of low- and medium-grade Cd-contaminated soils if grain yield is required. On the other hand, maize can be grown on Cd-polluted soils only if biomass is required for energy production purposes. Long-term field trials are required, including risks and benefit analysis for various management strategies aiming Cd phytomanagement with maize.     

Biochemical and histopathological changes of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails exposed to bisphenol A

The effects of sub-lethal concentrations of bisphenol A on some biochemical parameters in Biomphalaria alexandrina snail's hemolymph and tissues as well as on histological changes of the hermaphrodite gland were evaluated. Adult snails were exposed to sub-lethal concentrations for four weeks and samples of snails were investigated after two and four weeks. Total protein and albumin levels in hemolymph, as well as lipid peroxidation and glutathione contents of snails’ tissues, were measured. After two weeks of exposure, total protein content and albumin levels decreased in all groups. Elevation of lipid peroxidation levels was correlated with decreasing glutathione content in the treated snails. Histological examination of the hermaphrodite gland revealed deformations in eggs and affected sperm production.     

Resource recovery potential from source-separated organic municipal solid waste: opportunities for organic fertilizer production and creating sustainable urban agriculture in Ethiopia

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Increasing waste production and its disposal into the environment without treatment and resource recovery is considered as a threat to the...     

Portlandite wet-synthesis process from phosphogypsum waste using hydroxide medium: application in both CO2 capture and brine water salinity reduction

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Portlandite (Ca(OH)2) preparation from phosphogypsum waste (PGW) was evaluated in numerous works; however, the use of this compound is not applied...