Isolation and Genomic Sequence of Hepatitis A Virus from Mixed Frozen Berries in Italy

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) was detected in two samples of mixed frozen berries linked to Italian hepatitis A outbreak in April and September 2013. Both viruses were fully sequenced by next-generation sequencing and the genomes clustered with HAV complete genomes of sub-genotype IA with nucleotide identities of 95–97 %.     

Kinetic and morphology study of alginate-vineyard pruning waste biocomposite vs. non modified vineyard pruning waste for dye removal

In this work a comparative bioadsorption study between a biocomposite consisting of hydrolysed vineyard pruning waste entrapped in calcium alginate spheres and non entrapped vineyard residue was carried out.Results have demonstrated that the biocomposite based on lignocellulose-calcium alginate spheres removed 77.3% of dyes,while non entrapped lignocellulose eliminated only removed 27.8% of colour compounds.The experimental data were fitted to several kinetic models(pseudo-first order,pseudo-second order,Chien–Clayton model,intraparticle diffusion model and Bangham model); being pseudo-second order the kinetic model that better described the adsorption of dyes onto both bioadsorbents.In addition,a morphological study(roughness and shape) of alginate-vineyard biocomposite was established under extreme conditions,observing significant differences between hydrated and dehydrated alginate-vineyard biocomposite.The techniques used to carry out this morphological study consisted of scanning electron microscopy(SEM),perfilometry and 3D surface analysis.     

Use of Fe/Al drinking water treatment residuals as amendments for enhancing the retention capacity of glyphosate in agricultural soils

Fe/Al drinking water treatment residuals (WTRs), ubiquitous and non-hazardous by-products of drinking water purification, are cost-effective adsorbents for glyphosate. Given that repeated glyphosate applications could significantly decrease glyphosate retention by soils and that the adsorbed glyphosate is potentially mobile, high sorption capacity and stability of glyphosate in agricultural soils are needed to prevent pollution of water by glyphosate. Therefore, we investigated the feasibility of reusing Fe/Al WTR as a soil amendment to enhance the retention capacity of glyphosate in two agricultural soils. The results of batch experiments showed that the Fe/Al WTR amendment significantly enhanced the glyphosate sorption capacity of both soils (p < 0.001). Up to 30% of the previously adsorbed glyphosate desorbed from the non-amended soils, and the Fe/Al WTR amendment effectively decreased the proportion of glyphosate desorbed. Fractionation analyses further demonstrated that glyphosate adsorbed to non-amended soils was primarily retained in the readily labile fraction (NaHCO₃-glyphosate). The WTR amendment significantly increased the relative proportion of the moderately labile fraction (HCl-glyphosate) and concomitantly reduced that of the NaHCO₃-glyphosate, hence reducing the potential for the release of soil-adsorbed glyphosate into the aqueous phase. Furthermore, Fe/Al WTR amendment minimized the inhibitory effect of increasing solution pH on glyphosate sorption by soils and mitigated the effects of increasing solution ionic strength. The present results indicate that Fe/Al WTR is suitable for use as a soil amendment to prevent glyphosate pollution of aquatic ecosystems by enhancing the glyphosate retention capacity in soils.     

Energy production and sustainability: A study of Belo Monte hydroelectric power plant

The increase in energy demand due to economic and population growth necessitates the expansion of the Brazilian energy supply. Hydropower energy, a renewable energy source, arguably clean, presents an energy solution for many countries such as Brazil, with large hydric reservoirs, which help them reduce energy dependence on fossil and imported fuel sources. However, it must be emphasized that without careful planning, the creation of hydropower plants will cause severe social and environmental damage due to the large areas that need to be flooded for the implementation of these plants. The installation of hydropower plants floods vast forest areas, causing loss of biodiversity, displacement of native Brazilian people and riverside populations, and changes to the water acid levels and the natural course of rivers. To mitigate these effects, authorities must first conduct a study on installation possibilities and potential socio‐environmental consequences, to be interpreted and used by the agents involved. Aiming to analyze the social‐environmental impacts of the hydropower plants, this research seeks to investigate the capacity of mitigation of the negative effects of the implementation of the hydropower plants, specifically with regard to the Belo Monte plant, Brazil.     

Effects of observability and complexity on farmers’ adoption of environmental practices

The ability of both regulators and farmers themselves to monitor the impact of environmental practices may be an issue with nonpoint source pollution. Effects that can be perceived via direct sensory evidence provide information at low cost. Results from a survey of livestock farmers suggest that a practice that has more obvious effects on water quality, manure application setbacks, is more likely to be adopted than a more complicated one with less visible effects, manure testing. Farmers’ perceptions of the profitability of the two practices were similar. The importance of observability and complexity has implications for educational programs.     

Plastic pollution: A focus on freshwater biodiversity

Plastics are dominant pollutants in freshwater ecosystems worldwide. Scientific studies that investigated the interaction between plastics and freshwater biodiversity are incipient, especially if compared to the marine realm. In this review, we provide a brief overview of plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems around the world. We found evidence of plastic ingestion by 206 freshwater species, from invertebrates to mammals, in natural or semi-natural ecosystems. In addition, we reported other consequences of synthetic polymers in freshwater ecosystems—including, for instance, the entanglement of animals of different groups (e.g., birds). The problem of plastic pollution is complex and will need coordinated actions, such as recycling programs, correct disposal, stringent legislation, regular inspection, replacement of synthetic polymers with other materials, and ecological restoration. Current information indicates that the situation in freshwater ecosystems may be as detrimental as the pollution found in the ocean, although highly underappreciated.Supplementary InformationThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-020-01496-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Multiple exposure pathways and health risk assessment of selenium for children in a coal mining area

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Selenium (Se) presents a dual role to human body, harmful or beneficial, depending on its concentration. The exposure to this element has been...     

PET-modified red mud as catalysts for oxidative desulfurization reactions

This work describes the synthesis of catalysts based on red mud/polyethylene terephthalate(PET) composites and their subsequent heat treatment under N2 atmosphere.The materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy(SEM),temperature programmed reduction(TPR),Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT–IR),X-ray diffraction(XRD),thermogravimetric(TG) analysis and N2adsorption/desorption.The catalysts were evaluated in the oxidative desulfurization reaction of dibenzothiophene(DBT) in a biphasic system.The results indicated that the PET impregnation on red mud increased the affinity of the catalyst with the nonpolar phase(fuel),in which the contaminant was dissolved,allowing a higher conversion(up to 80%) and selectivity to the corresponding dibenzothiophene sulfone.The sulfone compound is more polar than DBT and diffused into the polar solvent as indicated by the data obtained via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry(GC–MS).     

Coating independent cytotoxicity of citrate- and PEG-coated silver nanoparticles on a human hepatoma cell line

The antibacterial potential of silver nanoparticles(AgNPs) resulted in their increasing incorporation into consumer,industrial and biomedical products.Therefore,human and environmental exposure to AgNPs(either as an engineered product or a contaminant)supports the emergent research on the features conferring them different toxicity profiles.In this study,30 ran AgNPs coated with citrate or poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG) were used to assess the influence of coating on the effects produced on a human hepatoma cell line(HepG2),namely in terms of viability,apoptosis,apoptotic related genes,cell cycle and cyclins gene expression.Both types of coated AgNPs decreased cell proliferation and viability with a similar toxicity profile.At the concentrations used(11 and 5 μg/mL corresponding to IC50 and-IC10 levels,respectively) the amount of cells undergoing apoptosis was not significant and the apoptotic related genes BCL2(anti-apoptotic gene)and BAX(pro-apoptotic gene) were both downregulated.Moreover,both AgNPs affected HepG2 cell cycle progression at the higher concentration(11 μg/mL) by increasing the percentage of cells in S(synthesis phase) and G2(Gap 2 phase) phases.Considering the cell-cycle related genes,the expression of cyclin B1 and cyclin E1 genes were decreased.Thus,this work has shown that citrate- and PEG-coated AgNPs impact on HepG2 apoptotic gene expression,cell cycle dynamics and cyclin regulation in a similar way.More research is needed to determine the properties that confer AgNPs at lower toxicity,since their use has proved helpful in several industrial and biomedical contexts.