Biocontrol strains from the genera Bacillus and Pseudomonas and their bioactive secondary metabolites may be considered beneficial for plant health, since they act through several mechanisms, ...including direct antibiosis, plant growth promotion and the induction of systemic resistance in the plant hosts. These beneficial bacteria have been proven to be very active against bacterial and fungal phytopathogens, nematodes and different insects. Direct antibiosis, an induced immune system response (ISR) in the host plant and competition for nutrients and space are the most common biocontrol potential of these genera. Species belonging to the Bacillus genus are commonly considered ideal due to their rapid growth, ease of handling and excellent colonizing properties. These endospore‐forming Bacillus strains are capable of suppressing and inhibiting plant pathogens, both indirectly by competing with the pathogens for a niche or nutrient requirements, or directly by producing various lipopeptide compounds such as iturin, surfactin and fengycin, which are active on many plant pathogens. Furthermore, they are also capable of inducing systemic resistance in plants through the production of volatile substances including alcohols, aldehydes, aromatics, sulfides and ketones. Lipopeptides, polyketides and volatiles from Bacillus spp. can stimulate the expression of genes coding for pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins and other defense-related proteins in the plant hosts through the activation of jasmonic acid (JA), salicylic acid (SA) or ethylene (ET) signaling pathways. In addition, inhibition of quorum sensing in competitive bacteria and the capability to downregulate expression of genes involved in mycelial growth, penetration, sporulation and the virulence of a fungal pathogen is another property of Bacillus strains and their volatiles. The Pseudomonas genus is rich in species with the potential for biocontrol with positive effects on plant welfare, which actively participate in complex plant-pathogen-antagonist interaction. The most common molecules involved in this mechanism are, among others, 2,4‐diacetylphloroglucinol, phenazine‐1‐carboxylic acid, phenazine-1-carboxamide, pyoluteorin and pyrrolnitrin. Cyclic lipopeptides from Pseudomonas spp. such as nunamycin, nunapeptin, brasmycin and braspeptin were intensively studied as agents for plant biocontrol and biostimulation in agriculture. Nunamycin, nunapeptin, brasmycin and braspeptin were identified as essential in the antifungal role. Furthermore, phenazines, sessilins and orfamides were shown to have additive roles in the suppression of some fungal diseases. Additionally, Bacillus and Pseudomonas spp. produce chitinases, glucanases and proteases involved in the suppression of many fungal diseases. Their production is mainly induced by the presence of fungal pathogen biomass and their cell wall. This review provides an updated overview of the antimicrobial activity of plant-associated Bacillus and Pseudomonas involved in plant disease suppression via biological control mechanisms, including their molecular basis and direct activity, offering a better understanding in preventing different pests.
•Bacillus and Pseudomonas spp. produce wide array of secondary metabolites.•Secondary metabolites are involved in biocontrol and biofertilization mechanisms.•Numerous phytopathogens are controlled by Bacillus and Pseudomonas isolates.•Molecular mechanisms of biocontrol activity are discussed.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Selenium (Se) is an essential element for humans and animals, with one of the narrowest ranges between deficiency (< 40 µg day
−1
) and toxicity (> 400 µg day
−1
). Se is very widespread in all ...environments (rocks, soils, waters, air, plant and animal tissue) but in very low concentrations. Thus, there are no ores from which Se can be effectively mined. This can create a potential problem in supplying Se for commercial uses or for battling Se deficiency which already affects more than one billion people and is predicted to rise in the future. Besides Se deficiency, there are many incidents where excess Se in water and soil caused deformities in animals and humans. Often high-Se areas are found near past coal mining and burning sites, which have never been remediated and still pose a potential threat to human health. This article aims to inform readers about the general chemical characteristics of Se, environmental cycling of Se, and past incidents of Se deficiency and toxicity. The article also touches on the removal of excess Se from waters and soils, as well as biofortification methods for preventing Se deficiency in humans and animals.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Coal combustion generates almost 40% of world's electricity. However, it also produces 1.1 billion tons of coal combustion residues (CCR) annually, half of which end up in landfills. Although current ...regulations require proper lining and monitoring programs, the ubiquitous old, abandoned landfills are often not lined nor included in these programs. In addition, the total number of coal ash disposal sites and their status in the world is unknown. Therefore, this article reviews the environmental damage caused by CCR and three commonly used risk assessment methodologies: leaching assessment, groundwater assessment, and toxicity testing.
Leaching methods are usually the first step in coal ash risk assessment, however, a large number of methods with different parameters make a comparison of data difficult. Groundwater pollution is commonly detected near coal ash disposal sites, but other anthropogenic activities may also exist nearby. Therefore, multivariate statistical methods and isotope traces should be used to differentiate between different sources of pollution. So far, both stable (δ18O, δD, δ11B, δ34S, δ7Li) and radiogenic (87Sr/86Sr, 206Pb/207Pb) isotopes have been successfully used as coal ash pollution tracers. Coal ash also negatively affects biota, reduces the diversity of organisms, affects children's health, and increases the risk for developing various diseases. Toxicity studies are great for early screening of coal ash safety; however, they provide no insights into mechanisms causing the adverse effects.
Future directions are also proposed, such as the development of new ‘low-level’ detection methods for coal ash pollution and sustainable and selective method for recovery of critical elements.
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•LEAF methods in combination with other analyzes allow a comprehensive risk assessment of coal ash.•Climate changes may further promote leaching from old coal ash disposal sites.•Isotope tracers are a powerful tool for characterizing and tracing coal ash leachate.•Synergistic effects of multiple contaminants should be considered when assessing toxicity.•Residents living near coal ash are at higher risk for cardiovascular and physiological disease.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
4.
Thinking Inconsistently Petrović, Marija B.; Žeželj, Iris
European journal of psychological assessment : official organ of the European Association of Psychological Assessment,
11/2022, Volume:
38, Issue:
6
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
People tend to simultaneously accept mutually exclusive
beliefs. If they are generally prone to tolerate inconsistencies, irrespective
of their content, we say they are prone to doublethink. We ...developed a measure
to capture individual differences in this tendency and demonstrated its
construct and predictive validity across two studies. In Study 1, participants
(N = 240) filled in the doublethink scale,
the rational/intuitive inventory, and three measures of conspiratorial beliefs
(conspiracy mentality, belief in specific and contradictory conspiracies).
Doublethink was meaningfully related to all measured variables and was
predictive of all conspiratorial beliefs over and above rational/intuitive
thinking styles. In Study 2 (N = 149), we
included the need for cognition and preference for consistency in the predictor
set alongside doublethink, while the criterion set remained the same. Once
again, doublethink related in an expected way to other measured variables and
was predictive of belief in conspiracy theories after accounting for the effects
of need for cognition and preference for consistency. We discuss the properties
of the scale and how it relates to other consistency measures, and offer two
ways to conceptualize doublethink: as a lack of metacognitive ability to spot
inconsistencies or as a thinking style that easily accommodates inconsistent
beliefs.
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CEKLJ, FFLJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PEFLJ, UPUK
Health care policies often rely on public cooperation, especially during a health crisis. However, a crisis is also a period of uncertainty and proliferation of health-related advice: while some ...people adhere to the official recommendations, others tend to avoid them and resort to non-evidence based, pseudoscientific practices. People prone to the latter are often the ones endorsing a set of epistemically suspect beliefs, with two being particularly relevant: conspiratorial pandemic-related beliefs, and the appeal to nature bias regarding COVID-19 (i.e., trusting natural immunity to fight the pandemic). These in turn are rooted in trust in different epistemic authorities, seen as mutually exclusive: trust in science and trust in the "wisdom of the common man". Drawing from two nationally representative probability samples, we tested a model in which trust in science/wisdom of the common man predicted COVID-19 vaccination status (Study 1, N = 1001) or vaccination status alongside use of pseudoscientific health practices (Study 2, N = 1010), through COVID-19 conspiratorial beliefs and the appeal to nature bias regarding COVID-19. As expected, epistemically suspect beliefs were interrelated, related to vaccination status, and to both types of trust. Moreover, trust in science had both a direct and indirect effect on vaccination status through both types of epistemically suspect beliefs. Trust in the wisdom of the common man had only an indirect effect on vaccination status. Contrary to the way they are typically portrayed, the two types of trust were unrelated. These results were largely replicated in the second study, in which we added pseudoscientific practices as an outcome; trust in science and the wisdom of the common man contributed to their prediction only indirectly, through epistemically suspect beliefs. We offer recommendations on how to make use of different types of epistemic authorities and how to tackle unfounded beliefs in communication during a health crisis.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Amidst the flow of conspiracy theories (CTs) about the COVID-19 pandemic, many were logically incompatible. We aimed to map the psychological profile of their endorsers. Upon pretesting for ...familiarity and logical incompatibility, we choose eight pairs of contradictory COVID-19 CTs. Across three studies, a substantial portion of respondents (40%-42%) endorsed at least one pair. In Study 1 (N = 290), conspiracy mentality and doublethink, but not preference for consistency, meaningfully related to endorsement of contradictory CTs; doublethink contributed over and above other predictors. In two following studies we introduced indicators of superficial (Study 2; N = 281) and analytical (Study 3; N = 170) information-processing as predictors. The endorsers of contradictory CTs were more intuitive, prone to ontological confusions and pseudo-profound bullshit, less rational and less actively open-minded; doublethink again added to the prediction. We end by suggesting how the interventions should be tailored to address people with such distinct information-processing style.
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BFBNIB, NUK, PILJ, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Hydrochar produced via hydrothermal carbonization of grape pomace was considered as novel sorbent of Pb2+ from aqueous solution. In order to enhance the adsorption capacity, hydrochar was chemically ...modified using 2 M KOH solution. Both materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction technique. Batch experiments were performed to examine the effect of sorbent dosage, pH and contact time. Obtained results showed that the KOH treatment increased the sorption capacity of hydrochar from 27.8 mg g−1 up to 137 mg g−1 at pH 5. Adsorption of lead on either of the materials was achieved through ion-exchange mechanism, chemisorption and Pb2+-π interaction. The Sips isotherm model gave the best fit with the experimental data obtained for Pb2+ sorption using activated hydrochar. The adsorption kinetic followed a pseudo second-order model. Thermodynamic parameters implied that the Pb2+ binding for hydrochar surface was spontaneous and exothermic process. Findings from this work suggest that the hydrothermal carbonization is a promising route for production of efficient Pb 2+ sorbents for wastewater treatment.
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•Grape pomace hydrochar and KOH modified hydrochar were tested as Pb2+ sorbents.•Alkali modified hydrochar exhibited a fivefold higher Pb2+ adsorption capacity.•The adsorption kinetic followed a pseudo second-order model.•The Sips isotherm model gave the best fit with the experimental data.•The Pb2+ binding for hydrochar surface was spontaneous and exothermic process.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
One of the goals of this research was to develop an electrochemical sensor that had the ability to determine the target analyte and was both cheap and non-toxic. Another goal was to influence the ...reduction of electronic waste. In accordance with these, a graphite rod from zinc-carbon batteries was used to prepare an electrochemical sensor for the determination of L-tryptophan in Britton-Robinson buffer solution. Two electrochemical methods were used in the experimental research, differential pulse voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry. The effect of different parameters, including the pH value of supporting solution, scan rate, as well as the concentration of L-tryptophan on the current response, was studied. The pH value of Britton-Robinson buffer influenced the intensity of L-tryptophan oxidation peak, as well as the peak potential. The intensity of the current response was the highest at pH 4.0, while the peak potential value became lower as the pH increased, indicating that protons also participated in the redox reaction. Based on the obtained data, electrochemical oxidation of L-tryptophan at the graphite electrode was irreversible, two electron/two proton reaction. In addition, it was observed that the oxidation peak increased as the scan rate increased. According to the obtained electrochemical data, it was suggested that the oxidation of L-tryptophan was mixed controlled by adsorption and diffusion. The linear correlation between oxidation peak and L-tryptophan concentration was investigated in the range 5.0-150.0 µM and the obtained values of limit of detection and limit of quantification were 1.73 µM and 5.78 µM, respectively. Also, the prepared electrochemical sensor was successful in determination of target analyte in milk and apple juice samples.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Locally available apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) shells classified as a waste product from fruit processing, were alkali activated in order to develop an efficient heavy metal ions sorbent for water ...purification. To examine the changes occurred after alkali treatment, raw (SH) and modified apricot shells (SHM) were thoroughly characterized in terms of their chemical composition and surface properties. Chemical analysis revealed that alkaline treatment causes the disintegration of hemicellulose (its content decreased from 19.2 to 3.5%), which was in accordance with FTIR results. SEM micrographs and the mercury intrusion porosimetry revealed a larger surface area and porosity of SHM. Bohem's acid-base titration method indicated that the most of the SHM surface carboxylic groups were in sodium salt form and together with the pH of points of zero charge showed increase of surface alkalinity after modification. Treatment with NaOH enhanced the adsorption capacity by 154, 61 and 90% for Cu2+, Zn2+ and Pb2+, respectively. The amount of cations released from SHM was almost equal to the amount of adsorbed metal ions, suggesting ion exchange mechanism. The pseudo-second order kinetic indicated that the heavy metals cations were bound predominantly by complexation.
In order to establish the effectiveness of the biosorbent in real wastewater sample, SHM was employed for cleaning-up of drain water emanating from atomic adsorption spectrophotometer. The SHM showed high removal efficiency towards multiple metal ions. The amounts of Fe, Pb, Cu and Cr ions were reduced by 97, 87, 81 and 80%, respectively, while Ni and Zn amounts were reduced for 33 and 14%.
Used biosorbent SHM can be successfully regenerated with HCl (desorption>95%) and after regeneration biosorbent can be reused or it can be safely disposed.
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•Biosorption of heavy metals on raw and alkali treated apricot shells was studied.•Alkali activation significantly improves adsorption properties of raw sample.•Biosorption mechanism is ion-exchange followed by heavy metals complexation.•Based on desorption study results, biosorbent can be efficiently recovered and reused.•The developed biosorbent was successfully applied on real sample.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
The literature dealing with copper behaviour in chloride media in the presence of azoles is studied in order to improve understanding of their action mechanism, protective films formed, and the ...possibility of their application according to the inhibition efficiency achieved. The corrosion inhibition effect results from inhibitor molecule adsorption on copper surface and formation of the protective complex coating. According to the results summarised, copper corrosion may be successfully inhibited by benzotriazole, phenyl derivatives of tetrazole, bypyrazoles and 2-methyl-5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole in NaCl solutions, and in HCl solutions by 5-chloro benzotriazole, 3,5-diamino-1,2,4-triazole, and 4-methylimidazole.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
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