Caffeine has been identified as emerging contaminant of concern due to its widespread occurrence in the aquatic environment and potential to be biologically active. Recently, these concerns have been ...translated in an increasing research on its occurrence and effects on biota. However, there is still a limited knowledge on seawater matrices and the implications of caffeine presence in coastal and marine ecosystems are not fully known. The present review aims to fill these knowledge gaps, analysing the existing literature regarding the occurrence, effects and potential risks of caffeine residues to coastal ecosystems, contributing to the risk assessment of this psychoactive drug in the aquatic environment. The analysed literature reported caffeine concentrations in the coastal ecosystems, raising high concerns about the potential adverse impacts on the ecological safety and human health. Caffeine has been found in tissues from coastal and marine biota including microalgae, coral reefs, bivalves and fish due to bioaccumulation after chronic, long-term exposures in a contaminated environment. Additionally, caffeine residues had been demonstrated to have adverse impacts on aquatic organisms, at environmentally realistic concentrations, inducing oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, neurotoxicity, changing energy reserves and metabolic activity, affecting reproduction and development and, in some cases, causing mortality. Considering the increasing adverse impacts of caffeine pollution in the coastal environment, this review highlights the urgent need to minimize the increasing load of caffeine to the aquatic ecosystems; being imperative the implementation of scientific programs and projects to classify effectively the caffeine as a high-priority environmentally hazardous emerging pollutant.
•Most of the studies on caffeine concentration in seawater are from the USA.•Caffeine was detected in marine and coastal areas of 13 European countries.•In Europe the highest caffeine concentration was found in the Aegean Sea (3068 ng/L).•Caffeine was found in tissues of coastal taxa from contaminated environments.
Plastic pollution is a worldwide problem, highlighted by the fact that plastic materials degrade into nano-size particles (<100 nm), potentially becoming more bioavailable as well as a source of ...entry of other contaminants into organisms. The present study aimed to assess the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS), individually or combined with carbamazepine (Cbz), on the Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis. For this purpose, mussels were exposed for 96 h to a concentration range of PS (from 0.05 up to 50 mg L−1), to Cbz (6.3 μg L−1) alone and to the mixture of PS + Cbz (0.05 mg L−1+ 6.3 μg L−1). Molecular and biochemical biomarkers were assessed in the digestive glands, gills and haemolymph. The abundance of mRNA in the digestive glands and gills revealed significant alterations in the expression of genes associated with biotransformation, DNA repair, cell stress-response and innate immunity. Combined exposure of PS + Cbz induced significant downregulation in gene expression (e.g., hsp70) when compared to individual exposure. Total oxidant status increased in digestive glands after exposure to 0.5 mg L−1 PS. Moreover, increased total antioxidant capacity and esterase activity were observed for PS 50 mg L−1, in digestive glands and gills, respectively. The PS induced effects on neurotransmission, measured as inhibition of cholinesterase activity in haemolymph. Genotoxicity was found in haemocytes after exposure to PS, Cbz and their mixture. Moreover, lipid peroxidation was observed for 0.05 mg L−1 PS exposure, showing that nanoplastics can induce oxidative damage. The present study demonstrated that PS, even at low concentrations, led to alterations on the assessed mussels' endpoints.
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•Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS) were assessed at molecular and biochemical levels.•PS induced changes in the expression of biotransformation and immune related genes.•PS exposure inhibits cholinesterase activity in haemolymph.•DNA integrity decreased after exposure to PS, carbamazepine (Cbz) and PS + Cbz.•PS (0.05 mg L−1) induced lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the digestive gland.
In the last years the environmental presence of pharmaceuticals has gained increasing attention. Research data show that these compounds can cause toxicological effects in different species of fish, ...mollusks and macroinvertebrates. However, the literature is scarce in terms of ecotoxicity data especially focusing on plants as test organisms. Ecotoxicological plant-based tests following the standard OEDC guideline 221 (OECD, 2006) are strongly restricted due to the recommended end-points: growth and yield of plants. It is necessary to develop and validate alternative macrophyte-based tests (non-standard endpoints), more sensible and providing additional information about the chemical contamination effects in plants. To attain this purpose, species from the Lemna genus were selected. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the toxic effects of pharmaceuticals in non-standard endpoints on two macrophyte species, Lemna minor and Lemna gibba. To this purpose an acute assay (96 h) was performed with L. minor and L. gibba exposed to chlorpromazine (CPZ), paracetamol (APAP), and diclofenac (DCF), in the following concentration ranges: 0 to 20 μg/L, 0 to 125 μg/L, and 0 to 100 μg/L, respectively. The analyzed endpoints were: levels of chlorophyll a and b, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, anthocyanins; chlorophyll fluorescence; and catalase activity. In general, higher concentrations of the tested pharmaceuticals caused significant effects on both Lemna species in terms of the different endpoints analyzed. In conclusion, acute exposures to CPZ, APAP, and DCF differently affected the defensive system of the tested species; among chlorophylls, chlorophyll b content was more affected, but pharmaceutical exposure was not able to cause alterations on chlorophyll fluorescence.
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•Chlorpromazine, paracetamol and diclofenac affected Lemna spp. defensive system.•Chlorophyll b was more sensitive endpoint than chlorophyll a to these drugs.•Chlorophyll fluorescence on Lemna spp. is not affected by these drugs.•Non-standard parameters are a promising tool for ecotoxicological evaluation.
Explainable artificial intelligence: an analytical review Angelov, Plamen P.; Soares, Eduardo A.; Jiang, Richard ...
Wiley interdisciplinary reviews. Data mining and knowledge discovery,
September/October 2021, Letnik:
11, Številka:
5
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
This paper provides a brief analytical review of the current state‐of‐the‐art in relation to the explainability of artificial intelligence in the context of recent advances in machine learning and ...deep learning. The paper starts with a brief historical introduction and a taxonomy, and formulates the main challenges in terms of explainability building on the recently formulated National Institute of Standards four principles of explainability. Recently published methods related to the topic are then critically reviewed and analyzed. Finally, future directions for research are suggested.
This article is categorized under:
Technologies > Artificial Intelligence
Fundamental Concepts of Data and Knowledge > Explainable AI
Accuracy versus interpretability for different machine learning models.
Marine food-reliant subsistence systems such as those in the African Middle Stone Age (MSA) were not thought to exist in Europe until the much later Mesolithic. Whether this apparent lag reflects ...taphonomic biases or behavioral distinctions between archaic and modern humans remains much debated. Figueira Brava cave, in the Arrábida range (Portugal), provides an exceptionally well preserved record of Neandertal coastal resource exploitation on a comparable scale to the MSA and dated to ~86 to 106 thousand years ago. The breadth of the subsistence base-pine nuts, marine invertebrates, fish, marine birds and mammals, tortoises, waterfowl, and hoofed game-exceeds that of regional early Holocene sites. Fisher-hunter-gatherer economies are not the preserve of anatomically modern people; by the Last Interglacial, they were in place across the Old World in the appropriate settings.
The main objective of the present study was to investigate possible links between biomarkers and swimming performance in the estuarine fish
Pomatoschistus microps acutely exposed to metals (copper ...and mercury). In independent bioassays,
P. microps juveniles were individually exposed for 96
h to sub-lethal concentrations of copper or mercury. At the end of the assays, swimming performance of fish was measured using a device specially developed for epibenthic fish (SPEDE). Furthermore, the following biomarkers were measured: lipid peroxidation (LPO) and the activity of the enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glutathione S-transferases (GST), 7-ethoxyresorufin-
O-deethylase (EROD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). LC
50s of copper and mercury (dissolved throughout metal concentrations) at 96
h were 568
μg
L
−1 and 62
μg
L
−1, respectively. Significant and concentration-dependent effects of both metals on swimming resistance and covered distance against water flow were found at concentrations equal or higher than 50
μg
L
−1 for copper and 3
μg
L
−1 for mercury (dissolved throughout metal concentrations). These results indicate that SPEDE was efficacious to quantify behavioural alterations in the epibenthic fish
P. microps at ecologically relevant concentrations. Significant alterations by both metals on biomarkers were found including: inhibition of AChE and EROD activities, induction of LDH, GST and anti-oxidant enzymes, and increased LPO levels, with LOEC values ranging from 25 to 200
μg
L
−1 for copper and from 3 to 25
μg
L
−1 for mercury (dissolved throughout metal concentrations). Furthermore, significant and positive correlations were found between some biomarkers (AChE and EROD) and behavioural parameters, while negative correlations were found for others (LPO, anti-oxidant enzymes and LDH) suggesting that disruption of cholinergic function through AChE inhibition, decreased detoxification capability due to EROD inhibition, additional energetic demands to face chemical stress, and oxidative stress and damage may contribute to decrease the swimming performance of fish. Since a reduced swimming capability of fish may reduce their ability to capture preys, avoid predators, and interfere with social and reproductive behaviour, the exposure of
P. microps to copper and/or mercury concentrations similar to those tested here may decrease the fitness of wild populations of this species.
In this work, we calculate the deflection angle of light in a spacetime that interpolates between regular black holes and traversable wormholes, depending on the free parameter of the metric. ...Afterwards, this angular deflection is substituted into the lens equations which allows us to obtain physically measurable results, such as the position of the relativistic images and the magnifications.
Visible and near infrared reflectance spectroscopy was used to predict pH at 24
h (pH24)
post-mortem, sarcomere length (SL), cooking loss (CL), Warner–Bratzler Shear Force (WBSF) and colour ...parameters (
L
∗,
a
∗,
b
∗) in beef cattle samples. Samples from
M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum from 30 bulls were aged at 4
°C for 1, 3, 7 and 14 days and analysed for pH, SL, CL, WBSF and colour. NIRS calibrations for pH24, luminosity at 0 (
L
∗
t0) and 60
min (
L
∗
t60) showed good predictability (
R
2
=
0.97, 0.85 and 0.82; SECV
=
0.10, 1.16, 1.36, respectively), whereas those related to the rest of the parameters were poorer.
The microbiome is able to modulate immune responses, alter the physiology of the human organism, and increase the risk of viral infections and development of diseases such as cancer. In this review, ...we address changes in the cervical microbiota as potential biomarkers to identify the risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) development and invasive cervical cancer in the context of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Current approaches for clinical diagnostics and the manipulation of microbiota with the use of probiotics and through microbiota transplantation are also discussed.
Cirrhigaleus comprises a small genus of rare barbel-bearing dogfish sharks with distributions in limited regions of all oceans. Generic validity and taxonomic status of some species are upon ...controversies by morphological and molecular evidence that often suggest reallocation of Cirrhigaleus species into the genus Squalus. Particularly, the roughskin spurdog C. asper exhibits intermediary morphological characteristics within Squalidae that requires clarification. In the present study, a phylogenetic approach was undertaken to test the correct generic placement of C. asper using novel and revised morphological characters. We performed maximum parsimony analysis of 51 morphological characters of the internal (e.g., neurocranium, clasper cartilages, pectoral and pelvic girdles) and external anatomy applied to 13 terminal taxa. Cirrhigaleus represents a valid genus and it is supported by eight synapomorphies: high number of monospondylous vertebrae; medial nasal lobe supported by fleshy core and innervated by the buccopharyngeal branch of the facial nerve; neurocranium with greatest width across nasal capsules; one facet and one condyle in the puboischiadic bar for articulating with the basipterygium; two intermediate segments between the basipterygium of the pelvic fin and the axial cartilage of the claspers; five terminal clasper cartilages; and posterior medial process of the puboischiadic bar absent. Cirrhigaleus asper is sister-species to a small clade comprising C. barbifer and C. australis which is supported by one synapomorphy, presence of conspicuous cusplets in the dermal denticles. Cirrhigaleus barbifer, C. asper and C. australis are redescribed herein and the neotype of C. barbifer is designated. A key to Cirrhigaleus species is also given and the inner relationships within Squalus is tentatively discussed.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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