•Orange peels are converted into high quality mesoporous activated carbon.•The carbon shows great ability to remove two basic dyes in batch and dynamic modes.•Single and binary adsorption isotherms ...are determined and modeled.•Breakthrough curves are well fitted by a modified two-parameter model.•Competitive effects are reflected in reduced adsorption capacities.
Activated carbon from orange (Citrus sinensis) peel was developed through H3PO4 acid activation. Its ability as an adsorbent for the removal of two representative basic dyes (methylene blue and rhodamine B) from single and binary dyes solutions in batch and continuous modes was examined. The orange peel-based activated carbon presented a high specific surface area (1090m2/g), predominance of mesopores and acidic character. It also showed a high adsorption capacity for both dyes in batch and dynamic modes. Experimental equilibrium isotherms obtained from single-dye solutions fitted the Langmuir–Freundlich model, and those obtained from binary solutions were properly described by single and multi-component models. Breakthrough curves obtained from single-dye solutions exhibited a better removal performance for rhodamine B. Adsorption capacity at exhaustion time for this dye was 11% higher than for methylene blue. Additional experiments in dynamic conditions with a binary solution of both dyes pointed to adsorption competition for the active sites of the developed carbon. Breakthrough curves were adequately represented by a modified two-parameter model.
Display omitted
•Response of E. fetida earthworms exposed to soil contaminated with atrazine.•The number of cocoons and the rate of production were affected by the herbicide.•At atrazine amounts ...resembling field conditions, the enzymes’ response was low.•Acetylcholinesterase activity was stimulated at low herbicide concentration.•E. fetida could perform safely as vermiremediator at low atrazine concentrations.
Atrazine is one of the most used herbicides and its over-application in fields can affect the soils and their associated biota. In this work, earthworms (Eisenia fetida) were exposed to different concentrations of atrazine to assess possible sublethal harmful effects. In the search for reliable biomarkers of these effects, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities were measured as well as behaviour and population biological parameters such as biomass, growth and production of cocoons. It was found that biomass changes were not significantly affected by atrazine presence and after 28 days the increment was around 18.3–27.3%. Protein content in earthworms was reduced in the presence of atrazine after 28 days. The lower atrazine concentration (2 mg Kg−1) affected in the shortest term (7 days) the rate of cocoon production and increased LDH activity and, especially, the AChE activity in around 40%. The presence of a higher concentration (10 mg Kg−1) of the herbicide reduced one third of the number of total cocoons, affecting the reproduction. ALP was the least sensitive biomarker to atrazine exposure. When exposed to up to 10 mg Kg−1 of atrazine, E. fetida showed a tendency to rebalance and maintained its general health.
PMR is a common inflammatory rheumatic disease. Although its clinical characteristics are fully recognized, no specific test for its diagnosis has been established to date. Several studies have ...described a wide variety of diseases that present with polymyalgic symptoms. A .sup.18 FDG-PET/CT scan could help to deal with these differential diagnoses. The goal of our study is to describe the findings of the .sup.18 FDG-PET/CT scan in a cohort of PMR patients and to detail how the .sup.18 FDG-PET/CT scan improves accuracy when diagnosing other underlying conditions. This cross-sectional study enrolled patients with a diagnosis of PMR who underwent to a .sup.18 FDG-PET/CT scan to rule out other diagnosis. The .sup.18 FDG-PET/CT scan was performed either following clinical criteria at the onset of clinical symptoms or when the patient became PMR steroid resistant. Patients' demographic, clinical and analytical data at the moment of the .sup.18 FDG-PET/CT scan were recorded. The final diagnosis was confirmed according to clinical judgement. A total of 103 patients with PMR were included. In 49.51% of patients, the .sup.18 FDG-PET/CT scan was ordered to study resistance to steroid therapy. The final diagnoses of patients were PMR in 70.9% patients, large vessel vasculitis in 15.5%, neoplasms 4.8% and another diagnosis in the rest. The .sup.18 FDG-PET/CT scan is a very useful technique for the study of Polymyalgia Rheumatica, not only to help in the diagnostic process, but also due to its role in the identification of a variety of PMR-like patrons.
Display omitted
Graphene oxide/alginate beads were prepared from lab-synthesized graphene oxide, varying its content within the beads (0.05, 0.125, and 0.25wt.%). Ethanol-drying and lyophilization ...were compared as drying methods to obtain suitable adsorbents which were later tested to the removal of a model organic molecule (methylene blue). The morphological and textural properties of all the beads were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms at −196°C, respectively. Limited porosity was obtained for all cases (SBET<60m2/g). Uniaxial compression tests were performed to assess the mechanical properties of the beads. Ethanol-dried ones exhibited higher Young’s elasticity modulus (E=192kPa) than the lyophilized samples (twice at 0.25wt.% graphene oxide loading), which disclosed breakage points at lower deformation percentages. Adsorption experiments were conducted and dye adsorption isotherms were obtained for the beads with the best removal performance. The experimental data were better fitted by the Langmuir model. The highest maximum adsorption capacity (4.25mmol/g) was obtained for the lyophilized beads with the highest graphene oxide content. Mechanical properties were found to be affected also by the dye adsorption.
Biological invasions are considered a major problem for nature conservation globally. Natural resource managers make immense efforts to control invasions. However, many management strategies depend ...on public support. In this study, we assessed how recreational users perceive the conservation level of a protected area where the native forest has been altered by the introduction of the fire-adapted Pinus radiata, wildfires and the resulting invasion. We also analyzed how users' definition of exotic species related to their perceptions and support for management actions. We found that 75% of respondents perceived the area to be well conserved, although 76% provided the correct definition for exotic species. Local, overnight and exotic-species knowledgeable users perceived the area's conservation level to be lower than their counterparts. Also, local and knowledgeable people reported more support for management strategies. We interpret that the public's positive perception of a heavily invaded landscape can be linked to bio-cultural homogenization.
Introduction
Anxiety and depression during pregnancy can lead to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. The SARS CoV‐2 pandemic, and the complete lockdown required during the first wave in most ...countries are stressors for pregnant women and can lead to anxiety and depression during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to explore depression and anxiety symptoms, and social support in pregnant women during the SARS CoV‐2 lockdown, as well as to explore demographic risk factors.
Material and methods
A prospective cohort study was performed at Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, including pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic during the SARS‐CoV2 lockdown period. Three questionnaires were administered to study depression (EPDS), anxiety (STAI) and Social Support (MOS‐SSS). STAI state (STAIs) described the actual state of anxiety and the STAI trait (STAIt) described the trait of anxiety. A cut‐off of 10 for EPDS and 40 for STAI was considered to be clinically relevant. The main outcome measures were depression and anxiety symptoms.
Results
A total of 217 women were invited to participate, and 204 accepted (94%). From these, 164 filled in the EPDS, 109 STAI and 159 MOS‐SSS questionnaires: 37.8% (95% confidence interval CI 30.5%‐45.7%) (62/164) of women showed an EPDS result ≥10, 59.6% (95% CI 49.8%‐68.8%) (65/109) a STAI state (STAIs) ≥40, and 58.7% (95% CI 48.9%‐67.9%) (64/109) a STAI trait (STAIt) ≥40. Regression analysis showed that mental health disorder, Latin American origin and lack of social support were independent risk factors for anxiety symptoms in the STAIs (P = .032, P = .040 and P = .029, respectively). Regarding depressive symptoms, maternal body mass index, mental health disorders and social support were independent factors (P = .013, P = .015 and P = .000, respectively).
Conclusions
A lockdown scenario during the first wave of the SARS‐CoV 2 pandemic increased the symptoms of anxiety and depression among pregnant women, particularly affecting those with less social support.
Heat stress in poultry is a major concern, especially in regions with hot summers and scarce cooling infrastructure. Dietary supplementation with antioxidants, such as polyphenols, has risen as a ...strategy to mitigate the physiological consequences of heat stress. A by-product of the extraction of oil from chia seeds, which is discarded if not used, could be a possible source of polyphenols. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with polyphenols from defatted chia seed cake on the general performance, and oxidative status of Japanese quail exposed to heat stress. Furthermore, productive performance, egg quality and yolk fatty acid composition were also assessed. A total of 36 females (96 days of age) were randomly assigned to different diets: BASAL (control), LDCP (low dose of chia polyphenols), or HDCP (high dose of chia polyphenols). Half the animals in each diet group were exposed to 34 °C for 9 h a day (Heat Stress; HS), while the other half remained at the standard 24 °C (No Heat Stress; NHS). After 23 days of experimental conditions, animals under HS showed higher body temperatures and time spent panting, but lower egg laying rate. Moreover, HS modulated the activity of catalase and glutathione peroxidase enzymes, increasing lipid peroxidation in serum and liver; and increased saturated fatty acids in egg yolk. Supplementation with chia polyphenols helped to mitigate the HS effects, especially on glutathione peroxidase activity, decreasing lipid peroxidation. In addition, supplementation with HDCP showed the highest proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids in liver and egg yolk. In conclusion, the use of defatted chia seed cake could represent a sustainable strategy to mitigate heat stress effects on Japanese quail, due to its capacity to decrease oxidative stress and improve the nutritional quality of egg, while decreasing the amount of waste generated by the food industry.
Display omitted
•Chronic heat stress affects egg laying performance, antioxidant status, and lipid metabolism.•Diet chia supplementation modulate antioxidant enzymes and decreases lipid peroxidation.•Diet chia supplementation leads to egg yolk enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids.
The aquatic environment holds a vast source of organisms that provide numerous opportunities to bioprospect new molecules. Notably, fish are producers of an epidermal mucus that offers protection ...against pathogens, making it a promising source of bioactive molecules. This source of molecules, however, has yet to be thoroughly explored, and particularly, optimization of methods for collection and study is needed. This review concentrates on the methods of mucus collection employed to secure high-quality samples, enabling the extraction and characterization of molecules with bioactive potential. A comprehensive search was conducted, and publications were selected based on the following criteria: (i) the mucus has been collected from the external body of the fish, not involving dissection or damage; (ii) mucus crude extracts have undergone a chemical or genetic characterization; (iii) mucus was used in bioactivity assays (e.g., antimicrobial or immune-related). Scraping, bagging, and absorption are the primary methods for collecting fish mucus. They were assessed based on fish handling, sample volume, and processing, including anesthesia and starvation. Scraping with a soft tool, such as cotton balls or sponges, proved most effective and minimized contamination, dilution, and injury risk. This review aids future studies of mucus composition and properties.
In this study, novel biosorbents were obtained from peanut shells modified with gemini-type surfactants. Peanut shells, an agro-industrial residue, were successfully modified to enhance their ...naturally low biosorption capacity towards anionic contaminants. An anionic dye (tartrazine) was employed to test their performance. Three gemini were synthesized from N,N-dimethylamines with different chain length and 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol as a linker. They were purified and characterized and their surfactant properties were determined. The successful modification of the peanut shells was confirmed through a retention study based on a two-phase titration method. This method has not been reported before for modified biosorbents and should be considered to prevent risky lixiviation. Retention was found to be high (98.0–99.7%) and to be chain length-dependent. Biosorption followed the pseudo-second order kinetic model and equilibrium isotherms of the gemini-modified biosorbents were best fitted by the Langmuir model. Their maximum biosorption capacities (0.126–0.141 mmol g−1) proved to be more than threefold higher than that of the unmodified peanut shells. The retention capacity of the gemini was also tested after biosorption studies.
Display omitted
•Peanut shells modified by synthesized gemini surfactants were tested as biosorbents.•Retention of the three surfactants onto the matrix was studied for the first time.•A two-phase titration method successfully quantified the lixiviation of the gemini.•Reduction of peanut shells residues and efficient dye-contaminated water treatment.
PDF
