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International Journal of Environmental... Apr 2022This study aimed to assess the physicochemical, microbiological and toxicological hazards at an illegal landfill in central Poland. The research included the analysis of...
This study aimed to assess the physicochemical, microbiological and toxicological hazards at an illegal landfill in central Poland. The research included the analysis of airborne dust (laser photometer), the number of microorganisms in the air, soil and leachate (culture method) and the microbial diversity in the landfill environment (high-throughput sequencing on the Illumina Miseq); the cytotoxicity () and genotoxicity (alkaline comet assay) of soil and leachate were tested. Moreover, an analysis of UHPLC-Q-ToF-UHRMS (ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry) was performed to determine the toxic compounds and microbial metabolites. The PM dust fraction constituted 99.89% and 99.99% of total dust and exceeded the threshold of 0.025 mg m at the tested locations. In the air, the total number of bacteria was 9.33 × 10-1.11 × 10 CFU m, while fungi ranged from 1.17 × 10 to 4.73 × 10 CFU m. Psychrophilic bacteria were detected in the largest number in leachates (3.3 × 10 to 2.69 × 10 CFU mL) and in soil samples (8.53 × 10 to 1.28 × 10 CFU g). Bacteria belonging to Proteobacteria (42-64.7%), Bacteroidetes (4.2-23.7%), Actinobacteria (3.4-19.8%) and Firmicutes (0.7-6.3%) dominated. In the case of fungi, Basidiomycota (23.3-27.7%), Ascomycota (5.6-46.3%) and Mortierellomycota (3.1%) have the highest abundance. Bacteria (, , , , ) and fungi (, , , , , , , , , ) that are potentially hazardous to human health were detected in samples collected from the landfill. Tested leachates and soils were characterised by varied cyto/genotoxins. Common pesticides (carbamazepine, prometryn, terbutryn, permethrin, carbanilide, pyrethrin, carbaryl and prallethrin), quaternary ammonium compounds (benzalkonium chlorides), chemicals and/or polymer degradation products (melamine, triphenylphosphate, diphenylphtalate, insect repellent diethyltoluamide, and drugs (ketoprofen)) were found in soil and leachate samples. It has been proven that the tested landfill is the source of the emission of particulate matter; microorganisms (including potential pathogens) and cyto/genotoxic compounds.
Topics: Air Microbiology; Bacteria; Dust; Fungi; Humans; Poland; Soil; Waste Disposal Facilities
PubMed: 35457694
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19084826 -
Journal of Geophysical Research.... Sep 2022We present 221 Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes (TGFs) and associated optical pulses observed by the Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM) on board the International...
We present 221 Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes (TGFs) and associated optical pulses observed by the Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM) on board the International Space Station. The events were detected between the end of March 2019 and November 2020 and consist of X- and gamma-ray energy detections, as well as photometer data (180-230, 337, and 777 nm) and optical camera data (337 and 777 nm). Using the available ASIM data and applying a consistency check based on TGF characteristics and lightning detections from lightning radio atmospherics close in time, we determine the most likely position of the TGFs in relation to the photometer field of view (FoV), and the association to the observed optical pulses. Out of the 221 events we find 72 events where the TGF and optical data are determined to be associated and inside the photometer FoV. Using the measured TGF durations and the time between the onsets of the TGFs and optical pulses we find: (a) That the TGF onsets are always before or at the same time as the optical pulse onsets (taking into account cloud scattering). (b) A tendency for longer duration TGFs to have longer delays between onsets. (c) Two groups of events: (a) where there is a possible overlap between the TGFs and the optical emissions, as the TGFs last longer than the delay between onsets and (b) where the TGFs and optical emissions do not overlap, as there are long delays between the onsets, which cannot be explained by cloud scattering.
PubMed: 36246842
DOI: 10.1029/2022JD037128 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2022A novel portable low-cost Arduino-controlled photo- and fluorimeter for on-site measurements has been developed. The device uses LEDs as a light source and a...
A novel portable low-cost Arduino-controlled photo- and fluorimeter for on-site measurements has been developed. The device uses LEDs as a light source and a phototransistor as a light sensor. The circuit is based on the discharge of a capacitor with the photocurrent from the phototransistor. Validation experiments for absorbance measurements were performed by measuring protein concentration using the Bradford method and measuring phosphate ions in water using a commercial test kit. The emission light of the excited fluorescent dyes rhodamine 6G and calcofluor white was measured to validate the usability of the device as a fluorescence photometer. In all validation experiments, similar correlation coefficients and limit of detection could be achieved with the portable photo- and fluorimeter and a laboratory spectrometer and fluorimeter. Real sample analysis was performed, measuring phosphate concentration in freshwater and concentration of green fluorescent protein, extracted from
Topics: Fluorescent Dyes; Green Fluorescent Proteins; Photometry; Water; Phosphates
PubMed: 36298268
DOI: 10.3390/s22207916 -
Evidence-based Complementary and... 2022is a medicinal plant that has traditionally been used as a diuretic, anti-infective, and antiasthmatic. Our investigation was designed to explore the diuretic and...
Identification of Potential Diuretic and Laxative Drug Candidates from L. Bark through Mice Model Studies and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and Molecular Docking Analysis.
BACKGROUND
is a medicinal plant that has traditionally been used as a diuretic, anti-infective, and antiasthmatic. Our investigation was designed to explore the diuretic and laxative potentials of different fractions of this plant's bark extract as well as the identification of possible drug candidates for the activity.
METHODS
Collected bark was extracted in ethanol and fractionated in different polar and nonpolar solvents, i.e., water, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and -hexane. Phytoconstituents were identified following the published protocols and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In the diuretic test, Na and K ions were measured using a flame photometer whereas the Cl ion content was measured by titrimetric method against AgNO. In the laxative test, feces amount and consistency were also measured. Molecular docking analysis was conducted using the "Vina Wizard" program in PyRx-Python Prescription 0.8.
RESULTS
Phytochemical analysis indicated that alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, and terpenoids were detected in the most bioactive crude extracts, whereas alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, and gums were found in bioactive -hexane fraction and steroids, glycosides, and terpenoids were found positive in chloroform fraction. Almost all the fractions demonstrated a dose-dependent increment of stool production with a soft consistency; however, the chloroform fraction was found to be the most active ( < 0.001). The crude extract and -hexane fractions significantly increased ( < 0.01) the urinary output at the dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg. The concentrations of Na, K, and Cl in collected urine were found to be more compared with the control group. The GC-MS analysis identified seven compounds in bioactive hexane fraction (phenolic and ester-type mainly) whereas seven other compounds (acidic and ester-type mainly) were identified in chloroform fraction. In molecular docking, two drug candidates of this extract (2,4-bis(2-phenylpropan-2-yl)phenol and 2-[4-[2-(dimethylamino)-2-oxo-1,1-diphenylethyl]phenyl]-2-phenylacetic acid) showed excellent binding affinity with the receptor compared with furosemide.
CONCLUSION
bark might be a potential source of bioactive compounds for treating hypertension, edema, and constipation.
PubMed: 36193132
DOI: 10.1155/2022/4409250 -
RSC Advances Apr 2023The demand for the development of portable and low-cost analytical devices has encouraged studies employing additive manufacturing techniques, such as 3D-printing. This...
The demand for the development of portable and low-cost analytical devices has encouraged studies employing additive manufacturing techniques, such as 3D-printing. This method can be used to produce components such as printed electrodes, photometers, and fluorometers for low-cost systems that provide advantages including low sample volume, reduced chemical waste, and easy coupling with LED-based optics and other instrumental devices. In the present work, a modular 3D-printed fluorometer/photometer was designed and applied for the determination of caffeine (CAF), ciprofloxacin (CIP), and Fe(ii) in pharmaceutical samples. All the plastic parts were printed separately by a 3D printer, using Tritan as the plastic material (black color). The final size of the modular 3D-printed device was 12 × 8 cm. The radiation sources were light-emitting diodes (LEDs), while a light dependent resistor (LDR) was used as a photodetector. The analytical curves obtained for the device were: = 3.00 × 10 [CAF] + 1.00 and = 0.987 for caffeine; = 6.90 × 10 [CIP] - 3.39 × 10 and = 0.991 for ciprofloxacin; and = 1.12 × 10 [Fe(ii)] + 1.26 × 10 and = 0.998 for iron(ii). The results obtained using the developed device were compared with reference methods, with no statistically significant differences observed. The 3D-printed device was composed of moveable parts, providing flexibility for adaptation and application as a photometer or fluorometer, by only switching the photodetector position. The LED could also be easily switched, permitting application of the device for different purposes. The cost of the device, including the printing and electronic components, was lower than US$10. The use of 3D-printing enables the development of portable instruments for use in remote locations with a lack of research resources.
PubMed: 37077256
DOI: 10.1039/d3ra01281f -
Journal of Applied Clinical Medical... Mar 2017The purpose of this work was to perform the initial evaluation of primary diagnostic monitor (PDM) characteristics following the implementation of New York City quality...
The purpose of this work was to perform the initial evaluation of primary diagnostic monitor (PDM) characteristics following the implementation of New York City quality assurance (NYC QA) regulations on January 1, 2016, and compare the results of the QA measurements performed by an external photometer and the PDM manufacturer's built-in photometer. TG-18 and Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers test patterns were used to evaluate monitor performance. Overall, 79 PDMs were included in the analysis. The verification of grayscale standard display function (GSDF) calibration, using a built-in photometer, showed that only 2 out of 79 PDMs failed calibration. However, the same measurements performed by the external luminance meter showed that 15 out of 79 monitors had failed GSDF calibration. Measurements of the PDMs maximum luminance (L ), using an external photometer showed that 10 out of 53 PDMs calibrated for L = 400 cd/m and 17 out of 26 PDMs calibrated for L = 500 cd/m do not meet the manufacturer's recommended 10% tolerance limit for the target L calibration. Two PDMs did not pass the L ≥ 350 cd/m NYC QA regulations with L = 331 cd/m and L = 340 cd/m . All tested PDMs exceeded the minimum luminance ratio (LR) of 250:1 as required by NYC QA regulations. Measurements taken of L and LR performed by a built-in photometer showed that none of the PDMs had failed the NYC QA regulations. All PDMs passed the luminance uniformity test with a maximum nonuniformity of 17% (according to NYC regulations it must be less than 30%). The luminance uniformity test could only be performed using an external photometer. The evaluation of 79 PDMs of various ages and models demonstrated up to 18% disagreement between luminance measurements performed by the manufacturer's built-in photometer when compared with those performed by an externally calibrated luminance meter. These disagreements were larger for older PDMs.
Topics: Calibration; Diagnostic Imaging; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Luminescent Measurements; Photometry; Quality Assurance, Health Care; Reference Standards
PubMed: 28300388
DOI: 10.1002/acm2.12047 -
Toxicology Reports 2022The recent expansion of industries in Addis Ababa is causing additional environmental pollution through wastewater discharges; this is becoming a critical concern. Addis...
The recent expansion of industries in Addis Ababa is causing additional environmental pollution through wastewater discharges; this is becoming a critical concern. Addis Ababa is located in the upper Awash River basin, and is the main source of industrial pollutants to the river. In this study, physicochemical parameters, nutrients and heavy metal content of wastewaters released from 16 factories, 6 tanneries, 6 beverages and 4 diverse factories, and the Akaki-Kality central wastewater treatment plant in Addis Ababa, were sampled to assess the level of pollutants. Heavy metals were determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Analysis of nutrients were conducted using Palintest Photometer. Physicochemical characteristics were measured either in situ using a portable micro meter or in the laboratory. Among the measured physicochemical properties, critical issues were observed with electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids and total hardness. Effluents from all of the tanneries, and a number of other factories, were found at levels higher than the maximum limits of various guideline standards. In addition, samples from two of the tanneries (T1 and T5), two beverage factories (B3 and B6) and the central wastewater treatment plant showed elevated concentrations of PO , which violated the limit (10 mg/l) set by Environmental Protection Agency of Ethiopia (ETHEPA). The two tanneries (T1 and T5) also contained higher SO than the guideline limit of 1000 mg/l. On the other hand, only one factory, one brewery (B3), exhibited NO above the standard limit of 20 mg/l. Whereas NH, NH , Cl, S and NO were within the limits in all of the samples. Severe pollution was found in wastewaters from tanneries, where half of them (T1, T5 and T6) contained Cr beyond the maximum limit of 2000 µg/l. Furthermore, a third of the tanneries (T1 and T5) and a beverage factory (B5) contained Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu, higher than the ETHEPA limits of 10000, 5000, 5000 and 2000 µg/l, respectively. Waste disposal from factories without proper treatment can cause great harm to the local people and the environment. Hence, the results of this study call for regulatory bodies to pay close attention to factories, particularly tanneries, in Addis Ababa in implementing adequate treatments of their wastewater discharges.
PubMed: 36518430
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2022.06.002 -
PloS One 2018To identify in vitro inhibitors of xanthine crystallization that have potential for inhibiting the formation of xanthine crystals in urine and preventing the development...
OBJECTIVE
To identify in vitro inhibitors of xanthine crystallization that have potential for inhibiting the formation of xanthine crystals in urine and preventing the development of the renal calculi in patients with xanthinuria.
METHODS
The formation of xanthine crystals in synthetic urine and the effects of 10 potential crystallization inhibitors were assessed using a kinetic turbidimetric system with a photometer. The maximum concentration tested for each compound was: 20 mg/L for 3-methylxanthine (3-MX); 40 mg/L for 7-methylxanthine (7-MX), 1-methylxanthine (1-MX), theobromine (TB), theophylline, paraxanthine, and caffeine; 45 mg/L for 1-methyluric acid; 80 mg/L for 1,3-dimethyluric acid; and 200 mg/L for hypoxanthine. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the morphology of the crystals formed when inhibitory effects were observed.
RESULTS
Only 7-MX, 3-MX, and 1-MX significantly inhibited xanthine crystallization at the tested concentrations. Mixtures of inhibitors had an additive effect rather than a synergistic effect on crystallization.
CONCLUSION
Two of the inhibitors identified here-7-MX and 3-MX-are major metabolites of TB. In particular, after TB consumption, 20% is excreted in the urine as TB, 21.5% as 3-MX, and 36% as 7-MX. Thus, consumption of theobromine could protect patients with xanthinuria from the development of renal xanthine calculi. Clinical trials are necessary to demonstrate these effects in vivo.
Topics: Aldehyde Oxidase; Chemical Precipitation; Crystallization; Down-Regulation; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Kidney Calculi; Metabolism, Inborn Errors; Purine-Pyrimidine Metabolism, Inborn Errors; Urolithiasis; Xanthine; Xanthine Dehydrogenase; Xanthines
PubMed: 30157195
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198881 -
Scientific Reports Oct 2023Photoelectric observations of night sky brightness (NSB) at different zenith distances and azimuths, covering all the sky, at the Egyptian Kottamia Astronomical...
Photoelectric observations of night sky brightness (NSB) at different zenith distances and azimuths, covering all the sky, at the Egyptian Kottamia Astronomical observatory (KAO) site of coordinates ϕ = 29° 55.9' N and λ = 31° 49.5' E, were done using a fully automated photoelectric photometer (FAPP). The Bessel wide range system (UBVRI) is used for the first time to observe NSB for three consecutive nights (1-3 August, 2022) under good seeing conditions after the moon sets. The deduced results were taken in photons and converted into mag/arcsec. The average zenith sky brightness for U, B, V, R and I filters are found to be 20.49, 20.38, 19.41, 18.60 and 17.94 mag/arcsec respectively. The average color indices (U-B), (B-V), (V-R) and (R-I), at the zenith are detected to be 0.11, 0.98, 0.81 and 0.66, respectively. We plotted the isophotes of the sky brightness at KAO in U, B, V, R and I colors (filters) and determined both the average atmospheric extinction and sky transparency through these UBVRI filters. The atmospheric and other meteorological conditions were taken into our consideration during the observational nights. The results of the current study illustrate the main impact of the new cities built around KAO on the sky glow over it, and which astronomical observations are affected.
PubMed: 37798327
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43844-x -
Ocular Immunology and Inflammation Feb 2022To evaluate the effects of fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA) on semiautomated aqueous flare measurements.
PURPOSE
To evaluate the effects of fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA) on semiautomated aqueous flare measurements.
METHODS
Laser flare photometer (LFP) measurements was performed at baseline, 30 min, and 4 h after the intravenous administration of sodium fluorescein dye. FFA was performed immediately after the baseline LFP measurement. LFP values at 30 min and 4 h after FFA were compared to baseline values. Mean change in LFP measurements at 30 min and 4 hafter baseline was compared between FFA arm and controls.
RESULTS
The mean flare measurement in the FFA and control arm dropped 6% ( value = 0.002) and 9% ( value = 0.04), respectively. Mean change in LFP measurement at 30 min and 4 h after baseline was not significant between FFA arm and controls.
CONCLUSIONS
Administration of fluorescein dye does not increase LFP values. The decrease in the LFP measurement following FFA may be attributed to dilation drops.
Topics: Aqueous Humor; Fluorescein; Fluorescein Angiography; Humans; Photometry; Uveitis, Anterior; Visual Acuity
PubMed: 32966150
DOI: 10.1080/09273948.2020.1799036