scholarly journals Microplastic Contamination in Freshwater Environments: A Review, Focusing on Interactions with Sediments and Benthic Organisms

Environments ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arianna Bellasi ◽  
Gilberto Binda ◽  
Andrea Pozzi ◽  
Silvia Galafassi ◽  
Pietro Volta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Benthic Fauna ◽  
Data Retrieval ◽  
Future Trends ◽  
Benthic Organisms ◽  
Transfer Processes ◽  
Analysis Strategies ◽  
The World ◽  
Global Concern ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
A Site

Plastic is one of the most commonly produced and used materials in the world due to its outstanding features. However, the worldwide use of plastics and poor waste management have led to negative impacts on ecosystems. Plastic degradation in the environment leads to the generation of plastic particles with a size of <5 mm, which are defined as microplastics (MPs). These represent a global concern due to their wide dispersion in water environments and unclear potential ecotoxicological effects. Different studies have been performed with the aim of evaluating the presence and impacts of MPs in the marine environment. However, the presence of MPs in freshwater systems is still poorly investigated, making data retrieval a difficult task. The purpose of this review is to identify the main aspects concerning MPs pollution sources in lakes and rivers, with a focus on freshwater sediments as a site of accumulation and as the habitat of benthic organisms, which are key components of food webs and play a fundamental role in energy/contaminant transfer processes, but are still poorly considered. Through this review, the sources and fate of MPs in freshwater are analysed, ecotoxicological studies focused on sediments and benthic fauna are exposed, the most frequently used sampling and analysis strategies are reported, and future trends of MPs analysis in this field are proposed.

Identification of Main Protease of Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (Mpro)Inhibitors from Melissa officinalis

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olusola O. Elekofehinti ◽  
Opeyemi Iwaloye ◽  
Courage D. Famusiwa ◽  
Olanrewaju Akinseye ◽  
Joao B. T. Rocha
Keyword(s):  
Qsar Model ◽  
Computational Approach ◽  
Melissa Officinalis ◽  
Lead Compounds ◽  
Main Protease ◽  
The World ◽  
Recent Outbreak ◽  
Global Concern ◽  
Catalytic Dyad ◽  
Potential Therapeutic Intervention

Background: he recent outbreak of Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) which has rapidly spread around the world in about three months with tens of thousands of deaths recorded so far is a global concern. An urgent need for potential therapeutic intervention is of necessity. Mpro is an attractive druggable target for the development of anti-COVID-19 drug development. Compounds previously characterized from Melissa officinalis were queried against main protease of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 using computational approach. Results: Melitric acid A and salvanolic acid A had higher affinity than lopinavir and ivermectin using both AutodockVina and XP docking algorithms. The computational approach was employed in the generation of QSAR model using automated QSAR, and in the docking of ligands from Melissa officinalis with SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors. The best model obtained was KPLS_Radial_28 (R2 = 0.8548 and Q2=0.6474, and was used in predicting the bioactivity of the lead compounds. Molecular mechanics based MM-GBSA confirmed salvanolic acid A as the compound with the highest free energy and predicted bioactivity of 4.777; it interacted with His-41 of the catalytic dyad (Cys145-His41) of SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro), as this may hinder the cutting of inactive viral protein into active ones capable of replication. Conclusion: Salvanolic acid A can be further evaluated as potential Mpro inhibitor.

COVID 19, All a Radiologist Needs to Know: A Narrative Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farzaneh Shobeirian
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Rna Viruses ◽  
Imaging Findings ◽  
Protective Measures ◽  
Infection Transmission ◽  
The World ◽  
Positive Sense ◽  
Global Concern ◽  
Interlobular Septal Thickening ◽  
Radiologic Characteristics

Background: Coronaviruses are non-segmented enveloped positive-sense single-strand RNA viruses, and COVID-19 is the seventh known coronavirus, infecting humans. Objective: As the COVID-19 continued to spread the world wildly, every radiologist or clinician needs to be familiar with its imaging findings. Methods: In this study, we reviewed available studies to provide a comprehensive statement on COVID-19 imaging findings. Results: Ground-glass opacities, linear opacities, interlobular septal thickening, consolidation, and Crazy-paving patterns are the most frequent findings in computed tomography (CT) of lungs in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, which are mostly bilateral, multifocal, and peripheral. Staff needs to follow some rules to reduce infection transmission. Conclusion: COVID-19 pneumonia is a new global concern which has many unknown features. In this article, the radiologic characteristics of COVID-19 pneumonia are discussed. We also discussed appropriate protective measures that the radiology team should be aware of.

scholarly journals A New Transmission Route for the Propagation of the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus

Biology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Antoine Danchin ◽  
Tuen Wai Ng ◽  
Gabriel Turinici
Keyword(s):  
Compartmental Model ◽  
Transmission Route ◽  
Future Trends ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Public Records ◽  
Specific Strategy ◽  
Virus Tropism ◽  
The World ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Existing Data

Background: Starting late 2019, a novel coronavirus spread from the capital of the Hubei province in China to the rest of the country, then to most of the world. To anticipate future trends in the development of the pandemic, we explore here, based on public records of infected persons, how variation in the virus tropism could end up in different patterns, warranting a specific strategy to handle the epidemic. Methods: We use a compartmental model to describe the evolution of an individual through several possible states: susceptible, infected, alternative infection, detected, and removed. We fit the parameters of the model to the existing data, taking into account significant quarantine changes where necessary. Results: The model indicates that Wuhan quarantine measures were effective, but that alternative virus forms and a second propagation route are compatible with available data. For the Hong Kong, Singapore, and Shenzhen regions, the secondary route does not seem to be active. Conclusions: Hypotheses of an alternative infection tropism (the gut tropism) and a secondary propagation route are discussed using a model fitted by the available data. Corresponding prevention measures that take into account both routes should be implemented to the benefit of epidemic control.

scholarly journals Natural Resources and their Units

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-79
Author(s):  
Frida Hastrup
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Complex Terrain ◽  
Western Norway ◽  
Fruit Cultivation ◽  
The World ◽  
World Class ◽  
A Site

Dating back to medieval times, fruit cultivation in Hardanger in western Norway is rooted in what is portrayed as a perfect microclimate naturally yielding the best apples in the world. However, the viability of the comparatively minute Norwegian fruit trade is continuously threatened by competition from outside, spurring all kinds of initiatives and policies to make it sustainable. The Norwegian fruit landscape, in other words, is both the natural and perfect home of world-class fruit and a site for continuous, often state-driven interventions to make it so; indeed, the perfection of the place accentuates the need to do what it takes to make it thrive. The necessary means to accomplish such viability, however, make up a complex terrain, as the resourcefulness of the Norwegian fruit landscape is ‘measured’ according to very different units.

scholarly journals Secularity, Religion and the Possibilities for Religious Citizenship

2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyn Parker ◽  
Chang-Yau Hoon
Keyword(s):  
Citizenship Education ◽  
Religious Pluralism ◽  
Religious Diversity ◽  
First Century ◽  
Political Force ◽  
Secularization Theory ◽  
The World ◽  
Twenty First Century ◽  
Multicultural Citizenship ◽  
A Site

Abstract Scholarly predictions of the secularization of the world have proven premature. We see a heterogeneous world in which religion remains a significant and vital social and political force. This paper reflects critically upon secularization theory in order to see how scholars can productively respond to the, at least partly, religious condition of the world at the beginning of the twenty first century. We note that conventional multiculturalism theory and policy neglects religion, and argue the need for a reconceptualization of understanding of religion and secularity, particularly in a context of multicultural citizenship — such as in Australia and Indonesia. We consider the possibilities for religious pluralism in citizenship and for “religious citizenship”. Finally, we propose that religious citizenship education might be a site for fostering a tolerant and enquiring attitude towards religious diversity.

scholarly journals Russia in world society: A comparative perspective on international references in parliamentary debates

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 228-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana Tiaynen-Qadir ◽  
Ali Qadir ◽  
Pertti Alasuutari
Keyword(s):  
International Community ◽  
World Society ◽  
National Politics ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Parliamentary Debates ◽  
World Polity ◽  
World Society Theory ◽  
The Social ◽  
The World ◽  
A Site

This article explores how international references in parliaments build a synchronized world polity, even in countries that are often portrayed as being at odds with the rest of the world. The article asks whether and how Russian parliamentarians refer to the international community, and how such references compare with parliamentary debates in other countries. The “mesophenomenological” argument developed here connects World Society Theory, which demonstrates global isomorphism, with national studies of Russia, which argue for important national particularities. The empirical analysis draws on a stratified random sample of debates on draft laws in the Russian Duma from 1994 to 2013, comparable to similar samples from six other countries. The results show that: (1) Russian parliamentarians refer to the international community in the same level and the same forms as in other countries; (2) Russian policy-makers rely on the same imageries of the social world to convince their audiences as do other parliamentarians; and (3) this similarity in form remains consistent throughout the period, despite radical changes in national politics. These findings attest to the Russian Duma as a site of world culture, and to the mesophenomenological view that the world polity is highly synchronized through discourses of cross-national comparisons.

scholarly journals A Review on Epilepsy and its Management

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-279
Author(s):  
V.V. Potnis ◽  
Ketan G. Albhar ◽  
Pritamsinh Arjun Nanaware ◽  
Vishal S. Pote
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Future Trends ◽  
Brain Infection ◽  
The World ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Patients With Epilepsy ◽  
The Brain

Today, people face various types of stress in everyday fast life and most people in the world suffer from various neurological disorder. Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders of the brain, affecting about 50 million people around the world, and 90% of them are coming from developing countries. Genetic factors and brain infection, stroke, tumors and epilepsy cause high fever. It imposes a great economic burden on the health systems of countries associated with stigma and discrimination against the patient and also his family in the community, in the workplace, school and home. Many patients with epilepsy suffer from severe emotional stress, behavioral disorders and extreme social isolation. There are many different types of seizure and mechanisms by which the brain generates seizures. The two features of generating seizures are hyperexcitability of neurons and a hyper synchronousneural circuits. A variety of mechanisms alters the balance between excitation and inhibition in predisposing brain local or generalized hyperexcitability region and a hypersynchronia. Purpose of the review is to discuss the history, epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, classification of epilepsy, symtomps, diagnosis, management of epilepsy and future trends. Keywords: Anti-epileptic drugs, pathophysiology, seizures, epidemiology, hypersynchrony

scholarly journals Forward Projections of Turkey's Beekeeping

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusuf Ziya Tengiz ◽  
Zehra Meliha Tengiz
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Arima Model ◽  
Future Trends ◽  
Agricultural Activities ◽  
Honey Production ◽  
The World ◽  
Ancient Times ◽  
Effective Use ◽  
Production Resources

Beekeeping is one of the most common agricultural activities in the world. In addition to the world and human life, it is very important in the pollination and the efficiency of the plants. Beekeeping activities have been done since ancient times as the tradition of Anatolian people. In Turkey grows 75% of the honey plants species determined in the world. This provides a variety of honey in different aroma and flavors. Turkey with 7 796 666 beehives is in 3rd rank, with 114 471 tons of honey production is in 2nd rank and with 4 488 tons of beeswax production in 2017 is in 4th rank in the world bee products have an important role. It is important to determine future trends in developing appropriate policies for our country, which is one of the leading countries in beekeeping activities. The main aims of this study are to forecast honey and beeswax product in Turkey for 2019-2025. Arima model, which is one of the time series analysis, was used in this study. According to the results, it is expected that honey production will increase in these years. However, it is expected the increase in the production of beeswax until 2021. After 2021 year is expected to decrease a little. In our country which has great potential for beekeeping, it will be able to take place among the countries which have a significant influence in foreign trade with the effective use of production resources in the realization of activities.

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