Search Results (3,567)

Restoring contaminated and degraded land, including post-mining sites, industrial areas, and urban brownfields, is central to sustainable land management, and nature-based solutions (NBSs) such as phytoextraction can combine soil remediation with wider landscape-restoration goals. This screening-stage pot study evaluated how three mobilising agents, potassium iodide (KI), calcium chloride (CaCl₂), and ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl), applied at 20, 50, and 80 mg kg⁻¹ against a common citric-acid background, affect the uptake and translocation of 27 potentially toxic elements and critical raw materials in Brassica juncea and Cichorium intybus grown on a met-al-contaminated post-mining substrate from Srednogorie, Bulgaria, which is used as a model of severely degraded technogenic material relevant to industrial and urban brownfield conditions. Bioconcentration and translocation factors were calculated from XRF measurements of the substrate, root, and leaf tissue and examined descriptively with exploratory principal component analysis and clustering, since each combination was one composite sample. Plant species identity, rather than reagent, was the strongest determinant of accumulation: Brassica juncea more often retained Y, Sr, Th, and Zn in roots, whereas C. intybus translocated Rb, Sr, Pb, and Cu more readily to leaves. KI produced the most distinct profile, increasing root and, at the highest dose, shoot enrichment of V, whereas CaCl₂ and NH₄Cl mainly enhanced root retention with limited, non-monotonic effects on shoot transfer. These species- and element-specific strategies indicate screening-stage potential for phytoextraction, pending validation with replicated biomass and yield data. Full article

A red-emissive, derivatization-assisted aptasensor was developed for acrylamide analysis in food. Acrylamide was first converted into the xanthydrol–acrylamide adduct (XAA), which was recognized by the DNA aptamer Apt_XAA. A π-conjugation-extended thioflavin T analogue, ThT-Red, was synthesized as the fluorescent signal molecule. ThT-Red exhibited an emission maximum at 600 nm and showed enhanced fluorescence upon binding to Apt_XAA, attributable to restricted intramolecular motion. XAA binding perturbed the ThT-Red–Apt_XAA interaction, producing a concentration-dependent fluorescence decrease consistent with competitive displacement. Following a 30 min xanthydrol derivatization step, the fluorescence sensing response was obtained within 3 min. Under optimized conditions, the sensor showed a linear response to XAA over 0–2.5 μM, with a limit of detection of 0.23 μM. Recoveries of 90.14–119.72% were obtained in spiked potato-chip extracts. The sensing response was also measurable using a portable fluorometer, supporting its potential for rapid on-site analysis. This work demonstrates that structural engineering of an aptamer-responsive molecular rotor can provide an effective red-fluorescence transduction strategy for derivatization-assisted detection of low-epitope food contaminants. Full article

A biosensing system relying on asymmetric PCR (aPCR) and PAM-independent recognition of single-stranded DNA amplicons by a Cas12a/gRNA complex is adapted for on-site nucleic acid testing (NAT). aPCR was performed on a low-cost, portable, smartphone-controlled thermocycler operating in endpoint mode. Subsequently, a selective visual readout of the aPCR outcome was achieved using a Cas12a-based assay. A mechanism to prevent false positives was incorporated into the aPCR/Cas12a biosensing system by introducing uracil into the amplicons produced during amplification. Pectobacterium species—harmful bacterial plant pathogens—and genus-specific primers Y1 and Y2 against Pectobacterium spp. were utilized as a convenient model. The absence of a PAM requirement allowed for fine-tuning the selectivity of the Cas12a assay against a strain of a particular Pectobacterium species, P. polaris, by properly positioning the gRNA spacer on the ssDNA. P. polaris was detected down to 10 copies of the bacterial genome per reaction, with an overall testing time of about 2 h and either instrumental or visual readouts. Similar selectivity and sensitivity toward a P. polaris strain were observed with the aPCR/Cas12a biosensing system for potato samples artificially contaminated with Pectobacterium species. The overall findings indicate aPCR/Cas12a-based biosensing as a technique suitable for on-site NAT. Full article

Histone acetylation, catalyzed by histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and reversed by histone deacetylases (HDACs), is a central epigenetic mechanism that regulates gene expression in eukaryotes. Identifying and characterizing these enzymes has rapidly advanced our understanding of this dynamic modification. In phytopathogenic fungi, HATs and HDACs modulate several cellular processes, including development, pathogenicity, and secondary metabolism. The filamentous fungus Fusarium graminearum causes Fusarium head blight, a destructive disease that reduces wheat yield and contaminates grain with the trichothecene mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON). Consequently, elucidating the regulatory networks that control fungal development, host colonization, and mycotoxin biosynthesis is essential for effective disease management. This review collates current knowledge on acetylation homeostasis in phytopathogenic fungi, with particular emphasis on F. graminearum, and evaluates evidence supporting a model wherein acetylation acts as a conditional regulatory hub rather than a universal transcriptional switch. Drawing on gene-deletion mutant analyses, large-scale acetylome profiling, and comparative genomics across multiple fungal species, we first cataloged the major HAT families—GNAT, MYST, CBP/p300, and TAF1—and HDAC families—Rpd3, Hos2, Hda1, and Sir2—and summarized the lysine acetylation and deacetylation sites they target, including H2BK11, H2BK16, H3K9, H3K14, H3K18, H3K23, H3K27, and H3K56. We then examine how acetylation homeostasis, defined as the dynamic balance between acetylation and deacetylation, regulates fungal morphogenesis, pathogenicity, and DON biosynthesis in F. graminearum, highlighting the functional interplay between HAT and HDAC complexes—exemplified by Gcn5 and Hos2 (Hdf1)—and their integration with cAMP–PKA and MAPK signaling cascades. We further analyzed how acetylation-dependent regulation intersected with proteasome-mediated protein stability, non-histone acetylation, and crosstalk with histone ubiquitination and methylation and assessed how acetylation responds to host-derived metabolites and microbial competitors, thereby extending its regulatory influence beyond canonical histone marks. Finally, comparative analyses across Magnaporthe oryzae, Aspergillus species, Botrytis cinerea, and Ustilago maydis reveal both conserved and species-specific roles of acetylation in pathogenicity. We conclude by advancing a refined conceptual model wherein acetylation operates not as a universal transcriptional on/off switch but as a conditional regulatory hub and is site-, locus-, and stage-specific and signal-responsive. Future studies that combine ChIP-seq, CUT&Tag, and multi-omics approaches will further clarify the direct molecular targets of HATs and HDACs and define their stage-specific activities during host colonization, thereby enabling the design of precise, pathogen-specific interventions. This framework offers new perspectives for developing targeted strategies to manage fungal diseases and reduce mycotoxin contamination. Full article

This study examined freely available whole genome sequencing (WGS) data for genes associated with contaminant biodegradation. Thirteen WGS datasets (>600 individual samples) involving more than 12,000 Gbases from multiple countries were examined. The Department of Energy Systems Biology Knowledgebase (KBase) was used to create metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) containing the operons of interest. The arrangement and length of subunits for each operon were compared. Phylogenetic trees were created for common biomarkers (tmoA, pmoA, prmA, mmoX, dmpN). MAGs were uploaded into publicly available KBase narratives. Thirty-four MAGs, within the phyla Actinomycetota, Pseudomonadota and Chloroflexota, were identified with the full propane monooxygenase operon (prmABCD). Twenty-six MAGs, within the classes Gammaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria, contained the full operon for soluble methane monooxygenase (mmoXYBZDC). More than 100 MAGs contained the full operon for ammonia/particulate methane monooxygenase (pmoCAB) and were classified within the Gammaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria groups, as well as other phyla. Fifty-five MAGs, within Burkholderiales (Gammaproteobacteria) and Alphaproteobacteria, contained the full operon for toluene-4-monooxygenase (tmoABCDEF). From the MAGs containing the full operon for toluene monooxygenase, thirty-three also contained the full operon for phenol monooxygenase (dmpKLMNOP). The MAGs generated and their associated functional gene sequences have the potential to improve molecular detection methods for site bioremediation. Full article

Continuous, real-time monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in surface water is critical for environmental protection, yet conventional laboratory Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) suffers from analyte loss during sample transport. This study field-validates a portable Membrane Inlet Mass Spectrometry (MIMS) system for direct, on-site monitoring of seven target VOCs (benzene, toluene, xylenes, chlorobenzene, 1,2-dichloroethane, trichloroethylene, and tetrachloroethylene). Laboratory validation established limits of detection between 4 and 8 µg/L, linearity (R² > 0.98), and acceptable precision and accuracy per AOAC guidelines, benchmarked against headspace GC-MS. In-field testing at 36 locations across the Danube–Tisa–Danube (DTD) irrigation canal demonstrated system robustness. Baseline canal samples remained below the detection limits, but real-time MIMS successfully identified localized benzene and toluene contamination near a gasoline station. On-site MIMS detected higher VOC concentrations than delayed laboratory GC-MS, demonstrating its key advantage in preventing sampling volatilization losses. Portable MIMS proves to be a powerful, rapid screening tool for continuous aquatic environmental monitoring. Full article

Monitoring bacterial contamination on surfaces is critical for hygiene and safety assurance in food, healthcare, and pharmaceutical settings, although routine methods still remain slow and laboratory dependent. Here, we report a portable respirometric platform based on sealed sensor sachets incorporating optical oxygen sensors to rapidly detect and quantify total aerobic viable counts (TVC) from swabbed surfaces. Following standardized surface swabbing, samples were incubated in the sachets and oxygen depletion kinetics were recorded with a handheld reader and microbial activity was inferred from oxygen consumption. Reference quantification was obtained by serial dilution and aerobic plate counting, enabling direct benchmarking of the respirometric readout against an industry-accepted culture method such as ISO 4833:2013. The platform demonstrated strong agreement with plate counts (R² > 0.94), achieving a median detection limit of 2.69 log₁₀ CFU/cm² and a dynamic range of 0–6 log₁₀ CFU/cm² for surface-associated microbial loads. The sensor system was also applied in a semi-industrial setting in a meat processing plant. Across replicate measurements, the assay provided consistent kinetic signatures and quantitative outputs, suitable for rapid and practical decision-making. Compared with traditional culture-based approaches (requiring up to 72 h), the respirometric sachets delivered actionable results within 10 h using a portable, low-infrastructure workflow, supporting rapid on-site hygiene verification and sanitation control. Full article

The occurrence of microplastics in groundwater remains insufficiently documented, particularly across contrasting hydrogeological settings. This study provides the first baseline assessment of microplastic contamination in Slovenian groundwater by comparing its occurrence in urban alluvial and karst aquifers, which represent important drinking-water resources in Slovenia. Groundwater was sampled at 19 sites (8 alluvial, 11 karst) using a large-volume in situ filtration system, with three 1 m³ replicates collected at each site. Polymer composition was confirmed using attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Microplastics were detected at nearly all sampling sites, with concentrations ranging from 0 to 13.33 particles/m³ (mean: 4.65 particles/m³). Although no statistically significant differences in microplastic occurrence were observed between aquifer types at the available sample size, average concentrations were slightly higher in alluvial aquifers, whereas karst systems showed greater site-level variability. Differences in particle characteristics were observed between aquifer types, with fragments predominating in alluvial aquifers, and fibres and larger particles proportionally more abundant in karst springs. These patterns are consistent with differences in groundwater flow and filtration processes between karst and alluvial aquifers. Polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate were the most frequently identified polymers across all samples. Correlations between microplastic concentrations and selected water-quality parameters, particularly temperature and nitrate, were identified. Overall, the results emphasise the relevance of hydrogeological context for interpreting microplastic occurrence in groundwater and provide baseline information to support future monitoring efforts. Full article

Rainfall and groundwater fluctuations may influence the migration or dilution of contaminants from US Superfund sites. This pilot study was designed to provide empirical data on relationships between rainfall and contaminant concentrations in water near Superfund sites. Four heterogeneous Superfund sites on Long Island, New York, were selected to represent a range of contaminant profiles and hydrogeologic conditions. Baseline samples were collected in December 2022, with subsequent samples obtained following major storms through September 2023. Samples were collected on 11–24 different days across the sites and measured for 18 metals and 1,4-dioxane. Overall, we observed few consistent associations between rainfall and contaminant concentrations across sites. Two trends, however, were noted: (1) at Gowanus Canal, a surface water site, there was a negative association between rainfall and contaminant concentrations using same-day or prior-day rainfall; and (2) in effluent from a treatment well near Lawrence Aviation, negative associations were observed between prior month’s rainfall and contaminant concentrations. Rainfall appeared to dilute contaminant concentrations using different hydrogeological processes at two of the four Superfund sites in this pilot study with a small sample size and study site heterogeneity. Given the increased frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events, it is important to continue probing links between rainfall and contaminants near Superfund sites with intensive monitoring campaigns. Full article

Environmental footprint assessment is increasingly used to characterize the secondary impacts of contaminated site remediation. However, many established green and sustainable remediation tools rely on U.S.-based emission inventories and background data, raising questions about how their estimates change when applied under other regional conditions. This study proposes a three-way evaluation framework that examines Sitewise™ and SEFA outputs alongside a Sitewise-informed China-localized recalculation using domestic emission factors. The framework was applied to an excavation-and-transport brownfield remediation project in northern China using five indicators: greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), energy use, NO_x, SO_x, and particulate matter. In this case, Sitewise™ and SEFA produced numerically similar GHG estimates and moderately different energy estimates, with pairwise differences of 7% and 27%, respectively. Under the assumptions of this case, their GHG estimates were 26% and 20% lower, respectively, than the localized recalculation. A screening counterfactual using a common U.S. reference grid factor indicated that grid factor substitution accounted for 19.2% of the Sitewise-to-localized numerical difference and 24.5% of the SEFA-to-localized numerical difference. Air pollutant results showed stronger pathway dependence: NO_x estimates differed by up to approximately eightfold, and the localized result fell between the two tool estimates under the stated assumptions. Within the tested epistemic ranges, the localized GHG result remained above both fixed tool outputs, the NO_x result remained between them, and the SO_x result remained below both in every draw; the baseline PM relationship was retained in 92.7% of draws, while localized energy equaled the Sitewise™ result by construction. Across the native tool runs and a transparent localized transport linkage screen, a 25% reduction in haul distance was associated with a 12.5–22% reduction in total GHG estimates. The comparison harmonized the remediation program and comparison unit, but not the complete background life cycle boundary; the results therefore represent defined-boundary pathway estimates rather than fully boundary-harmonized LCA results. Because the localized pathway retains the Sitewise-derived fuel–energy balance and activity category shares, it is interpreted as a case-specific factor localization recalculation rather than an independently documented project inventory or external comparison standard. The observed directional differences characterize the present case and tested assumptions and do not support a general judgment about the relative performance of the tools. The framework may be adaptable to other jurisdictions, but its transferability should be evaluated using additional sites, remediation technologies, and independently documented activity inventories. Full article

Efficient enrichment and rapid determination of trace cadmium (Cd²⁺) in complex environmental and food matrices remain challenging because of severe matrix interference and insufficient sample pretreatment efficiency. Herein, a thiol-functionalized silica-coated magnetic biochar (MBC@SiO₂–SH) was developed as a selective magnetic adsorbent and integrated with a homogeneous chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) to establish an enrichment-assisted analytical strategy for trace Cd²⁺ determination in environmental water and aquatic products. Owing to its abundant thiol coordination sites, large specific surface area, and excellent magnetic responsiveness, MBC@SiO₂–SH exhibited a high practical Cd²⁺ enrichment capacity (82.65 mg/g) under high-loading conditions, remarkable selectivity, and good reusability toward Cd²⁺. Adsorption kinetic, isotherm, thermodynamic, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses revealed that Cd²⁺ uptake was predominantly governed by Cd–S coordination accompanied by physical adsorption. Under the optimized fixed-bed enrichment conditions, the proposed column achieved a preconcentration factor of approximately 40, enabling efficient matrix cleanup and selective enrichment prior to CLIA. The integrated method exhibited excellent analytical performance for both environmental water and aquatic products, with recoveries of 92.26–118.64% and 92.41–108%, respectively, and showed good agreement with ICP-MS. By coupling selective magnetic preconcentration with rapid homogeneous immunodetection, the proposed strategy provides a simple, sensitive, and efficient analytical platform for routine monitoring of trace Cd²⁺ and offers a generalizable framework for enrichment-assisted rapid analysis of trace contaminants in complex environmental and food matrices. Full article

To investigate the effects of habitat degradation on the genomic level, young of the year (YOY) bluefish, (Pomatomus saltatrix) from the highly urbanized Hudson Raritan Estuary (HRE) and the less impacted Mullica River-Great Bay (MRGB) estuary were analyzed for condition, level of PCBs (Polychlorobiphenyls), and pesticides, and compared in a preliminary transcriptomic study. For chemical analysis, whole juvenile fish were freeze-dried, extracted in DCM (Dichloromethane), extracts were cleaned by florisil/alumina/silica column chromatography and size-exclusion HPLC, and quantified by gas chromatography. For transcriptomic analysis, Suppression Subtractive Hybridization (SSH) libraries from the pooled livers of fish from the two sites were constructed to subtract common transcripts and recover cloned expressed sequence tag (EST) transcripts that were putatively more highly expressed in one or the other environment. Transcripts were Sanger-sequenced and identified by bioinformatic analysis. Relative quantitative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) was used to investigate a subset of the selected transcripts. MRGB fish were larger and in better condition than HRE fish. HRE fish had PCB concentrations that were, in sum, about seven times higher than MRGB fish and were more highly contaminated with pesticides including Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites. Transcripts related to metabolic, transport, immune, detoxification, signaling, and environmental response and additional functions were associated with contrasting habitats and provide gene targets to investigate the hypothesis that the growth and condition of the HRE bluefish may be limited by their poor environmental quality. Full article

Background/Objectives: This prospective cross-sectional study quantified veterinary antimicrobial residues in soils from 27 commercial beef feedlots across multiple regions of Argentina and production scales. Methods: Using a validated Ultra-Fast Liquid Chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UFLC-MS/MS) method, we measured 15 target antimicrobials in pooled corral soil samples. Results: Monensin was detected in all feedlots and showed the highest detection frequency and widest concentration range; peak concentrations exceeded 15,000 ppb in some sites. Oxytetracycline presented pronounced, site-specific peaks (approaching 14,000 ppb), consistent with its strong adsorption to soil organic matter and limited biodegradation. These results indicate localised hotspots of antimicrobial loading in feedlot environments. These elevated concentrations signify substantial antimicrobial loading in confined animal environments and potential hotspots for environmental selection pressure. Compounds absent from farm treatment records were detected in 40.7% of feedlots, correlating with antimicrobial residues not matching available AMU records, including oxytetracycline, tulathromycin, cefquinome, enrofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin among others. Multiple non-exclusive explanations are plausible (historical persistence, manure redistribution, incomplete records, off-label use, or cross-contamination). The detection of critically important antimicrobials (e.g., fluoroquinolones and advanced cephalosporins) in soils raises One Health concerns about environmental selection pressure and the potential dissemination of resistance determinants. Conclusions: These findings underscore gaps in stewardship and the need for integrated environmental monitoring and improved antimicrobial usage traceability. These data provide a baseline for ecological risk assessment and resistome studies and can inform evidence-based policy and stewardship interventions in Argentine feedlot systems. Full article

Prunus spinosa L. (blackthorn) is a widely distributed wild fruit species in Romania with considerable, yet underexplored, potential as a functional food ingredient and natural source of bioactive compounds. This study aimed to characterize the phytochemical composition, mineral and contaminant profiles, and antioxidant capacity of P. spinosa fruits collected from five sites in the Cluj region with contrasting land-use conditions (forest-edge, rural, suburban, and roadside). Fruits were harvested in three sampling campaigns (October 2018, October 2019, and November 2019). Analytical determinations included total polyphenol content, antioxidant capacity, fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), dietary fibers, chlorophyll, water content, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, 15 congeners), and metal concentrations (ICP-OES/MS). A composite Ecotoxic Pressure Index (EPI) integrating metal and PAH data was computed per site. Total polyphenol content ranged from 124 to 1172 mg GAE·kg⁻¹ DW, while antioxidant capacity ranged from 116 and 1184 µg AAE·mg⁻¹. One-way ANOVA revealed significant location effects on Cu, Zn, Mn, Ca, Mg, Na and K (p < 0.05). PCA (65–70% explained variance) discriminated rural/forest-edge samples (high polyphenols, low EPI) from urban/roadside samples (elevated metals and PAHs). Multiple linear regression demonstrated that polyphenols were the dominant positive predictor of antioxidant capacity (β = +0.78, p < 0.001), while Fe and total PAHs were inversely associated with antioxidant capacity (β = −0.31 and −0.28, respectively; R² = 0.80). The observed biochemical and contaminant profiles varied according to geographical origin and land-use context, although these associations cannot be attributed exclusively to pollution exposure. Rural and forest-edge samples showed favorable descriptive profiles for several bioactive parameters, but further controlled studies are required before site-specific superiority for functional food applications can be established. Full article

Existing DNAPL groundwater source inversion approaches are confronted with prominent bottlenecks: shallow surrogate models often fail to capture strong nonlinear multiphase flow relationships, traditional heuristic optimizers suffer from premature convergence, and ill-posed equifinality further degrades inversion reliability, together with prohibitive computational costs from repeated multiphase numerical simulation. Taking a typical chemical-contaminated site in Northeast China as the research object, this study establishes a multiphase flow numerical model that fully reproduces the migration and transformation mechanisms of chlorobenzene-based DNAPLs after systematic generalization of the site’s geological and hydrogeological conditions. To drastically cut the computational burden incurred during iterative inversion, high-quality datasets are generated via parameter sensitivity analysis and Latin hypercube sampling, based on which a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN)-driven high-fidelity surrogate model is constructed and embedded into the optimization framework as an equality constraint. A separated nonlinear programming model is formulated to independently quantify pollution source characteristics and hydrogeological parameters, with the objective of minimizing the residual error between field-measured and numerically simulated contaminant concentrations. A hybrid homotopy-particle swarm optimization (HH-PSO) algorithm is further proposed to address the limitations of conventional optimizers, including strong dependence on initial guesses and susceptibility to local optima. On this basis, a closed-loop feedback iteration scheme is developed, where source identification and parameter calibration are implemented alternately with bidirectional constraints and progressive correction to continuously refine and stabilize inversion outputs. This work presents distinct innovations in the methodology, algorithm, and practical application of DNAPL groundwater source inversion. Results from synthetic benchmark cases and on-site field applications demonstrate that the DCNN surrogate model achieves far higher fitting accuracy than shallow learning approaches (e.g., Kriging and support vector regression), with the coefficient of determination R² exceeding 0.99. After the feedback correction iteration procedure, the average relative error for retrieved source locations, release histories, and hydrogeological parameters drops to 3.72%, and the overall computational efficiency is elevated by approximately 99.84%. The integrated simulation–optimization inversion framework proposed in this work integrates monitoring signal denoising, multiphase numerical simulation, deep learning surrogate modeling, hybrid intelligent optimization, and feedback iterative correction. This integrated system effectively resolves core technical bottlenecks in DNAPL groundwater source inversion, such as nonlinear ill-posedness, equifinality induced by mutual interference between source terms and aquifer parameters, prohibitive computational costs of multiphase simulations, and premature convergence of traditional optimization algorithms. The established framework can serve as a robust theoretical foundation and technical tool for rapid, precise source tracing, pollution liability confirmation, and remediation design at complex contaminated sites. Full article