Search Results (908)

Neural oscillations in the alpha and theta bands have been linked to environmental factors, including geomagnetic disturbances, yet the temporal dynamics of these interactions remain poorly understood. This study examined the relationship between geomagnetic activity, quantified by the Kp index, and brain activity in low alpha (7–10 Hz) and theta (4–7 Hz) bands using two complementary approaches. In Experiment 1, archival EEG data from 238 subjects collected over four years were analyzed for correlations between daily Kp values and band power across a ±90-day window. Significant positive correlations (p < 0.01) emerged in both bands, with a spatially coherent peak in caudal regions occurring 19 days prior to EEG measurement. In Experiment 2, an independent sample of 22 participants was exposed to a simulated geomagnetic storm, and EEG was recorded at baseline and 19 days post-exposure. Paired-samples t-tests revealed significant within-subject reductions in theta, low alpha, and high alpha power over frontal and parietal regions, consistent with a delayed neural response. Together, these findings provide converging correlational and experimental evidence for a lagged influence of geomagnetic activity on human brain oscillations. The 19-day delay observed in both datasets suggests that geomagnetic disturbances may exert residual effects on neural dynamics well beyond immediate exposure, warranting further investigation into underlying mechanisms and potential behavioral relevance. Full article

The peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a climate-sensitive agricultural invader that threatens fruit production across the Arabian Peninsula, yet its realized climatic niche and future exposure under warming remain insufficiently resolved. We used Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) modeling to quantify current and projected habitat suitability across the region (~3.2 million km²) under two Shared Socioeconomic Pathway scenarios (SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5) for the 2050s and 2070s, based on 55 spatially filtered occurrence records and seven non-collinear environmental predictors, with sampling bias controlled using a Gaussian kernel density bias file. Model performance was robust, with mean training AUC of 0.922 ± 0.011 (SD) and mean TSS of 0.538 ± 0.115 (SD; range: 0.368–0.692), indicating moderate variability across replicates. Suitability was governed primarily by elevation, mean temperature of the driest quarter (Bio 9), mean diurnal temperature range (Bio 2), and precipitation of the coldest quarter (Bio 19), which together contributed over 97% of the model output, indicating strong climatic and topographic control on range persistence. Under present conditions, 790,714 km², or 28.38% of the study area, was suitable, concentrated in the southwestern highlands of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, the Omani mountain ranges, and coastal fringes of the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Future projections showed a consistent net contraction of suitable habitat across all scenarios, from 7.4% under SSP1-2.6 in the 2050s to 28.0% under SSP5-8.5 in the 2070s. In all cases, contraction exceeded expansion, although the eastern Omani highlands remained a potential climatic refugium. These patterns indicate that warming is likely to reorganize rather than uniformly expand suitability, providing a spatial basis for climate-informed biosecurity, surveillance, and regional pest management. Full article

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are common environmental contaminants formed during the incomplete combustion of organic material. Their persistence, bioaccumulation, and metabolic activation contribute to mutagenic and cytotoxic outcomes. Among these are benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), the most studied PAH and a benchmark compound for PAH carcinogenicity, and pyrene, a PAH whose urinary metabolite 1-hydroxypyrene is widely used as a biomarker of PAH exposure. B[a]P undergoes CYP1A1-mediated oxidation to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) via epoxide and quinone redox cycling, whereas pyrene produces ROS primarily through pyrene-quinone redox cycling. We investigated cobinamide, a vitamin B₁₂/cobalamin analog with potent antioxidant properties, for mitigating benzo[a]pyrene- and pyrene-induced injury. In H9C2 rat embryonic cardiomyoblasts and A549 human lung epithelial cells exposed to B[a]P (10 μM) or pyrene (10–100 μM), cobinamide (5–10 μM) attenuated PAH-induced reductions in cell number in both models, while in H9C2 cells, it also attenuated decreases in metabolic activity and reduced apoptosis. Cobinamide also returned JNK/p38 phosphorylation to near baseline levels, decreased DNA and protein oxidation and DNA strand breaks. Transcriptionally, cobinamide suppressed inflammatory (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and oxidative stress genes (HMOX1 and NOX4), while enhancing oxidative response (SOD2) and xenobiotic metabolism (CYP1A1). In Drosophila melanogaster exposed to 5 mM B[a]P/pyrene, 2 mM cobinamide improved survival and fully restored locomotion, outperforming cobalamin (minimal benefit) and N-acetylcysteine (partial rescue). Spectroscopic analyses showed no direct cobinamide-PAH binding. These findings demonstrate that cobinamide efficiently limits ROS-mediated PAH injury through redox modulation while preserving xenobiotic metabolism, suggesting its potential therapeutic use to mitigate PAH-induced toxicity. Full article

This manuscript examines the total toxic releases from electric utilities and mining facilities in the United States in 2020, focusing on their relationships with human health outcomes. The research highlights the adverse effects of air and water pollution, linking exposure to toxic emissions to several health issues, such as low birth weight, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and cancers. It underscores the disproportionate impact of these pollutants on low-income and minority populations. This research project utilizes two sets of data: (1) environmental data, the EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) data that records total emissions of all-electric and mining facilities, and (2) health data, the PLACES health data. The results of this study show that census tracts exposed to higher toxic releases are expected to have worse health outcomes. The coefficients for total toxic release indicate that higher toxic release corresponds to a higher rate of cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, kidney diseases, arthritis, cardiac heart disorders (CHD), and stroke. Except for diabetes and kidney diseases, the associations are statistically significant. The analysis indicates the need for comprehensive public health strategies to mitigate the risks posed by toxic releases, particularly for vulnerable communities. Full article

(1) Background: This study investigated the characteristics and influencing factors of exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) and its chemical composition among elderly residents, with the aim of revealing potential differences in exposure. (2) Methods: A total of 258 elderly individuals were monitored for 72 h through individual, indoor, and outdoor PM_2.5 measurements. Concentrations were determined, and non-targeted components were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Through Spearman correlation analysis, generalized linear model, and linear regression to explore the influencing factors. (3) Results: The individual PM_2.5 concentration was higher than both the indoor and outdoor concentrations. A total of 20,962 compounds were detected in personal PM_2.5 samples, 6794 in indoor PM_2.5 samples, among which 4285 compounds were shared between the two sample types. The components were mainly esters, aromatic compounds, and amines. PM_2.5 concentration was correlated with age, housing area, humidifier use, and second-hand smoke exposure. Chemical composition is related to outdoor pollution, furniture material, and daily behavior. (4) Conclusions: The individual PM_2.5 concentration is higher than the environmental concentration, and its chemical composition overlaps with the indoor and outdoor environment, which is jointly affected by demography, living conditions, and daily behavior. Full article

Nature-based solutions (NbS) are widely considered cost-effective approaches for improving mental health in sustainable cities. However, how different ecological settings influence restorative outcomes is still not fully clear. This study examines whether mental recovery during forest-based meditation can be predicted from environmental conditions and physiological responses in real-world settings. Twenty-four healthy adults were assigned to one of three forest environments and completed three repeated meditation sessions within the same condition, yielding 72 observations. Environmental indicators (temperature, humidity, $\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{M}}_{2.5}$, $\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{O}}_2$, illuminance, wind speed, and noise) and heart rate variability (HRV) metrics were recorded. A predictive modeling framework was applied to capture nonlinear interactions between ecological exposure and physiological responses. Subject-level separation was strictly enforced to prevent data leakage. The results indicate that restorative outcomes can be reliably estimated from ecological and physiological signals under the observed conditions. Environmental variables exhibited stronger predictive contributions than baseline physiological indicators. These findings suggest that restorative outcomes are structured by ecological context. Given the limited sample size ($N$ = 24), the proposed framework should be interpreted as a proof-of-concept model rather than a fully generalizable solution. Repeated subject-level random splits yielded consistent predictive performance across data partitions, indicating the robustness of the model. Full article

In sub-Saharan Africa, intensive pesticide use in irrigated agriculture is threatening the quality of soil, water bodies and ecosystem services, yet integrated risk assessments remain limited. This study evaluated the environmental implications and risks of pesticide residues in soils (0–20 cm; n = 15) and irrigation water (n = 15) from off-season irrigation area of the Goulbi Maradi Valley, Niger. Twelve commonly used pesticides in Djiratawa, Maradi 3 and Tibiri, were quantified by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Variable Wavelength Detector (HPLC-VWD), revealing Tibiri as a contamination hotspot, where the total pesticide residues in soil and irrigation water reached 6.4 and 19.7 times the respective European Union soil and drinking water benchmarks, dominated by Cypermethrin, Emamectin benzoate and Chlorpyrifos ethyl in soils, and Emamectin benzoate and Dichlorvos in water. Multivariate analysis showed that soil particle size, particularly higher clay content, controlled the retention of strongly sorbing compounds, while pH and salinity governed the occurrence of more soluble residues in irrigation water. While non-carcinogenic risks for Adults and Children via soil and water exposure were acceptable (Hazard Quotient and Hazard Index < 1), ecological risks were unacceptable, with Folsomia candida and Daphnia magna the most affected organisms, driven by Emamectin benzoate (Toxicity Exposure Ratio < 2). Priority actions include phasing out Dichlorvos and Paraquat dichloride, tightening controls on Emamectin benzoate and expanding food-chain monitoring, particularly in vegetables and fish, to support multi-trophic risk assessment and safer irrigation management. Full article

The overuse of antibiotics has led to their widespread environmental residues, posing a significant threat to the ecological environment. In this study, a flower-like spherical CoFe-layered double hydroxide (CoFe-LDH) catalyst was prepared using a hydrothermal method. The degradation performance of the CoFe-LDH/peroxymonosulfate (PMS) system was systematically investigated using tetracycline (TC) as a model pollutant. The CoFe-LDH exhibited a three-dimensional nanoflower-like spherical structure formed by interlaced nanosheets, featuring smooth surfaces and well-defined edges. This hierarchical porous structure facilitates the exposure of active sites. The CoFe-LDH/PMS system demonstrated remarkable degradation efficiency, achieving over 90.17% TC removal within 10 min. As the dosage of CoFe-LDH and PMS increases, the degradation rate of TC improves significantly, but the marginal improvement effect decreases. TC degradation efficiency increased with pH up to an optimum at pH 5.0, beyond which it declined. The anions—Cl⁻, $\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{O}}_3^{-}$, and $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{O}}_4^{2-}$—all exhibited inhibitory effects on TC degradation; the TC removal rates decreased to 77.88%, 80.58%, and 82.78%, respectively. The removal experiments of different organic pollutants, such as oxytetracycline (88.91%), methylene blue (98.36%), and ciprofloxacin (84.52%), as well as actual water experiments, such as lake water (92.48%) and tap water (80.86%), have demonstrated the good universality of the CoFe-LDH/PMS system. Radical quenching experiments confirmed that ^•OH and $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{O}}_4^{•-}$ were the dominant reactive species. Full article

The city of Veracruz preserves buildings mainly constructed during the 16th and 17th centuries, where carved madreporic coral was used as ashlar and as a component in mortars. These historic structures, now part of Mexico’s built heritage, show various degrees of deterioration caused by erosion and prolonged exposure to environmental elements. Restoration using original materials is currently nearly impossible due to ecological restrictions protecting coral reefs. In this context, and under the principles of the tailor-made technique, the present research revisits physico-mechanical and chemical studies conducted on the corals used in the construction of one of the most representative buildings in the city. The results were compared with those obtained from the formulation of experimental mortars using readily available materials—such as air lime, siliceous aggregates, and calcium carbonate—with the aim of reproducing the physical, mechanical, and chemical properties observed in the original corals. Laboratory tests allowed evaluation of their compatibility and performance, seeking to develop alternative materials that enable conservation interventions without compromising the integrity of the base material or the historic structures. The design of mortars is intended to be used in the restoration processes of buildings that are part of the built historical heritage. This is the starting point for understanding the characteristics of the mortar and its compatibility with the substrate, which could be used for repairing stone blocks and for preparing new mortars for masonry and plastering, since research on restoration mortars has largely overlooked this type of building with coral masonry due to its rarity. Therefore, this research is of particular interest. The mixtures formulated with calcareous sand were the most compatible with the reference coral material, while those made with silica sand exhibited properties superior to the corals, and marine sands showed very poor behavior, potentially compromising the integrity of the buildings. In physical–mechanical tests, formulations that include calcareous sand and silica sand (2 mm) demonstrated behavior closest to that of coral, consistent with chemical analysis results, where mortars formulated with calcareous sand registered the highest contents of CaO and portlandite. Mercury intrusion porosimetry indicated that the mortar formulated with silica sand (2 mm) has a porosity only 4.07% lower than that of the coral, while mortars formulated with calcareous sand and lime paste are between 11.17% and 16.87% lower. Therefore, one of the mixtures that stands out as the best option due to its similarity in physical–mechanical and chemical results is the composite that is not found at the extremes of the results obtained in the various tests carried out. The use of calcareous sand, as previously mentioned, enhances its behavior and affinity with the coral masonry, as demonstrated in the tests. Full article

Pesticide manufacturing industry wastewater is a complex mixture of potentially harmful components. If not properly treated, discharged effluents may pose serious risks to environment and organisms. In this study, influent and effluent wastewater samples from a pesticide factory were comprehensively non-screened by liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry, coupled with zebrafish embryo toxicity testing to assess whole effluent toxicity. A total of eight chemical groups were identified, including pesticides, antibiotics, nitrogen compounds, ketones, esters, amines and derivatives, other drugs, and other organic compounds. While wastewater treatment processes reduced most of the analyzed groups of compounds, compounds (e.g., 2-aminophenol, N-Nitrosodipropylamine, and carbamazepine) increased during the treatments. The influent samples were more toxic to zebrafish than the effluent samples in terms of lethality, teratogenic effects, developmental impacts, locomotor behavior, and neurotoxicity. The results showed that locomotor behavior was the most sensitive phenotypic toxicity endpoint, with significantly higher sensitivity than traditional acute lethal or teratogenic endpoints. Through a multi-dimensional assessment approach combining chemical screening, literature-based, risk ranking, and targeted quantification, we identified three predominant pesticide residues in the wastewater samples (both influents and effluents): hexaconazole, fenobucarb and isoprocarb. All three compounds exhibited additive or synergistic toxicity in zebrafish embryos. Exposure to ≥0.08% influent or ≥2% effluent increased inflammation (interleukin-1 beta, IL-1β), oxidative stress (copper/zinc superoxide dismutase, Cu/Zn-Sod), apoptosis (tumor protein p53, p53), and significantly impaired neurodevelopment in zebrafish larvae by altering the expression of sonic hedgehog a (shha), synapsin IIa (syn2a), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (gfap). This study suggests the necessity of incorporating non-apical endpoint (locomotor behavior) into whole effluent toxicity test, as this approach is essential for reducing the environmental risks posed by pesticide factory wastewater. Full article

Salicylic acid (SA) is involved in plant defense responses to environmental stressors by modulating gene expression and specialized metabolites production, enhancing plant adaptive resilience through systemic signaling pathways. This study investigates the impact of exogenous application of SA on the metabolism of iridoids and phenolic compounds—characteristic specialized metabolites of the Nepeta species, associated with diverse biological activities. Nepetalactone (NL) is a characteristic monoterpene iridoid, while rosmarinic acid (RA) represents the most abundant phenolic compound within the genus. We explored the effects of varying SA concentrations (2 µM, 5 µM, 10 µM, and 20 µM) on iridoid and phenolic metabolism in in vitro-grown Nepeta nuda, following 7 days and 28 days of elicitation. A significant increase in trans,trans-NL content was observed after 7-day exposure to 2 µM SA, while prolonged exposure led to a decrease in its levels, particularly at higher SA concentrations. Gene expression analysis revealed that 7 days of exposure to lower concentrations of SA upregulated genes coding for NAD-dependent nepetalactol-related short-chain dehydrogenase/reductases (NEPSs), key regulatory enzymes catalyzing the final steps of NL biosynthesis. In contrast, prolonged exposure to 20 µM SA downregulated genes coding for geraniol 8-hydroxylase (NnG8H) and 8-hydroxygeraniol oxidoreductase (Nn8HGO), which resulted in reduced iridoid content. Conversely, SA treatment notably increased RA content after prolonged exposure to 20 µM SA, which is a result of the enhanced expression of all analyzed RA biosynthesis-related genes. These findings demonstrate that both concentration and duration of SA treatment are critical determinants of elicitation outcomes in N. nuda. Strategic manipulation of these parameters can redirect metabolic flux toward either iridoid or phenolic compounds production, and enhance biotechnological production of specialized metabolites in N. nuda. Full article

The ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 2 (ABCG2), also known as breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), is an efflux transporter expressed in key pharmacokinetic tissues and biological barriers. It regulates exposure to many endogenous compounds, drugs, and environmental toxins. Genetic variability in ABCG2 has been recognised as an important contributor to interindividual variability in drug response, especially in terms of efficacy and toxicity. This narrative review summarises current knowledge on the clinical relevance of ABCG2 genetic variants, with a focus on their effects on pharmacokinetics, adverse drug reactions and drug–drug–gene interactions, as well as their potential implementation in personalised therapy. A literature search was performed in PubMed, Scopus and the Clinical Pharmacogenomics Database (ClinPGx), with an emphasis on clinically relevant studies and available pharmacogenomic guidelines. The most investigated ABCG2 variant, c.421C>A (rs2231142; p.Gln141Lys), is consistently associated with reduced transporter activity and increased systemic exposure to several substrate drugs, including statins, allopurinol and anticancer agents, which may influence both treatment response and the risk of toxicity. Although growing evidence supports the clinical relevance of ABCG2 genotyping, its routine implementation remains limited. Integration of ABCG2 variability into polygenic models and clinical decision-support tools may further improve individualised treatment, particularly in patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy. Full article

The effects of fungicides on pollinators remain relatively understudied despite their widespread use and high likelihood of environmental exposure. We assessed the effects of a single exposure to the commercial formulation Tebucur^® 250 EW (containing tebuconazole as the active ingredient) on learning and memory in Bombus terrestris workers. Using the Free-Moving Proboscis Extension Response (FMPER) paradigm, bees were exposed to two concentrations: 9.4 µg of tebuconazole per mL (group T 1/100) and 94 ng of tebuconazole per mL (group T/10,000) of tebuconazole through either pure sucrose (Method 1) or Tebucur^® 250 EW-supplemented sucrose (Method 2) during conditioning. No significant differences between groups were detected during the learning phase (all p > 0.05). In contrast, significant differences emerged during the memory test at the earliest time point (5 min). In Method 1, bees exposed to the higher concentration (treatment group T 1/100) showed significantly lower performance compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In Method 2, the lowest performance was observed in the group exposed to the lower concentration (treatment group T 1/10,000; p < 0.01). No significant differences were detected at later time points (10 and 30 min). These results indicate that a single exposure to Tebucur^® 250 EW (active ingredient: tebuconazole, 250 g/L) can affect short-term memory in bumblebees without impairing initial learning performance. Although the observed effects were subtle and time-limited, they may have important implications for foraging efficiency and pollination under natural conditions. Full article

Microplastics are emerging environmental contaminants capable of crossing epithelial barriers and circulating systemically, potentially affecting organisms, including humans. This study investigated the hematological and biochemical effects of sub-chronic oral exposure to polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) in male Swiss albino mice. Animals received 1 μm PS-MPs in drinking water at 0.01 mg/day for four weeks, followed by a two-week recovery period. Blood samples were collected weekly for hematological and biochemical analysis. PS-MP exposure resulted in an increased number of certain immunocytes after the first week of treatment. The highest values compared with the control group were observed in Week 2, reaching 18.5 ± 4.61 vs. 7.2 ± 1.14; 10.9 ± 2.58 vs. 5.1 ± 1.20; and 5.8 ± 2.35 vs. 2.2 ± 0.69 × 10⁹ cells/L for white blood cells, lymphocytes, and granulocytes, respectively (p < 0.001). A significant increase in platelet count was also observed, becoming evident by Week 6 (725.8 ± 307.96 vs. 470.1 ± 121.87 × 10⁹ cells/L, p < 0.05). The elevated alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities observed after PS-MP exposure were potentially associated with hepatic pathology, erythrocyte damage, and inflammatory responses. No significant recovery was observed during the period after exposure. These findings demonstrate that sub-chronic oral PS-MP exposure induces inflammatory responses and may disrupt organ function. Full article

High-density urban areas face a critical trade-off between limited land resources and intensifying flood risks. This study develops a grey-green infrastructure (GGI) optimization framework that integrates hazard–exposure–vulnerability (H-E-V) risk assessment, surrogate modelling, and NSGA-III to simultaneously minimize cost, maximize flood control, and enhance water environmental benefits. The Suqian City case study reveals: (1) Grey-green coupling significantly outperforms single green infrastructure (GI), providing an additional 7.07–23.34 percentage points in flood risk control rate (FRCR). While GI reaches a performance bottleneck at 78.59% FRCR under extreme events, the GGI configuration maintains a high efficiency of >92.74%. (2) Risk-informed spatial targeting effectively reclassifies urban vulnerability. Under a 20-year return period, high-risk and medium-high risk areas are reduced by 80.99% and 52.15%, respectively. The validated surrogate models ensure high optimization efficiency with $R^2$ values exceeding 0.85. This framework provides a methodologically transferable decision-support tool for sponge city construction, demonstrating that strategic spatial allocation is as vital as infrastructure capacity for urban flood risk management. Full article