scholarly journals Aquatic Environment Exposure and Toxicity of Engineered Nanomaterials Released from Nano-Enabled Products: Current Status and Data Needs

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2868
Author(s):  
Mbuyiselwa Shadrack Moloi ◽  
Raisibe Florence Lehutso ◽  
Mariana Erasmus ◽  
Paul Johan Oberholster ◽  
Melusi Thwala
Keyword(s):  
Aquatic Environment ◽  
Product Life Cycle ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Engineered Nanomaterials ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Environmental Implications ◽  
Environment Exposure ◽  
Data Limitations

Rapid commercialisation of nano-enabled products (NEPs) elevates the potential environmental release of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) along the product life cycle. The current review examined the state of the art literature on aquatic environment exposure and ecotoxicity of product released (PR) engineered nanomaterials (PR–ENMs). Additionally, the data obtained were applied to estimate the risk posed by PR–ENMs to various trophic levels of aquatic biota as a means of identifying priority NEPs cases that may require attention with regards to examining environmental implications. Overall, the PR–ENMs are predominantly associated with the matrix of the respective NEPs, a factor that often hinders proper isolation of nano-driven toxicity effects. Nevertheless, some studies have attributed the toxicity basis of observed adverse effects to a combination of the released ions, ENMs and other components of NEPs. Notwithstanding the limitation of current ecotoxicology data limitations, the risk estimated herein points to an elevated risk towards fish arising from fabrics’ PR–nAg, and the considerable potential effects from sunscreens’ PR–nZnO and PR–nTiO2 to algae, echinoderms, and crustaceans (PR–nZnO), whereas PR–nTiO2 poses no significant risk to echinoderms. Considering that the current data limitations will not be overcome immediately, we recommend the careful application of similar risk estimation to isolate/prioritise cases of NEPs for detailed characterisation of ENMs’ release and effects in aquatic environments.

scholarly journals Current Status of Putative Animal Sources of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Humans: Wildlife, Domestic Animals and Pets

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 868
Author(s):  
Max Maurin ◽  
Florence Fenollar ◽  
Oleg Mediannikov ◽  
Bernard Davoust ◽  
Christian Devaux ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Species ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Current Data ◽  
The Body ◽  
Receptor Expression ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Susceptible Animal

SARS-CoV-2 is currently considered to have emerged from a bat coronavirus reservoir. However, the real natural cycle of this virus remains to be elucidated. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to novel opportunities for SARS-CoV-2 transmission between humans and susceptible animal species. In silico and in vitro evaluation of the interactions between the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and eucaryotic angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor have tentatively predicted susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection of several animal species. Although useful, these data do not always correlate with in vivo data obtained in experimental models or during natural infections. Other host biological properties may intervene such as the body temperature, level of receptor expression, co-receptor, restriction factors, and genetic background. The spread of SARS-CoV-2 also depends on the extent and duration of viral shedding in the infected host as well as population density and behaviour (group living and grooming). Overall, current data indicate that the most at-risk interactions between humans and animals for COVID-19 infection are those involving certain mustelids (such as minks and ferrets), rodents (such as hamsters), lagomorphs (especially rabbits), and felines (including cats). Therefore, special attention should be paid to the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection associated with pets.

scholarly journals Inequality measurement and tax/transfer policy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Apps ◽  
Ray Rees
Keyword(s):  
Household Income ◽  
Detailed Comparison ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Inequality Measurement ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Transfer Policy ◽  
Family Household ◽  
Data Limitations ◽  
The Family

AbstractWe provide a critique of the standard methodology for inequality measurement, which makes welfare comparisons between households by deflating household income and consumption with an equivalence scale. We argue that this leads to support for tax/transfer policies that significantly disadvantage low to middle income households and second earners—predominantly women. Its main limitations are that it takes an overly-simplistic approach to household production, bases its welfare measurements on joint household income, and has no theory of the family household. We point the way to an alternative procedure by presenting a theoretical model of the family household that derives duality-based welfare measures. In the light of current data limitations we propose, as a second best, primary earner income as a superior base to joint income for across-household welfare comparisons in policy formulation. We also emphasise the importance of taking the family life cycle into account when making such comparisons. We use the Australian income tax system and Australian income and tax data for a detailed comparison of the standard approach with our proposed alternative.

scholarly journals ‘Taking Fishers’ Knowledge to the Lab’: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Understand Fish Trophic Relationships in the Brazilian Amazon

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Evelyn Rubira Pereyra ◽  
Gustavo Hallwass ◽  
Mark Poesch ◽  
Renato Azevedo Matias Silvano
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotopes ◽  
Food Webs ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Trophic Interactions ◽  
Brazilian Amazon ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Trophic Relationships ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Data Limitations ◽  
Combining Data

Trophic levels can be applied to describe the ecological role of organisms in food webs and assess changes in ecosystems. Stable isotopes analysis can assist in the understanding of trophic interactions and use of food resources by aquatic organisms. The local ecological knowledge (LEK) of fishers can be an alternative to advance understanding about fish trophic interactions and to construct aquatic food webs, especially in regions lacking research capacity. The objectives of this study are: to calculate the trophic levels of six fish species important to fishing by combining data from stable isotopes analysis and fishers’ LEK in two clear water rivers (Tapajós and Tocantins) in the Brazilian Amazon; to compare the trophic levels of these fish between the two methods (stable isotopes analysis and LEK) and the two rivers; and to develop diagrams representing the trophic webs of the main fish prey and predators based on fisher’s LEK. The fish species studied were Pescada (Plagioscion squamosissimus), Tucunaré (Cichla pinima), Piranha (Serrasalmus rhombeus), Aracu (Leporinus fasciatus), Charuto (Hemiodus unimaculatus), and Jaraqui (Semaprochilodus spp.). A total of 98 interviews and 63 samples for stable isotopes analysis were carried out in both rivers. The average fish trophic levels did not differ between the stable isotopes analysis and the LEK in the Tapajós, nor in the Tocantins Rivers. The overall trophic level of the studied fish species obtained through the LEK did not differ from data obtained through the stable isotopes analysis in both rivers, except for the Aracu in the Tapajós River. The main food items consumed by the fish according to fishers’ LEK did agree with fish diets as described in the biological literature. Fishers provided useful information on fish predators and feeding habits of endangered species, such as river dolphin and river otter. Collaboration with fishers through LEK studies can be a viable approach to produce reliable data on fish trophic ecology to improve fisheries management and species conservation in tropical freshwater environments and other regions with data limitations.

The Current and forecasted Status of Type 2 Diabetes in the Arab Society of Israel

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdelnaser Zalan ◽  
Ahmad Sheikh-Muhammad ◽  
Mohammad Khatib ◽  
Rajech Sharkia
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Expenditures ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Progressive Increase ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Global Challenge ◽  
The Status ◽  
Health Related

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is considered one of the main causes of mortality, morbidity, and health care expenditures. Effectively treating this disease is of crucial importance and imposes a global challenge. The incidence of Type 2 DM (T2DM) is rapidly rising in both developing and developed countries. The Arab community in Israel is a distinct ethnic group with unique characteristics. Recently, this community has undergone major changes in its lifestyle, adopting the Westernized one, which could have caused an increase in the T2DM incidence rate. Objective: This review aims to shed light on various studies undertaken to explore the prevalence of diabetes and determine its current status in the Arab society of Israel, resting on previous and current data. It is presented to highlight the status of diabetes globally and to focus on its current situation in the Arab society of Israel, attempting to forecast its direction in the upcoming decade. Methods: Data were obtained from our previous comprehensive socio-economic and health cross-sectional surveys for successive periods from 2004 to 2017. These surveys were conducted on the Arab society of Israel by the Galilee Society. Results: Our results showed a progressive increase in the prevalence of T2DM from 3.4% to 7.6% in the Arab society of Israel. This trend is expected to continue rising in the coming decade, and based on our predictions, may exceed 12% in 2030. Conclusion: Substantial and practical health-related actions must be initiated to prevent an increasing number of adults from developing diabetes and its complications.

Ecotoxicity Effects of Nanomaterials on Aquatic Organisms

2016 ◽  
pp. 330-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
César A Barbero ◽  
Edith Inés Yslas
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Surface Charge ◽  
Direct Effect ◽  
Mechanism Of Action ◽  
Aquatic Environment ◽  
Physicochemical Characteristic ◽  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
Development Stage ◽  
Engineered Nanomaterials ◽  
Toxicity Data

The increasing production and use of engineered nanomaterials raise concerns about inadvertent exposure and the potential for adverse effects on the aquatic environment. The aim of this chapter is focused on studies of nanotoxicity in different models of aquatic organisms and their impact. Moreover, the chapter provides an overview of nanoparticles, their applications, and the potential nanoparticle-induced toxicity in aquatic organisms. The topics discussed in this chapter are the physicochemical characteristic of nanomaterials (size, aggregation, morphology, surface charge, reactivity, dissolution, etc.) and their influence on toxicity. Further, the text discusses the direct effect of nanomaterials on development stage (embryonic and adult) in aquatic organisms, the mechanism of action as well as the toxicity data of nanomaterials in different species.f action as well as the toxicity data of nanomaterials in different species.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment - occurrence and environmental implications

2020 ◽  
Vol 866 ◽  
pp. 172813 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Felis ◽  
Joanna Kalka ◽  
Adam Sochacki ◽  
Katarzyna Kowalska ◽  
Sylwia Bajkacz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aquatic Environment ◽  
Environmental Implications

scholarly journals Electoral contention and violence (ECAV): A new dataset

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 714-723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ursula Daxecker ◽  
Elio Amicarelli ◽  
Alexander Jung
Keyword(s):  
Cote D'ivoire ◽  
Electoral Competition ◽  
Current Data ◽  
National Elections ◽  
Data Limitations ◽  
Disaggregated Data ◽  
State Actors ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Cross National ◽  
Violent Events

Recent elections in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Iraq, Kenya, Nigeria, and Pakistan have displayed substantial contestation and violence. A growing literature explores the causes and consequences of electoral contention and violence, but researchers lack comprehensive, disaggregated data establishing a substantive link between elections and violence. The Electoral Contention and Violence (ECAV) dataset conceptualizes electoral contention as nonviolent or violent events of contestation by state or non-state actors related to national elections. The data contain more than 18,000 events of election-related contention covering 136 countries holding competitive national elections between 1990 and 2012. This article describes the scope of ECAV, presents the project’s definition of electoral contention and the variables included, and outlines the coding procedure. We then compare ECAV to other datasets on electoral contention. Cross-national and subnational analyses of electoral competition and violence show that the data are useful for assessing the global and subnational implications of existing theories. ECAV addresses current data limitations by focusing on election-related contention, by using clear criteria to determine whether events are election-related, and by identifying the timing, geocoded location, and actors involved.

Interpreting unique colloidal response of TiO2 nanomaterials to controlled sonication for understanding of their assembly configuration in water

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 1768-1775
Author(s):  
Siyang Wu ◽  
Hyeok Choi
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Aquatic Environment ◽  
Fate And Transport ◽  
Intrinsic Property ◽  
Engineered Nanomaterials ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Tio2 Particles ◽  
Transport Behavior ◽  
Tio2 Nanomaterials

It is important to determine the assembly configuration of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) because assembly configuration influences their fate and transport behavior in the aquatic environment. Aggregated particles are more subject to segregation upon changes of environmental conditions (and vice versa) than agglomerated particles. As a strategic tool for investigating the time-resolved reversible segregating and assembling behavior of ENMs and thus estimating their assembly configuration, a controlled sonication process was proposed. It was hypothesized that the unique colloidal response of ENMs to sonication, with respect to changes in size, might be their intrinsic property associated with assembly configuration. As a model ENM, three different TiO2 particles with unique properties (commercial P-25 and UV 100 and home-made (HM) TiO2) were examined with programmed sonication processes under various environmental settings. When they were dispersed in water, all TiO2 particles tested obviously assembled to form much larger clusters. Size of P-25 decreased immediately upon sonication and did not change under the subsequent quiescence step while sizes of UV 100 and HM gradually decreased and then slowly recovered back to their initial sizes. The trend was generally observed in all conditions tested. The unique colloidal response of TiO2 could be explained by its properties associated with assembly configuration.

scholarly journals SPIN AND ORBITAL ANGULAR MOMENTUM IN THE PROTON

2009 ◽  
Vol 18 (05n06) ◽  
pp. 1116-1134 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANTHONY W. THOMAS
Keyword(s):  
Angular Momentum ◽  
Orbital Angular Momentum ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Proton Spin ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Nucleon Structure ◽  
Upper Limits ◽  
European Muon Collaboration ◽  
Spin Crisis

Since the announcement of the proton spin crisis by the European Muon Collaboration there has been considerable progress in unravelling the distribution of spin and orbital angular momentum within the proton. We review the current status of the problem, showing that not only have strong upper limits have been placed on the amount of polarized glue in the proton but that the experimental determination of the spin content has become much more precise. It is now clear that the origin of the discrepancy between experiment and the naive expectation of the fraction of spin carried by the quarks and anti-quarks in the proton lies in the non-perturbative structure of the proton. We explain how the features expected in a modern, relativistic and chirally symmetric description of nucleon structure naturally explain the current data. The consequences of this explanation for the presence of orbital angular momentum on quarks and gluons is reviewed and comparison made with recent results from lattice QCD and experimental data.

The near future of coral reefs

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 460-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy R. McClanahan
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Sea Urchins ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Toxic Substances ◽  
Atmospheric Concentration ◽  
Seawater Chemistry ◽  
Generalist Species ◽  
The Past ◽  
Use Of Resources

In this paper the current status of coral reefs, predictions concerning the ecological state of coral reefs to the 2025 time horizon and the research needs that can help understanding and management activities that might alleviate detrimental ecological changes are evaluated and discussed. The present rate of CO2 emissions will produce an atmospheric concentration in 100 years not experienced during the past 20 million years and water temperatures above those of the past interglacial 130 000 years before present. Human influences on water temperatures, seawater chemistry (toxic substances, nutrients and aragonite saturation), the spread of diseases, removal of species and food web alterations are presently changing reef ecology. A significant ecological reorganization is underway and changes include a reduction in calcifying and zooxanthellae-hosting organisms, their obligate symbionts, and species at higher trophic levels, with an increase in generalist species of low trophic level that are adapted to variable environments. Late-successional fleshy brown algae of low net productivity or non-commercial invertebrates such as sea urchins, starfish and coral-eating snails will dominate many reefs. These changes will be associated with a loss of both net benthic and fisheries production and inorganic carbonate deposition; this will reduce reef complexity, species richness, reef growth and increase shoreline erosion. To avert these changes management is needed at both global and local levels. Both levels need to reduce greenhouse gases and other waste emissions and renew efforts to improve resource management including restrictions on the use of resources and globalization of resource trade, run-off and waste production, and balancing potential reef production and resource consumption.

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