Reflectance Spectra Analysis Algorithms for the Characterization of Deposits and Condensed Traces on Surfaces

Identification of particulate matter and liquid spills contaminations is essential for many applications, such as forensics, agriculture, security, and environmental protection. For example, toxic industrial compounds deposition in the form of aerosols, or other residual contaminations, pose a secondary, long-lasting health concern due to resuspension and secondary evaporation. This chapter explores several approaches for employing diffuse reflectance spectroscopy in the mid-IR and SWIR to identify particles and films of materials in field conditions. Since the behavior of thin films and particles is more complex compared to absorption spectroscopy of pure compounds, due to the interactions with background materials, the use of physical models combined with statistically-based algorithms for material classification, provides a reliable and practical solution and will be presented.

Serum Diethyl Phthalate Levels in Infertile Females with Endometriosis

Background: Endometriosis has a complex multifactorial pathophysiology and is a leading cause of female infertility. Emerging evidence suggests the role of endocrine disrupting chemicals and environmental factors such as Diethyl phthalate (DEP) in the pathophysiology of the disease. Aim: To investigate the serum DEP levels in females with infertility having endometriosis and normal healthy counter parts. Methods: Married females (n=50) age 20-40 years, diagnosed with endometriosis and having history of >1 year of infertility, were selected as cases. Age matched women (n=50) with proven fertility and screened negative for endometriosis were included as controls. Females on any medicine, having co morbid conditions were also excluded from the study. DEP concentration in serum was determined by using High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: Significantly higher levels (p=0.003) of DEP were seen in endometriosis females (3.76± 1.28 ng/ml) as compared to controls (2.61± 1.72 ng/ml). The comparison of DEP levels between different stages of endometriosis revealed an increasing, but no significant trend with advancement of the disease. Conclusion: High serum DEP levels in patients substantiate their role in disease pathophysiology. Therefore, it may be advisable to pay attention while using such compounds. There is an increased need to regulate the levels of such industrial compounds manufactured for daily use of human beings by efficient and judicious quality assurance plastics and by using the standards set by WHO and/or FDA. Keywords: Phthalate, Endometriosis, Diethyl phthalate, plasticizers, Infertility

Isolation and production of organic solvent tolerant protease from bacterial burn infection, Staphylococcus aureus KP091274

Organic solvent-resistant proteases are used to synthesize valuable pharmaceutical and industrial compounds. Using an available and inexpensive source can be very effective in producing this enzyme. For this purpose, Staphylococcus aureus KP091274 was isolated from burn infection and a medium optimization procedure in the presence of organic solvents was considered for four factors of incubation time, the concentration of Mg2+, glycerol and sorbitol using the response surface methodology. The results of this statistical method showed that incubation time has the most effect and glycerol concentration has the least positive effect on enzyme secretion. As a result of applying the optimized conditions in the bacterial culture medium (3mM of Mg2+, 1.5% W/V of glycerol, 0.4% W/V of sorbitol and 72 hours of incubation), the enzyme secretion reaches its maximum.

Reducing Toxic Phthalate Exposures in Premature Infants

Phthalates are a ubiquitous group of industrial compounds used as industrial solvents and as additives to plastics to make products softer avnd more flexible. Phthalates are found in a variety of products including medical devices, personal care products, flooring, and food packaging. Infants in the neonatal intensive care unit are exposed to phthalates both in the building materials, but more importantly in the medical supplies and devices. Toxicity from phthalates has been of concern to researchers for many decades. Toxicity concerns to neonates includes male reproductive toxicity, hepatotoxicity, cardiotoxicity (including hypertension), neurotoxicity, and neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Limited recommendations have been given for reducing phthalate exposures to premature infants. These include avoiding infusing lipids or blood products through intravenous tubing containing phthalates. Storage of blood in containers made with phthalates has been a strong recommendation and has largely been accomplished. A comprehensive plan for phthalate reduction has heretofore been missing. This chapter has the goal of identifying the problem of phthalate exposure in premature infants, with some practical solutions that can be done today, as well as suggestions for manufacturers to complete the work.

Large-scale phenotyping of 1,000 fungal strains for the degradation of non-natural, industrial compounds

Fungal biotechnology is set to play a keystone role in the emerging bioeconomy, notably to address pollution issues arising from human activities. Because they preserve biological diversity, Biological Resource Centres are considered as critical infrastructures to support the development of biotechnological solutions. Here, we report the first large-scale phenotyping of more than 1,000 fungal strains with evaluation of their growth and degradation potential towards five industrial, human-designed and recalcitrant compounds, including two synthetic dyes, two lignocellulose-derived compounds and a synthetic plastic polymer. We draw a functional map over the phylogenetic diversity of Basidiomycota and Ascomycota, to guide the selection of fungal taxa to be tested for dedicated biotechnological applications. We evidence a functional diversity at all taxonomic ranks, including between strains of a same species. Beyond demonstrating the tremendous potential of filamentous fungi, our results pave the avenue for further functional exploration to solve the ever-growing issue of ecosystems pollution.

The Activity of New Bio-Agent to Control Cucumovirus Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV)

CMV virus is worldwide, especially in temperate regions, where it can infect more than 800 plant species belonging to about 40 families. Although the main factor that the plant takes in order not to be infected is because it has preventive means that inhibit the direction of pathogens so that the infection occurs under conditions that suit it and suit its success. Cucumber Mosaic Virus belongs to the group of plant viruses to the genus Cucumovirus, as the virus particles are symmetrically spherical, not enveloped, with a diameter of 29 nm, and the virus has several strains that differ among themselves in terms of factors, symptoms of infection and methods of transmission. The stimulation of induced systemic resistance (ISR) leads to the interest of many researchers. Many types of research and studies have been conducted in the field of biochemical changes in the form of modulating the host’s cell wall. The production of phytoalexin. And the manufacture of pathogen-related proteins (Pathogenesis Related Protein). It has been indicated that treatment with various factors, for example (non-pathogenic organisms, weak pathogens, chemical and industrial compounds, plant extracts, nutritional supplements) has the ability to activate plant defense mechanisms and induce systemic resistance against pathogens. In the field of biological control, bacterial types have been used on many pathogens, including fluorescens Pseudomonas and Bacillus subtillus, as they have proven effective in controlling many different fungal and bacterial pathogens as well as viral, and the reason is due to the ability of the bacteria to produce many growth regulators and thus stimulate resistance The systemic plant and the production of phytotoxins are in addition to being one of the most important growth stimuli. New methods have been used to resist viruses by using natural nutritional supplements with effective effect, because plants have defensive means, and for this reason, the use of these supplements can be stimulated in addition to the preventive aspect, a decrease in infection parameters, and an increase in growth indicators and outcome. Several methods have been relied upon to diagnose viruses, the first being the symptoms of reagents, and they are of basic methods. After that, serological tests were adopted, which are highly specialized and accurate in diagnosing viruses, and electron microscopy was used as a method to detect the size and shape of viruses. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology is a fast and accurate way to detect plant viruses compared to other tests, such as the ELISA test and plant reagents.

Large-scale phenotyping of 1,000 fungal strains for the degradation of non-natural, industrial compounds

Fungal biotechnology is set to play a keystone role in the emerging bioeconomy, notably to address pollution issues arising from human activities. Because they preserve biological diversity, Biological Resource Centres are considered as critical infrastructures to support the development of biotechnological solutions. Here, we report the first large-scale phenotyping of more than 1,000 fungal strains with evaluation of their growth and degradation potential towards five industrial, human-designed and recalcitrant compounds, including two synthetic dyes, two lignocellulose-derived compounds and a synthetic plastic polymer. We draw a functional map over the phylogenetic diversity of Basidiomycota and Ascomycota, to guide the selection of fungal taxa to be tested for dedicated biotechnological applications. We evidence a functional diversity at all taxonomic ranks, including between strains of a same species. Beyond demonstrating the tremendous potential of filamentous fungi, our results pave the avenue for further functional exploration to solve the ever-growing issue of ecosystem pollution.

The Rapidly Changing Composition of the Global Street Drug Supply and Its Effects on High-Risk Groups for COVID-19

Background: Globally, an alarming number of pharmaceutically active compounds are now routinely added to the street drugs of abuse, cocaine and heroin. In some cases, seventeen (17) or more potentially toxic compounds are found in a single street purchased bag or block of cocaine or heroin. Pharmacologically active compounds, impurities, or breakdown products from drug manufacturing and industrial chemicals (collectively referred to as toxic adulterants) are now found in street drugs. They include, but are not limited to: antipsychotics, antidepressants, anxiolytics, antihistamines, anthelminthics, anesthetics, anti-inflammatorys, antipyretics, analgesics, antispasmodics, antiarrhythmics, antimalarials, veterinary medications, broncho-dilators, expectorants, sedatives, muscle relaxers, natural/synthetic hallucinogens, decongestants, new psychoactive substanc-es (NPS), industrial compounds, fungicides, and impurities in the manufacturing process. All can be found within a single street purchase of heroin or cocaine. Routine clinical or workplace drug testing will not detect all these toxic adulterants. Only specialty forensic tests, specifically ordered, will detect them. The synergistic effect on the human body of such an unprece-dented combination of pharmacologically active compounds is unknown and potentially deadly. This is especially seen in daily abusers who are exposed to these combinations multiple times a day over an extended period of time. Individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) have several co-occurring health problems that make them more susceptible to Covid-19, including compromised immune, pulmonary, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems. These problems are high-risk factors for the acquisition of Covid-19 infection and more serious complications from the virus, including hospitalization and death. Objective: To bring to the attention of public health officials, addiction medicine specialists, treatment officials, therapists, and the general public the alarming increase of dangerous toxic adulterants being added to street drugs and their potentially lethal synergistic effects. Also, to provide insights into how these new formulations can have serious pathophysiological effects on individuals with Substance Abuse Disorders (SUDs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: The literature on street drug cutting agents, toxic adulterants, NPS, manufacturing byproducts, and other industrial compounds will be reviewed. Also a review of the literature of pathophysiological effects, especially on SUD patients, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic will be presented. This is combined with international and USA studies that were carried out by the Colombo Plan that identified these new combinations of toxic adulterants in street drugs, using state of the art field and forensic laboratory detection technologies. Results: The majority of street drugs, in some cases more than ninety-five percent, now have multiple toxic adulterants. It is rare that a street purchase of cocaine or heroin does not contain multiple toxic adulterants, cutting agents, NPS, manufactur-ing byproducts, or industrial chemicals. Conclusion: This dangerous new composition in world street drug supply is unprecedented and may be the undetected cause of many psychostimulant and opioid overdose deaths, as many toxic adulterants are not routinely tested in post-mortem or street drug seizure cases. In addition, several of these toxic adulterants create a catastrophic drop in white blood cells, causing neutropenia and making the abusers susceptible to a wide range of opportunistic infections, including COVID-19. This pro-found change in the world street drug supply has catastrophic implications for individuals with SUDs and our health care system, especially in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Surface Active Ionic Liquid Assisted Metal-Free Electrocatalytic-Carboxylation in Aqueous phase: A Sustainable approach for CO2 utilization paired with electro-detoxification of Halocarbons

Electrocarboxylation of halocarbons is a promising green synthetic strategy for capture, fixation and utilization of CO2 for the synthesis of high-added-value industrial compounds. However, the unparalleled kinetic/thermodynamic stability and solubility...

Ultrafast conversion of carcinogenic 4-nitrophenol into 4-aminophenol in the dark catalyzed by surface interaction on BiPO4/g-C3N4 nanostructures in the presence of NaBH4

The heterogeneous catalytic conversion of pollutants into useful industrial compounds is a two-goals at once process, which is highly recommended from the environmental, economic, and industrial points of view.