Mechanisms and evidence of vertical transmission of infections in pregnancy including SARS-CoV-2s

There remain unanswered questions concerning mother-to-child-transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Despite reports of neonatal COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 has not been consistently isolated in perinatal samples, thus definitive proof of transplacental infection is still lacking. To address these questions, we assessed investigative tools used to confirm maternal-fetal infection and known protective mechanisms of the placental barrier that prevent transplacental pathogen migration. Forty studies of COVID-19 pregnancies reviewed suggest a lack of consensus on diagnostic strategy for congenital infection. Although real-time polymerase chain reaction of neonatal swabs was universally performed, a wide range of clinical samples was screened including vaginal secretions (22.5%), amniotic fluid (35%), breast milk (22.5%) and umbilical cord blood. Neonatal COVID-19 was reported in eight studies, two of which were based on the detection of SARS-CoV-2 IgM in neonatal blood. Histological examination demonstrated sparse viral particles, vascular malperfusion and inflammation in the placenta from pregnant women with COVID-19. The paucity of placental co-expression of ACE-2 and TMPRSS2, two receptors involved in cytoplasmic entry of SARS-CoV-2, may explain its relative insensitivity to transplacental infection. Viral interactions may utilise membrane receptors other than ACE-2 thus, tissue susceptibility may be broader than currently known. Further spatial-temporal studies are needed to determine the true potential for transplacental migration.     

Stress-related ecophysiology of members of the genus Rhodanobacter isolated from a mixed waste contaminated subsurface

• Rhodanobacter spp. are dominant in acidic, high nitrate and metal contaminated sites. • Dominance of Rhodanobacter is likely due to tolerance to low pH and heavy metals. • High organic content increases stress tolerance capacity. • Longer incubation time is critical for accurate assessment of MIC (various stresses). This work examines the physiologic basis of stress tolerance in bacterial strains of the genus Rhodanobacter that dominate in the acidic and highly metal contaminated near-source subsurface zone of the Oak Ridge Integrated Field Research Challenge (ORIFRC) site. Tolerance of R. denitrificans to levels of different stresses were studied in synthetic groundwater medium and R2A broth. Two strains of R. denitrificans, strains 2APBS1^T and 116-2, tolerate low to circumneutral pH (4–8), high Uranium (1 mmol/L), elevated levels of nitrate (400 mmol/L) and high NaCl (2.5%). A combination of physiologic traits, such as growth at low pH, increased growth in the presence of high organics concentration, and tolerance of high concentrations of nitrate, NaCl and heavy metals is likely responsible for dominance of Rhodanobacter at the ORIFRC site. Furthermore, extended incubation times and use of low carbon media, better approximating site groundwater conditions, are critical for accurate determination of stress responses. This study expands knowledge of the ecophysiology of bacteria from the genus Rhodanobacter and identifies methodological approaches necessary for acquiring accurate tolerance data.     

Development and operation of immobilized cell plug flow bioreactor (PFR) for treatment of textile industry effluent and evaluation of its working efficiency

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The release of untreated/partially treated effluent and solid waste from textile dyeing industries, having un-reacted dyes, their hydrolysed products...     

Potential of agro-waste sugarcane bagasse ash for the removal of ammoniacal nitrogen from landfill leachate

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Ammoniacal nitrogen is considered as one of the major pollutants of the leachate generated from the landfill site and has the potential to deteriorate...     

Mixotrophic cultivation of microalgae using industrial flue gases for biodiesel production

In the present study, an attempt has been made to grow microalgae Scenedesmus quadricauda, Chlorella vulgaris and Botryococcus braunii in mixotropic cultivation mode using two different substrates, i.e. sewage and glucose as organic carbon sources along with flue gas inputs as inorganic carbon source. The experiments were carried out in 500 ml flasks with sewage and glucose-enriched media along with flue gas inputs. The composition of the flue gas was 7 % CO₂, 210 ppm of NO _x and 120 ppm of SO _x . The results showed that S. quadricauda grown in glucose-enriched medium yielded higher biomass, lipid and fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) (biodiesel) yields of 2.6, 0.63 and 0.3 g/L, respectively. Whereas with sewage, the biomass, lipid and FAME yields of S. quadricauda were 1.9, 0.46, and 0.21 g/L, respectively. The other two species showed closer results as well. The glucose utilization was measured in terms of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) reduction, which was up to 93.75 % by S. quadricauda in the glucose-flue gas medium. In the sewage-flue gas medium, the COD removal was achieved up to 92 % by S. quadricauda. The other nutrients and pollutants from the sewage were removed up to 75 % on an average by the same. Concerning the flue gas treatment studies, S. quadricauda could remove CO₂ up to 85 % from the flue gas when grown in glucose medium and 81 % when grown in sewage. The SO _x and NO _x concentrations were reduced up to 50 and 62 %, respectively, by S. quadricauda in glucose-flue gas medium. Whereas, in the sewage-flue gas medium, the SO _x and NO _x concentrations were reduced up to 45 and 50 %, respectively, by the same. The other two species were equally efficient however with little less significant yields and removal percentages. This study laid emphasis on comparing the feasibility in utilization of readily available carbon sources like glucose and inexpensive leftover carbon sources like sewage by microalgae to generate energy coupled with economical remediation of waste. Therefore on an industrial scale, the sewage is more preferable. Because the results obtained in the laboratory demonstrated both sewage and glucose-enriched nutrient medium are equally efficient for algae cultivation with just a slight difference. Essentially, the sewage is cost effective and easily available in large quantities compared to glucose.     

Structural and molecular alterations in arsenic-induced hepatic oxidative stress in rats: a FTIR study

Arsenic (As) is an ubiquitously distributed environmental toxicant predominantly contaminating drinking water. A number of studies indicated that oral exposure of humans to inorganic As produced damage to various body tissues including liver. Oxidative stress is thought to play a major role in As-induced hepatotoxicity. In this study, Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy approach was applied to determine whether chronic As exposure at 25 ppm, intragastrically for 12 weeks, affected oxidative stress status in rat liver. Data demonstrated that chronic As administration exacerbated oxidative stress as was evidenced by suppressed antioxidant defense system and increased lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation. The FTIR study showed that peak area value of amide A decreased significantly followed by reduced amide I and amide II peak area in an As-treated rat liver suggesting altered protein profile. The change of Olefinic?CH stretching band and C?O stretching of triglycerides band indicated the altered lipid levels due to metallic exposure. The fall in the peak area of PO₂^? asymmetric stretching in the As-treated group might be due to compositional changes of nucleic acids. Hence, the results of this study indicate that As-induced oxidative stress was associated with structural and molecular modifications in proteins, lipids, and glycogen in a rat liver that may help to elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying metal-mediated hepatic damage.     

Organochlorine pesticide residues in maternal blood,cord blood,placenta, and breastmilk and their relation to birth size

There is a growing concern that persistent organic pollutants like organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) can impair fetal growth and affect birth size. However, currently available epidemiological evidence is inconclusive. In this case-control study, we examined the association between exposure to hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and its isomers (α-HCH, β-HCH and γ-HCH), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) and birth size. We recruited 60 infant-mother pairs, comprising of 30 term, small for gestational age babies with their mothers (Case group), and another 30 term, appropriate for gestational age babies with their mothers (Control group). This study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Delhi, India, between March, 2009 and February 2010. Organochlorine pesticides were estimated in maternal blood, cord blood, placenta and breastmilk samples, using gas–liquid chromatography. Transplacental and transmammary transfer of OCPs was assessed by correlating the maternal blood OCP levels with those in cord blood and breastmilk by simple linear regression. The birthweight, crown heel length, head circumference, mid-arm circumference and ponderal index of the neonates was correlated with OCP levels in the maternal blood, cord blood, placenta and breastmilk. The OCP estimates were compared between samples of the case and control group. There was a significant (P < 0.001) transplacental transfer of all OCPs, however the transmammary transfer was insignificant for most OCPs except α-HCH. The OCP levels in the case group were higher than the control group; these were significantly more for t-HCH in cord blood and breastmilk; β-HCH in maternal blood, cord blood and breastmilk; DDE in placenta and DDT in breastmilk. There was a significant negative correlation between birthweight and t-HCH levels in maternal blood (P = 0.022), cord blood (P < 0.001), placenta (P = 0.008) and breastmilk (P = 0.005); β-HCH in cord blood (P < 0.001) and placenta (P = 0.020); γ-HCH in placenta (P = 0.045); and DDT (P = 0.009). Length at birth had a significant negative correlation with t-HCH in cord blood (P = 0.014) and breastmilk (P < 0.001); β-HCH in cord blood (P = 0.016) and breastmilk (P = 0.012); DDE in placenta (P = 0.016); and DDT in breastmilk (P = 0.006). Similarly, OCP levels were also found to be negatively correlated with head circumference, ponderal index and chest circumference in neonates. We conclude that prenatal exposure to some OCPs could impair the anthropometric development of the fetus, reducing the birthweight, length, head circumference, chest circumference and ponderal index.     

Kinetics and isotherm analysis of Tropaeoline 000 adsorption onto unsaturated polyester resin (UPR): a non-carbon adsorbent

The presence of dyes in water is undesirable due to the toxicological impact of their entrance into the food chain. Owing to the recalcitrant nature of dyes to biological oxidation, a tertiary treatment like adsorption is required. In the present study, unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) has been used as a sorbent in the treatment of dye-contaminated water. Different concentrations of Tropaeoline 000 containing water were treated with UPR. The preliminary investigations were carried out by batch adsorption to examine the effects of pH, adsorbate concentration, adsorbent dosage, contact time, and temperature. A plausible mechanism for the ongoing adsorption process and thermodynamic parameters have also been obtained from Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models. Thermodynamic parameter showed that the sorption process of Tropaeoline 000 onto activated carbon (AC) and UPR were feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic under studied conditions. The estimated values for (ΔG) are ?10.48?×?10³ and ?6.098?×?10³ kJ mol^?1 over AC and UPR at 303 K (30 °C), indicating towards a spontaneous process. The adsorption process followed pseudo-first-order model. The mass transfer property of the sorption process was studied using Lagergren pseudo-first-order kinetic models. The values of % removal and k _ad for dye systems were calculated at different temperatures (303–323 K). The mechanism of the adsorption process was determined from the intraparticle diffusion model.     

Integrated framework to optimize RAM and cost decisions in a process plant

The research implications of reliability, availability and maintainability (RAM) aspects of engineering systems in recent years have increased substantially due to rising operation and maintenance costs. To strike a balance between the two the paper presents a framework which makes use of both qualitative and quantitative techniques to optimize RAM and cost decisions in a process plant. In the quantitative analysis, the imprecise and vague information regarding the system failure behavior is quantified by using the principles of fuzzy mathematics in terms of fuzzy and crisp values. Further, to manage the system reliability for best economic performance a resource optimization model based on multi-stage decision making (MSDM) has been proposed. The model makes use of crisp output values of unit's reliability along with relevant system information (number of components, manpower, cost ranges). In the qualitative analysis the in-depth analysis of the system is carried out using Root Cause analysis (RCA) and Failure Mode & Effects Analysis (FMEA). The ambiguities associated with the traditional FMEA are handled using Fuzzy Decision Making System (FDMS) and Grey Relation Analysis (GRA). The suggested framework has been illustrated with the help of a case.     

Cold plasma technology: advanced and sustainable approach for wastewater treatment

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Cold plasma has been a potent energy-efficient and eco-friendly advanced oxidation technology which has gained attention in recent decades as a...