Moranhedegaard7929

g., land colonization with the regression of the dry forest and irrigation plan able to amplify the deforestation and change the floristic composition. Thanks to paleo-science approach, our environmental diagnosis should help future decision-making and provide guidelines for preservation of resources and wellbeing of the inhabitants. Even though nanoparticles (NPs) are mostly removed by wastewater treatment plants, wastewater-borne NPs may show an altered toxicity to aquatic organisms. The main objectives of this work were i) to assess the chronic (28 days) effects of wastewater-borne NPs of silver (AgNPs, 1.4-36.2 μg L-1) and titanium dioxide (TiO2NPs, 3.1-50.2 μg L-1) at the individual (growth) and biochemical (biomarkers of neurotoxicity, oxidative stress and energy metabolism) levels in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss; and ii) to compare them with their effluent-supplemented and water-dispersed counterparts. The total Ag and Ti levels were determined in several fish organs. The growth of O. mykiss was not affected by the NPs in any treatment, except a 29% increase at 5.5 μg L-1 of total Ag supplemented to effluents. The Ag level in organs of O. mykiss was significantly higher after exposure to water-dispersed AgNPs than their wastewater-borne or effluent-supplemented counterparts. No significant Ti uptake could be observed. Effluent-supplemented TiO2NPs (50.1 μg L-1 Ti) potentially induced neurotoxic effects, indicated by a 24% increase in acetylcholinesterase activity comparatively to controls. Energy reserves were unaffected by TiO2 treatments, while nearly all AgNP-containing treatments caused a depletion of total lipids, proteins and carbohydrates in the muscle, suggesting an increased energy demand for detoxification processes to cope with AgNPs. GF109203X nmr Besides NPs, the effluent matrix and dispersing agent (for AgNPs) induced significant effects on energetic reserves and oxidative stress, indicating background toxicity of both treatments at the biochemical level. Our study is the first to assess chronic effects of wastewater-borne NPs on rainbow trout. While no effects were found at the individual level, several biochemical markers were changed by the NPs exposure. Our results highlight the importance of using complex matrices for a reliable risk assessment of NPs in the aquatic environment. Primary biological particles are an important subset of atmospheric aerosols. They have significant impacts on climate change and public health. Tianjin is a coastal megacity in the North China Plain, which is affected by both anthropogenic activities and marine air masses. To study the abundance and dynamic change of bioaerosols in Tianjin, fluorescent biological aerosol particles (FBAPs) in Tianjin were investigated by a wideband integrated bioaerosol sensor (WIBS-4A) in terms of number concentrations and size distributions in summer (11th -25th August 2018). Meanwhile, total suspended particles were collected and analyzed for chemical compounds to identify potential sources of bioaerosols. WIBS data showed that fluorescent biological particles exhibited two peaks at sunrise (~700) and in the evening (~2000), which were probably caused by the enhancement of fungal spores and bacteria. Three rain events occurred during the observation period. Precipitation enhanced the abundance of biological particles, which were likely released from vegetation leaves, resuspended from soil surfaces, and/or carried by raindrops from high altitudes. The abundance of biological particles showed no significant correlation with Na+ (r = -0.17), indicating the air masses from marine areas carried limited biological particles compared to those from continental areas. Constructed wetlands are an alternative biotechnology for wastewater treatment that have several advantages over conventional systems. In this work, a biokinetic model for surface flow constructed wetlands is presented (SURFWET). SURFWET belongs to a class of models that are not only interesting from a theoretical viewpoint, as they allow to improve the understanding of the underlying processes; but also from a practical viewpoint, because they can be useful for optimal designs of constructed wetlands, complementing current empirical methods. The proposed model is centered on the intervening physical and biochemical processes involved in pollutant removal in wastewater (organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, suspended solids), capturing the interplay of the main agents on contaminant removal (bacteria, macrophytes and phytoplankton). Furthermore, the hydraulic model considers water volume as a variable depending on the outlet hydraulic capacity, and dissolved oxygen has also been introduced as a key driver of reaction kinetics of wetlands. Beyond putting forward a theoretical framework, SURFWET has been applied to simulate a specific case to demonstrate its robustness, in a 12-year-interval simulation. The results show the typical seasonality of this biotechnology, highlighting the importance of dissolved oxygen, which is a key limiting factor on a large number of biochemical processes. Some studies have shown that maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) is modulated directly by pathogen components via pattern recognition receptors such as Toll-like receptors, but also by signal like CD40 ligand (CD40 L or CD154) mediated by activated T cells. Several reports indicate that invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells up-regulate CD40 L upon stimulation and thereby induce activation and maturation of DCs through crosslink with CD40. Our previous findings indicated that iNKT cells promote Th2 cell responses through the induction of immunogenic maturation of lung DCs (LDCs) in the asthmatic murine, but its mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the immunomodulatory effects of blockade of CD40 L using anti-CD40 L treatment on Th2 cell responses and immunogenic maturation of LDCs, and further analyzed whether these influences of blockade of CD40 L were related to lung iNKT cells using iNKT cell-deficient mice and the combination treatment of specific iNKT cell activation with anti-CD40 L trenic maturation of LDCs, which may be at least partially related to lung iNKT cells in murine models of asthma. In parts of developing countries, the over-exploitation of sands from inland waters has led to serious environmental concerns. However, understanding of the impacts of commercial sand dredging on inland water ecosystem functions remains limited. Herein, we assess the effects of this activity on the functional structure of the macroinvertebrate community and its recovery processes based on a 4-year survey, in the South Dongting Lake in China. Our result showed a simplified macroinvertebrate functional structures within the dredged area, as evidenced by a loss of certain trait categories (e.g., oval and conical body form) and a significant reduction in trait values due to the direct removal of macroinvertebrates and indirect alternations to physical environmental conditions (e.g., water depth and %Medium sand). Moreover, clear increases were observed in certain trait categories (e.g., small body size and swimmer) resulting from the dredging-related disturbance (e.g., increased turbidity) within the adjacent area. Furthermore, one year after the cessation of dredging, a marked recovery in the taxonomic and functional structure of macroinvertebrate assemblages was observed with most lost trait categories returning and an increase in the trait values of eight categories (e.g., body size 1.00-3.00 cm and oval body form) within the dredged and adjacent area. In addition, dispersal processes and sediment composition were the main driver for the structuring of the macroinvertebrate taxonomic and functional assemblages during the dredging stages, whilst water environmental conditions dominated the taxonomic structure and dispersal processes determined the functional structure during the recovery stage. Implications of our results for monitoring and management of this activity in inland waters are discussed. Zearalenone is a phenolic Fusarium mycotoxin, which is ubiquitous in human and animal feedstuff and often co-occurs with other mycotoxins. ZEA has been reported to disturb Leydig cell function and even cause the apoptosis to the Leydig cells. However, the effects of gestational exposure to zearalenone on fetal Leydig cells and the underlying mechanism remain unknown. Sprague Dawley dams were daily gavaged with 0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg body weight ZEA from gestational day 14-21. On gestational day 21, rats were euthanized and serum testosterone levels were measured, and testes were collected for further evaluation of Leydig cell number, cell size, gene, and protein expression. Zearalenone significantly decreased anogenital distance and its index of male fetus, serum testosterone levels, Leydig cell proteins (SCARB1, STAR, CYP11A1, CYP17A1, and INSL3), and fetal Leydig cell number at 10 and/or 20 mg/kg by delaying the commitment of stem Leydig cells into the Leydig cell lineage and proliferation. Further study found that Notch signaling (RFNG, PSEN1, NOTCH1, and NOTCH3) was up-regulated by zearalenone. In conclusion, gestational exposure to high doses of zearalenone (10 and 20 mg/kg) blocks fetal Leydig cell development, thus possibly causing the anomalies of the male reproductive tract. Despite growing concern about the occurrence of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems there is only rudimentary understanding of the pathways through which any adverse effects might occur. Here, we assess the effects of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs; less then 70 μm) on a common and widespread algal species, Chlorella sorokiniana. We used laboratory exposure to test the hypothesis that the lipids and fatty acids (FAs) are important molecules in the response reactions of algae to this pollutant. Cultivation with PS-MPs systematically reduced the concentration of essential linoleic acid (ALA, C183n-3) in C. sorokiniana, concomitantly increasing oleic acid (C181n-9). Among the storage triacylglycerols, palmitoleic and oleic acids increased at the expenses of two essential fatty acids, linoleic (LIN, C182n-6) and ALA, while PS-MPs had even more pronounced effects on the fatty acid and hydrocarbon composition of waxes and steryl esters. The FA composition of two major chloroplast galactolipids, monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) and digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG), were affected implying changes in the conformational structure of photosynthetic complexes in ways that can impair the photosynthesis. These data reveal how exposure to polystyrene microplastics can modify the concentrations of lipid molecules that are important intrinsically in cell membranes, and hence the lipid bilayers that could form an important barrier between algal cellular compartments and plastics in the aquatic environment. Changes in lipid synthesis and fatty acid composition in algae could also have repercussions for food quality, growth and stressor resistance in primary consumers. We advocate further studies of microplastics effects on the lipid composition of primary producers, and of their potential propagation through aquatic food webs.