Sensor technologies for the detection and monitoring of endocrine-disrupting chemicals

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are a class of man-made substances with potential to disrupt the standard function of the endocrine system. These EDCs include phthalates, perchlorates, phenols, some heavy metals, furans, dimethoate, aromatic hydrocarbons, some pesticides, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). EDCs are widespread in the environment given their frequent use in daily life. Their production, usage, and consumption have increased many-fold in recent years. Their ability to interact and mimic normal endocrine functions makes them a potential threat to human health, aquatics, and wild life. Detection of these toxins has predominantly been done by mass spectroscopy and/or chromatography-based methods and to a lesser extent by advanced sensing approaches such as electrochemical and/or colorimetric methods. Instrument-based analytical techniques are often not amenable for onsite detection due to the lab-based nature of these detecting systems. Alternatively, analytical approaches based on sensor/biosensor techniques are more attractive because they are rapid, portable, equally sensitive, and eco-friendly. Advanced sensing systems have been adopted to detect a range of EDCs in the environment and food production systems. This review will focus on advances and developments in portable sensing techniques for EDCs, encompassing electrochemical, colorimetric, optical, aptamer-based, and microbial sensing approaches. We have also delineated the advantages and limitations of some of these sensing techniques and discussed future developments in sensor technology for the environmental sensing of EDCs

Corticosteroids as Adjunctive Therapy for Severe Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia in the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

PNEUMOCYSTIS CARINII pneumonia is the most JL common opportunistic infection associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In approximately 60 to 65 percent of patients with AIDS, it is the AIDS-defining diagnosis; another 20 percent of such patients acquire the disease over the course of their illness. 1 The death rate from P. carinii pneumonia approaches 25 percent, making it a major cause of mortality. 2 3 4 At present, standard chemotherapy consists of a prolonged course of either trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole or intravenous pentamidine isethionate (pentamidine). 1 , 5 6 7 8 9 10 The predictors of a poor clinical outcome include extensive bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, concurrent pulmonary infections, recurrent P. carinii pneumonia, . . 

Benthic foraminifera as proxies for the environmental quality assessment of the Kuwait Bay (Kuwait, Arabian Gulf): Morphological and metabarcoding approaches

: The rapid urbanization and industrialization of Kuwait and the consequent effluent discharges into marine environments have resulted in a degradation of water and sediment quality in the coastal marine ecosystems such as in the Kuwait Bay. This study investigates the ecological response of benthic foraminifera (protists) to environmental stress in the Kuwait Bay. The traditional morphological approach was compared to the innovative environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding to evaluate the ecological quality status (EcoQS). Forty-six surface sediment samples were collected from selected stations in the Kuwait Bay. To detect the pollution gradient, environmental parameters from water (e.g., salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen) and sediment (e.g., grain-size, trace metals, total organic carbon, total petroleum hydrocarbons) were measured at each station. Although the foraminiferal assemblages were different in the morphological and molecular datasets, the species turnover was congruent and statistically significant. Diversity-based biotic indices derived from both morphological and metabarcoding approaches, reflect the environmental stress gradient (i.e., organic and metal contaminations) in the Kuwait Bay. The lowest values of EcoQS (i.e., bad to poor) are found in the innermost part (i.e., Sulaibikhat Bay and Ras Kazmah), while higher EcoQS values occur in the outer part of the bay. This study constitutes the first attempt to apply the foraminiferal metabarcoding to assess the EcoQS within the Arabian Gulf and presents its advantages compared to the conventional morphological approach

Comparative study of Ce0.80Sm0.20 Ba0.80Y0.20O3-δ (YB-SDC) electrolyte by various chemical synthesis routes

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells is received a significant attention in recent years due to higher efficiency and fuel flexibility. The one of the main challenge for SOFC is to lower the operating temperature of SOFCs. Therefore, different strategies are used in order to enhance the ionic conduction of electrolyte, which can lower the overall SOFC operating temperature. The present work is focused on this strategy to enhance the electrolytic conductivity. Therefore, the ceria based composite electrolytes Ce0.80Sm0.20B0.80Y0.20O3-δ (YBSDC) are synthesized using three different approaches i.e. co-precipitation (YBSDC-1), sol-gel (YBSDC-2) and ball milling (YBSDC-3). Their crystal structures and surface morphologies are characterized through X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) techniques, respectively. The four-probe technique is employed to measure their dc conductivities in the temperature range (300–700) °C under air atmosphere. The open circuit voltage (OCV) and current are recorded with natural gas as fuel {flow rate kept at 100 ml min−1 at 1 atm pressure} over the temperature range (300–600) °C.The electrolyte (YBSDC-1) prepared by co-precipitation technique is shown better results as compare to other two electrolytes (YBSDC-2 and YBSDC-3). The electrolyte (YBSDC-1) having maximum dc conductivity (0.096 S/cm), peak power density 224 mW cm−2 and OCV 0.94 V at 600 °C. These results show that YBSDC-1electrolyte is potential candidate for low temperature SOFCs. Keywords: Hydrogen, Energy, Ball milling, Composite, Conducto

Comparative study of Ce0.80Sm0.20Ba0.80Y0.20O3-delta (YB-SDC) electrolyte by various chemical synthesis routes

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells is received a significant attention in recent years due to higher efficiency and fuel flexibility. The one of the main challenge for SOFC is to lower the operating temperature of SOFCs. Therefore, different strategies are used in order to enhance the ionic conduction of electrolyte, which can lower the overall SOFC operating temperature. The present work is focused on this strategy to enhance the electrolytic conductivity. Therefore, the ceria based composite electrolytes Ce0.80Sm0.20B0.80Y0.20O3-delta (YBSDC) are synthesized using three different approaches i.e. co-precipitation (YBSDC-1), sol-gel (YBSDC-2) and ball milling (YBSDC-3). Their crystal structures and surface morphologies are characterized through X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) techniques, respectively. The four-probe technique is employed to measure their dc conductivities in the temperature range (300-700) degrees C under air atmosphere. The open circuit voltage (OCV) and current are recorded with natural gas as fuel {flow rate kept at 100 ml min(-1) at 1 atm pressure} over the temperature range (300-600) degrees C. The electrolyte (YBSDC-1) prepared by co-precipitation technique is shown better results as compare to other two electrolytes (YBSDC-2 and YBSDC-3). The electrolyte (YBSDC-1) having maximum dc conductivity (0.096 S/cm), peak power density 224 mW cm(-2) and OCV 0.94 V at 600 degrees C. These results show that YBSDC-1electrolyte is potential candidate for low temperature SOFCs. (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier B.V