Rapid and Efficient Pesticide Detection via Cyclodextrin-Promoted Energy Transfer

Cyclodextrins facilitate non-covalent fluorescence energy transfer from a variety of pesticides to high quantum-yield fluorophores, resulting in a rapid, sensitive detection scheme for these compounds with detection limits as low as two micromolar. Such a facile detection tool has significant potential applications in agriculture and public health research

Multiple conserved regulatory domains promote Fezf2 expression in the developing cerebral cortex.

BackgroundThe genetic programs required for development of the cerebral cortex are under intense investigation. However, non-coding DNA elements that control the expression of developmentally important genes remain poorly defined. Here we investigate the regulation of Fezf2, a transcription factor that is necessary for the generation of deep-layer cortical projection neurons.ResultsUsing a combination of chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high throughput sequencing (ChIP-seq) we mapped the binding of four deep-layer-enriched transcription factors previously shown to be important for cortical development. Building upon this we characterized the activity of three regulatory regions around the Fezf2 locus at multiple stages throughout corticogenesis. We identified a promoter that was sufficient for expression in the cerebral cortex, and enhancers that drove reporter gene expression in distinct forebrain domains, including progenitor cells and cortical projection neurons.ConclusionsThese results provide insight into the regulatory logic controlling Fezf2 expression and further the understanding of how multiple non-coding regulatory domains can collaborate to control gene expression in vivo

Nocturnal fish movement and trophic flow across habitat boundaries in a coral reef ecosystem (SW Puerto Rico)

Few studies have quantified the extent of nocturnal cross-habitat movements for fish, or the influence of habitat adjacencies on nutrient flows and trophodynamics. To investigate the patterns of nocturnal cross-boundary movements of fish and quantify trophic connectivity, fish were sampled at night with gillnets set along the boundaries between dominant habitat types (coral reef/seagrass and mangrove/seagrass) in southwestern Puerto Rico. Fish movement across adjacent boundary patches were equivalent at both coral reefs and mangroves. Prey biomass transfer was greater from seagrass to coral reefs (0.016 kg/km) and from mangroves to seagrass (0.006 kg/km) but not statistically significant, indicating a balance of flow between adjacent habitats. Pelagic species (jacks, sharks, rays) accounted for 37% of prey biomass transport at coral reef/seagrass and 46% at mangrove/seagrass while grunts and snappers accounted for 7% and 15%, respectively. This study indicated that coral reefs and mangroves serve as a feeding area for a wide range of multi-habitat fish species. Crabs were the most frequent prey item in fish leaving coral reefs while molluscs were observed slightly more frequently than crabs in fish entering coral reefs. For most prey types, biomass exported from mangroves was greater than biomass imported. The information on direction of fish movement together with analysis of prey data provided strong evidence of ecological linkages between distinct adjacent habitat types and highlighted the need for greater inclusion of a mosaic of multiple habitats when attempting to understand ecosystem function including the spatial transfer of energy across the seascape

EVALUACIÓN CLÍNICA EPIDEMIOLÓGICA DE SALUD EN SUSCEPTIBLES EXPUESTOS A INHIBIDORES DE LA CHE EN SECTORES FRUTÍCOLAS DE PATATE, TUNGURAHUA-ECUA

Por uso indiscriminado de pesticidas, según la Organización Mundial de la Salud, tres millones de personas se intoxican al año. En Ecuador según datos del Ministerio de Salud Pública, las intoxicaciones por plaguicidas han aumentado en los últimos cinco años en 24,4%. En cultivadores frutícolas de Patate- Ecuador se evalúo clínica y epidemiológicamente los niveles de la colinesterasa (ChE), que están asociados a toxicidad de los plaguicidas organofosforados (POFs) y los factores de riesgo existentes. Se determi- nó la actividad de la colinesterasa sérica en 250 muestras de fruticultores que emplean pesticidas, empleando la técnica de TECO DIAGNOSTICS (PTC) con fotómetro Mindray Ba-88-A, utilizado en química sanguínea. Como resultados del estudio, se obtuvo el valor medio de colinesterasa sérica de 5.629,25 u/l; así mismo, el 14,4% de los muestreados presentaron valores de colinesterasa menores a 4.000 u/l y mayores a 7.000 u/l. De los valores extremos con más de 7.000 u/l, el 64% fueron hombres y el 36% mujeres. Los signos clínicos post fumigación detectados fueron mareos, conjuntivitis, dolores de cabeza, náuseas y dolores estomacales con una morbilidad del 12%, donde hubo una prevalencia de alcoholismo del 45,2% y morbilidad del 25,8% por enfermedades hepáti- cas, que pueden asociarse al uso de pesticidas y bajo nivel de vida. La evaluación de efectos orgánicos de plaguicidas y comparación con efectos de factores de riesgo prevalentes, requieren determinar niveles basales de colinesterasa en toda la zona y monitoreo ambiental como referentes para establecer la situación epidemiológica en la población.  Palabras clave: Colinesterasa (ChE), plaguicidas organofosforados, agricultores  ABSTRACT:  By indiscriminate use of pesticides, according to the World Health Organization, three million people are poisoned annually. In Ecuador according to the Ministry of Public Health, pesticide poisoning have increased in the past five years at 24.4%. In fruit growers Patate, Ecuador was evaluated clinically and epidemiologically levels of cholinesterase (ChE), which are associated with toxicity of organophosphorus pesticides (POFs) and existing risk factors. Determined the serum cholinesterase activity in 250 sam- ples employing fruticultores pesticides, using the technique of TECO DIAGNOSTICS (PTC) Mindray photometer Ba-88-A, used in blood chemistry. As results of the study, the average value was obtained for serum cholinesterase 5629.25 u/l, etc., and 14.4% of the cholinesterase values sampled contained less than 4000 u/l greater than 7,000 u/l. From the extreme values over 7,000 u/l, 64% were male and 36% female. The clinical signs were detected after spraying dizziness, conjunctivitis, headaches, nausea and stomach cramps with a morbidity of 12%, where there was a prevalence of alcoholism of 45.2% and 25.8% morbidity from liver disease, which can associated with pesticide use and low standard of living. Evaluation of pesticides and organic effects compared to effects of prevalent risk factors, require determining cholinesterase baseline levels throughout the area and environmental monitoring as reference to establish the epidemiological situation in the population.  Keywords: Cholinesterase (ChE), organophosphorus pesticides, farmers   &nbsp

The shifting classroom: impact of heightened seasonal heat in education through sentiment and topic modeling

This research applies text mining techniques to examine sentiments and themes among Filipino students adjusting to full in-person classes after pandemic-driven flexible learning, focusing on their experiences during April to June 2023–a period usually marked by vacations due to intense heat. By applying the natural language toolkit (NLTK) for sentiment analysis and Scikit-learn for topic modeling, the study gathered data from Filipino students on their in-person class experiences during this unique calendar shift. Post data cleaning, NLTK was used for sentiment analysis and latent Dirichlet allocation for topic modeling. The findings indicate that the high temperatures adversely affected students, as evidenced by frequent references to terms such as “room,” “focus,” and “hard.” The study identified a mix of positive and negative sentiments and highlighted key issues like academic challenges and the learning environment’s impact. This study also offered insights into students’ coping strategies during extreme heat. These results stressed the importance of considering environmental factors in educational planning and provide actionable insights for institutions to enhance the in-person learning experience, particularly in challenging weather conditions. Moreover, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of sentiment analysis and topic modeling in understanding and unraveling student experiences in specific contexts

It takes three to tango: The length of the oligothiophene chain determines the nature of the long‐lived excited state and the resulting photocytotoxicity of a ruthenium(II) Photodrug

Abstract TLD1433 is the first Ru(II) complex to be tested as a photodynamic therapy agent in a clinical trial. In this contribution we study TLD1433 in the context of structurally‐related Ru(II)‐imidozo[4,5‐f][1,10]phenanthroline (ip) complexes appended with thiophene rings to decipher the unique photophysical properties which are associated with increasing oligothiophene chain length. Substitution of the ip ligand with ter‐ or quaterthiophene changes the nature of the long‐lived triplet state from metal‐to‐ligand charge‐transfer to 3 ππ* character. The addition of the third thiophene thus presents a critical juncture which not only determines the photophysics of the complex but most importantly its capacity for 1 O 2 generation and hence the potential of the complex to be used as a photocytotoxic agent