Down- and up-conversion photoluminescence of carbon-dots from brewing industry waste : application in live cell-imaging experiments

Simple synthetic procedures have been applied to obtain luminescent carbon quantum dots, also referred as C-dots, from an abundant carbon source, that is, from the brewing industry waste. The synthetic procedures have been conducted aiming to investigate the effects of the oxidation stage on the properties of the nanomaterial. C-dots down- and up-conversion properties, as well as their potential for cellular imaging experiments in live (and adhered) cells, are disclosed herein

Surface water abiotic data from Costa dos Corais Marine Protected Area, from 2018 to 2019 - Reef zone from Maragogi to Japaratinga, Brazilian Northeast

Continental runoff is an important source of solutes and nutrients to coastal coral reefs. Nevertheless, they can also act as local stressors due to high coastal urbanization and the associated release of untreated effluents. Here we aimed to qualitatively investigate the effects of seasonality over reefs from the Costa dos Corais Marine Protected Area (Brazil) and to identify the influence of local rivers on the reefs' environmental status. Surface waters from the reef lagoon located at Maragogi (city from the state of Alagoas, northeast Brazil) and Japaratinga (city from the state of Alagoas, northeast Brazil) were sampled monthly from July 2018 to June 2019 and abiotic parameters were measured. Samples were taken with a 2 L Niskin bottle and stored for subsequent analyses of: total alkalinity (TA), pH, nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, dissolved inorganic phosphorus and silicate. For temperature, salinity and depth measurements it was used a RBR® C.T.D

Seasonal influence of surface and underground continental runoff over a reef system in a tropical marine protected area

11 pages, 8 figures, 2 tablesContinental runoff is an important source of solutes and nutrients to coastal coral reefs. Nevertheless, they can also act as local stressors due to high coastal urbanization and the associated release of untreated effluents. Here we aimed to qualitatively evaluate the effects of seasonality over reefs from the Costa dos Corais Marine Protected Area (Brazil) and to identify the influence of rivers and submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) on the reefs' environmental status. Surface waters from the reef lagoon, local rivers and shoreline porewaters were sampled monthly during a year and abiotic parameters were determined. The results showed that the reef lagoon is oligotrophic throughout most of the year, with conditions that generally favor biological activities, such as calcification. Chlorophyll-a, with an average of 0.78 ± 0.43 mg m−3, was significantly correlated with salinity and radon in excess. This indicates the influence of rivers and SGD over the reefs, especially during the rainy season. These are important sources of nutrients, regulating primary production. However, signs of anthropogenic pressure were found in the local rivers. In addition, porewaters had a N:P ratio (27.68 ± 24.45) which could potentially impact surface waters through SGD by increasing the local trophic status. In summary, the studied reefs still present good water quality conditions, although continental runoff is a significant transport vector of anthropogenic solutes to the areaThis work is part of the Long-Term Ecological Research – Brazil site PELD-CCAL (Projeto Ecológico de Longa Duração - Costa dos Corais Alagoas) funded by the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development – CNPq (grant number #441657/2016-8), the Brazilian Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel PELD/CAPES (grant number #23038.000452/2017-16) and the Research Support Foundation of the State of Alagoas – FAPEAL (grant number #60030.1564/2016). This paper is also a contribution of the DICAM project, grant CM II #23038.001423/2014-29 (CAPES)Peer reviewe

Cytotoxicity of Extracts from <i>Petiveria alliacea</i> Leaves on Yeast

Petiveria alliacea L. is a plant used in traditional medicine harboring pharmacological properties with anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, hypoglycemiant and anesthetic activities. This study assessed the potential cytotoxic, genotoxic and mutagenic effects of ethanolic extract of P. alliacea on Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains. S. cerevisiae FF18733 (wild type) and CD138 (ogg1) strains were exposed to fractioned ethanolic extracts of P. alliacea in different concentrations. Three experimental assays were performed: cellular inactivation, mutagenesis (canavanine resistance system) and loss of mitochondrial function (petites colonies). The chemical analyses revealed a rich extract with phenolic compounds such as protocatechuic acid, cinnamic and catechin epicatechin. A decreased cell viability in wild-type and ogg1 strains was demonstrated. All fractions of the extract exerted a mutagenic effect on the ogg1 strain. Only ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions increased the rate of petites colonies in the ogg1 strain, but not in the wild-type strain. The results indicate that fractions of mid-polarity of the ethanolic extract, at the studied concentrations, can induce mutagenicity mediated by oxidative lesions in the mitochondrial and genomic genomes of the ogg1-deficient S. cerevisiae strain. These findings indicate that the lesions caused by the fractions of P. alliacea ethanolic extract can be mediated by reactive oxygen species and can reach multiple molecular targets to exert their toxicity

Global subterranean estuaries modify groundwater nutrient loading to the ocean

Abstract: Terrestrial groundwater travels through subterranean estuaries before reaching the sea. Groundwater‐derived nutrients drive coastal water quality, primary production, and eutrophication. We determined how dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) are transformed within subterranean estuaries and estimated submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) nutrient loads compiling &gt; 10,000 groundwater samples from 216 sites worldwide. Nutrients exhibited complex, nonconservative behavior in subterranean estuaries. Fresh groundwater DIN and DIP are usually produced, and DON is consumed during transport. Median total SGD (saline and fresh) fluxes globally were 5.4, 2.6, and 0.18 Tmol yr−1 for DIN, DON, and DIP, respectively. Despite large natural variability, total SGD fluxes likely exceed global riverine nutrient export. Fresh SGD is a small source of new nutrients, but saline SGD is an important source of mostly recycled nutrients. Nutrients exported via SGD via subterranean estuaries are critical to coastal biogeochemistry and a significant nutrient source to the oceans

Global coastal groundwater and subterranean estuary nutrients

These data were compiled from original and published datasets of coastal groundwater / subterranean estuary research efforts along global coastline (sites within 1km of shoreline). The dataset includes sampling site names, locations, original sample information, sample depth, temperature, salinity, dissolved nitrogen concentrations, and dissolved phosphorus concentrations. The data source or curator is also included in the dataset

Geoeconomic variations in epidemiology, ventilation management, and outcomes in invasively ventilated intensive care unit patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome: a pooled analysis of four observational studies

Background: Geoeconomic variations in epidemiology, the practice of ventilation, and outcome in invasively ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remain unexplored. In this analysis we aim to address these gaps using individual patient data of four large observational studies. Methods: In this pooled analysis we harmonised individual patient data from the ERICC, LUNG SAFE, PRoVENT, and PRoVENT-iMiC prospective observational studies, which were conducted from June, 2011, to December, 2018, in 534 ICUs in 54 countries. We used the 2016 World Bank classification to define two geoeconomic regions: middle-income countries (MICs) and high-income countries (HICs). ARDS was defined according to the Berlin criteria. Descriptive statistics were used to compare patients in MICs versus HICs. The primary outcome was the use of low tidal volume ventilation (LTVV) for the first 3 days of mechanical ventilation. Secondary outcomes were key ventilation parameters (tidal volume size, positive end-expiratory pressure, fraction of inspired oxygen, peak pressure, plateau pressure, driving pressure, and respiratory rate), patient characteristics, the risk for and actual development of acute respiratory distress syndrome after the first day of ventilation, duration of ventilation, ICU length of stay, and ICU mortality. Findings: Of the 7608 patients included in the original studies, this analysis included 3852 patients without ARDS, of whom 2345 were from MICs and 1507 were from HICs. Patients in MICs were younger, shorter and with a slightly lower body-mass index, more often had diabetes and active cancer, but less often chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure than patients from HICs. Sequential organ failure assessment scores were similar in MICs and HICs. Use of LTVV in MICs and HICs was comparable (42·4% vs 44·2%; absolute difference -1·69 [-9·58 to 6·11] p=0·67; data available in 3174 [82%] of 3852 patients). The median applied positive end expiratory pressure was lower in MICs than in HICs (5 [IQR 5-8] vs 6 [5-8] cm H2O; p=0·0011). ICU mortality was higher in MICs than in HICs (30·5% vs 19·9%; p=0·0004; adjusted effect 16·41% [95% CI 9·52-23·52]; p&lt;0·0001) and was inversely associated with gross domestic product (adjusted odds ratio for a US$10 000 increase per capita 0·80 [95% CI 0·75-0·86]; p&lt;0·0001). Interpretation: Despite similar disease severity and ventilation management, ICU mortality in patients without ARDS is higher in MICs than in HICs, with a strong association with country-level economic status