Defining Illegal Forest Activities and Illegal Logging

This report presents the results of the fifth global scientific assessment undertaken by the GFEP initiative. The report set out to gain deeper understanding of the meaning of illegal logging and related timber trade, its scale, drivers and consequences. It provides a structured synthesis of available scientific and expert knowledge on illegal logging and associated timber trade while adding to existing studies and reports by sharing new insights, including a criminology perspective and new information about timber and timber product trade flows as well as exploring future policy options and governance responses. This assessment report and the accompanying policy brief provide an authoritative source of information for policymakers and stakeholders involved in the fight against illegal logging and associated timber trade, in order to support effective action in tackling this pressing global problem

Confinement of carbon dots localizing to the ultrathin layered double hydroxides toward simultaneous triple-mode bioimaging and photothermal therapy

It is a great challenge to develop multifunctional nanocarriers for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Herein, versatile CDs/ICG-uLDHs nanovehicles for triple-modal fluorescence/photoacoustic/two-photon bioimaging and effective photothermal therapy were prepared via a facile self-assembly of red emission carbon dots (CDs), indocyanine green (ICG) with the ultrathin layered double hydroxides (uLDHs). Due to the J-aggregates of ICG constructed in the self-assembly process, CDs/ICG-uLDHs was able to stabilize the photothermal agent ICG and enhanced its photothermal efficiency. Furthermore, the unique confinement effect of uLDHs has extended the fluorescence lifetime of CDs in favor of bioimaging. Considering the excellent in vitro and in vivo phototherapeutics and multimodal imaging effects, this work provides a promising platform for the construction of multifunctional theranostic nanocarrier system for the cancer treatment

Phosphorus-Enhanced and Calcium-Retarded Transport of Ferrihydrite Colloid : Mechanism of Electrostatic Potential Changes Regulated via Adsorption Speciation

The transport of ferrihydrite colloid (FHC) through porous media is influenced by anions (e.g., PO43-) and cations (e.g., Ca2+) in the aqueous environment. This study investigated the cotransport of FHC with P and P/Ca in saturated sand columns. The results showed that P adsorption enhanced FHC transport, whereas Ca loaded onto P-FHC retarded FHC transport. Phosphate adsorption provided a negative potential on the FHC, while Ca added to P-FHC led to electrostatic screening, compression of the electric double layer, and formation of Ca5(PO4)3OH followed by heteroaggregation at pH ≥ 6.0. The monodentate and bidentate P surface complexes coexisted, and Ca mainly formed a ternary complex with bidentate P (≡(FeO)2PO2Ca). The unprotonation bidentate P at the Stern 1-plane had a considerable negative potential at the Van der Waals molecular surface. Extending the potential effect to the outer layer of FHC, the potential at the Stern 2-plane and zeta potential exhibited a corresponding change, resulting in a change in FHC mobility, which was validated by comparison of experimental results, DFT calculations, and CD-MUSIC models. Our results highlighted the influence of P and Ca on FHC transport and elucidated their interaction mechanisms based on quantum chemistry and colloidal chemical interface reactions

Effects of 200 Gy 60Co-γ Radiation on the Regulation of Antioxidant Enzymes, Hsp70 Genes, and Serum Molecules of Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus)

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus), is one of the notorious pests causing substantial loses to many cruciferous vegetables across the nations. The effects of 60Co-γ radiation on physiology of P. xylostella were investigated and the results displayed that 200 Gy irradiation significantly alters the antioxidant enzyme regulation in six-day-old male pupae of P. xylostella. First, in our research, we detected Oxidase system and stress response mechanism of irradiated pupae, the results displayed that 200 Gy irradiation significantly alters the antioxidant enzyme regulation in six-day-old male pupae of P. xylostella. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were increased significantly in contrast the level of peroxidase (POD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were decreased in 12–24 h post-treatment. The heat shock proteins (Hsps) gene expression level was significant increasing, maximum > 2-folds upregulation of genes were observed in peak. However, they also had a trend of gradual recovery with development. Second, we detected the testis lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and acid phosphatase (ACP) activity found that in male adults testis they increased significantly than control during its development. Thus the present research investigation highlights that the 60Co-γ radiation treatments alters the physiological development of diamondback moth. The results showed that 200 Gy dosage resulted in stress damage to the body and reproductive system of the diamondback moth

Resolving natural organic matter and nanoplastics in binary or ternary systems via UV–Vis analysis

Nanoplastics (NPs) and natural organic matter (NOM) are ubiquitous and usually present simultaneously in the environment. Both NPs and NOM can be adsorbed to minerals such as iron-(hydr)oxides, with such interactions being important for controlling their fate in the environment. However, the quantification of NPs and NOM in mixtures remains challenging even under controlled conditions in laboratory studies. In this research, a UV–Vis method was established to quantify concentrations of NOM, such as humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA), and polystyrene NPs (PSNPs) in mixtures. In addition, both original NOM samples and those recovered following adsorptive fractionation using an iron oxide (goethite, α-FeOOH) were mixed separately with PSNPs and their concentrations were further calculated via the developed UV–Vis method. The UV–Vis method performed well (recovery of 100 ± 16 %) with original NOM and PSNPs system at detection limits of 20.8 and 7.4 mgC L−1, respectively. Particularly, for original FA and PSNPs systems with carboxylic groups (PSNPs-COOH, 200 nm), a similar recovery rate could be obtained at detection limits of only 2.5 and 1.9 mgC L−1, respectively. For fractionated NOM and PSNPs systems, detection limits (31.2 mgC L−1 and 27.5 mgC L−1, respectively) are increased to reach the same accuracy. Furthermore, the UV–Vis method can be used to estimate the proportion of HA that is adsorbed to PSNPs. The relative errors are < 13.7 % when the mass ratios of PSNPs and HA was between 1.6:1 and 8:1 and HA concentration was higher than 4.6 mgC L-1. This method developed can be applied to future laboratory research to investigate the interaction between NOM, NPs, and minerals

Enhanced cadmium removal by biochar and iron oxides composite : Material interactions and pore structure

The combination of biochar (BC) and iron minerals improves their pollutant adsorption capacity. However, little is known about the reactivity of BC-iron mineral composites regarding their interaction and change in the pore structure. In this study, the mechanism of cadmium (Cd) adsorption by BC-iron oxide composites, such as BC combined with ferrihydrite (FH) or goethite (GT), was explored. The synergistic effect of the BC-FH composite significantly improved its Cd adsorption capacity. The adsorption efficiencies of BC-FH and BC-GT increased by 15.0% and 10.8%, respectively, compared with that of uncombined BC, FH, and GT. The strong Cd adsorption by BC-FH was attributed to stable interactions and stereoscopic pore filling between BC and FH. The scanning electron microscopy results showed that FH particles entered the BC pores, whereas GT particles were loaded onto the BC surface. FTIR spectroscopy showed that GT covered a larger area of the BC surface than FH. After loading FH and GT, BC porosities decreased by 9.3% and 4.1%, respectively. Quantum chemical calculations and independent gradient mode analysis showed that van der Waals interactions, H-bonds, and covalent-like interactions maintained stability between iron minerals and BC. Additionally, humic acid increased the agglomeration of iron oxides and formed larger particles, causing additional aggregates to load onto the BC surface instead of entering the BC pores. Our results provide theoretical support to reveal the interfacial behavior of BC-iron mineral composites in soil and provide a reference for field applications of these materials for pollution control and environmental remediation

Foliar cadmium uptake, transfer, and redistribution in Chili : A comparison of foliar and root uptake, metabolomic, and contribution

Atmospheric deposition is an essential cadmium (Cd) pollution source in agricultural ecosystems, entering crops via roots and leaves. In this study, atmospherically deposited Cd was simulated using cadmium sulfide nanoparticles (CdSN), and chili (Capsicum frutescens L.) was used to conduct a comparative foliar and root experiment. Root and foliar uptake significantly increased the Cd content of chili tissues as well as the subcellular Cd content. Scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution secondary ion mass spectrometry showed that Cd that entered the leaves via stomata was fixed in leaf cells, and the rest was mainly through phloem transport to the other organs. In leaf, stem, and root cell walls, Cd signal intensities were 47.4%, 72.2%, and 90.0%, respectively. Foliar Cd uptake significantly downregulated purine metabolism in leaves, whereas root Cd uptake inhibited stilbenoid, diarylheptanoid, and gingerol biosynthesis in roots. Root uptake contributed 90.4% Cd in fruits under simultaneous root and foliar uptake conditions attributed to xylem and phloem involvement in Cd translocation. Moreover, root uptake had a more significant effect on fruit metabolic pathways than foliar uptake. These findings are critical for choosing pollution control technologies and ensuring food security