Background: The pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), one of the most infectious disea... more Background: The pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), one of the most infectious diseases in the modern history, is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and has had a profound health and economic toll, globally. This paper identifies the overall health status associated with COVID-19 pandemic in all 7 provinces of Nepal, a developing country in South Asia, analyzing data from January 2020 to February 2022. It focuses on the SARS-CoV-2 prevalence, transmission through wastewater and other routes, diagnostics, treatment options, and alternative medicines, thereby offering key perspectives for its management. Materials and Methods: Studies regarding coronavirus spanning the 2017 to 2022 period were searched on the web, Nepalese database, and Web of Science. Refined criteria included SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater of Nepal or worldwide. Demographic data (sex, age-group, and geographic location) were also obtained from websites and relevant reports ...
To tackle growing antibiotic resistance (AR) and hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), novel antim... more To tackle growing antibiotic resistance (AR) and hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), novel antimicrobials are warranted that are effective against HAIs and safer for human use. We hypothesize that small 5 nm size positively charged nanoparticles could specifically target bacterial cell wall and adherent fimbriae expression, serving as the next generation antibacterial agent. Herein we show highly positively charged, 5 nm amino-functionalized silver nanoparticles (NH2–AgNPs) were bactericidal; highly negatively charged, 45 nm citrate-functionalized AgNPs (Citrate–AgNPs) were nontoxic; and Ag+ ions were bacteriostatic forming honeycomb-like potentially resistant phenotype, at 10 µg Ag/mL in E. coli. Further, adherent fimbriae were expressed with Citrate–AgNPs (0.5–10 µg/mL), whereas NH2–AgNPs (0.5–10 µg/mL) or Ag+ ions (only at 10 µg/mL) inhibited fimbriae expression. Our results also showed no lipid peroxidation in human lung epithelial and dermal fibroblast cells upon NH2–AgNPs tre...
The increasing applications of different nanomaterials in the myriad of nano-enabled products and... more The increasing applications of different nanomaterials in the myriad of nano-enabled products and their potential for leaching have raised considerable environmental, health and safety (EHS) concerns. As systematic studies investigating potential anomalies in the morphology and anatomy of crop plants are scarce, herein we report on the developmental responses of two agriculturally significant crop plants, maize (Zea mays L.) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.), upon in vitro exposure to nanoparticles of citrate-coated silver (Citrate-nAg) and zinc oxide (nZnO). Analyses involve histology of the primary root morphology and anatomy using light microscopy, metal biouptake, moisture content, rate of germination, and root elongation. Comparative toxicity profiles of the ionic salts (AgNO3 and ZnSO4) are developed. Notably, we uncover structural changes in maize primary root cells upon exposure to Citrate-nAg, nZnO, AgNO3, and ZnSO4, possibly due to metal biouptake, suggestin...
Current understanding of potential toxicity of engineered nanomaterials to aquatic microorganisms... more Current understanding of potential toxicity of engineered nanomaterials to aquatic microorganisms is limited for risk assessment and management. Here we evaluate if the MetPLATE™ test can be used as an effective and rapid screening tool to test for potential aquatic toxicity of various metal-based nanoparticles (NPs). The MetPLATE bioassay is a heavy metal sensitive test based on β-galactosidase activity in Escherichia coli. Five different types of metal-based NPs were screened for toxicity: (1) citrate coated nAg (Citrate-nanosilver), (2) polyvinylpyrrolidone coated nAg (PVP-nAg), (3) uncoated nZnO, (4) uncoated nTiO(2) and (5) 1-Octadecylamine coated CdSe Quantum Dots (CdSe QDs); and compared with their corresponding ionic salt toxicity. Citrate-nAg was further fractionated into clean Citrate-nAg, unclean Citrate-nAg and permeate using a tangential flow filtration (TFF) system to eliminate residual ions and impurities from the stock Citrate-nAg suspension and also to differentiate between ionic- versus nano-specific toxicity. Our results showed that nAg, nZnO and CdSe QDs were less toxic than their corresponding ionic salts tested, while nano- or ionic form of TiO(2) was not toxic as high as 2.5 g L(-1) to the MetPLATE™ bacteria. Although coating-dependent toxicity was noticeable between two types of Ag NPs evaluated, particle size and surface charge were not adequate to explain the observed toxicity; hence, the toxicity appeared to be material-specific. Overall, the toxicity followed the trend: CdCl(2)>AgNO(3)>PVP-nAg>unclean Citrate-nAg>clean Citrate-nAg>ZnSO(4)>nZnO>CdSe QDs>nTiO(2)/TiO(2). These results indicate that an evaluation of β-galactosidase inhibition in MetPLATE™ E. coli can be an important consideration for rapid screening of metal-based NP toxicity, and should facilitate ecological risk assessment of these emerging contaminants.
ABSTRACT Marbled salamanders (Ambystoma opacum) have individually variable dorsal pigmentation pa... more ABSTRACT Marbled salamanders (Ambystoma opacum) have individually variable dorsal pigmentation patterns. But it is unclear whether or not dorsal pigmentation is associated with variables such as body size and sex. In this study, we test the hypothesis that the body size variables and sex are important predictors of the coverage of dorsal body white pigmentation in adult marbled salamanders. We evaluate the degree of sexual dimorphism in several body traits, including the dorsal body white pigmentation, using univariate and multivariate methods, and analyze the sex-related difference in pigmentation asymmetry. The General Linear Model (GLM) predicts a significant main effect of sex and a significant interaction between sex and dorsal body area (DBA), influencing the coverage of dorsal body white pigmentation. The interaction effect is greater in males than in females. We show significant sex-related differences in body size and shape. Eight morphometric traits reveal female-biased sexual size dimorphism, while males display a greater coverage of dorsal white pigmentation than females. Prominent female characteristics, compared to males, include a significantly heavier and longer body with a wider trunk, head, neck, shoulder and waist. These sex-specific differences suggest selection for a larger body size in females because of increased maternal reproductive success associated with larger body size. Additionally, females display greater pigmentation asymmetry than males, suggesting a significant sex-related disparity in asymmetric pigmentation. Potential ecological and developmental implications of the observed dimorphism are discussed. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating an association of dorsal white pigmentation with dorsal body area and sex, including a significantly disproportionate pigmentation asymmetry between sexes, in adult marbled salamanders.
Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 2013
ABSTRACT With rising valuation of mineral commodities, mining has been envisioned as a profitable... more ABSTRACT With rising valuation of mineral commodities, mining has been envisioned as a profitable industry regardless of many challenges that it entails. This comprehensive review provides the state of knowledge about several aspects of the metal mining industry, including (1) the basic mining processes with reasons for mine closure;(2) the potential environmental and human health impacts associated with mining;(3) the potential techniques for impact mitigation;(4) the latest production statistics for base and precious ...
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran 2 Departm... more Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran 2 Department of Electroceramics and Electrical Engineering, Malek Ashtar University of Technology, Iran. Email: rostamnejadi@mut-es.ac.ir. Department of Public Health, The Brody School of Medicine, Department of Health Education and Promotion, College of Health and Human Performance, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
Background: The pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), one of the most infectious disea... more Background: The pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), one of the most infectious diseases in the modern history, is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and has had a profound health and economic toll, globally. This paper identifies the overall health status associated with COVID-19 pandemic in all 7 provinces of Nepal, a developing country in South Asia, analyzing data from January 2020 to February 2022. It focuses on the SARS-CoV-2 prevalence, transmission through wastewater and other routes, diagnostics, treatment options, and alternative medicines, thereby offering key perspectives for its management. Materials and Methods: Studies regarding coronavirus spanning the 2017 to 2022 period were searched on the web, Nepalese database, and Web of Science. Refined criteria included SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater of Nepal or worldwide. Demographic data (sex, age-group, and geographic location) were also obtained from websites and relevant reports ...
To tackle growing antibiotic resistance (AR) and hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), novel antim... more To tackle growing antibiotic resistance (AR) and hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), novel antimicrobials are warranted that are effective against HAIs and safer for human use. We hypothesize that small 5 nm size positively charged nanoparticles could specifically target bacterial cell wall and adherent fimbriae expression, serving as the next generation antibacterial agent. Herein we show highly positively charged, 5 nm amino-functionalized silver nanoparticles (NH2–AgNPs) were bactericidal; highly negatively charged, 45 nm citrate-functionalized AgNPs (Citrate–AgNPs) were nontoxic; and Ag+ ions were bacteriostatic forming honeycomb-like potentially resistant phenotype, at 10 µg Ag/mL in E. coli. Further, adherent fimbriae were expressed with Citrate–AgNPs (0.5–10 µg/mL), whereas NH2–AgNPs (0.5–10 µg/mL) or Ag+ ions (only at 10 µg/mL) inhibited fimbriae expression. Our results also showed no lipid peroxidation in human lung epithelial and dermal fibroblast cells upon NH2–AgNPs tre...
The increasing applications of different nanomaterials in the myriad of nano-enabled products and... more The increasing applications of different nanomaterials in the myriad of nano-enabled products and their potential for leaching have raised considerable environmental, health and safety (EHS) concerns. As systematic studies investigating potential anomalies in the morphology and anatomy of crop plants are scarce, herein we report on the developmental responses of two agriculturally significant crop plants, maize (Zea mays L.) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.), upon in vitro exposure to nanoparticles of citrate-coated silver (Citrate-nAg) and zinc oxide (nZnO). Analyses involve histology of the primary root morphology and anatomy using light microscopy, metal biouptake, moisture content, rate of germination, and root elongation. Comparative toxicity profiles of the ionic salts (AgNO3 and ZnSO4) are developed. Notably, we uncover structural changes in maize primary root cells upon exposure to Citrate-nAg, nZnO, AgNO3, and ZnSO4, possibly due to metal biouptake, suggestin...
Current understanding of potential toxicity of engineered nanomaterials to aquatic microorganisms... more Current understanding of potential toxicity of engineered nanomaterials to aquatic microorganisms is limited for risk assessment and management. Here we evaluate if the MetPLATE™ test can be used as an effective and rapid screening tool to test for potential aquatic toxicity of various metal-based nanoparticles (NPs). The MetPLATE bioassay is a heavy metal sensitive test based on β-galactosidase activity in Escherichia coli. Five different types of metal-based NPs were screened for toxicity: (1) citrate coated nAg (Citrate-nanosilver), (2) polyvinylpyrrolidone coated nAg (PVP-nAg), (3) uncoated nZnO, (4) uncoated nTiO(2) and (5) 1-Octadecylamine coated CdSe Quantum Dots (CdSe QDs); and compared with their corresponding ionic salt toxicity. Citrate-nAg was further fractionated into clean Citrate-nAg, unclean Citrate-nAg and permeate using a tangential flow filtration (TFF) system to eliminate residual ions and impurities from the stock Citrate-nAg suspension and also to differentiate between ionic- versus nano-specific toxicity. Our results showed that nAg, nZnO and CdSe QDs were less toxic than their corresponding ionic salts tested, while nano- or ionic form of TiO(2) was not toxic as high as 2.5 g L(-1) to the MetPLATE™ bacteria. Although coating-dependent toxicity was noticeable between two types of Ag NPs evaluated, particle size and surface charge were not adequate to explain the observed toxicity; hence, the toxicity appeared to be material-specific. Overall, the toxicity followed the trend: CdCl(2)>AgNO(3)>PVP-nAg>unclean Citrate-nAg>clean Citrate-nAg>ZnSO(4)>nZnO>CdSe QDs>nTiO(2)/TiO(2). These results indicate that an evaluation of β-galactosidase inhibition in MetPLATE™ E. coli can be an important consideration for rapid screening of metal-based NP toxicity, and should facilitate ecological risk assessment of these emerging contaminants.
ABSTRACT Marbled salamanders (Ambystoma opacum) have individually variable dorsal pigmentation pa... more ABSTRACT Marbled salamanders (Ambystoma opacum) have individually variable dorsal pigmentation patterns. But it is unclear whether or not dorsal pigmentation is associated with variables such as body size and sex. In this study, we test the hypothesis that the body size variables and sex are important predictors of the coverage of dorsal body white pigmentation in adult marbled salamanders. We evaluate the degree of sexual dimorphism in several body traits, including the dorsal body white pigmentation, using univariate and multivariate methods, and analyze the sex-related difference in pigmentation asymmetry. The General Linear Model (GLM) predicts a significant main effect of sex and a significant interaction between sex and dorsal body area (DBA), influencing the coverage of dorsal body white pigmentation. The interaction effect is greater in males than in females. We show significant sex-related differences in body size and shape. Eight morphometric traits reveal female-biased sexual size dimorphism, while males display a greater coverage of dorsal white pigmentation than females. Prominent female characteristics, compared to males, include a significantly heavier and longer body with a wider trunk, head, neck, shoulder and waist. These sex-specific differences suggest selection for a larger body size in females because of increased maternal reproductive success associated with larger body size. Additionally, females display greater pigmentation asymmetry than males, suggesting a significant sex-related disparity in asymmetric pigmentation. Potential ecological and developmental implications of the observed dimorphism are discussed. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating an association of dorsal white pigmentation with dorsal body area and sex, including a significantly disproportionate pigmentation asymmetry between sexes, in adult marbled salamanders.
Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 2013
ABSTRACT With rising valuation of mineral commodities, mining has been envisioned as a profitable... more ABSTRACT With rising valuation of mineral commodities, mining has been envisioned as a profitable industry regardless of many challenges that it entails. This comprehensive review provides the state of knowledge about several aspects of the metal mining industry, including (1) the basic mining processes with reasons for mine closure;(2) the potential environmental and human health impacts associated with mining;(3) the potential techniques for impact mitigation;(4) the latest production statistics for base and precious ...
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran 2 Departm... more Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran 2 Department of Electroceramics and Electrical Engineering, Malek Ashtar University of Technology, Iran. Email: rostamnejadi@mut-es.ac.ir. Department of Public Health, The Brody School of Medicine, Department of Health Education and Promotion, College of Health and Human Performance, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
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