Early embryonic arrest (EEA) leads to cancelation of fresh cycles among infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), bringing a great challenge for IVF. Whether exposure to thallium (Tl) is associated with an increased risk of EEA, especially its interaction with polymorphisms of mitochondria DNA (mtDNA) gene, is worthy of study. A case–control design was performed, including 74 EEA cases with 123 IVF cycles and 157 age and BMI-matched controls with 180 IVF cycles. Levels of Tl and other toxic metals (lead (Pb), (mercury) Hg, and (arsenci) As) were assessed by measuring them in blood samples collected on the day of oocyte retrieval; PCR amplification and sequencing were performed to screen the polymorphic sites of mtDNA gene in D-loop region. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) was used to confirm that Tl played a leading role in the situation of combined exposure; generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used to evaluate the associations of Tl concentrations, polymorphisms of mtDNA gene, and their interactions with the risk of EEA. The impact of Tl exposure or polymorphisms of mtDNA gene on the oogenesis and embryonic development was also evaluated. BKMR analysis revealed that PIP (posterior inclusion probability) value of T1 was 0.9096, indicating that it played a leading role in the situation of combined exposure. Compared to the first quartile of Tl, the adjusted ORs (95% CIs) of EEA risk were 0.66 (0.26, 1.70), 1.18 (0.52, 2.64), and 4.53 (2.11, 9.69) for the second, third, and fourth quartile, respectively (p trend < 0.001). Compared to the wild type of mtDNA 16,519 gene (T 16,519 T), the adjusted OR (95% CI) of EEA risk for the variant type (T 16,519 C) was 3.11 (1.70, 5.72), and the variant types of the other sites with a minor allele frequency > 10% were not significantly related with the risk of EEA after FDR (False Discovery Rate) correction. With respect to interaction, compared to women at low Tl exposure level & wild type of mtDNA 16,519 gene group, the adjusted OR (95% CI) of EEA risk for women at high Tl exposure level & variant type of mtDNA 16,519 gene group was 9.28 (3.33, 25.81). Additionally, Tl exposure and polymorphisms of mtDNA 16,519 gene are inversely associated with the outcomes of oogenesis and embryonic development significantly. Our study indicated that high Tl exposure level was associated with the increased risk of EEA and Tl played a leading role in the situation of combined exposure; the strength of association was much higher when Tl exposure interacted with polymorphism of 16,519 mtDNA gene. These relationships might originate from the impact of Tl exposure or polymorphism of 16,519 mtDNA gene on the oogenesis and early embryonic development in vitro. Infertile women should keep high vigilant against Tl exposure especially those with variant type of mtDNA 16,519 gene.

The time of concentration (Tc) is the main hydrological parameter used to characterize the response of a given Hydrological Response Unit (HRU) to a precipitation event. Because of its importance, the determining Tc is an integral step in several studies involving runoff. Thus, this work presents an unprecedented review of the application of Tc in different lines of research involving water resources around the world. In this article, 1252 publications were listed, obtained from seven different databases, published by 2020, that presented the expressions “time of concentration,” “runoff,” and “watershed.” The articles and conference papers obtained in this research were classified into 12 topics. The number of publications per topic and per country was measured and a cluster analysis was developed to verify the similarity of the distribution of topics per country. In addition, 125 equations applied in related publications for the estimation of Tc are also listed. Graphical abstract

Preservation or curing of hides/skins is performed as the primary step of leather processing to conserve them from putrefaction. Normally preservation is carried out using common salt (NaCl), which is discharged in the soak liquor contributing to ~ 70%, of total dissolved solids (TDS) load of entire leather manufacturing. In an attempt to reduce the TDS and chlorides, phyto-based preservation using garlic peel (Allium sativum) and white onion peel (Allium cepa) was carried out. Different concentrations of salt in combination with garlic peel and white onion peel were applied on freshly flayed goat skins based on its green weight and compared to control (40% salt). Sensory evaluation of the preserved skin was done by assessing different parameters like hair slip, putrefaction and odour. Estimation of hydroxyproline (HP) release, moisture content and microbial load were carried out at regular intervals. Skins that remained in good condition for 14 days were further processed into leather and properties were examined which were found comparable to the conventionally cured skins. Hence, this cleaner curing technique helps in reducing the TDS and chlorides in the effluent, thus controlling the pollution caused by tanneries through sustainable leather processing.

Nowadays, the extensive application of microplastics (MPs) has led to the gradual accumulation of toxicity in aquatic environment and caused potential harm to aquatic organisms and human life, which has become a hot issue of worldwide concern. Although MPs show inert or sublethal toxicity in many cases, its long-term existence can still cause harmful ecological effects. However, to our knowledge, there is a lack of comprehensive literature on the current research hotspots, circulation process, and future development trend of MPs in aquatic ecosystem. This study aims to comprehend the current research hotspots and future development trend in the field of the MPs in aquatic ecosystem using scientometric method. And the circulation process of MPs in aquatic ecosystem is also investigated. The results indicate the most of the current publications on MPs in aquatic ecosystems focus on the formation and harmful properties of MPs. The current research hotspots mainly include the causes of the formation of MPs, the extent of contamination, deposition phenomena, and the toxicity and harm caused to aquatic organisms and humans after ingestion. And the future trends in the researches related to MPs mainly include the study of microplastic cycling processes in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, as well as the effective collection of microplastics and their conversion into valuable carbon sources. This review has filled in the knowledge gap in the field of MPs research in aquatic ecosystem to some extent and plays a guiding role in the future researches.

Atmospheric pollutants including ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) compounds were evaluated concerning their spatial distribution, temporal variation, and health risk factor. Bolu plateau where sampling was performed has a densely populated city center, semi-rural areas, and forested areas. Additionally, the ozone formation potentials of BTEXs were calculated, and toluene was found to be the most important compound in ground level ozone formation. The spatial distribution of BTEXs and nitrogen dioxide pollution maps showed that their concentrations were higher around the major roads and city center, while rural-forested areas were found to be rich in ozone. BTEXs and nitrogen dioxide were found to have higher atmospheric concentrations in winter. That was mostly related to the source strength and low mixing height during that season. The average toluene to benzene ratios demonstrated that there was a significant influence of traffic emissions in the region. Although there was no significant change in sulfur dioxide concentrations in the summer and winter seasons of 2017, the differences in the spatial distribution showed that seasonal sources such as domestic heating and intensive outdoor barbecue cooking were effective in the atmospheric presence of this pollutant. The lifetime cancer risk through inhalation of benzene was found to be comparable with the limit value (1 × 10–⁶) recommended by USEPA. On the other hand, hazard ratios for BTEXs were found at an acceptable level for different outdoor environments (villages, roadside, and city center) for both seasons.

The global pandemic caused by COVID-19 has resulted in major costs around the world, costs with dimensions in every aspect, from peoples’ daily living to the global economy. As the pandemic progresses, the virus evolves, and more vaccines become available, and the ‘battle against the virus’ continues. As part of the battle, Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE) technologies are being widely deployed in essential roles for SARS-CoV-2 detection and monitoring. While focusing on demonstrating the advantages of passive samplers as a tool in WBE, this review provides a holistic view of the current WBE applications in monitoring SARS-CoV-2 with the integration of the most up-to-date data. A novel scenario example based on a recent Nanjing (China) outbreak in July 2021 is used to illustrate the potential benefits of using passive samplers to monitor COVID-19 and to facilitate effective control of future major outbreaks. The presented contents and how the application of passive samplers indicates that this technology can be beneficial at different levels, varying from building to community to regional. Countries and regions that have the pandemic well under control or have low positive case occurrences have the potential to significantly benefit from deploying passive samplers as a measure to identify and suppress outbreaks.

Plants are a key link in the trophic chain and therefore may determine the global circulation of pollutants, including heavy metals (HMs). In the context of sustaining soil functions associated with food safety, the bioavailability of HMs should be reduced to a minimum needed for adequate plant nutrition. The objective of the study was to analyse the bioavailability of zinc, lead and cadmium in phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth.) under conditions of varied soil pH and doses of brown coal-based organo-mineral amendment so-called the Rekulter. The experiment was carried out on Haplic Luvisols in field stone pots that sank into the ground, with the following HM content (in mg kg⁻¹ of soil): 90.0 (Zn), 60.4 (Pb) and 0.80 (Cd). The Rekulter was applied to the soil in the amounts of 180, 360 and 720 g per pot. The bio-accumulation index (BI) was calculated as a ratio of a HM content in a plant to its total content in a soil sample, and it was used to evaluate bioavailability. The application of the Rekulter reduced the bioavailability of the studied heavy metals: the lowest BI values were found in the case of Pb. The uptake of HMs by phacelia was the smallest for the highest applied Rekulter dose at a soil pH of approximately 6.0. The bioavailability of Zn, Pb and Cd was influenced by soil pH and organic matter content, reducing their mobility and possible environmental risks. The Rekulter reduced HM bioavailability: the lowest bio-accumulation index (BI) values were found in the case of Pb. The application of the Rekulter into soil improved the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil, including the reduction of contaminant bioavailability.

Fossil fuel electricity generation in Saudi Arabia increased greatly from 1980 to 2017. This paper aims to quantify the electricity generation effect on the environmental quality of Saudi Arabia and explore the role of energy-efficient technological innovation. A structural time series model (STSM) to estimate long-run elasticities and logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) is employed. The results showed that variables (GDP, electricity generation, and population) have a significant effect on carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. Also, the underlying energy demand trend (UEDT) showed an upward slope for the entire period, which suggests that over the study time there is no improvement in energy efficiency. In decomposing the factors for carbon emissions growth in Saudi Arabia, the findings of applying additive LMDI analysis showed a 1377.56 million tonne (MT) increase in CO₂ emissions from the three factors between 1980 and 2017 in the country. The results of additive decomposition showed that the primary factor that drives the carbon emissions growth in Saudi Arabia was the structure effect. Saudi Arabian policymakers could make more informed decisions regarding electricity generation by focusing on increasing energy efficiency and demanding strict environmental regulations to contribute to sustainable economic growth.

Apnea is a common problem observed among obese individuals, affecting the quality of sleep and increasing cardiovascular risk and mortality. The current study monitored the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) following diet therapy and sports-associated diet therapy in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) and hypothyroidism. The subjects included in the study were divided into 3 groups: control group (CG) (n=36), diet therapy group (DG) (including patients following a personalized diet therapy program) (n=76), and diet therapy and sports group (DSG) (which considered patients doing sports in addition to following a personalized diet therapy program) (n=80). The evaluation methods included body analysis (body mass index, fat mass, and visceral fat), paraclinical analysis (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance), assessment of difficulty in breathing, stress monitoring, hypothyroidism, and risk of OSA. The OSA index was assessed using the Berlin Questionnaire of Sleep Apnea and Epworth Sleepiness Scale. The correlation between OSA with body mass index (BMI), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, fat mass, and visceral fat showed a statistically significant positive ratio (p<0.05; F=3.871). The obtained results indicated that diet therapy and physical activity reduced the OSA risk by 78.72%.

Increasing awareness about sustainability has compelled the recent researchers to explore different methods for evaluation. Conventionally the sustainability of a process was majorly dependent on the economics feasibility. Recently need of incorporation of environmental and social concerns in overall sustainability assessment has been realized. Authors in their prior work has published a framework for performing sustainability assessment of biomass processing enterprises. The present work is on selection of sugarcane valorization pathways based on the sustainability index using the same framework. Six alternative routes are compared based on their economic, environment and social criteria. Life cycle assessment of each process is performed as per ISO 14040/44 to evaluate the environmental criteria. Integrated method of value function (MIVES) is used for consolidation of different indicators and criteria. Amongst the process alternatives considered for assessment, 1G2G ethanol route is observed to have highest sustainability index (0.864) owing to relatively lower environmental impact whereas first generation butanol production route (1GRS) had the least sustainability index of 0.090 on account of decreased yield and less products. Sensitivity analysis performed on the model showed no significant change in the ranking of the alternatives.