The emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants can affect vaccine efficacy, laboratory diagnosis and the therapies already available, triggering interest in the search for antiviral agents for SARS-CoV-2 infections. Ribavirin (RBV) is a broad-spectrum antiviral with demonstrated in vitro activity against multiple viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. This retrospective study evaluated the dynamics and viral clearance of SARS-CoV-2 in hospitalised adult participants (PTs) with COVID-19 pneumonia who received an RBV aerosol within a compassionate use study. The impact of RBV on the clinical outcome and the mutational profile of SARS-CoV-2 was also assessed. The median RNA values measured in nine PTs included in this study decreased from baseline to discharge (at BL, threshold cycle (Ct) = 22.4, IQR 19.84–5.07; at discharge, Ct = 27.92, IQR 26.43–36.11), with a significant decline in the Ct value evaluated by Friedman rank ANOVA analysis, p = 0.032. Seven out of nine PTs experienced a clinical improvement, while two PTs deceased during hospitalisation. In PTs with a favourable outcome, the virus clearance rate at discharge was 28.6%. The cumulative clearance rate was 71.4% within 14 days from discharge. A mutational pattern after RBV was detected in three out of five PTs in whom whole-genome sequencing was available. Our findings suggest that RBV limits SARS-CoV-2 replication, possibly resulting in a favourable clinical outcome. Ribavirin may also contribute to the mutational spectrum of SARS-CoV-2. Full article

This study explores the effectiveness of an integrated anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) coupled with an anoxic/oxic membrane bioreactor (A/O MBR) for the treatment of natural rubber industry wastewater with high sulfate, ammonia, and complex organic contents. This study was conducted at the lab-scale over a duration of 225 days to thoroughly investigate the efficiency and sustainability of the proposed treatment method. With a hydraulic retention time of 6 days for the total system, COD reductions were over 98%, which reduced the influent from 22,158 ± 2859 mg/L to 118 ± 74 mg/L of the effluent. The system demonstrates average NH₃-N, TN, and total phosphorus (TP) removal efficiencies of 72.9 ± 5.7, 72.8 ± 5.6, and 71.3 ± 9.9, respectively. Despite an average whole biological system removal of 50.6%, the anaerobic reactor eliminated 44.9% of the raw WW sulfate. Analyses of membrane fouling revealed that organic fouling was more pronounced in the anaerobic membrane, whereas aerobic membrane fouling displayed varied profiles due to differential microbial and oxidative activities. Key bacterial genera, such as Desulfobacterota in the anaerobic stage and nitrifiers in the aerobic stage, are identified as instrumental in the biological processes. The microbial profile reveals a shift from methanogenesis to sulfide-driven autotrophic denitrification and sulfammox, with evidence of an active denitrification pathway in anaerobic/anoxic conditions. The system showcases its potential for industrial application, underpinning environmental sustainability through improved wastewater management. Full article

The quality of pump pulse in few-mode-fiber Brillouin optical time domain reflectometry (FMF-BOTDR) is vital for the spontaneous Brillouin scattering of modes LP₀₁ and LP₁₁ because it is the comprehensive effect of the main laser linewidth and pulse width, which is firstly discussed as we know. Numerical and experimental analysis are made for the amplitude and linewidth distribution, corresponding to the signal–noise ratio (SNR) and frequency resolution in BOTDR, respectively. Simulation shows the linewidths and peak values of Brillouin scattering have the same tendency for the LP₀₁ mode and LP₁₁ mode when the laser linewidth is less than 1 MHz but decreases slowly until they are the same when the laser linewidth is wider than 1 MHz. With the pulse width widening, the Brillouin linewidths for LP₀₁ and LP₁₁ modes both decrease sharply, almost to the natural linewidth of fiber 41 MHz and 35 MHz. Experimental results show that the amplitude distribution for the LP₀₁ mode is always larger than for the LP₁₁ mode if the main laser has the same linewidth and the frequency fluctuation is at least 2 MHz with the fiber laser and LP₁₁ mode. The above results could provide improved sensing resolution for FMF-BOTDR sensing system. Full article

Background. Perfluorinated alkyl acids (PFAAs) are persistent organic pollutants affected by BMI and ethnicity, with contradictory reports of association with vitamin D deficiency. Methods. Twenty-nine Caucasian women with non-obese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and age- and BMI-matched Caucasian control women (n = 30) were recruited. Paired serum samples were analyzed for PFAAs (n = 13) using high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Tandem mass spectrometry determined levels of 25(OH)D₃ and the active 1,25(OH)₂D₃. Results. Women with and without PCOS did not differ in age, weight, insulin resistance, or systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein did not differ), but the free androgen index was increased. Four PFAAs were detected in all serum samples: perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS). Serum PFOS was higher in PCOS versus controls (geometric mean [GM] 3.9 vs. 3.1 ng/mL, p < 0.05). Linear regression modeling showed that elevated PFHxS had higher odds of a lower 25(OH)D₃ (OR: 2.919, 95% CI 0.82–5.75, p = 0.04). Vitamin D did not differ between cohorts and did not correlate with any PFAAs, either alone or when the groups were combined. When vitamin D was stratified into sufficiency (>20 ng/mL) and deficiency (<20 ng/mL), no correlation with any PFAAs was seen. Conclusions. While the analyses and findings here are exploratory in light of relatively small recruitment numbers, when age, BMI, and insulin resistance are accounted for, the PFAAs do not appear to be related to 25(OH)D₃ or the active 1,25(OH)₂D₃ in this Caucasian population, nor do they appear to be associated with vitamin D deficiency, suggesting that future studies must account for these factors in the analysis. Full article

In this study, natural rubber (NR)/polybutadiene rubber (PB) blend-based composites were prepared using graphene as a partial replacement for carbon black (CB) in different parts per hundred rubber (phr) percentages. In a previous study, the vulcanization characteristics, viscoelastic behavior, and static mechanical properties were reported, and the compound labeled as compound 2 (with 2.5 phr of graphene and 52.5 phr of carbon black) showed optimum properties. Herein, we report the dynamic mechanical properties and the transport properties of the formulations to establish further characterization of the compounds. Three different organic solvents comprising benzene, toluene, and xylene were employed to analyze the sorption characteristics. The obtained data were also modeled with different theoretical predictions. The dynamic mechanical properties showed that certain compounds can be considered to be green tire formulations, as there were appreciable changes in the tanδ values at different temperatures (−25 °C to 60 °C). The thermogravimetric analysis showed that compound 2, with 2.5 phr of graphene, has a higher t₅₀ value among the studied formulations, which indicates higher thermal stability than the base compound. The partial replacement of 2.5 phr of graphene in place of carbon black (total 55 phr) led to appreciable improvements in terms of thermal stability, transport properties, and dynamic mechanical properties. Full article

As an important part of human cultural heritage, earthen sites are subject to damage caused by a variety of environmental factors, such as cracking, weathering, and flooding. Due to the low mechanical strength of earthen site materials, especially in humid environments, they are susceptible to hazards like moisture penetration, freeze–thaw cycles, and biological invasion. Superhydrophobic coatings show promising potential in the protection of earthen sites, with key properties that include waterproof performance, breathability, robustness, and transparency. By exploring various material systems and preparation methods, the current state of research on the protection of building materials with superhydrophobic materials has been demonstrated, highlighting advantages in the corrosion resistance, self-cleaning, frost prevention, anti-scaling, and other aspects. At the same time, it also points out the challenges faced in the practical application of earthen site protection and the prospects for future research. These include enhancing the bonding strength between the coating and soil particles, improving durability and breathability, and developing large-scale, low-cost, and efficient coating construction techniques. Full article

Electrogenic bacteria present in bioelectrical devices such as soil microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) are powered by the oxidation of organic and inorganic compounds due to microbial activity. Fourteen soils randomly selected from Bergen Community College or areas nearby, located in the state of New Jersey, USA, were used to screen for the presence of electrogenic bacteria. SMFCs were incubated at 35–37 °C. Of the 14 samples, 11 generated electricity and enriched electrogenic bacteria. The average optimal electricity production by the top 3 SMFCs was 152 microwatts. The highest electrical production was produced by SMFC-B1C and SMFC-B1B, with 162 and 152 microwatts, respectively. Microbial DNA was extracted from the biofilm grown on the anodes, followed by PCR analysis of the 16S rRNA V3–V4 region. Next-generation sequencing was performed to determine the structure and diversity of the electrogenic microbial community. The top 3 MFCs with the highest electricity production showed a bacterial community predominantly composed of bacteria belonging to the Bacillota and Pseudomonadota phyla with a significant presence of Euryarcheota members of methanogenic archaea. SMFC-B1C showed a more diverse electrogenic community, followed by SMFC-B1B and SMFC-B1. When analyzing the top 10 bacteria in the SMFCs, 67 percent belonged to the class Clostridia, indicating that anaerobic conditions were required to enrich electrogenic bacterial numbers and optimize electrical production. The ongoing optimization of SMFCs will provide better production of electricity and continuous enhancement of microbial activity to sustain longer operational times and higher levels of electrogenesis. The characterization of electrogenic microbial communities will provide valuable information to understand the contribution of different populations to the production of electricity in bioelectrical devices. Full article

In modern times, more and more different materials (including alloys) are in direct contact with human electrolytes (sweat, saliva, lymph, blood, etc.). One of the most important properties for the use of these materials is therefore their chemical inertness or resistance to corrosion when they are in contact with human electrolytes. Consequently, during the development of such new materials, it is necessary to study and understand their basic electrochemical behaviour in a given environment. The purpose of this research was to monitor the electrochemical behaviour of the new Au-Ge alloy in artificial sweat and artificial saliva solutions, depending on the electrolyte composition and exposure time. This new alloy represents a potential material for use in dentistry or for jewellery. The obtained results of the study show that the immersion time and the pH value have a significantly greater influence on the corrosion resistance of the new Au-Ge alloy than the composition of the electrolyte solution. The results of the SEM/EDX analysis additionally confirm the main results of the electrochemical measurements. Full article

Fires can significantly impact forest ecosystems. However, studies on the effects of fires on insect communities in post-fire plots in natural forests are rare. This study presents an analysis of the Coleoptera fauna in the forests of the Mordovia State Nature Reserve (European Russia) in 2022 and 2023 after a fire. Insects were sampled from burned plots (9) in 2010 and 2021, as well as unburned (control) plots (2), and alpha diversity was compared. After processing the material, we examined a total of 12,218 Coleoptera specimens from 38 families and identified 194 species. The families Nitidulidae, Cerambycidae, Elateridae, and Scarabaeidae were the most abundant across all plots. Cerambycidae, Elateridae, Nitidulidae, Staphylinidae, Coccinellidae, and Scarabaeidae exhibited the greatest species diversity. In total, 17 species were found on all plots, including Cetonia aurata, Protaetia cuprea volhyniensis, Trogoderma glabrum, Carpophilus hemipterus, Epuraea biguttata, Glischrochilus grandis, Glischrochilus hortensis, Glischrochilus quadripunctatus, Soronia grisea, Pediacus depressus, Chrysanthia geniculata, Anastrangalia reyi, Leptura quadrifasciata, Leptura thoracica, Lepturalia nigripes, Rhagium mordax, and Anisandrus dispar. Only five species exhibited preferences for certain plots. Maximum abundance and species diversity were observed on unburned (control) plots. The plots where fires occurred in 2010 and 2021 had the lowest total abundance values for Coleoptera. These fires destroyed almost all potential sites for beetle settlement, feeding, breeding, and shelter. Traps recorded a higher abundance of Coleoptera in the first year after fires compared to the second year. The Coleoptera fauna showed the greatest similarity on the control plots. Full article

Ferroptosis hallmarked by lipid peroxidation and iron homeostasis imbalance is involved in the occurrence and development of various diseases. The plant growth regulator chlormequat chloride (CCC) can contribute to the causality and exacerbation of reproductive disorders. However, the mechanism by which CCC may cause Leydig cell attenuation remains poorly understood. In this study, TM3 Leydig cells were used to investigate the inhibitory effect of CCC on cell growth and its possible mechanism. The results showed that CCC caused apoptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis and necroinflammation in TM3 cells. By comparing the effects of ferroptosis inhibitor Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) and pan-Caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK (ZVF) on lipid peroxidation and Caspase-mediated regulated cell death (RCD), we found that Fer-1 was better at rescuing the growth of TM3 cells than ZVF. Although ZVF reduced mitochondrial ROS level and inhibited the activation of Caspase3 and Caspase1, it could not significantly ameliorate lipid peroxidation and the levels of IL-1β and HMGB1 like Fer-1. Therefore, ferroptosis might be a key non apoptotic RCD mode responsible for CCC-driven inflammation, leading to weakened viability and proliferation of TM3 cells. In addition, overexpression of ferritin light chain (FTL) promoted the resistance of TM3 cells to CCC-induced ferroptosis-mediated inflammation and to some extent improved the inhibition of viability and proliferation. Altogether, ferroptosis-initiated inflammation might play a key role in CCC-impaired TM3 cell growth. Full article

This study aimed to enhance our understanding of the agreement between two sampling methods for the detection of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) pathogens in calves using high-throughput real-time qPCR (ht-RT-qPCR). In total, 233 paired nasal swab (NS) and non-endoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage (nBAL) samples were collected from 152 calves from 12 Danish cattle herds. In 202 of the observations, the calves were examined using a standardized clinical protocol. Samples were tested for three viruses (bovine respiratory syncytial virus, bovine corona virus, and influenza D virus) and six bacteria (Histophilus somni, Mannheimia haemolytica, Mycoplasma bovis, Mycoplasma species, Pasteurella multocida, and Truepurella pyogenes). The results showed age-related differences in disease and pathogen occurrence, with the highest detection rates in calves aged 35 days or older. Poor to moderate agreement was found between the NS and nBAL results. The presence of Mannheimia haemolytica in both NS and nBAL in younger calves and in nBAL in older calves was associated with clinical BRD. There was a potential link between BRD and influenza D virus in older calves, although it was only found in one herd in a small sample size. Overall, NS was a relatively poor predictor of pathogens in the lower respiratory tract. The present study confirms the complexity of pathogen detection in BRD, with marked influences of age and the sampling method on pathogen detection and disease associations. Full article

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction and restricted and repetitive behaviors. Oxidative stress may be a critical link between mitochondrial dysfunction and ASD as reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated from pro-oxidant environmental toxicants and activated immune cells can result in mitochondrial failure. Recently, mitochondrial dysfunction, autoimmunity, and abnormal lipid mediators have been identified in multiple investigations as an acknowledged etiological mechanism of ASD that can be targeted for therapeutic intervention. Methods: The relationship between lipid mediator markers linked to inflammation induction, such as phospholipase A2/cyclooxygenase-2 (PLA2/Cox-2), and the mitochondrial dysfunction marker anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA-M2), and anti-histone autoantibodies in the etiology of ASD was investigated in this study using combined receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. This study also sought to identify the linear combination for a given set of markers that optimizes the partial area under ROC curves. This study included 40 age- and sex-matched controls and 40 ASD youngsters. The plasma of both groups was tested for PLA2/COX-2, AMA-M2, and anti-histone autoantibodies’ levels using ELISA kits. ROC curves and logistic regression models were used in the statistical analysis. Results: Using the integrated ROC curve analysis, a notable rise in the area under the curve was noticed. Additionally, the combined markers had markedly improved specificity and sensitivity. Conclusions: The current study suggested that measuring the predictive value of selected biomarkers related to mitochondrial dysfunction, autoimmunity, and lipid metabolism in children with ASD using a ROC curve analysis could lead to a better understanding of the etiological mechanism of ASD as well as its relationship with metabolism. Full article

The assessment of the urban environment is a crucial area of interest for the international community, particularly for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Achieving environmental sustainability is among the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. Riyadh has recently witnessed urban expansion due to population growth, which can cause negative environmental effects unless this growth is accompanied by the development of appropriate environmental regulations and controls. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the city of Riyadh’s urban environment and its relationship to urban expansion over time. The Thermal Environmental Index (TEI), consisting of five indicators (vegetation index, urban index, moisture index, dry index, and temperature index) was constructed utilizing geospatial techniques. Pearson’s correlation analysis was performed to determine the relationship between urban expansion and urban environmental conditions. The main results show that the size of Riyadh’s urban clusters doubled by 2022, increasing by 106% compared to in 2000. The results also show that, in 2000, 2013, and 2022, areas of poor environmental conditions were mainly distributed in urban areas, whereas areas with excellent and good environmental conditions were located outside of urban areas in the northern and western parts of Riyadh. Areas with good environmental conditions continued to decline, whereas areas poor environmental conditions increased from 4%, or 240 km², in 2000 to 11% in 2022, reaching 658 km². The correlation analysis clearly showed a very strong relationship between urban expansion and the deterioration in urban environmental conditions. Full article

Therapeutic modified mRNAs are being developed for a broad range of human diseases. However, the impact of potential miscoding of modified mRNAs on self-tolerance remains unknown. Additionally, more studies are needed to explore the effects of nucleoside alkylation on translation. While all six tested modifications are tolerated as substrates by T7 RNA polymerase and inhibited mRNA immunogenicity, the translation efficiency varied significantly depending on the type of modification. In contrast to methylation, ethylation at the N1 position of pseudouridine (Ψ) hindered translation, suggesting that the C5-C1’ glycosidic bond alone is not a critical element for high translation. Inhibition of mRNA translation was also observed with 5-methoxyuridine modification. However, this inhibition was partially alleviated through the optimization of mRNA coding sequences. BALB/c mice immunized with syngeneic ψ-modified mRNA encoding for Wilms’ tumor antigen-1 (WT1) developed a low but significant level of anti-WT1 IgG antibodies compared to those immunized with either unmodified or N1-methyl ψ-modified mRNA. Overall, the data indicate that adding a simple ethyl group (-CH₂CH₃) at the N1 position of ψ has a major negative effect on translation despite its reduced immunogenicity. Additionally, mRNA containing Ψ may alter translation fidelity at certain codons, which could lead to a breakdown of immune tolerance to self-antigens. This concern should be taken into account during gene replacement therapies, although it could benefit mRNA-based vaccines by generating a diverse repertoire of antigens. Full article

This is a single tertiary population-based study conducted at a center in southwest Romania. We retrospectively compared data obtained in two periods: January 2008–December 2013 and January 2018–December 2023. The global incidence of the transposition of great arteries in terminated cases, in addition to those resulting in live-born pregnancies, remained almost constant. The live-birth incidence decreased. The median gestational age at diagnosis decreased from 29.3 gestational weeks (mean 25.4) to 13.4 weeks (mean 17.2). The second trimester and the overall detection rate in the prenatal period did not significantly change, but the increase was statistically significant in the first trimester. The proportion of terminated pregnancies in fetuses diagnosed with the transposition of great arteries significantly increased (14.28% to 75%, p = 0.019). Full article

Hypertension (HTN) is the dominant cause of cardiovascular disease and premature death worldwide. Also in Poland, the number of people with HTN is steadily increasing. In order to improve care for patients with HTN and other chronic diseases, a pilot of the POZ PLUS coordinated-care model was introduced. The pilot ran from 1 July 2018 to 30 September 2021 at 47 facilities nationwide. The purpose of this study was to conduct a preliminary analysis of the effectiveness of this model of care. The study focused on the management of pharmacotherapy in patients with hypertension and other comorbidities. The study included a group of 90 patients with HTN. Fifty-nine people were in the coordinated-care study group and 31 in the control group. Data were collected from electronic medical records. The analysis showed a trend toward greater blood-pressure reduction in patients under coordinated care (−4 mmHg difference in systolic blood pressure between the second and first visits and −2 mmHg difference in diastolic pressure between the second and first visits, p = 0.180 and p = 0.156). This suggests the preliminary conclusion that coordinated care in the PCP plus model might have positively affected the outcomes of patients with HTN. Further studies on the subject are planned. Full article

Understanding the optimal strategy for a real-estate investment and how performance changes based on characteristics is crucial for optimising the achievable return. This is prominent in touristic areas such as Paphos, Cyprus, where there is no clear distinction as to whether short- or long-term approaches are optimal. This study aimed to develop a model for predicting the optimal rental strategy whilst assessing which model performed best and which property attributes impacted its return the greatest. Short-term data were collected from AirDNA and long-term data were manually collected from real-estate agents’ websites. Furthermore, Random Forest, K-Nearest Neighbour, and Multiple Linear Regression models were created to predict the highest and best use for each property. Model accuracy varied between datasets, with the best-performing model for short-term properties being the Random Forest model (R-squared: 0.843), and the distance-based Multiple Linear Regression approach being the best for long-term properties (R-squared: 0.843). The study demonstrated that accurate models could be created to predict the optimal rental strategy with the number of bedrooms being the main driver for rental income, followed by luxury finishes and the presence of a pool. It was found that locational characteristics did not impact the returns significantly when assuming that the property was located within a touristic area. Full article

A new design for humanoid arms is presented based on a tripod mechanism that is actuated by linear servomotors. A specific prototype is built and tested, with the results of performance characterization verifying a possible implementation on the LARMbot humanoid. The design solves the main requirements in terms of a high payload ratio with respect to arm weight by using a tripod architecture with parallel manipulator behavior. The built prototype is assembled with commercial components to match the expectations for low-cost user-oriented features. The test results show satisfactory operation characteristics both in motion and force performance, which will ensure a future successful implementation in the LARMbot humanoid structure. Full article

Background: Maintaining adequate hydration is critical to optimal health, well-being, and performance. Those who are physically active in stressful environments, such as warm and/or humid scenarios, may be at particular risk for dehydration with ensuing loss of electrolytes, leading to sluggishness and impaired physical performance. Methods: We evaluated an electrolyte and amino acid product containing L-alanine and L-glutamine, as well as select vitamins [B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (cobalamin), and vitamin C (ascorbic acid)]. Subjects (n = 40; four groups, n = 10) were randomized to consume either a placebo packet or one, two, or three packets daily of the test product for 4 weeks with site visits at 0, 2, and 4 weeks. We tested safety and tolerability by analyzing hematological parameters (complete blood counts), metabolic parameters (hepatic, renal, acid–base balance), urinalysis end products, thyroid status [T3 (triiodothyronine), T4 (thyroxine), TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone)], tolerability (via questionnaire), vital signs, and dietary intake. Results: Statistical analyses displayed ten significant main effects (p < 0.05) with white blood cells, lymphocytes, neutrophils, urinary pH, thyroxine, urination frequency, calcium, calories, fat, and cholesterol. Interactions for time and group (p < 0.05) were observed for MCV, eGFR, potassium, overall tolerability, bloating, and cramping—demonstrating mild GA disturbances. Little to no change of physiological relevance was noted for any outcome variable, regardless of dosing level. Conclusions: Our results indicate the product was well-tolerated at all dosing levels and no significant adverse changes occurred in any of the test parameters compared to the placebo group, indicating relative safety of ingestion over a 4-week treatment period, at the volumes used, and outside the context of physical stress. Full article

Argentina stands as the leading producer and exporter of olive products in the Americas, with the province of La Rioja as its main productive area. Since the 1990s, the olive grove cultivated area and related agro-industry in La Rioja have expanded. However, the resulting wastewater has generally been neglected. The water footprint (WF) provides information about the water volume consumed and polluted by a production process. Since the 1990s, agricultural and agro-industrial activities in La Rioja have experienced substantial growth. This study aims to analyze the generation, quality, and management of Oil Mill Wastewater (OMWW) using the grey WF of chloride and nitrate as an indicator and focusing on two olive mills (OM) in La Rioja. Additionally, it seeks to examine the relationship between the international trade of provincial olive oil and the estimated grey WF. For the diagnosis of OMWW generation, a description of the production process was made coupled with flow and physico-chemical characterization. The total grey WF was 8.69 and 45.5 L water/L olive oil for OM 1 and OM 2, respectively. Nitrate was identified as the critical pollutant. The grey virtual water export related to the export of olive oil was 5569 m³ for OM 1 and 28,000 m³ for OM 2. The provincial grey virtual water export related to olive oil was 161,955 m³ with major trade destinations including Spain, the United States, and Brazil. The article analyses for the first time the grey WF of olive oil industries and assess the related grey virtual water exports. This research represents a step forward in the knowledge of wastewater management in the olive oil sector and facilitates the search for solutions to minimize negative environmental impacts while promoting cleaner production. Full article

Microplastics (MPs), found in many places around the world, are thought to be more detrimental than other forms of plastics. At present, physical, chemical, and biological methods are being used to break down MPs. Compared with physical and chemical methods, biodegradation methods have been extensively studied by scholars because of their advantages of greenness and sustainability. There have been numerous reports in recent years summarizing the microorganisms capable of degrading MPs. However, there is a noticeable absence of a systematic summary on the technology for breeding strains that can degrade MPs. This paper summarizes the strain-breeding technology of MP-degrading strains for the first time in a systematic way, which provides a new idea for the breeding of efficient MP-degrading strains. Meanwhile, potential techniques for breeding bacteria that can degrade MPs are proposed, providing a new direction for selecting and breeding MP-degrading bacteria in the future. In addition, this paper reviews the sources and pollution status of soil MPs, discusses the current challenges related to the biodegradation of MPs, and emphasizes the safety of MP biodegradation. Full article

Fractal evolution is apparently effective in selectively preserving environmentally resilient traits for more than 80 million years in Streptotrichaceae (Bryophyta). An analysis simulated maximum destruction of ancestral traits in that large lineage. The constraints enforced were the preservation of newest ancestral traits, and all immediate descendant species obtained different new traits. Maximum character state changes in ancestral traits were 16 percent of all possible traits in any one sub-lineage, or 73 percent total of the entire lineage. Results showed, however, that only four ancestral traits were permanently eliminated in any one lineage or sub-lineage. A lineage maintains maximum biodiversity of temporally and regionally survival-effective traits at minimum expense to resilience across a geologic time of 88 million years for the group studied. Similar processes generating an extant punctuated equilibrium as bursts of about four descendants per genus and one genus per 1–2 epochs are possible in other living groups given similar emergent processes. The mechanism is considered complexity-related, the lineage being a self-organized emergent phenomenon strongly maintained in the ecosphere by natural selection on fractal genera. Full article