Conversion of agricultural fields into the industrial corridor under the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu Limited (SIPCOT) necessitated the investigation of soil-borne organic contaminants. This study is the first attempt to evaluate the occurrence of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils from Mambakkam and Cheyyar SIPCOT belt, along the residential, industrial and agricultural transects. Concentrations of Σ28PCBs, Σ16PAHs and OCPs were in the range 0.3-9 ng/g, 33-2934 ng/g and nd-81.4 ng/g, respectively. Residential areas showed higher OCP concentrations than other site types, probably due to their frequent use in vector control programmes. DDT isomers and α-isomer of endosulfan showed low concentrations indicating past usage of these OCPs. Principal component analysis indicated that high-temperature combustion and industrial processes might be the major sources of high molecular weight PAHs, while low-temperature combustion processes might be responsible for low molecular weight PAHs. PCBs in soil were probably attributed to unaccounted combustion processes of e-waste in the region. Carcinogenic PAHs and Σ28PCBs were higher in the industrial sites. Mean Σ28PCBs at Mambakkam (4.8 ng/g) was significantly higher (p  less then  0.05) than that at the incipient industrial corridor Cheyyar (2.7 ng/g). Lower chlorinated PCBs (3-Cl and 4-Cl) amounted to more than half of Σ28PCBs in 75% of the sites. Total toxic equivalents (TEQs) of PAHs (total BaPeq) were found to be maximum in industrial areas. learn more Maximum contribution to TEQs due to dioxin-like-PCBs was from PCB-157, followed by PCB-189.This paper attempts to evaluate the mineralogical and chemical composition of sedimentary limestone mine waste alongside its mineral carbonation potential. The limestone mine wastes were recovered as the waste materials after mining and crushing processes and were analyzed for mineral, major and trace metal elements. The major mineral composition discovered was calcite (CaCO3) and dolomite [CaMg(CO3)2], alongside other minerals such as bustamite [(Ca,Mn)SiO3] and akermanite (Ca2MgSi2O7). Calcium oxide constituted the greatest composition of major oxide components of between 72 and 82%. The presence of CaO facilitated the transformation of carbon dioxide into carbonate form, suggesting potential mineral carbonation of the mine waste material. Geochemical assessment indicated that mean metal(loid) concentrations were found in the order of Al > Fe > Sr > Pb > Mn > Zn > As > Cd > Cu > Ni > Cr > Co in which Cd, Pb and As exceeded some regulatory guideline values. Ecological risk assessment demonstrated that the mine wastes were majorly influenced by Cd as being classified having moderate risk. Geochemical indices depicted that Cd was moderately accumulated and highly enriched in some of the mine waste deposited areas. In conclusion, the limestone mine waste material has the potential for sequestering CO2; however, the presence of some trace metals could be another important aspect that needs to be considered. Therefore, it has been shown that limestone mine waste can be regarded as a valuable feedstock for mineral carbonation process. Despite this, the presence of metal(loid) elements should be of another concern to minimize potential ecological implication due to recovery of this waste material.Much of our knowledge regarding the role of chemicals in species recognition in arthropods is based on a few taxonomic groups, predominantly insect pest species. To investigate the chemical underpinnings of species recognition cues in other arthropods, we conducted mate choice experiments and analyzed the chemical profiles of two species in the long-jawed spider genus Tetragnatha from allopatric populations across two different continents. In two separate bioassays, in which male T. extensa spiders were presented with either web silk or extracts from the silk of conspecific and heterospecific females, males consistently chose the silk or silk extract of conspecific females over those of heterospecifics. We examined the chemistry affecting this response using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to analyze silk and whole-body extracts of the spiders. The major compounds in the extracts were identified as long chain aliphatic methyl ethers. The chemical profiles of the two species differed the T. extensa profile consisted of 12,20-dimethylnonacosyl methyl ether (A), 8,14,20-trimethylnonacosyl methyl ether (B), and 6,14,20-trimethylnonacosyl methyl ether (C), while the profile of T. versicolor consisted of B and 14,20-dimethylnonacosyl methyl ether (D). Within each species, chemical profiles of females and males did not differ. Our results suggest that these methyl ethers are involved in species recognition of Tetragnatha spiders. This is the first study to propose compounds involved in species recognition in spiders.

The study reports a case with metastatic cutaneous malignant melanoma that developed Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like uveitis during pembrolizumab treatment. The uveitis improved by discontinuation of pembrolizumab and use of oral and topical steroids. Full-field flicker ERGs were used to monitor the retinal function before and after the steroid treatments.

A 68-year-old women presented with blurred vision in both eyes 3months after beginning pembrolizumab adjuvant therapy for a malignant melanoma on the lower thigh. Optical coherence tomography showed a serous retinal detachment (SRD) in the right eye and marked choroidal thickening in both eyes. Fluorescein angiography showed spotted hyperfluorescence in the right eye and leakage of fluorescein from both optic disks. Indocyanine green angiography showed dark hypofluorescent spots in both eyes. She was diagnosed with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like uveitis induced by pembrolizumab and discontinued the pembrolizumab. She was then treated with oral prednisolone and topical betamethasone. One week later, the symptoms were improved, and 1month later the choroidal thickening in both eyes and the SRD of the right eye were not present. The implicit time of the full-field flicker ERGs recorded by RETeval system was significantly delayed at the initial examination but improved within a few weeks after the steroid replacement treatment.

Our case with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like uveitis induced by pembrolizumab had a reduction in the degree of uveitis after discontinuation of the pembrolizumab and use of oral prednisolone and topical betamethasone. Flicker ERGs were helpful in monitoring the retinal function before and after the steroid treatment.

Our case with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like uveitis induced by pembrolizumab had a reduction in the degree of uveitis after discontinuation of the pembrolizumab and use of oral prednisolone and topical betamethasone. Flicker ERGs were helpful in monitoring the retinal function before and after the steroid treatment.