A Methodological Approach to Water Concentration to Investigate the Presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Surface Freshwaters.

During the COVID-19 public health emergency, an increasing number of studies reported the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewaters worldwide, but little is known about the presence of the virus in surface freshwaters. The aim of the current study was to develop and validate an appropriate and scalable methodological approach for the concentration and detection of SARS-CoV-2 from surface freshwater samples, collected within the Milan rural network subjected to flood spillways activity. Overall, both surface water and distilled water samples spiked with inactivated SARS-CoV-2 were used to validate the concentration method for pathogens determination.

Macrocyclization of Folded Diamines in Cavitands.

Synthetic access to water-soluble cavitands and capsules has moved recognition events from organic solvents into aqueous media. Here we report the binding and reactivity of long-chain α,ω-diamines (C11 to C18) in cavitand hosts. The containers bind the diamines in folded conformations that bury the hydrocarbon chains and expose the amino groups to the aqueous medium.

Cavitands as Reaction Vessels and Blocking Groups for Selective Reactions in Water.

The majority of reactions currently performed in the chemical industry take place in organic solvents, compounds that are generally derived from petrochemicals. To promote chemical processes in water, we examined the use of synthetic, deep water-soluble cavitands in the Staudinger reduction of long-chain aliphatic diazides (C8 , C10 , and C12 ). The diazide substrates are taken up by the cavitand in D2 O in folded, dynamic conformations.

An integrated, multisensor system for the continuous monitoring of water dynamics in rice fields under different irrigation regimes.

The cultivation of rice, one of the most important staple crops worldwide, has very high water requirements. A variety of irrigation practices are applied, whose pros and cons, both in terms of water productivity and of their effects on the environment, are not completely understood yet. The continuous monitoring of irrigation and rainfall inputs, as well as of soil water dynamics, is a very important factor in the analysis of these practices.