High-Throughput Effect-Directed Analysis of Androgenic Compounds in Hospital Wastewater: Identifying Effect Drivers through Non-Target Screening Supported by Toxicity Prediction.

The increasing number of contaminants released into the environment necessitates innovative strategies for their detection and identification, particularly in complex environmental matrices like hospital wastewater. Hospital effluents contain both natural and synthetic hormones that might significantly contribute to endocrine disruption in aquatic ecosystems. In this study, HT-EDA has been implemented to identify the main effect-drivers (testosterone, androsterone and norgestrel) from hospital effluent using microplate fractionation, the AR-CALUX bioassay and an efficient data processing workflow.

Toward harnessing biodiversity-ecosystem function relationships in fungi.

Fungi are crucial for terrestrial ecosystems, yet the role of fungal diversity in ecosystem functions remains unclear. We synthesize fungal biodiversity and ecosystem function (BEF) relationships, focusing on plant biomass production, carbon storage, decomposition, and pathogen or parasite resistance. The observed BEF relationships for these ecosystem functions vary in strength and direction, complicating generalizations.

In the Shadow of the Pandemic: Examining Therapists' Perceptions of Work-Related Stress in the Late Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany.

Background/objectives: The previous literature has identified increased work-related stress among healthcare workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study analyzes work-related perceived stress experienced by therapists during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany to identify potential for supporting this crucial group of HCWs in future health crises.

Methods: Survey data on stress, measured through the Perceived Stress Scale 4, among HCWs (therapists n = 612, nurses n = 501, and doctors n = 461) were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and data from four semi-structured interviews and seven focus group discussions with therapists were analyzed using thematic content analysis.

Progress, applications, and challenges in high-throughput effect-directed analysis for toxicity driver identification - is it time for HT-EDA?

The rapid increase in the production and global use of chemicals and their mixtures has raised concerns about their potential impact on human and environmental health. With advances in analytical techniques, in particular, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), thousands of compounds and transformation products with potential adverse effects can now be detected in environmental samples. However, identifying and prioritizing the toxicity drivers among these compounds remain a significant challenge.