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Semi-batch reverse osmosis (SBRO) is an innovative membrane process renowned for its compact system and high recovery in desalination and water reuse. While academic research provides valuable insights, aligning it with real-world implementation is crucial. The study aims to understand the current progress in SBRO for brackish water desalination by identifying performance disparities between academic research and practical applications, evaluating practical performances under realistic parameters, and proposing future research directions. Through gathering and comparing data from SBRO research and practices, performance disparities between theoretical projections and real-world applications were identified. The analysis revealed that specific energy consumption (SEC) in academic research had been underestimated by applying impractical pump efficiencies, and permeate quality was often neglected. To assess the practical SEC and permeate quality of SBRO, engineering design calculations were performed with realistic parameters. Based on the evaluation, the importance of maintaining suitable recovery and incorporating a permeate tank was emphasized to avoid a significant increase in SEC and to stabilize water quality, respectively. Given the challenges of the SBRO system, the discussion further outlined research directions addressing issues in energy efficiency, permeate quality, membrane fouling/scaling, and practical design/operation. It recommended considering these practical aspects for the broader applications of SBRO. [Display omitted] • Current progress in SBRO was identified with theoretical and industrial perspectives. • Process modeling with engineering designs was applied to evaluate SBRO performance. • Data from SBRO research and practices were collected and critically compared. • SEC and permeate quality of SBRO were estimated by considering practical conditions. • Future research directions were outlined for the expansion of SBRO technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regular water quality monitoring is becoming desirable due to the increase in water pollution caused by both climate change and the generation of industrial chemicals. Unmanned vehicles have emerged as key technologies for remote data acquisition, providing fast and accurate methods for water quality monitoring. However, current research on unmanned vehicles has not systematically examined their features and limitations, which are crucial for identifying future research directions and applications of unmanned vehicle technologies. Therefore, this study extensively reviews the advancements in remote data acquisition and processing using unmanned vehicle technologies for water quality monitoring to provide valuable insights for future research. First, the types of unmanned vehicles and their application ranges for water quality monitoring are summarized. Among the unmanned vehicle technologies, unmanned aerial vehicles are considered primary platforms for water quality monitoring due to their wide data acquisition range and their ability to accommodate diverse sensors and samplers. Also, the types of samplers and sensors mounted on the unmanned vehicles are analyzed based on their characteristics. It is concluded that spectral sensors offer the most cost-effective approach for acquiring real-time water quality data. Furthermore, algorithms that convert image data into water quality data are examined, focusing on data preprocessing, analysis, and validation. The findings reveal a close relationship between the analysis of spectral characteristics of each water quality parameter and the wavelength ranges of red and red-edge. Lastly, future research directions for unmanned vehicle technologies are further suggested based on the summarized technological limitations. [Display omitted] • Unmanned vehicle-based remote water quality monitoring technologies were reviewed. • Types of the unmanned vehicles and their application ranges were investigated. • Unmanned vehicle mountable water samplers and sensors were categorized. • Processing algorithms were analyzed to convert the image data to water quality data. • Future research directions were suggested by analyzing current development status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing impact of climate change has worsened drought conditions, leading to a surge in the demand for seawater desalination. However, current seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination technologies are not energy-efficient for handling the high-salinity, high-temperature, and high-turbidity seawater found in the Arabian Gulf. Therefore, a pilot-scale SWRO desalination plant was established to evaluate the new desalination technologies. The pilot plant tested high-performance SWRO membranes, meshed tube filtration (MTF) as a low-energy pretreatment for the high turbidity induced by algal blooms, and membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) to improve permeate quality. The high-performance SWRO membrane demonstrated exceptional salt rejection and produced permeate quality in the range of 250–455 mg/L from the feed with salinities of 47,500–53,500 mg/L. MTF was effective in controlling turbidity, and the energy consumption was reduced by 77 % compared to the existing pretreatment process. Furthermore, MCDI exhibited similar levels of energy efficiency as brackish water reverse osmosis and may have the potential for future deployment by enhancing process development. Based on the pilot plant results, it is expected that a 100,000–200,000 m3/d SWRO desalination plant will have a specific energy consumption of 3.11–3.13 kWh/m3 for final product water quality at or below 200 mg/L. [Display omitted] • A pilot-scale SWRO desalination plant was used to investigate low-energy technologies. • Developed SWRO membranes significantly decreased feed TDS under normal pressure. • MTF reduced feed turbidity effectively and consumed lower energy compared to DAF. • MCDI demonstrated potential as a substitute for BWRO in two-pass RO systems. • The SEC of SWRO desalination plants was evaluated as 3.11 kWh/m3 through scale-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • ECMC was applied to mitigate fouling induced by flue gas during CO 2 stripping. • The surface modification improved the conductivity and stripping performance of ECMs. • ECMC mitigated fouling by electrostatic repulsion in foulants at low concentrations. • High voltage which occurs oxidation was necessary to prevent fouling in harsh conditions. • ECMC reduced the total energy consumption per CO 2 amount in stripping process. Carbon capture utilization & storage (CCUS) process is a promising technology for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, the biggest challenge in commercializing CCUS is reducing energy consumption during the CO 2 stripping stage. Membrane contactors have been developed to reduce energy consumption and improve CO 2 stripping performance. However, traditional polymer-based membranes are vulnerable to damage by combustion residues such as oil and grease. To address this problem, electrically conductive membranes (ECMs) have been developed to enable efficient electrochemical reactions for anti-fouling purposes. This study investigated the anti-fouling performance of an electrically conductive membrane contactor (ECMC) for CO 2 stripping. Surface modification with a two-layered ECM resulted in the superior electrical conductivity and CO 2 stripping flux compared to other ECMs. Electrostatic repulsion effectively mitigated fouling by 92.1 % compared to non-charged ECMC by preventing the attachment of oil and grease, but it was not observed a significant effect in high oil and grease concentrations. The electrochemical oxidation process when applying a high voltage improved anti-fouling performance, and the O 2 sweep gas mode greatly maintained the CO 2 stripping flux at 95.2 % with high oil and grease concentrations. Furthermore, the feasibility of the ECMC was demonstrated by comparing the predicted total energy consumption per CO 2 amount under actual operating conditions. In conclusion, ECMC improved the energy efficiency of CO 2 stripping by providing high anti-fouling performance in CCUS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Internally staged design (ISD) was introduced as a method to lower front reverse osmosis (RO) element fluxes, yielding operational benefits. Systematic selection of the best ISD combinations has not been conducted as it is dependent on operating conditions (i.e., RO recovery and average flux). This study aimed to optimize seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) operations using ISD for better product water quality and energy efficiency. A total of 36 ISD combinations were configured with three commercial SWRO membranes and systematically examined under varying operating conditions which were simulations of typical SWRO operation. A Pareto-optimal front, a non-dominated feasible solution set, was created to understand the tradeoff relationship between permeate quality and specific energy consumption while considering all parameters. The Pareto-optimal front was classified into five phases, and an analysis of phase changes provided optimal parameter settings for SWRO operation. However, the occurrence of colloidal fouling altered optimal ISD combinations on the Pareto-optimal front. Particularly, when SWRO membranes were fouled at high-recovery and -flux conditions, ISD combinations employing three different membrane types exhibited superior performance in terms of energy efficiency. With these results, the best SWRO operation was suggested depending on its performance requirements, and the advantages of ISD were further delineated. Graphical abstract fx1 Highlights • SWRO with ISD was optimized to achieve better water quality and energy efficiency. • Efficient SWRO performance control was examined by Pareto-optimal front analysis. • Colloidal fouling changes the best ISD combinations on the Pareto-optimal front. • ISD with three SWRO membrane types is feasible at high-recovery and -flux operations. • The optimal SWRO operation mode is proposed based on its performance requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managing shale gas produced water (SGPW) is one of the greatest challenges for shale gas industry due to its high salinity and water volume. Osmotically enhanced dewatering (OED) has great potential for treating SGPW because of its higher water recovery and lower energy consumption. This study systematically investigated the effects of operating conditions on OED performance through numerical simulation of membrane modules. The simulation results first showed that OED achieved higher water recovery over forward osmosis (FO) due to less internal concentration polarization (ICP). Water recovery could be higher with decreasing feed flow fraction, increasing normalized membrane area, and increasing hydraulic driving force fraction. It was also demonstrated that OED-RO hybrid process was able to yield more water with similar energy efficiency as one-stage RO, for SGPW of 28.5 g/L total dissolved solids (TDS) under realistic conditions considering inefficiency associated with pump and energy recovery device (ERD). Lastly, to validate our findings, OED experiments were performed with pre-treated real SGPW as a feed solution, and exhibited good agreement with the simulation results. Specifically, water recovery was achieved up to 67% with a high rejection rate of over 97% for most ions at a hydraulic pressure of 30 bar. Our modeled and experimental observations suggest that the OED-RO process can be an energy-efficient process in concentrating high salinity wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brine management systems are imperative for sustainable water supply and for securing valuable resources from desalination plants. The utilization of membrane brine concentrators has recently been focused on because of their high energy and cost efficiencies compared with those of thermal brine concentrators. In this paper, we investigated the recent candidates of membrane concentrators in terms of their future potential in brine management systems and categorized the types of utilized membranes into two groups: single solution passing (SSP)-type membranes and double solution passing (DSP)-type membranes. The current membrane technologies for manufacturing these types of membranes were critically analyzed, and future directions for membrane development towards efficient brine management systems were suggested. SSP-type membranes and their accompanying systems should be durable at pressures higher than 230 bar to utilize membrane brine concentrators. On the other hand, DSP-type membranes should exhibit high-pressure durability (higher than 40 bar) and low structure parameters (less than 50 μm). This study examines the current status of membrane systems and presents the technical specifications of membranes required for membrane brine management systems. [Display omitted] • Brine management systems using membrane concentrators are summarized and analyzed. • Two types of membranes are classified in the applications of membrane concentrators. • The required specifications of membranes are determined for membrane concentrators. • Future directions for membrane development are suggested towards brine management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) and industrial processes are driving the demand for CO 2 stripping from water. Membrane contactors are considered a favorable solution to the conventional challenges of CO 2 stripping from water, such as inefficiency and high space occupancy. However, the factors affecting membrane contactor performance have not been systemically investigated in the context of efficient CO 2 stripping. This study analyzed the factors affecting the membrane contactors for the CO 2 stripping process based on experiments and theoretical modeling. The factors are classified according to advection (e.g., liquid flow rate), diffusion (e.g., vacuum pressure and pH), and membrane (e.g., long-term operation and arrangement). A high liquid flow rate increased the CO 2 stripping flux, whereas it decreased the CO 2 removal efficiency. At vacuum pressure, CO 2 stripping depended on the vacuum pressure but it was not effective in the air-combination mode. It is also important to maintain pH 5 as pH significantly affects the diffusion. In the long-term experiment, membrane fouling and pore swelling were not observed to cause performance degradation. Further, parallel and series designs for membrane contactors were compared, the parallel design exhibits superior CO 2 stripping performance. This study provides strategies for using membrane contactors for efficient CO 2 stripping. [Display omitted] • Membrane contactors for CO 2 stripping investigated by experiments and modeling. • Liquid flow rate controlled to enhance advection in the CO 2 stripping process. • Effect of pH condition and vacuum pressure examined for effective diffusion. • A long-term experiment used to analyze membrane performance degradation. • Different membrane arrangements compared to improve CO 2 stripping performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) harnesses salinity gradient energy through the mixing of freshwater and saltwater, addressing the demand for sustainable energy sources. PRO typically utilizes river water or secondary wastewater as the feed solution, paired with seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) brine as the draw solution. However, the limited availability of low-saline water presents a significant obstacle to energy generation. Therefore, the feasibility of a high-pressure PRO process utilizing seawater as the feed solution and hypersaline water as the draw solution was assessed to generate sustainable blue energy. Seawater has the potential to achieve the maximum extractable Gibbs-free energy through high-pressure PRO by maximizing the feed/draw ratio. The performance of the high-pressure PRO was theoretically evaluated, resulting in a tenfold increase in specific energy production compared to conventional SWRO-PRO due to the higher feed/draw ratio. However, high hydraulic pressure increased the membrane structural parameter and further reduced water flux and power density due to significant internal concentration polarization. Nevertheless, the high-pressure PRO process can achieve a power density exceeding 84 W/m2 when the structural parameter remains below 100 μm. The implications of the high-pressure PRO were further discussed to advance the concept of a blue circular economy, enhance environmental resilience, and promote sustainability. [Display omitted] • Feasibility of high-pressure PRO was investigated using seawater/hypersaline water. • Higher feed/draw ratio boosted energy production in the PRO process. • Seawater was assessed as a feed for high-pressure PRO for blue energy generation. • High-pressure operation raised the structural parameter reducing power density. • High-pressure PRO achieved >80 W/m2 at structural parameter <100 μm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the significant increase in seawater desalination, seawater exhibiting extreme conditions of high salinity and high temperature cannot be avoided in the production of fresh water. Although seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) is one of the most energy-saving desalination technologies, it might not be favorable for treating extreme seawater due to the operational limitations associated with the single-stage SWRO configuration. To overcome these limitations, the applicability of two-stage SWRO was examined. The recovery of single-stage SWRO was limited to 31% for stable operation, whereas two-stage SWRO, utilizing pressure exchangers as energy recovery devices, achieved 34% recovery for the same number of pressure vessels. Furthermore, the maximum water fluxes in the front SWRO elements were reduced under the design constraints of the two-stage configuration than that of the single-stage configuration. The two-stage SWRO system was energy-efficient with high recovery; however, under extreme conditions, the permeate quality was similar to that of single-stage SWRO. To improve the applicability of two-stage SWRO, internally staged design (ISD) and split partial second pass (SPSP) can be adopted. ISD can reduce water fluxes in the front elements, increasing system recovery, whereas SPSP design enables the reverse osmosis system to produce high-quality permeate with low additional energy. Unlabelled Image • SWRO performance was evaluated for high-salinity and high-temperature seawater. • Single-stage SWRO suffered from low recovery and high water flux for front elements. • Two-stage SWRO achieved higher recovery and exhibited lower front water flux. • ISD further increased recovery by reducing water fluxes of front elements. • SPSP improved product quality and energy efficiency by treating rear permeate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) is usually combined with brackish reverse osmosis (BWRO) to improve the water quality in seawater desalination; however, this configuration often results in high energy consumption. Consequently, membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) has been suggested as a lower energy alternative technology, but cyclic operation within the cell (i.e., discontinuous operation of ad/desorption) is a main disadvantage. On the other hand, flow electrode capacitive deionization (FCDI) can be continuously operated by using a flow electrode. In this study, the feasibility of a SWRO-FCDI system was examined by using a suitable electrolyte in the flow electrode: seawater or SWRO concentrate. In addition, by employing a selective ion exchange membrane (IEM), the FCDI was able to selectively remove monovalent ions rather than divalent ions, unlike BWRO, thus producing a final product water containing divalent ions, which is more suitable for corrosion control in the subsequent pipe distribution systems. As a result, the remineralization process can be minimized. To test the SWRO-FCDI concept, actual SWRO permeate was first treated in a single mode with an electrolyte comprising real seawater in a flow electrode, and the feasibility of long-term operation was proven by batch-mode, which allowed the optimization of the FCDI active area. Unlabelled Image • The feasibility of a SWRO-FCDI system for low-energy desalination was examined. • Simulated seawater and SWRO concentrate were tested as electrolytes in FCDI. • FCDI removed divalent ions over monovalent ions with 30% higher efficiency. • Actual SWRO permeate was treated by FCDI using with a real seawater electrolyte. • In the batch mode, over 95% removal efficiency was achieved at a 1.3 kWh/m3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While single-stage is the general configuration for seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO), the two-stage design can increase the overall recovery of an SWRO system. Due to its high-recovery operation, the specific energy consumption (SEC) of two-stage SWRO is higher than that of single-stage. Thus, the two-stage configuration has not been extensively applied in the current desalination market. In contrast, recent studies have reported that the two-stage design can lower the SEC of SWRO compared to that of single-stage. However, the analyses were biased towards SEC, and the practical design aspects (e.g., permeate quality, water flux, and design ratios) were not systemically considered. Thus, this study examines the applicability of a two-stage SWRO system with a capacity of 100,000 m3/d that employs 1200 pressure vessels (PVs). Two-stage SWRO actually consumed a greater amount of energy than that of single-stage for typical SWRO recovery with the same number of PVs. In contrast, single- and two-stage SWRO produced permeate similar in quality, while the two-stage exhibited superior water-flux distribution along the PVs. Additionally, optimal ratios of permeate flow rate and number of PVs were determined by energy recovery devices type, where the ratio of 1:2 was selected for the reverse osmosis system with a pressure exchanger and 2:1 for that with a Pelton turbine. Considering SEC and other operational aspects, the use of two-stage SWRO was feasible at a 50–70% recovery rate. Image 1 • Two-stage SWRO is fundamentally analyzed and optimized for seawater desalination. • SEC of two-stage SWRO is higher than that of single-stage in typical recovery. • Water quality of single- and two-stage SWRO is similar at the same average flux. • Optimal ratios of permeate flow rate and number of PVs vary depending on ERD types. • Two-stage SWRO is more energy-efficient at a high recovery rate (e.g., 50–70%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seawater is receiving consideration as an infinite water source in the current era of water shortage. The application of seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) to prepare seawater for human use is increasing exponentially owing to its high energy efficiency among desalination technologies. However, SWRO is still energy-intensive, and thus needs to be improved further to become more environmentally sound (i.e., producing less CO 2). To tackle such a challenge, this study was conducted to propose strategies to lower the specific energy consumption (SEC) of the SWRO process. From the results of extensive review and theoretical analysis, three directions were proposed for improving the energy efficiency of the SWRO process: i) minimize the irreversible work of the high-pressure pump, ii) decrease the osmotic pressure of the feed, and iii) recover osmotic energy from reverse osmosis (RO) concentrate. After the feasibility of each approach was identified by assessing the theoretical minimum energy and the maximum available margin, strategies for each direction were presented with a technical description, then critically evaluated by considering their practical application. Because this paper includes theoretical perspectives for energy savings in SWRO, it provides comprehensive ideas for lowering the SEC of SWRO desalination plants in the future. Image 1 • Three improvement axes for low-energy reverse osmosis were analyzed theoretically. • Maximum margin and obtainable energy reduction in each axis were calculated. • Minimizing irreversibility is effective, but operating issues are challenging. • Decreasing osmotic pressure can be effective only with additional low-saline water. • Recovering osmotic energy may be effective, but needs to be further developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Critical review of energy consumption of seawater reverse osmosis plants. • Collection of more than 70 datasets for large-size seawater reverse osmosis plants. • Investigation of trends in the application of seawater reverse osmosis plants. • Analysis of factors associated with energy consumption of seawater reverse osmosis. • Future directions to reduce energy consumption of seawater reverse osmosis plants. High specific energy consumption (SEC) is the main barrier for the expansion of seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO). Therefore, the main objective of current SWRO research is to lower the SEC of SWRO plants. However, SEC of SWRO plants has not been systemically explored or analyzed, despite the need for information to develop appropriate strategies to reduce SEC. Therefore, this study aims to review and analyze SWRO plants for a comprehensive understanding of their SEC. First, trends in SWRO application are investigated using more than 70 datasets on large-scale SWRO. The analysis explains the increasing number of large-size SWRO plants, the SEC reduction by isobaric energy recovery devices (ERDs), and the use of different SWRO configurations to meet the energy and quality requirements. Factors associated with SEC (i.e. , feed conditions, target conditions, and equipment efficiency) are also analyzed. High salinity increases energy demand, whereas the temperature effect on energy consumption is not entirely clear. High-efficiency ERDs and pumps can reduce SEC, but overall SEC cannot be explained by these factors alone. SEC is also affected by target water quality and quantity. Moreover, specific SWRO designs can improve the system to efficiently achieve the established goals. Furthermore, future directions to develop low-energy SWRO plants are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides information on how to measure gravitational acceleration using Bernoulli's equation. It introduces two methods for estimating g using experimental data, one involving measuring the change in water level over time and the other measuring the horizontal distance traveled by a water stream. The article explains the theory behind Bernoulli's equation and Torricelli's law, and discusses the importance of known experimental conditions and constants. The results of an experiment conducted to measure the height and horizontal distance of a water stream are also presented. Overall, this article offers valuable insights for those interested in understanding and measuring gravitational acceleration using fluid mechanics. [Extracted from the article]

Ultrapure water (UPW) is essential in the semiconductor industry for rinsing and cleaning products. With the growing demand for UPW, various feed water sources such as tap water, surface water, and wastewater are utilized to produce UPW. However, these feed water sources contain various low molecular weight organic matters (LMWOMs), which can adversely affect the quality of semiconductors when present in treated UPW. Therefore, achieving the complete removal of LMWOMs is crucial in the UPW production process. However, the current reverse osmosis (RO) and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) processes employed for UPW production have limitations in achieving complete LMWOM removal. Therefore, this study is conducted to investigate the mechanisms of LMWOM removal in RO and the performance of VUV for high-quality UPW production. Six LMWOMs found in the semiconductor industry were tested for lab- and pilot-scale experiments. The result showed that size exclusion is the main mechanism of LMWOM removal in the RO process. However, methanol, ethanol, and urea were not efficiently removed by RO membranes. In addition, a lab-scale VUV experiment was performed under accelerated conditions to examine the oxidation mechanism of LMWOM. The LMWOM with low reactivity to hydroxyl radicals, such as tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) and urea, were not removed perfectly within 60 min and 180 min, respectively. Furthermore, a pilot-scale VUV experiment was performed to examine the oxidation of LMWOM under real UPW production conditions. Despite observing a correlation in the pseudo-first-order rate constants between the lab-scale and pilot-scale experiments, the removal of TMAH and urea was still not achieved even with a lamp power of 320 W. As urea was not completely removed by either RO or VUV, strategies for UPW production using current water sources are discussed to develop future UPW technologies. [Display omitted] • The fate of six LMWOMs was analyzed in RO and VUV processes for UPW production. • Size exclusion is the most dominant mechanism for the removal of LMWOMs in RO. • High reactivity with hydroxyl radicals is key to the removal of LMWOMs through VUV. • Pilot-scale VUV results correlate with lab-scale VUV experiments in real UPW conditions. • Urea is the most problematic LMWOM in the UPW process for the semiconductor industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both the uterus and breasts have sex hormone dependence, yet there are few studies on the association between breast disease and uterine fibroids (UFs). The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of benign breast disease (BBD), carcinoma in situ (CIS), and breast cancer (BC) in women treated for UFs compared to women who were not treated for UFs. This retrospective cohort study used national health insurance data from January 1st, 2011, to December 31st, 2020. We selected women between 20 and 50 years old who (1) were treated for UFs (UF group) or (2) visited medical institutions for personal health screening tests without UFs (control group). We analyzed independent variables such as age, socioeconomic status (SES), region, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), delivery status, menopausal status, menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), endometriosis, hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM), and dyslipidemia based on the first date of uterine myomectomy in the UF group and the first visiting date for health screening in the non-UF group. There were 190,583 and 439,940 participants in the UF and control groups, respectively. Compared with those of the control group, the RRs of BBD, CIS, and BC were increased in the UF group. The hazard ratios (HRs) of BBD, CIS, and BC in the UF group were 1.335 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.299–1.372), 1.796 (95% CI 1.542–2.092), and 1.3 (95% CI 1.198–1.41), respectively. When we analyzed the risk of BC according to age at inclusion, UFs group had the increased risk of BCs in all age groups in comparison with control group. Women with low SES (HR 0.514, 95% CI 0.36–0.734) and living in rural areas (HR 0.889, 95% CI 0.822–0.962) had a lower risk of BC. Our study showed that women with UFs had a higher risk of BBD, CIS, and BC than those without UFs. This result suggests that women with UFs should be more conscious of BC than those without UFs. Therefore, doctors should consider recommending regular breast self-exams, mammography, or ultrasound for the early detection of BC in women with UFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several population-based studies and observational studies have shown that oophorectomy is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), and hormone replacement therapy has been associated with a reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer. This study was carried out to investigate whether hysterectomy, which may affect the levels of female hormones, is associated with a risk of cancer of the specific gastrointestinal tract. Methods: This population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted using insurance data provided by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2020. The hysterectomy group included 40- to 59-year-old women who underwent hysterectomy with uterine leiomyoma or uterine endometriosis from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2014. The control group included women aged 40 to 59 years who visited medical institutions for medical examination from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2014. Results: The hysterectomy and non-hysterectomhy groups comprised 66,204 and 89,768 subjects, respectively. The median ages in the non-hysterectomy group and hysterectomy group were 48 (range: 43–53) and 46 (range: 44–49) years, respectively. In the unadjusted results of the analysis, all colorectal cancer (CRC) increased in the hysterectomy alone group (HR 1.222, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.016–1.47, p = 0.033), sigmoid colon cancer increased in the hysterectomy alone group (HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.073–2.724, p = 0.024), and rectal cancer increased in the hysterectomy with adnexal surgery group (HR 1.924, 95% CI 1.073–2.724, p = 0.002). The adjusted results showed that all CRC increased in the hysterectomy alone group (HR 1.406, 95% CI 1.057–1.871, p = 0.019), colon cancer increased in the hysterectomy alone group (HR 1.523, 95% CI 1.068–2.17, p = 0.02), and rectal cancer increased in the hysterectomy with adnexal surgery group (HR 1.933, 95% CI 1.131–3.302, p = 0.016). The all-cause mortality of GI cancer increased in the hysterectomy alone group (HR 3.495, 95% CI 1.347–9.07, p = 0.001). Conclusions: This study showed that the risk of all CRC increased in women who underwent hysterectomy compared with women who did not. In particular, the risk of rectal cancer was significantly higher in the women who underwent hysterectomy with adnexal surgery than in the controls. There was no association between hysterectomy and other GI cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a major barrier to the stable and efficient operation of seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plants. Although the intensity varies regionally, the occurrence of HABs impairs plant operation through severe particulate, organic, and biological fouling of both pretreatment and RO systems. As a result, considerable effort has been put into developing and optimizing pre-treatment techniques to mitigate these problems. This study reviews the historical changes and current status of pretreatment applications based on >110 datasets for large SWRO desalination plants. Chronological analysis underscores the increasing trend in the operation of dissolved air flotation and ultrafiltration systems since severe HABs in the Middle East from 2008 to 2009. The impact of HAB characteristics on system performance was also analyzed, and the efficiency of current pretreatment systems for the removal of HABs was evaluated, along with proposals for operational guidelines. Finally, future strategies for i) intelligent monitoring and prediction of HABs, ii) improvement of unit processes for the removal of algal organic matter, and iii) utilization of algal biomass to alleviate environmental impact were systematically delineated for smarter, safer, and greener operation of future SWRO desalination plants in response to the occurrence of HABs. [Display omitted] • Review on the impact of harmful algal blooms (HABs) on seawater desalination • Analysis of >110 datasets of full-scale SWRO desalination plants • Historical trends and current practice of pretreatment applications • Guidelines for pretreatment operation under HABs occurrences • Future operational directions for smarter, safer and greener desalination practice [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reverse osmosis (RO) is widely accepted for water reuse because it ensures clean water production. However, innovation in the RO process is necessary for water reuse to enhance its recovery while mitigating membrane fouling and reducing the increase in specific energy consumption (SEC). Therefore, circle sequence reverse osmosis (CSRO) adopts a staged design with flow reversal (FR) and a semi-batch design with a jet pump to enhance water flux distribution and energy efficiency for high-recovery water reuse. This study examined the water flux distribution and SEC of CSRO. When the distribution of water flux was compared, CSRO demonstrated a 7.7 % reduction in water flux in the front element compared to semi-batch reverse osmosis (SBRO). This reduction was attributed to advanced designs in SBRO, such as the two-stage design and an FR operation. The SEC of RO systems was also compared under high-recovery conditions. While both SBRO and CSRO achieved SEC reduction of 20–25 % or 9–18 % compared to two-stage RO depending on the feed salinity, CSRO was slightly more energy-efficient for high-saline feed. It is expected that CSRO has excellent potential for high-recovery water reuse, considering the improvement in water flux distribution and energy efficiency. [Display omitted] • Circle sequence reverse osmosis (CSRO) is newly proposed for water reuse. • CSRO adopts a staged design with FR and a semi-batch design with a jet pump. • Design advancements of CSRO were compared with two-stage RO and SBRO. • CSRO effectively concentrated the feed with evenly distributed water flux in RO. • CSRO was more energy-efficient than SBRO for concentrating the high TDS feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical absorption is widely employed to capture carbon dioxide (CO 2) for addressing climate change. While monoethanolamine (MEA) currently dominates as an absorption solvent, utilizing ammonia-rich wastewater offers advantages such as reduced costs, high absorption capacity, and the generation of ammonium carbamate. This study proposes an innovative fertilizer-drawn forward osmosis (FDFO)-membrane contactor (MC) hybrid system for economically and sustainably mitigating CO 2 emissions using ammonia-rich wastewater. First, ammonia-lean synthetic wastewater was concentrated through an FDFO system, using three fertilizers (KCl, monoammonium phosphate, and diammonium phosphate) as draw solutions. While KCl achieved a 45% ammonia dilution, diammonium phosphate yielded the highest concentration approximately 49%. Also, MCs were assessed for CO 2 absorption under various operational conditions. Increased liquid concentration and flow rates improved CO 2 capture efficiency, whereas higher CO 2 flow rates and concentrations resulted in an adverse effect. Furthermore, a simulation study of a hybrid FDFO-MC system was conducted to evaluate the feasibility and potential of the system. The results indicated that the FDFO-MC hybrid system has the potential to efficiently remove CO 2 if sufficient concentration and flow rate of ammonia-rich solution was secured at the FDFO outlet. This innovation addresses CO 2 emissions and wastewater challenges, adhering to circular economy principles. [Display omitted] • A new hybrid system was proposed for CO 2 capture using ammonia-rich wastewater. • The FDFO process for ammonia concentration was evaluated using three fertilizers. • DAP draw solution exhibited the highest ammonia concentration rate of 49%. • The CO 2 removal was enhanced by pH increase and ammonia solution concentration. • The optimized FDFO-MC integration could improve CO 2 removal efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overall goal is to study the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on membrane distribution of major water channel protein aquaporin 5 (AQP5) in salivary gland during hyperglycemia. Par C10 cells treated with high glucose (50 mM) showed a reduced membrane distribution of AQP5. The functional expression of AQP5 was downregulated due to intracellular Ca 2+ overload and ER stress. This reduction in AQP5 expression impairs water permeability and therefore results in hypo-salivation. A reduced salivary flow was also observed in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice model and the expression of AQP5 and phospho-AQP5 was downregulated. Low-level laser treatment with 850 nm (30 mW, 10 min = 18 J/cm 2 ) reduced ER stress and recovered AQP5 membrane distribution via serine phosphorylation in the cells. In the STZ-induced diabetic mouse, LLLT with 850 nm (60 J/cm 2 ) increased salivary flow and upregulated of AQP5 and p-AQP5. ER stress was also reduced via downregulation of caspase 12 and CHOP. In silico analysis confirmed that the serine 156 is one of the most favorable phosphorylation sites of AQP5 and may contribute to the stability of the protein. Therefore, this study suggests high glucose inhibits phosphorylation-dependent AQP5 membrane distribution. High glucose induces intracellular Ca 2+ overload and ER stress that disrupt AQP5 functional expression. Low-level laser therapy with 850 nm improves salivary function by increasing AQP5 membrane distribution in hyperglycemia-induced hyposalivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: IL-6 is a multifunctional cytokine that is important for immune responses, cell survival, apoptosis, and proliferation. However, little is known about the correlation between the IL-6 signaling pathway and DNA damage in human tumors. The present study demonstrates the role of the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway in human tumor cells exposed to DNA damage. Tumor cells exposed to DNA damage increase the expression and secretion of IL-6 and the phosphorylation of JAK1 and STAT3. The activation of the JAK1–STAT3 signaling pathway is inhibited by knockdown of gp130 or neutralization of soluble IL-6, implying that DNA damage induces the phosphorylation of JAK1 and STAT3 by autocrine IL-6. Interestingly, inhibition of the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway impairs the growth of tumor cells exposed to DNA damage and results in the induction of senescence. Therefore, the present study suggests that IL-6 inhibits senescence but promotes the survival and proliferation of tumor cells exposed to DNA damage through the activation of the JAK1–STAT3 signaling pathway. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]