Search

Perchlorate, a hazardous pollutant, is mainly found in untreated wastewater from urban and industrial sites and unregulated surface and groundwater sources. Effective monitoring of perchlorate in water is essential to mitigate its potential harmful effects. Microfluidic systems are evolving as promising technologies for detecting chemical contaminants in water due to their ability to enable rapid analysis with minimal consumption of reagents and samples. The integration of paper-based microfluidic devices with digital imaging has garnered enormous attention from the perspective of developing portable analytical techniques. Nevertheless, there is a need for further exploration to fully realize the potential of these systems. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the performance of a microfluidic paper-based device for measuring perchlorate levels in water samples. Smartphone-based digital imaging was integrated with microfluidic paper-based analytical device to establish a reliable colorimetric method for detecting perchlorate contamination. The results demonstrated successful quantitative estimation of perchlorate levels in water samples using a colorimetric assay based on the methylene blue-perchlorate reaction. Real-time, on-site colorimetric data were collected using a digital smartphone, and image processing methods were used to detect the occurrence of perchlorate in water samples from digital images. The developed approach yielded a broad linear response ranging from 4 to 12 µg/L (R2 = 0.97) for perchlorate detection, with a limit of detection of 3.41 µg/L and a limit of quantification of 10.34 µg/L. The findings underscore the effectiveness of colorimetric analysis and digital imaging for paper-based analytical devices. The limitations of this method include the capability to detect only a single analyte and the requirement for additional steps in image processing to obtain analytical results. Future developments should focus on designing devices for simultaneous detection of multiple contaminants and exploring automated methods of image analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The early career professionals in the field of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) face unique challenges and hurdles while establishing their careers in the field. The Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR) has expanded the role of the early career section within the society to foster the careers of future CMR leaders. This paper aims to describe the obstacles and available opportunities for the early career CMR professionals worldwide. Societal opportunities and actions targeted at the professional advancement of the early career CMR imagers are needed to ensure continuous growth of CMR as an imaging modality globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analysed the influence of surfactants used in the paper industry for cleaning paper machines on polymer-wood composites which can be used in wastewater treatment technology. NALCO 8683 and NALBRITE 2623 surfactants as well as specially prepared composites – thermoplastic and crushed wood samples were used for the research. The mechanical properties of wood-polymer composites (WPC) treated with surfactants were tested under the conditions of static bending and stretching. During the research, it was found that the influence of surfactants on the wood-polymer composites is determined by the residence time of the samples in the solution and the amount of filler used. The test results confirm that wood-polymer composite-based fittings exhibit higher bending and tensile strength compared to those consisting of pure polypropylene. On the basis of the obtained results, it can be concluded that wood-polymer composites can be successfully used as materials for the production of elements used in the moving bed bioreactor technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency of UV/Fenton process was investigated to treat the paper recycling industry wastewater. The effect of Fenton treatment on various water quality parameters namely, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), total solids (TS), nitrates, phosphates, and heavy metals (Hg, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu) was investigated. The COD, BOD, EC, TDS, TSS, TS, nitrates, phosphates, and heavy metals reduction percentages remained very high (>90%) for various wastewater samples treated. The strategy involving gradual increase in the mass loading (in terms of increasing the share of original wastewater in dilution showed that the UV/Fenton process was efficient to treat paper industry wastewater. The best results were obtained when paper industry wastewater was diluted with nine parts as real wastewater and one part dilution by freshwater. The findings of this study demonstrate that the UV/Fenton process can significantly break down a variety of pollutants from paper recycling industry wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a typical refractory malignancy, and many patients have distant organ metastases at diagnosis, such as liver metastasis and peritoneal dissemination. The standard treatment for unresectable PDAC with distant organ metastasis (UR-M) is chemotherapy, but the prognosis remained poor. However, with recent dramatic developments in chemotherapy, the prognosis has gradually improved, and some patients have experienced marked shrinkage or disappearance of their metastatic lesions. With this trend, attempts have been made to resect a small number of metastases (so-called oligometastases) in combination with the primary tumor or to resect the primary and metastatic tumor in patients with a favorable response to anti-cancer treatment after a certain period of time (so-called conversion surgery). An international consensus meeting on surgical treatment for UR-M PDAC was held during the Joint Congress of the 26th Meeting of the International Association of Pancreatology (IAP) and the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Japan Pancreas Society (JPS) in Kyoto in July 2022. The presenters showed their indications for and results of surgical treatment for UR-M PDAC and discussed their advantages and disadvantages with the experts. Although these reports were limited to a small number of patients, findings suggest that these surgical treatments for patients with UR-M PDAC who have had a significant response to chemotherapy may contribute to a prognosis of prolonged survival. We hope that this article summarizing the discussion and agreements at the meeting will serve as the basis for future trials and guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC), which progresses locally and surrounds major vessels, has historically been deemed unresectable. Surgery alone failed to provide curative resection and improve overall survival. With the advancements in treatment, reports have shown favorable results in LAPC after undergoing successful chemotherapy therapy or chemoradiation therapy followed by surgical resection, so-called "conversion surgery", at experienced high-volume centers. However, recognizing significant regional and institutional disparities in the management of LAPC, an international consensus meeting on conversion surgery for LAPC was held during the Joint Congress of the 26th Meeting of the International Association of Pancreatology (IAP) and the 53rd Annual Meeting of Japan Pancreas Society (JPS) in Kyoto in July 2022. During the meeting, presenters reported the current best multidisciplinary practices for LAPC, including preoperative modalities, best systemic treatment regimens and durations, procedures of conversion surgery with or without vascular resections, biomarkers, and genetic studies. It was unanimously agreed among the experts in this meeting that "cancer biology is surpassing locoregional anatomical resectability" in the era of effective multiagent treatment. The biology of pancreatic cancer has yet to be further elucidated, and we believe it is essential to improve the treatment outcomes of LAPC patients through continued efforts from each institution and more international collaboration. This article summarizes the agreement during the discussion amongst the experts in the meeting. We hope that this will serve as a foundation for future international collaboration and recommendations for future guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper industry produces large volumes of wastewater causing environmental pollution due to containing high levels of organic matter. In the present study, native yeasts of one of the paper and cardboard recycling industries wastewater were isolated and identified, and their efficiency in the wastewater bioremediation was investigated. In this experimental study, after sampling, the yeast strains of the wastewater were isolated and identified. After preparing the yeast suspension, experiments were performed on the main sample of the wastewater and the modified samples with pH 5, 6, and 7, dilution of 25% and 50%, and incubation time of 48 and 96 h. The efficiency of these yeasts in removing chemical oxygen demand (COD) was also investigated. The results showed that this industrial wastewater contains high levels of turbidity and COD. Two types of yeast, including Candida glabrata and Candida albicans, were identified. The optimal pH for C. albicans was 6 and for C. glabrata was 5. According to the results of the experiments, COD removal efficiency by these yeasts was 71% and 81.8%, respectively, at incubation time of 96 h and dilution of 25% of the wastewater at optimal pH. It seems that according to the characteristics of these isolated yeast species and their ability to remove COD, they can be considered as an economic and eco-friendly option for the treatment of the mentioned industrial wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical degradation of tetraethylrhodamine, commonly known as Rhodamine B (RhB) in acidic aqueous solutions, was examined utilizing a platinum grid anode and a stainless steel cathode. This dye is a substance used to impart color to cotton, silk paper, bamboo, weed, leather, and other materials as well as to prepare carbon paper, ball pen, stamp pad inks, paintings, etc. In case of being swallowed by humans and animals, this chemical compound causes an irritation to the skin, eyes, gastrointestinal and respiratory tract, in addition to phototoxic and photoallergic responses. Experimental evidence of carcinogenicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, and chronic toxicity in people and animals has been established. The effects of various experimental parameters on the RhB dye degradation were investigated. The optimum conditions are: a current of 100 mA, Fe(II) = 10 mg/L, and Na2SO4 = 10 mg/L. All the experiments were carried out at pH = 2.5. The % removal = 98.75 after 120 min. The combination of electro-Fenton and ultrasonic irradiation with a low frequency (sono-electro-Fenton process) was also studied. Sonoelectrochemical treatment of RhB-contaminated water yielded a significant, considerable percentage of 99% after 90 min at a current of 100 mA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulp and paper industry produces effluents with harmful compounds that require appropriate treatment to improve its quality to meet the stringent discharge standards. This study aims to investigate the effect of operating conditions on the performance of two methods, bio-film sequencing batch reactors (SBR) and conventional SBR, used for pulp and paper wastewater treatment. Synthetic feed samples with a composition of chemical oxygen demand (COD) equals 2,500 mg/L were employed. Two identical reactors were operated in parallel for six separate scenarios. In the first three scenarios, the reactors were operated with different hydraulic retention times (HRT) of 2, 3, and 4 d, respectively. The fourth and fifth scenarios had HRT of 4 and 3 d under specific concentrations of lead and zinc (2 and 3.6 mg/L, respectively). The sixth scenario was operated under shock loads of lead and zinc (4 and 7.2 mg/L, respectively) at hydraulic retention time of 3 d. On the other side, general purpose simulator was applied to investigate the performance of SBR and bio-film SBR under various organic and hydraulic loads. Also, the performance of the two reactors under shock organic loads (COD reaching up to 5,000 mg/L) was investigated. Experimental results indicated that bio-film SBR provided better performance than SBR and had a high ability to sustain the various organic hydraulic loads of pulp and paper wastewater. The results recorded that average COD removal efficiency for the SBR and bio-film SBR systems were 97.0% and 99.21%, respectively. Simulation results showed that bio-film SBR outperform SBR treatment under different organic and hydraulic shock loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing pressure on natural resources and the climate has been noted by businesses and governments worldwide, who now face the difficult task of integrating paths of environmental sustainability and economic growth. One promising approach to sustainable development, reducing the pressure on natural resources and solving waste problems is circular economy. From different ways of implementing circular economy, this study focuses on the productization of industrial side streams, which carry a great deal of underutilized potential. In this article, the productization of pulp and paper industry side stream, fiber sludge, for commercial use as a dust-binding agent is studied via a descriptive, in-depth case study. Apart from inconsistent quality, fluctuating supply, cost of storage and logistics, what makes industrial side stream utilization challenging is the lack of knowledge that stakeholders have about side streams and their utilization and the lack of new value chain development for their commercial use. Therefore, it is essential for all parties involved to have a clearer vision of what is being sold for what purposes, through productization. This study found that the productization of side streams follows the same steps as the productization of any other traditional product, and the productized side streams can be added to the company's product portfolio as by-products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper-recycling mills are serious environmental threats due to their high water consumption and highly polluted wastewater. Particles are the most common issue of paper-recycling wastewater, and their removal is of particular interest for recycling. Rotating dissolved air flotation (RDAF) is a system for separating particles, and the mixing zone of this system, where particles collide with air bubbles, is the most important part. As a widely used system in various industries, RDAF has rarely been investigated in the literature in terms of its optimization and efficiency improvement. In general, RDAF processes are basically the same as those of conventional dissolved air flotation (DAF) systems; thus the results of RDAF can be applied to other DAF systems. In this work, the mixing zone of a full-scale RDAF for the paper-recycling mill wastewater treatment was investigated to predict particle-bubble collision efficiency, consisting of both particle-bubble transport and attachment, and the diameter of the formed particles in different turbulence conditions. ANSYS CFX R18.0, mathematical modeling, and experimental analysis were simultaneously conducted in this research. Based on experimental operation, four scenarios including flow rates and the discharge condition of effluent into the mixing zone were studied. Bubbles with sizes of 60, 80, and 100 µm, the turbulences were calculated. The obtained particle-bubble collision efficiencies indicated the diameter of output particles ranged from 50 to 300 µm. Also, the static light scattering test was performed to determine the particle sizes. The modeling and experimental results both showed that the collision efficiency was higher with the production of larger particles when valves #3 and #4 were opened in the mixing zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statins have been shown to cause myopathy (1 per 10,000 patient years) and rhabdomyolysis (2-3 per 100,000 patient years) but most muscle symptoms generally attributed to statins are thought to be nocebo effects (i.e., not different between statins and placebo). However, most muscle symptoms in patients randomized to statin therapy were not attributed to statins. Even in the first year of treatment, only 1 in 15 patients with muscle symptoms can be attributed to statins. [Extracted from the article]

Dielectric barrier discharge ionization (DBDi) and a mixture of coagulants (poly aluminum chloride (PAC) and chitosan) in this study were combined for liquid waste treatment of pulp and paper industry. A coagulant was added as a pre-treatment of liquid waste that contained total suspended solids (TSS). The effect of coagulant and time on the reduction of TSS, reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD), and color were investigated in this study. The coagulant was a combination of PAC and chitosan with amounts of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 g/L. DBDi process was conducted at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 min. A combination of DBDi and coagulants was performed to investigate the reduction of TSS, COD, and color. The initial liquid waste characteristics in this study were 3,929.40 mg/L of COD, 4,185 mg/L of TSS, and 17,140 Pt-Co of color. The efficiency of COD removal was significant at 89.81% using 0.3 g/L coagulant mixture and 40 min of DBDi operation time with a power input of 75 W. The highest TSS removal reached 99.14% and 99.22% color removals. The highest TSS and color removals were observed at 0.4 g/L coagulant and 50 min DBDi operating time. It can be concluded that the combination of DBDi with a mixture of coagulant (PAC and chitosan) is significantly effective in treating liquid waste pulp and paper industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, recycling and re-use of materials is extremely important due to the diminishing of natural resources. The objective of the European Union’s circular economy strategy is to increase recycling and the use of industrial waste materials and side streams as secondary raw materials. In this study, a chemical precipitation method to simultaneously remove ammonium nitrogen and phosphate from the liquid phase of anaerobic digestate using calcined paper mill sludge was studied. Papermill sludge is a waste material that forms in the paper-making process. In addition, commercial calcium oxide (CaO) was used as a reference precipitant. The suitability of the formed precipitate’s composition for recycled fertilizer use was also considered. The study results indicated that calcined paper mill sludge was as effective precipitant as commercial CaO in the removal of ammonium nitrogen and phosphate from the synthetic wastewater. In addition, the results indicated that calcined paper mill sludge removed efficiently phosphate from the liquid phase of anaerobic digestate, which led to the formation of hydroxyapatite, Ca5(PO4 )3 (OH). In this research we have shown, that calcined paper mill sludge can be used to produce recycled, slow-release, solid fertilizer. Another possible reaction, such as adsorption was also considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional biological treatment of pulp and paper mill wastewater may not be enough to satisfy the discharge limits, more effective processes such as advanced oxidation technologies may be used as advanced treatments for the removal of color and refractory contaminants. In this study, biologically treated effluent from pulp and paper mill (BTEPM) has been examined by iron-carbon micro-electrolysis coupled with H2O2 (ICME-H2O2). Under the optimal treatment conditions (Fe/C = 1:2.5, pH = 2.5, 100 min reaction, 9 mmol/L H2O2 added in three aliquots), the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency attained 81% which is much more efficient than ICME without H2O2 under its optimal experimental conditions (42%). In addition, the initial biodegradability of BTEPM, as shown by BOD5/COD ratio, can be enhanced after treatment. The morphology and content of iron and the evolution of H2O2 content in the system under the optimal operating parameters were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, biologically treated effluents (BTW) from pulp and paper industry still contain a significant organic load, which makes it unsuitable to discharge directly into the waterway. Therefore, a tertiary treatment by activated carbon adsorption was investigated. To improve the treatment efficiency of BTW in the pulp and paper industry, wood-based activated carbon (WAC) was modified by microwave irradiation (MWAC). WAC and MWAC were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, N2 adsorption, elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Compared with WAC, MWAC has a higher surface area and lower oxygen-containing groups. The BTW adsorption capacity of MWAC is higher than that of WAC. WAC and MWAC were used to remove chemical oxygen demand (COD) in BTW and the effects of adsorbent dosage, contact time, pH and temperature on the removal of COD in BTW were studied. The adsorption isotherms of WAC and MWAC revealed that the Langmuir models applied to the adsorption process. Molecular weight analysis showed that 1,531 Da was the main component in untreated and treated BTW. MWAC seemed to be more effective in adsorbing small molecular organics due to more micropores. The result indicated that microwave radiation was an efficient method to modify activated carbon for BTW tertiary treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effluent from paper industry was oxygenated till saturation using Lark Hygiene Fermenter at 25°C under real time environment. Time, speed, and feed concentration were selected as dominant input factors to determine the dissolved oxygen (DO) under response surface methodology (RSM) based Box–Behnken design to provide 17 experimental runs. The experimental results were optimized using RSM and artificial neural networks (ANN). From RSM analysis, a second-order quadratic representation for single objective optimization was successfully fitted which produced R² = 99.07 and R² adj = 97.87. Analysis of variance results shows that time and feed concentration were the most significant parameters than the speed, influencing the DO. Another single objective optimization tool ANN produced R² = 96.27 and R² adj = 94.06. Validation analysis provided the predicted values by RSM and ANN were close to the validation values, whereas RSM showed a better prediction than the ANN with the lowest deviation. Hence, the optimal condition predicted by RSM was taken to conduct the confirmatory experiment. The confirmatory experimental condition of time at 6 min, speed of 142 rpm with 90% concentration produced the minimal DO of 5.38 ppm. The error percentage of the predicted with confirmatory experimental and theoretical equations results were 1.11% and 0.035%, respectively, which validates the predicted model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the beneficial reuse of paper mill sludge as landfill cover and bottom liner material in municipal solid waste landfills. For this purpose, two-dimensional finite element analyses of a typical landfill geometry were carried out using PLAXIS finite element program. The results of the analyses were evaluated in terms of displacement and factor of safety (FS) values, and compared with those of the compacted clay. The results of this study showed that, vertical and lateral displacements of the landfill slightly increased while the FS of the landfill slopes decreased with increasing surface loading. However, for all the cases studied, lower vertical and lateral displacements and higher FS values were obtained for the landfills with paper mill sludge as the cover and bottom liner material in comparison to those of the compacted clay. Besides, for all the cases studied, FS values greater than 1.5 were obtained, indicating that the landfill slopes were stable under the proposed loadings and landfill cover and bottom liner materials. Based on these results, it can be stated that the paper mill sludge examined in this paper has geotechnical properties that are desirable for a landfill cover and bottom liner material for use as a substitute of compacted clay in municipal solid waste landfills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generative artificial intelligence (GAI) is a rapidly growing field with a wide range of applications. In this paper, a thorough examination of the research landscape in GAI is presented, encompassing a comprehensive overview of the prevailing themes and topics within the field. The study analyzes a corpus of 1319 records from Scopus spanning from 1985 to 2023 and comprises journal articles, books, book chapters, conference papers, and selected working papers. The analysis revealed seven distinct clusters of topics in GAI research: image processing and content analysis, content generation, emerging use cases, engineering, cognitive inference and planning, data privacy and security, and Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (GPT) academic applications. The paper discusses the findings of the analysis and identifies some of the key challenges and opportunities in GAI research. The paper concludes by calling for further research in GAI, particularly in the areas of explainability, robustness, cross-modal and multi-modal generation, and interactive co-creation. The paper also highlights the importance of addressing the challenges of data privacy and security in GAI and responsible use of GAI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B I Significance: i b In patients for whom statin medications are indicated to lower cardiovascular risk but who are unable or unwilling to take statins at appropriate doses, bempedoic acid lowers LDL and CRP levels and lowers the risk of cardiovascular events. B Bempedoic Acid and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Statin-Intolerant Patients. b B I NEJM i b B . doi: b 10.1056/NEJMoa2215024 B . b B I Background: i b Bempedoic acid is an ATP citrate lyase inhibitor that targets cholesterol synthesis upstream of statin drugs. It would be interesting to assess whether patients who achieved the LDL goal of 50-70 mg/dl on medium dose statin had similar benefit compared to those who achieved LDL < 70 md/dl using high-intensity statin. [Extracted from the article]

Waste papers, although known as a potential global concern, could be used as an adsorbent for removal of lead ions from the aqueous medium, following some degrees of modifications. The present study deals with the adsorption of Pb(II) ion from aqueous solution by using phosphate-functionalized treated waste papers (PF-TWPs). Batch adsorption study was performed based on contact time, pH, adsorbent dose, and temperature. There was logical coordination of experimental data with Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. The results of this study showed that the percentage of Pb(II) adsorption on the PF-TWPs increased with increasing pH of approximately 5.5, higher or lower pHs showed no remarkable variation in adsorption capacity. The kinetics analysis showed a substantial correlation between the experimental adsorption data with the pseudo-second-order model. Besides, thermodynamic studies were conducted to explore the adsorption of Pb(II) onto PF-TWPs, regarding the influence of temperature on this process. The spontaneity and endothermicity of the Pb(II) adsorption process were identified based on the negative free energy value and positive enthalpy change. The result of the present study showed that the PF-TWPs could be used as a cost-effective adsorbent for Pb(II) removal from industrial effluent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores digital reality replication for cultural consumption and green-digital open-system innovation, along with responsible, sustainable practices fashioned in a post-COVID-19 era. We address these after the dystopian effects of lockdown on global tourism and, in particular, the looming crisis of unsustainable 'overtourism'. The aim of this paper is to disclose problems and policies related to moderating consumption to more sustainable levels. The scope of the article tackles three fields: urban re-branding, fast fashion, and overtourism. Each problem area is analysed against the background of digital surveillance in the attention economy with the aid of a conceptual model. Accordingly, the principal objectives of this paper are to analyse key sustainability problem sources, evolutionary processes, and policy responses. The paper's originality and value lie in its recognition of tractable problem engagement through conceptual and practicable methods. This contribution also explores other consumption modes that tourists appreciate, namely, retail activity and its unsustainable "fast fashion" obsession. Finally, the paper analyses urban soft branding, the third tourism attractor within the niche touristic activity of the creative-cultural and gastronomic kind, which also features impulses that affect the perpetuation of unsustainable touristic practices. Thus, this contribution also assesses various studies on tourism futures that exploit digital media to assist in conserving both natural and cultural environments. Accordingly, we first narrate the soft re-branding of an "Art City" as a "Fashion City" and consider the example of green-digital innovation in the cultural milieu of Florence, Italy, in light of criticism of the unsustainability of "fast fashion". We consider which actions are envisioned or advised in the similarly "over-touristed" city of Venice. In a different vein, we consider whether the mobilisation of 'pop celebrity' performers such as audience engagers or influencers works for sustainable intervention through an assessment of the cultural interventions of Madonna in Lisbon. Finally, we anatomise "green" politics and policies for creative-cultural cities with the support of digital media to influence sustainable actions to moderate or, alternatively, revitalise polluted, congested, or otherwise over-touristed city centres. The greening of central Paris, Barcelona, Milan, and London offer a a series of examples of this type of moderation and revitalisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial contamination of water, as well as the development of biofilm in irrigation systems, is one of the factors contributing to water losses, leading to a decrease in the optimization of the irrigation process and, consequently, a decrease in plant production. Water shortages are a highly undesirable phenomenon, particularly within the context of anthropogenic climate changes and the constraint of potable water resources. Biofilm can also be a reservoir of pathogenic microorganisms for human health, animal welfare, and plant production. Contaminated water used to irrigate vegetables that do not require heat treatment can lead to pathogen propagation, causing disease outbreaks. Therefore, it is essential to understand the dynamics of biofilm development and its underlying mechanisms, as well as its relation to water quality, to develop strategies that could help reduce or prevent biofilm formation and its negative effects. The analysis of factors promoting the development and composition of biofilm in irrigation systems allows the implementation of the most effective preventive methods, which translate into the optimization of the irrigation process and plant production. This paper aims to analyze reports related to the formation and microbial composition of biofilms occurring in agricultural irrigation systems, as well as to present the risks associated with biofilm formation and methods for its eradication. This review summarizes reports related to the various factors influencing biofilm formation and irrigation water quality, which may be a prelude to a comprehensive assessment and formulation of guidelines related to the management of water-based irrigation systems to improve biosafety. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetically recyclable and self-propulsive micron carbon fiber (CF) immobilizing Fe3O4 nanoparticles with favorable solar-Fenton catalytic activity were successfully prepared by a combined twostep method. In the first step, CF was synthesized from waste paper and subsequently modified by mussel-inspired polydopamine (PDA) with biomimetic adhesion function and highly active functional groups. In the second, well-dispersed Fe3O4 nanoparticles were fabricated and anchored on the surface of the PDA modified CF. The solar-Fenton catalytic performance and reusability for the composites were fully evaluated. The results show the degradation rate of the prepared catalyst for methylene blue (MB) in a free agitating process reached 97.8% after 80 min under simulated Sunlight. After 10 repetitive catalytic cycles, the degradation rate for MB could maintain above 95% meanwhile the magnetic properties of the catalyst remained strong indicating good recovery of the catalyst after the reaction. The possible degradation mechanism of MB is also discussed. It indicates that hydroxyl radicals play an important role in the catalytic degradation reaction, while hole trapping and superoxide radical are beneficial to the enhancement of decolorization efficiency of MB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite decades of accruing evidence supporting the clinical utility of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), adoption of CMR in routine cardiovascular practice remains limited in many regions of the world. Persistent use of long scan times of 60 min or more contributes to limited adoption, though techniques available on most scanners afford routine CMR examination within 30 min. Incorporating such techniques into standardize protocols can answer common clinical questions in daily practice, including those related to heart failure, cardiomyopathy, ventricular arrhythmia, ischemic heart disease, and non-ischemic myocardial injury. Body: In this white paper, we describe CMR protocols of 30 min or shorter duration with routine techniques with or without stress perfusion, plus specific approaches in patient and scanner room preparation for efficiency. Minimum requirements for the scanner gradient system, coil hardware and pulse sequences are detailed. Recent advances such as quantitative myocardial mapping and other add-on acquisitions can be incorporated into the proposed protocols without significant extension of scan duration for most patients. Conclusion: Common questions in clinical cardiovascular practice can be answered in routine CMR protocols under 30 min; their incorporation warrants consideration to facilitate increased access to CMR worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the Journal of Palaeogeography (Chinese Edition and English Edition) continually received manuscripts, in which some authors are from China and some are from Pakistan, Lithuania, Morocco, South Africa, etc. The authors of these manuscripts, according to the viewpoint and method of Miall's paper (1985), selected rocks from each bed in the clastic sections of their study areas and induced some rock types, such as conglomerates, sandstones and fine-grained stones, and considered them as lithofacies. It does not conform to the definition of lithofacies. I wrote some papers, i.e., Feng (2018, 2019, 2020), to point out the problems and hope that the authors worldwide, especially Chinese authors, will not continually cite, spread and follow Miall's paper (1985) viewpoint and method blindly. Prof. Miall is the first person who considered rocks (in fact, the sediments) as lithofacies and proposed a facies analysis method. His viewpoint and facies analysis method confused the definition of facies and facies analysis method. My current paper is a special article to discuss the principal problems of Miall's paper (1985), i.e., he considered the sediments as lithofacies and utilized lithofacies to analyze facies, but not to discuss the contributions and less strictness of architectural elements of his paper. Here, I have to declare that the facies in my current paper is the facies of sedimentary petrology, but not of other geological disciplines, such as igneous petrology, metamorphic petrology, palaeontology, stratigraphy, geophysics, geochemistry. Certainly, the definitions of facies and lithofacies are controversial. My current paper will adhere to the policy of "A hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend". I hope that through academic discussions, contends and geological practice, these problems will be solved gradually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B I Significance: i b The study shows that the risk of incident cardiovascular disease extends well beyond the acute phase of COVID-19, and were evident even among those who did not need hospitalization. B I Background: i b Invasive coronary angiography (ICA) is the reference standard for diagnosis of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), and CT offers a non-invasive approach to rule out the presence of obstructive CAD. B I Background: i b Although the short-term cardiovascular complications of acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are well established, the long-term outcomes are not fully described. [Extracted from the article]

Membrane bioreactor (MBR) offers significant advantages for effluent quality, footprint, sludge production, and operation. In this study, the performance of an MBR was evaluated in a hybrid airlift membrane bioreactor (HAMBR) operating under various hydraulic retention times (HRTs). Results demonstrated that HAMBR could effectively remove organic and nutrient pollutants. The removal percentages of chemical oxygen demand, ammonium and total nitrogen for permeate and supernatant were in the range of 87%–99%, 44%–96%, and 45%–95%, respectively. The results indicated that the HAMBR can be used effectively for simultaneous nitrification-denitrification in the treatment of wastewater, even at low HRTs. Regarding membrane fouling rate, HRT of 36 h could significantly mitigate membrane fouling compared with the shorter HRTs and it was an optimal HRT value for removal of organic matter. Therefore, HAMBR was introduced as a superior MBR regarding performance efficiency and membrane fouling in the treatment of wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulp and paper industry generates effluent containing harmful compounds like chlorophenols which are difficult to biodegrade. It requires an appropriate treatment in order to meet the stringent discharge standards. In this work, a bench scale column type sequential batch reactor (SBR) was employed for treating pulp and paper wastewater. The performance of SBR, seeded with acclimatized sludge was optimized and analysed for maximizing COD and AOX removal. The process parameters viz; pH, initial COD, cycle time and MLSS were optimized and their effects on response variables: COD removal efficiency, AOX removal efficiency and SVI were investigated. The optimum conditions were determined to be: initial COD 1200 mg/l, pH 7.5, MLSS 2100 mg/L and cycle time 15 h, for 73.2% COD removal, 57.6% AOX removal and 122.8 mL/g SVI. The complex compounds were broken down into numerous intermediate compounds thus enhancing COD and AOX removal with low SVI. The bio-kinetics of the optimized system was also analyzed in order to understand the bacterial nature towards substrate utilization. Two kinetic models namely Grau second-order model and Stover-Kincannon model were found to be fitwell with high correlation coefficients (R² = 0.99) for COD as well as AOX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using usual care as reference, clinician and combined nudge were associated with significantly increased statin prescription (adjusted percentage increase of 5.5%, 95% CI [3.4-7.8%], P = 0.01; and 7.2% [5.1-9.1%], P = 0.001, respectively), while patient nudge alone did not result in significant change (0.9% [-0.8 to 2.5%], P = 0.32). The use of hs-cTn was associated with increased utilization of echocardiography among patients with acute coronary syndrome (adjusted odds ratio 1.43, 95% CI [1.19-1.73]) but not low-risk patients. On the other hand, hs-cTn resulted in less utilization of invasive coronary angiography among low-risk patients (adjusted odds ratio 0.73 [0.58-0.92]) and similar utilization among high-risk patients. [Extracted from the article]

Among patients with normal PET MPI, 126 patients (18.4%) did not have CAD, 269 patients (39.4%) had non-obstructive CAD, and 288 patients (42.2%) had obstructive CAD by CCTA. CCTA demonstrated 619 patients (27.3%) without CAD, 988 patients (43.5%) with non-obstructive CAD, and 661 patients (29.1%) with obstructive CAD. The warranty period for patients with non-obstructive CAD by CCTA and persevered myocardial perfusion by [ SP 15 sp O]H SB 2 sb O PET MPI (n = 269) was longer compared to patients with non-obstructive CAD and abnormal myocardial perfusion (n = 73): 7 years versus 5 years. [Extracted from the article]

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of ozonation alone and combined ozone/UV process for the removal of colour and chemical oxygen demand (COD) of black liquor discharged from paper and pulp industry. Moreover, the effect of several reaction parameters such as initial pH, ozone dose and reaction time were studied. Finally, pseudo-first-order considerations were applied to determine the rate of reactions in both ozonation alone and ozonation combined with UV process. The results indicate that COD and colour removal were enhanced by increasing the solution pH. The highest COD reduction and decolourization efficiencies were 56% and 71% at pH 9.8 with the O3/UV process with ozone dose of 0.2 mg/mL. The comparative study of both ozonation and UV-Ozone processes indicate that UV-ozone process was found to be more effective as compared with ozonation alone. COD and colour removal of pulp and paper wastewater organic load follows the pseudo-first-order apparent reaction kinetics. The fastest rate constant (4.40 × 10–3 /min) at alkaline pH of wastewater was observed with O3/UV processes. Therefore, it was concluded that O3/UV process showed better performance than O3 alone for the removal of colour and COD in paper and pulp wastewater near wastewater pH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In those cases where construction-generated soils with high water contents are used as filling or embankment materials, it is sometimes difficult to satisfy the specified compaction degrees. Recently, soil stabilization using a paper sludge ash-based stabilizer (PSAS) has been developed. Paper sludge (PS) ash is waste generated by the incineration of PS discharged from paper mills. It has been found that PS ash can absorb and retain excess water; and therefore, PS ash can simultaneously improve the stability of muds when it is mixed with them. However, the current mixture design approach for PSAS-treated soils is only applicable to muds with water contents exceeding the liquid limits and cannot be applied to construction-generated soils in which the coarse fraction is dominant. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of a PSAS on the compaction and mechanical characteristics of coarse-grained soils to use them as materials for irrigation earth dams. A series of compaction tests were conducted on two types of soil samples treated with a PSAS to investigate its effects on the compaction characteristics. The compaction characteristics obtained from the tests were assessed considering the water absorption and retention performance of the PSAS. It was found that the modified optimum water content w * opt of the treated samples, which was evaluated using the amount of water unabsorbed and unretained by the PSAS, was almost equal to the w opt of the untreated samples. Consequently, a new mixture design approach was proposed based on the compaction characteristics. The calculated results successfully demonstrated that, if the compaction curve of an untreated sample and the water absorption and retention ratio, W ab , of the PSAS corresponding to a certain curing period are obtained, the range in the PSAS addition amount, A PS 1m3, required to attain the targeted compaction degree, (D c) target , for the curing period can be estimated without conducting compaction tests on the treated samples. Finally, the strength characteristics of the treated samples prescribed by the proposed mixture design method were investigated by conducting CBR tests and CU ¯ TC tests. Based on the test results, discussions were made on the contribution of the proposed mixture design to the strength development of the treated samples and on the development mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic carbon fiber sheet (MCP) has been successfully prepared by novel one-step flash carbonization and magnetization method using cellulose paper as carbon source and iron(III) chloride and manganese chloride as magnetic source. The as-prepared MCP is systematically characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen physical adsorption (BET) and thermal gravimetric analysis. Congo red (CR) and methylene blue (MB) are employed as the typical anionic and cationic probe pollutant to assess the adsorption performance of the as-prepared MCP, respectively. The adsorption results from aqueous media using a batch technique show that the adsorption can be well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models for anionic CR and cationic MB. The estimated thermodynamic constants indicated that the adsorption is a spontaneous, endothermic process. The maximum adsorption capacity values reach 245 and 140 mg g-1 for CR and MB, respectively. The flash carbonization and synchronous magnetization with cellulose paper can be anticipated to be a good route for resource utilization of wastepaper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is focused on the investigation of seven treatment strategies and the percentage reduction on COD and colour was evaluated and total time required for different treatment strategies were calculated. The results revealed that the COD and colour removal of 97% and 92%, respectively, was attained at 180 min of treatment for the coupled SPF-biological process, 97% and 90% of COD and colour removal was attained at 195 min of treatment for the coupled SPC-biological process whereas 98% and 95% of COD and colour removal at 95 min of treatment for the coupling of combined SPF-PC-biological process confirming the efficiency of the coupled process with a relatively shorter reaction time compared with the other processes. The values of the first order kinetics for the combined SPF-PC-biological process were 0.03 min-1 which is eight times greater than the biological process and 1.4 and 1.87 times faster than the coupled SPF-biological and SPC-biological process, respectively. The economic analysis of various AOPs and the relative cost of AOP-biological processes were discussed and the coupling of combined SPF-PC-biological process was found to be a technically and economically effective in treatment of pulp and paper mill wastewater to meet the effluent discharge standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A decision-making system of sponge facility allocation optimization is established; • The runoff coefficient grading of each sub-catchment area is analyzed; • The regression relationships between LID facilities and the control effects are built; • The layout of LID facilities is optimized and gray facilities are connected reasonably. In order to effectively cope with the destruction of natural hydrological cycle mechanism, frequent urban flood, serious water pollution and other problems, which are caused by the rapid urbanization process, the 'sponge city' concept has been widely used in China. This paper mainly focuses on how to rationally arrange the sponge grey and green facilities in built-up urban areas. With background analysis as the premise, model construction as the platform and swarm intelligence optimization as the method, the optimal proportion of sponge green facilities is determined. Furthermore, gray facilities are strengthened for the problem area, and the optimal allocation scenario of sponge facilities with the combination of gray and green is obtained through continuous circulation. The final results show that the optimal layout proportion of rain garden, sunken green space, permeable pavement and green roof are 3.88%, 7.95%, 2.01% and 0.99% respectively, which can meet the 80% runoff control rate and 40% pollution load control rate in the standard. Based on the simulation results of 50a rainfall, regulation and storage facilities are arranged near the severely overloaded node and the diameter of the overloaded pipes are increased. It can be proved that runoff and pollution can be effectively controlled and urban flood can be alleviated with grey facilities by model. The research results of this paper are expected to provide the overall idea and method of layout optimization of grey-green facilities for sponge city construction in built-up urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of globalization and digitalization, big data and cross-border e-commerce have become important tools for modern supply chain management. Especially in the field of aquatic product supply chain, the use of big data and cross-border e-commerce has brought significant impact. This paper conducted an in-depth study on the impact of cross-border e-commerce on aquatic product supply chain and optimization strategies under the background of big data. This paper starts with the definition and characteristics of big data and cross-border e-commerce, and then analyzes the current situation and existing problems of aquatic product supply chain. This paper deeply discusses the role of cross-border e-commerce in the supply chain of aquatic products and the application and impact of big data in the supply chain of aquatic products in cross-border e-commerce. On this basis, this paper proposes a supply chain management strategy based on big data and the role of cross-border e-commerce in optimizing the supply chain of aquatic products, and verifies it through quantitative research methods. Throughout the research process, a large number of data, formulas and graphs are used to support arguments and arguments. This study provides a novel and practical perspective to view the role of big data and cross-border e-commerce in aquatic product supply chain and optimization strategies, which has important guiding significance for further research in related fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of wastewater treatment generates significant volumes of sludge, typically characterized by high water content. The practice of sludge dewatering plays a crucial role in reducing the volume of sludge and consequently, the associated costs of subsequent treatment, transportation, and disposal. This paper provides an exhaustive and impartial summary of research trends in sludge dewatering, spanning the period from 1993 to 2022. The bibliometric data utilized in this study were sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection database. Over 30 y, 5,836 papers have been published on sludge dewatering, witnessing a rapid growth trend in the number of published papers. The highest contributions in terms of the number of papers were made by authors hailing from China, followed by authors from the USA, Canada, Australia, and Japan. An analysis of keywords indicated that anaerobic digestion was the most frequently used. Three prominent research hotspots emerged: the impact of extracellular polymeric substances on sludge dewatering; the role of thermal hydrolysis in enhancing sludge anaerobic digestion; and the dual aspects of hydrothermal carbonization and heavy metals recovery in the context of sludge reuse and disposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Video-based surgical coaching is gaining traction within the surgical community. It has an increasing adoption rate and growing recognition of its utility, especially an advanced continuous professional growth tool, for continued educational purposes. This method offers instructional flexibility in real-time remote settings and asynchronous feedback scenarios. In our first paper, we delineated fundamental principles for video-based coaching, emphasizing the customization of feedback to suit individual surgeon's needs. Method: In this second part of the series, we review into practical applications of video-based coaching, focusing on quality improvements in a team-based setting, such as the trauma bay. Additionally, we address the potential risks associated with surgical video recording, storage, and distribution, particularly regarding medicolegal aspects. We propose a comprehensive framework to facilitate the implementation of video coaching within individual healthcare institutions. Results: Our paper examines the legal and ethical framework and explores the potential benefits and challenges, offering insights into the real-world implications of this educational approach. Conclusion: This paper contributes to the discourse on integrating video-based coaching into continuous professional development. It aims to facilitate informed decision-making in healthcare institutions, considering the adoption of this innovative educational quality tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the application of controlled robust optimization (CRO) methods in solving conceptual design problems of bulk carriers sailing in the ocean with many uncertainties. Although there are many publications in the literature on the optimization of uncertainties in ships sailing in the ocean environment, most of them have some limitations in deep engineering applications due to high computational costs or methodological limitations. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the feasibility of the CRO approach and to find robust solutions for optimizing ship design for long-term ocean voyages. In this paper, two problems in the conceptual design of bulk carriers for oceanic transportation are investigated. It should be noted that these two problems differ only in terms of the target number and uncertain parameters. Moreover, another robust optimization method is involved in the comparison of the single-objective problem. In order to make the Pareto solution uniformly distributed, a directed search domain approach is used in the optimization process. In this way, a sufficient number of solutions are provided for the designer's analysis at different levels of robustness. The results also show that with the CRO method, the ship designer is able to handle optimization problems with multiple uncertain parameters, which is a useful reference for studying the characteristics associated with this type of ships located in marine navigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

However, screening and routine checking for AF can lead to anticipation anxiety for many patients, frustration in case of false positive, or false reassurance when screening is done intermittently. B I Significance: i b In this prospective, population-based cohort study, screening for ATTR-CM using PYP scans in HFpEF patients 60 years and older with LV wall thickening increased the prevalence of ATTR-CM 6-fold (from 1.3% to 6.3%). B I Significance: i b Personalized trials to inform patients about the influence of presumed self-selected AF triggers failed to improve AF-related quality of life, but did reduce reported AF episodes. [Extracted from the article]

This work aims to produce ceramic-metal composite (cermet) membrane supports based on kaolin and aluminum powders. Flat ceramic membrane supports were prepared from the mixtures of kaolin (K), feldspar (F), sand (S), and two types of aluminum: industrial aluminum waste (Ali) and commercial aluminum (Alc).The samples were obtained by uniaxial pressing with 58.5 MPa in cylindrical moulds and then sintered at 1,350°C for 2 h in order to obtain flat cermet membrane supports of 30 mm in diameter and 6 mm in thickness. Porosity, permeability, and mechanical properties of these supports were studied as functions of the amount of aluminum powder. These characterizations proved that the addition of 4 wt.% aluminum to a 50% kaolin, 25% feldspar, and 25% sand porcelain matrix has a beneficial effect on the membrane support properties. In particular, the presence of aluminum progressively increased water permeability, porosity, and mechanical strength. The cermet membrane support application in the treatment of wastewater from paper mills shows a significant decrease in turbidity, about 97% retention rate of chemical oxygen demand, and an almost total color removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction sludge frequently has high alkalinity after its generation or during the intermediate treatment process. The aim of this study is to experimentally investigate the potential of combining accelerated carbonation and a paper sludge ash-based stabilizer (PSAS) to neutralize the alkalinity of construction sludge in a short period and to improve its strength for use as a recycled material. The experimental results indicate that the addition of a PSAS significantly granulated the alkaline sludge, and once granulated, the PSAS successfully accelerated the pH neutralization of the alkaline sludge. It was also found that the decrease in dry density ρ d and the degree of saturation S r of the PSAS-treated sludge was able to reduce the period required for the pH neutralization, t N. The decrease in ρ d is thought to allow fresh CO 2 gas to penetrate the specimen more easily. However, if S r is below a certain limit, it does not strongly facilitate the reduction of t N. This implies that pH neutralization cannot be accelerated when the amount of water in the sludge is below a certain level. Moreover, it was found that mean particle diameter D 50 also affected t N. The strength development of the PSAS-treated sludge was evaluated using a series of cone index tests. It was found that the strength of the alkaline sludge without the PSAS was significantly decreased by accelerated carbonation, but was significantly increased even after accelerated carbonation when the PSAS was present. Due to the porosities of the remaining PS ash particles, most of the contribution of the water absorption and retention performance of the PSAS to the strength development of the PSAS-treated sludge was secured after accelerated carbonation. In addition, the granulated particles of the PSAS-treated sludge retained their granular shape to some extent. Therefore, it is presumed that the friction and interlocking of the particles did not decrease significantly. It was also found that, after carbonation, the q c of the PSAS-treated sludge increased more rapidly than that of the alkaline sludge without the PSAS. A further detailed examination of the test results showed that under air-curing conditions, the q c of the treated sludge with accelerated carbonation increased relatively gradually compared to that of the treated sludge without accelerated carbonation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B Safety, tolerability, and efficacy of up-titration of guideline-directed medical therapies for acute heart failure (STRONG-HF): a multinational, open-label, randomized, trial. B I Significance: i b In patients who undergo PCI and complete a course of dual antiplatelet therapy, long-term treatment with clopidogrel monotherapy was associated with lower rate of clinical events and lower rate of bleeding compared to aspirin monotherapy. While the original study is a randomized trial, in this extension phase, the patients were given an open-labeled treatment and the antiplatelet therapy was determined by the treating physician. [Extracted from the article]

B Significance: b Results of this study indicate that a DL model trained on polar maps can allow for superior risk stratification of patients when compared to standard measures of risk for CAD. The highest quartile of patients by DL had an annual all-cause mortality rate of 11.87% (95% CI 6.12%-46.3%) with a 16.8-fold increase in risk of death compared to the lowest quartile DL patients I P i < 0.001. This study evaluated the prognostic ability of SP 82 sp Rb cardiac PET parameters in patients with symptoms consistent with CAD but without significant perfusion defects. [Extracted from the article]

Difficulty differentiating background FDG uptake from arterial wall pathology reduces the accuracy of static FDG PET for imaging inflammation and atherosclerosis. The 5-year incidence of AF in the 39 patients with atrial FDG uptake on PET scan was 55% (95% CI 34-72%) compared to 18% (95% CI 10-28%) in the 79 patients without atrial FDG uptake ( I P i < 0.001). Myocarditis was associated significantly with FDG uptake (5 of 10 patients with FDG uptake had prior myocarditis compared to 0 of 7 patients without FDG uptake, I P i = 0.04). [Extracted from the article]

Pancreatic cancer is one of digestive tract cancers with high mortality rate. Despite the wide range of available treatments and improvements in surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, the five-year prognosis for individuals diagnosed pancreatic cancer remains poor. There is still research to be done to see if immunotherapy may be used to treat pancreatic cancer. The goals of our research were to comprehend the tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer, found a useful biomarker to assess the prognosis of patients, and investigated its biological relevance. In this paper, machine learning methods such as random forest were fused with weighted gene co-expression networks for screening hub immune-related genes (hub-IRGs). LASSO regression model was used to further work. Thus, we got eight hub-IRGs. Based on hub-IRGs, we created a prognosis risk prediction model for PAAD that can stratify accurately and produce a prognostic risk score (IRG_Score) for each patient. In the raw data set and the validation data set, the five-year area under the curve (AUC) for this model was 0.9 and 0.7, respectively. And shapley additive explanation (SHAP) portrayed the importance of prognostic risk prediction influencing factors from a machine learning perspective to obtain the most influential certain gene (or clinical factor). The five most important factors were TRIM67, CORT, PSPN, SCAMP5, RFXAP, all of which are genes. In summary, the eight hub-IRGs had accurate risk prediction performance and biological significance, which was validated in other cancers. The result of SHAP helped to understand the molecular mechanism of pancreatic cancer. • We used WGCNA, random forest and LASSO to fuse multiple methods to screen genes. • We constructed a pancreatic cancer risk score model based on immune-related genes. • We compared the accuracy of multiple machine learning methods and select the classifier with the highest accuracy to construct SHAP. • Random forest-based SHAP approach was used to assess the importance of factors influencing prognostic risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]