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Eutrophication of lakes, as one of the most challenging global environmental problems for more than half a century has been addressed by a vast number of publications. Issues hitherto not considered or treated superficially have been discussed here. They concern: i. breakthrough phases in the 100-year period of development of the Eutrophication Concept (EC) and, ii. concepts and theories derived from EC and their complementarity in terms of assumptions and terminology. The paper traces the history of perception of the primary factors responsible for lake eutrophication. It presents the evolution of the approach to the problem, initially focusing on point and then non-point external sources of pollution, supplemented with internal nutrient supply, bottom-up and top-down regulation, with increasing emphasis on the role of interactions in the food web. The article addresses the justification of the Lake Aging Concept (LAC), assuming an inevitable increase in the trophic status during the development of a lake, and unjustly identifying eutrophication with progressing disappearance of lakes in a geologically-relevant timescale. It also discusses the assumptions of the Theory of Alternative Stable States (TASS) and discrepancies between EC and TASS regarding the application of different terminology in reference to the same phenomena and lake classifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substantial loss of biodiversity and the proliferation of invasive alien species can occur due to land cover anthropogenic transformations on islands. However, the effect of anthropogenic habitat modifications on the distribution of insular freshwater microcrustaceans is unknown. In the present paper, we examine the consequences of human activity on the insular diversity of microcrustaceans in the context of the theories of island biogeography and intermediate disturbances. The samples were collected in Madeira Island at 38 freshwater sampling sites with different anthropopressure. Morphology-based species identification of the copepods and cladocerans was supplemented with genetic analysis (COI) in some species. To estimate the species richness of the island, rarefaction, and extrapolation methods were used. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was applied to assess the influence of geospatial and environmental variables on the species distribution. A total of 20 species belonging to six families were identified, of which 16 species are new to Madeira. There was low similarity between the fauna recorded and known previously on the island. The observed species richness was higher than the predictions by the island biogeography models for Madeira. CCA revealed a strong influence of anthropogenic land use on crustaceans. Anthropogenic transformations locally led to the depletion of fauna, but on the island scale they contributed to the increase of species richness including seven putative alien species. An increase in the artificial land cover and a decrease in the forest areas could lead to a further shift in the domination of non-indigenous microcrustaceans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inclusion criteria included patients with angina and positive stress echocardiogram (images interpreted in an echocardiography core laboratory by blinded readers) without obstructive lesions on cardiac CT angiography who were excluded from the ISCHEMIA trial. Encouragingly, when patients were shown their own data, half of the patients who originally abandoned statin therapy successfully restarted treatment. 2021;144:1008-1023 b B I Background: i b Patients with ischemia and non-obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) are often symptomatic and have adverse cardiovascular events. [Extracted from the article]

Digital platform ecosystem governance refers to a platform owner's decisions and mechanisms that seek to influence complementors and users to build and sustain an ecosystem. The relevance of digital platform ecosystem governance is broadly acknowledged by researchers. However, the extant body of research is fragmented, and varied terminologies are employed, leading to challenges in identifying and recognizing results across different fields. This article provides a multidisciplinary and systematic literature review with the aim of consolidating knowledge on this important topic. Based on an analysis of 103 journal articles and conference papers, this review synthesizes the literature into a conceptual model with five building blocks of platform ecosystem governance. The model aims to create a robust foundation for researchers approaching the topic for the first time and conducting subsequent research. The conceptual model also offers practical guidance for governing ecosystems in a structured manner. Finally, this article provides a research agenda with five areas for future investigation. • Multidisciplinary, systematic literature review on platform ecosystem governance. • Synthesis of the literature into a conceptual model with five building blocks. • Robust foundation for understanding the topic and for future research. • Research agenda with five areas and questions for future investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finally, men, Black patients, and dual Medicare-Medicaid-eligible patients had higher risks of adverse outcomes (hazard ratio 1.05 [1.05-1.06], 1.08 [1.07-1.09], and 1.21 [1.20-1.21], respectively). While patients with paroxysmal and persistent AF had improved health-related quality of life scores, patients with first-diagnosis of AF did not have any benefit ( I P i = 0.019). B I Significance: i b Among ambulatory patient with unexplained dyspnea, the H2FPEF score provided superior diagnostic performance to discriminate patients with HFpEF from controls, despite fewer input variables. [Extracted from the article]

Non-wood pulp and paper mills (PMs) with chlorine bleaching, which was identified as a primary pollution source of polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) in water environment, are still widely distributed around important rivers and lakes. The composition profiles and risk assessment of PCDD/Fs in water and sediments around a non‐wood PM, in which a chlorine bleaching treatment is applied, were evaluated. PCDD/Fs concentrations in downstream water and sediments were 0.44 and 1.10 × 10³ pg TEQ kg–1, respectively, which were noticeably higher than these in upstream water and sediments. It is, therefore, important to take into account the cumulative effect of pollution by these effluent emissions from non‐wood PMs. PCDD/Fs analysis provided further information about PCDD/Fs contamination from non‐wood PMs. The environmental risk for fish in water and sediment was low, while for mammalian wildlife in water environment was high, with the risk quotient values higher than 7.00. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of natural coagulants in coagulation-flocculation (CF) process in water and wastewater treatment includes many advantages compared with chemical agents, such as particular biodegradability, low toxicity, being economical and generating low volumes of sludge. In this research, Ocimum basilicum L., as an active plant-based coagulant, in combination with alum, has been evaluated to treat paper-recycling wastewater. Response surface methodology (RSM), based on central composite rotatable design (CCRD), was employed to optimize the treatment process. The effect of three parameters including pH, alum- O. basilicum ratio and slow mixing contact time on the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and turbidity removal was analyzed. Results revealed that the maximum removal of COD and turbidity could be achieved in optimum conditions, i.e., pH value of 8.3, alum- O. basilicum ratio of 2.8 and contact time of 48.8 min, in which the reduction efficiencies of COD and turbidity were 39.7 and 81.4 %, respectively. The model predictions also agreed well with experimental data. In order to gain further insights into the properties of coagulants and produced flocs, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) employed as characterization methods. Results suggested presence of active functional groups on O. basilicum and the thermal stability of formed flocs. Furthermore, CF mechanism was most likely based on charge neutralization and adsorption with interparticle bridging. The present study showed that O. basilicum mucilage could be used as a coagulant aid in combination with alum in the treatment of paper-recycling wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the past several decades, we have seen significant improvements in the desalination industry, mostly intended to increase efficiency and reduce the energy consumption of desalination plants but also to improve the reliability, operability, and longevity of membrane systems. Except for introducing pressure exchanger energy recovery devices, most improvements have been incremental rather than disruptive; in most cases they were small adjustments that made a plant more effective, efficient, or reliable. This paper describes a completely disruptive new method of desalinating seawater: subsea desalination. A patented method combining seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) membranes with subsea technology is well-proven and has been used extensively in the offshore oil and gas industry for decades. The subsea desalination concept places a membrane desalination plant below sea level, obtaining two very immediate and distinctive benefits: (1) higher and consistent feed water quality and (2) hydrostatic pressure from the column of water that provides all the required pre-membrane pressure. In the paper, we will describe the subsea system design and its advantages, which are substantial and game-changing, explaining how the cost of water can be reduced, reliability improved, and environmental benefits enhanced with such a solution. Specific benefits of the membrane configuration will be discussed, describing the system advantage regarding energy consumption, permeate quality and reduced brine salinity. The paper also presents the set-up and results of subsea field tests where it was proved that the reverse osmosis (RO) membranes performed as predicted by the DuPont WAVE design software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination has been in wide use for over 25 y. This paper examines limitations of the prevalent membrane configuration, based on a single stage consisting of one or more membrane housings operating in parallel with 6-7 elements per membrane housing. A brinestage configuration using interstage pressure boosting is proposed to address limitations in single stage systems including high biofouling potential, excessive permeate salinity and high energy consumption. Membrane array optimization requires careful review of concentration polarization (Beta or CP) and the feed flow rate through each membrane element (Qele), (a proxy for cross-flow velocity). CP is the formation of a salinity gradient normal to the membrane surface generated by a combination of boundary layer formation and permeation. CP is often characterized by the term Beta, which is defined as the ratio of salinity at the membrane surface divided by the bulk feed salinity. A high Beta means that the membrane surface is exposed to elevated salinity (hence higher osmotic pressure and increased salt passage) and a greater concentration of foulants. These conditions increase the required pressure, increases permeate total dissolved solids (TDS) and promotes fouling of membrane spacers and surfaces. A high Qele is preferred to minimize boundary layer thickness and to better scour feed channel spacers and the membrane surface. This paper explores a brine staged SWRO membrane array that achieves preferred levels of Beta and Qele to achieve improved biofouling resistance and lower permeate TDS while providing a recovery of 60% in typical SWRO applications using standard membranes, pressure vessels and energy recovery devices (ERDs). Major membrane suppliers have endorsed high recovery SWRO using brine staging as described in this paper. The focus also includes optimal ways to implement brine staging over very large SWRO systems using turbochargers in a unique configuration that maximizes brine stage performance as well as energy recovery efficiency. The paper also addresses related ERD technologies and variable frequency devices that together can reduce energy consumption as well as provide a substantial reduction in capital costs (CAPEX) and operating costs (OPEX) with realistic reductions of 16% in mega-scale SWRO facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the declaration of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, nature-based solutions (NbS) are at the forefront of the sustainability discourse. However, this solution needs operational clarity to avoid the commonly mentioned vagueness of the concept. This paper highlighted application of the ecohydrological principles to guide the conception, planning, designing, implementation, and monitoring of nature-based solutions. The paper proposed an ecohydrological nature-based solution that is emanated from the natural sequence of self-regulating patch-interpatch at the hillslope scale to restore highly degraded hillslope in Lake Hawassa sub-basin of Ethiopian Rift Valley Basin. The active restoration site is found to have a landscape organization index value of 0.94 (= 94% of the gradsect is consisting of resources conserving patches) as compared to 0.16 at the passive site. In terms of landscape functionality, the active site showed significant stability (p(x≤T) = 0.01), infiltration (p(x≤T) = 0.001), and nutrient cycling (p(x≤T)=0.005). It also exhibited significant improvement in soil moisture (p(x≤T) = 0.001). Ecologically, the active site is found to be more diverse (richness index 18 (active) vs. 8 (passive); heterogeneous (Shannon diversity index=1.22 (active) vs. 0.44 (passive)); well distributed (Simpson's index= 0.62 (active) vs. 0.28 (passive)); less dominance of few species (Evenness index (0.99 (passive) vs. 0.96 (active)). Limitation of this study is linked with the short span of the restoration period which tends to be not adequate to observe the full 'dual' regulation between hydrology and biota. For this, the research can be considered as a prerequisite towards full restoration of the landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment, maintenance, and implementation of environmental flow (hereafter e-flow) in rivers and wetlands have been recognized as a vital tool for sustaining freshwater ecosystems in several countries including India. In this view, the paper intends to review the current understanding of e-flow concept in India. This can be accomplished by reviewing case studies reported for different river basins across India and documented literature, legislative and water policy reports, minutes of meetings, workshops, and conferences. with the aim, On the other hand, its aims to briefly trace the history of e-flow assessment studies as well as the progress that has been achieved so far since 1998s. Role of enabling factors and constraints for e-flow implementation in India at a macro scale is also highlighted, which shows e-flow understanding has received considerable attention over the past two decades for the conservation of freshwater ecosystems and is still evolving. This paper also concludes with identifying a range of actions and gives some directions for future research that requires for e-flow implementation in a river basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution caused by pharmaceuticals is a significant issue among various other challenges currently faced. The main and secondary source of these pollutants is wastewater and sewage sludge. It is extremely important to effectively determine the content of pharmaceuticals in wastewater and sewage sludge and develop methods for neutralizing and removing these substances. Pharmaceutical contamination in wastewater treatment plants has emerged as a growing concern due to its potential environmental and human health impacts. This review paper presents an in-depth analysis of the occurrence, challenges in detection, and the promising role of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) as an analytical tool for assessing pharmaceutical pollutants in diverse environmental matrices, including wastewater, treated wastewater, and sewage sludge. The manuscript provides a comprehensive overview of the efficiency, advantages, and limitations of HPLC in pharmaceutical analysis, including detection limits, error analysis, chemical requirements, precision, and analysis time. The study focuses on the application of HPLC for the determination of pharmaceuticals in wastewater matrices, highlighting its utility in profiling target compounds across different concentration ranges. The paper also discusses the significance of HPLC in overcoming the analytical challenges associated with pharmaceutical detection in wastewater treatment processes. The review offers insights into the capabilities of HPLC for analysing pharmaceuticals, comparing its performance with other analytical methods, and discussing its potential for routine monitoring and environmental risk assessment. Overall, this manuscript aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the analytical methods for pharmaceutical determination in wastewater and sewage sludge matrices, emphasizing the benefits and limitations of HPLC. The findings of this review contribute to advancing knowledge in the field of pharmaceutical pollution, aiding researchers, environmental practitioners, and policymakers in developing effective strategies for monitoring and mitigating the environmental impacts of pharmaceutical contamination in wastewater treatment plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insight into current scientific applications of Big Data in the precision dairy farming area may help us to understand the inflated expectations around Big Data. The objective of this invited review paper is to give that scientific background and determine whether Big Data has overcome the peak of inflated expectations. A conceptual model was created, and a literature search in Scopus resulted in 1442 scientific peer reviewed papers. After thorough screening on relevance and classification by the authors, 142 papers remained for further analysis. The area of precision dairy farming (with classes in the primary chain (dairy farm, feed, breed, health, food, retail, consumer) and levels for object of interest (animal, farm, network)), the Big Data-V area (with categories on Volume, Velocity, Variety and other V's) and the data analytics area (with categories in analysis methods (supervised learning, unsupervised learning, semi-supervised classification, reinforcement learning) and data characteristics (time-series, streaming, sequence, graph, spatial, multimedia)) were analysed. The animal sublevel, with 83% of the papers, exceeds the farm sublevel and network sublevel. Within the animal sublevel, topics within the dairy farm level prevailed with 58% over the health level (33%). Within the Big Data category, the Volume category was most favoured with 59% of the papers, followed by 37% of papers that included the Variety category. None of the papers included the Velocity category. Supervised learning, representing 87% of the papers, exceeds unsupervised learning (12%). Within supervised learning, 64% of the papers dealt with classification issues and exceeds the regression methods (36%). Time-series were used in 61% of the papers and were mostly dealing with animal-based farm data. Multimedia data appeared in a greater number of recent papers. Based on these results, it can be concluded that Big Data is a relevant topic of research within the precision dairy farming area, but that the full potential of Big Data in this precision dairy farming area is not utilised yet. However, the present authors expect the full potential of Big Data, within the precision dairy farming area, will be reached when multiple Big Data characteristics (Volume, Variety and other V's) and sources (animal, groups, farms and chain parts) are used simultaneously, adding value to operational and strategic decision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ICA data were available for 130 patients for test group 1 and for 221 patients in test group 2. Deep learning (DL) algorithms providing attenuation correction (DLAC) may offer improved diagnostic performance for SPECT MPI when compared to non-AC imaging. B I Methods and Results: i b To determine whether DLAC would improve the diagnostic performance of SPECT MPI when compared to standard non-AC imaging, the authors trained and evaluated a DL algorithm to predict obstructive CAD as diagnosed from invasive coronary angiography (ICA). [Extracted from the article]

Gold standard of diagnosis and patient classification was performed by a dedicated endocarditis team composed of infectious disease specialists, cardiologists, and pediatric cardiologists who were blinded to the results of the FDG PET/CT. The use of hybrid CMR/FDG PET imaging revealed aCS in 13 patients (36%) and cCS in 5 patients (14%). B I Methods and Results: i b This study evaluated the use of SP 18 sp F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron admission tomography computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) in patients with congenital heart disease with suspicion of pulmonary prosthetic valve or conduit endocarditis (PPVE). [Extracted from the article]

B I Significance: i b Among patients who survived out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and without evidence of STEMI, immediate coronary angiography strategy provided no survival benefit as compared to conservative delayed strategy. The study, however, excluded patients with ST-elevation MI, in-hospital cardiac arrest, or electric instability post-resuscitation, and therefore, the results cannot be generalized to those cohorts. B Fractional Flow Reserve-Guided PCI as Compared with Coronary Bypass Surgery. b B I N Engl J Med 2022;386:128-37 i b B I Background: i b FFR-guided PCI has been shown to improve outcomes compared to angiography-guided PCI. [Extracted from the article]

To utilize industrial by-products in construction projects, soil stabilization using paper sludge ash-based stabilizers (PSASs) has recently been developed. PSASs can be manufactured by insolubilizing the heavy metals in original paper sludge (PS) ash, which is a waste product emitted from paper mills. This study assessed the durability of clays treated with PSASs in wet-dry or dry-wet environments through various evaluation tests. Initially, the particle size distributions (PSDs) in the clays that had undergone various pretreatments were assessed. Then, unconfined compression tests were performed on the treated clays that had undergone dry and wet curing cycles using demolded specimens. Finally, cone index tests were carried out on the treated clays that had undergone dry and wet curing cycles while the samples were constrained in molds. Based on the test results, the durability assessment of the clays treated with PSASs was discussed, considering the specifics of each evaluation test and contrasting the findings with those obtained for clays treated with cement. The generated PSDs were found to contain more fine particles as the time spent washing the samples prior to sieving was increased. The findings indicated that PSAS-treated clays will eventually become muddy, even though it is unlikely that these treated clays will ever be subjected to washing with water while being stirred after construction. The unconfined compression test results also demonstrated that, after several dry-wet cycles, the strength of the PSAS-treated specimens had decreased. It was revealed that clays treated with PSASs might be less resistant to dry-wet curing cycles than those treated with cement. However, PSAS-treated samples using unconfined compression test specimens are still being investigated and are a topic of debate because the strength development mechanisms of PSASs and cement are not similar. To address this issue, a series of cone index tests were conducted on samples treated with PSASs to examine the change in strength caused by the dry-wet curing process. The results of the cone index tests were different from those of the unconfined compression tests. The cone index test results revealed that the samples must be constrained during the assessment tests in order to assess the durability of PSAS-treated soils subjected to dry-wet curing. In addition, it was proposed in this study that the idea of maturity would be applicable to PSAS-treated soils with a range of curing temperatures and curing times as long as the soils were constrained during the assessment tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the exponentially aging population and rising life expectancy in the United States, surgeons are facing a challenging frail population who may require surgery but may not qualify based on their general fitness. There is an urgent need for greater awareness of the importance of frailty measurement and the implementation of universal assessment of frail patients into clinical practice. Pairing risk stratification with stringent protocols for prehabilitation and minimally invasive surgery and appropriate enhanced recovery protocols could optimize and condition frail patients before, during, and immediately after surgery to mitigate postoperative complications and consequences on patient function and quality of life. In this paper, highlights from the 2022 Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract State-of-the-Art Session on frailty in surgery are presented. This work aims to improve the understanding of the impact of frailty on patients and the methods used to augment the outcomes for frail patients during their surgical experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La polimialgia reumática (PMR) es una enfermedad inflamatoria de las articulaciones que se presenta en pacientes mayores de 50 años con dolor y rigidez matutina prolongada en las cinturas del hombro y la cadera y en el cuello. La falta de hallazgos clínicos específicos, signos de laboratorio, biomarcadores y métodos de imagen establecidos dificulta el diagnóstico de los pacientes con esta enfermedad. La 18F-FDG PET/TC es una técnica de imagen funcional que constituye una herramienta consolidada en Oncología y que también ha demostrado su utilidad en el campo de las enfermedades inflamatorias. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar evidencia bibliográfica sobre el uso de métodos de imagen molecular como la PET/TC para el diagnóstico precoz, la evaluación de la actividad de la enfermedad y la respuesta terapéutica en la PMR. Al mismo tiempo, se consideran las ventajas, las desventajas y las contraindicaciones de otros métodos. Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory joint disease that presents in patients older than 50 years with prolonged morning pain and stiffness in the shoulder and hip joints and neck. The lack of specific clinical findings, laboratory signs, biomarkers and established imaging methods makes it difficult to diagnose patients with this disease. 18F-FDG PET/CT is a functional imaging technique that is an established tool in oncology and has also proven useful in the field of inflammatory diseases. The aim of this paper is to present literature evidence on the use of molecular imaging methods such as PET/CT for early diagnosis, assessment of disease activity and therapeutic response in PMR. At the same time, the advantages, disadvantages and contraindications of other methods are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban ecohydrology research has assessed how several drivers interfere with the basin's response. These interactions can be utilized in urban basins to enhance flood risk management. This paper aims to show how socioeconomic narratives influence rainfall-runoff transformation under changing conditions. For this, the study used the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) scenarios to measure the influence of different storylines on the land cover and, consequently, the basin's response, measured as the Percentage of Peak Flow Variations (PPFV) of the starting scenario. MA scenarios consider postures reactive and proactive to solve problems and different levels of the protagonist of nature. We used 13 urban ecohydrological variables that are sensitive to the socioeconomic narrative and include the use of Nature-based Solutions (NbS). Then, we set up the qualitative scenarios to apply in two Brazilian urban basins (78.00 and 15.42 km2) to create quantitative scenarios. Finally, we used rainfall-monitored events in these basins and registered their responses as PPFV. The results indicated that socioeconomic narratives significantly impacted the urban basins. PPFV medians ranged, in the reactive scenarios, between 259 % and 70.5 %, and in the proactive scenario, between 54.5 % and -47.5 %. The scenario with NbS in their narrative shows significant decreases in the two basins. We concluded that socioeconomic narratives influence urban flood risk management. Societies with international cooperation focused on environmental solutions, such as using NbS, achieve better adaptation to challenging futures in the face of hydrological threats than reactive societies that do not prioritize the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Woody vegetation cover in South Africa has increased over the past 100-150 years owing to the establishment of commercial forestry plantations, the spread of alien invasive plants (AIPs) and indigenous woody encroachment (WE). Extensive research conducted over the past 50 years has shown that AIPs can lead to dramatic declines in catchment water yields as a result of their high evapotranspiration (ET) rates. This has raised concern that WE may also be responsible for increasing ET losses and adversely impacting the country's limited water resources. In this paper, we used a combined systematic review and meta-analysis approach to explore trends in the water use of different vegetation types located in various climates across South Africa, to ultimately evaluate the likelihood of WE increasing ET losses in South Africa's savannas. This study revealed mixed support for whether WE in South Africa's savannas is increasing ET losses. On one hand, the fact that WE species replace grasses and form dense thickets indicates that there is high potential for WE to increase ET losses. On the other hand, rainfall, appears to be a primary factor limiting ET in semi-arid climates, indicating little potential for WE to have any effect on ET, unless there is an above-average rainfall year, or the vegetation has access to an additional water source. This study justifies the need for additional ET monitoring in South Africa's savannas in order to determine whether large-scale WE control should be implemented to conserve water resources in one of the country's driest regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food security is one of the main challenges for the future. Expectations from UN indicate that it is necessary to double food production in the next years. This means that water needs will grow more than expected and the use of the non-conventional water resources will be absolutely crucial. Desalination for agriculture is almost irrelevant globally, although countries such as Spain have demonstrated that desalination can be used for supplying an agriculture based on high added value crops. In this paper we will analyze this application with the experiences and knowledge acquired in the last years, including the history of desalination for agriculture, technical and economic aspects, success stories and innovation. It is also remarkable that farmers from the Southeast of Spain (Mediterranean Coast) have established a very efficient irrigation system which is fed by a blending of water from different origins obtaining in this way a good quality water with affordable prices. In the field of innovation, 2 main projects related with agriculture will be shown; LIFE DESEACROP, which was developed to demonstrated the feasibility of the use of desalinated water for agriculture and SOS-AGUA-XXI, a 6 Million € R&D project funded by Spanish Government with European Funds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc and lead metallurgy generate significant amounts of waste. Among the many types, a large percentage are slags and sediments. Separating heavy metals from wastes using simple processes can become particularly advantageous both because of the possible recovery of valuable components such as heavy metals, but also for environmental reasons. This work presents the results of the extraction process for selected heavy metals from metallurgical wastes (slag from the Short Rotary Kiln, slag from the hazardous waste landfill, and post-neutralization sludge) using ethylene-diaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (Na2EDTA) as a leaching agent. Because heavy metals removal from wastes using an extraction process generates large quantities of post-extraction solutions, the eluates were subjected to nanofiltration to investigate the possibility of metal concentration depending on the varying pH of the process. The metals present in the wastes in the largest amounts, whose removal was studied in the paper, were Pb, Zn, Cu, and Fe in the slag samples and Pb, Zn, and Cd in the post-neutralization sludge. The leaching agent concentration and pH of the extraction process were analyzed in terms of extraction process efficiency. The best efficiency of the leaching process was obtained using a leaching agent solution of 0.15 mol/dm³ for the slag from the Short Rotary Kiln and 0.075 mol/dm³ for the other tested samples. For all samples, the highest leaching efficiency was observed at pH = 4, obtaining high removal of Pb (80%), Zn (89%), and Cd (98%), and lower values of separation efficiency of Cu and Fe, not exceeding 30% and 21%, respectively. The use of the nanofiltration process allowed to obtain a high retention rate of metals. The removal efficiency was pH-dependent and the highest retention factor (98%) was obtained at pH = 4 and pH = 10. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the onset of the summer season has inevitably been associated with external threats, such as hydrological drought. Prolonged dry weather conditions result in natural drought symptoms, including a decrease in both surface and groundwater levels, increased water evaporation, and the degradation of essential environmental, economic, and social functions. A negative water balance presents a challenge that, due to water scarcity, is likely to pose a threat not only to the continuity of safe drinking water supply but also to the health and lives of people. In these circumstances, the new directive on the quality of water intended for human consumption imposes on EU Member States the obligation to implement a risk management system throughout the entire water supply chain, from the water abstraction area to the consumer's tap. The paper presents tools and mechanisms employed in risk management for water supply systems and discusses their applicability within the framework of multi-protective barriers. Additionally, it delves into the construction of water supply infrastructure in the city of Głubczyce, located in the southwestern part of Poland. This discussion encompasses research results on the possibilities for diversifying and ensuring the safety of water supplies, with a particular emphasis on the operational reliability of critical infrastructure. The analysis is based on the Shannon-Weaver index and the Pielou dispersion index. The results of this analysis assess the potential for crisis situations in risk management. Taking into account the protection of critical infrastructure to ensure continuous water supplies under appropriate pressure for residents, the need to provide alternative water sources, such as tanks or packaged water, is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to Directive 2020/2184, each water supplier is required to develop a water supply risk management system, such as the World Health Organization's recommended Water Safety Plan, implement it and apply it to daily water supply practices. An important element of risk management in water supply systems (WSS) is to ensure the supply of water that is healthy and clean, that is, free of all microorganisms and parasites and any substances in quantities or concentrations that pose a potential danger to human health. Ensuring the microbiological safety of water, while minimizing the risks associated with disinfection by-products, is particularly important in extensive WSS, where water can take days to transport, and where hydraulic parameters and sediments deposited in water supply networks favor the growth of microorganisms. This paper proposes an analytical method to support the determination of areas sensitive to the loss of microbiological safety of water, while using the model to optimize the dose of disinfectant at water treatment plants and water chlorination points in the distribution subsystem. The developed methodology is part of a review of operating procedures, especially with regard to minimizing the risk of secondary microbiological contamination of water. The research model took into account the chemical as well as microbiological variability of water quality, its age, and the operational data of the WSS operation collected by the Geographic Information System (location of water quality monitoring points, spatial location of water supply infrastructure facilities), as well as the size of the population potentially exposed to water of uncertain microbiological quality. The result of the analyses is a spatial interpretation of the loss of microbiological safety of water presented in the form of risk maps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a granulometric analysis of the size of particles of Aeroxide® P25 and P90 titanium oxides in the context of their retention in low-pressure membrane processes (microfiltration, ultrafiltration). Measurements of the particle size using a laser granulometer showed that the particle size of TiO2 Aeroxide® P25 dispersed in water is in the range from approx. 0.3 µm to approx. 150 µm. The particles with dimensions smaller than 1.0 µm constituted about 7.0%, and the largest particles, with dimensions above 30 µm, constituted about 0.9% of the volume of all the particles in the suspension, respectively. In the case of TiO2 Aeroxide® P90, a double curve of grain size distribution was observed. For the main curve, the particle size ranged from approx. 0.3 µm to approx. 18.7 µm. The particles with dimensions smaller than 1.0 µm constituted approx. 3.0% by volume of all particles in the sample. The second curve, which can be described as oversized/supersized grains, was comprised of particles ranging in size from about 21 to 170 µm, and they accounted approximately for 3.9% by volume of the total particles in the sample. The specific surface area for the samples was 0.56 m²/g for TiO2 P25 and 0.48 m²/g for TiO2 P90. It was found that the observed large particle sizes of titanium oxide particles in aqueous solutions may be the result of their agglomeration, which gives one hundred percent certainty that they will be retained by ultrafiltration and microfiltration membranes with pore sizes above 0.3 µm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the results of the application of Aliquat 336 ionic liquid (IL-A) and a deep eutectic mixture consisting of diacetamide and Aliquat 336 (DEM-DA) as carriers in polymer adsorptive membranes (PAMs) used to remove copper(II) and zinc(II) ions from aqueous solutions obtained by leaching computer pins with strong acids. The wettability of the formulated PAMs containing poly(vinyl chloride) as a polymer matrix and bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate as a plasticizer was examined. Using DEM-DA-containing polymer membrane recovered approximately 97% of copper(II) and 96% of zinc(II) ions after 1 h of separation processes, whereas application of IL-A-containing PAM allowed the removal of similar amounts of copper(II) and zinc(II) ions after 3 h. The high efficiency of PAMs was confirmed by the analysis of their chemical composition after the separation processes by wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The use of PAMs containing a deep eutectic mixture (DEM) as an ion carrier allows for a reduction of the separation time, which can be of significant economic importance, especially in case of processes carried out on a larger scale. Due to its properties, DEM is considered safe for the natural environment, and its use as a carrier in PAMs represents the so-called "Green Chemistry". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of the removal of mercury(II) ions from acidic aqueous solutions. Toxic ions were separated using compounds from the Cyphos group. Six types of ionic liquids were used as extractants in classical solvent extraction, while results showed that Cyphos IL 101 and Cyphos IL 102 presented the highest efficiency for binding mercury(II) ions in given conditions. Therefore, these two compounds were further utilised as ion carriers in studies of transport across polymer inclusion membranes. Membranes were obtained from widely available poly(vinyl chloride) and biodegradable poly(lactide) with the addition of an appropriate plasticizer dedicated to polymer: bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate or 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether. Moreover, the characterisation of the surfaces of the investigated pure membranes was performed using the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy-attenuated total reflectance method and the sessile drop method. Additionally, the membranes, after the processes of mercury(II) ions transport were analysed using Wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

p-nitrophenol (4-NP) is a common raw material in the industrial production of many valuable substances. With the rapid development of chemical industry, the production of 4-NP has increased substantially. However, due to its characteristic toxicity, p-nitrophenol inevitably causes pollution to the environment during its synthesis and usage. In this paper, sodium borohydride (NaBH4) and ferric chloride (FeCl3⋅6H2O) were used as raw materials to prepare iron nanoparticles by liquid phase reduction technique, and their performance in 4-NP pollutant degradation was investigated. The experimental results showed that the iron nanoparticles presented excellent degradation performance for 4-NP. When the concentration of 4-NP was 15 mg/L, only 0.25 g/L of iron nanoparticles degraded more than 74% of 4-NP in 1 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excessive discharge of dye wastewater present certain hazards to human health and the environment. The removal of dyes from the aquatic environment is vital necessary. In this paper, a quaternized bamboo fiber (QBF) was successfully prepared by radiation induced graft-polymerization and further modification. The QBF was characterized by thermogravimetric, infrared and scanning electron microscopy analyses. The adsorption of methyl orange dye (MO) by the QBF was studied under different conditions. The adsorption kinetic study indicated that the adsorption was followed by pseudo-second-order model and the saturation equilibrium was reached in 60 min. The adsorption isotherm was well obeyed the Langmuir model with a maximum theoretical adsorption capacity of 555.56 mg/g. The QBF can be effectively desorbed by 1 M HCl and reused. Therefore, the QBF prepared using the radiation technique can be potentially applied to the removal of MO dye in wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper compares the efficiency and thermal performance of regular pyramid solar stills to those modified with silica or aluminum oxide nanoparticles. The amount of exergy lost by the pyramid solar still's various parts has been estimated, studied, and discussed. The exergy of evaporation is greater at the improved solar stills, and evaporation occurs at a faster rate. Also, compared to regular stills, the upgraded ones have higher energy and exergy efficiency. The impact of varying factors on the performance of solar stills is briefly discussed as well. Maximum energy efficiency for mixes of aluminum oxide and water is 55.29% and for mixtures of silica oxide and water is 41.38%, whereas for the typical still it is just 35.68%. In addition, conventional stills, stills based on silica oxide nanoparticles, and aluminum oxide all had exergy efficiencies of 11.48% or lower throughout the day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish in cans is more popular than ever because of its convenience, improved quality, less risk of contamination, and long shelf life. To preserve seafood products, the canning process uses a hermetic closure and thermal techniques. Tuna, salmon, mackerel, and herring are a few marine fish species that are widely used in canned goods. The canning procedure has significant shortcomings. Problems with canning include the transfer of hazardous metals from the cans into the food, incorrect canning, which can cause botulism, and chemical contamination. The biggest and most pervasive issue is the presence of heavy metals like Pb, Hg, Cd, Cu, and Zn in canned fish. These metals are exceedingly poisonous, persistent, and difficult to biodegrade even at low concentrations. Heavy metals significantly affect marine bioaccumulation, toxicity, and water contamination. Heavy metals build up in marine fish along the food chain as a result of growing industrial and agricultural environmental harm, and they are eventually absorbed by humans through canned foods. While Pb and Cd toxicity can result in renal, cardiovascular, and reproductive issues, heavy metal (Hg) toxicity can lead to eye impairment, vertigo, and a weakened immune system. So that consumers may learn more and make wise decisions about consuming canned fish, the main method by which heavy metal contamination in canned fish spreads could be identified in this review paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of society and economy, the effective management and evaluation of water resources become more and more important. This study aims to make a more accurate assessment of the economic value of water resources by establishing a deep learning model based on big data. First of all, this paper summarizes the current research status of water resources economic value assessment methods in detail, and clarifies the theoretical basis of the research. Then the evaluation model is constructed, and the model is trained and verified with representative sample data. Further, the model is applied to the actual water resources assessment problem, and the results predicted by the model are analyzed and validated. The existing problems and possible solutions are also discussed. Overall, this study not only improves the understanding of the economic value of water resources, but also provides a basis for policy makers to make decisions to achieve more efficient and sustainable water management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, there are many ways to improve the pumping efficiency by increasing the pump filling degree to increase the output profit, but many researchers in the study did not pay attention to the pumping rod in the upper and lower stops due to the acceleration generated by the inertia force on the pumping rod pulling, compression and the rod and pipe bias abrasion caused by the shortening of the inspection cycle of the pump and so on, and seldom carry out the optimization of plunger’s movement law to achieve the improvement of the pump filling degree under the same stroke, the number of times the study. The study of the optimization of the plunger movement law to improve the pump filling degree under the same stroke and stroke times is rarely carried out. Therefore, this paper establishes the target equation of pump filling degree according to the change rule of fluid volume into the pump and the change rule of pump cavity volume, and uses multi-objective optimization genetic algorithm combined with the constraint equation to optimize the plunger movement law without changing the stroke and stroke times. The research results show that: according to the optimized plunger movement law, the pump filling degree is increased by 5%, and the average acceleration of plunger movement is decreased by 75.36%; this optimization method not only improves the pump filling degree but also reduces the pulling and compression loss of pumping rod due to the inertia force generated by acceleration, and prolongs the checking cycle of the pump. The research method can provide a certain reference for the optimization of the plunger motion law of the pumping machine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aeromonas hydrophila, a gram-negative bacterium belonging to the Aeromonadaceae family, has significantly impacted global catfish production within the Siluriformes family, resulting in economic losses. Despite being recognized as part of the normal flora found in water systems and fish organs, the pathogenicity of A. hydrophila is often activated by the expression of virulence genes encoding toxins. To systematically gather reliable scientific studies on the virulence of A. hydrophila in catfish Siluriformes, the PRISMA method was employed, utilizing the Scopus database. Following the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 66 documents were scrutinized, and a bibliometric analysis was conducted using VOSviewer. Based on the keyword analysis, aerolysin toxin emerged as the most prevalent virulence factor, appearing in 64% (n = 42) of the papers, followed by hemolysin, enterotoxin, and biofilm. The analysis also revealed that the primary organs associated with infection were the kidney and liver, recognized as immune secretion organs, followed by the gills, intestine, skin, and mucus, identified as entry points. The major clinical signs of A. hydrophila infection included hemorrhage, lesion, ulceration, and septicemia. This study elucidates the scientific consensus on the infection mechanisms of A. hydrophila, covering entry points, adherence, and invasion. The ranked entry points and virulence factors identified herein offer valuable insights for designing novel treatments or preventive measures in catfish farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial discharge is one of the major reasons for increasing heavy metal intoxication in the ecosys- tem and is a cause of global apprehension. The introduction of policies for periodically limited dura- tion shutdown of industries might provide a way forward for reducing the pollutant loads in river bodies. Further, hyper-accumulator plants could serve as cost-effective alternatives to conventional sew- age treatment facilities but comparative studies with native water hyacinth as natural water filtration systems with limnological studies and risk assessment remain to be determined. We here investigated the most polluted industrial effluent among ten industries during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic confinement (pre- and post-lockdown, that is, February 2020 and October 2020) in Mathura industrial area, India in terms of chromium and cadmium toxicity. Besides, the biosorbent potential of native Eichhornia crassipes and Epipremnum aureum plants was also estimated by triplicate batch experiments (7 d) from the most polluted industrial effluent. For risk assessment, the Metal Quality Index (MQI), Pearson’s correlation coefficient analysis, and Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) were calculated, while the students’ paired sample t-test was employed to determine the statistical significance of changes in HPI and MQI. The findings revealed that the mean HPI for Cr (166,545 and 53,797) and Cd (96.11 and 9.78) were found to be extremely high during the pre-lockdown period which reduced significantly in the post-lockdown period. For student’s t-test analysis, the p-values for the investigated sites were initiated to be consid- erably below the 0.05 level of significance. While results demonstrate removal efficiency of 67.66% and 61.22%, respectively in E. crassipes, whereas it was 44.26% and 38.90% in E. aureum. Low levels of student’s t-test and p-values suggest a transient statistical impact of pandemic confinement on the water quality of studied sites and may help to alter pollution control policies and actions to make sure the environment is sustainable and safe. In addition, information makes it possible to conclude that money plants and water hyacinths both are effective candidates for removing chromium and cadmium from industrial effluents. This paper also summarizes the prospects for the scientific area of biosorption and bioac- cumulation, focusing on its underlying assumptions, potential environmental benefits, and practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With the promulgations and implementation of “The Outline of the Plan for Ecological Protection and High-quality Development of the Yellow River Basin” and “The Yellow River Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China”, all provinces along the Yellow River need to actively carry out ecological protection and high-quality development, and Qinghai Province, as the source of the Yellow River, will also be duty-bound to carry out ecological protection. Subjects and Methods: This paper systematically analyzes the problems in ecological protection and high-quality development of Qinghai Province in Qinghai section of the Yellow River Basin, and summarizes the measures to promote ecological protection and high-quality development of Qinghai Province in the Yellow River Basin. Results: After analysis, there are six factors restricting ecological protection and high-quality development in Qinghai Province: (1) There are great differences in water intake among the provinces and regions in the Yellow River basin, and the distribution of water resources is uneven. (2) The spatial and temporal distribution of water resources in Qinghai province is uneven, which is not conducive to redevelopment and utilization. (3) The control of soil erosion on the Loess Plateau is unbalanced, and soil erosion in Qinghai section is still serious. (4) The lack of funds between ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin. (5) The lack of new media channel construction in Qinghai province is relatively serious, and the excavation and publicity of the Yellow River culture is not enough. (6) Soil erosion is serious, and sudden geological disasters occur from time to time. Conclusions: The ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin in Qinghai Province are restricted by six aspects: reduction of water rights, limited water intake, uneven spatial and temporal distribution of water resources, serious water erosion, shortage of funds, ineffective construction of new media channels, and frequent sudden natural disasters. Therefore, national ministries and provinces along the Yellow River need to make joint efforts to achieve ecological protection and high-quality development. This report presents solutions from nine aspects of the sustainable utilization of water resources in the Yellow River basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Processing and manufacturing industries produce wastes, such as heavy and toxic metals to the environment and water bodies. Removing of these species from different sources has never been easy and becoming a primary concern for environmental and societal health. Several techniques can be employed to eliminate or minimize the level of these heavy metals, including adsorption on adsorbent materials. The adsorption method is considered a highly efficient technique due to its cheap materials, operation cost, and easy and flexible design. This paper reviewed the adsorption process and related parameters affecting the process as well as different adsorbent materials such as carbon-based materials, clays, metal oxides, and clay-based nanocomposites for the potential removal of heavy and toxic metals from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aquaculture sector in Southeast Asia pursues to establish itself as a significant supplier of ani- mal protein for consumption. It is crucial to comprehend and address the issues that aquaculture in the area encounters to increase farm productivity, preserve the competitiveness of their goods, and enable exportation and sustain conducive water quality. In recent years, the production of fish and shrimp, particularly at marine aquaculture locations, has increased the amount of effluent in ASEAN nations, including nutrients, waste feed, feces, and pharmaceuticals and pesticides which creates a detrimental environment for aquaculture activities. These issues are caused by several variables, including the culture method, species, stocking density, site hydrography, husbandry practices, and feed type. Different aquaculture techniques are the result of interactions between humans and the environment that establish negative effects on the global aquatic environment. Besides, it was observed in some of the ASEAN countries that the raw materials of fish feed derived from imported non-halal sources were used in several freshwater and mariculture farms. In the classical Fiqh, food safety and quality are critical issues for Muslims as their consumption must be halal (permissible in Islamic Law) and Tayyib (safe, hygiene, wholesome, clean, good). Based on above assessments, this study was conducted to assess the current aquatic environmental regulatory practices and Halalan Tayyiban aquatic food products in accordance with halal value chain. The methodology used is mainly library research, such as databases and search engine that cover selected journals and information regarding the subject matters, including references from local or International Fisheries Authorities. However, this review paper has discussed comprehensively water treatment system and aquatic food products which are one of the potential industries that depicts the attention of the halal world in line with the rising halal demand worldwide. This is in line with achieving the highest goals of Shariah towards ‘Life below water (SDG 14), Good health and well-being (SDG 3)’ which ensured the food security and nutrition’ to protect the well-being of stakeholders and environment in Brunei Darussalam and ASEAN as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the application of green design concept in coastal landscape ecotourism planning is proposed. From the perspective of green design concept, keep the tourism demand and tourism supply in coastal landscape ecotourism areas in an ideal state, and determine the transport carrying tools of tourists and their occupied facilities or space modulus in a specific time through the combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, so as to obtain the characteristic data of tourism destination carrying capacity. Build the judgment model of the elements of the environmental carrying capacity of coastal landscape ecotourism, judge and analyze the elements of the environmental carrying capacity of coastal landscape ecotourism, and plan the determined influencing elements of the environmental carrying capacity of coastal landscape ecotourism. The results show that the weight of the core elements of this method is always high, and the planned location is more consistent with the expected location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution with plastics and plastic debris is one of the major issues in the world. In addition to the problem of microplastics formed from these wastes, additives leached from plastics are also an important aspect. This review paper pays particular attention to three phenolic compounds - bisphenol A (BPA), 4-n-nonylphenol, and 4-tert-octylphenol (4tOP) – used, among others, in the plastics industry. Numerous studies have shown that bisphenol A, 4-nonylphenol, and 4-tert-octylphenol are leached from plastic products, which is also an important source of their release into aquatic environments. The leaching process is influenced by external factors, including temperature, mixing, exposure to ultraviolet light, chemical or mechanical abrasion, and aging and brittleness of plastics. A significant amount of leaching tests are concerned on the migration of BPA from polycarbonate bottles into water. There is less comprehensive information on three phenolic compounds leached from different types of polymers. Moreover, despite the availability of several economic and ecological techniques for their removal from water and wastewater (including coagulation, adsorption, membrane processes, advanced oxidation), significant amounts are noted in some of the aquatic environments, which may cause harmful endocrine effects in organisms living in these ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]