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The biosynthesis of novel nanoparticles with varied morphologies, which has good implications for their biological capabilities, has attracted increasing attention in the field of nanotechnology. Bioactive compounds present in the extract of fungi, bacteria, plants and algae are responsible for nanoparticle synthesis. In comparison to other biological resources, brown seaweeds can also be useful to convert metal ions to metal nanoparticles because of the presence of richer bioactive chemicals. Carbohydrates, proteins, polysaccharides, vitamins, enzymes, pigments, and secondary metabolites in brown seaweeds act as natural reducing, capping, and stabilizing agents in the nanoparticle's synthesis. There are around 2000 species of seaweed that dominate marine resources, but only a few have been reported for nanoparticle synthesis. The presence of bioactive chemicals in the biosynthesized metal nanoparticles confers biological activity. The biosynthesized metal and non-metal nanoparticles from brown seaweeds possess different biological activities because of their different physiochemical properties. Compared with terrestrial resources, marine resources are not much explored for nanoparticle synthesis. To confirm their morphology, characterization methods are used, such as absorption spectrophotometer, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscopy. This review attempts to include the vital role of brown seaweed in the synthesis of metal and non-metal nanoparticles, as well as the method of synthesis and biological applications such as anticancer, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and other functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid material of surgical mask activated carbon (SMAC) and Fe2O3 (SMAC-Fe2O3) composite was prepared by simple co-precipitation method and used as potential material for the remediation of 2,4-dicholrophenol (2,4-DCP). The XRD patterns exhibited the presence of SMAC and Fe2O3, FTIR spectrum showed the FeO-carbon stretching at the wavenumber from 400 to 550 cm−1. UV–Vis DRS results showed the band gap was 1.97 eV and 2.05 eV for SMAC-Fe2O3 and Fe2O3, respectively. The SEM images revealed that the Fe2O3 doped onto the fiber morphology of SMAC. The outcomes of the BET examination exhibited a surface area of 195 m2/g and a pore volume of 0.2062 cm3/g for the SMAC/Fe2O3 composite. The batch mode study shows the maximum adsorption and photocatalytic degradation efficacies which were 97% and 78%, respectively. The experimental data was studied with both linear and nonlinear adsorption isotherm and kinetics models. The nonlinear Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics (PSOK) models have well fit compared with other models. The Langmuir maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) was found 161.60 mg/g. Thermodynamic analysis shows that the 2,4-DCP adsorption onto SMAC-Fe2O3 was a spontaneous and exothermic process. The PSOK assumes that the adsorption process was chemisorption. The photocatalytic degradation rate constant of 2,4-DCP was calculated using pseudo-first-order kinetics (PFOK) and the rate constant for SMAC-Fe2O3 and Fe2O3 were 0.859 × 10−2 min−1 and 0.616 × 10−2 min−1, correspondingly. In addition, the obtained composite exhibited good reusability after a few cycles. These results confirmed that SMAC-Fe2O3 composite is an effective adsorbent and photocatalyst for removing 2,4-DCP pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of electronic waste (E-waste) has become a significant global environmental issue, driven by the characteristics of the modern era and the ever-increasing use of electronic devices. Thus, a sustainable approach is necessary to overcome this issue. In this paper, an overview of utilizing E-waste as a sustainable aggregate in concrete production was comprehensively reviewed. The basic composition, characteristics, and production techniques were discussed. In addition to that, the colour, shape, size, aggregate crushing value, and water absorption of E-waste concrete were also discussed. Furthermore, the workability properties such as slump flow, mechanical properties (compressive strength, flexural strength, tensile strength) and thermal resistance of E-waste concrete identified by the various researchers were summarised. Based on the literature review, it is concluded that the shape and size distributions of E-waste particles greatly influenced the aggregate properties, and the percentage of replacement of E-waste aggregate affect the workability and mechanical and thermal properties of E-waste concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A green radical synthetic approach for the production of tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyran scaffolds, which utilizes a Knoevenagel–Michael cyclocondensation reaction of aldehydes, malononitrile, and dimedone, has been devised. This innovative technique has been designed to achieve environmental sustainability. A novel single-electron transfer photocatalyst was employed for the synthesis in an aqueous ethanol solution under an air atmosphere at room temperature and stimulated with blue LED illumination serving as a renewable energy source. The objective of this undertaking is to cultivate a metal-free donor–acceptor (D–A) photocatalyst that is highly affordable and universally accessible. 9-Mesityl-10-methylacridinium perchlorate (Mes-Acr-Me+ClO4−) is recognized for its expeditious and effortless applicability, high efficiency in yielding products, low energy consumption, and commendable eco-friendliness. This capability facilitates the investigation into the temporal alterations of environmental and chemical constituents. A research inquiry was conducted with the primary objective of determining the turnover number and turnover frequency associated with tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyran scaffolds. Furthermore, the attainment of cyclization at a gram-scale level offers substantiation for its feasibility as a viable solution for industrial implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reported the synthesis and assessment of zinc oxide/iron oxide (ZnO/Fe2O3) nanocomposite as photocatalysts for the degradation of a mixture of methylene red and methylene blue dyes. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms that the crystallite of zinc oxide (ZnO) has a hexagonal wurtzite phase and iron oxide (Fe2O3) has a rhombohedral phase. Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectrum confirms the presence of Zn–O vibration stretching at 428, 480 and 543 cm−1 stretching confirming Fe–O bond formation. Scanning Electron Microscope images exhibited a diverse size and shape of the nanocomposites. The ZnO-90%/Fe2O3-10% and ZnO-10%/Fe2O3-90% nanocomposites reveal good photocatalytic activity with reaction rate constants of 1.5 × 10−2 and 0.66 × 10−2; and 1.3 × 10−2 and 0.60 × 10−2 for methylene blue and methyl red dye respectively. The results revealed that the synthesized ZnO/Fe2O3 nanocomposite is the best catalyst for dye degradation and can be used for industrial applications in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to introduce new shape memory composites containing different nanofillersincludingreduced graphene oxide nanoplatelets (rGOnp), graphene oxide nanoplatelets (GOnp), and their hybrids (rGOnp/GOnp)andbased on ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride, and polypropylene carbonate (EVA/PP-g-MA/PPC). The morphologies of the synthesized nanocomposites were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which showed that adding GO/rGO hybrid made better uniformity in the matrix rather than GO and rGO. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that by adding nanofiller into the nanocomposites, the melting temperature (Tm) increased from 68.7 °C to 70.9 °C, while the glass transition temperatures (Tg) decreased from 33.1 °C to 30.6 °C. In addition, mechanical analysis illustrated that by adding nanofiller to the matrix, the breaking stress, modulus, and elongation-at-break increased about 321%, 193%, and 145%, respectively. Moreover, in the composites containing rGOnp/GOnp, the shape recovery and shape fixity enhanced in comparison with their rGOnp and GOnp counterparts. Therefore, the results revealed that the shape memory EVA/PP-g-MA/PPC mixture, including a hybrid of GOnp and rGOnp, has a high actuation value, superior mechanical strength, and excellent shape fixity. Finally, the obtained shape fixity of 98.7% and shape recovery of 95.9% for the synthesized samples are the best shape memory characteristics for the hybrid nanocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating sustainability into Concrete-Filled Steel Tubular (CFST) columns' optimization can enhance efficiency and sustainability in construction. Discrepancies in international standards for ultimate load capacity computation in compact CFST columns under eccentric loading, particularly with lightweight high-strength concrete, pose challenges. This research compile a dataset of compact CFST columns, evaluating design codes (AISC 360-16, Eurocode 4) against experimental results. Besides, a comprehensive finite-element model predicts compact CFST column performance, investigating axial forcemoment (P-M) interaction behavior with respect to the material strength ratio (fy/f 0 c). In the second phase of the study, an ANN model, incorporating input parameters, estimates axial load capacity, facilitating multi-objective optimization for optimal CFST column geometry. The results confirmed that Eurocode 4 outperforms AISC 360-16 in experimental axial capacity predictions (Nuc/Nuc;theoretical) where, the mean and standard deviation for Eurocode 4 were estimated at 1.07 and 0.22, respectively, compared to 1.21 and 0.29 for AISC 360-16. Besides, statistical metrics confirm the precision of the ANN model, particularly with high-strength concrete, promising efficiency in future computational intelligence-based structural design platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe3O4@MoS2 core–shell nanoparticles have a wide range of potential uses in the field of biomedicine, including drug delivery, target therapies, and NIR-stimulated tumor therapy. Whenever using the risk-free nanosystem, it is very important to manufacture and cover core–shell Fe3O4@MoS2 nanoparticles with a biodegradable substance. In the present research, Fe3O4@MoS2 core–shell nanoparticles were green synthesized by applying Allium hooshidaryae plant extracted as a reducing and stabilizing agent and then coated with chitosan. Synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by several structural and physical techniques, like scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The MTT test and an in vitro antimicrobial assay were used to examine the biological properties of the final nanoparticles. SEM and TEM results revealed uniform distribution of spherical Fe3O4 NPs with the average size of 35.7 nm. Furthermore, TEM image revealed that the mean diameter of Fe3O4@MoS2 core–shell NPs was approximately 52.7 nm that the Fe3O4 NPs were surrounded by MoS2 nanosheet layers. Chitosan-coated green-synthesized Fe3O4@MoS2 core–shell nanoparticles exhibited promising anti-cancer properties against the MCF-7 cell line with an IC50 value of ~ 50.83% reduction at 1000 μg/mL in cell viability as well as good antibacterial capabilities of MBC 500 µg/mL and MBC 250 µg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. As a result, the synthesized nanoparticles have the potential to have useful benefits in future nanomedicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antifungal efficacy and cytotoxicity of a novel nano-antifungal agent, the Fe3O4@SiO2/Schiff-base complex of Cu(II) magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), have been assessed for targeting drug-resistant Candida species. Due to the rising issue of fungal infections, especially candidiasis, and resistance to traditional antifungals, there is an urgent need for new therapeutic strategies. Utilizing Schiff-base ligands known for their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, the Fe3O4@SiO2/Schiff-base/Cu(II) MNPs have been synthesized. The Fe3O4@SiO2/Schiff-base/Cu(II) MNPs was characterized by Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM), and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), demonstrating successful synthesis. The antifungal potential was evaluated against six Candida species (C. dubliniensis, C. krusei, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C. glabrata, and C. albicans) using the broth microdilution method. The results indicated strong antifungal activity in the range of 8–64 μg/mL with the lowest MIC (8 μg/mL) observed against C. parapsilosis. The result showed the MIC of 32 μg/mL against C. albicans as the most common infection source. The antifungal mechanism is likely due to the disruption of the fungal cell wall and membrane, along with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation leading to cell death. The MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay for cytotoxicity on mouse L929 fibroblastic cells suggested low toxicity and even enhanced cell proliferation at certain concentrations. This study demonstrates the promise of Fe3O4@SiO2/Schiff-base/Cu(II) MNPs as a potent antifungal agent with potential applications in the treatment of life-threatening fungal infections, healthcare-associated infections, and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research proposed an effective approach for recycling of waste plastics and agro-industrial waste as a source of energy optimizing the economic viability of the waste products and reducing environmental issues. The composites were developed by utilizing eight different types of waste plastics, rice hush husk, and sand. The density, water absorption, compressive strength, and flexural strength of the composites were evaluated. Moreover, the tribological characterizations as sliding wear rate and three-body abrasive wear were performed under the conditions of loads and speeds. The composites attained a maximum density of 1.9833 g/cm3 and a minimum percentage of water absorption of 0.261. The optimal values of the compressive strength and flexural strength were obtained to be 9.628 and 28.081 (MPa), respectively. The sliding wear rate was in the range of 2.655 × 10–8 -12.896 × 10–8 (kg/m). Whereas the ranges for abrasives wear were obtained to be 0.0309–0.6459 (cm3) and 0.0386–0.1257 (cm3), under the conditions of loads and sliding speeds, respectively. The study suggested the incorporation of 25 wt. % of rice husk ash and 25 wt. % of sand with 50 wt. % of polycarbonates in composites for tribological applications. The work contributes towards the attainment of circular economy in the composite manufacturing industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution has become a major issue in all major cities throughout the world. Predicting air pollution can help to mitigate its detrimental consequences. The purpose of this study is to develop equations using multivariate regression to predict the concentration of particulate matter smaller than 10 µm (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and air quality index (AQI) in Yazd city, Iran. To this end, initially, the daily averages of air temperature, air pressure, wind speed, gust speed, precipitation, and humidity percentage of Yazd city between September 2020 and August 2021 were collected. Moreover, in the same period, the daily average concentrations of PM10, SO2, NO2, CO, and AQI of Yazd were collected. Then, by using multivariate regression, the relationships between meteorological parameters and air pollutants were investigated. Based on the results, seven different equations were developed to predict the concentrations of different air pollutants in different meteorological conditions. In addition, the results showed that the developed equations worked accurately in predicting the concentrations of O3, PM10, and NO2, but not very accurately in predicting the AQI, SO2, and CO concentrations. More specifically, the most accurate equations belonged to PM10 and NO2, which could predict the concentrations of these pollutants in the atmosphere of Yazd city with only 1% and 4% error, respectively. These equations provided a simple way to predict the concentration of important pollutants and AQI in Yazd city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of bioactive glasses (BGs) precipitated a paradigm shift in the medical industry and opened the path for the development of contemporary regenerative medicine driven by biomaterials. This composition can bond to live bone and can induce osteogenesis by the release of physiologically active ions. 45S5 BG products have been transplanted effectively into millions of patients around the world, primarily to repair bone and dental defects. Over the years, many other BG compositions have been introduced as innovative biomaterials for repairing soft tissue and delivering drugs. When research first started, many of the accomplishments that have been made today were unimaginable. It appears that the true capacity of BGs has not yet been realized. Because of this, research involving BGs is extremely fascinating. However, to be successful, it requires interdisciplinary cooperation between physicians, glass chemists, and bioengineers. The present paper gives a picture of the existing clinical uses of BGs and illustrates key difficulties deserving to be faced in the future. The challenges range from the potential for BGs to be used in a wide variety of applications. We have high hopes that this paper will be of use to both novice researchers, who are just beginning their journey into the world of BGs, as well as seasoned scientists, in that it will promote conversation regarding potential additional investigation and lead to the discovery of innovative medical applications for BGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a composite material consisting of three-dimensional graphene aerogel and iron oxide nanoparticles (3DG/Fe3O4) was created and utilized for the purpose of magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) of thirteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry/selected ion monitoring (GC-MS/SIM) analysis. The synthesized adsorbent underwent a range of characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, and Barrett–Joyner–Halenda techniques, to examine its properties and morphology. The synthesized adsorbent integrates the benefits of superior adsorption capacity from modified graphene oxide (GO) with the magnetic separability of magnetite microparticles, resulting in a high adsorption capacity with easy separation from sample solutions. The efficiency of the proposed method was optimized and modeled using a central composite design (CCD), which considered the primary factors influencing it. The optimal conditions were obtained as the adsorbent dosage of 10 mg, the extraction time of 4 min, and the salt concentration of 3% w/v. The limit of detection for the target PAHs was established to range from 0.016 to 0.2 ng mL−1 in optimal conditions, exhibiting a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The linear dynamic range spanned from 5 to 100 ng mL−1, with determination coefficients (R2) ranging from 0.9913 to 0.9997. The intra- and inter-day precisions were calculated as relative standard deviations (RSDs) equal to 3.9% and 4.7%, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of PAHs in water samples (tap, river, and rainwater), and recoveries in the range of 71–110% (RSDs < 5.2%, n = 3) were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the impact of moisture and temperature on vibration characteristics of bio-composite skew-laminated composite sandwich (SLCS) plates. The bio-composite SLCS plates with bamboo face sheets and polylactic acid (PLA) cores are biodegradable, radiolucent, lightweight, high strength, and withstand vibrations. The coupled thermo-elastic and hygro-elastic finite element (FE) model of the SLCS plate is derived using the higher-order shear deformation theory (HSDT). An initial stress stiffness matrix is developed using the nonlinear strain-displacement relations to incorporate the effect of temperature and moisture in FE modeling. Temperature and moisture-dependent material properties of bamboo fiber-reinforced biocomposite (BFB) and PLA core are employed for the analysis. A comprehensive investigation has been carried out to study the impact of moisture and temperature situations with different geometrical parameters and various skew angles on the frequency of the SLCS plate. The results indicate that the biocomposite sandwich material has excellent potential for structural applications under different environmental conditions in various applications like food processing, and biomedical applications, including MRI and CT scan beds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biosurfactants have been found capable of replacing synthetic surfactants which include ongoing bioprospecting of biosurfactant-producing bacteria as well as process optimization for maximum biosurfactant production. In this study, five morphologically distinct actinomycete strains isolated from hydrocarbon-polluted soil collected from an oil spill surface in Southeastern Algeria were tested for their ability to produce biosurfactants using preliminary biosurfactant screening assays. The 7SDS strain was selected as the most promising biosurfactant producer due to its greatest oil displacement diameter (7.83±0.15 cm), emulsification index (59.66±0.44%), and enhanced surface tension reduction (30.04±0.51 mN/m); it was identified as Streptomyces thinghirensis 7SDS using 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The 7SDS strain's biosurfactant production was optimized using the Face-centered central composite design (CCD) based on response surface methodology (RSM). To this end, five independent factors, i.e., residual frying oil, used engine oil, whey, CS filtrate, and incubation time, were assessed. The RSM's model predicted a surface tension of 27.48 mN/m using 2.44% (v/v) residual frying oil, 0.35% (v/v) used motor oil, 0.83% (v/v) whey, 0.39% (v/v) CS filtrate, and an incubation time of 219.3 h. The optimized medium produced 8.79 g/L of biosurfactant. The produced biosurfactant allows one to reduce the surface tension of distilled water from 70.86 mN/m to 27.96 mN/m at a critical micelle concentration of 350 mg/L, even over a wide range of pH (2.0–12.0), temperature (4–120 °C), and salinity (2–12%, W/V). Biochemical (Biuret, phenol-sulfuric acid, and phosphate tests) and compositional (FTIR and GC-MS) characterizations confirmed the phospholipid nature of the produced biosurfactant. Interestingly, the produced BS demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity as well as intriguing activity in removing hydrocarbons from polluted soil. Because of their appealing biological properties, strain 7SDS and its biosurfactant are attractive targets for a variety of applications such as biomedicine and environmental ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, laser photothermal therapy of cancers, as a new adjuvant treatment, has attracted a lot of attention. Nanoparticles have been applied to increase the effect of plasmonic photothermal therapy (PPTT) with decreasing side effects. Plasmonic photothermal therapy using gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) has been employed as a novel approach for PPTT. In this research, Au NPs were green synthesized by utilizing Rutin extract as a stabilizing and reducing agent. Afterward, structural and physical characteristics were evaluated by the use of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and visible–ultraviolet spectrophotometer (UV–Vis). Biocompatibility and cytotoxicity of nanoparticles are tested using the MTT method. The therapeutic effect of this nanoparticle on breast cancer cells was investigated in vitro using a laser with a power of 500 mW and a wavelength of 532 nm. Microscopic images revealed that the synthesized Au NPs had the mean size of 40 nm and a roughly spherical form. The results indicate the selective and effective anticancer function of Ru-Au NPs, in addition to low cytotoxicity and better biocompatibility for normal cells. Also, the findings demonstrate the significant efficacy of Ru-Au NPs coupled with laser radiation (150 J/cm2 of laser energy for 300 s) in the treatment of breast cancer MCF-7 cells. As a result of the study, an ecoenvironmental nanoplatform for PPTT against MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line with excellent anticancer function and acceptable biocompatibility has been developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water bodies with the dye methylene blue pose serious environmental and health risks to humans. Therefore, the creation and investigation of affordable, potential adsorbents to remove methylene blue dye from water resources as a long-term fix is one focus of the scientific community. Food plants and other carbon-source serve as a hotspot for a wider range of application on different pollutants that impact the environment and living organisms. Here, we reviewed the use of treated and untreated biosorbents made from plant waste leaves for removing the dye methylene blue from aqueous media. After being modified, activated carbon made from various plant leaves improves adsorption performance. The range of activating chemicals, activation methods, and bio-sorbent material characterisation using FTIR analysis, Barunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area, scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDX), and SEM-EDX have all been covered in this review. It has been thoroughly described how the pH solution of the methylene blue dye compares to the pHPZC of the adsorbent surface. The presentation also includes a thorough analysis of the application of the isotherm model, kinetic model, and thermodynamic parameters. The selectivity of the adsorbent is the main focus of the adsorption kinetics and isotherm models. It has been studied how adsorption occurs, how surface area and pH affect it, and how biomass waste compares to other adsorbents. The use of biomass waste as adsorbents is both environmentally and economically advantageous, and it has been discovered to have exceptional color removal capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperglycemia, a distinguishing feature of diabetes mellitus that might cause a diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), is an endocrine disorder that affects an extremely high percentage of people. Having a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of diabetic wound healing can help researchers and developers design effective therapeutic strategies to treat the wound healing process in diabetes patients. Using nanoscaffolds and nanotherapeutics with dimensions ranging from 1 to 100 nm represents a state‐of‐the‐art and viable therapeutic strategy for accelerating the wound healing process in diabetic patients, particularly those with DFU. Nanoparticles can interact with biological constituents and infiltrate wound sites owing to their reduced diameter and enhanced surface area. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that they promote the processes of vascularization, cellular proliferation, cell signaling, cell‐to‐cell interactions, and the formation of biomolecules that are essential for effective wound healing. Nanomaterials possess the ability to effectively transport and deliver various pharmacological agents, such as nucleic acids, growth factors, antioxidants, and antibiotics, to specific tissues, where they can be continuously released and affect the wound healing process in DFU. The present article elucidates the ongoing endeavors in the field of nanoparticle‐mediated therapies for the management of DFU. Significance statement: To sum up, this study emphasizes that it may be feasible to develop better treatments for improperly healed diabetic wounds by studying the molecular mechanics of diabetic wound healing. As new products, nanomaterials can transfer nucleic acids, growth factors, antioxidants, and antibiotics to specified tissues for continuous release. Moreover, nanomaterials are more likely to interact with biological systems and infiltrate wound sites due to their smaller diameter and larger surface area. Hence, nano‐scaffolds and nano‐therapeutics can accelerate diabetic wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, palm oil mill effluent (POME) was treated using electrocoagulation, whereby the influencing factors including voltage, electrolysis time, and electrolyte amount were optimized to achieve the highest chemical oxygen demand (COD) and color removal efficiencies. Graphite was selected as electrode material due to its performance better compared to aluminum and copper. Response surface methodology (RSM) was carried out for optimization of the electrocoagulation operating parameters. The best model obtained using Box-Behnken design (BBD) were quadratic for COD removal (R2 = 0.9844), color reduction (R2 = 0.9412), and oil and grease removal (R2 = 0.9724). The result from the analysis of variance (ANOVA) was obtained to determine the relationship between factors and treatment efficiencies. The experimental results under optimized conditions such as voltage 14, electrolysis time of 3 h, and electrolyte amount of 13.41 g/L show that the electrocoagulation process effectively reduced the COD (56%), color (65%), and oil and grease (99%) of the POME treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the technical-economic framework for designing of water pumping system based on photovoltaic clean energy with water tank storage is presented to supply drinking water of customers for remote areas. The objective function is to minimize the net present cost (NPC) (as economic index) including initial investment costs, maintenance, and replacement costs, and reliability constraint is defined as customer's water not supplied probability (CWNSP) as technical index. A meta-heuristic intelligent water drops algorithm (IWDA) is proposed to optimize the solar water pumping system considering NPC and CWNSP with high accuracy and speed of optimization in achieving the global solution. The simulation results show that the proposed method is capable of responding to customer's water demand by optimally sizing components and water storage tank based on IWDA which is inspired based on flowing the water drops in rivers by achieving the lowest cost with optimal reliability. The NPC of the system with CWNSP equal to 3.17 % is obtained 0.24 M$ for 6-m-high water extraction. The results showed that with increasing the water extraction height, the NPC increased, and the reliability also weakened. Moreover, the superiority of the IWDA is confirmed compared with particle swarm optimization (PSO) in designing a water pumping system with the lowest NPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoltaic (PV) system is the cleanest form of electricity generation, and it is the only form with no effect on the environment at all. However, some environmental challenges persist, which must be overcome before solar energy may be used to represent a source of truly clean energy. This paper aims to study the stability and dynamic behavior of a grid-connected environmentally friendly photovoltaic energy system using the bifurcation theory. This theory introduces a systematic method for stability analysis of dynamic systems, under changes in the system parameters. To produce bifurcation diagrams based on the bifurcation theory, a parameter is constantly changed in each step, using MATLAB and AUTO, and eigenvalues are monitored simultaneously. Considering how the eigenvalues approach the system's imaginary axis in accordance with the changes in the targeted parameter, the occurred saddle-node and Hopf bifurcations of the grid-connected PV system are extracted. Using the obtained bifurcations, the system's dynamic stability limits against changes in controlled (controller coefficients) and systematic parameters (such as the Thevenin impedance network) are found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incense sticks ash is one of the most unexplored by-products generated at religious places and houses obtained after the combustion of incense sticks. Every year, tonnes of incense sticks ash is produced at religious places in India which are disposed of into the rivers and water bodies. The presence of heavy metals and high content of alkali metals challenges a potential threat to the living organism after the disposal in the river. The leaching of heavy metals and alkali metals may lead to water pollution. Besides this, incense sticks also have a high amount of calcium, silica, alumina, and ferrous along with traces of rutile and other oxides either in crystalline or amorphous phases. The incense sticks ash, heavy metals, and alkali metals can be extracted by water, mineral acids, and alkali. Ferrous can be extracted by magnetic separation, while calcium by HCl, alumina by sulfuric acid treatment, and silica by strong hydroxides like NaOH. The recovery of such elements by using acids and bases will eliminate their toxic heavy metals at the same time recovering major value-added minerals from it. Here, in the present research work, the effect on the elemental composition, morphology, crystallinity, and size of incense sticks ash particles was observed by extracting ferrous, followed by extraction of calcium by HCl and alumina by H2SO4 at 90–95 °C for 90 min. The final residue was treated with 4 M NaOH, in order to extract leachable silica at 90 °C for 90 min along with continuous stirring. The transformation of various minerals phases and microstructures of incense sticks ash (ISA) and other residues during ferrous, extraction, calcium, and alumina and silica extraction was studied using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). DLS was used for analyzing the size during the experiments while FTIR helped in the confirmation of the formation of new products during the treatments. From the various instrumental analyses, it was found that the toxic metals present in the initial incense sticks ash got eliminated. Besides this, the major alkali metals, i.e., Ca and Mg, got reduced during these successive treatments. Initially, there were mainly irregular shaped, micron-sized particles that were dominant in the incense sticks ash particles. Besides this, there were plenty of carbon particles left unburned during combustion. In the final residue, nanosized flowers shaped along with cuboidal micron-sized particles were dominant. present in If, such sequential techniques will be applied by the industries based on recycling of incense sticks ash, then not only the solid waste pollution will be reduced but also numerous value-added minerals like ferrous, silica, alumina calcium oxides and carbonates can be recovered from such waste. The value-added minerals could act as an economical and sustainable source of adsorbent for wastewater treatment in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the increased complexity and nonlinear nature of microgrid systems such as photovoltaic, wind-turbine fuel cell, and energy storage systems (PV/WT/FC/ESSs), load-frequency control has been a challenge. This paper employs a self-tuning controller based on the fuzzy logic to overcome parameter uncertainties of classic controllers, such as operation conditions, the change in the operating point of the microgrid, and the uncertainty of microgrid modeling. Furthermore, a combined fuzzy logic and fractional-order controller is used for load-frequency control of the off-grid microgrid with the influence of renewable resources because the latter controller benefits robust performance and enjoys a flexible structure. To reach a better operation for the proposed controller, a novel meta-heuristic whale algorithm has been used to optimally determine the input and output scale coefficients of the fuzzy controller and fractional orders of the fractional-order controller. The suggested approach is applied to a microgrid with a diesel generator, wind turbine, photovoltaic systems, and energy storage devices. The comparison made between the results of the proposed controller and those of the classic PID controller proves the superiority of the optimized fractional-order self-tuning fuzzy controller in terms of operation characteristics, response speed, and the reduction in frequency deviations against load variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive application of agro-chemicals is a major factor in undesired environmental problems. Imidazolinone herbicides having high activity, leaching potential, and persistence are probable risks to ecosystems. Herbicides' stabilization using biochar is an efficient and cheap strategy to protect the environment against their contaminations. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of biochars produced from oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) and rice husk (RH) on imazapyr fate in soil. Initially, the optimized biochars were compared for their sorption-desorption capacities as soil modifiers. The herbicide leaching in the amended soils was investigated by leaching columns. The herbicide photolysis and bio-degradations' rates in the media were also evaluated during 70 days. Results indicated that the soil amendment significantly increased soil sorption capacity (up to 2.34-folds) and reduced the herbicide leaching. The lowest percentage of leached herbicide (2.8%) and the highest percentage of retained herbicide (97.1%) were achieved in EFB biochar-amended soil. The herbicide photo-degradation rate significantly reduced with a half-life of 38.5 days in non-amended soil to 53.3 days in EFB biochar-amended soils. The herbicide bio-degradation, however, increased with the biochars applications. In a conclusion, the optimized biochars have a high potential to protect the environment against herbicides hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fig leaf, an environmentally friendly byproduct of fruit plants, has been used for the first time to treat of methylene blue dye. The fig leaf-activated carbon (FLAC-3) was prepared successfully and used for the adsorption of methylene blue dye (MB). The adsorbent was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). In the present study, initial concentrations, contact time, temperatures, pH solution, FLAC-3 dose, volume solution, and activation agent were investigated. However, the initial concentration of MB was investigated at different concentrations of 20, 40, 80, 120, and 200 mg/L. pH solution was examined at these values: pH3, pH7, pH8, and pH11. Moreover, adsorption temperatures of 20, 30, 40, and 50 °C were considered to investigate how the FLAC-3 works on MB dye removal. The adsorption capacity of FLAC-3 was determined to be 24.75 mg/g for 0.08 g and 41 mg/g for 0.02 g. The adsorption process has followed the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 = 0.9841), where the adsorption created a monolayer covering the surface of the adsorbent. Additionally, it was discovered that the maximum adsorption capacity (Qm) was 41.7 mg/g and the Langmuir affinity constant (KL) was 0.37 L/mg. The FLAC-3, as low-cost adsorbents for methylene blue dye, has shown good cationic dye adsorption performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have been applied in various biomedicine fields like bioimaging, drug delivery, and antibacterial alternatives. MSNs could be manufactured through green synthetic methods as environmentally friendly and sustainable synthesis approaches, to improve physiochemical characteristics for biomedical applications. In the present research, we used Rutin (Ru) extract, a biocompatible flavonoid, as the reducing agent and nonsurfactant template for the green synthesis of Ag-decorated MSNs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta-potential, x-ray powder diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), brunauer–emmett–teller (BET) analysis, and energy-dispersive system (EDS) spectroscopy were used to evaluate the Ag-decorated MSNs physical characteristics. The antimicrobial properties were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Escherichia coli (E. coli), and also different types of candida. The cytotoxicity test was performed by using the MTT assay. Based on the findings, the significant antimicrobial efficacy of Ru-Ag-decorated MSNs against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria and different types of fungi was detected as well as acceptable safety and low cytotoxicity even at lower concentrations. Our results have given a straightforward and cost-effective method for fabricating biodegradable Ag-decorated MSNs. The applications of these MSNs in the domains of biomedicine appear to be promising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective biosurfactant producer and extremophiles bacteria, Bacillus cereus KH1, was isolated from textile effluent and the biosurfactant was produced using molasses as the sole carbon source. Growth parameters such as pH, temperature, salinity and concentration of molasses were optimised for decolourising the textile effluent with 24-h incubation. The biosurfactant property of B. cereus KH1 was evaluated based on haemolytic activity, oil displacement technique, drop-collapsing test and emulsification index. The results of the produced biosurfactant showed a positive reaction in haemolytic activity, oil displacement technique, drop-collapsing test and exhibiting a 67% emulsification index. The cell-free broth was stable in 40 °C pH 7, 7% salinity and 7% molasses. Thin-Layer Chromatography and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis revealed that the biosurfactant was a lipopeptide with a yield 2.98 g L−1. These findings proved the synergistic action of B. cereus KH1 with lipopeptide biosurfactant may accelerated the decolourisation efficiency to 87%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) in environmental studies have revealed that public sewage treatment plants are a common pathway for microplastics to reach local surroundings. Microplastics are becoming more of a worry, posing a danger to both marine wildlife and humans. These plastic items not only contribute to the macrocosmic proliferation of plastics but also the scattering of microplastics and the concentration of other micropollutant-containing objects, increasing the number of pollutants identified. Microplastics' behavior, movement, transformation, and persistence mechanisms, as well as their mode of action in various wastewater effluent treatment procedures, are still unknown. They are making microplastics made from wastewater a big deal. We know that microplastics enter wastewater treatment facilities (WWTPs), that wastewater is released into the atmosphere, and that this wastewater has been considered to represent a threat to habitats and ground character based on our literature assessment. The basic methods of wastewater and sewage sludge, as well as the treatment procedure and early characterization, are covered throughout the dissection of the problematic scientific conceptualization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) is a solution for environmental and climate change issues in the tropics. The OTEC potential in Malaysia using ocean conditions and bathymetry data has been previously studied and demonstrated. Following this, it is vital to perform a basic performance analysis of a 10 MW Rankine Cycle OTEC plant using the Malaysian ocean conditions. In this paper, the results of heat and mass balance will be reported for a 10 MW Rankine cycle OTEC plant which uses heat exchangers of plate-type and anhydrous ammonia as its working fluid. The value of a minimum objective function (γ) is derived by total heat surface area (AT) divided by the net power (PN). γ decreases when the inlet temperature difference (inlet temperature of warm seawater (TWSWI)—inlet temperature of cold seawater (TCSWI)) increases. PN is clarified to be approximately 70–80% of the PG (gross power) using Malaysian ocean conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems need a material compatible with the imaging technique with lesser attenuation and provide accurate images without distortion. Carbon fibers are the best-suited materials for x-ray applications because of their radiolucent properties and reduced attenuation characteristics. However, carbon fiber produces images with distortion in the MRI system by absorbing electromagnetic energy because of its conductive nature. In the present study, five different fiber-reinforced radiolucent composite plates are analyzed to predict their suitability for a radio frequency coil and the effect of a primary magnetic field of 1.5 T and 3.0 T on mechanical responses. Simulation models are built to explore the impact of electromagnetic waves and birdcage coil configurations on composite material and quantify the temperature changes caused due to energy absorption. A multiphysics coupling simulation is being used to understand the effect of stacking sequence, ply orientation, and boundary conditions on the response of composite plates under an electro-magneto-mechanical environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several nations have adopted a tax or market-based carbon pricing system, typically involving low price rates, inadequate emissions coverage, and price reductions for particular industries. The main driver of climate change and global warming is greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which include carbon dioxide. The drive to reduce carbon emissions and offset carbon is critical to industrial decarbonisation and achieving the net zero goal. This paper investigates two key actions to reduce carbon emissions: switching to low-carbon alternatives and carbon offset. The emission trading scheme (ETS) mechanism is a market-based pollution-control strategy that provides economic incentives to reduce emissions. This framework, also known as a cap and trade system or allowance trading, has the potential to reduce emissions by establishing a pollution limit and creating a market for each country. The use of the ETS in the waste-to-energy industry demonstrates the framework's applicability. It has been shown that a well-designed ETS can be both environmentally and economically sound as a driver of the low-carbon economy transition. It will be highly beneficial to the industry because it will provide precise emission monitoring, harsh penalties for violations, and high compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a severe global issue that requires immediate attention. MicroRNA expression abnormalities are possibly disease-specific and may contribute to GDM pathological processes. To date, there is limited data on miRNA profiling in GDM, especially that involves a longitudinal study. Here, we performed miRNA expression profiling in the entire duration of pregnancy (during pregnancy until parturition and postpartum) using a miRNA- polymerase chain reaction array (miRNA-PCRArray) and in-silico analysis to identify unique miRNAs expression and their anticipated target genes in Malay maternal serum. MiRNA expression levels and their unique potential as biomarkers were explored in this work. In GDM patients, the expression levels of hsa-miR-193a, hsa-miR-21, hsa-miR-23a, and hsa-miR-361 were significantly increased, but miR-130a was significantly downregulated. The area under the curve (AUC) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve study demonstrated that hsa-miR-193a (AUC = 0.89060 ± 04,470, P = 0.0001), hsa-miR-21 (AUC = 0.89500 ± 04,411, P = 0.0001), and miR-130a (AUC = 0.6939 ± 0.05845, P = 0.0025) had potential biomarker features in GDM. In-silico analysis also revealed that KLF (Kruppel-Like family of transcription factor), ZNF25 (Zinc finger protein 25), AFF4 (ALF transcription elongation factor 4), C1orf143 (long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 2869), SRSF2 (serine and arginine rich splicing factor 2), and ZNF655 (Zinc finger protein 655) were prominent genes targeted by the common nodes of miR23a, miR130, miR193a, miR21, and miR361.Our findings suggest that circulating microRNAs in the first trimester has the potential for GDM screening in the Malay population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strict environmental concerns, depleting natural recourses, and rising demand for building construction materials have promoted scientific research toward alternative building materials. This research supports the idea of sustainability and a circular economy via the utilization of waste to produce value-added products. The research explored the potential of waste plastics and silica sand for developing thermoplastic composite as floor tiles. The samples were characterized by water absorption, compressive strength, flexural strength, and sliding wear. The morphological analysis of the sand-plastic interfaces was covered under the umbrella of this study. The maximum compressive and flexural strength were found to be 46.20 N/mm2 and 6.24 N/mm2, respectively, with the minimum water absorption and sliding wear rate of 0.039% and 0.143 × 10–8 kg/m, respectively. The study suggests the workability of the developed floor tiles in non-traffic areas of public places. Thus, the study provides a green building material through recycling waste plastics for sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mixotrophic growth of microalgae offers great potential as an efficient strategy for increasing biomass production. In this study, Scenedesmus obliquus was used to investigate the biomass growth conditions and biochemical parameters of algae cells in autotrophic and mixotrophic conditions with and without aeration. It was found that mixotrophic cultivation of algae cells by 50 mM acetate had a strong effect on increasing fresh weight, chlorophyll a, b, carotenoid, astaxanthin, protein, and lipid content (with 20, 4.6, 8.7, 60, 4.5, 4.8, and 18.4-fold, respectively) in comparison to the control cultures. Mixotrophy by pyruvate also increased the amount of all mentioned parameters. The best concentration of pyruvate was found to be 50 mM, but the effects of acetate were stronger. Aeration in a short time (2 h) had a different effect on mixotrophic cultures with acetate and pyruvate. It declined the effect of acetate on increasing the fresh weight and the amount of other biochemical parameters. Unlike the acetate treatment, aeration had an enhancement effect on increasing the fresh weight and biochemical parameters content in 50 and 100 mM pyruvate treatments. In the control cultures, the saturated acid, caprylic acid (C8:0) (40%), and the polyunsaturated eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; C20:5 n3) (17.5%) showed higher percentages. Mixotrophy caused a decrease in the percentage of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and, on the other hand, an increase in the percentage of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs). EPA was the main fatty acid in the mixotrophic condition. Aeration in the phototrophic condition decreased the percentage of SFAs, while increasing that of UFAs. Aeration under mixotrophic conditions increased UFAs in both acetate and pyruvate-treated cultures. The results suggest that aeration could be an important factor in interaction with other algae growth conditions. It should be noted that acetate had generally better effects on the biomass quality of S. obliquus without aeration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of novel antifungal agents and, in particular, the widespread use of these medications over the course of the past two decades, has had a significant impact on the treatment of fungal infectious diseases. This has resulted in a complete transformation of the treatment of fungal infectious diseases. However, the widespread development of antibiotic resistance has masked the significance of such breakthroughs. Antifungal infection treatment with nanoparticles has been shown to be effective. As a result of their unique characteristics, these substances, in contrast to antibiotics in their purest form, are able to exhibit an increased anti-proliferative capacity while requiring a lower concentration than traditional drugs do in order to achieve the same effect. Decreased drug effectiveness, minimal tissue penetration throughout tissue, restricted tissue penetration, decreased bioavailability, poor drug pharmacokinetics, and low water solubility are some of the major factors contributing to the employment of antifungal medicines in delivery systems. Because of this, one of the primary goals of incorporating antifungal medications into varying sorts of nanoparticles is to reduce the negative effects of the drugs' inherent qualities. This article provides an overview of the many types of nanoparticles, such as metal, metal oxide, and non-metal oxide nanoparticles, carbon-based nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, polymeric nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanofibers, antifungal peptides, composites, and ZnO quantum dots, that can be used as antifungal drug delivery systems, as well as the benefits that these nanomaterials have over purified medications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many operating parameters of ultrafiltration (UF) are playing a crucial role when using a polyethersulfone membrane to separate xylose reductase (XR) enzyme from reaction mixtures during xylitol synthesis. The present study focuses on the separation of XR enzyme using a cross-flow ultrafiltration (UF) membrane. The filtration process was analyzed using the three effective variables such as filtration time, cross-flow velocity (CFV), and the transmembrane pressure (TMP), which were ranging from 0 to 100 min, 0.52 to 1.2 cm/s and 1–1.6 bar, respectively. Then, using the resistance in series model, the hydraulic resistance for alkali chemical cleaning during XR separation was estimated. During separation, increased TMP showed a positive-flux effect as a driving force, however, fouling and polarized layer were more prominent under higher TMP. Increased CFV, on the other hand, was found more efficient in fouling control. In terms of the membrane cleaning techniques, an alkaline solution containing 0.1 M sodium hydroxide was shown to be the most effective substance in removing foulants from the membrane surface in this investigation. Cleaning with an alkaline solution resulted in a maximum flux recovery of 93% for xylose reductase separation. This work may serve as a useful guide to better understand the optimization parameters during XR separation and alleviating UF membrane fouling induced during XR separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For developing nations that are economically underdeveloped but have an abundance of biomass, using an affordable and effective heavy metal contamination treatment method based on biomass-activated carbon (AC) and other pollutants is obviously desired. Therefore, this review updates current studies that have used biowaste to adsorb pollutants such as heavy metals, dyes, and other adsorbates that are frequently encountered. Different biomass wastes were used to create AC using a two-step procedure that involved oxygen-free carbonization and activation. Compared with the more traditional physical/chemical activation approach, the microwave method has become more and more frequent in recent studies including the activation stage because it can ensure a more constant energy transfer in the biosorbents, resulting in enhanced surface area. Despite this, chemical activation is still frequently chosen due to its simplicity, affordability, and speed of setup. A detailed explanation of several other mechanisms for the adsorption of pollutants on biomass wastes-AC was also provided, including (i) surface binding capacity between metals and organic molecules (ii) electrostatic forces among oppositely charged ions, (iii) ion exchange between nucleophilic O 2 functional groups as well as divalent metal cations (M2+), (iv) physical metal adsorption & deposition. Additionally, important determinants of adsorption performance were thoroughly considered. Overall, this review gives an in-depth look at the manufacturing process of lignocellulosic AC and its use in water treatment, showing that biomass-based AC could have significant economic, environmental, and health benefits. [Display omitted] • The results of current literature on remediation of toxic pollutants by biomass AC summarizes. • Biomass AC is an efficient material for sustainable water treatment. • Eco-friendly adsorption mechanisms unveiled using biomass AC. • Biomass AC could have significant positive effects on the economy, environment, and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smoked cigarettes and butts are the most common kind of litter around the world. The buildup of these litters has badly polluted local water bodies and their compartments, and the cumulative effect of many cigarette butts scattered in a centralized location may pose a serious hazard to living species. To understand how heavy metals are leached out into the aquatic ecosystem, researchers must analyse the behavior of the materials that make up cigarettes. Using atomic absorption spectrometry, this study evaluated the content of several metals (such as Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, Sn, Zn, and Hg) leached from various brands of unsmoked and smoked cigarettes and cigarette butts. The findings revealed that heavy metal is more prevalent in butte. These findings indicate that cigarette litter is a major source of metal contamination in the aquatic ecosystem and that apparent leaching may increase the risk of toxicity to aquatic organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imidazolinones are a group of herbicides with high potential of leaching and long half-lives that are posing a threat to water resources' quality especially in tropical areas. Biochar, a carbon-rich bio-sorbent, has shown its ability to stabilise organic substances in soils and therefore, potentially is able to reduce their leaching. Biochar is a sustainable and cost-effective material which can be produced from locally available wastes. This work, for the first time, evaluated the biochar's effects on leaching of two polar members of imidazolinones family namely imazapic and imazapyr, and also Onduty® which is a mixture of these two herbicides, in heavy soil of tropical paddy fields. Leaching columns accompanied with artificial irrigation were used during the laboratory experiment. The herbicides were extracted from both collected leachates and soil columns. Soil amendment with designed biochars significantly reduced the herbicides' leaching percentages. Oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) and rice husk (RH) were used as pyrolysis feedstock. About 16% of the applied imazapic was leached out from biochar-free soil. For RH and OPEFB biochar-amended soils, the amounts were 4.3% and 3.6%, respectively. The highest percentage of imazapyr leached out from non-amended soil was (14.2%) followed by RH (4.0%) and OPEFB (2.8%) in biochar-amended soils. Also, 15.2% of the applied Onduty® was leached from non-amended soil. Adding RH and OPEFB biochars could reduce the herbicide leaching to 4.2% and 3.0%, respectively. Soil amended with biochars retained the higher percentages of the herbicides in top 7.5 cm depths. The media sorption capacities were negatively correlated to the amounts of herbicides leached out from soils but positively to the amounts of the herbicides remaining in the soil. Total amount of herbicides adsorbed by biochars-amended soils was more than 95%. Cation/water bridging ion exchange, ligand exchange, electrostatic attraction, and hydrophobic partitioning are the main ways imidazolinones can be adsorbed to soil. It was concluded that biochar application has the potential to reduce polar imidazolinones' leaching and their environmental pollution. The custom-engineered biochars can specifically control the pesticides transfer and then can certainly enhance the biochars' commercial values for their applications in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread use of hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) in the leather industry causes substantial environmental problems when effluents are left untreated. Therefore, the present work attempts to assess the ability of Bacillus thuringiensis (V45) and Staphylococcus capitis (S21), isolated from tannery industry sediment, to detoxify Cr(VI) by reducing the oxidation state. Initially, the minimum tolerance of chromium by both bacteria was found up to 1000 μg/mL. V45 could tolerate Cr(VI) (520 μg/mL), and S21 could also tolerate hexavalent Cr(VI) (340 μg/mL). Similarly, both bacteria were able to tolerate other metals such as Hg2+ (40 μg/mL), Cu2+ (30 μg/mL), Ni2+ (60 μg/mL), Zn2+ (40 μg/mL), and Pb2+ (30 μg/mL). V45 and S21 could decrease Cr(VI) at a primary concentration of 50 μg/mL up to 86.42% and 97.34%, respectively. In optimization experiments, the best temperature to decrease Cr(VI) was shown to be 35 °C with pH 7 for 96 h. The occurrence of Cu2+ and Na+ slightly increased during the decrease of hexavalent Cr(VI) by V45, while the isolate S21 exhibited the same effects with Cu2+, Mn2+, and Na+. The carboxylate and amino conjugates in the biomass are intricate in the bioreduction of Cr(VI), as confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. In addition, SEM imagery revealed the accumulation of Cr(VI) around both types of bacterial cells. The occurrence of other elements was evident from SEM-EDS spectroscopy. This study demonstrated the ability of native bacterial populations (V45 and S21) in tannery sediment to reduce Cr(VI) compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper novel multi-criteria designing framework of a grid-connected hybrid photovoltaic (PV)/wind turbine (WT) sustainable and clean energy system with battery (BA) storage (HPV/WT/BA) considering cost, reliability and emission costs are presented dependent on actual irradiance and wind speed patterns to include an annual load. The designing objective is optimal sizing of the HPV/WT/BA system to minimize the total net present cost (TNPC) as well as the loss of load and CO2 emission cost with satisfying reliability constraint as energy not supplied probability (ENSP) considering stand-alone and grid-connected modes. The results showed that purchasing the power from network reduced the TNPC and also improved the hybrid system reliability and the reliability constraint is in the allowable range. The results also showed the superiority of the moth flame optimizer than the well-known particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm in achieving to lower TNPC and better reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daily human activities generate greenhouse gases. The total emission of greenhouse gases is called the carbon footprint and is expressed in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) units. As a new educational institution, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) began to take part in an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) programme that supports the reduction in carbon emissions. In this study, the total amount of CO2 produced from UTM during 4 years was measured under three categories: (1) the emissions from the fleet of university vehicles for public transportation, (2) the electricity and water emissions, and (3) the emissions produced by staff and student transportation, waste generation, paper, and maintenance by contractors. The special evaluation method is an alternative method to calculate greenhouse gases and measures all elements/sources of greenhouse gases under the same functional unit. This reference helps the assessor to avoid the double measurement of anthropogenic gases. The study results demonstrated that air transportation utilised by university students and employees and electricity usage contributed to 34.74%, 19.37%, and 18.19% of the carbon emissions, respectively. The total CO2 emissions from the three sources over 4 years were 48.442 MT. The data on the carbon footprint of the university can form the basis for monitoring, evaluation, and regulation of greenhouse gas emissions in Malaysia. Moreover, the university constructed and operates a smart house, a large solar parking lot with a capacity of 10 MW, uses solar and wind-powered lighting, and encourages the use of bicycles and electric scooters to achieve an annual reduction in the total CO2 emissions intensity. The results of this study suggested that a carbon reduction project could encourage university members and public society to an understanding of the environment and allowing UTM to become a centre of excellence for the operation of a green campus for urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims at developing an innovative eco-friendly process in a way to generate safer and more stable silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) with a high purity by means of Sargassum myriocystum aqueous extract. The Ag-NPs formation was preliminary confirmed by UV–Visible spectroscopy analysis based on band of surface plasmon resonance appeared at 420 nm. X-ray diffraction spectrum and Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer confirmed the crystalline in nature and phyco-molecules involved in the synthesis of Ag-NPs, respectively. The results obtained from the Transmission Electron Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy demonstrated that the synthesized Ag-NPs were well dispersed hexagonal shape with average size of 20 ± 2.2 nm. The Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy results observed a strong band at 3 keV proved the presence of metallic Ag ions in the Ag-NPs. The significant antibacterial activity was showed that Ag-NPs against clinical pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, S. epidermidis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae). Larvicidal activity against the mosquitos Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus and anti-biofilm activity was assessed using phyco-molecule coated Ag NPs. Further, anticancer activity results showed that the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) noticed at 73.66 µg/mL using MTT assay against human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells. In addition, the phyco-synthesized Ag-NPs exhibited potential photocatalytic activity against methylene blue (MB). The maximum percent of MB degradation was observed at 98% within 60 min. Therefore, the present outcomes clearly revealed that the phyco-synthesized Ag-NPs could be used for effective nano-drug for anticancer, prevention of several bacterial strain infections, control the vector borne diseases, as well as to adequately degraded the organic dyes to promising and economical strategy in industries which involve dyeing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Response surface methodology (RSM) is widely applied to gathering knowledge on the interactions among parameters that require optimization during the treatment of wastewater. It can be used to optimize parameters during the process of treating wastewater, e.g., landfill leachate. The experimental design methods are useful to evaluate the parameters involved in a treatment with the minimum number of experiments. This will reduce the need for reagents and materials for experiments, which finally causes both time and expense to be increased. Anaerobic digestion of wastewater technologies escalated depending on the design configuration of the reactor. Several important parameters are taken into consideration in designing an anaerobic reactor such as operating conditions, seed sludge, wastewater composition and mixing. To construct a highly efficient degradation system, it is necessary to optimize such effective parameters. As a result, the advanced statistical design is used for process characterization, optimization and modelling. In this paper, the fundamentals of RSM and its application in the anaerobic treatment of wastewater was discussed in brief. The various works done in an anaerobic reactor using RSM for prediction and optimization are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study is aimed to enhance the productivity of microalgal culture by varying the organic and inorganic components during wastewater treatment. A model organism Chlorella pyrenoidosa (C. pyrenoidosa) was grown in four different sources of wastewater namely piggery, palm oil mill effluent (POME), mixed-kitchen, and domestic wastes. The growth efficacy of C. pyrenoidosa on POME was tested for their ability to remove nutrients. It was observed that POME showed the highest chemical oxygen demand of 700 mg L−1. Meanwhile, the piggery waste had the highest amount of total nitrogen of 590 mg L−1. C. pyrenoidosa species were reported to grow well with different nutrient sources and produce high levels of lipids. The highest content of chlorophyll a was obtained with POME (3 mg L−1) and domestic wastes (2.5 mg L−1). The optimum growth rate of C. pyrenoidosa was reported for POME as a substrate. Also, the results indicated the lipid content for POME (182 mg L−1), domestic sample (148 mg L−1), piggery (0.99 mg L−1), and mixed-kitchen wastes (117 mg L−1). The results above revealed that among the tested substrates, POME could be the best alternative for C. pyrenoidosa to improve the yield of lipids and ultimately, biofuels production. Therefore, the treatment of POME in wastewater using C. pyrenoidosa can boost clean technology and energy generation. In future studies, the screening of other waste effluents is needed to cultivate the microalgae and enhance biomass production to meet increasing energy demands and waste treatment applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The smooth combustion process of biomass is of great importance as the world transit away from the use of fossil fuels to embracing environmentally friendly and renewable energy. Ash-related problems, such as slagging, fouling, agglomeration, and corrosion, significantly disrupt the efficient operation of gasification systems, leading to unforeseen breakdowns. Potassium, a prevalent alkali metal in biomass, reacts with chlorine and sulfur in flue gas, generating troublesome compounds. This interaction constitutes the primary source of challenges linked to biomass combustion processes. Additives, especially kaolin, an aluminum-silicate, proved most effective in capturing potassium during combustion, forming high-melting-point potassium aluminum silicate compounds. Hence, this paper provides a summary of issues related to biomass ash, explores the deposition mechanism, outlines methods to mitigate problems associated with ash, and concludes by introducing alum sludge as an outlook. [Display omitted] • Potassium in biomass set in motion ash deposition during combustion. • Biomass ash related problem include slagging and fouling, bed agglomeration and corrosion. • The use of additives, co-combustion and leaching are biomass ash deposition remedy. • Suggestion of waste sludge as an economical alternative solution for biomass ash deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landfill leachate containing heavy metals was subjected to anaerobic treatment by using an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor combined with recyclable uniform beads (RUB) of seaweed species of Gracilaria. During the treatment of leachate without the RUB, the organic loading rate (OLR) was increased in stages from 0.125 to 0.833 kg chemical oxygen demand (COD) m–3d–1 and further increased to 2.50 kg COD m–3d–1 by reducing the hydraulic retention time from 4 to 1 d. Results showed that the COD removal efficiency declined from 65.70% to 9.33% when the OLR was increased from 0.125 to 2.50 kg COD m–3d–1. The removal of cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), and iron (Fe) was almost constant, regardless of the OLR (around Cd [36%], Ni [32%], and Fe [29%]). However, when the leachate was treated with UASB + RUB, a complete removal (100%) of Cd, Ni, and Fe was witnessed. Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer spectra of RUB pre and post leachate treatment indicated clearly that RUB was the major component that worked to remove the heavy metals. The functional groups that were responsible for the removal of heavy metals were hydroxide (O–H), amine (N–H), carboxylic (C=O), amide (N=O), sulfinyl (S=O), and sulfides (C=S). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]