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Abstract This study examined Sa'di's works through a descriptive-analytical lens, drawing upon contemporary expert perspectives on successful aging. Sa'di, employing a moral approach grounded in religious teachings and personal experiences, endeavored to portray successful elderly individuals. With concision and eloquence, he proposed methods to mitigate the losses associated with aging, enabling older adults to live their remaining years with greater serenity and assume new roles befitting their circumstances in society. The research findings revealed that, according to Sa'di, the key attributes of successful elderly individuals included: Accepting the realities of aging Living wisely and approaching challenges prudently Maintaining a purposeful existence Seeking meaning and transcendence Cultivating a realistic awareness of mortality Preserving hope Engaging in social roles Practicing kindness Cultivating a positive reputation Prioritizing physical and mental well-being This analysis bridged classical Persian literature with contemporary gerontological concepts, offering valuable insights into the timeless nature of successful aging strategies. Keywords: Aging, Successful Aging, Educational Literature, Old Age, Sa'di Introduction Old age represents a significant phase in the human lifespan—a period when individuals, having traversed the majority of their lives, experience a decline in certain abilities and often find themselves marginalized by societal structures. However, maintaining influence and fulfilling social roles during this stage can significantly preserve or even enhance one's quality of life. This study aimed to explore the concept of successful aging as portrayed in Sa'di's works. It sought to answer the question: What characteristics did Sa'di attribute to a successfully aging individual, taking into account the social conditions of his era? To achieve this, Sa'di's literary corpus was thoroughly examined and both his explicit statements and implicit views were meticulously described and analyzed. Materials & Methods This research employed a descriptive-analytical approach to examine the didactic works of Sa'di Shirazi, with a focus on identifying patterns of successful aging. The methodology involved: A comprehensive review of Sa'di's literary works Identification and extraction of relevant passages pertaining to aging Analysis of these passages in light of contemporary theories of successful aging Synthesis of findings to construct a cohesive picture of Sa'di's perspective on aging well By applying this rigorous methodology, the study aimed to bridge classical Persian wisdom with modern gerontological insights, potentially offering timeless strategies for navigating the challenges of advanced age.

Biological treatment is currently a favorable option to treat wastewater due to its environmentally friendly methods and minimal toxic by-products. The majority of biological wastewater treatment uses bacteria as treatment agents, which are known to have excellent capabilities for removing various pollutants. Researchers have extensively explored the use of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) generated by bacteria in wastewater treatment. This review focuses on the sources of EPSs, factors influencing their production, and their role in wastewater treatment. Bacterial species, nutrient availability, pH, temperatures, and the presence of toxins were mentioned to be the factors influencing EPS production by bacteria in wastewater treatment. Produced EPSs by bacteria may promote the aggregation, adsorption, decolorization, and degradation of pollutants. This review highlights the challenges of discovering new potential bacterial species and complex EPS extraction methods, as well as the importance of mass production for larger-scale applications.

Scrotoschisis is a rare congenital anomaly affecting the scrotum and testes, characterized clinically by a defect in the scrotal wall and extrusion of testicular tissue. This literature review is based on reports gathered from PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar using relevant keywords to explore the underlying basic science of this rare condition. The etiology and mechanism of scrotoschisis development remain largely unknown, with only theoretical explanations and a lack of empirical evidence regarding its pathogenesis, which is thought to be linked to embryological abnormalities during scrotal formation. Diagnosing scrotoschisis typically involves a straightforward visual examination of the extruded testes immediately after birth, although clinical presentations may vary, being either unilateral or bilateral. Surgical intervention, primarily through orchidopexy, is generally beneficial for repositioning the testes, closing defects, and preventing potential complications. The prognosis for individuals with this anomaly is generally favorable, although long-term testicular function has been inadequately documented. Further research, including additional clinical reports and investigations involving animal models or embryological studies, is warranted to enhance our understanding of this condition.

The ability of mixed neem, cassava, and wild betel plant leaves to act as plant-based coagulants was tested in real aquaculture wastewater through the coagulation-flocculation process. The performance of plant-based coagulant (PBC) was compared with that of chemical coagulant (alum) to observe the removal efficiency of turbidity, TSS, color, and COD. Ratio, as a new approach, was used by selecting TSS as an indicator or index to substitute for the dosage term and calculated based on a simplified equation. The extracted medium for these coagulants was prepared by using water extraction. Initial characterizations showed that the PBC had some carbon and amine groups (as also confirmed by LC-MS) with an average zeta potential of –22.83 ± 0.62 mV. Results indicated both coagulants (plant-based and chemical coagulants) successfully removed the measured polluted parameters of turbidity (85.17 %), TSS (80.28 %), color (59.42 %), and COD (54.63 %) for PBC with dosage of 0.79 mg/L and coagulant mass of 3.94 mg, while alum gained a higher removal with turbidity (99.08 %), TSS (98.71 %), color (97.29 %), and COD (75.31 %) with dosage and coagulant mass of 698.4 mg/L and 349.2 mg, respectively. This signaled that alum still acted as the best coagulant, but PBC showed a promising opportunity as a potential substitute for chemical coagulant.

Biological treatment is currently a favorable option to treat wastewater due to its environmentally friendly methods and minimal toxic by-products. The majority of biological wastewater treatment uses bacteria as treatment agents, which are known to have excellent capabilities for removing various pollutants. Researchers have extensively explored the use of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) generated by bacteria in wastewater treatment. This review focuses on the sources of EPSs, factors influencing their production, and their role in wastewater treatment. Bacterial species, nutrient availability, pH, temperatures, and the presence of toxins were mentioned to be the factors influencing EPS production by bacteria in wastewater treatment. Produced EPSs by bacteria may promote the aggregation, adsorption, decolorization, and degradation of pollutants. This review highlights the challenges of discovering new potential bacterial species and complex EPS extraction methods, as well as the importance of mass production for larger-scale applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Double metal cation halide perovskites are promising alternatives to lead halide perovskites due to their exceptional compositional flexibility and stability. However, their utilization in solar-light harvesting applications has been hindered by their large band gap and the complexity of producing doped or alloyed materials with desirable optoelectronic properties. In this study, we report the colloidal synthesis of iron-doped Cs2NaInCl6 double perovskite nanocrystals (NCs), leading to a significant extension of the absorption edge from 330 nm to 505 nm. We also demonstrate that simultaneous doping with Fe3+ and Ag+ ions allows significant reduction of the optical band gap and precise tuning of electronic band structures of the resulting NCs. The enhanced absorption in the visible region is attributed to the substitution of In-5s by the Fe-3d state, while the introduction of the Ag 4d state upshifts the valence band maximum, inducing a transformative change in the band structure, as confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Remarkably, by precisely controlling the band positions of the Fe3+-doped Cs2Ag0.5Na0.5InCl6 NCs, we accomplished the selective photocatalytic reduction of CO2 into CH4, making them readily available for solar-energy conversion technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Urban industrialization has caused a ubiquity of microplastics in the environment. A large percentage of plastic waste originated from Southeast Asian countries. Microplastics arising from the primary sources of personal care items and industrial uses and the fragmentation of larger plastics have recently garnered attention due to their ubiquity. Due to the rising level of plastic waste in the environment, the bioaccumulation and biomagnification of plastics threaten aquatic and human life. Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents are one of the major sources of these plastic fragments. WWTPs in Southeast Asia contribute largely to microplastic pollution in the marine environment, and thus, further technological improvements are required to ensure the complete and efficient removal of microplastics. Coagulation is a significant process in removing microplastics, and natural coagulants are far superior to their chemical equivalents due to their non-toxicity and cost-effectiveness. A focused literature search was conducted on journal repository platforms, mainly ScienceDirect and Elsevier, and on scientific databases such as Google Scholar using the keywords Wastewater Treatment Plant, Coagulation, Microplastics, Marine Environment and Southeast Asia. The contents and results of numerous papers and research articles were reviewed, and the relevant papers were selected. The relevant findings and research data are summarized in this paper. The paper reviews (1) natural coagulants for microplastic removal and their effectiveness in removing microplastics and (2) the potential use of natural coagulants in Southeast Asian wastewater treatment plants as the abundance of natural materials readily available in the region makes it a feasible option for microplastic removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial textiles have emerged as a new trend, particularly in military settings, due to their capacity to reduce the risk of infection transmission, improve cleanliness, as well as promote overall health and safety. In this study, three antimicrobial solutions were chosen to be tested, which were Antimicrobials A, B and C, by applying them on three different fabric materials of Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) clothes, which were polyester cotton, polyester and cotton. There were three potential pathogenic bacteria employed in this experiment, which were Escherichia coli (E. coli), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The samples were categorised as treated and untreated samples, and non-fabric samples as control. The treated samples were treated with each antimicrobial solution using a spray method. Three serial dilutions were performed for all the samples using the shake flask test in saline water method. After the final 24 h of incubation, the colony forming unit (CFU) readings of the test samples for 0, 1, 3 and 24 h were counted and recorded using an automatic colony counter (Interscience Scan 4000, USA). From the results obtained, S. aureus was the highest bacteria that had been reduced by all three antimicrobial solutions. Overall, the treated samples showed higher bacterial reduction trend as compared to the untreated samples. For the treated samples, the results showed that the combination of Antimicrobials A and B, which contained titanium dioxide (TiO2) as their primarily active components, with cotton fabrics had higher efficacy in eradicating all three bacteria. It was found that the Antimicrobial A was more efficient than Antimicrobial B due to high dodecanoic acid content as additional active ingredient in Antimicrobial A that also helps to eradicate the evaluated bacteria through lytic action. For the untreated samples, the most bacterial reduction could also be seen on the cotton fabrics. In conclusion, this study found that the combination of Antimicrobial A and cotton fabrics was the most suitable pair to be used in future research for the development of MAF antimicrobial clothes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, advances in nanotechnology have significantly influenced electronics manufacturing, industrial processes, and medical research. Various industries have seen a surge in the use of nanomaterials. However, several researchers have raised the alarm about the toxicological nature of nanomaterials, which appear to be quite different from their crude forms. This altered nature can be attributed to their unique physicochemical profile. They can adversely affect human health and the environment. Nanomaterials that have been released into the environment tend to accumulate over time and can cause a significant impact on the ecosystem and organisms with adverse health effects. Increased use of nanoparticles has led to increased human exposure in their daily lives, making them more vulnerable to nanoparticle toxicity. Because of their small size, nanomaterials can readily cross biological membranes and enter cells, tissues, and organs. Therefore, the effect of nanomaterials on the human environment is of particular concern. The toxicological effects of nanomaterials and their mechanisms of action are being researched worldwide. Technological advances also support monitoring new nanomaterials marketed for industrial and household purposes. It is a challenging area because of the exceptional physicochemical properties of nanomaterials. This updated review focuses on the diverse toxicological perspective of nanomaterials. We have discussed the use of different types of nanoparticles and their physiochemical properties responsible for toxicity, routes of exposure, bio-distribution, and mechanism of toxicity. The review also includes various in vivo and in vitro methods of assessing the toxicity of nanomaterials. Finally, this review will provide a detailed insight into nano material-induced toxicological response, which can be beneficial in designing safe and effective nanoparticles., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2024 Qamar et al.)

Almost over ten years, environmental experts have concentrated on implementing risk-based management strategies for the remediation of sites contaminated with total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs), which can potentially have detrimental ecological impacts. Phytoremediation widely recognized as a green technology a plant-based and economically efficient technology, emerges as a promising method to offer an alternative to existing treatment technologies in TPH contaminated ecosystems. The utilization of Scirpus grossus, a perennial plant, has been proposed as a practical, safe, and cost-effective method for remediating soil contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of S. grossus in removing total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in real crude-oil sludge. Employing a batch phytoremediation system with S. grossus, the experiment was conducted in crates within a greenhouse, maintaining ambient temperatures (30 °C-35 °C) for a duration of 28 days. Each crate was populated with 9-month-old plants of uniform size, initially cultivated in the greenhouse before being transplanted into crates containing 100 % crude-oil sludge with an initial TPH concentration of 37,554 mg/kg for the treatment phase. TPH removal rates were assessed after 14, 21, and 28 days of exposure, resulting in removal rates of 67 %, 74 %, and 75 %, respectively. The highest concentration of rhizobacteria recorded in both sample (with contaminants and without contaminants) were 5.56 × 104 and 5.72 × 104 CFU/mL respectively. Furthermore, TPH extraction from both stems and roots of S. grossus was analysed, revealing the highest TPH concentration of 15,319 mg/kg and about 8000 mg/kg of TPH at day 28 by roots and stem sample respectively. In conclusion, S. grossus demonstrated substantial potential in effectively mitigating the toxicity of TPH in real crude-oil sludge contamination scenarios., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)