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This paper examines the potential of suitable second-generation feedstocks for sustainable aviation fuel production, theoretically based on fatty acid-based fuel properties. The fatty acid composition of 38 s-generation feedstocks was collected from the literature. The fuel properties of these feedstocks were then calculated using empirical formula and assessed according to international fuel standards including American and European standards. The selected feedstocks were assessed and ranked using a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) tool, i.e., PROMETHEE GAIA, to identify the suitability of the sources based on kinematic viscosity (KV), density (D), higher heating value (HHV), cetane number (CN), iodine value (IV), oxidation stability (OS), and cold filter plugging point (CFPP). It was found that 20 of the 38 feedstocks meet international fuel standards. The utilisation of the MCDA tool indicates that Ricinus communis is the highest-ranked feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel production, followed by the Azadirachta indica feedstock, with Sterculia feotida L. the lowest-ranked feedstock. The assessment of the properties of ranked feedstock against aviation fuel standards, including Jet A and Jet A1, reveals that the kinematic viscosity of all the feedstocks meets both these standards. However, fatty acid-based fuel properties could not satisfy the international aviation fuel standards for D, HHV, and freezing points. Further experimental work is recommended, including improvements in the processing and modification of biofuel produced from second-generation feedstocks. It is recommended that a comprehensive action plan is required to facilitate the introduction of sustainable biofuel from non-edible sources for the aviation industry, such as the adjustment of the current jet fuel standards.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are highly efficient and are comparatively cheaper than the large silicon crystals primarily used in solar cells. Their outstanding photovoltaic performance makes them a potential alternative to silicon solar cells. While efficiency and photovoltaic performance have been investigated in recent decades, a knowledge gap on the degradation, economic feasibility and stability of PSCs exists, and their poor stability remains a barrier to commercialization. Thus, this review aims to fill this knowledge gap by focusing on approaches to improve PSCs’ thermal and chemical stability, and their economic viability under different conditions. The structure and manufacture of PSCs are also discussed along with an economic analysis of different perovskite devices. Improvements in thermal stability can be reached by incorporating inorganic materials into the PSC. A PSC model optimized with ZnO improves chemical stability by 8% and works well under low temperatures. To make PSCs more economically feasible, certain parts like counter electrodes (CE) and hole transport materials (HTMs) can be replaced with alternative elements like carbon and inorganic HTMs, respectively. PSCs with long durability and high conversion efficiency will expand the commercial prospects for this material. To bridge the lack of knowledge, further investigation is required on the sustainability and longevity of PSCs.

Differences of sex development and maturation (SDM) represent a heterogeneous puzzle of rare conditions with a large genetic component whose management and treatment could be improved by an accurate classification of underlying molecular conditions, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) should represent the most appropriate approach. Therefore, we conducted a survey dedicated to the use and potential outcomes of NGS for SDM disorders diagnosis among the 53 health care providers (HCP) of the European Reference Network for rare endocrine conditions. The response rate was 49% with a total of 26 HCPs from 13 countries. All HCPs, except 1, performed NGS investigations for SDM disorders on 6720 patients, 3764 (56%) with differences of sex development (DSD), including 811 unexplained primary ovarian insufficiency, and 2956 (44%) with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH). The approaches varied from targeted analysis of custom gene panels (range: 11-490 genes) in 81.5% of cases or whole exome sequencing with the extraction of a virtual panel in the remaining cases. These analyses were performed for diagnostic purposes in 21 HCPs, supported by the National Health Systems in 16 cases. The likelihood of finding a variant ranged between 7 and 60%, mainly depending upon the number of analysed genes or criteria used for reporting, most HCPs also reporting variants of uncertain significance. These data illustrate the status of genetic diagnosis of DSD and CHH across Europe. In most countries, these analyses are performed for diagnostic purposes, yielding highly variable results, thus suggesting the need for harmonization and general improvements of NGS approaches.

Recent years have seen a sharp rise in CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, which has contributed to the issue of global warming. In response to this several technologies have been developed to convert CO2 into fuel. It is discovered that the employment of a solar-driven thermochemical process (S-DTCP) that transforms CO2 into fuels can increase the efficiency of the production of sustainable fuels. The process involves the reduction of metal oxide (MO) and oxidizing it with CO2 in a two-step process using concentrated solar power (CSP) at higher and lower temperatures, respectively. This study summarizes current advancements in CO2 conversion methods based on MO thermochemical cycles (ThCy), including their operating parameters, types of cycles, and working principles. It was revealed that the efficiency of the solar conversion of CO2 to fuel is not only influenced by the composition of the MO, but also by its morphology as well as the available surface area for solid/gas reactions and the diffusion length. The conversion mechanism is governed by surface reaction, which is influenced by these two parameters (diffusion length and specific surface area). Solar energy contributes to the reduction and oxidation steps by promoting reaction kinetics and heat and mass transport in the material. The information on recent advances in metal oxide-based carbon dioxide conversion into fuels will be beneficial to both the industrial and academic sectors of the economy.

Increasing human population, deforestation and man-made climate change are likely to exacerbate the negative effects on freshwater ecosystems and species endangerment. Consequently, the biodiversity of freshwater continues to dwindle at an alarming rate. However, this particular topic lacks sufficient attention from conservation ecologists and policymakers, resulting in a dearth of data and comprehensive reviews on freshwater biodiversity, specifically. Despite the widespread awareness of risks to freshwater biodiversity, organized action to reverse this decline has been lacking. This study reviews prospective conservation and management strategies for freshwater biodiversity and their associated challenges, identifying current key threats to freshwater biodiversity. Engineered nanomaterials pose a significant threat to aquatic species, and will make controlling health risks to freshwater biodiversity increasingly challenging in the future. When fish are exposed to nanoparticles, the surface area of their respiratory and ion transport systems can decline to 60% of their total surface area, posing serious health risks. Also, about 50% of freshwater fish species are threatened by climate change, globally. Freshwater biodiversity that is heavily reliant on calcium perishes when the calcium content of their environments degrades, posing another severe threat to world biodiversity. To improve biodiversity, variables such as species diversity, population and water quality, and habitat are essential components that must be monitored continuously. Existing research on freshwater biota and ecosystems is still lacking. Therefore, data collection and the establishment of specialized policies for the conservation of freshwater biodiversity should be prioritized.

Membrane technology has rapidly gained popularity in wastewater treatment due to its cost-effectiveness, environmentally friendly tools, and elevated productivity. Although membrane performance in wastewater treatment has been reviewed in several past studies, the key techniques for improving membrane performance, as well as their challenges, and solutions associated with the membrane process, were not sufficiently highlighted in those studies. Also, very few studies have addressed hybrid techniques to improve membrane performance. The present review aims to fill those gaps and achieve public health benefits through safe water processing. Despite its higher cost, membrane performance can result in a 36% reduction in flux degradation. The issue with fouling has been identified as one of the key challenges of membrane technology. Chemical cleaning is quite effective in removing accumulated foulant. Fouling mitigation techniques have also been shown to have a positive effect on membrane photobioreactors that handle wastewater effluent, resulting in a 50% and 60% reduction in fouling rates for backwash and nitrogen bubble scouring techniques. Membrane hybrid approaches such as hybrid forward-reverse osmosis show promise in removing high concentrations of phosphorus, ammonium, and salt from wastewater. The incorporation of the forward osmosis process can reject 99% of phosphorus and 97% of ammonium, and the reverse osmosis approach can achieve a 99% salt rejection rate. The control strategies for membrane fouling have not been successfully optimized yet and more research is needed to achieve a realistic, long-term direct membrane filtering operation.

There is actually an intense research in ethanol dry reforming because bioethanol and carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, can be converted into syngas and, in turn, into chemicals and energy such as dihydrogen (H2). Here we review dry reforming of ethanol with focus on thermodynamics, catalysts and effect of operating conditions. Noble metal-based catalysts typically exhibit both ethanol and CO2 conversions above 85% in the range of 923‒1073 K, yet the high cost of precious metals has restrained their potential applications. H2 yield of 90% and above is achieved at 1073 K or above due to the endothermic nature of ethanol dry reforming. Improving catalytic performance and inhibiting coke formation may be achieved by using bimetallic catalysts and other types of metal oxides.

Microalgae are photosynthetic cell factories of global interest for fuels, food, feed, bioproducts, carbon sequestration, waste mitigation, and environmental remediation. Actually, microalgal monocultures are used for biomass production and pollutant removal, yet are limited by moderate production and contaminations. Here we review binary cultures of autotrophic microalgae with bacteria, yeast, fungi, and heterotrophic microalgae, with focus on growth, lipid accumulation, bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and cost-effective harvesting. We found that a controlled, symbiotic binary culture facilitates waste bioremediation and biomass harvesting, with 96% efficiency, and reduces cost by 20–30%. Noteworthy, in binary or polyculture systems, autotrophic microalgae often develop a symbiosis by exchanging nutrients and metabolites with heterotrophic microalgae, bacteria, yeast, fungi, which may help to achieve higher biomass production.

Globally, 150–170 billion cubic metres of gas are being flared annually from petroleum refineries, petrochemical industries and from landfills. In this paper, we critically review the flaring technology, the impact of flare gas on the environment, and recovery options. We also discuss flare gas challenges such as technical, structural, economic, and regulatory challenges. We found that ground flaring is preferred whenever the facility is situated in a highly populated area or close to an aviation zone. Gas flaring produces major pollutants including benzene, benzopyrene and toluene. The recovery of this gas should be intensified to minimise impacts.

Microalgal biomass has been proved to be a sustainable source for biofuels including bio-oil, biodiesel, bioethanol, biomethane, etc. One of the collateral benefits of integrating the use of microalgal technologies in the industry is microalgae's ability to capture carbon dioxide during the application and biomass production process and consequently reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Although microalgae are a feasible source of biofuel, industrial microalgae applications face energy and cost challenges. To overcome these challenges, researchers have been interested in applying the bio-refinery approach to extract the important components encapsulated in microalgae. This review discusses the key steps of microalgae-based biorefinery including cultivation and harvesting, cell disruption, biofuel and value-added compound extraction along with the detailed technologies associated with each step of biorefinery. This review found that suitable microalgae species are selected based on their carbohydrate, lipid and protein contents and selecting the suitable species are crucial for high-quality biofuel and value-added products production. Microalgae species contain carbohydrates, proteins and lipids in the range of 8% to 69.7%, 5% to 74% and 7% to 65% respectively which proved their ability to be used as a source of value-added commodities in multiple industries including agriculture, animal husbandry, medicine, culinary, and cosmetics. This review suggests that lipid and value-added products from microalgae can be made more economically viable by integrating upstream and downstream processes. Therefore, a systematically integrated genome sequencing and process-scale engineering approach for improving the extraction of lipids and co-products is critical in the development of future microalgal biorefineries.

The disposal of olive wastes and their wastewater is a major problem worldwide. An important recycling chain can be formed through biogas production and energy conversion from olive waste. This study developed an efficient and effective sustainable model for biogas production using anaerobic digestion conditions with the co-digestion of pretreated olive waste. The sample used was hard olive pomace, which was dried in an oven before being crushed to fine particles with a mortar and pestle. The sample was analyzed by a CE-440 Elemental Analyzer, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR) analysis was performed using Shimadzu IRTracer-100. Through the analysis, a substantial amount of electrical energy of 769 kWh/t was found to be generated per ton of olive pomace due to the high volatile solid (VS) percentage of organic waste material incorporated during the calculation. Reduced land area for landfilling olive waste was calculated to be 108 m2 per year, whereas the potential to reduce landfill leachate production was evaluated to be 0.32 m3 per year.

Solar energy is considered to be one of the most promising renewable and sustainable energy sources. Two key technologies such as photovoltaic and concentrated solar power are mainly used to convert solar radiation, out of which photovoltaic directly converts solar radiation into electricity, while concentrated solar power technology converts solar radiation both into heat and electricity. The key advantages of concentrated solar power technology over photovoltaic is its capability of storing heat energy which can be utilised in the absence of sunlight, overcoming the limitation of the intermittent nature of solar power. Currently, the cost for the concentrated solar power with storage is about 9.0 ¢/kWh (same as commercial photovoltaic system), which is expected to drop at ~5.0 ¢/kWh by 2030. Besides four mainstream concentrated solar power technologies, this paper reviewed the application of concentrated solar power in thermolysis, thermochemical cycle, hydrocarbon cracking, reforming and solar gasification. Based on the literature review, this study has outlined the key challenges and prospects of concentrated solar power technologies. The main challenge in thermolysis is the requirement of very high temperature, while the thermochemical cycle is inefficient. Solar thermal cracking, reforming, and gasification integrate carbonaceous fuel to produce synthesis gas and hydrogen and therefore are not emission-free. The concentrated solar power technologies require further development and cost reductions before they can be scaled up to have a meaningful impact on renewable energy targets towards 2050.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is continuously evolving and four variants of concern have been identified so far, including Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants. Here we review the indirect effect of preventive measures such as the implementation of lockdowns, mandatory face masks, and vaccination programs, to control the spread of the different variants of this infectious virus on the environment. We found that all these measures have a considerable environmental impact, notably on waste generation and air pollution. Waste generation is increased due to the implementation of all these preventive measures. While lockdowns decrease air pollution, unsustainable management of face mask waste and temperature-controlled supply chains of vaccination potentially increases air pollution.

This research aims to find out whether the synthetic 1, 2, 4-triazine and its derivatives have antifungal effects and can protect humans from infection with Candida albicans. Molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation are widely used in modern drug design to target a We are interested in using molecular docking and molecular dynamics modelling to investigate the interaction between the derivatives of 1, 2, 4-triazine and the resulting lanosterol 14 - demethylase (CYP51) of Candida albicans The inhibition of Candida albicans CYP51 is the main goal of our research. The 1, 2, 4-triazine and its derivatives have been docked to the CYP51 enzyme, which is involved in Candida albicans Multidrug Drug Resistance (MDR). Autodock tools were used to identifying the binding affinities of molecules against the target proteins. Compared to conventional fluconazole, the molecular docking results indicated that each drug has a high binding affinity for CYP51 proteins and forms unbound interactions and hydrogen bonds with their active residues and surrounding allosteric residues. The docking contacts were made using a 10 ns MD simulation with nine molecules. RMSD, RMSF, hydrogen bonds, and the Rg all confirm these conclusions. In addition, these compounds were expected to have a favorable pharmacological profile and low toxicity. The compounds are being offered as scaffolds for the development of new antifungal drugs and as candidates for future in vitro testing.

The farm animal and meat processing industry generate waste, including manure, fat, blood, sludge, bones, and wastewater, which create environmental problems worldwide. The effluents generated by this industry are rich in proteins, lipids, fibres, and carbohydrates. All these pollutants have the potential to be used as a resource for energy recovery. The organic matters obtained from the farm animal and meat processing industry are critical sources for biogas production via anaerobic digestion. This process leads to the production of energy-rich biogas, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This study attempts to determine biogas amount and the energy value produced from the farm animal and meat processing industry in Australia. Australia's livestock population mainly consists of dairy cattle, meat cattle, sheep and lambs, pigs, layers, and meat chickens. Results show a potential biogas amount of 23,874,165 million m3 (Mm3), 215,670 Mm3, 288,228 Mm3, 18,430 Mm3, and 392,284 Mm3 can be obtained from cattle, lamb, sheep, pig, and poultry annually, respectively. The methane generated from slaughterhouse waste and wastewater is estimated to provide 4.52E+ 14 MJ/yr of heat energy with total electricity generation potential from livestock wastes of 4.4E+ 13 kWh/yr. About half of the electricity can be generated in Queensland State. Finally, the present study suggests farm animal and meat processing industry effluent as a potential sustainable energy source in Australia.

The utilization of microalgae in treating wastewater has been an emerging topic focussed on finding an economically sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to treating wastewater. Over the last several years, different types of con microalgae and bacteria consortia have been experimented with to explore their potential in effectively treating wastewater from different sources. The basic features considered while determining efficiency is their capacity to remove nutrients including nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and heavy metals like arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and copper (Cu). This paper reviews the efficiency of microalgae as an approach to treating wastewater from different sources and compares conventional and microalgae-based treatment systems. The paper also discusses the characteristics of wastewater, conventional methods of wastewater treatment that have been used so far, and the technological mechanisms for removing nutrients and heavy metals from contaminated water. Microalgae can successfully eliminate the suspended nutrients and have been reported to successfully remove N, P, and heavy metals by up to 99.6 %, 100 %, and 13%-100 % from different types of wastewater. However, although a microalgae-based wastewater treatment system offers some benefits, it also presents some challenges as outlined in the last section of this paper. Performance in eliminating nutrients from wastewater is affected by different parameters such as temperature, biomass productivity, osmotic ability, pH, O2 concentration. Therefore, the conducting of pilot-scale studies and exploration of the complexities of contaminants under complex environmental conditions is recommended.

Emerging contaminants (ECs) in wastewater have recently attracted the attention of researchers as they pose significant risks to human health and wildlife. This paper presents the state-of-art technologies used to remove ECs from wastewater through a comprehensive review. It also highlights the challenges faced by existing EC removal technologies in wastewater treatment plants and provides future research directions. Many treatment technologies like biological, chemical, and physical approaches have been advanced for removing various ECs. However, currently, no individual technology can effectively remove ECs, whereas hybrid systems have often been found to be more efficient. A hybrid technique of ozonation accompanied by activated carbon was found significantly effective in removing some ECs, particularly pharmaceuticals and pesticides. Despite the lack of extensive research, nanotechnology may be a promising approach as nanomaterial incorporated technologies have shown potential in removing different contaminants from wastewater. Nevertheless, most existing technologies are highly energy and resource-intensive as well as costly to maintain and operate. Besides, most proposed advanced treatment technologies are yet to be evaluated for large-scale practicality. Complemented with techno-economic feasibility studies of the treatment techniques, comprehensive research and development are therefore necessary to achieve a full and effective removal of ECs by wastewater treatment plants.

The utilisation of available renewable resources and mitigating their impact on the environment boosts sustainable development and helps to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Biogas is a renewable energy option produced through anaerobic digestion of wastes such as livestock excreta and slaughterhouse wastes. Biogas production is treated as one of the leading processes to combat climate change as well as a waste management strategy, especially for a developing country like Bangladesh. It is also vital in meeting future demand for energy utilising indigenous sources. Livestock farming is an important economic activity in rural areas of Bangladesh. Thus, the livestock waste production, estimated biogas generation capacity, electricity generation potential, greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction potential, and estimated biofertiliser generation capacity of Bangladesh were determined for the financial year 2018-2019 in this study. The results show that Bangladesh had 486.77 million tons per year of animal waste products to produce 27,923.72 million m3/year biogas in 2018-2019. This biogas potential corresponds to a theoretical potential to produce a 512 PJ/year heating value and electric power of 50 TW h/year. Besides, about 29.232 million tons per year of organic fertiliser can be produced with the residues of the biogas plants. The findings of this study will contribute to guiding policymakers and governments who will concentrate on the use of animal waste in biogas industries and livestock farming as a potential bioenergy source to meet national energy demand.

Green synthesis approaches of nanomaterials (NMs) have received considerable attention in recent years as it addresses the sustainability issues posed by conventional synthesis methods. However, recent works of literature do not present the complete picture of biogenic NMs. This paper addresses the previous gaps by providing insights into the stability and toxicity of NMs, critically reviewing the various biological agents and solvents required for synthesis, sheds light on the factors that affect biosynthesis, and outlines the applications of NMs across various sectors. Despite the advantages of green synthesis, current methods face challenges with safe and appropriate solvent selection, process parameters that affect the synthesis process, nanomaterial cytotoxicity, bulk production and NM morphology control, tedious maintenance, and knowledge deficiencies. Consequently, the green synthesis of NMs is largely trapped in the laboratory phase. Nevertheless, the environmental friendliness, biocompatibility, and sensitivities of the resulting NMs have wider applications in biomedical science, environmental remediation, and consumer industries. To the scale-up application of biogenic NMs, future research should be focused on understanding the mechanisms of the synthesis processes, identifying more biological and chemical agents that can be used in synthesis, and developing the practicality of green synthesis at the industrial scale, and optimizing the factors affecting the synthesis process.

The utilization of renewable lignocellulosic biomasses for bioenergy synthesis is believed to facilitate competitive commercialization and realize affordable clean energy sources in the future. Among the pathways for biomass pretreatment methods that enhance the efficiency of the whole biofuel production process, the combined microwave irradiation and physicochemical approach is found to provide many economic and environmental benefits. Several studies on microwave-based pretreatment technologies for biomass conversion have been conducted in recent years. Although some reviews are available, most did not comprehensively analyze microwave-physicochemical pretreatment techniques for biomass conversion. The study of these techniques is crucial for sustainable biofuel generation. Therefore, the biomass pretreatment process that combines the physicochemical method with microwave-assisted irradiation is reviewed in this paper. The effects of this pretreatment process on lignocellulosic structure and the ratio of achieved components were also discussed in detail. Pretreatment processes for biomass conversion were substantially affected by temperature, irradiation time, initial feedstock components, catalyst loading, and microwave power. Consequently, neoteric technologies utilizing high efficiency-based green and sustainable solutions should receive further focus. In addition, methodologies for quantifying and evaluating effects and relevant trade-offs should be develop to facilitate the take-off of the biofuel industry with clean and sustainable goals.

naerobic digestion (AD) from organic waste has gained worldwide attention because it offers significant environmental and economic benefits. It can reduce the local waste through recycling which will conserve resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and build economic resilience in the face of an uncertain future for energy production and waste disposal. The productive use of local waste through recycling conserves resources by reducing landfill space, the whole of life impacts of landfilling, and post-closure maintenance of landfills. Turning waste into a renewable energy source will assist the decarbonisation of the economy by reducing harmful emissions and pollutants. Therefore, this mini-review aims to summarise key factors and present valuable evidence for an efficient AD process. It also presents the pros and cons of different AD process to convert organic waste along with the reactor technologies. Besides, this paper highlights the challenges and the future perspective of the AD process. However, it is highlighted that for an effective and efficient AD process, appropriate temperature, pH, a strong inoculum to substrate ratio, good mixing and small particle sizes are important factors. The selection of suitable AD process and reactor is important because not all types of processes and reactors are not effective for processing organic waste. This study is of great importance for ongoing work on renewable energy generation from waste and provides important knowledge of innovative waste processing. Finally, it is recommended that the government should increase their support towards the AD technology and consider the unutilized significant potential of gaseous biofuel production.

The nature of micro- and nanoplastics and their harmful consequences has drawn significant attention in recent years in the context of environmental protection. Therefore, this paper aims to provide an overview of the existing literature related to this evolving subject, focusing on the documented human health and marine environment impacts of micro- and nanoplastics and including a discussion of the economic challenges and strategies to mitigate this waste problem. The study highlights the micro- and nanoplastics distribution across various trophic levels of the food web, and in different organs in infected animals which is possible due to their reduced size and their lightweight, multi-coloured and abundant features. Consequently, micro- and nanoplastics pose significant risks to marine organisms and human health in the form of cytotoxicity, acute reactions, and undesirable immune responses. They affect several sectors including aquaculture, agriculture, fisheries, transportation, industrial sectors, power generation, tourism, and local authorities causing considerable economic losses. This can be minimised by identifying key sources of environmental plastic contamination and educating the public, thus reducing the transfer of micro- and nanoplastics into the environment. Furthermore, the exploitation of the potential of microorganisms, particularly those from marine origins that can degrade plastics, could offer an enhanced and environmentally sound approach to mitigate micro- and nanoplastics pollution.

Microalgae originating from wastewater has been exhibiting particularly promising results in terms of biohydrogen production and wastewater treatment. This paper aims to review the factors affecting production, pretreatment techniques to improve synthesis, advanced technologies utilized for enhancing biohydrogen production, and techno-economic feasibility evaluation of the processes at a commercial scale. Microalgae possess metabolic components to synthesize biohydrogen using photobiological and fermentative processes but must undergo pretreatment for efficient biohydrogen production. The efficiency of these processes is influenced by factors such as the microalgae species, light intensity, cell density, pH, temperature, substrates, and the type of bioreactors. Moreover, many limitations, such as oxygen sensitivity, altered thylakoid constitution, low photon conversion efficiency, light capture disruption, and the evolution of harmful by-products hinder the sustainability of biohydrogen production processes. High operational and maintenance costs serve as the major bottleneck in the scaling up of the process as an industrial technology. Therefore, future research needs to be directed towards increasing optimization of the processes by reducing energy and resource demand, recycling metabolic wastes and process components, genetically engineered microalgae to adopt more efficient routes, and conducting pilot studies for commercialization.

Andreas Kyriakou,1 Angela K Lucas-Herald,1 Ruth McGowan,2 Edward S Tobias,2 S Faisal Ahmed1 1Developmental Endocrinology Research Group, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK; 2Medical Genetics, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, UK Abstract: Disorders of sex development (DSD) are a group of rare conditions that usually present with atypical genitalia in the newborn period or as delayed puberty in an adolescent. Although a concern about the development of external genitalia may exist in one in 300 newborn infants, discrete genetic conditions that underlie DSD are generally rarely identified. It is likely that this diagnostic gap exists for a number of reasons and these include an inadequate knowledge of the pathogenesis and underlying mechanisms that lead to DSD, variation in assessment and in-depth phenotyping of these rare conditions, inadequate availability of quality accredited laboratories and, lastly, limited awareness of the value of a molecular genetic diagnosis for improving short-term and long-term care of the affected person. Keywords: DSD, genetics, novel, rare disease, genomics, NGS

The increasing use of dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) in children has led to the need for robust reference data for interpretation of scans in daily clinical practice. Such data need to be representative of the population being studied and be “future‐proofed” to software and hardware upgrades. The aim was to combine all available pediatric DXA reference data from seven UK centers to create reference curves adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, and body size to enable clinical application, using in vivo cross‐calibration and making data back and forward compatible. Seven UK sites collected data on GE Lunar or Hologic Scanners between 1996 and 2012. Males and females aged 4 to 20 years were recruited (n = 3598). The split by ethnic group was white 2887; South Asian 385; black Afro‐Caribbean 286; and mixed heritage 40. Scans of the total body and lumbar spine (L1 to L4) were obtained. The European Spine Phantom was used to cross‐calibrate the 7 centers and 11 scanners. Reference curves were produced for L1 to L4 bone mineral apparent density (BMAD) and total body less head (TBLH) and L1 to L4 areal bone mineral density (aBMD) for GE Lunar Prodigy and iDXA (sex‐ and ethnic‐specific) and for Hologic (sex‐specific). Regression equations for TBLH BMC were produced using stepwise linear regression. Scans of 100 children were randomly selected to test backward and forward compatibility of software versions, up to version 15.0 for GE Lunar and Apex 4.1 for Hologic. For the first time, sex‐ and ethnic‐specific reference curves for lumbar spine BMAD, aBMD, and TBLH aBMD are provided for both GE Lunar and Hologic scanners. These curves will facilitate interpretation of DXA data in children using methods recommended in ISCD guidelines. The databases have been created to allow future updates and analysis when more definitive evidence for the best method of fracture prediction in children is agreed. © 2016 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Cigarette smoking prevalence is still increasing in the developing world especially among men mainly in central Asia, east Europe and Africa. Furthermore, maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy has multiple deleterious effects on the offspring, which may persist into adulthood. The present work aims at clarifying whether the prenatal exposure to either nicotine or thiocyanate could be the responsible factor in induction of the possible effect of smoking on spermatogenesis and the cytoarchitecture of the testis and hence influencing the male fertility later on. Twenty pregnant rats were randomly divided into four groups from gestational day 4. Groups Ia and b served as control. Group II animals were injected with nicotine (6 mg/kg/day) subcutaneously as a single dose. Group III Animals were treated with oral potassium thiocyanate (25 mg/rat/day) as a single dose through gastric gavages. Five male litters from each group (one/each pregnant rat) were sacrificed at the age of 1 month. Pituitary and testicular tissue samples were subjected to histological and electron microscopic study. The counts of different cells of seminiferous tubules were statistically analyzed for significance. Results revealed apoptotic changes at the subcellular level of the pituitary gonadotrophs and different spermatogenic and Sertoli cells of the testis. The number of Sertoli and different spermatogenic cells- rather than spermatogonia- showed a very highly significant decrease in the nicotine treated group in comparison to the control. The dense cells revealed a very highly significant increase in the nicotine treated group. In conclusion, the results of the present study were more consistent with a suggested dual effect of nicotine on the pituitary-testicular axis rather than a purely direct effect on the testis. On the other hand, thiocyanate induced subcellular effect on the testicular histology with minimal affection of gonadotrophs.

The prototype weeder described in this paper consists of a ground-driven rotating horizontal short shaft which is connected by universal joints to two gangs of rotary hoe weeders. With the short shaft nearly at the bottom of a furrow between two ridges, the gangs of weeders lie on the sides of the two ridges. The universal joints make it possible to angle the weeder gangs with respect to the horizontal shaft to make the gangs conform to the profiles of the sides of the ridges facing the common furrow. The operator walks in the furrow and simply pushes the weedier along to weed one side each of two ridges. Thus the weeder can handle any crop planted on ridges, irrespective of the height of the plants. The shares on the gangs of the rotary hoe weeders are independently adjustable to facilitate reaching the surface of any ridge. Field tests show that this weeder is very effective in controlling young weeds where only light earthling up is required.