Effectiveness of Oral Azithromycin in Treating Enteric Fever: A Hospital-Based Study on Pediatric Patients.

Introduction Enteric fever is prevalent in underdeveloped and developing countries. It is caused by Salmonella Typhi, which has developed resistance over the years to commonly used antimicrobials. Meropenem is an effective treatment for all complicated and uncomplicated extensively drug-resistant (XDR) bacteria, but it is administered intravenously, three times daily, by infusion, and it is quite expensive for the patient. Oral azithromycin is shown by some authors to be effective in extensively drug-resistant enteric fever. Material and methods This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the outpatient department of Lady Reading Hospital Medical Teaching Institution, Peshawar. The duration of the study was one year. Data was collected after approval from the hospital's Ethical and Research Committee. All pediatric patients meeting the inclusion criteria for extensively drug-resistant enteric fever were included. Data on patient demographics, blood culture and laboratory results, treatment given, and effectiveness were documented in a specialized proforma. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, US) was used for data analysis. Results Out of the total 106 patients, 72 (67.9%) were male and 34 (32.1%) were female. The mean age was 7.51 ± 2.75 years, with a range of 1 to 15 years. Among them, 66 (62.3%) had anemia (hemoglobin less than 11 grams per deciliter for under 5 years and 11.5 for 5-15 years old children), with a mean hemoglobin level of 10.6 ± 1.53 grams per deciliter (g/dl), ranging from 7.2 to 13.8 g/dl. Thrombocytopenia was found in 14 (13%) patients. The mean platelet count was 317 x 103 ± 164 cells per microliter, with a range of 61 x 103 to 834 x 103 cells per liter. The mean total leukocyte count was 9.71x 103 ± 4.321 cells per microliter, with a range of 2.01 x 103 to 30.40 x103 cells per microliter. However, leucopenia was seen in only 5 (4.7%) patients. In 98.1% of cases, azithromycin was found to be effective in treating enteric fever caused by extensively drug-resistant Salmonella. Conclusion Azithromycin is effective in treating extensively drug-resistant enteric fever. It can be confidently used in patients with no or mild complications with extensively drug-resistant enteric fever. Good compliance and complete dosage should be followed to avoid resistance to this drug. Blood cultures should always be sent when prescribing antibiotics, especially when suspecting enteric fever.

Pattern of Immune Reconstitution Post Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant: Data From a Resource Constraint Country.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the Pattern of immune reconstitution (IR) post allogeneic stem cell transplant at six months. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observational study. Place and duration of the study: This study was conducted at The Armed Forces Bone Marrow Transplant Centre (AFMBTC) Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from May 2022 to December 2022. METHODOLOGY: After approval from the institutional review board, informed/written consents were taken from patients. All patients (both genders, irrespective of age) undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant were included in the study. Patients undergoing haplo-identical or autologous bone marrow transplants were excluded from the study. Innate immune reconstitution was checked by complete blood count and adaptive immune reconstitution at six months was checked lymphocyte subset analysis and serum immunoglobulin levels. Data was entered in pre-designed proforma and was analyzed using IBM Corp. Released 2017. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 25.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp. RESULTS: This study analyzes 43 patients, including 67% (n=29) males. The median age at the time of HSCT was 11.19 years. Cellular and humoral reconstitution at six months after transplant was used to assess immune reconstitution. Innate immune reconstitution was checked by complete blood count for count recovery (Neutrophil engraftment), and adaptive immune reconstitution (cellular/humoral) at six months was checked lymphocyte subset analysis and serum immunoglobulin levels. By using chi-square, significant associations were found as pre-transplant condition regimen with CD4 (PChi= 0.001), GVHD prophylaxis with CD4 (PChi= 0.04), source of stem cells with CD19 (PChi= 0.008), patient-donor gender disparity with CD19 (PChi= 0.05), GVHD treatment low CD19 (PChi= 0.04), patient-donor relationship with IgA(PChi= 0.007), IgG (PChi= 0.001), and IgM (PChi= 0.001), gender of the patient with IgA (PChi= 0.04). CONCLUSION: Our data suggested that at post-transplant six months, there was adequate immune reconstitution except for CD4 and CD4:CD8 ratio. Therefore, post-transplant, six months in Allo-HSCT could be considered for immunization.

Triethylammonium Salts of Dicoumarol: Synthesis, Characterization, Human Antiglioblastoma, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Studies.

The most typical primary brain tumor, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), has a dismal prognosis. They are removed through arduous, potentially fatal operations. The primary cause of tumor recurrence following surgery is glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs). In order to combat the recurrent glioblastoma malignant cells, medications have been developed. Chemotherapies now in use are expensive and encounter resistance. To combat inherent and developed resistance, new and powerful chemotherapeutics are being synthesized. In this regard, dicoumarols were deprotonated by triethylamine to produce corresponding salts which are reported and used for the first time for human antiglioblastoma activity. Spectroscopic characterizations like 1H and 13C-NMR were carried out. The cytotoxicity of normal human astrocytes (NHA) and human glioblastoma cells (A172 and LN229) were both examined in terms of dose and time dependence. The range of the IC50 value for all the deprotonated derivatives against A172 was found to be 2.81-0.24 µM, whereas the range against LN229 was found to be 2.50-0.85 µM. According to cytotoxicity results, malignant cell death was seen in GBM cells treated with triethylamine salts of dicoumarols compared to the control group, which suggested that salts may cause apoptosis in GBM cells. Antimicrobial and antifungal activities were also investigated for all the triethylamine salts of dicoumarols suggesting that salt formation enhances antimicrobial potentials manyfolds compared to the standard drug used. Free radical activities were also investigated using DPPH free radicals.

Impact of BCR::ABL1 single nucleotide variants on asciminib efficacy.

Asciminib is a potent and selective inhibitor of BCR::ABL1, with potential to avoid toxicity resulting from off-target kinase inhibition. Forty-nine patients treated with asciminib under a managed access program in the UK were evaluated for toxicity and response. Intolerance, rather than resistance (65% vs. 35%), was the most common reason for cessation of the last-line of treatment but asciminib was well tolerated, with most patients (29, 59%) remaining on treatment at a median of 14 months follow-up, and only 6 (12%) stopping for intolerance. Of 44 patients assessable for response, 29 (66%) achieved a complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) or better, with poorer responses seen in those stopping their last-line of therapy for resistance. Fewer patients with a prior history of a non-T315I-BCR::ABL1 single nucleotide variant (BSNV), or a non-T315I-BSNV detectable at baseline achieved CCyR. Serial tracking of BSNV by next generation sequencing demonstrated clonal expansion of BSNV-harbouring populations, which in some settings was associated with resistance (E459K, F317L, F359I), while in others was seen in the context of ongoing response, often with intensified dosing (T315I, I502F). These data suggest that asciminib exerts selective pressure on some BSNV-harbouring populations in vivo, some of which may respond to intensified dosing.

Investigation of propranolol hydrochloride adsorption onto pyrolyzed residues from Bactris guineensis through physics statistics modeling.

In this study, PROP adsorption was investigated using activated carbon derived from Bactris Guineensis residues and physical statistical modeling. The characterization results indicate high specific surface areas (624.72 and 1125.43 m2 g-1) and pore diameters (2.703 and 2.321 nm) for the peel and stone-activated carbon, respectively. Adsorption equilibrium was investigated at different temperatures (298 to 328 K), and it was found that the adsorption capacity increased with temperature, reaching maximum values of 168.7 and 112.94 mg g-1 for the peel and stone-activated carbon, respectively. The application of physical statistical modeling indicates that a monolayer model with one energy site is adequate for describing both systems, with an R2 above 0.986 and a low BIC of 20.021. According to the steric parameters, the density of molecules per site tends to increase by 116.9% for the stone and 61.6% for the peel. In addition, the model indicates that the number of molecules decreases with increasing temperature from 1.36 to 0.81 and from 1.03 to 0.82. These results indicate that temperature controls the number of receptor sites and the orientation in which propranolol is adsorbed at the surface. The adsorption energies were similar for both systems (approximately 10 kJ mol-1), which indicates that the adsorption occurred due to physical interactions. Finally, the application of thermodynamic potential functions indicates that the maximum entropy is reached at concentrations of half-saturation (Ce 3.85 and 4.6 mg L-1), which corresponds to 1.60 × 10-18 and 1.86 × 10-18 kJ mol-1 K-1 for the stone and peel, respectively. After this point, the number of available sites tends to decrease, which indicates the stabilization of the system. The Gibbs energy tended to decrease with increasing concentration at equilibrium, reaching minimum values of - 1.73 × 10-19 and - 1.99 × 10-19 kJ mol-1, respectively. Overall, the results obtained here further elucidate how the adsorption of propranolol occurs for different activated carbons from the same source.

Cardiovascular events in CML patients treated with Nilotinib: validation of the HFA-ICOS baseline risk score.

BACKGROUND: The therapeutic landscape of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) has been transformed by tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). Nilotinib, showed higher rates of major molecular response than imatinib, however associated with higher cardiovascular (CV) toxicity. We sought to describe the CV events associated with nilotinib in a real-world population and assess the predictive value of the HFA-ICOS risk score. METHODS: The HFA-ICOS baseline risk was calculated for patients with CML treated with nilotinib beween 2006 and 2021. The primary end point was the incidence of all CV events. The secondary end point was the incidence of ischaemic events. Survival analysis evaluated the risk (hazard ratio [HR]) of events stratified by baseline risk category, whilst on nilotinib therapy. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-nine eligible patients were included. The incidence of CV events was 20.9% (95% CI: 15.7-26.2%) following a median duration of treatment of 34.4 months. The secondary end point occurred in 12.7% (95% CI: 8.4-16.9%) of the population. Patients with higher HFA-ICOS baseline score had higher rates of CV events (low: 11.2%, medium: 28.2% [HR: 2.51, 95% CI: 1.17-5.66], high/very high: 32.4% [HR: 3.57, 95% CI: 1.77-7.20]) and ischaemic events (low: 5.20%, medium: 17.9% [HR: 2.19, 95% CI: 0.97-4.96], high/very high: 21.6% [HR: 3.9, 95% CI: 1.91-7.89]). In patients who did not have a CV event, the median total dose at last follow up or cessation of nilotinib therapy was lower when compared to the total daily median dose of nilotinib in patients who had a CV event (450 mg vs. 600 mg, p = 0.0074). CONCLUSIONS: The HFA-ICOS risk stratification tool is an efficient discriminator at low, medium and high/very high risk of developing cardiovascular events, with an overall positive trend towards increasing cardiotoxicity rates with rising risk catergories. This study provides evidence to support the use of this predictive tool in nilotinib treated patients.

Sustainable utilization of Fe3O4-modified activated lignite for aqueous phosphate removal and ANN modeling.

Lignites are widely available and cost-effective in many countries. Sustainable methods for their utilization drive innovation, potentially advancing environmental sustainability and resource efficiency. In the present study, Fe3O4 (∼25.1 nm) supported on KOH-activated lignite (A-L) displayed 8 times higher phosphate removal than pristine A-L (67.6 mg/g vs. 8.5 mg/g at pH 5, 50 mg of absorbent in 25 mL of 1500 ppm [phosphate]), owing to its abundant Fe3O4 (10 wt% of Fe) nanoparticle content. The removal occurred within ∼2 h, following a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Across pH levels ranging from 5.0 to 9.0, Fe3O4-A-L's phosphate removal occurs via both chemisorption and precipitation, as evident by kinetic, pH, and XPS analyses. The phosphate adsorption fits better with the Freundlich isotherm. The combined benefits of facile recovery, rapid phosphate uptake, straightforward regeneration, and attractive post-adsorption benefits (e.g., possibly use as a Fe, P-rich fertilizer) make magnetic Fe3O4-A-L a promising candidate for real-world applications. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) modeling indicates an excellent accuracy (R2 = 0.99) in predicting the amount of phosphate removed by Fe3O4-A-L. Sensitivity analysis revealed both temperature and initial concentration as the most influencing factors. Leveraging lignite in environmentally friendly applications not only addresses immediate challenges but also aligns with sustainability goals. The study clearly articulates the potential benefits of utilizing lignite for sustainable phosphate removal and recovery, offering avenues for mitigating environmental concerns while utilizing resources efficiently.

Retraction: Influence of chemical composition on the amount of second phases precipitates and transformation temperatures of TiNiPdCu shape memory alloys prepared through novel powder metallurgy route.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1039/D3RA05513B.].

Artificial neural network, machine learning modelling of compressive strength of recycled coarse aggregate based self-compacting concrete.

This research study aims to understand the application of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) to forecast the Self-Compacting Recycled Coarse Aggregate Concrete (SCRCAC) compressive strength. From different literature, 602 available data sets from SCRCAC mix designs are collected, and the data are rearranged, reconstructed, trained and tested for the ANN model development. The models were established using seven input variables: the mass of cementitious content, water, natural coarse aggregate content, natural fine aggregate content, recycled coarse aggregate content, chemical admixture and mineral admixture used in the SCRCAC mix designs. Two normalization techniques are used for data normalization to visualize the data distribution. For each normalization technique, three transfer functions are used for modelling. In total, six different types of models were run in MATLAB and used to estimate the 28th day SCRCAC compressive strength. Normalization technique 2 performs better than 1 and TANSING is the best transfer function. The best k-fold cross-validation fold is k = 7. The coefficient of determination for predicted and actual compressive strength is 0.78 for training and 0.86 for testing. The impact of the number of neurons and layers on the model was performed. Inputs from standards are used to forecast the 28th day compressive strength. Apart from ANN, Machine Learning (ML) techniques like random forest, extra trees, extreme boosting and light gradient boosting techniques are adopted to predict the 28th day compressive strength of SCRCAC. Compared to ML, ANN prediction shows better results in terms of sensitive analysis. The study also extended to determine 28th day compressive strength from experimental work and compared it with 28th day compressive strength from ANN best model. Standard and ANN mix designs have similar fresh and hardened properties. The average compressive strength from ANN model and experimental results are 39.067 and 38.36 MPa, respectively with correlation coefficient is 1. It appears that ANN can validly predict the compressive strength of concrete.

Identification of prevalent leachate percolation of municipal solid waste landfill: a case study in India.

Landfill leachate forms when waste-inherent water and percolated rainfall transfer are highly toxic, corrosive, acidic, and full of environmental pollutants. The release of leachate from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill sites poses a severe hazard to human health and aquatic life. This study examined the impact of leachate from Delhi's Ghazipur landfill on the nearby groundwater quality. Analysis of leachate samples was done to determine various parameters such as total dissolved solids (TDS), hardness, alkalinity, electrical conductivity, pH, BOD5, COD, nitrate, sulphate, chloride and iron, and presence of coliform bacteria. Significant dissolved elements (22,690-34,525 mg/L) were observed in the samples, indicated by the high conductivity value (1156-1405 mho/cm). However, a stable pH range (6.90-7.80) of leachate samples was observed due to high alkalinity concentrations between 2123 and 3256 mg/L. The inverse distance weighing (IDW) interpolation tool from QGIS 3.22.7 developed spatial interpolated models for each parameter across the Ghazipur area. The IDW interpolated graphs of various parameters over the whole study area confirmed these contaminations. In addition, leachate and groundwater samples were physio-chemically analyzed, and temporal fluctuation in landfill waste has also been studied. The temporal fluctuation results showed that when heat is produced, transmitted, and lost throughout the waste system, the maximum temperature position fluctuates over time. The findings of this study highlight the critical importance of landfill management in reducing groundwater contamination from MSW leachate.

Treatment-free remission in CML patients with additional chromosome abnormalities in the Philadelphia-positive clone or variant Philadelphia translocations.

Probability of treatment-free remission (TFR) in CML patients with additional chromosomal abnormalities (ACA) in the Philadelphia-positive clone or variant Philadelphia translocations (ACA/Var-Ph group, blue panel), in those with no cytogenetic abnormality other than the classical Philadelphia translocation (c-Ph group, green panel) and in the subgroups of CML patients with high-risk ACA (HR-ACA, yellow panel) and Var-Ph (red panel).

Correction: Therapeutic interventions on human breast cancer xenografts promote systemic dissemination of oncogenes.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298042.].

Long-term outcomes after upfront second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors for chronic myeloid leukemia: managing intolerance and resistance.

Second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (2GTKI) are more effective in inducing rapid molecular responses than imatinib when used first-line in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP). However, failure of first line-2GTKI (1L-2GTKI) still occurs and there is no consensus regarding subsequent management. We retrospectively analyzed the outcome of 106 CML-CP patients treated with 1L-2GTKI and with a median follow-up of 91 months. 45 patients (42.4%) switched to an alternative TKI, 28 for intolerance (26.4%) and 17 (16%) for resistance. Most patients who remained on 1L-2GTKI achieved deep molecular responses (DMR) and 15 (14.1%) are in treatment-free remission (TFR). Intolerant patients also obtained DMR, although most required multiple TKI changes and were slower to respond, particularly if treated with 2L-imatinib. Inferior outcomes were observed in resistant patients, who failed alternative 2L-2GTKI and required 3/4GTKI and/or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (alloSCT). 7yr-OS was significantly lower for these individuals (66.1%) than for intolerant patients and those who remained on 1L-2GTKI (100% and 97.9%, respectively; p = 0.001). It is apparent that failure of 1L-2GTKI is a challenging problem in modern CML therapy. Intolerance can be effectively managed by switching to an alternative 2GTKI, but resistance requires early consideration of 3/4GTKI.

The impact of heavy metal concentrations on aquatic insect populations in the Asan Wetland of Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

This study, centered on the Asan Wetland in Uttarakhand, examines the ecological impact of heavy metals on aquatic insects biodiversity. It highlights the detrimental effects of metals like chromium, mercury, and lead, stemming from natural and anthropogenic sources, on aquatic insects diversity. Aquatic insects, particularly sensitive to water quality, are emphasized as key indicators of environmental health, illustrating the importance of understanding and managing the influences on wetland ecosystems. Wetland ecosystems are vulnerable to various environmental stressors, including pollution from heavy metals. These toxic substances can alter water quality parameters, disrupt nutrient cycling, and negatively impact the biodiversity and ecological balance of the system. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of several heavy metals (namely Cd, As, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, Zn, Al, Cr) on the distribution and biodiversity of various aquatic insect species, including Coeleoptera, Diptera, Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera. The research utilized data collected between November 2021 and October 2022 from specifically chosen sites (S1, S2, S3) within the Asan Wetland in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. After collecting and identifying samples, various statistical (Sorenson, Shannon-Weiner diversity index, Margelef index) and multivariate tests (CCA, PCA, One-way Anova), have been applied to show the effects of these parameters. This study offers significant findings regarding the distribution patterns of heavy metals, the abundance of aquatic insects, and their interconnectedness within the ecosystem of the Asan Wetland. The abundance of aquatic insects, represented by 13 genera belonging to 6 orders, was assessed at three different sites (S1, S2, and S3) within the wetland. It was concluded that the heavy metals concentration and aquatic insects' density increases and decreases vice-versa in monsoon and winter seasons might be due to unfavourable factors. These findings contribute to the understanding of ecological dynamics and potential impacts of heavy metals on aquatic biota in wetland environments.

Therapeutic interventions on human breast cancer xenografts promote systemic dissemination of oncogenes.

Metastatic dissemination following successful treatment of the primary tumour remains a common cause of death. There is mounting evidence that therapeutic interventions themselves may promote development of metastatic disease. We earlier reported that cell-free chromatin particles (cfChPs) released from dying cancer cells are potentially oncogenic. Based on this observation we hypothesized that therapeutic interventions may lead to the release of cfChPs from therapy induced dying cancer cells which could be carried via the blood stream to distant organs to transform healthy cells into new cancers that would masquerade as metastasis. To test this hypothesis, we generated xenografts of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells in severe combined immune-deficient mice, and using immuno-fluorescence and FISH analysis looked for cfChPs in their brain cells. We detected multiple human DNA signals representing cfChPs in nuclei of brain cells of mice which co-localized with eight human onco-proteins. No intact MDA-MB-231 cells were detected. The number of co-localizing human DNA and human c-Myc signals increased dramatically following treatment with chemotherapy, localized radiotherapy or surgery, which could be prevented by concurrent treatment with three different cfChPs deactivating agents. These results suggest that therapeutic interventions lead to the release cfChPs from therapy induced dying cancer cells carrying oncogenes and are transported via the blood stream to brain cells to potentially transform them to generate new cancers that would appear as metastases. cfChPs induced metastatic spread of cancer is preventable by concurrent treatment with agents that deactivate cfChPs.

Analysing the influence of ground granulated blast furnace slag and steel fibre on RC beams flexural behaviour.

This study examines the effect of Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) and steel fibers on the flexural behaviour of RC beams under monotonic loading. Various percentages of GGBS were used to substitute cement, namely 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% and fibers were added to the concrete mix as 0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% of the volume of concrete. The load-deflection behaviour of GGBS-incorporated RC beams with fibers was compared with the control RC beam. Beams were tested under load control for 28 days and 180 days. The ultimate load of the GGBS-incorporated RC beam up to 40% cement replacement was found to higher than that of the control beam. The strength of concrete is reduced by 28% and 19% when cement was partially replaced by 80% of GGBS at 28 and 180 days, respectively, compared to control concrete without fibres. Further, the analytical load-deflection response of GGBS-incorporated RC beams was determined by using several codes of practice, namely, ACI 318-11(2011), CSA A23.3-04 (2004), EC-04 (2004), and IS 456 (2000). The Codal provisions were primarily based on the effective moment of inertia, Young's modulus, and modulus of rupture, stiffness, and cracking. Average load-deflection plots obtained from experiments were compared with the computed load-deflection of analytical studies. It was found that the analytically predicted load-deflection behaviour is comparable with the corresponding average experimental load-deflection response. Moment curvature relations were also developed for RC beams.

PdSe2/MoSe2: a promising van der Waals heterostructure for field effect transistor application.

The field-effect transistor (FET) is a fundamental component of semiconductors and the electronic industry. High on-current and mobility with layer-dependent features are required for outstanding FET channel material. Two-dimensional materials are advantageous over bulk materials owing to their higher mobility, high ON/OFF ratio, low tunneling current, and leakage problems. Moreover, two-dimensional heterostructures provide a better way to tune electrical properties. In this work, the two distinct possibilities of PdSe2/MoSe2heterostructure have been employed through mechanical exfoliation and analyzed their electrical response. These diffe approaches to heterostructure formation serve as crucial components of our investigation, allowing us to explore and evaluate the unique electronic properties arising from each design. This work demonstrates that the heterostructure possesses a better ON/OFF ratio of ∼5.78 × 105, essential in switching characteristics. Moreover, MoSe2provides a defect-free interface to PdSe2, resulting in a higher ON current of ∼10µA and mobility of ∼63.7 cm2V-1s-1, necessary for transistor applications. In addition, comprehending the process of charge transfer occurring at the interface between transition metal dichalcogenides is fundamental for advancing next-generation technologies. This work provides insights into the interface formed between the PdSe2and MoSe2that can be harnessed in transistor applications.

New insights in food security and environmental sustainability through waste food management.

Food waste has been identified as one of the major factors that constitute numerous anthropogenic activities, especially in developing countries. There is a growing problem with food waste that affects every part of the waste management system, from collection to disposal; finding long-term solutions necessitates involving all participants in the food supply chain, from farmers and manufacturers to distributors and consumers. In addition to food waste management, maintaining food sustainability and security globally is crucial so that every individual, household, and nation can always get food. "End hunger, achieve food security and enhanced nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture" are among the main challenges of global sustainable development (SDG) goal 2. Therefore, sustainable food waste management technology is needed. Recent attention has been focused on global food loss and waste. One-third of food produced for human use is wasted every year. Source reduction (i.e., limiting food losses and waste) and contemporary treatment technologies appear to be the most promising strategy for converting food waste into safe, nutritious, value-added feed products and achieving sustainability. Food waste is also employed in industrial processes for the production of biofuels or biopolymers. Biofuels mitigate the detrimental effects of fossil fuels. Identifying crop-producing zones, bioenergy cultivars, and management practices will enhance the natural environment and sustainable biochemical process. Traditional food waste reduction strategies are ineffective in lowering GHG emissions and food waste treatment. The main contribution of this study is an inventory of the theoretical and practical methods of prevention and minimization of food waste and losses. It identifies the trade-offs for food safety, sustainability, and security. Moreover, it investigates the impact of COVID-19 on food waste behavior.

Hydrogeochemical assessment of aquifer salinization in north-eastern Morocco's Gueroaou coastal plain using statistical methods.

The Guerouaou aquifer investigation spanning 280 km2 in Ain Zohra yields promising outcomes, instilling optimism for regional water quality. These analyses were applied to 45 sampling instances from 43 wells, enabling a comprehensive water quality assessment. Groundwater conductivity ranged from medium to high, peaking at 18360 ms/cm2. The conductivity reveals insights about the groundwater's mineralization. Key physiochemical parameters fell within desirable thresholds, bolstering the positive perspective. HCO3- levels spanned 82-420 mg/L, while chloride content ranged from 38 to 5316 mg/L, benefiting water quality. NO3- ions, vital for gauging pollution, ranged from 0 to 260 mg/L, indicating favorable results. Cation concentrations exhibited encouraging variations: Ca2+- 24 to 647 mg/L, Mg2+- 12 to 440 mg/L, Na+- 18 to 2722 mg/L, K+- 1.75 to 28.65 mg/L. These collectively favor water quality. Halite breakdown dominated mineralization, as evidenced by the prevalence of Na-Cl-Na-SO4 facies. Water resource management and local communities need effective management and mitigation strategies to prevent saltwater intrusion.

Expression of concern: Influence of chemical composition on the amount of second phases precipitates and transformation temperatures of TiNiPdCu shape memory alloys prepared through novel powder metallurgy route.

Expression of concern for 'Influence of chemical composition on the amount of second phases precipitates and transformation temperatures of TiNiPdCu shape memory alloys prepared through novel powder metallurgy route' by Abid Hussain et al., RSC Adv., 2023, 13, 29376-29392, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3RA05513B.