Investigation of the Optimal Immunization Dose and Protective Efficacy of an Attenuated and Marker M. bovis-Bovine Herpesvirus Type 1 Combined Vaccine in Rabbits.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is one of the most common diseases in the cattle industry; it is a globally prevalent multifactorial infection primarily caused by viral and bacterial coinfections. In China, Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) and bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoHV-1) are the most notable pathogens associated with BRD. Our previous study attempted to combine the two vaccines and conducted a preliminary investigation of their optimal antigenic ratios. Based on this premise, the research extended its investigation by administering varying vaccine doses in a rabbit model to identify the most effective immunization dosage. After immunization, all rabbits in other immunization dose groups had a normal rectal temperature without obvious clinical symptoms. Furthermore, assays performed on the samples collected from immunized rabbits indicated that there were increased humoral and cellular immunological reactions. Moreover, the histological analysis of the lungs showed that immunized rabbits had more intact lung tissue than their unimmunized counterparts after the challenge. Additionally, there appears to be a positive correlation between the protective efficacy and the immunization dose. In conclusion, the different immunization doses of the attenuated and marker M. bovis HB150 and BoHV-1 gG-/tk- combined vaccine were clinically safe in rabbits; the mix of 2.0 × 108 CFU of M. bovis HB150 and 2.0 × 106 TCID50 BoHV-1 gG-/tk- strain was most promising due to its highest humoral and cellular immune responses and a more complete morphology of the lung tissue compared with others. These findings determined the optimal immunization dose of the attenuated and marker M. bovis HB150 and BoHV-1 gG-/tk- combined vaccine, laying a foundation for its clinical application.

Foreign Body in the Male Urinary Bladder: A Case Report.

A foreign body in the urinary bladder is an uncommon finding in urology emergencies. There are several ways in which intravesical foreign bodies can occur, including iatrogenic injuries, self-insertion for pleasure, sexual abuse, assault, and migration from adjacent sites. This case report is about an interesting presentation of a 36-year-old male who presented to the urology outpatient department with a burning sensation and dribbling while urinating for 1 month. An X-ray of the pelvis revealed multiple radiodensities (morphology was suggested as magnetic balls) in the pelvic soft tissues. Cystoscopy was performed and three-pronged forceps were utilized to remove the magnetic foreign bodies. The patient had an insignificant hospital course and was discharged with analgesics and antibiotics.

Hydrogen from sewage sludge: Production methods, influencing factors, challenges, and prospects.

The rising global population and rapid industrialization have frequently resulted in a significant escalation in energy requirements. Hydrogen, renowned for its eco-friendly and renewable characteristics, has garnered substantial interest as a fuel alternative to address the energy needs currently fulfilled by fossil fuels. Embracing such energy substitutes holds pivotal importance in advancing environmental sustainability, aiding in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions - the primary catalysts of global warming and climate fluctuations. This study elucidates recent trends in sewage sludge (SS)-derived hydrogen through diverse production pathways and critically evaluates the impact of varying parameters on hydrogen yield. Furthermore, a detailed analysis of the breakdown of the hydrogen generation process from SS is provided, along with an assessment of its economic dimensions. The review culminates by illuminating key obstacles in the adoption of this innovative technology, accompanied by practical recommendations to surmount these challenges. This comprehensive analysis is expected to attract considerable interest from stakeholders within the hydrogen production domain, fostering substantial engagement.

Structural and thermal investigation of lignocellulosic biomass conversion for enhancing sustainable imperative in progressive organic refinery paradigm for waste-to-energy applications.

The depletion of finite fossil fuel reserves and the severe environmental degradation resulting from human activities have compelled the expeditious development and application of sustainable waste to energy technologies. To encapsulate energy and environment in sustainability paradigm, bio waste based energy production is need to be forged in organic bio refinery setup. According to world bioenergy association, biomass can cover 50 % of the primary energy demand of the world. Therefore, the present study focuses on reforming the energy mix for a clean energy generation, where, sample composition of cotton stalk was acidified in dilute (5% wt.) hydrochloric acid (HCL) for analyzing material burnout patterns in biomass conversion systems utilized in organic bio refinery sector. Advanced thermochemical burning technique, which includes pyrolysis and combustion was applied at four different leaching times from 0 to 180 min under nitrogen environment from 0 °C to 500 °C and air from 500 °C to 900 °C, respectively. Different analyses including proximate, ultimate, gross calorific value (GCV), thermos-gravimetric, kinetic, XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDS were used for analyzing the degradation of demineralized cotton stalk at different treatment rates. Proximate study demonstrated that cotton stalk leaching for 180 min has efficiently infused HCL, leading in a significant increase in fixed carbon and higher heating value of 20.23 % and 12.48%, respectively, as well as a reduction in carbon footprint of around 54.80%. The findings of proximate was validated by GCV analysis and CHNS analysis as value of carbon and hydrogen has shown increasing behavior with the time delay in demineralization Thermo-gravimetric and derivative thermo-gravimetric data analyses shows an increasing trend of conversion efficiency, with the maximum increase of 98 % reported for sample 3H.TT.DEM. XRD characterization has reported 23° to 25° angle for all the observed peaks. Sample 3H.TT.DEM has shown maximum angle inclination along with matured crystalline peak. The latter observations has been validated by FTIR spectroscopy as sample 3H.TT.DEM has reported maximum O-H group formation. Sample 3H.TT.DEM has reported lowest activation energy of 139.51 kJ*mole-1 and lowest reactivity of 0.000293649%*min 0C, due to moderate and stable reactiveness. In SEM examination, increment in pore size and number of pores within the structural matrix of cotton stalk was observed with the enhancement in acidulation process. Furthermore, in EDS analysis, 3H.TT.DEM has shown most balanced distribution of the elements. In this research, sustainable transformation of biomass is envisioned to improve the waste bio refinery system, significantly contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 7, 12 and 13.

A pH-responsive bi-MIL-88B MOF coated with folic acid-conjugated chitosan as a promising nanocarrier for targeted drug delivery of 5-Fluorouracil.

Cancer has remained one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with a lack of effective treatment. The intrinsic shortcomings of conventional therapeutics regarding tumor specificity and non-specific toxicity prompt us to look for alternative therapeutics to mitigate these limitations. In this regard, we developed multifunctional bimetallic (FeCo) bi-MIL-88B-FC MOFs modified with folic acid-conjugated chitosan (FC) as drug delivery systems (DDS) for targeted delivery of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU). The bi-MIL-88B nanocarriers were characterized through various techniques, including powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Interestingly, 5-FU@bi-MIL-88B-FC showed slower release of 5-FU due to a gated effect phenomenon endowed by FC surface coating compared to un-modified 5-FU@bi-MIL-88B. The pH-responsive drug release was observed, with 58% of the loaded 5-FU released in cancer cells mimicking pH (5.2) compared to only 24.9% released under physiological pH (5.4). The in vitro cytotoxicity and cellular internalization experiments revealed the superiority of 5-FU@bi-MIL-88B-FC as a highly potent targeted DDS against folate receptor (FR) positive SW480 cancer cells. Moreover, due to the presence of Fe and Co in the structure, bi-MIL-88B exhibited peroxidase-like activity for chemodynamic therapy. Based on the results, 5-FU@bi-MIL-88B-FC could serve as promising candidate for smart DDS by sustained drug release and selective targeting.

Harnessing Nanomaterials for Enhanced Biohydrogen Generation from Wastewater.

Biohydrogen is considered a green fuel due to its eco-friendly nature since it only produces water and energy on combustion. However, their lower yield and production rate is one of the foremost challenges that need an instant sustainable approach. The use of nanotechnology is a potential approach for the enhanced generation of biohydrogen, owing to the significant characteristics of the nanomaterials such as greater specificity, high surface-area-to-volume ratio, better reactivity and dispersibility, enhanced catalytic activity, superb selectivity, greater electron transfer, and better anaerobic microbiota activity. This article explores the recent trends and innovations in the production of biohydrogen from wastewater through the applications of different nanomaterials. The potential of various nanomaterials employed for biohydrogen production from wastewater is evaluated and the impacts of important parameters such as the concentration and size of the nanomaterials, temperature, and pH on the production and yield of biohydrogen are explained in detail. Several pathways involved in the mechanistic approach of biohydrogen generation from wastewater are critically assessed. Lastly, numerous technological challenges are highlighted and recommendations regarding future research are also provided.

Novel composites of activated carbon and layered double oxide for the removal of sulfate from synthetic and brackish groundwater.

Sulfate (SO42-) is a major water and environmental concern that causes severe diarrhea, death of invertebrates and plant species, and clogging of industrial pipes. In the current work, treatment of SO42- from synthetic and real groundwater having 3901 mg(SO42-)/L was investigated for the first time using Zn-Al and Mg-Al layered double oxides doped granular activated carbon (GAC/Mg-Al LDO and GAC/Zn-Al LDO). The co-precipitation method was followed to synthesize the GAC/LDO composites using an Mg or Zn to Al molar ratio of 3:1. The GAC/Mg-Al LDO possessed a higher specific surface area (323.9 m2/g) compared to GAC/Zn-Al LDO (195.1 m2/g). The GAC/Mg-Al LDO demonstrated more than 99% removal of SO42- from synthetic water, while it was 50.9% for GAC/Zn-Al LDO and less than 1% for raw GAC at an initial concentration of 50 mg/L. The GAC/Mg-Al LDO was selected for further batch experiments and modeling investigation. The equilibrium data followed the Redlich-Peterson and Langmuir models with determination coefficients of 0.943 and 0.935, respectively. The maximum Langmuir adsorption capacity was 143.5 mg/g. In the real groundwater adsorption study, the screening experiment revealed high selectivity towards SO42- with 62% removal efficiency. The optimum dosage was found to be 50 g/L with an uptake capacity of 61.5 mg/g. The kinetic data of SO42- removal from synthetic and brackish water were in excellent agreement with the pseudo-second order model, and the equilibrium was attained in 5 h. Accordingly, it can be concluded that the GAC/Mg-Al LDO is an efficient material for treating SO42- from real groundwater and can be utilized as a pretreatment unit for high sulfate water resources.

Microbe-induced drought tolerance by ABA-mediated root architecture and epigenetic reprogramming.

The use of beneficial microbes to mitigate drought stress tolerance of plants is of great potential albeit little understood. We show here that a root endophytic desert bacterium, Pseudomonas argentinensis strain SA190, enhances drought stress tolerance in Arabidopsis. Transcriptome and genetic analysis demonstrate that SA190-induced root morphogenesis and gene expression is mediated via the plant abscisic acid (ABA) pathway. Moreover, we demonstrate that SA190 primes the promoters of target genes in an epigenetic ABA-dependent manner. Application of SA190 priming on crops is demonstrated for alfalfa, showing enhanced performance under drought conditions. In summary, a single beneficial root bacterial strain can help plants to resist drought conditions.

Decolorization of multicomponent dye-laden wastewater by modified waste fly ash: a parametric analysis for an anionic and cationic combination of dyes.

In this research study, waste fly ash (WFA) underwent acid activation and subsequent amine functionalization using ammonia solution. This treatment improves the porosity, thermal tendency and crystallinity of WFA. Modified WFA was tested under different experimental conditions to treat the wastewater consisting of different concentrations of cationic (methylene blue and rhodamine 6G) and anionic (methyl orange) dyes. As an individual, methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine 6G (Rh) showed ~ 100% and ~ 82% removal efficiencies respectively in an alkaline medium while methyl orange (MO) exhibited only ~ 20% adsorption in the same medium. An antagonistic effect was observed in adsorption when wastewater contains both cationic dyes whereas the combination of cationic and anionic dyes in solution manifested a synergistic effect. For all individual and binary dye combinations, there is a close agreement in observed and calculated uptakes when the data was fitted to the fractional order kinetic rate equation. The adsorption of all dyes is spontaneous and endothermic in nature except for MB/MO combination where the process is exothermic in nature. 24.93 mg/g, 24.83 mg/g, and 14.95 mg/g monolayer uptake capacities of MB, Rh, and MO were found respectively from isothermal analysis of single dye adsorption data. Further, extended sips model gave higher correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.99) and addressed the failed assumptions of both the Langmuir and Freundlich models. Overall, in the experimental results, the modified waste fly ash could act as successful adsorbent to treat dye bearing wastewater.

Magnetic layered double hydroxide-based composites as sustainable adsorbent materials for water treatment applications: Progress, challenges, and outlook.

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have shown exciting applications in water treatment because of their unique physicochemical properties, which include high surface areas, tunable chemical composition, large interlayer spaces, exchangeable content in interlayer galleries, and ease of modification with other materials. Interestingly, their surface, as well as the intercalated materials within the layers, play a role in the adsorption of the contaminants. The surface area of LDH materials can be further enhanced by calcination. The calcined LDHs can reattain their structural features upon hydration through the "memory effect" and may uptake anionic species within their interlayer galleries. Besides, LDH layers are positively charged within the aqueous media and can interact with specific contaminants through electrostatic interactions. LDHs can be synthesized using various methods, allowing the incorporation of other materials within the layers or forming composites that can selectively capture target pollutants. They have been combined with magnetic nanoparticles to improve their separation after adsorption and enhance adsorptive features in many cases. LDHs are relatively greener materials because they are mostly composed of inorganic salts. Magnetic LDH-based composites have been widely employed for the purification of water contaminated with heavy metals, dyes, anions, organics, pharmaceuticals, and oil. Such materials have shown interesting applications for removing contaminants from real matrices. Moreover, they can be easily regenerated and used for several adsorption-desorption cycles. Magnetic LDHs can be regarded as greener and sustainable because of several green aspects in their synthesis and reusability. We have critically reviewed their synthesis, applications, factors affecting their adsorption performance, and related mechanisms in this review. In the end, some challenges and perspectives are also discussed.

Removal of pharmaceutically active compounds from water sources using nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membranes: Comparison of removal efficiencies and in-depth analysis of rejection mechanisms.

Trace organic compounds from effluent streams are not completely removed by conventional purification techniques and hence, contaminating groundwater sources. Herein, we report the removal efficiency and rejection mechanisms of three common pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs); caffeine (CFN), omeprazole (OMZ), and sulfamethoxazole (SMX), using commercial nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes with different surface characteristics. The RO membranes showed near-complete removal of all PhACs with rejection rates >99%. On the other hand, retention capabilities for the NF membranes varied and were influenced by the characteristics of the PhACs, membranes, and the feed solution. In general, during long-term testing, the rejection did not show much variation and followed a trend compatible with the size exclusion (steric hindrance) mechanism. When a real matrix was used, the rejection of CFN by the more tight NF membranes, HL TFC and NFW decreased by ∼10%, whereas the removal of SMX by the loose NF membrane, XN45, increased by the same ratio. In short-term testing, the rejection of negatively charged SMX increased significantly (∼20-40%) at a higher pH of ∼8 and in the presence of salts. Fouling by the PhACs was more severe on the high-flux NF membranes, HL TFC and XN45, as witnessed by the significant change in Contact angle (CA) values (∼25-50°) as well as the flux decline (∼15%) during long-term testing. To summarize, the removal of PhACs by membranes is a complex phenomenon and depends upon a combination of several factors.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) disposal during COVID-19: An emerging source of microplastic and microfiber pollution in the environment.

Waste generated by healthcare facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic has become a new source of pollution, particularly with the widespread use of single-use personal protective equipment (PPE). Releasing microplastics (MPs) and microfibers (MFs) from discarded PPE becomes an emerging threat to environmental sustainability. MPs/MFs have recently been reported in a variety of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, including water, deep-sea sediments, air, and soil. As COVID-19 spreads, the use of plastic-made PPE in healthcare facilities has increased significantly worldwide, resulting in massive amounts of plastic waste entering the terrestrial and marine environments. High loads of MPs/MFs emitted into the environment due to excessive PPE consumption are easily consumed by aquatic organisms, disrupting the food chain, and potentially causing chronic health problems in humans. Thus, proper management of PPE waste is critical for ensuring a post-COVID sustainable environment, which has recently attracted the attention of the scientific community. The current study aims to review the global consumption and sustainable management of discarded PPE in the context of COVID-19. The severe impacts of PPE-emitted MPs/MFs on human health and other environmental segments are briefly addressed. Despite extensive research progress in the area, many questions about MP/MF contamination in the context of COVID-19 remain unanswered. Therefore, in response to the post-COVID environmental remediation concerns, future research directions and recommendations are highlighted considering the current MP/MF research progress from COVID-related PPE waste.

Prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the largest populated city Karachi, Pakistan / Prevalência de leishmaniose cutânea na maior cidade populosa de Karachi, Paquistão

The study was undertaken from September 2018 to April 2019 to determine the prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in human beings living in six districts of Karachi. Suspected persons were screened for the disease and positive cases were identified on the basis of skin lesions and blood samples. Samples were observed by mounting their smear. A total of 207 subjects of different ages and sex groups were investigated, however, only 192 (92%) of the suspected cases were found to have the disease 64% of cases were male which were significantly high (p<0.05), than female 36%. The lesion was more frequently detected among the youth ages of 21-30 years (31%) as compared to other groups. In both sexes, legs were found to be more infected (25% male + 20% female) followed by arms (20% male + 0% female) and face (15% male +11% female). The mixed body parts had shown the lowest infections such as (4% in males + 5%) in females. In conclusion, the highest and lowest leishmaniasis infections were observed in District West (23% male + 9% female) followed by District East (15% male + 7% female), District Malir (11% male+ 4% female), District Central (7% male + 5% female), District Korangi (4% male + 7% female) and District South (4% male + 4% female) respectively.

O estudo foi realizado de setembro de 2018 a abril de 2019 para determinar a prevalência de leishmaniose tegumentar em seres humanos que vivem em seis distritos de Karachi. Pessoas suspeitas foram rastreadas para a doença e os casos positivos foram identificados com base em lesões de pele e amostras de sangue. As amostras foram observadas montando seu esfregaço. Um total de 207 indivíduos de diferentes idades e grupos sexuais foi investigado, no entanto apenas 192 (92%) dos casos suspeitos foram encontrados para ter a doença; 64% dos casos eram do sexo masculino, que foram significativamente elevados (p < 0,05), e do sexo feminino 36%. A lesão foi detectada com maior frequência entre os jovens de 21 a 30 anos (31%) em comparação com os outros grupos. Em ambos os sexos, as pernas estavam mais infectadas (25% homens + 20% mulheres), seguidas pelos braços (20% homens + 0% mulheres) e rosto (15% homens + 11% mulheres). As partes mistas do corpo mostraram as infecções mais baixas (4% homens + 5% mulheres). Em conclusão, as infecções de leishmaniose mais altas e mais baixas foram observadas no Distrito Oeste (23% homens + 9% mulheres) seguido pelo Distrito Leste (15% homens + 7% mulheres), Distrito Malir (11% homens + 4% mulheres), Distrito Central (7% homens + 5% mulheres), Distrito Korangi (4% homens + 7% mulheres) e Distrito Sul (4% homens + 4% mulheres), respectivamente.

Prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the largest populated city Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract. The study was undertaken from September 2018 to April 2019 to determine the prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in human beings living in six districts of Karachi. Suspected persons were screened for the disease and positive cases were identified on the basis of skin lesions and blood samples. Samples were observed by mounting their smear. A total of 207 subjects of different ages and sex groups were investigated, however, only 192 (92%) of the suspected cases were found to have the disease 64% of cases were male which were significantly high (p 0.05), than female 36%. The lesion was more frequently detected among the youth ages of 21-30 years (31%) as compared to other groups. In both sexes, legs were found to be more infected (25% male + 20% female) followed by arms (20% male + 0% female) and face (15% male +11% female). The mixed body parts had shown the lowest infections such as (4% in males + 5%) in females. In conclusion, the highest and lowest leishmaniasis infections were observed in District West (23% male + 9% female) followed by District East (15% male + 7% female), District Malir (11% male+ 4% female), District Central (7% male + 5% female), District Korangi (4% male + 7% female) and District South (4% male + 4% female) respectively.

Resumo O estudo foi realizado de setembro de 2018 a abril de 2019 para determinar a prevalência de leishmaniose tegumentar em seres humanos que vivem em seis distritos de Karachi. Pessoas suspeitas foram rastreadas para a doença e os casos positivos foram identificados com base em lesões de pele e amostras de sangue. As amostras foram observadas montando seu esfregaço. Um total de 207 indivíduos de diferentes idades e grupos sexuais foi investigado, no entanto apenas 192 (92%) dos casos suspeitos foram encontrados para ter a doença; 64% dos casos eram do sexo masculino, que foram significativamente elevados (p 0,05), e do sexo feminino 36%. A lesão foi detectada com maior frequência entre os jovens de 21 a 30 anos (31%) em comparação com os outros grupos. Em ambos os sexos, as pernas estavam mais infectadas (25% homens + 20% mulheres), seguidas pelos braços (20% homens + 0% mulheres) e rosto (15% homens + 11% mulheres). As partes mistas do corpo mostraram as infecções mais baixas (4% homens + 5% mulheres). Em conclusão, as infecções de leishmaniose mais altas e mais baixas foram observadas no Distrito Oeste (23% homens + 9% mulheres) seguido pelo Distrito Leste (15% homens + 7% mulheres), Distrito Malir (11% homens + 4% mulheres), Distrito Central (7% homens + 5% mulheres), Distrito Korangi (4% homens + 7% mulheres) e Distrito Sul (4% homens + 4% mulheres), respectivamente.

On-Site Application of Solar-Activated Membrane (Cr-Mn-Doped TiO2@Graphene Oxide) for the Rapid Degradation of Toxic Textile Effluents.

Solar-activated water treatment has become an emerging research field due to its eco-friendly nature and the economic feasibility of green photocatalysis. Herein, we synthesized promising, cost-effective, and ultralong-semiconductor TiO2 nanowires (NW), with the aim to degrade toxic azo dyes. The band gap of TiO2 NW was tuned through transition metals, i.e., chromium (Cr) and manganese (Mn), and narrowed by conjugation with high surface area graphene oxide (GO) sheets. Cr-Mn-doped TiO2 NWs were chemically grafted onto GO nanosheets and polymerized with sodium alginate to form a mesh network with an excellent band gap (2.6 eV), making it most suitable to act as a solar photocatalytic membrane. Cr-Mn-doped TiO2 NW @GO aerogels possess high purity and crystallinity confirmed by Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction pattern. A Cr-Mn-doped TiO2 NW @GO aerogels membrane was tested for the photodegradation of Acid Black 1 (AB 1) dye. The synthesized photocatalytic membrane in the solar photocatalytic reactor at conditions optimized by response surface methodology (statistical model) and upon exposure to solar radiation (within 180 min) degraded 100% (1.44 kg/m3/day) AB 1dye into simpler hydrocarbons, confirmed by the disappearance of dye color and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. An 80% reduction in water quality parameters defines Cr-Mn-doped TiO2 NW @GO aerogels as a potential photocatalytic membrane to degrade highly toxic pollutants.

Molecular profiling of bacterial blight resistance in Malaysian rice cultivars.

Bacteria blight is one of the most serious bacterial diseases of rice worldwide. The identification of genetic potential against bacterial blight in the existing rice resources is a prerequisite to develop multigenic resistance to combat the threat of climate change. This investigation was conducted to evaluate alleles variation in 38 Malaysian cultivars using thirteen Simple Sequences Repeats markers and one Sequence Tagged Sites (STS) marker which were reported to be linked with the resistance to bacterial blight. Based on molecular data, a dendrogram was constructed which classified the rice cultivars into seven major clusters at 0.0, 0.28 and 0.3 of similarity coefficient. Cluster 5 was the largest group comprised of ten rice cultivars where multiple genes were identified. However, xa13 could not be detected in the current rice germplasm, whereas xa2 was detected in 25 cultivars. Molecular analysis revealed that Malaysian rice cultivars possess multigenic resistance.

Recent advances in applications of artificial intelligence in solid waste management: A review.

Efficient management of solid waste is essential to lessen its potential health and environmental impacts. However, the current solid waste management practices encounter several challenges. The development of effective waste management systems using advanced technologies is vital to overcome the challenges faced by the current approaches. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful tool for applications in various fields. Several studies also reported the applications of AI techniques in the management of solid waste. This article critically reviews the recent advancements in the applications of AI techniques for the management of solid waste. Various AI and hybrid techniques have been successfully employed to predict the performance of various methods used for the generation, segregation, storage, and treatment of solid waste. The key challenges that limit the applications of AI in solid waste are highlighted. These include the availability and selection of applicable data, poor reproducibility, and less evidence of applications in real solid waste. Based on identified gaps and challenges, recommendations for future work are provided. This review is beneficial for all stakeholders in the field of solid waste management, including policy-makers, governments, waste management organizations, municipalities, and researchers.

Nanocomposite membranes for organic solvent nanofiltration: Recent advances, challenges, and prospects.

Organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) is an emerging technology for the separation of organic solvents that are relevant to the petrochemical, pharmaceutical, food and fine chemical industries. The separation performance of OSN membranes has continued to push the boundary up through advanced membrane fabrication techniques and novel materials for fabricating the membranes. Despite the many advantages, OSN membranes still face such challenges as low solvent permeability and durability in harsh organic solvent conditions. To overcome these limitations, attempts have been made to incorporate nanomaterial fillers into OSN membranes to improve their overall performance. This review analyzes the potential and use of nanomaterials for OSN membranes, including covalent organic frameworks (COFs), metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), metal oxides (MOs) and carbon-based materials (CBMs). Recent advances in the state-of-the-art nano-based OSN membranes, in the form of thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes and mixed matrix membranes (MMMs), are reviewed. Moreover, the separation mechanisms of OSN with nano-based membranes are discussed. The challenges faced by these OSN membranes are also elaborated, and recommendations for further research in this field are provided.

Carbide-derived carbon as an extraordinary material for the removal of chromium from an aqueous solution.

In the present work, the adsorptive removal of chromium (Cr) from water by carbide-derived carbon (CDC) was investigated. The morphology and structure of the CDC were characterized by using FTIR, SEM, TEM, XRD, and N2 adsorption-desorption measurements. The effect of adsorption parameters including contact time, initial Cr concentration, temperature, initial solution pH, and CDC dosage was examined on the removal of Cr ions. The kinetic analysis revealed that the experimental data on the removal of Cr ions on CDC is well correlated with the pseudo-second order kinetic model (with R2 > 0.999), while the equilibrium data were fitted by the Redlich-Peterson isotherm model (with R2 > 0.992). The Langmuir and Sips models were also in good compliance with the equilibrium data, indicating a monolayer coverage of Cr ions onto the CDC surface with some heterogeneous active adsorption sites. The CDC revealed a notable Langmuir adsorption capacity of 159.1 mg/g for Cr ions at pH 6 and room temperature. The thermodynamic analysis illustrated that the Cr ions elimination by CDC is a feasible adsorption process and endothermic in nature. After five adsorption/desorption cycles, less than 18% reduction in the adsorption capacity was obtained indicating the stability and reusability of the CDC. Moreover, the CDC demonstrated an excellent potential in removing the Cr ions from real brackish water. According to the adsorption data, both physical and chemical adsorption processes occurred, and the adsorption was mainly controlled by electrostatic interactions with a possible reduction of hexavalent Cr to trivalent Cr at acidic conditions.

Synergistic Practicing of Rhizobacteria and Silicon Improve Salt Tolerance: Implications from Boosted Oxidative Metabolism, Nutrient Uptake, Growth and Grain Yield in Mung Bean.

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and silicon (Si) are known for alleviating abiotic stresses in crop plants. In this study, Bacillus drentensis and Enterobacter cloacae strains of PGPR and foliar application of Si were tested for regulating the antioxidant metabolism and nutrient uptake on grain yield of mung bean under irrigation of saline water (3.12 and 7.81 dS m-1). Bacterial inoculation and supplemental Si (1 and 2 kg ha-1) reduced salinity-induced oxidative stress in mung bean leaves. The improved salt stress tolerance was achieved by enhancing the activities of catalase (45%), peroxidase (43%) and ascorbate peroxidase (48%), while decreasing malondialdehyde levels (57%). Enhanced nutrient uptake of magnesium 1.85 mg g-1, iron 7 mg kg-1, zinc 49.66 mg kg-1 and copper 12.92 mg kg-1 in mung bean seeds was observed with foliar application of Si and PGPR inoculation. Biomass (7.75 t ha-1), number of pods per plant (16.02) and 1000 seed weight (60.95 g) of plants treated with 2 kg Si ha-1 and B. drentensis clearly outperformed treatments with Si or PGPR alone. In conclusion, application of Si and PGPR enhances mung bean productivity under saline conditions, thereby helping exploitation of agriculture in low productive areas.