Phytoremediation of toxic chemicals in aquatic environment with special emphasis on duckweed mediated approaches.

The discharge of toxic chemicals into water bodies and their linked detrimental effects on health is a global concern. Phytoremediation, an environment-friendly plant-based technology, has gained intensive interest over the last decades. For the aquatic phytoremediation process, the commonly available duckweeds have recently attracted significant attention due to their capacity to grow in diverse ecological niches, fast growth characteristics, suitable morphology for easy handling of biomass, and capacity to remove and detoxify various potential toxic elements and compounds. This review presents the progress of duckweed-assisted aquatic phytoremediation of toxic chemicals. A brief background of general phytoremediation processes, including the different phytoremediation methods and advances in understanding their underlying mechanisms, has been described. A summary of different approaches commonly practiced to assess the growth of the plants and their metal removal capacity in the phytoremediation process has also been included. A vast majority of studies have established that duckweed is an efficient plant catalyst to accumulate toxic heavy metals and organic contaminants, such as pesticides, fluorides, toxins, and aromatic compounds, reducing their toxicity from water bodies. The potential of this plant-based phytoremediation process for its downstream applications in generating value-added products for the rural economy and industrial interest has been identified.

Duckweed is an aquatic plant widely available in diverse ecosystems on the earth. Due to its fast growth in various environmental conditions, capacity to accumulate and transform different toxic chemicals, and a suitable morphology for handling and processing its biomass easily, duckweed has been projected as an efficient floating plant species for the aquatic phytoremediation technology. Moreover, the duckweed biomass generated from the post phytoremediation process may be transformed into various value-added products to support the rural economy.

Comparative Evaluation of Extrusion of Apical Debris and Irrigant using Three Different Rotary Systems with Conventional Irrigation Methods - An In vitro Study.

Aim: The present study aimed to compare and evaluate debris and irrigant extrusion from curved root canals using different rotary systems. Materials and Methods: 30 single-rooted mandibular canines were used in this study. The crown was decoronated, working length and initial apical diameter were established. A 1.5% agar gel model was used in this study. Samples were assigned randomly into 3 groups (n = 10 teeth per group). Protaper Next, OneShape, and Hanudent files were used according to the manufacturers' instructions for canal instrumentation. Apically extruded debris and irrigant was were computed by deducting the initial weight of the test apparatus without a tooth from its weight after the biomechanical preparation. Comparative analysis of the amount of apically extruded debris and irrigant for each of the instruments and the experimental models was performed. Results: The statistically significant difference was found between the three experimental groups. (P < .05). Among all the groups least extrusion was observed in the Protaper Next group when used in combination with conventional irrigation. Conclusion: All the instruments produced apically extruded debris and irrigant, but the maximum was seen with OneShape among the experimental groups.

Evaluation of amniotic membrane grafting in the reconstruction of contracted socket.

PURPOSE: To study the use of amniotic membrane for the reconstruction of mild to moderate grades of contracted socket and compare it to mucous membrane grafting. METHODS: A total of 20 patients with acquired, anophthalmic contracted socket of mild to moderate grades were studied and divided into two groups: the amniotic membrane graft (AMG) group (10 patients) and the mucous membrane graft (MMG) group (10 patients). The preoperative and postoperative measurements of forniceal depth and volume of socket were compared. After surgery, motility of the prosthesis was also compared. RESULTS: The mean preoperative depth of the lower fornix in the AMG group and the MMG group was 1.5 mm and 1.4 mm, and after surgery, at final follow-up was 5.4 mm and 5.5 mm, respectively. The preoperative mean height of the upper fornix in the AMG group and the MMG group was 10.3 mm and 10.7 mm, and after surgery, at final follow-up was 12.6 mm and 13.2 mm, respectively. The mean preoperative volume of the socket was 0.84 ml in the AMG group and 0.80 ml in the MMG group, and after surgery, at final follow-up was 1.43 ml and 1.48 ml, respectively. The various quantitative parameters including motility of the prosthesis were comparable in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Amniotic membrane grafting gave cosmetically and functionally acceptable results in cases of mild to moderate grades of anophthalmic socket contraction. The results were comparable to those of mucous membrane grafting.