Investigating removal mechanisms of long- and short-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances using specialty adsorbents in a field-scale surface water filtration system.

This study assessed the application of two specialty adsorbents, also known as green sorption media (GSM), including clay-perlite and sand sorption media (CPS) and zero-valent iron and perlite green environmental media (ZIPGEM) to remove long- and short-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at field scale. The field-scale demonstration employed four GSM filter cells installed near the C-23 Canal (St. Lucie County, FL), which discharges water to the ecologically sensitive St. Lucie River estuary and to the Atlantic Ocean finally. Although prior lab-scale experiments had demonstrated the effectiveness of CPS and ZIPGEM in treating long-chain PFAS, their performance in field-scale application warranted further investigation. The study reveals the critical roles of divalent cations such as Ca2+ and monovalent cations such as ammonium and hydronium ions, as well as other water quality parameters, on PFAS removal efficacy. Ammonia, most likely resulting from photo- and bacterial ammonification, gives rise to elevated ammonium ion formation in the wet season due to the decrease in pH, which ultimately worsens PFAS adsorption. Moreover, there is a strong negative correlation between pH and PFAS removal efficiency in the presence of ammonia, as evidenced by the reduced removal of PFAS during events associated with low pH.

Antiviral Peptides in Antimicrobial Surface Coatings-From Current Techniques to Potential Applications.

The transmission of pathogens through contact with contaminated surfaces is an important route for the spread of infections. The recent outbreak of COVID-19 highlights the necessity to attenuate surface-mediated transmission. Currently, the disinfection and sanitization of surfaces are commonly performed in this regard. However, there are some disadvantages associated with these practices, including the development of antibiotic resistance, viral mutation, etc.; hence, a better strategy is necessary. In recent years, peptides have been studied to be utilized as a potential alternative. They are part of the host immune defense and have many potential in vivo applications in drug delivery, diagnostics, immunomodulation, etc. Additionally, the ability of peptides to interact with different molecules and membrane surfaces of microorganisms has made it possible to exploit them in ex vivo applications such as antimicrobial (antibacterial and antiviral) coatings. Although antibacterial peptide coatings have been studied extensively and proven to be effective, antiviral coatings are a more recent development. Therefore, this study aims to highlight antiviral coating strategies and the current practices and application of antiviral coating materials in personal protective equipment, healthcare devices, and textiles and surfaces in public settings. Here, we have presented a review on potential techniques to incorporate peptides in current surface coating strategies that will serve as a guide for developing cost-effective, sustainable and coherent antiviral surface coatings. We further our discussion to highlight some challenges of using peptides as a surface coating material and to examine future perspectives.

Current Status and Future Prospects of Cladosporium sp., a Biocontrol Agent for Sustainable Plant Protection.

The fungal biocontrol agents, Cladosporium sp. have great economic importance on account of their beneficial effects on the integrated pest management (IPM) program. The different species of this genus can control different arthropod pests like sweetpotato whitefly, sugarcane woolly aphid, two-spotted mite, cotton aphid, cotton leaf worm, red spider mite, armyworm; and different plant diseases like- rice blast, wheat stripe rust, chrysanthemum white rust, etc. Chemical pesticides are a common practice by the user to protect their crops from these pests. But the intensive use of chemical pesticides has harmful impacts on human health and ecosystem functioning, and they also reduce plant protection sustainability. Sustainable plant protection could be achieved through the reduction of chemical pesticides, resulting in minimal impact on the environment without compromising crop yields. This review was written based on biocontrol methods using Cladosporium sp. which is an alternative option for pest management. Continued research concerning the commercialization of these biocontrol agents as biopesticides may contribute to sustainable plant protection.

Predicting risks of low birth weight in Bangladesh with machine learning.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Low birth weight is one of the primary causes of child mortality and several diseases of future life in developing countries, especially in Southern Asia. The main objective of this study is to determine the risk factors of low birth weight and predict low birth weight babies based on machine learning algorithms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Low birth weight data has been taken from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 2017-18, which had 2351 respondents. The risk factors associated with low birth weight were investigated using binary logistic regression. Two machine learning-based classifiers (logistic regression and decision tree) were adopted to characterize and predict low birth weight. The model performances were evaluated by accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and area under the curve. RESULTS: The average percentage of low birth weight in Bangladesh was 16.2%. The respondent's region, education, wealth index, height, twin child, and alive child were statistically significant risk factors for low birth weight babies. The logistic regression-based classifier performed 87.6% accuracy and 0.59 area under the curve for holdout (90:10) cross-validation, whereas the decision tree performed 85.4% accuracy and 0.55 area under the curve. CONCLUSIONS: Logistic regression-based classifier provided the most accurate classification of low birth weight babies and has the highest accuracy. This study's findings indicate the necessity for an efficient, cost-effective, and integrated complementary approach to reduce and correctly predict low birth weight babies in Bangladesh.

Is Bhasan Char Island, Noakhali district in Bangladesh a sustainable place for the relocated Rohingya displaced people? An empirical study.

More than one million forcefully displaced Myanmar nationals, known as Rohingyas, are currently living in the 34 camps in the Cox's Bazar district in Bangladesh. To reduce the pressure of Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar, the government of Bangladesh has started the process of relocating some of the Rohingyas to Bhasan Char Island located in Noakhali district, Bangladesh. However, some international organisations, NGOs, and some people expressed their concerns over this relocation process. This article, thus, offers an evidence-based holistic perspective that explains the available facilities and opportunities that could bring a new hope instead of a threat to Rohingyas. Through a multi-method research approach, the paper argues that the Island is suitable for the displaced Rohingya people. It also explores that the relocation project has opportunities for Rohingyas to engage in some livelihood activities. The Island is stable and livable on a temporary basis and has adequate safety and security measures-embankments, wave breakers, shelter centers, and modern housing facilities-have been undertaken. This article, thus, concludes that Bhasan Char can offer a new hope-not a place with threats, for the Rohingya displaced people, to live temporarily before their repatriation to Myanmar.

Sumithion induced structural erythrocyte alteration and damage to the liver and kidney of Nile tilapia.

Indiscriminate use of pesticides in agricultural land poses a potential threat to many non-target organisms, including fish. In the present study, we explored the toxicological effects of sumithion on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) after exposure at different concentrations (0.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 mg/L) in triplicate for 96 h. The 96-h LC50 value of the pesticide for the test fish was calculated by probit analysis, which was 2.579 mg/L. We also investigated the haematological parameters, erythrocytic alteration and histopathological responses of Nile tilapia. Red blood cell (RBC) and haemoglobin (Hb) level were significantly declined, whereas white blood cell (WBC) and blood glucose level were increased dramatically in the sumithion treated fish. The frequencies of erythrocytic cellular and nuclear alterations were significantly elevated in the fish after exposure to sumithion compared with the control group. The substantial histopathological alterations were observed in sumithion-exposed fish, including pyknotic nucleus, melano-macrophage centers and severe congestion of blood vessels in the liver and patch degeneration, vacuolation and intense form of pyknotic nuclei in the kidney. Observed alterations in this study exhibit that sumithion negatively impacts on Nile tilapia. It is recommended that the use of this pesticide in the agriculture field be monitored and controlled.