Microbial assisted multifaceted amelioration processes of heavy-metal remediation: a clean perspective toward sustainable and greener future.

Rapidly increasing heavy metal waste has adversely affected the environment and the Earth's health. The lack of appropriate remediation technologies has worsened the issue globally, especially in developing countries. Heavy-metals contaminants have severely impacted the environment and led to devastating conditions owing to their abundance and reactivity. As they are nondegradable, the potential risk increases even at a low concentration. However, heavy-metal remediation has increased with the up-gradation of technologies and integration of new approaches. Also, of all the treatment methodologies, microbial-assisted multifaceted approach for ameliorating heavy metals is a promising strategy for propagating the idea of a green and sustainable environment with minimal waste aggregation. Microbial remediation combined with different biotechniques could aid in unraveling new methods for eradicating heavy metals. Thus, the present review focuses on various microbial remediation approaches and their affecting factors, enabling recapitulation of the interplay between heavy-metals ions and microorganisms. Additionally, heavy-metals remediation mechanisms adapted by microorganisms, the role of genetically modified (GM) microorganisms, life cycle assessment (LCA), techno-economic assessment (TEA) limitations, and prospects of microbial-assisted amelioration of heavy-metals have been elaborated in the current review with focus toward "sustainable and greener future."

Advances in microalgae-based carbon sequestration: Current status and future perspectives.

The advancement in carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration technology has received significant attention due to the adverse effects of CO2 on climate. The mitigation of the adverse effects of CO2 can be accomplished through its conversion into useful products or renewable fuels. In this regard, microalgae is a promising candidate due to its high photosynthesis efficiency, sustainability, and eco-friendly nature. Microalgae utilizes CO2 in the process of photosynthesis and generates biomass that can be utilized to produce various valuable products such as supplements, chemicals, cosmetics, biofuels, and other value-added products. However, at present microalgae cultivation is still restricted to producing value-added products due to high cultivation costs and lower CO2 sequestration efficiency of algal strains. Therefore, it is very crucial to develop novel techniques that can be cost-effective and enhance microalgal carbon sequestration efficiency. The main aim of the present manuscript is to explain how to optimize microalgal CO2 sequestration, integrate valuable product generation, and explore novel techniques like genetic manipulations, phytohormones, quantum dots, and AI tools to enhance the efficiency of CO2 sequestration. Additionally, this review provides an overview of the mass flow of different microalgae and their biorefinery, life cycle assessment (LCA) for achieving net-zero CO2 emissions, and the advantages, challenges, and future perspectives of current technologies. All of the reviewed approaches efficiently enhance microalgal CO2 sequestration and integrate value-added compound production, creating a green and economically profitable process.

Pulp-paper industry sludge waste biorefinery for sustainable energy and value-added products development: A systematic valorization towards waste management.

The pulp-paper industry is one of the main industrial sectors that produce massive amounts of residual sludge, constituting an enormous environmental burden for the industries. Traditional sludge management practices, such as landfilling and incineration, are restricted due to mounting environmental pressures, complex regulatory frameworks, land availability, high costs, and public opinion. Valorization of pulp-paper industry sludge (PPS) to produce high-value products is a promising substitute for traditional sludge management practices, promoting their reuse and recycling. Valorization of PPIS for biorefinery beneficiation includes biomethane, biohydrogen, bioethanol, biobutanol, and biodiesel production for renewable energy generation. Additionally, the various thermo-chemical technologies can be utilized to synthesize bio-oil, hydrochar, biochar, adsorbent, and activated carbon, signifying potential for value-added generation. Moreover, PPIS can be recycled as a byproduct by incorporating it into nanocomposites, cardboard, and construction materials development. This paper aims to deliver a comprehensive overview of PPIS management approaches and thermo-chemical technologies utilized for the development of platform chemicals in industry. Substitute uses of PPIS, such as making building materials, developing supercapacitors, and making cardboard, are also discussed. In addition, this article deeply discusses recent developments in biotechnologies for valorizing PPIS to yield an array of valuable products, such as biofuels, lactic acids, cellulose, nanocellulose, and so on. This review serves as a roadmap for future research endeavors in the effective handling of PPIS.

Sequential two-stage cultivation system using novel microalga consortia for treatment of municipal wastewater and simultaneous biomass production: Sustainable environmental management.

Monoculture-based microalgae cultivation systems to treat wastewater are well-reported. Despite that, this method has some limitations in terms of nutrient removal potential, environment adaptation, and low biomass productivity. Conversely, microalgae co-cultivation and a two-stage sequential cultivation system (TSSCS) recently emerged as a promising approach to improve the treatment process and biomass productivity through better adaptation to the environment. However, no outdoor large-scale experiments were reported using this approach which hinders the viability of the process. Thus, in the present study, a sequential two-stage large-scale outdoor novel microalgae consortia experiment was developed. In first stage consortia-assisted sequential cultivation, two ratios of Tetraselmis indica (TS) and one ratio of Picochlorum sp. (PC) (2 TS:1 PC) were cultivated in a 1000-L pond containing 75%-municipal wastewater (MWW) + 25%-ASN-III, while in the second stage, 2 PC:1 TS was cultivated in two different ponds, and each containing 375-L 2 TS:1 PC-treated water + 375-L ASN-III. Outdoor parameters and nutrient removal efficiency (NRE), biomass, and biomolecule productivity such as lipid, photosynthetic pigments, astaxanthin, and ß-carotene were quantified, and cost analysis was performed. At the end of the first and second stages, 2 TS:1 PC and 2 PC:1 TS showed maximum NRE of COD (68.71 and 86.40%), TN (66.98 and 94.73%), and TP (82.70 and 94.36%), respectively. Moreover, 2 TS:1 PC and 2 PC:1 TS Pond 1 and 2 produced maximum dry biomass production; 2.41 and ∼2.54 g/L contained lipid content; 36.89 and 34.90% that have 86.50 and 55.79% FAME content respectively. Similarly, 2 TS:1 PC and 2 PC:1 TS biomass exhibited valuable pigments production of astaxanthin i.e., 0.56 and 0.35 mg/g, and ß-carotene; 4.65 and 2.82 mg/g, respectively. The cost analysis suggested that only microalgal-based MWW treatment was unfeasible, while valorization of produced biomass into co-products could offset the operation costs and could allow the option for the microalgal-based sustainable approach for the treatment of MWW and recovery of valuable resources.

Lichens as a repository of bioactive compounds: an open window for green therapy against diverse cancers.

Lichens, algae and fungi-based symbiotic associations, are sources of many important secondary metabolites, such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, and anticancer agents. Wide range of experiments based on in vivo and in vitro studies revealed that lichens are a rich treasure of anti-cancer compounds. Lichen extracts and isolated lichen compounds can interact with all biological entities currently identified to be responsible for tumor development. The critical ways to control the cancer development include induction of cell cycle arrests, blocking communication of growth factors, activation of anti-tumor immunity, inhibition of tumor-friendly inflammation, inhibition of tumor metastasis, and suppressing chromosome dysfunction. Also, lichen-based compounds induce the killing of cells by the process of apoptosis, autophagy, and necrosis, that inturn positively modulates metabolic networks of cells against uncontrolled cell division. Many lichen-based compounds have proven to possess potential anti-cancer activity against a wide range of cancer cells, either alone or in conjunction with other anti-cancer compounds. This review primarily emphasizes on an updated account of the repository of secondary metabolites reported in lichens. Besides, we discuss the anti-cancer potential and possible mechanism of the most frequently reported secondary metabolites derived from lichens.

A critical review on environmental risk and toxic hazards of refractory pollutants discharged in chlorolignin waste of pulp and paper mills and their remediation approaches for environmental safety.

Agro-based pulp and paper mills (PPMs) inevitably produce numerous refractory pollutants in their wastewater, including chlorolignin, chlorophenols, chlorocatechols, chloroguaiacol, cyanide, furan, dioxins, and other organic compounds, as well as various heavy metals, such as nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), etc. These pollutants pose significant threats to aquatic and terrestrial life due to their cytogenotoxicity, mutagenicity, impact on sexual organs, hormonal interference, endocrine disruption, and allergenic response. Consequently, it is crucial to reclaim pulp paper mill wastewater (PPMW) with high loads of refractory pollutants through effective and environmentally sustainable practices to minimize the presence of these chemicals and ensure environmental safety. However, there is currently no comprehensive published review providing up-to-date knowledge on the fate of refractory pollutants from PPMW in soil and aquatic environments, along with valuable insights into the associated health hazards and remediation methods. This critical review aims to shed light on the potential adverse effects of refractory pollutants from PPMW on natural ecosystems and living organisms. It explores existing effective treatment technologies for remediating these pollutants from wastewater, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each approach, all in pursuit of environmental safety. Special emphasis is placed on emerging technologies used to decontaminate wastewater discharged from PPMs, ensuring the preservation of the environment. Additionally, this review addresses the major challenges and proposes future research directions for the proper disposal of PPMW. It serves as a comprehensive source of knowledge on the environmental toxicity and risks associated with refractory pollutants in PPMW, making it a valuable reference for policymakers and researchers when selecting appropriate technologies for remediation. The scientific community, concerned with mitigating the widespread risks posed by refractory pollutants from PPMs, is expected to take a keen interest in this review.

Microbial cell factories a new dimension in bio-nanotechnology: exploring the robustness of nature.

Bio-based nanotechnology has its existence in biological dimensions e.g. microbial cell factories (bacteria, fungi. algae, yeast, cyanobacteria) plants, and biopolymers. They provide multipurpose biological platforms to supply well-designed materials for diverse nano-biotechnological applications. The "green or bio-based synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs)" has witnessed a research outburst in the past decade. The bio-based synthesis of NPs using microbial cell factories is a benign process and requires mild conditions for the synthesis with end products being less/non-toxic. As a result, its application has extended in multitudinous industries including environment, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical. Thus, the present review summarizes all the significant aspects of nanotechnology and the reason to switch towards the bio-based synthesis of NPs using microbial cell factories. It consists of a detailed description of the bio-based methods employed for the synthesis and classification of NPs. Also, a comprehensive study on the application of bio-based NPs in the various industrial and biotechnological domains has been discussed. The limitation and its solution would help identify the applicability of NPs to "identified and unidentified" sectors.

Biosorption efficiency of nickel by various endophytic bacterial strains for removal of nickel from electroplating industry effluents: an operational study.

Realising the hazardous effect of nickel on human health, microbes and plants are effectively used for bioremediation. The endophytic microorganisms have an important role in the phytoremediation of nickel using Vigna radiata. Therefore, in order to harness the potential of microbial strains, the present study was designed to examine the metal biosorption ability of endophytic bacterial strains isolated from plants growing in nickel-contaminated soil. A total of six endophytic nickel resistance bacteria were isolated from the plant Vigna radiata. The metal tolerant bacterial strains were identified following 16 S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Nickel biosorption estimation and plant growth-promoting (PGP) activities of isolated strains were performed and found high nickel biosorption efficiency of 91.3 ± 0.72% at 600 mg L-1 using Bacillus safensis an isolated endophytic strain from Vigna radiata. Furthermore, high indole acetic acid (IAA) and exopolysaccharide (EPS) production were obtained in all the strains as compared to without nickel-containing medium used as control. Moreover, the production of high EPS suggests improved biosorption ability of isolated endophytic strains. In addition, a kinetic study was also performed to evaluate different adsorptions isotherms and support the nickel biosorption ability of endophytic strains. The treatment of nickel electroplating industrial effluent was also demonstrated by isolated endophytic strains. Among six (6) strains, B. cereus showed maximum 57.2 ± 0.62% biosorption efficiency of nickel which resulted in the removal of 1003.50 ± 0.90 mg L-1 of nickel from the electroplating industry effluents containing initial 1791 ± 0.90 mg L-1 of nickel. All other strains were also capable of significant nickel biosorption from electroplating industry effluents as well. Thus, isolated endophytic nickel tolerant strains can be further used at large-scale biosorption of nickel from electroplating industry effluent.

Phycoremediation of nitrogen and phosphate from wastewater using Picochlorum sp.: A tenable approach.

The wastewater originates from different industrial, municipal, and agriculture processes and contains different nitrogen sources, for example, nitrate, ammonium, nitrite, and phosphate such as inorganic and organic sources. The discharge of high nitrate and phosphate to the ecosystem or nearby water bodies can cause eutrophication which disbalances the aquatic ecosystem. Furthermore, ingestion of these pollutants can cause severe toxicity and disease to humans and animals. Thus, from an environmental and social perspective, its treatment is essential with no negative impact on the ecosystem. Microalgae are fundamental, mixotrophic microorganisms that treat different wastewater and utilize nitrate and phosphate in the medium as a source of nutrients. Among them, Picochlorum sp., have the potential to remove nitrogen and phosphate from wastewater. The biomass produced by Picochlorum sp. can be a promising candidate as a sustainable feedstock for biofuel and bioproducts formation. Thus, the present review provides a brief knowledge and understanding about the concentration of nitrogen and phosphate in different wastewater, their negative impacts, and the uptake mechanism of microalgae. Furthermore, the review also provides an insight into Picochlorum sp., and the effects of different physiological and nutritional factors on their growth, wastewater treatment efficacy, and biomass for value-added products and biorefinery applications. In addition, the review is useful to understand the potential of Picochlorum sp. for a tenable wastewater treatment process.

Extraction and characterization of microalgae-derived phenolics for pharmaceutical applications: A systematic review.

Microalgae are regarded as a rich trove of diverse secondary metabolites that exert remarkable biological activities. In particular, microalgae-derived bioactive phenolic compounds (MBPCs) are a boon to biopharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries due to their diverse bioactivities, including antimicrobial, anticancer, antiviral, and immunomodulatory activities. The state-of-the-art green technologies for extraction and purification of MBPCs, along with the modern progress in the identification and characterization of MBPCs, have accelerated the discovery of novel active pharmaceutical compounds. However, several factors regulate the production of these bioactive phenolic compounds in microalgae. Furthermore, some microalgae species produce toxic phenolic compounds that negatively impact the aquatic ecosystem, animal, and human life. Therefore, the focus of this review paper is to bring into light the current innovations in bioprospection, extraction, purification, and characterization of MBPCs. This review is also aimed at a better understanding of the physicochemical factors regulating the production of MBPCs at an industrial scale. Finally, the present review covers the recent advances in toxicological evaluation, diverse applications, and future prospects of MBPCs in biopharmaceutical industries.

Cloning, expression and characterization of a thermo-alkali-stable xylanase from Aspergillus oryzae LC1 in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3).

In the present investigation, cloning and overexpression of xylanase (XynF1), the main xylanase of A. oryzae LC1, was performed in prokaryotic system E. coli BL21(DE3) to produce recombinant xylanase with high titer of specific activity (1037.3 U/mg), which was 9.3-fold higher than the native strain. Further, the recombinant XynF1 of size 37 kDa was purified using Ni2+-NTA resins followed by cation exchange chromatography, which showed an 1.8-fold increase in purity with 71.4% yield. The r-XynF1 exhibited a wide range of activity at different pH (3.0-10.0) range and temperature (30-70 °C) with an optimum pH at 5.0 and temperature at 30 °C. The results from the current study, clearly demonstrate that this is an effective method to generate a recombinant enzyme with improved activity, making it useful for possible industrial applications.

Insight into multicopper oxidase laccase from Myrothecium verrucaria ITCC-8447: a case study using in silico and experimental analysis.

The oxidation activity of multicopper-oxidases overlaps with different substrates of laccases and bilirubin oxidases, thus in the present study an integrated approach of bioinformatics using homology modeling, docking, and experimental validation was used to confirm the type of multicopper-oxidase in Myrothecium verrucaria ITCC-8447. The result of peptide sequence of M. verrucaria ITCC-8447 enabled to predict the 3 D-structure of multicopper-oxidase. It was overlapped with the structure of laccase and root mean square deviation (RMSD) was 1.53 Å for 533 and, 171 residues. The low binding energy with azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) (-5.64) as compared to bilirubin (-4.39) suggested that M. verrucaria ITCC-8447 have laccase-like activity. The experimental analysis confirmed high activity with laccase specific substrates, phenol (18.3 U/L), ampyrone (172.4 U/L) and, ampyrone phenol coupling (50 U/L) as compared to bilirubin oxidase substrate bilirubin (16.6 U/L). In addition, lowest binding energy with ABTS (-5.64), syringaldazine SYZ (-4.83), guaiacol GCL (-4.42), and 2,6-dimethoxyphenol DMP (-4.41) confirmed the presence of laccase. Further, complete remediation of two hazardous model pollutants i.e., phenol and resorcinol (1.5 mM) after 12 h of incubation and low binding energy of -4.32 and, -4.85 respectively confirmed its removal by laccase. The results confirmed the presence of laccase in M. verrucaria ITCC-8447 and its effective bioremediation potential.

A Rare Cause of Methemoglobinemia: How Safe are So-called Biopesticide?

With increasing awareness of "greener" environment, market is flooded with biopesticide. Natural insecticides can be chemical, mineral, or biological. We report an unusual case of methemoglobinemia after deliberate ingestion of an insecticide containing extract of pine oil and azadirachtin oil, Ti oil, and kerosene. On literature search, no such case report has been documented so far. How to cite this article: Gupta P, Verma PK. A Rare Cause of Methemoglobinemia: How Safe are So-called Biopesticide? Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(3):208-209.

Neurotensin receptor-1 antagonist SR48692 modulation of high-fat diet induced reproductive impairment in male mice.

Neurotensin (NTS), a tridecapeptide of the gastrointestinal tract, has been implicated in the facilitation of lipid absorption on ingestion of a high-fat diet (HFD) especially via NTS receptors, NTSR1, NTSR2, and NTSR3, to cause lipid metabolic dysregulation and imbalance of the oxidant-antioxidant system. Oxidative stress induced a negative impact on reproductive function, affecting the reproductive organ and related reproductive hormones. The present study elucidated the efficacy of NTSR1 antagonist SR48692 in the modulation of HFD-induced reproductive impairment in male mice. Swiss albino mice (male, 23 ± 2 g) were maintained (6/group) for eight weeks; Group-I chow diet (CD), Group-II HFD, Group-III (HFD+SR48692L), Group-IV (HFD+SR48692H), Group-V (CD+SR48692L) and Group-VI (CD+SR48692H). SR48692 low (100 µg/kg b.w./SR48692L) and high-dose (400 µg/kg b.w./SR48692H) were given intraperitoneally for the last four weeks. Treatment with low-dose (SR48692L) to HFD-fed mice showed some efficacy in mitigating lipid dysregulation, oxidative stress, and reproductive impairment as evidenced by decreased triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, leptin, and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, increased antioxidant defense enzymes, reduction of histopathological scores in testis and increase in plasma level of LH, FSH and testosterone compared to that of HFD, but not up to CD. With the high-dose of antagonist (SR48692H) showed more adverse effects even from that of HFD. Treatment of both doses of SR48692 to CD-fed mice these effects become more extended. Less effectiveness of NTSR1 antagonist with the doses tried (low and high) in normalizing the lipid dysregulation and reproductive impairments might be due to the persistence of NTSR2/NTSR3-mediated lipid absorption.

Unraveling the shift in bacterial communities profile grown in sediments co-contaminated with chlorolignin waste of pulp-paper mill by metagenomics approach.

Pulp-paper mills (PPMs) are known for consistently generating a wide variety of pollutants, that are often unidentified and highly resistant to environmental degradation. The current study aims to investigate the changes in the indigenous bacterial communities profile grown in the sediment co-contaminated with organic and inorganic pollutants discharged from the PPMs. The two sediment samples, designated PPS-1 and PPS-2, were collected from two different sites. Physico-chemical characterization of PPS-1 and PPS-2 revealed the presence of heavy metals (mg kg-1) like Cu (0.009-0.01), Ni (0.005-0.002), Mn (0.078-0.056), Cr (0.015-0.009), Pb (0.008-0.006), Zn (0.225-0.086), Fe (2.124-0.764), Al (3.477-22.277), and Ti (99.792-45.012) along with high content of chlorophenol, and lignin. The comparative analysis of organic pollutants in sediment samples using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed the presence of major highly refractory compounds, such as stigmasterol, ß-sitosterol, hexadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid; 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol; heptacosane; dimethyl phthalate; hexachlorobenzene; 1-decanol,2-hexyl; furane 2,5-dimethyl, etc in sediment samples which are reported as a potential toxic compounds. Simultaneously, high-throughput sequencing targeting the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA genes, resulted in the identification of 1,249 and 1,345 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) derived from a total of 115,665 and 119,386 sequences read, in PPS-1 and PPS-2, respectively. Analysis of rarefaction curves indicated a diversity in OTU abundance between PPS-1 (1,249 OTUs) and PPS-2 (1,345 OTUs). Furthermore, taxonomic assignment of metagenomics sequence data showed that Proteobacteria (55.40%; 56.30%), Bacteoidetes (11.30%; 12.20%), and Planctomycetes (5.40%; 4.70%) were the most abundant phyla; Alphproteobacteria (20.50%; 23.50%), Betaproteobacteria (16.00%; 12.30%), and Gammaproteobacteria were the most recorded classes in PPS-1 and PPS-2, respectively. At the genus level, Thiobacillus (7.60%; 4.50%) was the most abundant genera grown in sediment samples. The results indicate significant differences in both the diversity and relative abundance of taxa in the bacterial communities associated with PPS-2 when compared to PPS-1. This study unveils key insights into contaminant characteristics and shifts in bacterial communities within contaminated environments. It highlights the potential for developing efficient bioremediation techniques to restore ecological balance in pulp-paper mill waste-polluted areas, stressing the importance of identifying a significant percentage of unclassified genera and species to explore novel genes.

Sub-pilot scale sequential microalgal consortium-based cultivation for treatment of municipal wastewater and biomass production.

Municipal wastewater (MWW) was treated by a sequential pilot microalgal cultivation process. The cultivation was performed inside a specifically designed low-cost photobioreactor (PBR) system. A microalgal consortium 2:1 was developed using Tetraselmis indica (TS) and Picochlorum sp. (PC) in the first stage and PC:TS (2:1) in the second stage and the nutrient removal efficiency and biomass production and biomolecules production was evaluated and also compared with monoculture in a two-stage sequential cultivation system. This study also investigated the effect of seasonal variations on microalgae growth and MWW treatment. The results showed that mixed microalgal consortium (TS:PC) had higher nutrient removal efficiency, with chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphate (TP), and total nitrate (TN) removal efficiencies of 78.50, 84.49, and 84.20%, respectively, and produced a biomass of 2.50 g/L with lipid content of 37.36% in the first stage of cultivation under indoor conditions. In the second stage of indoor cultivation, the PC:TS consortium demonstrated maximum COD, TP, and TN removal efficiencies of 92.49, 94.24, and 94.16%, respectively. It also produced a biomass of 2.65 g/L with a lipid content of 40.67%. Among all the seasonal variations, mass flow analysis indicated that the combination of mixed consortium-based two-stage sequential process during the winter season favored maximum nutrient removal efficiency of TN i.e. 88.54% (84.12 mg/L) and TP i.e., 90.18% (43.29 mg/L), respectively. It also enhanced total biomass production of 49.10 g in 20-L medium, which includes lipid yield ∼15.68 g compared to monoculture i.e., 82.06% (78.70 mg/L) and 82.87% (40.26 mg/L) removal of TN and TP, respectively, and produced biomass 43.60 g with 11.90 g of lipids.

Exploring the association between long-term MODIS aerosol and air pollutants data across the Northern Great Plains through machine learning analysis.

Aerosol optical depth (AOD) and Ångström exponent (AE) are the major environmental indicators to perceive air quality and the impact of aerosol on climate change and health as well as the global atmospheric conditions. In the present study, an average of AOD and AE data from Tera and Aqua satellites of MODIS sensors has been investigated over 7 years i.e., from 2016 to 2022, at four locations over Northern Great Plains. Both temporal and seasonal variations over the study periods have been investigated to understand the behavior of AOD and AE. Over the years, the highest AOD and AE were observed in winter season, varying from 0.75 to 1.17 and 1.30 to 1.63, respectively. During pre-monsoon season, increasing trend of AOD varying from 0.65 to 0.95 was observed from upper (New Delhi) to lower (Kolkata) Gangetic plain, however, during monsoon and post-monsoon a reverse trend varying from 0.85 to 0.65 has been observed. Seasonal and temporal aerosol characteristics have also been analyzed and it has been assessed that biomass burning was found to be the major contributor, followed by desert dust at all the locations except in Lucknow, where the second largest contributor was dust instead of desert dust. During season-wise analysis, biomass burning was also found to be as the major contributor at all the places in all the seasons except New Delhi and Lucknow, where dust was the major contributor during pre-monsoon. A boosting regression algorithm was done using machine learning to explore the relative influence of different atmospheric parameters and pollutants with PM2.5. Water vapor was assessed to have the maximum relative influence i.e., 51.66 % followed by CO (21.81 %). This study aims to help policy makers and decision makers better understand the correlation between different atmospheric components and pollutants and the contribution of different types of aerosols.

Microalgae: A potential bioagent for treatment of emerging contaminants from domestic wastewater.

Water crisis around the world leads to a growing interest in emerging contaminants (ECs) that can affect human health and the environment. Research showed that thousands of compounds from domestic consumers, such as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), personal care products (PCPs), and pharmaceuticals active compounds (PhAcs), could be found in wastewater in concentration mostly from ng L-1 to µg L-1. However, generally, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are not designed to remove these ECs from wastewater to their discharge levels. Scientists are looking for economically feasible biotreatment options enabling the complete removal of ECs before discharge. Microalgae cultivation in domestic wastewater is likely a feasible approach for removing emerging contaminants and simultaneously removing any residual organic nutrients. Microalgal growth rate and contaminants removal efficiency could be affected by various factors, including light intensity, CO2 addition, presence of different nutrients, etc., and these parameters could greatly help make microalgae treatment more efficient. Furthermore, the algal biomass harvests could be repurposed to produce various bulk chemicals such as sustainable aviation fuel, biofuel, bioplastic, and biochar; this could significantly enhance the economic viability. Therefore, this review summarizes the microalgae-based bioprocess and their mechanisms for removing different ECs from different wastewaters and highlights the different strategies to improve the ECs removal efficiency. Furthermore, this review shows the role of different ECs in biomass profile and the relevance of using ECs-treated microalgae biomass to produce green products, as well as highlights the challenges and future research recommendations.

Efficacy and safety of intravenous ulinastatin versus placebo along with standard supportive care in subjects with mild or severe acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Ulinastatin is reported to inhibit pro-inflammatory markers and also inhibits coagulation and fibrinolysis. The drug is available in East Asia for the treatment of acute pancreatitis. AIM: To study the effect of addition of ulinastatin to standard care on mortality and morbidity in Indian subjects with acute pancreatitis. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centre trial across 15 centres in India. METHODS: Subjects, aged 18 to 70 years, with acute pancreatitis and elevated serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, were eligible for enrolment. Acute pancreatitis was diagnosed if the patient had at least two of the following criteria: suggestive abdominal pain, serum amylase and/or lipase > 3 times upper limit of normal, and imaging findings of acute pancreatitis. Subjects were classified as having mild or severe acute pancreatitis on the basis of the APACHE II score (< 8 mild, > or = 8 severe). Standard care was given to all subjects as per the treating physician's protocol. Eligible subjects were randomized to receive intravenous infusion of 200,000 IU ulinastatin or placebo in 100 mL of 0.9% saline given over one hour every 12 hours for 5 days. RESULTS: Of 135 randomized subjects, 129 completed the study (mild 62, severe 67). Pancreatitis was due to alcohol intake in a majority (81%) of subjects. Baseline characteristics were similar between the ulinastatin and placebo groups. Efficacy was evaluated in subjects who had received at least 3 days (6 doses) of ulinastatin/placebo. One subject with severe pancreatitis in the ulinastatin group versus six in the placebo group died (p = 0.048). New organ dysfunction developed in 5 ulinastatin vs 4 placebo group subjects (p = 0.744) with mild pancreatitis and 12 ulinastatin vs 29 placebo group subjects (p = 0.0026) with severe pancreatitis. Adverse events were significantly lower in subjects with severe pancreatitis in the ulinastatin group as compared to the placebo group (p = 0.00001). Reduction in serum CRP was not different between the groups. Median hospitalization was shorter by one day in the ulinastatin group; the difference was not significant. There was no infusion-related adverse event. CONCLUSIONS: Ulinastatin prevents new organ dysfunction and reduces mortality in subjects with severe pancreatitis.

Organosolv pretreatment: an in-depth purview of mechanics of the system.

The concept of biorefinery has been advancing globally and organosolv pretreatment strategy has seen an upsurge in research due to its efficiency in removing the recalcitrant lignin and dissolution of cellulose. The high-performance organosolv system uses green solvents and its reusability contributes concurrently to the biorefinery sector and sustainability. The major advantage of the current system involves the continuous removal of lignin to enhance cellulose accessibility, thereby easing the later biorefinery steps, which were immensely restricted due to the recalcitrant lignin. The current system process can be further explored and enhanced via the amalgamation of new technologies, which is still a work in progress. Thus, the current review summarizes organosolv pretreatment and the range of solvents used, along with a detailed mechanistic approach that results in efficient pretreatment of LCB. The latest developments for designing high-performance pretreatment systems, their pitfalls, and advanced assessments such as Life Cycle Assessment along with Techno-Economic Assessment have also been deliberated to allow an insight into its diverse potential applicability towards a sustainable future.