Investigation on the physico-chemical properties of soil and mineralization of three selected tropical tree leaf litter.

Plant leaf litter has a major role in the structure and function of soil ecosystems as it is associated with nutrient release and cycling. The present study is aimed to understand how well the decomposing leaf litter kept soil organic carbon and nitrogen levels stable during an incubation experiment that was carried out in a lab setting under controlled conditions and the results were compared to those from a natural plantation. In natural site soil samples, Anacardium. occidentale showed a higher value of organic carbon at surface (1.14%) and subsurface (0.93%) and Azadirachta. indica exhibited a higher value of total nitrogen at surface (0.28%) and subsurface sample (0.14%). In the incubation experiment, Acacia auriculiformis had the highest organic carbon content initially (5.26%), whereas A. occidentale had the highest nitrogen level on 30th day (0.67%). The overall carbon-nitrogen ratio showed a varied tendency, which may be due to dynamic changes in the complex decomposition cycle. The higher rate of mass loss and decay was observed in A. indica leaf litter, the range of the decay constant is 1.26-2.22. The morphological and chemical changes of soil sample and the vermicast were substantained using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR).

Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the water environment: A review on toxicity, microbial biodegradation, systematic biological advancements, and environmental fate.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are considered a major class of organic contaminants or pollutants, which are poisonous, mutagenic, genotoxic, and/or carcinogenic. Due to their ubiquitous occurrence and recalcitrance, PAHs-related pollution possesses significant public health and environmental concerns. Increasing the understanding of PAHs' negative impacts on ecosystems and human health has encouraged more researchers to focus on eliminating these pollutants from the environment. Nutrients available in the aqueous phase, the amount and type of microbes in the culture, and the PAHs' nature and molecular characteristics are the common factors influencing the microbial breakdown of PAHs. In recent decades, microbial community analyses, biochemical pathways, enzyme systems, gene organization, and genetic regulation related to PAH degradation have been intensively researched. Although xenobiotic-degrading microbes have a lot of potential for restoring the damaged ecosystems in a cost-effective and efficient manner, their role and strength to eliminate the refractory PAH compounds using innovative technologies are still to be explored. Recent analytical biochemistry and genetically engineered technologies have aided in improving the effectiveness of PAHs' breakdown by microorganisms, creating and developing advanced bioremediation techniques. Optimizing the key characteristics like the adsorption, bioavailability, and mass transfer of PAH boosts the microorganisms' bioremediation performance, especially in the natural aquatic water bodies. This review's primary goal is to provide an understanding of recent information about how PAHs are degraded and/or transformed in the aquatic environment by halophilic archaea, bacteria, algae, and fungi. Furthermore, the removal mechanisms of PAH in the marine/aquatic environment are discussed in terms of the recent systemic advancements in microbial degradation methodologies. The review outputs would assist in facilitating the development of new insights into PAH bioremediation.

Seasonal influence on physicochemical properties of the sediments from Bay of Bengal coast with statistical approach.

The current study aims to investigate the influence of seasonal changes on the pollution loads of the sediment of a coastal area in terms of its physicochemical features. The research will focus on analyzing the nutrients, organic carbon and particle size of the sediment samples collected from 12 different sampling stations in 3 different seasons along the coastal area. Additionally, the study discusses about the impact of anthropogenic activities such as agriculture and urbanization and natural activities such as monsoon on the sediment quality of the coastal area. The nutrient changes in the sediment were found to be: pH (7.96-9.45), EC (2.89-5.23 dS/m), nitrogen (23.98-57.23 mg/kg), phosphorus (7.75-11.36 mg/kg), potassium (217-398 mg/kg), overall organic carbon (0.35-0.99%), and sediment proportions (8.91-9.3%). Several statistical methods were used to investigate changes in sediment quality. According to the three-way ANOVA test, the mean value of the sediments differs significantly with each season. It correlates significantly with principal factor analysis and cluster analysis across seasons, implying contamination from both natural and man-made sources. This study will contribute to developing effective management strategies for the protection and restoration of degraded coastal ecosystem.

Nitrogen and organic load removal from anaerobically digested leachate using a hybrid electro-oxidation and electro-coagulation process.

This study evaluated the performance of an integrated electrochemical process, which simultaneously utilizes electro-oxidation (EO) and electro-coagulation (EC) methods while removing organic and nitrogen loads from high-strength leachate obtained from anaerobic digesters. A bipolar arrangement of the aluminum electrode, sandwiched between a monopolar boron-doped diamond anode and stainless-steel cathode, integrates EC and EO into a single reactor. This arrangement demonstrated an enhancement of 33%, 27%, and 24% in removal capacity for ammonia nitrogen (AN), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), and total nitrogen, respectively, when compared to just EO at 0.8 A current intensity after 24 h. Increasing the current intensity from 0.4 A to 1.0 A enhanced the organic nitrogen and AN removal. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) exhibited initial faster removal kinetics with higher current intensities and eventually reached 95%-98% removal for intensities of 0.6 A or higher. Additional removal for AN, TKN were also observed with increasing current intensity. Lowering the pH further expedited the COD removal kinetics. Reducing and maintaining the pH at 4, 6, and 8 by dosing of hydrochloric acid (HCl) resulted in the 100% removal of AN and TKN from the integrated system in 6, 8, and 20 h, respectively. Accelerated removal of COD and the enhanced removal of AN and TKN through pH control could be linked to the formation of active chlorine species in bulk solution. The integrated system offered lower energy consumption than EO due to oxidation on the additional anodic surface of the bipolar electrode, as well as the adsorption-precipitation of contaminants in aluminum flocs.

Impact of sublethal phenol in freshwater fish Labeo rohita on biochemical and haematological parameters.

Phenol, an aromatic chemical commonly found in domestic and industrial effluents, upon its introduction into aquatic ecosystems adversely affects the indigenous biota, the invertebrates and the vertebrates. With the increased demand for agrochemicals, a large amount of phenol is released directly into the environment as a byproduct. Phenol and its derivatives tend to persist in the environment for longer periods which in turn poses a threat to both humans and the aquatic ecosystem. In our current study, the response of Labeo rohita to sublethal concentrations of phenol was observed and the results did show a regular decrease in biochemical constituents of the targeted organs. Exposure of Labeo rohita to sublethal concentration of phenol (22.32 mg/L) for an epoch of 7, 21 and 28 days shows a decline in lipid, protein, carbohydrate content and phosphatase activity in target organs such as the gills, muscle, intestine, liver and kidney of the fish. The present study also aims to investigate the toxic effects of phenol with special reference to the haematological parameters of Labeo rohita. At the end of the exposure period, the blood of the fish was collected by cutting the caudal peduncle with a surgical scalpel. And it was observed that the red blood corpuscle count (RBC), white blood corpuscle (WBC), haemoglobin count (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) values showed a decline after exposure to phenol for 7 days, while white blood corpuscle (WBC) shows an increased count. At 21 days and 28 days, all the haematological parameters showed a significant decrease.

Pollutant removal from cheese processing effluent using effective indigenous natural scavengers.

The goal of this study was to come up with an efficient method for treating cheese production wastewater. Because the effluent has a higher concentration of organic and inorganic materials, the indigenous microbial treatment process was used to effectively remove total dissolved solids (TDS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and color without the addition of any nutrients. The indigenous microorganisms were tested for color, TDS, and COD elimination by growing them in "nutrient broth medium" loaded with different amounts of cheese effluent. The isolates were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing, and the results revealed that strain 1 was Enterobacter cloacae, strain 2 was Lactococcus garvieae, and strains 3 and 4 were Bacillus cereus and Bacillus mycoides, respectively. After 36 h of incubation, the data were evaluated. Among all the microbes, E. cloacae reduced TDS and COD from the effluent the most (80 ± 0.2% and 87 ± 0.4% COD, respectively). When compared to individual species, consortia were more efficient (86 ± 0.2% TDS and 90 ± 0.3% COD). On treatment, the correlation coefficient "r" for TDS and COD elimination was found to be 1, resulting in a positive linear connection. The current study suggests that microbial therapies are both effective and environmentally beneficial.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation through a transcarotid approach under local anesthesia.

AIMS: We report the first experience of transcatheter aortic valve implantation through a transcarotid approach under local anesthesia. METHODS AND RESULTS: An 81-year-old gentleman with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis was referred for TAVI. He was not suitable for transfemoral, transapical, subclavian, or direct aortic approach. He had severe lung disease and was considered unsuitable for general anesthesia. We, therefore, performed the procedure under local anesthesia though the right common carotid artery (CCA) approach. Superficial cervical block was achieved with Levobupivacaine, and in addition, he also had a target controlled infusion of Remifentanil. Cerebral oximetry was monitored throughout the procedure. The CCA was accessed through surgical cut-down. Aortic valvuloplasty was performed through a 12-F sheath, and the CoreValve was deployed successfully through an 18-F sheath. CONCLUSION: TAVI is commonly performed through femoral access under local anesthesia. The right carotid artery approach under local anesthesia requires careful monitoring of cerebral oxygen levels but allowed us to perform successful TAVI in this high risk patient when all conventional approaches were contra-indicated. Compared with a right subclavian or left carotid access, the right carotid offers more direct angle of approach allowing precise valve placement with minimal readjustment during deployment.

Precision feeding as a tool to reduce the environmental footprint of pig production systems: a life cycle assessment.

Nitrogen and phosphorus excretion are major sources of environmental contamination in growing-finishing pig operations. Nutrient excretion can be reduced by feeding pigs daily-tailored diets to their estimated nutrient requirements using individual precision feeding (IPF) techniques. This study modeled and evaluated the environmental impact of moving from conventional group three-phase feeding (CGF) to IPF systems in Quebec, Canada, using life-cycle assessment with Simapro software. The cradle-to-farm model included inputs and outputs of each sub-phase: raw materials/feedstuffs production, feed mill processing, transport, animal rearing, and manure management. The model was identical for both treatments in all aspects except for the production of feeds and barn and manure emissions in the growing-finishing phases. All feed ingredients originated from Quebec, simulating agricultural practices using real management data from an average farm in Quebec. Based on observed pig growth data, the CGF and IPF systems were compared in the growing-finishing phase. IPF diets were modeled as the blend of two feeds (i.e. A and B), while CGF diets were stablished according to the industry. The evaluated impact categories were global warming potential (GWP), eutrophication potential (EP), and acidification potential (AP). The functional unit was 1 tonne of feed at the feed mill gate and 1 tonne of finished pig live weight at the farm gate. A Monte Carlo analysis determined the uncertainty of the growth performance results. Feeding programs were compared using analysis of variance. Corn was associated with elevated GWP and AP impacts, leading to higher impacts for diets with higher corn content. Feed B, which contained 83% corn, resulted in impacts of 645 kg of CO2-eq., 8.53 kg SO2-eq., and 4.89 kg PO4-eq. Diets with higher EP impact had a higher percentage of soybean meal. Feed A contained 25% of this ingredient and had an impact of 608 kg CO2-eq., 6.98 kg SO2-eq., and 5.57 kg PO4-eq. CGF diets had environmental impacts between those of feeds A and B. Compared to CGF, applying IPF programs during the growing-finishing phase decreased GWP by 7.6%, AP by 16.2% and EP by 13.0%. IPF significantly reduced the environmental impact in all categories through the more efficient use of nutritional resources by pigs. IPF could help to improve the sustainability of growing-finishing pig operations in Quebec and likely other regions using corn and soybean-based diets.

Struvite-Driven Integration for Enhanced Nutrient Recovery from Chicken Manure Digestate.

This study investigated the synergistic integration of clean technologies, specifically anaerobic digestion (AD) and struvite precipitation, to enhance nutrient recovery from chicken manure (CM). The batch experiments were conducted using (i) anaerobically digested CM digestate, referred to as raw sample (RS), (ii) filtered digestate sample (FS), and (iii) a synthetically prepared control sample (CS). The research findings demonstrated that the initial ammonia concentration variations did not significantly impact the struvite precipitation yield in the RS and FS, showcasing the materials inertness process's robustness to changing ammonia concentrations. Notably, the study revealed that the highest nitrogen (N) recovery, associated with 86% and 88% ammonia removal in the CS and FS, was achieved at pH 11, underscoring the efficiency of nutrient recovery. The RS achieved the highest nitrogen recovery efficiency at pH 10, at 86.3%. In addition, the research highlighted the positive impact of reducing heavy metal levels (Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Cd, Cr and Fe) and improving the composition of the microbial community in the digestate. These findings offer valuable insights into sustainable manure and nutrient management practices, emphasizing the potential benefits for the agricultural sector and the broader circular economy. Future research directions include economic viability assessments, regulatory compliance evaluations, and knowledge dissemination to promote the widespread adoption of these clean technologies on a larger scale. The study marks a significant step toward addressing the environmental concerns associated with poultry farming and underscores the potential of integrating clean technologies for a more sustainable agricultural future.

Evaluating Sustainable Practices for Managing Residue Derived from Wheat Straw.

Farm leftovers, particularly crop residues, are a key source of renewable energy in Canada. The nation's robust agricultural industry provides ample biomass, derived from forestry and agriculture resources, for energy generation. Crop residues, such as straws and husks, play a crucial role in this biomass reservoir, contributing to biofuel production and greenhouse gas mitigation efforts. Focusing on supply chains, waste management, and emission reduction, this study evaluates the sustainability of wheat straw, an agricultural biomass by-product. The environmental issues of various approaches to managing agricultural biomass were explored. Following an evaluation of biomass features, conversion methods, and economic and environmental advantages, the results show anaerobic digestion to be the most sustainable approach. Four metrics were examined in relation to social elements, and numerous aspects were considered as inputs in the evaluation of transportation costs. The use of electric trucks versus fuel-based trucks resulted in an 18% reduction in total operating costs and a 58% reduction in consumption costs. This study examined CO2 emissions over four different transportation distances. The data indicate that a significant reduction of 36% in kg CO2 equivalent emissions occurred when the distance was lowered from 100 km to 25 km. These findings offer insights for creating practical plans that should increase the sustainability of agricultural biomass leftovers.

A robust, low-temperature, closed-loop anaerobic system for high-solid mixed farm wastes: advancing agricultural waste management solutions in Canada.

This study investigates the effectiveness of low-temperature (20 ± 1 °C) anaerobic digestion (AD) for two organic multiple farm substrate combinations: Set 1 comprising chicken manure (CM), dairy manure (DM), and waste corn silage (CS) and Set 2 comprising CM, DM, pig manure (PM), and CS. Inoculum adaptation steps were carried out using CM and CM+DM for Set 1 and Set 2, respectively. Over three consecutive operating cycles spanning 245 days with increasing organic loads, 4.3 and 2.8 g VS L-1 d-1 for Sets 1 and 2 during Cycles 1 to 5.1 and 4.6 g VS L-1 d-1for Sets 1 and 2 during Cycle 3, a closed-loop two-stage liquid-solid AD system was employed, with performance assessed via stability ratios of short-chain volatile fatty acids and alkalinity. Results demonstrate that mono-digestion of CM with adapted inoculum yielded the highest biogas production of 424 ± 4 L over 77 days, indicating superior performance by Set 1 during Phase I, whereas a similar performance was observed during Phase 2, where Sets 1 and 2 exhibited highest specific methane yields of 0.233 ± 0.028 and 0.262 ± 0.004 L g-1 VSfed, respectively, over 68 days. Analysis of heavy metal concentrations in digestates revealed a significant decrease compared to initial raw substrate concentrations, highlighting their role as nutrients for microbial growth. This study, the first of its kind, highlights the potential of low-temperature AD systems to manage diverse organic residues/byproducts and offers insights into effective performance monitoring without compromising system integrity.

Preclosure of large-sized venous access sites in adults undergoing transcatheter structural interventions.

BACKGROUND: Patients requiring congenital and structural heart interventions often require large-sized sheath insertion into femoral veins and arteries. Clinical outcome data on the use of suture-mediated devices for femoral venous access site closure are limited. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of the Perclose™ (Abbott Vascular Devices, CA) suture-mediated device using the preclosure technique, in achieving haemostasis at femoral venous access site following large sheath insertion (≥8 Fr). DESIGN AND SETTING: Two hundred and forty-three consecutive patients underwent 310 access site closures with the Perclose™ device using the preclosure technique. There were 151 (62%) women, mean age 43 (±16) years. 234/243 (96%) received heparin. Mean venous access site sheath diameter was 11.5 (±3) Fr. RESULTS: Immediate haemostasis (<2 min) was achieved in 304/310 (98%) sites. No patients had major complications. Short-term follow-up at 3 months revealed no evidence of haematoma or fistula formation or clinical evidence of vessel occlusion. On medium-term clinical follow-up (mean follow-up of 14 ± 12 and median of 12.4 months), no complications were seen at the venous access sites. CONCLUSION: Preclosure of large-size femoral venous access sheath sites using the suture-mediated Perclose™ device is efficacious in achieving rapid haemostasis in the presence of anticoagulation in the venous site. On 1-year follow-up, there was no clinical evidence of vascular complications in the venous access sites.

Substrate removal kinetics in high-rate upflow anaerobic filters packed with low-density polyethylene media treating high-strength agro-food wastewaters.

The process kinetics for two upflow anaerobic filters (UAFs) treating high strength fruit canning and cheese-dairy wastewaters as feed were investigated. The experimental unit consisted of a 10-L (effective volume) reactor filled with low-density polyethylene media. COD removal efficiencies of about 80% were recorded at the maximum OLRs of 19 and 17 g COD L(-1) d(-1) for the fruit canning and cheese-dairy wastewaters, respectively. Modified Stover-Kincannon and second-order kinetic models were applied to data obtained from the experimental studies in order to determine the substrate removal kinetics. According to Stover-Kincannon model, U(max) and K(B) values were estimated as 109.9 and 109.7 g L(-1) d(-1) for fruit canning, and 53.5 and 49.7 g L(-1) d(-1) for cheese dairy wastewaters, respectively. The second order substrate removal rate k(2(s)) was found to be 5.0 and 1.93 d(-1) respectively for fruit canning and cheese dairy wastewaters. As both these models gave high correlation coefficients (R(2) = 98-99%), they could be used in predicting the behaviour or design of the UAF.

Health risk assessment of heavy metals in the seafood at Kalpakkam coast, Southeast Bay of Bengal.

The distribution of heavy metals in the seafood intake by various age group representatives around the Kalpakkam coastal region was part of the baseline study. Totally 40 different types of fish species were estimated on heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Co, Cd, Pb, Ni, Zn, and Mn) in the coastal zone; the average concentration of heavy metals were 0.71, 0.06, 0, 0, 0.07, 0.02, 1.06 and 0.36 ppm, respectively. Individual mean bioaccumulation index (IMBI) and Metal pollution index (MPI) with heavy metals distributed around the coastal zone were compared with fish tissue and were found to be higher for Zn and Cu. The human health risk was calculated using uncertainty modeling of risk assessment of Estimated daily intake (EDI), Maximum allowable consumption rate (CRlim), Target hazard quotient (THQ), and Hazard index (HI) were estimated for different age groups. Our present values were suggestively high (>1) for both kids and adults. The cumulative cancer risk assessment based on heavy metals and the Hospital-Based Cancer Registry (HBCR) compared to the region did not exceed the recommended threshold risk limit around the Kalpakkam coastal zone. Statistical analyses such as correlation, Principal component, and Cluster investigation ensure that heavy metal concentrations do not pose a major risk to occupants.

Bacterial cell immobilized packed bed reactor for the elimination of dissolved organics from biologically treated post-tanning wastewater and its microbial community profile.

In conventional, the biologically treated tannery wastewaters are rich in dissolved organics and the application of reverse osmosis (RO) to biologically treated tannery wastewater was challenged with fouling and failure of RO membrane due to existence of lingering dissolved organic compounds. In present investigation the bacterial cell immobilized packed bed reactor (CIPBR) was operated to remove the dissolved organic compounds in biologically treated post-tanning wastewater to avoid membrane fouling in RO. The efficient microbial syndicate to eliminate dissolved organics in post-tanning wastewater was isolated and immobilized on to the carbon silica matrix (CSM) in the range of 2.98 ± 0.2 × 107 cells gm-1 of CSM and the same was used as a carrier matrix in the packed bed reactor. The CIPBR established the CODtot, CODdis and BOD removal efficiency by 61 ± 4%, 57 ± 4% and 87 ± 3% respectively with CODtot, CODdis and BOD remained in the treated wastewater as 236 ± 21 mg/L, 228 ± 21 mg/L, and 12 ± 3 mg/L under continuous operation. The removal of dissolved organic compounds from the post-tanning wastewater was confirmed using UV-Visible and FT-IR spectroscopic studies. Among the total microbial community, the phylum Proteobacteria played most abundant role with 48.47% of relative abundance for the removal of dissolved organics in biologically treated post-tanning wastewater. The significance of the study is to replace the tertiary treatment unit operation in the conventional ETP/CETP to remove dissolved organics in wastewater.

Development of economical and sustainable cultivation system for biomass production and simultaneous treatment of municipal wastewater using Tetraselmis indica BDUG001.

Microalgal-based bioprocess offers several advantages including wastewater reclamations, therefore present study assessed the usability of the combination of untreated municipal sewage wastewater (UTMSWW) and secondary treated municipal sewage wastewater (STSWW) for nutrient removal and recovery by Tetraselmis indica (T. indica) BDUG001. The present study optimized the additional nutrient supplementations (e.g. ASN-III) percentage and day-night cycle, pH and pH with aeration for monitoring high-rate biomass production and nutrient recovery. The study results showed that the combination of 75% UTMSWW + 25% ASN-III supported maximum biomass production (2.65 ± 0.07 g/L). In the optimized day-night cycle (12:12 h), T. indica BDUG001 showed improved biomass production (2.75 ± 0.07 g/L), biomass productivity (165.63 ± 4.42 mg/L/d), and photosynthetic pigments production. Under optimized pH∼ 7.0 with aeration, maximum total nitrate (TN) removal efficiency (87.67 ± 3.08-91.55 ± 1.92%) was observed, while COD and TP removal was maximum at pH ∼ 9.0. The maximum biomass production (2.35 ± 0.07-2.77 ± 0.04 g/L) with biomass productivity (93.75 ± 167.19 ± 2.21 mg/L/d) and lipid content (42.98 ± 1.86-47.85 ± 0.21% DCW) were also at pH 7.0. with aeration. The present study verified the utilization of UTMSWW with the combination of conventional medium, optimized day-night cycle, pH with aeration along with designing low-cost PBR. It was the ideal system for the cultivation of T. indica BDUG001 for the recovery of nutrients from wastewater, production of biofuels and value-added feedstock.

Critical review of biochemical pathways to transformation of waste and biomass into bioenergy.

In recent years, biofuel or biogas have become the primary source of bio-energy, providing an alternative to conventionally used energy that can meet the growing energy demand for people all over the world while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Enzyme hydrolysis in bioethanol production is a critical step in obtaining sugars fermented during the final fermentation process. More efficient enzymes are being researched to provide a more cost-effective technique during enzymatic hydrolysis. The exploitation of microbial catabolic biochemical reactions to produce electric energy can be used for complex renewable biomasses and organic wastes in microbial fuel cells. In hydrolysis methods, a variety of diverse enzyme strategies are used to promote efficient bioethanol production from various lignocellulosic biomasses like agricultural wastes, wood feedstocks, and sea algae. This paper investigates the most recent enzyme hydrolysis pathways, microbial fermentation, microbial fuel cells, and anaerobic digestion in the manufacture of bioethanol/bioenergy from lignocellulose biomass.

Clinical use of optical coherence tomography during percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary procedures in Southeast Asia: a survey-based expert consensus summary.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT), an established intravascular imaging technique, enables rapid acquisition of high-resolution images during invasive coronary procedures to assist physician decision-making. OCT has utility in identifying plaque/lesion morphology (e.g., thrombus, degree of calcification, and presence of lipid) and vessel geometry (lesion length and vessel diameter) and in guiding stent optimisation through identification of malapposition and underexpansion. The use of OCT guidance during percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) has demonstrated improved procedural and clinical outcomes in longitudinal registries, although randomised controlled trial data remain pending. Despite growing data and guideline endorsement to support OCT guidance during PCI, its use in different countries is not well established. This article is based on an advisory panel meeting that included experts from Southeast Asia (SEA) and is aimed at understanding the current clinical utility of intracoronary imaging and OCT, assessing the barriers and enablers of imaging and OCT adoption, and mapping a path for the future of intravascular imaging in SEA. This is the first Southeast Asian consensus that provides insights into the use of OCT from a clinician's point of view.

Low-temperature anaerobic digestion of chicken manure at high organic and nitrogen loads - strategies for controlling short chain fatty acids.

Objective of this work was to investigate the technical feasibility of low-temperature, closed-loop two-stage (liquid-solid) anaerobic digesters to treat chicken-manure (TS:68%; NH3:8 g/L) as a sole-feedstock. Effect of pH, temperature, treatment-duration, organic loading rate (OLR) and inoculum-recirculation ratio on short chain fatty acids (SCFA) production was studied. Digesters were operated at 20 ± 1 °C for 282-d over 4 batch-runs (∼70-d/batch) at an OLR of 8.78-4.3 gVS/L/d. Results showed that specific methane yield above 0.6 LCH4/gVS was feasible with a methane concentration > 60%. SCFA speciation of the entire system was monitored through the liquid-digester. Among SCFA indicators, the ratios of propionic-to-acetic acids, (butyric + valeric)-to-acetic acids, and total SCFA-to-alkalinity were observed within the limit, i.e., below 1.4, 0.3 and 0.8, respectively, indicating high-digester stability. This strategy allowed early detection, diagnosis of process failures in high-solids digester in fed-batch mode, and re-evaluation of operating protocol to enrich performance with economic-benefits.

Agriculture Waste Biomass Repurposed into Natural Fibers: A Circular Bioeconomy Perspective.

Fibers come from natural and fossil resources and are an essential commodity widely used by textile industries. Considering current supply and future demands, the repurposing of agricultural residues into fibers is an eco-friendly, attractive option that might mitigate environmental pollution. In this review, we have summarized multiple alternate secondary sources for fiber production, with a case study using banana plant residual biomass, a common agricultural waste in many developing countries. Specifically, in this review we have compared the different processing methods, e.g., chemical, mechanical, or biological methods, for repurposing agricultural residual biomass (including banana waste) into fibers. The development and analysis of an integrated biorefinery approach is needed to promote the fiber production from various agro-residual biomasses within the framework of circular bioeconomic concepts.