Performance analysis of high voltage disc insulators with different profiles in clean and polluted environments using flashover, withstand voltage tests and finite element analysis.

Severe pollution-induced flashovers on insulators present a pressing challenge to power system safety. The frequent failure of high-voltage insulators, particularly in the polluted environments of Pakistan, poses a critical concern. This paper investigates the impact of insulator profile on reducing pollution flashovers, testing two designs as per IEC standard 60383 and simulated using the Finite Element Method in COMSOL Multiphysics®.

Vermi-remediation impacts on growth and metals bioaccumulation in tomato irrigated with wastewater.

Due to their persistence in the environment, and their highly toxic and bioaccumulative nature, heavy metals are well known to the environment. Vermicompost has gained popularity because it improves soil properties and, most importantly, remediates and immobilizes heavy metals. The present study assessed vermicompost effects on heavy metal bioaccumulation in tomato plants irrigated with wastewater.

Potential Application Performance of Hydrochar from Kitchen Waste: Effects of Salt, Oil, Moisture, and pH.

The surge in kitchen waste production is causing food-borne disease epidemics and is a public health threat worldwide. Additionally, the effectiveness of conventional treatment approaches may be hampered by KW's high moisture, salt, and oil content. Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a promising new technology to convert waste biomass into environmentally beneficial derivatives.

Assessing the suitability of municipal sewage sludge and coconut bran as breeding medium for Oryza sativa L. seedlings and developing a standardized substrate.

The utilization of organic solid waste (OSW) for preparing standardized seedling substrates is a main challenge due to its temporal and spatial variability. This study aims to form models based on data from the literature and validate them through experiments to explore a standardized seedling substrate. The typical OSW in Hainan Province, including municipal sewage sludge (MSS), coconut bran (CB), seaweed mud (SM), and municipal sewage sludge biochar (MSSB), was used as raw material.

Rhizosphere effect on the relationship between dissolved organic matter and functional genes in contaminated soil.

Arsenic contamination in a mining area is a potential threat to the local population. In the context of one-health, biological pollution in contaminated soil should be known and understandable. This study was conducted to clarify the effects of amendments on arsenic species and potential threat factors (e.

Human Health and Ecological Risks Associated with Total and Bioaccessible Concentrations of Cadmium and Lead in Urban Park Soils.

This study investigated the total and bioaccessible concentrations of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in urban soils and their associated human health and ecological risk. Total and bioaccessible metal concentrations were found within the safe limits except for Cd, surpassing the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) China limit in 9.5% of parks.

Influence of polyvinyl chloride microplastic on chromium uptake and toxicity in sweet potato.

The extensive use of plastic products and rapid industrialization have created a universal concern about microplastics (MPs). MPs can pose serious environmental risks when combined with heavy metals. However, current research on the combined effects of MPs and hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] on plants is insufficient.

Abundance, spatial distribution, and characteristics of microplastics in agricultural soils and their relationship with contributing factors.

Agro-ecosystem contamination with microplastics (MPs) is of great concern. However, limited research has been conducted on the agricultural soil of tropical regions. This paper investigated MPs in the agro-ecosystem of Hainan Island, China, as well as their relationships with plastic mulching, farming practices, and social and environmental factors.

Temporal variation of the coupling relationship between methanogens and biogeochemical process in soil-microbes-rice system.

Microbial community were most resilient option for methane associated mitigation strategies. Biogas slurry provides plant nutrition and affects microbial community. However, little is known about the changes of the functional guilds (methanogen and methanotroph) in the geochemical context after addition biogas slurry.

Ecological circular agriculture: A case study evaluating biogas slurry applied to rice in two soils.

In the context of carbon peak, neutrality, and circular agricultural economy, the use of renewable resources from agricultural processing for plant cultivation still needs to be explored to clarify material flow and its ecological effects. Paddy-upland rotation is an effective agricultural strategy to improve soil quality. This study evaluated the effects of biogas slurry application against those of chemical fertilisers in these two typical Chinese cropping soils.

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) was detected in MSWI plant: An investigation of DOM and potential toxic elements variation in the bottom ash and fly ash.

The content of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and potentially toxic elements (PTEs) were investigated in the bottom ash (BA) and fly ash (FA) of different sections of the municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) plant. BA and FA were collected from the dry (BA1-BA2), burn (BA3-BA4), and burn-out (BA5) sections of the grate incinerator; FA was collected after denitration (DNFA), and from the deacidification tower (FA1) and bag-type dust remover (FA2), respectively. The DOM concentration in BA was higher than that in FA, the highest concentration was in BA3 (556.

Association of Inflammatory Markers/Cytokines with Cardiovascular Risk Manifestation in Patients with Endometriosis.

This study is aimed at determining the association of inflammatory markers and proinflammatory cytokines with cardiovascular risk manifestation in women with endometriosis as compared to healthy controls. A total of 181 females of reproductive age with the absence of other inflammatory or autoimmune disorders and a lack of hormonal therapy for at least 6 months voluntarily participated in this investigation. Patients were 81 females, laparoscopically diagnosed with endometriosis, while the control group comprised 80 healthy females without any pelvic pathology.

EVALUATION OF INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL TRAINING WORKSHOPS USING KIRKPATRICK'S MODEL.

Objectives: To evaluate infection prevention and control (IPC) training workshops using Kirkpatrick model level 1 and 2 regarding satisfaction of trainees and improvement of their knowledge and skills.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 353 healthcare workers from January 2020 to March 2020, at four hospitals in Islamabad, Pakistan. Training feedback questionnaires and pre and post tests were employed for data collection.

Dissolved organic carbon drives nutrient cycling via microbial community in paddy soil.

Microbial mediated iron cycling drives the biogeochemical cycling of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus. However, the fate of the microbial community and the relative metabolic pathways in paddy soil after the addition of biogas slurry are poorly understood. In this study, the response of functional genes was investigated by growing one-season rice in paddy soils in a pot experiment.

Current practices of waste management in teaching hospitals and presence of incinerators in densely populated areas.

Background: Hospital waste management (HWM) practices are the core need to run a proper health care facility. This study encompasses the HWM practices in teaching hospitals of Peshawar, Pakistan and examine the enforcement of Pak HWM (2005) rules and risks through transmission of pathogens via blood fluids, air pollution during waste incineration and injuries occurring in conjunction with open burning and dumping.

Methods: A questionnaire based on World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations was used to survey the selected private and public teaching hospital (n = 16).

Infection prevention and control situation in public hospitals of Islamabad.

Introduction: Healthcare-associated infections represent a global public health challenge and are associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) is a neglected area in healthcare facilities across Pakistan. The objective of our study was to elucidate the current state of infection prevention and control practices in public sector hospitals of Islamabad to underscore potential areas for improvement.

Popular wood and sugarcane bagasse biochars reduced uptake of chromium and lead by lettuce from mine-contaminated soil.

As a result of metal mining activities in Pakistan, toxic heavy metals (HMs) such as chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb) often enter the soil ecosystem, accumulate in food crops and cause serious human health and environmental issues. Therefore, this study examined the efficacy of biochar for contaminated soil remediation. Poplar wood biochar (PWB) and sugarcane bagasse biochar (SCBB) were amended to mine-contaminated agricultural soil at 3% and 7% (wt/wt) application rates.

Estimation of Body Stature Using the Percutaneous Length of Ulna of an Individual.

Objective To explore the association between the percutaneous length of ulna and height of that individual and to formulate a gender-specific formula. Methods This is a cross-sectional study conducted at the Nishtar Medical University, Multan from May 1 2019 to July 1 2019. Length of ulna and body height were measured for 100 participants, including an equal number of males and females.

Determination of Gender from Various Measurements of the Humerus.

Objective To study different measurements of the humerus for the determination of sex Study design A cross-sectional study Place and duration of study The Anatomy Department of Nishtar Medical University and Hospital from June 1, 2018, to May 31, 2019. Methodology Six measurements, including maximum length of the humerus (MLH), maximum diameter of the head of the humerus (MDH), vertical diameter of the head of the humerus (VDH), transverse diameter of the head of the humerus (TDH), epicondylar breadth (EB), and condylar breadth (CB) were calculated for 122 male humeri and 52 female humeri. These variables were compared between both genders using the student's t-test.

Biochar efficacy for reducing heavy metals uptake by Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) and spinach (Spinaccia oleracea) to minimize human health risk.

Environmentally friendly and cost-effective techniques are required to reclaim land degraded during mining activities. Bioaccumulation of heavy metals (HMs) in vegetables grown on contaminated soils can increase human health risks. The potential effects of hardwood biochar (HWB) was assessed for chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn) and lead (Pb) bioavailability in mine-contaminated soils and their subsequently bioaccumulation in crops and associated health risk.

Endocrine disrupting pesticides in soil and their health risk through ingestion of vegetables grown in Pakistan.

A comprehensive study was conducted to appraise the concentrations of 30 endocrine disrupting pesticides (EDPs) in soil and vegetable samples collected from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The sum of 30 EDPs (ΣEDPs) ranged from 192 to 2148 μg kg in the collected soils. The selected EDP concentrations exceeded their respective limits in most of the tested soils and showed great variation from site to site.

Concentrations, dietary exposure, and human health risk assessment of heavy metals in market vegetables of Peshawar, Pakistan.

The present study was carried out to assess heavy metal concentrations in ready-to-eat vegetables (RTEs) collected from open markets. Samples of RTEs including lettuce, coriander, and carrot were collected from five different local markets of Peshawar, Pakistan including Industrial estate, Board, Agriculture University, Firdos, and Hashtnaghri on four different dates, i.e.

The effects of biochar and rice husk on adsorption and desorption of cadmium on to soils with different water conditions (upland and saturated).

Hard wood derived biochar (BCH) and rice husk (RCH) were applied to soils having upland and saturated conditions to investigate their effects on adsorption and desorption of Cd by conducting incubation and batch experiments. The results obtained from the experiments indicated that BCH increased Cd sorption by 59-71% onto saturated soil (SS), while by 57-84% onto upland soil (US). The application of RCH also increased the sorption of Cd onto the soils under both water conditions but the increases were less as compared to BCH.

The influence of various organic amendments on the bioavailability and plant uptake of cadmium present in mine-degraded soil.

Mining of minerals and precious elements leads to land degradation that need to be reclaimed using environmentally friendly and cost effective techniques. The present study investigated the potential effects of different organic amendments on cadmium (Cd) bioavailability in mining-degraded soil and its subsequent bioaccumulation in tomato and cucumber. The selected organic geosorbents (hard wood biochar (HWB), bagasse (BG), rice husk (RH), and maize comb waste (MCW)) were added at application rates of 3% and 5% to chromite mine-degraded soil containing Cd.

Soil contamination with cadmium, consequences and remediation using organic amendments.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination of soil and food crops is a ubiquitous environmental problem that has resulted from uncontrolled industrialization, unsustainable urbanization and intensive agricultural practices. Being a toxic element, Cd poses high threats to soil quality, food safety, and human health. Land is the ultimate source of waste disposal and utilization therefore, Cd released from different sources (natural and anthropogenic), eventually reaches soil, and then subsequently bio-accumulates in food crops.