Enhanced production, functionalization, and applications of polyhydroxyalkanoates from organic waste: A review.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) represent a promising class of biodegradable polyesters synthesized by various microorganisms as energy storage compounds. Their versatility and environmental friendliness make them potential candidates for replacing conventional plastics across numerous applications. However, challenges such as limited mechanical properties, high production costs, and thermal instability have hindered their widespread adoption.

Carbon dioxide, global boiling, and climate carnage, from generation to assimilation, photocatalytic conversion to renewable fuels, and mechanism.

The increasing CO concentration in the atmosphere has substantial impacts on the global temperature. For energy sustainability and minimization of the effects of global warming, an approach to understand CO capturing and a carbon neutral culture is extremely essential in the present circumstances. The CO emission from vehicles and industries can be minimized using energy cost-effective techniques and can be converted more selectively into reusable fuels via thermochemical, electrochemical, photochemical, photocatalytic, electrocatalytic, biological and inorganic carbonate-based approaches.

Synergistic effect of Canarium strictum leaves extract and KI on the corrosion protection of mild steel in 15% HCl solution.

The inhibitory potential of an alcoholic extract derived from Canarium strictum leaves (CSL) was evaluated as a corrosion inhibitor for mild steel (MS) in 15% HCl solution. Furthermore, to enhance its inhibition effectiveness, the influence of potassium iodide (KI) was also examined. The corrosion inhibition and adsorption characteristics of CSL were comprehensively analysed through weight loss measurement, electrochemical impedance measurement (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization (PP), UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS).

Influence of elevated temperature exposure on the residual compressive strength and radiation shielding efficiency of ordinary concrete incorporating granodiorite and ceramic powders.

This research investigates the potential of utilizing types of construction waste as partial cement replacements within concrete formulations. Notably, granodiorite and ceramic powders were introduced at varying substitution ratios. The impact of these waste materials on the compressive strength and radiation shielding effectiveness of traditional concrete was evaluated under both ambient and elevated temperature conditions.

Pollutant accumulation characteristics of substrates and mechanism of microbial action in different ecological ditches.

Ecological ditches serve as one of the important measures for the concentrated infiltration of stormwater in the construction process of sponge cities. Prolonged concentrated infiltration of stormwater can lead to the accumulation of pollutants and pollution risks in the substrate of ecological ditches. In this study, two different substrate ecological ditches were constructed, namely, a combined substrate ecological ditch with zeolite + ceramsite (EA), and a biological substrate ecological ditch (EB).

Numerical study of comparing skirt sandpile with deep cement pile to improve load‒settlement response of circular footing in layered soils: Centric and eccentric effects.

This study investigates the performance of a skirt sand pile (SSP) system beneath a circular shallow footing using three-dimensional finite element analysis calibrated against a large-scale experimental setup. The SSP, measuring 8.00 m in length and 1.

The quest for environmental analytical microbiology: absolute quantitative microbiome using cellular internal standards.

Background: High-throughput sequencing has revolutionized environmental microbiome research, providing both quantitative and qualitative insights into nucleic acid targets in the environment. The resulting microbial composition (community structure) data are essential for environmental analytical microbiology, enabling characterization of community dynamics and assessing microbial pollutants for the development of intervention strategies. However, the relative abundances derived from sequencing impede comparisons across samples and studies.

Waste marble sludge and calcined clay brick powders in conventional cement farina production for cleaner built environment.

In the manufacturing of some sectors, such as marble and brick, certain byproducts, such as sludge, powder, and pieces containing valuable chemical compounds, emerge. Some concrete plants utilize these byproducts as mineralogical additives in Turkey. The objective of the experimental study is to ascertain whether the incorporation of waste from the marble and brick industries, in powder form, into cement manufacturing as a mineralogical additive or substitute is a viable option.

Ethanol fermentation of tapioca wastewater in anaerobic baffled reactor: Performance evaluation and microbial community analysis.

Anaerobic treatment of tapioca wastewater has a long processing time. This study aims to evaluate ethanol fermentation as an effective treatment of tapioca wastewater. Simulated tapioca wastewater with an average chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 6900 mg L was treated in a four-column anaerobic baffled reactor for 300 d.

Selective pressure of various levels of erythromycin on the development of antibiotic resistance.

This study evaluated microbial fitness under selective pressure of various erythromycin concentrations and the development of resistance genes in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis).

Assessing microclimatic influences in Colombo metropolitan area (CMA) amidst global climate change: a comprehensive study from 1980 to 2022.

Climate change has become an emerging topic, leading to widespread damage. However, when considering climate, attention is drawn to various scales, and urban microclimate has emerged as a trending subject due to its direct relevance to human living environments. Among the microclimatic factors, temperature and precipitation are utilized in order to identify trends.

Effectiveness of three machine learning models for prediction of daily streamflow and uncertainty assessment.

This study evaluates three Machine Learning (ML) models-Temporal Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks (TKAN), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), and Temporal Convolutional Networks (TCN)-focusing on their capabilities to improve prediction accuracy and efficiency in streamflow forecasting. We adopt a data-centric approach, utilizing large, validated datasets to train the models, and apply SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) to enhance the interpretability and reliability of the ML models. The results show that TKAN outperforms LSTM but slightly lags behind TCN in streamflow forecasting.

The Mediating Role of Cognitive Reappraisal on Bedtime Procrastination and Sleep Quality in Higher Educational Context: A Three-Wave Longitudinal Study.

Background: While bedtime procrastination is commonly associated with adverse outcomes such as poor sleep quality, the mechanisms mediating these effects remain underexplored. Grounded in the Self-Regulation Model of Behavior and the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, this study examines the mediating role of cognitive reappraisal in the relationship between bedtime procrastination and sleep quality over time.

Methods: Employing a longitudinal design, the study examined the progression of bedtime procrastination, cognitive reappraisal, and sleep quality among university students at three distinct time points throughout an academic semester.

Experts' Views on Factors Influencing Resource Allocation for Infectious Disease Emergencies Based on Humanitarian Principles: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction: Infectious diseases can result in global emergencies and a shortage of resources, leading to ethical and humanitarian challenges. This study aimed to identify the factors that affect the allocation of health resources based on humanitarian principles during infectious disease emergencies.

Methods: This study was conducted using a qualitative approach known as content analysis, and 23 specialists and experts with practical experience and theoretical knowledge in this area were carefully selected to participate in the study.

Immobilization of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) from field contaminated groundwater by a novel organo-clay vs. colloidal activated carbon under flow conditions.

Two novel and unique adsorptive materials, one (Fluorolock®) from clay mineral sepiolite coated with the cationic polymer polydiallyldimethylammionium chloride (pDADMAC) and the other (Intraplex®) from colloidal activated carbon were specially developed for the in situ remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the saturated zone. We evaluated the potential of both materials to immobilize PFAS in soils under flow conditions via soil column experiments using groundwater, which was contaminated with PFAS in the field. Furthermore, the potential ecotoxicological effects of both materials on aquatic organisms were assessed by exposing the soil column effluent to Daphnia magna.

Characterisation and anaerobic digestion of fat, oil and grease (FOG) waste from wastewater treatment plants.

The materials removed in the oil separation units of wastewater treatment plants can be referred to as fat, oil and grease (FOG) waste. FOG waste accumulation in treatment plants can cause clogging of pipes, production of excessive scums and foams, and negatively affect air/liquid oxygen transfer. While conventional disposal routes of this material can be limited by its water and organic content, FOG can represent a source of bio-energy other than bio-diesel production.

Unveiling triclosan biodegradation: Novel metabolic pathways, genomic insights, and global environmental adaptability of Pseudomonas sp. strain W03.

The polychlorinated aromatic antimicrobial agent triclosan (TCS) is widely used to indiscriminately and rapidly kill microorganisms. The global use of TCS has led to widespread environmental contamination, posing significant threats to ecosystem and human health. Here we reported a newly isolated Pseudomonas sp.

Synergistic effects of allantoin and Achyranthes japonica-biochar profoundly alleviate lead toxicity during barley growth.

Lead (Pb), a toxic metal, causes severe health hazards to both humans and plants due to environmental pollution. Biochar addition has been efficiently utilized to enhance growth of plants as well as yield in the presence of Pb-induced stress. The present research introduces a novel use of biochar obtained from the weed Achyranthes japonica to enhance the growth of plants in Pb-contaminated soil.

Spatial and Temporal Variability Management for All Farmers: A Cell-Size Approach to Enhance Coffee Yields and Optimize Inputs.

Coffee yield exhibits plant-level variability; however, due to operational issues, especially in smaller operations, the scouting and management of coffee yields are often hindered. Thus, a cell-size approach at the field level is proposed as a simple and efficient solution to overcome these constraints. This study aimed to present the feasibility of a cell-size approach to characterize spatio-temporal coffee production based on soil and plant attributes and yield (biennial effects) and to assess strategies for enhanced soil fertilization recommendations and economic results.

Experimental Investigation of Durability Properties of Polymer Coated Pumice Aggregate Lightweight Concretes.

Pumice aggregates with low density and high porosity are widely used in lightweight concrete. The high water retention ability of pumice aggregates adversely affects the properties of fresh concrete. Additionally, pumice aggregates' inadequate mechanical strength and durability hinder concrete performance.

Impact of Thermal Treatment and Aging on Lignin Properties in Spruce Wood: Pathways to Value-Added Applications.

Thermal modification is an environmentally friendly process that does not utilize chemical agents to enhance the stability and durability of wood. The use of thermally modified wood results in a significantly extended lifespan compared with untreated wood, with minimal maintenance requirements, thereby reducing the carbon footprint. This study examines the impact of varying modification temperatures (160, 180, and 210 °C) on the lignin of spruce wood using the ThermoWood process and following the accelerated aging of thermally modified wood.

The Influence of Iron Particles and Polyethylene Glycol on Selected Properties of Polylactide-Based Composites.

This article presents the characteristics of composites comprising polylactide combined with iron powder, from 1 to 10 wt.%, and nanoiron powders with a mass fraction from 0.1 to 1.

GravelSens: A Smart Gravel Sensor for High-Resolution, Non-Destructive Monitoring of Clogging Dynamics.

Engineers, geomorphologists, and ecologists acknowledge the need for temporally and spatially resolved measurements of sediment clogging (also known as colmation) in permeable gravel-bed rivers due to its adverse impacts on water and habitat quality. In this paper, we present a novel method for non-destructive, real-time measurements of pore-scale sediment deposition and monitoring of clogging by using wire-mesh sensors (WMSs) embedded in spheres, forming a smart gravel bed (GravelSens). The measuring principle is based on one-by-one voltage excitation of transmitter electrodes, followed by simultaneous measurements of the resulting current by receiver electrodes at each crossing measuring pores.

Structural Fatigue Life Monitoring with Piezoelectric-Based Sensors: Fundamentals, Current Advances, and Future Directions.

Structural fatigue can lead to catastrophic failures in various engineering applications and must be properly monitored and effectively managed. This paper provides a state-of-the-art review of recent developments in structural fatigue monitoring using piezoelectric-based sensors. Compared to alternative sensing technologies, piezoelectric sensors offer distinct advantages, including compact size, lightweight design, low cost, flexible formats, and high sensitivity to dynamic loads.

Mechanism and Characterization of Bicomponent-Filler-Reinforced Natural Rubber Latex Composites: Experiment and Molecular Dynamics (MD).

The incorporation of reinforcing fillers into natural rubber latex (NR) to achieve superior elasticity and mechanical properties has been widely applied across various fields. However, the tendency of reinforcing fillers to agglomerate within NR limits their potential applications. In this study, multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-silica (SiO)/NR composites were prepared using a solution blending method, aiming to enhance the performance of NR composites through the synergistic effects of dual-component fillers.