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This study was developed to evaluate the removal potential of ibuprofen, naproxen and 17-β-estradiol in artificial wetlands constructed on a laboratory scale, using eight experimental devices planted with L. octovalvis species, tested with gravel substrate and without gravel substrate, which were fortified with synthetic mixtures at concentrations of 1, 2 and 5 mg/L of the three compounds, during a batch exposure time of nine days. The removal efficiency for 17-β-estradiol was 94.5 ± 2.47%, followed by ibuprofen 94.03 ± 1.96% and naproxen 81.57 ± 8.74%, respectively. The treatment with the highest removal was the one performed without the presence of gravel substrate. The highest removal efficiency occurred from the third day of exposure for the three compounds, so it was established as the optimum residence time. The model that best explained the adsorption process of the three compounds studied, was the Langmuir isotherm. The observed results demonstrate that L. octovalvis can be used as a native species in artificial wetlands for the efficient removal of pharmaceutical compounds. NOVELTY STATEMENT: Through the use of a macrophyte plant native to the state of Morelos, an artificial wetland was built, which was capable of removing several drugs with tolerance to changes in concentration, which constitutes an economic and sustainable alternative that can be coupled to the treatment of wastewater contaminated with this type of compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: As the number of primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) procedures continues to increase, so too does the demand for revision surgery, with a 43–70% rise in revision THA anticipated by 2030. Femoral stem extraction in revision THA is particularly challenging and may lead to complications like femoral bone loss or fractures. However, increasing catalogue of femoral stems available for primary and revision THA has led technological advances in extraction devices to potentially overcome these limitations. This review aims to discuss the identification of femoral implants and the various femoral stem extraction devices currently available. Methods: A scoping review of current literature was conducted to explore currently available femoral extraction devices. The devices not available in literature but used in clinical practice have also been included. This review focused on the technical components, advantages, and limitations of different femoral extraction tools, including osteotomes, reciprocating saws, high-speed burrs, trephines, and extraction systems like the Watson Extraction System, Exodus Revision Hip System, Shukla Hip Universal Stem Extraction System, and DePuy Synthes Extractors. Results: Identifying femoral implants is a critical step in preoperative planning to allow for appropriate equipment to be available during revision surgery. The present review highlights that no single extraction device is universally applicable. Tools like flexible osteotomes, burrs, and trephines offer versatility but may risk bone damage. Advanced systems like the Watson Extraction System and Shukla Hip Universal Stem Extraction System provide more precise extraction, reducing the likelihood of cortical perforations and decreasing operative time. Conclusions: Efficient femoral stem extraction in rTHA is essential for managing complications and preserving bone stock. While traditional tools remain valuable, the development of specialized extraction systems offers improved precision and efficiency. Preoperative planning, including accurate implant identification, and the selection of appropriate extraction devices are crucial for successful outcomes in revision hip arthroplasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective Methods Results Discussion Orthopedic implants may need to be removed for various reasons. There is little data on the appropriate handling of implants after their removal from patients. This study aimed to analyze how orthopedic surgeons handle removed implants and their underlying philosophies, using data collected from a survey.This study, conducted between May 2024 and June 2024, utilized an online survey targeting orthopedic surgeons and residents in Turkey to investigate practices and views regarding removed implants. A total of 205 participants completed an 11‐question online survey via Google Forms. The survey covered hospital types, professional experience, protocols for handling removed implants, practices for archiving and disposing of implants, and perspectives on current practices and future direction.Participants' professional experience varied widely. None of the participants followed a specific protocol for managing removed implants. Opinions on giving implants to patients were diverse: 17.1% would never give the implant to the patient, 32.2% would comply with the patient's request, and 50.7% had no definitive approach. A minority (2.9%) systematically archived implants, while others archived selectively or disposed of them as medical waste. The primary motivations for archiving included medicolegal protection (21%) and professional curiosity (75.2%). Only 2.9% had experience with legal requests for removed implants, and 80% supported establishing regulations for handling removed implants.Orthopedic surgeons' legal and ethical perceptions regarding removed implants, as well as their preference of handling, vary widely. Establishing a standardized approach can reduce this variability in practice and ensure uniformity in healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess GO-Fe3O4-CeO2-CTAB nanocomposite adsorption efficiency for removing the phenol molecules from the aqua solution. The researcher performed the batch investigations to estimate the percentage of phenol removal from wastewater with the variation of pH value from 3 to 10, adsorption time from 5.000 to 100.000 min, the adsorbent dose from 0.003 to 0.040 g, the phenol concentration from 20.000 to 440.000 mg L−1 and temperature from 25 to 60°C. The GO-Fe3O4-CeO2-CTAB nanocomposite produced by a Co-precipitation method was used to adsorb and remove phenol molecules from an aqueous solution. The synthesised nano-sorbent was investigated by different methods including FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDX, VSM and BET techniques. The gained data show that the best removal efficiency of phenol by GO-Fe3O4-CeO2-CTAB nanocomposite was obtained at pH = 8, the absorbent dosage of 400.000 mg L−1 (0.020 g), contact time = 60 min and temperature of 25°C. For the equilibrium study, based on the obtained coefficients correlation of definition from fitted models, the highest value is obtained for the Langmuir model, (KL = 0.048 L mg−1, qm = 492.000 mg g−1, RL = 0.509 and R2 = 0.992), so, phenol adsorption on the surfaces of GO-Fe3O4-CeO2-CTAB nanocomposite was a monomolecular adsorbed layer. Based on obtained R2 values, it can be concluded that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model seemed to be match well with the adsorption of phenol molecules at the surface of GO-Fe3O4-CeO2-CTAB nanocomposite in three concentrations of 50.000, 100.000 and 125.000 mg L−1 (qe2 = 52.080, 103.090 and 129.870 mg g−1, k2 = 0.005, 0.003 and 0.002 g mg−1 min−1, R2 = 0.999, 0.999 and 0.999 respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid bed extraction technique as an efficient analytical method was exploited for developing a one step process of extraction and separation of organic pollutants; polychlorinated biphenyls and Hexachlorohexane, PCBs and HCH, respectively, from sediment/soil samples. The method was established using partition chromatography through 12% deactivated alumina column serially connected to 2% deactivated silica column. The extraction method was applied for the analysis of mixed standard PCB and HCH in different types of simulated contaminated samples; fortified sea sand and deutated soil samples. This method allows analysis of these contaminants in sediments at trace levels as low as 1.0 μg/g for PCBs and HCHs with a percent recovery range 98–120%. HCH was fully isolated from the PCBs using different eluent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary goal of this research is to compare the efficacy of raw freshwater snail shell (Viviparus Contectus) (FSS) and iron oxide coated calcined snail shell (IOCCSS) in removing As(V) ions from aqueous solution medium via adsorption. FTIR, XRD, EDX, BET surface area analysis and SEM image methods were used to characterise the structures of the obtained solid sorbents. The effects of solution's initial pH, initial As(V) concentration, contact time, adsorbent dose, and ambient temperature parameters on the removal of As(V) ions from aqueous solution medium with FSS and IOCCSS solid sorbents were analysed, and optimum conditions were determined. The maximum efficiency of As(V) ions adsorption was measured 94.27% at a pH value of 7.0, contact time of 60 min, initial ion concentration of 2.0 mg/L, the adsorbent dose of 2.0 g/L, and the ambient temperature of 50°C. Thermodynamic parameters ΔH, ΔG and ΔS were calculated for the removal of As(V) ions with IOCCSS solid sorbent, and the adsorption process was determined to be endothermic. The best fit was obtained by Langmuir isotherm model with maximum monolayer sorption capacity of 3.42 mg/g for arsenate. According to the obtained results, the low-cost IOCCSS solid sorbent has been proposed as a viable alternative material for the removal and preconcentration of As(V) from aqueous solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to imine covalent organic frameworks (COFs), the superior stability of amine‐linked COFs renders them more suitable for long‐term harsh real‐world environments. Their numerous amine sites can serve as functional groups or be subjected to post‐modification to further enhance the performance of the material. However, the assortment and abundance of amine‐linked COFs via currently lacking due to restricted monomer varieties and synthetic methods. Herein, this study presents an innovative approach for synthesizing quinone‐amine‐linked COFs by directly combining 2,5‐dihydroxy‐1,4‐benzoquinone (DHBQ) with various amine monomers and introduce a novel photocatalyst, DHBQ‐TAPP‐COF, specifically tailored to efficiently reduce uranium in harsh environments. DHBQ‐TAPP‐COF features a unique donor–acceptor structure, with the DHBQ units serving as acceptors because they contain abundant oxygen atoms that facilitate metal ion coordination, thereby enhancing charge carrier separation, carrier utilization, and uranium reduction efficiency. The quinone‐amine linkages offer improved stability, extended π‐conjugation, heightened local polarity, and conductivity, which enable efficient carrier transfer within the material and thus enhance the overall performance of the uranium photocatalyst. The proposed photocatalyst can efficiently reduce U(VI) without sacrificial agents or decomposition to precipitate UO2 at a recovery rate exceeding 98%. This catalyst provides an efficient and convenient strategy for the stable and high‐performance photocatalytic reduction of uranium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This study investigated the effects of NaOH direct leaching for sulfur removal from a kaolin ore from the Balıkesir region, Turkey. Characterization studies were undertaken before sulfur removal studies to enlighten the structure and originate the source of sulfur. The characterization studies revealed that the ore was mainly composed of quartz, with sulfur originating from alunite minerals with opal inclusions. The leaching process was tested under varying NaOH concentrations (1.5–2 M), temperatures (95 ± 2°C), and durations (2 h) in temperature‐controlled closed systems to maintain consistency. Results demonstrated complete (100%) sulfur removal from alunite under optimal conditions. However, significant mass losses (18.15%–45%) occurred because of the dissolution of kaolinite along with alunite, indicating the method's effectiveness in sulfur removal but also its potential drawbacks for kaolinite retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, OH-ended triazinic dendritic polymers were constructed and developed on the surface of halloysite nanotubes (HNTG2) to proficiently evacuate methylene blue (MB) from water. The morphology and structure of the nano-absorbent materials were decided by TEM (transmission electron microscopy), XRD (X-ray diffraction), FTIR (Fourier transform infrared), TGA (thermogravimetric analysis), isothermal BET (Brunauer Emmet Teller) and EDS (energy dispersion analysis X-ray spectroscopy). The adsorption of MB gives a most extreme of 1428.57 mg/g at 298 K at an ideal pH of 6. As the study revealed, the adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-quadratic model while the adsorption isotherms were sub-corresponding to the Freundlich model. In like manner, it can be induced that the adsorption of MB takes place on a heterogeneous surface and further, a rate-controlled step known as chemisorption. In addition, the thermodynamic results also show that the adsorption process can occur spontaneously, which is considered an endothermic reaction. Interestingly, the sorption and desorbing productivities after four runs are both high, whereas the sorption mechanism of MB affects the adsorbent mainly through various types of interactions such as hydrogen bonding, chemisorption and electrostatics interactions. Therefore, it can be concluded that HNTG2 is effective in eliminating MB from aqueous solution, which is of great applicability importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study presents a systematic approach using a natural language processing (NLP) algorithm to assess the necessity of routine imaging after central venous catheter (CVC) placement and removal. With pneumothorax being a key complication of CVC procedures, this research aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for optimizing imaging protocols and minimizing unnecessary imaging risks. Methods: We analyzed electronic health records from four university hospitals in Salzburg, Austria, focusing on X-rays performed between 2012 and 2021 following CVC procedures. A custom-built NLP algorithm identified cases of pneumothorax from radiologists' reports and clinician requests, while excluding cases with contraindications such as chest injuries, prior pneumothorax, or missing data. Chi-square tests were used to compare pneumothorax rates between CVC insertion and removal, and multivariate logistic regression identified risk factors, with a focus on age and gender. Results: This study analyzed 17,175 cases of patients aged 18 and older, with 95.4% involving CVC insertion and 4.6% involving CVC removal. Pneumothorax was observed in 106 cases post-insertion (1.3%) and in 3 cases post-removal (0.02%), with no statistically significant difference between procedures (p = 0.5025). The NLP algorithm achieved an accuracy of 93%, with a sensitivity of 97.9%, a specificity of 87.9%, and an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.9283. Conclusions: The findings indicate no significant difference in pneumothorax incidence between CVC insertion and removal, supporting existing recommendations against routine imaging post-removal for asymptomatic patients and suggesting that routine imaging after CVC insertion may also be unnecessary in similar cases. This study demonstrates how advanced NLP techniques can support value-based medicine by enhancing clinical decision making and optimizing resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, antibiotics in aqueous solutions have drawn extensive attention due to their harmful effect on human health and the environment. In this study, efficient and rapid adsorption of two antibiotics, including tetracycline (TC) and cefazolin (CFZ) on synthesised montmorillonite (Mt)/nano zero-valent iron (nZVI)/graphene oxide (GO) from aqueous solutions was studied. The prepared adsorbent was characterised by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-Ray (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). One-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) method was used to optimise the experimental factors. The maximum removal percentage was achieved at pH of 7, an adsorbent dosage of 0.4 g, contact time of 7 min = TC and 10 min = CFZ, initial concentration of 5 mg L−1, and a temperature of 298 K. The evaluation of isotherm models indicated that the Langmuir isotherm with a coefficient of determination (R2) value of 0.9992 for both antibiotics was selected as the best fitting model to describe the adsorption process. The maximum adsorption capacities (qmax) of Mt-nZVI-GO were obtained at 43.24 mg g−1 for TC and 20.36 mg g−1 for CFZ. Furthermore, the pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetic model fitted well for TC (R2 = 0.9937) and CFZ (R2 = 0.9997). Thermodynamic parameters, i.e. adsorption Gibbs free energy (ΔG0), standard enthalpy (ΔH0), and standard entropy (ΔS0) were estimated. It was found that the adsorption had spontaneous and exothermic in nature. The results revealed that Mt-nZVI-GO could be used as a simple, efficient, and eco-friendly adsorbent for the simultaneous removal of contaminants in aqueous media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibres were copolymerised with a mixture of acrylamide (AAm), 2 -hydroxypropyl methacrylate (2-HPMA) monomers in the presence of a mixture of initiators benzoyl peroxide (Bz2O2) −4, 4-azobis-4-cyano-valeric acid(ACV). After determining the optimal graft condition, solution electrospinning was performed. Optimal electrospinning conditions were obtained at (V = 10 kV, TFA/DCM = 4/1, distance from nozzle = 12.5 cm).The best adsorption conditions were determined by batch technique. The adsorption process was in good agreement with the Langmuir isotherm model and the Pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The mentioned findings confirm the homogeneity, monolayer and chemical nature of the adsorption process. Grafted nanofibers had a good performance in removing Ni2+ ions from industrial effluents in Charmshahr and Ghods industrial town. Thermodynamic studies have shown that the process is endothermic, spontaneous and is associated with increasing entropy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This empirical study in the jurisdiction of New South Wales, Australia, explores the complex and unenviable processes legal actors undertake when making decisions about removing infants from their birth parents. Professionals from legal, statutory child protection and health contexts were interviewed regarding their experiences and perspectives about legal decision‐making practices when placing infants in out‐of‐home care (OOHC). Informed by vulnerability theory, analysis of the interview data found that government apparatuses designed to protect vulnerable infants can sometimes have the paradoxical effect of increasing overall infant vulnerability. Findings suggest a need for wider‐ranging research regarding how international and domestic law might be improved to better recognize the unique developmental status and vulnerabilities of infants in the child protection system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe use of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) is increasing globally due to their higher ability to effectively prevent unintended pregnancies in comparison to short-acting reversible contraceptives (SARCs), especially in adolescence. LARCs include intrauterine devices (copper- or levonorgestrel-releasing) and subcutaneous implants. For LARCs application a dedicated training is needed. Particularly, this Expert Opinion is aiming to open to expert debates on the subcutaneous implant, in particular etonogestrel (ENG)-releasing one, as a cutting-edge form of hormonal contraception. It provides up-to-date guidance about practical advice and technical tips for the ENG implant insertion/removal derived from many years of clinical experience, along with recommendations for the management of unscheduled bleeding during contraception with this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Finland, two public Lenin sculptures were removed by the cities of Kotka and Turku after Russia launched its war against Ukraine in 2022. This article focuses on the expulsion of the sculptures, and how their status as gifts not only factored in these removal processes but is related to cultural heritage in general. It is argued that the trope of ‘heritage as a gift’ should not be understood as an intergenerational transaction, but an act between contemporary heritage communities. The communities give their heritage, part of their identities, to others for recognition and reciprocity, and this widens the public space for further interactions. In modern states, official institutions, in this case the Cities of Kotka and Turku, acknowledge communities and their heritage and incorporate them into the shared political space. This makes official decisions to remove items of heritage, like the busts of Lenin, problematic. Instead of extending the diversity of heritage communities, such gestures can diminish public space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple approach was developed to efficiently graft diethylene triamine onto polystyrene waste using succinic anhydride as a tracer to remove nitrate anions from aqueous solutions. Infrared spectroscopic data showed characteristic signs at 3395 cm−1 and 1695 cm−1 corresponding to N-H and C=O (ester and amide), confirming the grafting of DETA onto PS. The zeta potential study showed that the PS-Succ-DETA adsorbent had a pHiep of 8.2, and its charge was positive when the pH was lower than the pHiep. Parameters affecting nitrate adsorption, such as dosage, initial concentration, pH, and contact time, were studied. The adsorption data corresponded well to the Langmuir isotherm with an R2 correlation coefficient of 0.998, and the adsorption capacity was found to be 195.65 mg/g. The adsorption kinetics of NO3− ions by PS-Succ-DETA corresponded perfectly to the PS-II model, with an R2 coefficient of 0.999. The negative value of ΔG (−10.02 kJ/mol), ΔH (−18.76 kJ/mol), and ΔS (−28.83 J/K/mol) indicates that NO3- adsorption is spontaneous exothermic and suggests a decrease in randomness at the solid-liquid interface during the adsorption. The mechanism of adsorption of nitrate ions onto PS-Succ-DETA occurs via electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds between the NO3− ions and the -NH2 and NH functions of PS-Succ-DETA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were prepared by in-situ chemical oxidative polymerization of 4,4′methylene dianiline nanopolymer (nPMDA) in the presence of Cu and Al electrodes. MOFs (nPMDA/Al and nPMDA/Cu) were used as adsorbents of dibenzothiophene (DBT) from simulated diesel fuel. The adsorbents were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and mapping techniques. The MOFs showed the highest adsorption capacity at an initial concentration of 30 mg/L, adsorbent dose of 0.12 g, and contact time of 120 min at room temperature. The highest sulfur removal efficiency was reached up to 79.9% and %71.8 for nPMDA/Al and nPMDA/Cu, respectively. Equilibrium empirical data have been fitted by Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherms. It can be stated that the pseudo-second-order model more suited to the kinetic data related to DBT adsorption on MOFs adsorbent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low‐cost separation techniques are crucial for treating wastewater. Developing inexpensive membranes made from natural materials has become a popular research area in recent years. Tubular membranes were produced by adding 10% organic additives to a mixture of 80% zeolite and 10% smectite. New composite ceramic membranes from zeolite and smectite were prepared using the extrusion method to create a plastic paste and characterized using XRD, SEM, EPMA, and FTIR. The impact of sintering temperature (Tsint, 850–950 °C) on membrane properties, such as microstructure, mechanical strength (MS), water permeability, and filtration performance, was investigated. The MS and shrinkage rate increased with Tsint. At 950 °C, the resulting composite membrane exhibited a high MS of over 65 MPa, a relatively low porosity of 30%, appropriate for membrane filtration, and a water permeability of 65 L·h⁻¹·m⁻2·bar⁻¹. When applied to remove pollutants from wastewater, this membrane demonstrated a high color retention of 98.4% from an aqueous Evans blue‐colored solution (Effluent 1). For extensive application to wastewater treatment, this membrane showed a high‐efficiency level for treating real effluent produced by the pulp industry, removing 62.4% of chemical oxygen demand, 36% of hardness, and 82% of color. Finally, an ultrasonic cleaning procedure allowed the restoration of 70% of the initial permeability after four cycles for both effluents. Thanks to the exciting properties offered by these membranes and their competitive cost of less than $ 20·m−2, these membranes are appropriate for treating industrial wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metal implants are increasingly used in children for trauma and deformity correction. This review outlines the current knowledge on the types of metals used and explores reasons for removal and the potential for long-term health issues of metal implants. Methods: The literature pertaining to these aspects was studied and summarised in this review. Results: Types of metals used have evolved as well as the development of children-specific implants. Improvements in deformity correction are measurable with likely improved outcomes and reduced health costs. Indications for metal implant removal following successful treatment remain ill-defined; however, the risks of removal are known with a minimum 6% complication rate. Health costs could be reduced by around 6% by judicious decisions to leave metal in place. Implant removal should only be encouraged in the presence of infection, mechanical failure or symptoms that are truly attributable to the implant. In the domain of spinal implants, there is evidence of significant metal ion release, most notably titanium which remains elevated to many times baseline levels beyond 2 years. The detection of titanium at low levels requires special techniques. The long-term health effects on patients and/or their offspring are not well defined, although well described in animal models. Conclusion: The risks of metal removal are significant. Clinicians need to be aware of potential health risks in the use of metal implants and the potential for covert toxicity effects in children especially with their long life ahead. There is a need for greater awareness of metal alloy composition and implant design to minimise risks. Level of evidence: Level V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article compares housing projects in Asunción (Paraguay) and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), identifying tactics to adapt them to the needs of evicted populations. It argues that standardized housing developments enforce civilizing norms, while informal adaptations by residents resist such controls. Both cases were analyzed through fieldwork at different times, using social research methods and ethnography. The research reveal that authorities aim to keep relocated populations under control, while residents creatively adapt spaces in resistance. This highlights the clash between enforced norms and individual needs, echoing questions about rights in the city space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental implants have been widely used with success, but long-term usage sometimes leads to implant loss. The purpose of this review was to summarize the etiology of early and late failure requiring dental implant removal and the treatment strategies for the removal of failed implants and reimplantation. Early failures are often caused by patient-related factors, such as smoking, diabetes, radiotherapy, bone quality, and periodontitis of the remaining natural teeth. The most common cause of late failure is peri-implantitis, followed by implant fracture and implant malpositioning. Implants should be removed if they are mobile or if their superstructure cannot be maintained (e.g., implant fracture). For peri-implantitis, implant removal should be determined based on the patient's age and esthetic needs, the implant site, and the severity of bone loss. Many reports have been published on implant removal techniques. The reverse torque technique should always be the first choice because of its low invasiveness. The weighted survival rate for the replacement of failed implants is 86.3%, with a much lower survival rate after the second or subsequent implantations. Therefore, patient-specific problems, such as smoking habits and bruxism, should be checked before reimplantation and controlled to the greatest extent possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotics, widely used pharmaceuticals, enter wastewater treatment systems and ultimately the aquatic environment through the discharge of wastewater from residential areas, hospitals, breeding farms, and pharmaceutical factories, posing potential ecological and health risks. Due to the misuse and discharge of antibiotics, the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in water bodies and significant changes in microbial community structure have direct toxic effects on aquatic ecosystems and human health. This paper summarizes the occurrence of antibiotics in wastewater treatment systems and their ecological and health risks, focusing on the impact of antibiotics on aquatic microorganisms, aquatic plants and animals, and human health. It points out that existing wastewater treatment processes have poor removal capabilities for antibiotics and even become an important pathway for the spread of some antibiotics. In terms of detection technology, the article discusses the application of immunoassays, instrumental analysis, and emerging sensor technologies in detecting antibiotics in sewage, each with its advantages and limitations. Future efforts should combine multiple technologies to improve detection accuracy. Regarding the removal methods of antibiotics, the paper categorizes physical, chemical, and biodegradation methods, introducing various advanced technologies including membrane separation, adsorption, electrochemical oxidation, photocatalytic oxidation, and membrane bioreactors. Although these methods have shown good removal effects in the laboratory, there are still many limitations in large-scale practical applications. This paper innovatively takes urban wastewater treatment systems as the entry point, systematically integrating the sources of antibiotics, environmental risks, detection technologies, and treatment methods, providing targeted and practical theoretical support and technical guidance, especially in the removal of antibiotics in wastewater treatment, on a scientific basis. Future efforts should strengthen the control of antibiotic sources, improve the efficiency of wastewater treatment, optimize detection technologies, and promote the formulation and implementation of relevant laws and standards to more effectively manage and control antibiotic pollution in the aquatic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfa drugs are mostly used as antimicrobial regents for treatment of several infections. Sulfa drugs can easily be accumulated in the human cells and can be leached out to cause water pollution. Nowadays, the removal of sulfa drugs from polluted wastewater is of research interest. According to our knowledge, application of bead-based biopolymers and metal organic framework (MOF) in the removal of sulfa drugs has not been investigated. The novelty in the current approach is to exploit a composite of chitosan and MOF for removal of sulfa drugs. The approach synthesizes a composite bead that is based on Fe-benzenetricarboxylic acid (Fe-BTC) a superiorly applicable MOF, and the biopolymers chitosan (Chs) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) for removal of sulfa drugs. The present study interests in the efficient removal of two kinds of sulfa drugs (sulphanilamide and sulfamethazine) by using the currently prepared bead. Chitosan (Chs) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were used as sources for the bead. The materials interacted together to obtain Fe-BTC@Chs/MCC bead. Fe-BTC was well-distributed over the networked structure of Chs/MCC and filled the pore structure. Adsorption of sulfa drugs onto the synthesized beads was well-fitted to the pseudo-second order and isothermally to Langmuir. The affinity of Fe-BTC@Chs/MCC bead toward sulfamethazine was notably higher than that of sulphanilamide. Adsorption capacity of sulfa drugs onto Fe-BTC@Chs/MCC bead was decreased by only 16.4–15.5% after five reuse cycles which declare the substantial stability during the regeneration process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intentional removal of unwanted information allows us to focus on our current goals. Previous research has shown that suppressing the maintenance of neutral images in working memory can impair access to that information in immediate and delayed memory tests. However, it remains unclear whether maintenance suppression has the same impact on emotionally valenced images. Intrusive thinking (e.g., rumination) often involves negative thoughts that persist as individuals attempt to push them out of mind. Given the emotional nature of intrusive information that can repeatedly enter working memory, it is important to understand how the valence of information affects the ability to remove it. Participants in a non-clinical sample completed a working memory removal experiment using group-normed images with positive and negative valence. Participants encoded two images of the same valence on each trial, were cued to suppress or maintain one of them during a brief delay period, and then responded to a memory probe in which they indicated whether the test image had been presented on the current trial, regardless of whether or how it was cued. Our results demonstrate that participants were faster, relative to uncued items, to endorse an item that had been cued for maintenance, and slower to endorse an item that had been cued for suppression. Importantly, this pattern held for both positive and negative items and did not differ between valences. These findings replicate those obtained using emotionally neutral stimuli. Thus, this study demonstrates that maintenance suppression reduces the accessibility of visual information in working memory, regardless of its emotional valence, and suggests that this cognitive strategy could potentially be an effective tool in reducing intrusive thoughts that occupy the focus of attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective removal of organic and inorganic impurities by adsorption technique requires the preparation of new materials characterized by low production costs, significant sorption capacity, and reduced toxicity, derived from natural and renewable sources. To address these challenges, new adsorbents have been developed in the form of polymer microspheres based on ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and vinyl acetate (VA) (EGDMA/VA) containing starch (St) modified with boric acid (B) and dodecyl-S-thiuronium dodecylthioacetate (DiTDTA) for the removal of dyes: C.I. Basic Blue 3 (BB3) and C.I. Acid Green 16 (AG16) and heavy metal ions (M(II)): Cu(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) from water and wastewater. The adsorbents were characterized by ATR/FT-IR, DSC, SEM, BET, EDS, and pHPZC methods. These analyses demonstrated the successful modification of microspheres and the increased thermal resistance resulting from the addition of the modified starch. The point of zero charge for EGDMA/VA was 7.75, and this value decreased with the addition of modified starch (pHPZC = 6.62 for EGDMA/VA-St/B and pHPZC = 5.42 for EGDMA/VA-St/DiTDTA). The largest specific surface areas (SBET) were observed for the EGDMA/VA microspheres (207 m2/g), and SBET value slightly decreases with the modified starch addition (184 and 169 m2/g) as a consquence of the pores stopping by the big starch molecules. The total pore volumes (Vtot) were found to be in the range from 0.227 to 0.233 cm3/g. These materials can be classified as mesoporous, with an average pore diameter (W) of approximately 55 Å (5.35–6.10 nm). The SEM and EDS analyses indicated that the EGDMA/VA microspheres are globular in shape with well-defined edges and contain 73.06% of carbon and 26.94% of oxygen. The microspheres containing modified starch exhibited a loss of smoothness with more irregular shape. The adsorption efficiency of dyes and heavy metal ions depends on the phases contact time, initial adsorbate concentration and the presence of competing electrolytes and surfactants. The equilibrium data were better fitted by the Freundlich isotherm model than by the Langmuir, Temkin, and Dubinin-Radushkevich models. The highest experimental adsorption capacities were observed for the BB3 dye which were equal to 193 mg/g, 190 mg/g, and 194 mg/g for EGDMA/VA, EGDMA/VA-St/B, EGDMA/VA-St/DiTDTA, respectively. The dyes and heavy metal ions were removed very rapidly and the time required to reach system equilibrium was below 20 min for M(II), 40 min for BB3, and 120 min for AG16. 50% v/v methanol and its mixture with 1 M HCl and NaCl for dyes and 1 M HCl for M(II) desorbed these impurities efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because residues of chlorpyrifos being the most common in vegetables that are generally consumed uncooked and the demand for healthy vegetables has increased, an effective approach to remove these residues from vegetables is necessary. This study aimed to determine how effectively chlorpyrifos residues could be removed from a variety of vegetables by utilizing low concentrations of ozonated water as a green technology over different contact times. Solid-phase extraction was employed, and then residues were analyzed using GC‒MS. The study illustrated that the initial concentration of chlorpyrifos residues in arugula > parsley > leek > tomato > carrot > cucumber > cabbage > bell pepper. The % chlorpyrifos removal ranged 30–83, 91–97, 80–92, 92–95, 87–97, 95–97, 64–100, and 90–97% for bell pepper, tomato, cucumber, carrot, arugula, parsley, cabbage, and leek, respectively. A first-order kinetic model was assumed to explore the removal of chlorpyrifos and degradation rate constants increased as follows: parsley > carrot ≈ leek > arugula > tomato > cucumber > cabbage > bell pepper, with the absence of the chlorpyrifos-oxon which is more toxic than the parent chlorpyrifos after ozone treatments. Importantly, the use of ozonated water for chlorpyrifos removal had no appreciable adverse effects on the total phenolic compound, vitamin C levels, or free radical scavenging activity in most of the tested vegetables. These findings imply that ozone technology is a safe and effective method for eliminating chlorpyrifos from the surface of vegetables, potentially lowering the risk to consumer health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the high cost and unavailability of different analytical techniques, there is an urgent need to develop new techniques not only for detecting but also removing mercury ions in real samples. Thus, an optical chemical sensor based on the anchoring of phenanthraquinone monophenylthiosemicarbazone in a plasticized cellulose triacetate membrane was fabricated and applied to the recognition and removal of mercury ions from aqueous solutions. The synthesized optode was characterized by FT-IR, SEM, AFM, and thermal analysis. Several parameters, including the pH, temperature, contact time, washing solvent, and washing time, were optimized. Under optimal conditions, a promising optode film platform was utilized for sensing mercury ions, and the concentrations were calculated based on colorimetric analysis (Histogram, RGB) of digital images, visualization, and spectrophotometry. Also, an optical optode was used for complete adsorption of mercury ions from aqueous solutions. In addition, the regeneration of the synthesized optode was evaluated using 0.1 mol L− 1 nitric acid, which effectively removed all adsorbed mercury ions. The obtained data indicated good linearity in the sensing and adsorption of Hg2+ over a concentration range of 0.005–5000 µgL− 1 with a low limit of detection (LOD = 0.066 µgL− 1) and limit of quantification (LOQ, 0.22 µgL− 1). Furthermore, it showed good distinctions in the presence of coexisting ions, high stability (five months), good applicability, and reproducibility (RSD = 1.31%), making it a promising sensor for Hg2+ detection. On the other hand, the kinetic studies revealed that the pseudo-second-order was the best model for describing the adsorption behavior of mercury ions on the optode surface. Also, the thermodynamic parameters indicate spontaneous (ΔG0 < 0) and endothermic (ΔH0 < 0) reactions. Also, the maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 73.2 mg g− 1. Thus, the optodes were successfully applied for the detection and/or removal of Hg2+ in different real samples, including cucumber, fish, soil, and water samples, with excellent recoveries of 98.1–99.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we synthesized a new type of porphyrin-based porous organic polymer (PPOP) as an effective bio-inspired adsorbent capable of rapidly separating and measuring Hg(II) ions from the water. The synthesized bio-based adsorbent was analyzed by several techniques including PXRD (presented an amorphous network), FT-IR, SEM (spherical 250–1000 nm nanoparticles), EDS, BET, and TG/DTG (high thermal stability up to 500 °C). The experimental parameters in the procedure of adsorption including pH of the samples, times for adsorption and desorption, the sorbent mass, and also, the type and volume of eluent were examined and optimized. The experimental data were evaluated by Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm model equations and the results showed that the Langmuir model exhibited a better fit for mercury ions adsorption. PPOP exhibited the highest capacity for adsorption at 384.6 mg/g within only five minutes. The enhanced efficiency for adsorption can be mainly attributed to the combination effect of the electrostatic and coordination interactions between PPOP and Hg(II) ions. In addition, PPOP showed an excellent limit of detection (LOD) value of 2.1 ng L− 1. Finally, the prepared adsorbent was employed for the extraction of Hg(II) ions in various water samples from the environment, achieving recoveries up to 91%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The administration of cytostatic drugs in chemotherapy is steadily increasing, triggering thus a risk to the environment. Identifying powerful ways to effectively remove these hazardous pollutants from hospital and effluent wastewater before they discharge into the aquatic environment remains a critical and challenging task. Adsorption is among the most effective ways to treat contaminated water due to the wide availability and selectivity of the adsorbents besides the simplicity and the low start-up costs of the technique. In this work, a geopolymer, elaborated from an illito-kaolinitic clay (Douiret region of Tunisia) and industrial waste (silica fume and phosphogypsum), has been tested as promising decontamination of the cytostatic drugs paclitaxel (PCX) and irinotecan (IRI) from water samples. The foamed geopolymer was characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis before and after adsorption. Adsorption batch assays were performed using different concentrations of PCX and IRI, contact times and environmental conditions. The geopolymer had an excellent removal efficiency (almost 100% for PCX and 89% for IRI) using 20 mg of adsorbent and 2.5 mg/L of each drug concentration. The characterization results showed that cytostatic drugs were adsorbed to the geopolymer through physical interactions, pore filling, electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonding. The specific surface area and pore volume of the geopolymer were 82.23 m2/g and 0.19 cm3/g, respectively. In addition to its cost-effective properties, the geopolymer demonstrated excellent efficiency in contaminated natural samples (including influent, effluent wastewater and surface water) denoting a great application for water purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental implants have been widely used with success, but long-term usage sometimes leads to implant loss. The purpose of this review was to summarize the etiology of early and late failure requiring dental implant removal and the treatment strategies for the removal of failed implants and reimplantation. Early failures are often caused by patient-related factors, such as smoking, diabetes, radiotherapy, bone quality, and periodontitis of the remaining natural teeth. The most common cause of late failure is peri-implantitis, followed by implant fracture and implant malpositioning. Implants should be removed if they are mobile or if their superstructure cannot be maintained (e.g., implant fracture). For peri-implantitis, implant removal should be determined based on the patient’s age and esthetic needs, the implant site, and the severity of bone loss. Many reports have been published on implant removal techniques. The reverse torque technique should always be the first choice because of its low invasiveness. The weighted survival rate for the replacement of failed implants is 86.3%, with a much lower survival rate after the second or subsequent implantations. Therefore, patient-specific problems, such as smoking habits and bruxism, should be checked before reimplantation and controlled to the greatest extent possible.

We are introducing cost effective, easily available brick sand nano-particles (BSNP) (44.208 nm) as an adsorbent in batch process for removal of heavy toxic metals such as Pb, Cd, and Cr from aqueous solution. We used two types of adsorbents, one is acid treated BSNP and other one is untreated BSNP, and investigated adsorbent properties with function of contact time, temperature, and pH. The efficiency or performance of adsorbent was characterized by AAS for percentage of removal from solution, EDS for elemental analysis to confirm the metals adsorption. The Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Hill De Boer, Elovich, and Redlich-Peterson adsorption isotherms were studies to find out the quality of the adsorbent. At 5.68 to 7.6 pH, the maximum removal percentages of Pb, Cd, and Cr were 97% from the aqueous solution. The temperatures at 40℃ to 60℃, the Pb, Cd, and Cr experiments were carried out at their highest possible percentages (98%). The reaction process was pseudo-second order model and several thermodynamic factors, including Intraparticle diffusion, Elovich kinetic model, Boyd kinetic model, activation energy, Gibbs free energy, enthalpy change, and entropy change ensured the adsorbent efficiency of brick sand nanoparticles. The results of present research indicated that Brick Sand Nano-Particles (BSNP) may play a vital role as a cost-effective, efficient, and easily available adsorbent for the removal of Pb, Cd, and Cr from wastewater.

Abstract Owing to the high cost and unavailability of different analytical techniques, there is an urgent need to develop new techniques not only for detecting but also removing mercury ions in real samples. Thus, an optical chemical sensor based on the anchoring of phenanthraquinone monophenylthiosemicarbazone in a plasticized cellulose triacetate membrane was fabricated and applied to the recognition and removal of mercury ions from aqueous solutions. The synthesized optode was characterized by FT-IR, SEM, AFM, and thermal analysis. Several parameters, including the pH, temperature, contact time, washing solvent, and washing time, were optimized. Under optimal conditions, a promising optode film platform was utilized for sensing mercury ions, and the concentrations were calculated based on colorimetric analysis (Histogram, RGB) of digital images, visualization, and spectrophotometry. Also, an optical optode was used for complete adsorption of mercury ions from aqueous solutions. In addition, the regeneration of the synthesized optode was evaluated using 0.1 mol L− 1 nitric acid, which effectively removed all adsorbed mercury ions. The obtained data indicated good linearity in the sensing and adsorption of Hg2+ over a concentration range of 0.005–5000 µgL − 1 with a low limit of detection (LOD = 0.066 µgL− 1) and limit of quantification (LOQ, 0.22 µgL − 1 ). Furthermore, it showed good distinctions in the presence of coexisting ions, high stability (five months), good applicability, and reproducibility (RSD = 1.31%), making it a promising sensor for Hg2+ detection. On the other hand, the kinetic studies revealed that the pseudo-second-order was the best model for describing the adsorption behavior of mercury ions on the optode surface. Also, the thermodynamic parameters indicate spontaneous (ΔG0

In this research, egg shell (ESh) nanoparticles modified by glycine/β-cyclodextrin (ESh/Gly/βCD) and ethylenediamine/β-cyclodextrin (ESh/NH2/βCD) were synthesized and used to remove crystal violet (CV), and malachite green (MG) dyes from synthetic wastewater. Different analytical techniques were used for characterization of prepared samples. The results indicated that ESh/Gly/βCD and ESh/NH2/βCD have high adsorption efficiency for organic dyes such as other adsorbents. The kinetic studies exhibited that the research follows the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Also, because the procedure follows the Freundlich and Elwich model, the surface adsorption process takes place on heterogeneous surfaces. According to the Weber–Morris kinetic model, intraparticle diffusion is a two-step and gradual process. Furthermore, the maximum adsorption capacity of CV, and MG dyes over ESh/Gly/βCD was calculated 94.58 and 103.09 mg/g, and onto ESh/NH2/βCD was found to 101.19 and 101.55 mg/g, respectively. Moreover, the calculated thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption method is endothermic in the first stage and exothermic in the second stage. Methanol was chosen as the adsorbents washing solvent for the recovery and reuse of nanoadsorbents and in the sixth consecutive adsorption–desorption process, the removal percentage of CV and MG dyes by ESh/Gly/βCD was 80 and 84%, respectively, and by ESh/NH2/βCD was 84% and 90%, respectively. Finally, the ESh/Gly/βCD and ESh/NH2/βCD nanoparticles can be considered as new nanosupports for the removal of various dyes from industrial wastewater. Highlights: Egg shell (ESh) was modified by glycine/β-cyclodextrin and ethylenediamine/β-cyclodextrin. The ESh/Gly/βCD and ESh/NH2/βCD was used as green adsorbents for adsorption of organic dyes. The synthesized adsorbents showed high adsorption efficiency toward organic dyes, and was comparable with other adsorbents. The research findings indicate that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model aligns more closely with the experimental data based on kinetic studies. Based on the Freundlich and Elwich model, the surface adsorption process takes place on heterogeneous surfaces. According to the Weber–Morris kinetic model, intraparticle diffusion is a two-step and gradual process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the continuous flow behavior of a fixed-bed column for Pb2+ removal using calcined Ni/Mo hydrotalcite. The sorbent was characterized using FTIR, XRD, TEM, and BET surface area analysis to evaluate its removal efficiency. Experiments explored different operating conditions, such as feed flowrate (5–20 mL/min), inlet Pb2+ concentration (20–50 mg/L), bed height (10–15 cm), and solution pH (3–8). Results show that exhaustion time increased with higher bed heights, while lower flowrates, and inlet Pb2+ concentrations extended the column's lifespan. Enhanced removal capacities were observed at higher Pb2+ concentrations and bed heights, as well as with lower flowrates, particularly at an optimal solution pH of 6, due to an increased driving force. Regeneration tests demonstrated good sorbent reusability for up to five consecutive sorption–desorption cycles without affecting its removal efficiency. Therefore, calcined Ni/Mo hydrotalcite shows promising potential for treating Pb2+-containing wastewater. Analytical solutions for diffusion mechanisms were applied to predict the experimental data under various conditions, revealing that surface diffusion accurately describes the sorption kinetics (average percentage errors <5%), while pore diffusion can be neglected. The proposed model effectively predicts column performances for scaling up wastewater treatment operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]