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For the first time, highly conductive thickly layered two-dimensional titanium carbide (MXene) was applied as a new coating agent for electromembrane-surrounded solid-phase microextraction (SPME) of triadimenol and iprodione as two model analytes. Preparation of the desired coated electrode was carried out using electrophoretic deposition of MXene on the surface of platinum electrode. Characterization of the prepared coated electrode was conducted using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The coated electrode was located inside a hollow fiber membrane impregnated by 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether as the supported liquid membrane (SLM), while an aqueous solution was injected inside the hollow fiber lumen. Separation and quantification of the analytes were carried out using a gas chromatography instrument equipped with mass spectrometric detection. The effective parameters of the microextraction procedure comprising pHs of sample solution and the acceptor phase, composition of the SLM, extraction time, and the applied voltage were optimized using one-variable at-a-time method. Under the optimal conditions, the calibration curves of the analytes were linear (R 2 > 0.9973) in the range of 0.3–250.0 and 0.5–250.0 ng mL−1 for triadimenol and iprodione, respectively. The limit of detections was determined to be 0.10 and 0.15 ng mL−1 for triadimenol and iprodione, respectively. Repeatability and reproducibility of the method were evaluated by the calculation of intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations (%). The applicability of the method was evaluated by quantitative analysis of the model analytes in environmental water samples. Relative recoveries in the range of 87.31–102.7% confirmed that the prepared coated electrode can be considered a reliable option in electromembrane-surrounded SPME techniques.

Abstract In this study, adsorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (here just gasoline vapor) by activated carbon- modified UIO-66 was investigated. First, activated carbon prepared from mesquite grain (ACPMG) and then UIO/ACPMG nanohybrid was synthesized by the solvothermal method. In following, the effect of main key parameters which effect on the surface and adsorption capacity such as the ratio of ACPMG to UIO-66 was studied. Physiochemical changes of as- synthesized samples were investigated by TGA, HR-TEM, PSD, SEM, EDX/MAP, BET, FT-IR, XRD, and XPS. It was found the UIO/ACPMG20% nanohybrid had the highest adsorption capacity (391.304 mg/g) for VOCs compared with the other samples, while the adsorption capacity of UIO-66, UIO/ACPMG10% nanohybrid, and UIO/ACPMG30% nanohybrid was 298.871, 309.523, and 320 mg/g respectively. UIO/ACPMG20% nanohybrid desorbed 285.71 mg/g of the adsorbed gasoline, which is an excellent result in desorption. So, the sample of UIO/ACPMG20% nanohybrid was selected as the optimum nano-adsorbent. In other hand, all the nano-adsorbent showed a rapid kinetic behavior for gasoline vapor adsorption and the maximum time for reaching a high adsorption capacity approximately was obtained in 20 min. Density functional theory calculations also performed to understand the adsorption characteristics of gasoline vapor on activated carbon-modified UIO-66.

Abstract A series of 4-ferrcenylbutyl carboxylate esters with different alkyl chain length (C2-C4) of carboxylic acids were synthesized using Fe3O4@SiO2@(CH2)3-Im-bisEthylFc[I] nanoparticles as catalyst and have been characterized with FT-IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR. Ferrocenyl-based esters were used as corrosion inhibitors of mild steel in the 1M HCl solution as corrosive media. The corrosion inhibition efficiency of the synthesized ferrocenyl-based esters has been assessed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The 4-ferrocenylbutyl propionate showed a more effective corrosion inhibition behavior among the studied esters with 96% efficiency after immersion in the corrosive media for 2 weeks. The corrosion inhibition mechanism is dominated by formation of passive layer of inhibitor on the surface of the mild steel by adsorption. Moreover, the adsorption characteristics of 4-butylferrcenyl carboxylate esters on mild steel were thoroughly explored using density functional theory calculations. It was found that the Fe atoms located around the C impurity in the mild steel are the most efficient and active sites to adsorb 4-butylferrcenyl carboxylate esters.

This study examines the ability of Ca-decorated C48B12 fullerene (Ca/C48B12) to adsorb and store carbon dioxide (CO2) molecules through density functional theory calculations. The most stable structure of the Ca/C48B12 is achived by placing a Ca atom on the center of each C4B2 ring. To address the issue of clustering, six Ca atoms were favourably decorated on the C48B12 fullerene. Additionally, up to five CO2 molecules can be adsorbed on each decorated Ca atom, with an average adsorption energy of −0.44 eV and a gravimetric density of 58 %. Furthermore, the Ca/C48B12 fullerene exhibits high selectivity in separating CO2 from natural gas mixtures containing CO2/H2, CO2/N2, and CO2/CH4. These findings suggest that Ca/C48B12 fullerene holds potential as an effective solution for CO2 storage and separation in real-world applications.

Abstract Conventional wastewater treatment processes are often unable to remove antibiotics with resistant compounds and low biological degradation. The need for advanced and sustainable technologies to remove antibiotics from water sources seems essential. In this regard, the effectiveness of a spinning disc photocatalytic reactor (SDPR) equipped with a visible light-activated Fe3O4@SiO2-NH2@CuO/ZnO core–shell (FSNCZ CS) thin film photocatalyst was investigated for the decomposition of amoxicillin (AMX), a representative antibiotic. Various characterization techniques, such as TEM, FESEM, EDX, AFM, XRD, and UV–Vis-DRS, were employed to study the surface morphology, optoelectronic properties, and nanostructure of the FSNCZ CS. Key operating parameters such as irradiation time, pH, initial AMX concentration, rotational speed, and solution flow rate were fine-tuned for optimization. The results indicated that the highest AMX decomposition (98.7%) was attained under optimal conditions of 60 min of irradiation time, a rotational speed of 350 rpm, a solution flow rate of 0.9 L/min, pH of 5, and an initial AMX concentration of 20 mg/L. Moreover, during the 60 min irradiation time, more than 69.95% of chemical oxygen demand and 61.2% of total organic carbon were removed. After the photocatalytic decomposition of AMX, there is a substantial increase in the average oxidation state and carbon oxidation state in SDPR from 1.33 to 1.94 and 3.2, respectively. Active species tests confirmed that ·OH and ·O2 − played a dominant role in AMX decomposition. The developed SDPR, which incorporates a reusable and robust FSNCZ CS photocatalyst, demonstrates promising potential for the decomposition of organic compounds.

In this study, the geological and petrophysical methods were combined to investigate the reservoir characteristics of the Asmari Formation in one of the gas fields in the Persian Gulf. The key focus of this study is to categorize rock types and define reservoir zonation. Initially, sedimentary facies were identified through the analysis of the core samples and the petrographic studies. Subsequently, the depositional environments of each facies were interpreted. After assessing the reservoir quality of sedimentary facies, various rock typing methods, including FZI, R35, and Lucia methods, were used to categorize the reservoir rocks. Finally, reservoir zonation was carried out based on the integration of information and the NCRQI method. According to this study, the Asmari Formation in the studied field consists of 10 sedimentary facies deposited in a carbonate ramp environment during the Rupelian and Chattian stages. From the perspective of frequency, coralgal reef facies play a significant role in this platform, while from a reservoir standpoint, the thin-bedded ooid grainstones are the most important reservoir facies. The high variability in porosity and permeability data for each facies indicates the importance of diagenetic changes in reservoir quality and porosity distribution. A comparative analysis of rock typing methods revealed that the reservoir rock is composed of five reservoir rock types, associated with different sedimentary facies, pore sizes, and reservoir properties. Finally, based on the integration of geological and petrophysical information, the reservoir rock was divided into five reservoir zones, with reservoir zones As-2 and As-4 being the most important due to their relatively high porosity and permeability.

In recent years, the use of a horizontal spinning disc reactor (SDR) as a photocatalytic reactor for the degradation of various pollutants in aqueous solutions has increased. This study was searched based on the PRISMA method. Two autonomous researchers carried out for the relevant studies using Scopus, Web of Science (WOS), and Science Direct databases. The search terms expanded focusing on the performance of horizontal spinning disc photocatalytic reactor (SDPR). In this review article, the main objective of the effect of operational factors on the efficiency of the degradation of pollutants with changes in the type of light source (range of visible light and UV radiation), disc rotational speed, flow rate, initial concentration of pollutants, pH, type of disc structure and flow regime are considered. Current challenges in SDPR include issues such as limited mass transfer, uneven light distribution, and difficulties in scaling up. To overcome these challenges, improvements can be made by optimizing reactor design for better mass transfer, enhancing light distribution through advanced light sources or reactor configurations, and developing scalable models that maintain efficiency at larger scales. Additionally, the use of innovative materials and coatings could improve the overall performance of SDPR.

Abstract Background and objectives Due to an increased rate of inflammation in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), insight into the mediating factors in the onset and recurrence of the inflammatory response can help to achieve novel treatments for alleviating the risk of GAD. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the possible relationship between visceral adipose tissue (VAT) as an important intermediary in inflammation pathways and GAD in participants of the Employees’ Health Cohort Study of Iran (EHCSIR). Method We analyzed the data from 3889 included participants aged > 18 years in the EHCSIR study, which were collected from 2017 to 2020. Lifetime and 12-month GAD were assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI-2.1) questionnaire. The adjusted prevalence ratio was computed to evaluate the association between GAD and visceral adiposity index (VAI), GAD and visceral fat area (VFA), GAD and body mass index (BMI) and ultimately GAD and waist circumference (WC) in males and females using STATA software. Results Log-binomial analysis showed a higher prevalence ratio of 12-month GAD associated with VFA in women [PR: 1.42, CI: 1.07–1.87, P: 0.015]. The prevalence of lifetime GAD was higher in obese women (BM1 > 30) [PR: 2.35, CI: 1.07–5.13, P:0.03] than in women with normal BMI. Women with higher VAI were also significantly more likely to suffer lifetime GAD [PR: 1.25, CI: 1.05]. 1.48, P:0.01]. In males, the prevalence of lifetime diagnosed GAD per 1 standard deviation increase in VFA was 0.65 [CI: 0.46–0.91, P: 0.01]. Conclusion Visceral adiposity as a positive agent was associated with GAD prevalence in women. The presence of GAD symptoms showed no relationship to VFA in men.

Background: Antibiotics are among the environmental pollutants with stable effects during consumption, they are rarely completely metabolized in the body and 30-90% of them are excreted through urine and feces and enter into the environment. The present study was conducted to evaluate the degradation of cefixime pollutant by photocatalyst Fe3O4@SiO2@TiO2@rGO + UV in the presence of persulfate (PS) from synthetic wastewater. Methods: Fe3O4@SiO2@TiO2 (F@ST) photocatalyst was synthesized by co-precipitation method, and then fixed on reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The structural properties of magnetic photocatalyst were evaluated using FESEM, XRD, TEM, VSM techniques. The effect of variables such as solution pH, catalyst dosage, persulfate concentration and initial pollutant concentration on the performance of the FS@T/rGO/PS/UV process in the degradation of cefixime pollutant was investigated. After determining the optimal conditions, the influence of interfering ions and scavengers on the process, as well as the amount of recovery and reuse of the catalyst were investigated. Results: The synthesized photocatalyst had features such as excellent magnetic properties, crystalline and relatively spherical structure in nano size, high purity, photocatalytic properties in both ultraviolet and visible ranges. Under optimal conditions (pH=6.5-7, PS= 2mM and photocatalyst dosage= 0.1 g/L), after 60 min of oxidation time, cefixime antibiotic with a concentration of 50 mg/L and TOC, respectively, with efficiency > 98% and 55.7% were removed. The performance of the process was affected by the presence of organic scavengers (TBA, NaN3, KI and CH3OH) and interfering ions (Cl-, SO4-2, NO3- and CO3-2); so that the pollutant degradation efficiency decreased in the presence of organic scavengers and interfering ions. The effective reaction species were included h⁺, 1O2, OH• and SO4•⁻ in the degradation of cefixime by photocatalytic process in the presence of PS. The synthesized photocatalyst could be used for 4 consecutive steps, and in the fourth step, cefixime was degraded with an efficiency of 70.1%. The behavior of the photocatalytic degradation of cefixime antibiotic per unit time was a function of the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. Conclusion: : FS@T/rGO/UV/PS photocatalytic process with features such as high efficiency in antibiotic degradation, easy and fast separation, pollutant mineralization, production of side products with simple molecular structure and good performance on the real wastewater sample could be used as a suitable method for industrial wastewater post-treatment as well as pre-treatment in order to reduce organic load and increase biodegradability.

Bio-leaching is a non-invasive, relatively affordable and environmentally friendly method through which toxic compounds are decomposed with the help of microorganisms and with the help of enzymatic reactions. This study was conducted in order to use biological leaching in order to rehabilitate soil contaminated and resistant to biological decomposition by heavy metal lead and phenanthrene around the south Tehran oil refinery. The design of the experiment was done with the response surface method. In the bioleaching method, the purified strain (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) was isolated from the soil of the refinery. Environmental pH (3, 5, 7, 9, 11), pollutant to biomass ratio (7.50, 15, 22.50, 30, 37.5 mg/g) and retention time (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 hours) were considered as main variables. pH was the most important parameter influencing the removal of lead and phenanthrene from soil. The highest percentage of lead removal with 96.79% pH is equal to 8, pollutant ratio to Live current equal to 30 W/W and time 2 hours was obtained. In the case of phenanthrene, the highest percentage of phenanthrene removal (97.4%) in pH was equal to 7, the pollutant to living organism ratio was equal to 22.5 W/W and the time was measured for 1 hour. The results of this study showed that the use of bacteria increased the efficiency of the removal process compared to the cleaning process without bacteria (42% for phenanthrene and 67% for lead).

Abstract Environmental destruction, water crisis, and clean energy are among the very important challenges worldwide based on sustainable development goals. Photocatalytic fuel cell, a potential candidate for converting chemical energy into electrical energy through a pollution-free method, holds promise in addressing these challenges. In this regard, we investigated the response of a photoanode covered with UiO66-NH2-TiO2/NiF on a porous nickel foam as an attractive electrochemical response to remove antibiotics from aqueous solution and simultaneously produce electricity using a one-step hydrothermal synthesis. Nickel foam with its fine structure provides a suitable space for the interaction of light, catalyst, and efficient mass transfer of reactive molecules. It appears that it can be used as a competitive electrode in fuel cells. In order to investigate the properties of the photocatalyst, structural analyses including XRD, FESEM, FTIR, and UV–vis DRS were utilized. Additionally, polarization and electrochemical tests such as chronoamperometry and EIS were measured to further examine the electrochemical features of the PFC photoanode system. The obtained results under optimal conditions (SMZ concentration = 20 ppm, pH = 6, irradiation time = 120 min) were as follows: removal efficiency of 91.7%, Pmax = 16.98 μW/cm2, Jsc = 96.75 μA/cm2, Voc = 644 mV. The light-induced current flow in UiO66-NH2-TiO2/NiF exhibited prominent and reproducible photocurrent responses, indicating efficient and stable charge separation in TiO2/NiF composite materials, which is a promising strategy for pollutant removal and simultaneous electricity generation.

MIL-101(Cr), a class of metal-organic framework, is a potential candidate for CO2 capture applications because of its high capacity of adsorption and separation capability. However, the intrinsic microporous structure of this nanomaterial poses limitations on its adsorption kinetics. Techniques employed to enhance its adsorption kinetics often adversely impact its adsorption capacity at equilibrium. Herein, as a new approach, we prepared amine-functionalized FAC@MIL-101(Cr) composites with adjustable micro-mesoporous structure and tunable nitrogen content by embedding different ratios of amine-functionalized activated carbon throughout the framework of MIL-101(Cr). This led to a simultaneous improvement in both kinetics and adsorption capacity for CO2. The best adsorbent, FAC-6@MIL-101(Cr), has excellent textural properties with a high surface area (1763.1 m2.g−1), great pore volume (1.29 cm3.g−1), and suitable nitrogen content (4.7 wt%). The adsorption analysis revealed that the modification of MIL-101(Cr) improved its CO2 adsorption capacity from 3.21 to 5.27 mmol/g under standard conditions of 1 bar and 25 °C. Furthermore, the FAC-6@MIL-101(Cr) adsorbent demonstrated fast CO2 adsorption kinetics (three times more relative to the pure MIL-101(Cr)), high CO2/N2 selectivity, and remarkable cyclic stability. The results confirmed that hybridization enhanced the polarizability of FAC@MIL-101(Cr) samples, causing more robust CO2-adsorbent surface interactions. Simultaneously, the existence of mesopores in the structure facilitated the transport of CO2 into the interior pores, resulting in a more efficient contact of CO2 molecules with all of the amine sites and a faster adsorption rate as well as more efficient regeneration. According to density functional theory (DFT) calculations, hybridization process induces significant changes in composites’ electronic structure, enhancing their capacity to interact with CO2 molecules more effectively. On the other hand, DFT calculations confirm that N2 molecule is less activated on the FAC@MIL-101(Cr) as evidenced by calculated small adsorption energy and charge-transfer values.

Residual pharmaceuticals in the environment are a class of emerging pollutants that endanger human health. Tetracycline's family, including oxytetracycline (OTC), are known as one of the most produced and consumed antibiotics worldwide. The g-C3N4/Fe3O4 nanocomposite with high level of catalytic efficiency features suitable performance in water/wastewater treatment. Therefore, in the present study, this nanocomposite was applied to remove the oxytetracycline from the aqueous environment. In this research study, g-C3N4/Fe3O4 nanocomposite (serving as catalyst) was initially synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. The effect of key operating parameters such as initial solution pH, dose of catalyst, contact time and initial concentration of OTC in aqueous solutions was investigated under UV irradiation. In addition, COD and TOC tests, the kinetics and the effect of radical scavengers on the applied photocatalytic process were all evaluated. The maximum removal efficiency of OTC (99.8 %) was achieved under the following conditions: neutral solution pH 7; catalyst dose, 0.7 g/L; and an initial OTC concentration of 5 mg/L. The data showed that the kinetics of the reaction followed the first-order model with R2 of 0.9755. The respective COD and TOC efficiency values for the applied photocatalytic process were determined to be 87 and 59 %, respectively. In addition, the lowest removal efficiency of OTC was observed in the presence of tert-butanol radical scavengers, and OH radicals played a main role. The UV/g-C3N4/Fe3O4 photocatalytic process proved to be highly efficient for the removal of OTC antibiotic and could be potentially applied for the removal of other pollutants from aqueous solutions.

Background: It has been suggested that the quality of our sleep plays a significant role in developing Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). However, limited research is available on the association between sleep quality and MetS. Aim and Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore the prevalence of MetS and its relationship with nutritional status and sleep quality in the military forces. Material and Methods: A total of 190 people were surveyed using various questionnaires, including demographic, PSQI, DASS, and FFQ questionnaires. One-variable logistic regression, t-test, and Chi-square were used to analyze data. Results: The study included a total of 169 out of 190 individuals surveyed. The subjects' average age was 35.78 years, with a median sleep quality score of 6.61 (SD=3.0). No statistically significant relationship was found between MetS and biochemical components, macronutrient intake, and sleep quality. For every unit increase in protein and carbohydrate consumption, the likelihood of experiencing poor sleep quality increased by 2% and reduced by 1%, respectively (p

Abstract Antibiotics are resistant compounds with low biological degradation that generally cannot be removed by conventional wastewater treatment processes. The use of yolk-shell nanostructures in spinning disc photocatalytic reactor (SDPR) enhances the removal efficiency due to their high surface-to-volume ratio and increased interaction between catalyst particles and reactants. The purpose of this study is to investigate the SDPR equipped to Fe3O4@void@CuO/ZnO yolk-shell thin film nanostructure (FCZ YS) in the presence of visible light illumination in the photocatalytic degradation of amoxicillin (AMX) from aqueous solutions. Stober, co-precipitation, and self-transformation methods were used for the synthesis of FCZ YS thin film nanostructure and the physical and chemical characteristics of the catalyst were analyzed by XRD, VSM,, EDX, FESEM, TEM, AFM, BET, contact angle (CA), and DRS. Then, the effect of different parameters including pH (3–11), initial concentration of AMX (10–50 mg/L), flow rate (10–25 mL/s) and rotational speed (100–400 rpm) at different times in the photocatalytic degradation of AMX were studied. The obtained results indicated that the highest degradation efficiency of 97.6% and constant reaction rate of AMX were obtained under LED visible light illumination and optimal conditions of pH = 5, initial AMX concentration of 30 mg/L, solution flow rate of 15 mL/s, rotational speed of 300 rpm and illumination time of 80 min. The durability and reusability of the nanostructure were tested, that after 5 runs had a suitable degradation rate. Considering the appropriate efficiency of amoxicillin degradation by FCZ YS nanostructure, the use of Fe3O4@void@CuO/ZnO thin film in SDPR is suggested in water and wastewater treatment processes.

Abstract Inhibition of glycolysis in immune cells and cancer cells diminishes their activity, and thus combining immunotherapies with glycolytic inhibitors is challenging. Herein, a strategy is presented where glycolysis is inhibited in cancer cells using PFK15 (inhibitor of PFKFB3, rate-limiting step in glycolysis), while simultaneously glycolysis and function is rescued in DCs by delivery of fructose-1,6-biphosphate (F16BP, one-step downstream of PFKFB3). To demonstrate the feasibility of this strategy, vaccine formulations are generated using calcium-phosphate chemistry, that incorporate F16BP, poly(IC) as adjuvant, and phosphorylated-TRP2 peptide antigen and tested in challenging and established YUMM1.1 tumours in immunocompetent female mice. Furthermore, to test the versatility of this strategy, adoptive DC therapy is developed with formulations that incorporate F16BP, poly(IC) as adjuvant and mRNA derived from B16F10 cells as antigens in established B16F10 tumours in immunocompetent female mice. F16BP vaccine formulations rescue DCs in vitro and in vivo, significantly improve the survival of mice, and generate cytotoxic T cell (Tc) responses by elevating Tc1 and Tc17 cells within the tumour. Overall, these results demonstrate that rescuing glycolysis of DCs using metabolite-based formulations can be utilized to generate immunotherapy even in the presence of glycolytic inhibitor.

Background: Clinical trials investigating the efficacy of oral health prevention materials have conventionally used indices to evaluate the amount of plaque on tooth surfaces. Various methods, including the use of probiotics, have been suggested to prevent oral disease. The present study was conducted to investigate the probiotic products available in Iranian pharmacies that are used for the prevention of dental disease. Materials and Methods: In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 40 students of medicine and pharmacy were randomly allocated into two equal groups of intervention and control using random allocation software. The intervention group used a probiotic pill containing Streptococcus salivarius M18 and K12 bacteria every night before going to bed. The control group used a mouth freshener tablet with the same flavor as the probiotic tablet every night before going to bed. The mean number of Streptococcus mutans bacteria in both the groups was calculated before and after using probiotic pills. The data were staticali analyzed by descriptive statistics (central tendency and dispersion) and inferential statistics (paired t-test and independent t-test) and Kolmogorov-Smironove tests (P 0.05). Conclusion: The mean plaque index in the group using probiotic tablets was significantly increased compared to those of the control group. However, further studies are suggested to evaluate these products.

Background: Various methods, including the use of probiotics, have been suggested to prevent caries. Caries, which is mainly caused by Streptococcus mutans, is one of the bacterial diseases that imposes a heavy cost on society. The present study was conducted to investigate the probiotic products available in Iranian pharmacies that are used for caries prevention. Materials and Methods: In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 40 students of medicine and pharmacy were randomly allocated to two equal groups of intervention and control using random allocation software. The intervention group used a probiotic pill containing Streptococcus salivarius M18 and K12 bacteria every night before going to bed. The control group used a mouth freshener tablet with the same flavor as the probiotic tablet every night before going to bed. The data were analyzed by SPSS (version 24) software using descriptive statistics (central tendency and dispersion) and inferential statistics (paired t-test and independent t-test). Data were collected using Excel software, and statistical analyses were performed by SPSS software (version 24). Results: The mean number of S. mutans in the intervention group was 754.5 cfu/mm before the intervention and 1701.5 cfu/mm after the intervention, which showed a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). In the control group, the mean S. mutans was 683 cfu/mm at the beginning of the intervention and 659 cfu/mm at the end of the intervention, which did not indicate a statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). Moreover, the normality of data was checked by the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. Conclusion: The mean number of S. mutans bacteria in the group using probiotic tablets was significantly increased compared to those of the control group. However, further studies are suggested to evaluate these products.

The systematic review conducted in this study aimed to investigate the effect of biological methods of slaughterhouse wastewater treatment (SWWT) on reducing carbonaceous pollution concentration in the effluent. The researchers performed a comprehensive search for relevant articles in databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase, focusing on studies published up to January 2022. After screening the retrieved records, the researchers identified 71 relevant articles that contained data on the removal efficiency of carbonaceous pollutants in slaughterhouse wastewater. These pollutants included total chemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, soluble chemical oxygen demand, biochemical oxygen demand, five-day biochemical oxygen demand, organic material, soluble organic compounds, and total organic carbon. The results of the qualitative synthesis indicated that certain SWWT methods exhibited higher removal efficiencies for carbonaceous pollutants. These methods were characterized by long hydraulic retention times, the use of polymeric filter media, attached growth processes, and operation at maximum organic loading rates. It's important to note that specific details regarding the individual studies and their findings are not provided in the given information. However, the systematic review suggests that certain biological treatment methods can effectively reduce carbonaceous pollution concentrations in slaughterhouse wastewater.

Background and Objective: Pharmaceutical compounds can cause potential risks to aquatic and terrestrial organisms. So far, different methods have been used to eliminate these pollutants, photocatalytic processes are one of the most efficient processes to eliminate pharmaceutical compounds. In this study, the efficiency of a novel MOF-based nanocomposite, PMo/UiO-66 as a photocatalyst for amoxicillin degradation under visible light irradiation was evaluated. Materials and Methods: The study of the chemical decomposition of amoxicillin using the PMo/UiO-66 system was conducted at different stages. First, the PMo/UiO-66 MOF nanocomposite was synthesized using the solvothermal method, then the properties of the synthesized nanocomposite were investigated using XRD, FTIR, and SEM techniques. The effect of different operational parameters such as pH (3, 6, and 9), catalyst concentration (15, 20, 25, and 30 %w/w), initial concentrations of amoxicillin (20, 30, 40, and 50 mg/L) at different times on the removal efficiency was investigated. The reusability of the catalyst for four cycles was assessed. Results: The results showed that PMo/UiO-66 nanocomposite at pH 6, 25 %w/w nanocomposite concentration, and the amoxicillin concentration of 20 mg/L led to complete decomposition of amoxicillin after 120 min. The kinetic of amoxicillin removal followed the first-order model. Reusability tests showed that the photocatalytic efficiency of the synthesized catalyst was not substantially reduced after four cycles. Conclusion: The current study confirmed that the PMo/UiO-66 system has an appropriate efficiency for photocatalytic removal of amoxicillin under optimized test conditions.

Abstract In this study, toluene and ethylbenzene were degraded in the photocatalytic-proxone process using BiOI@NH2-MIL125(Ti)/Zeolite nanocomposite. The simultaneous presence of ozone and hydrogen peroxide is known as the proxone process. Nanocomposite Synthesis was carried out using the solvothermal method. Inlet airflow, ozone concentrations, H2O2 concentrations, relative humidity, and initial pollutants concentrations were studied. The nanocomposite was successfully synthesized based on FT-IR, BET, XRD, FESEM, EDS element mapping, UV–Vis spectra and TEM analysis. A flow rate of 0.1 L min−1, 0.3 mg min−1 of ozone, 150 ppm of hydrogen peroxide, 45% relative humidity, and 50 ppmv of pollutants were found to be optimal operating conditions. Both pollutants were degraded in excess of 95% under these conditions. For toluene and ethylbenzene, the synergistic of mechanisms effect coefficients were 1.56 and 1.76, respectively. It remained above 95% efficiency 7 times in the hybrid process and had good stability. Photocatalytic-proxone processes were evaluated for stability over 180 min. The remaining ozone levels in the process was insignificant (0.01 mg min−1). The CO2 and CO production in the photocatalytic-proxone process were 58.4, 5.7 ppm for toluene and 53.7, and 5.5 ppm for ethylbenzene respectively. Oxygen gas promoted and nitrogen gas had an inhibitory effect on the effective removal of pollutants. During the pollutants oxidation, various organic intermediates were identified.

Alkaline batteries are one of the most used types of household batteries. The annual consumption of billions of alkaline batteries produces battery wastes that are not recycled in most countries. In this study, alkaline battery waste management status was investigated by defining an economic model based on cost-benefit analysis. Scenarios for improving the current situation by combining battery waste reduction methods and developing battery waste recycling units were compared using this financial model. The results showed that 24 tons of solid wastes from three sizes of alkaline batteries were landfilled annually, which caused 4.52 tons of zinc to leak into the environment. The cost-benefit of zinc recovery from the alkaline batteries was estimated by 73.1 USD/kg. Based on this, the study estimates that the linear management of alkaline battery waste results in an annual financial potential loss of 198,832 USD. 30% reduction in battery wastes by replacement of rechargeable batteries and the development of battery waste processing units to 50% of the current potential will reduce the annual release of zinc to the environment by 0.9 tons and the annual net income will be equivalent to 131,229 USD. Changing the management of alkaline battery wastes from a linear economy to a material recovery cycle will have a positive financial balance in addition to reducing environmental damage.

Background and purpose: Acyl-CoA synthetase (ACS) enzymes play an important role in the activation of fatty acids. While many studies have found correlations between the expression levels of ACS enzymes with the progression, growth, and survival of cancer cells, their role and expression patterns in colon adenocarcinoma are still greatly unknown and demand further investigation. Experimental approach: The expression data of colon adenocarcinoma samples were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Normalization and differential expression analysis were performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene set enrichment analysis was applied to identify top enriched genes from ACS enzymes in cancer samples. Gene ontology and protein-protein interaction analyses were performed for the prediction of molecular functions and interactions. Survival analysis and receiver operating characteristic test (ROC) were performed to find potential prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers. Findings/Results: ACSL6 and ACSM5 genes demonstrated more significant differential expression and LogFC value compared to other ACS enzymes and also achieved the highest enrichment scores. Gene ontology analysis predicted the involvement of top DEGs in fatty acids metabolism, while protein-protein interaction network analysis presented strong interactions between ACSLs, ACSSs, ACSMs, and ACSBG enzymes with each other. Survival analysis suggested ACSM3 and ACSM5 as potential prognostic biomarkers, while the ROC test predicted stronger diagnostic potential for ACSM5, ACSS2, and ACSF2 genes. Conclusion and implications: Our findings revealed the expression patterns, prognostic, and diagnostic biomarker potential of ACS enzymes in colon adenocarcinoma. ACSM3, ACSM5, ACSS2, and ACSF2 genes are suggested as possible prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers.