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Long-term clinical outcomes of catheter ablation (CA) compared to thoracoscopic surgical ablation (SA) to treat patients with long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (LSPAF) are not known. The purpose of this study was to compare the long-term (36-month) clinical efficacy, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness of SA and CA in LSPAF. Participants were followed up for 3 years using implantable loop recorders and questionnaires to assess the change in quality of life. Intention-to-treat analyses were used to report the findings. Of the 115 patients with LSPAF treated, 104 (90.4%) completed 36-month follow-up [CA: n = 57 (95%); SA: n = 47 (85%)]. After a single procedure without antiarrhythmic drugs, 7 patients (12%) in the CA arm and 5 (11%) in the SA arm [hazard ratio 1.22; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.81–1.83; P =.41] were free from atrial fibrillation/tachycardia (AF/AT) ≥30 seconds at 36 months. Thirty-three patients (58%) in the CA arm and 26 (55%) in the SA arm (hazard ratio 1.04; 95% CI 0.57–1.88; P =.91) had their AF/AT burden reduced by ≥75%. The overall impact on health-related quality of life was similar, with mean quality-adjusted life year estimates of 2.45 (95% CI 2.31–2.59) for CA and 2.32 (95% CI 2.13–2.52) for SA. Estimated costs were higher for SA (mean £24,682; 95% CI £21,746–£27,618) than for CA (mean £18,002; 95% CI £15,422–£20,581). In symptomatic LSPAF, CA and SA were equally effective at achieving arrhythmia outcomes (freedom from AF/AT ≥30 seconds and ≥75% burden reduction) after a single procedure without antiarrhythmic drugs. However, SA is significantly more costly than CA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphological shape and structure of the crop vary with phenological stages. Model and eigen based decomposition model parameters extracted from the Radarsat-2 data and the trend with respect to ground truth crop phenology were analysed. Sensitive parameters were devised through stepwise approach under 7 combinations of polarimetric variables of increasing complexity were assessed. Compared under the three machine learning algorithms (ANN, RF and SVM) where ANN rendered the maximum correlation with 0.92 with a MAE of 4 days which was implemented on a large parcel of maize mask in the study area. SVM performed poorly with highly overlapping parameters such as backscatter but performed well (r = 0.85). For assessing the crop biophysical parameters, the three algorithms were evaluated and sensitivity analysis for statistically significant polarimetric variables for biophysical parameters was performed. The assessment was performed on Multi-Layer Perception (MLP) neural network. The networks were trained with algorithms and hidden layer nodes until the MAE achieved permissible limits. Plant height could be estimated more profoundly with an r = 0.8 with a considerably good MAE of 24.9 cm but other parameters (WB, DB and LAI) were estimated in moderate correlation of 0.6–0.65 where the MAE of WB, DB and LAI were found to be 1317gm−2, 553 gm−2 and 0.78 respectively. This is the first step towards understanding the complex scattering mechanisms in Indian maize scenario assessing the growth parameters from polarimetric data. Thus, the analytical findings brought out possess the potential to serve as the reference for the future research initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Renewable energy and green technology lower carbon emissions over the long and short run. • Renewable energy has a greater environmental impact than green technology. • Green technology moderates the relation between renewable energy and carbon emission. • The nonlinear effect of green technology positively affects carbon-emission. • The non-linear effect of renewable energy reduces carbon emission in the long run. Recently, various initiatives are being taken to attain environmental sustainability by reducing the carbon footprint of major emerging economies. The carbon-neutrality target has become a vital goal in this direction. This study examines the importance of green technology and renewable-energy in achieving the target of carbon-neutrality for 18 emerging countries from 1990 to 2018. We have used Cross-sectional auto-regressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) estimator to investigate the short-run and long-run association among the variables. Further, Augmented Mean Group (AMG) and Common correlated effects mean group (CCEMG) estimators have been used to get robust results. The findings confirm that green technology, renewable energy consumption, urbanization, and corruption-control significantly mitigate carbon emission in both the short-run and the long-run. In contrast, Gross-Domestic Product (GDP), trade, non-renewable energy, energy-import, and energy-intensity are found to increase carbon emission. Further, it is found that renewable energy reduces carbon emission monotonically whereas green technology exhibits a U-shaped effect on carbon emission. Additionally, green technology effectively moderates the relationship between renewable-energy and carbon emission reduction in the long-run. The results of the Dumitrescu-Hurlin causality test indicate a bidirectional causality between green technology innovation and carbon emission while a unidirectional causality is found to exist from renewable energy to carbon emission. Based on these empirical findings, it is suggested that policymakers should strengthen eco-friendly policies, promote green technology and renewable energy, and invest in sustainable sources to achieve the carbon neutrality target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on translational and epidemiological evidence, perioperative inhibition of beta-adrenergic and COX2 signaling can reduce the risk for post-surgical metastatic disease. Here we aimed to assess in a pilot study the impact of a perioperative combined COX-2 and beta-adrenergic blockade on long-term cancer outcomes in colorectal cancer patients undergoing curative surgery. Thirty-four newly diagnosed colorectal cancer patients without evidence of metastases enrolled in this double-blinded placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial (treatment, n = 16; placebo, n = 18). A 20-day oral treatment of propranolol and etodolac regimen was initiated 5 days before surgery. Beneficial effects on short-term molecular biomarkers of cancer progression were reported earlier. Here we present outcomes of five postoperative years of disease-free-survival and overall survival. Adverse event rates were equivalent between the two groups. Intent-to-treat analyses of 5-year follow-up showed that 2/16 (12.5%) vs 9/18 (50%) patients exhibited recurrence in treatment vs placebo groups, respectively (p = 0.033), and 2/16 (12.5%) vs 4/18 (22%) died (p = 0.467). In protocol compliant patients 0/11 (0%) vs. 8/17 (47%) exhibited recurrence in treatment vs. placebo groups, respectively (p = 0.007), and 0/11 (0%) and 3/17 (17.6%) died (p = 0.151). In this pilot clinical trial, a combined perioperative treatment with propranolol and etodolac significantly improved 5-year disease-free-survival. The small sample size and a single center study design merits caution in interpreting these results, specifically in estimating the effect-size. Larger studies in colorectal cancer are warranted and needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The efficiency of TiO 2 photocatalysis in degrading total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) in the ambient air is evaluated. • Surface characterization techniques were employed to explicate the microstructural properties of TiO 2 -coated plastered samples. • Determination of optimal TiO₂ dose for achieving the maximum degradation of TVOCs. • Demonstrated that the optimized TiO₂-cement coating significantly improves air quality by effectively reducing TVOC levels. Photocatalysis emerged as a prominent method for mitigating air pollution stemming from emissions of total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) in both indoor and outdoor environments. Given the slow degradation rate of certain TVOCs, which pose health risks, including carcinogenicity, there is a pressing need for effective air purification strategies, particularly within built environments where individuals spend substantial amounts of time. This study delves into the efficacy of TiO 2 photocatalysis in reducing air pollutants when applied to building surfaces. Cement mortar samples, incorporating varied doses of TiO 2 ranging from 7.83E-03 g/cm2 to 4.92E-02 g/cm2, were prepared and examined within batch reactors, both under sunlight exposure and in the absence thereof, to gauge their degradation rates towards TVOCs. Furthermore, surface characterization techniques were employed to explicate the microstructural properties of TiO 2 -coated plastered samples. The results obtained demonstrated the variation in the rate of degradation from 1.09E-04±0.1 % to 3.1E-4 ± 1.13 % min−1cm−2 for various initial concentrations of total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) in the range of 600 ppm to 2900 ppm over a period of 100 min. The selected approach demonstrated the maximum degradation rate constant of 5.2E-04 min−1cm−2 corresponding to 15 % of TiO 2 dose by weight of cement. These findings underscore the promise of TiO 2 in purifying polluted air and advocate for its widespread implementation on building surfaces to enhance air quality. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have recently emerged as a source of microbe-specific biomarkers for disease diagnosis. In the present study, we evaluated the utility of pleural fluid-derived extracellular vesicles (pEVs) as a source of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb.) antigens for pleural TB (pTB) diagnosis. EVs were isolated from pleural fluid (PF) samples and were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, and immunoblotting by targeting CD63 and LAMP2 markers. Antigen-detection ELISAs were developed for 2 M. tb. -specific antigens, MPT51 and MPT64 in pEVs (pEV-ELISA) and direct PF samples (PF-ELISA), and were evaluated on n = 86 samples in a blinded manner. Cut-off values were calculated by ROC-curve analysis to achieve 90 % (95%CI:73.47–97.89) and 86.67 % (95%CI:69.28–96.24) specificity for MPT51 and MPT64 pEV-ELISA respectively. The sensitivity of pEV-ELISA was 71.43 % (95%CI; 29.04–96.33) for MPT51 antigen and 57.14 % (95%CI; 18.41–90.1) for MPT64 antigen in the 'Definite' pTB group, while in the 'Definite and Probable' pTB group, the sensitivity was 62.86 % (95%CI:44.92–78.53) for MPT51 and 65.71 % (95%CI:47.79–80.87) for MPT64. The performance of PF-ELISA was sub-optimal, with 28.57 % (95%CI:3.67–70.96) and 14.29 % (95%CI:0.36–57.87) sensitivity for MPT51 and MPT64 in 'Definite' pTB group respectively. We conclude that M. tb.-antigens are concentrated in the EV-fraction of PF samples and EVs can be utilized for antigen-detection assays for pTB diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vulval cancer is a rare gynaecological cancer, predominantly seen in postmenopausal women. It accounts for about 4% of gynaecological malignancies. Most women present with vulval symptoms such as a painful lump, ulcer or itching, although some may be asymptomatic. It should be managed in experienced cancer centres where relevant expertise and experience is available to provide multidisciplinary, individualized care. Wide local excision of the lesion, usually with surgical staging of groin nodes through separate incisions is recommended for early disease. Locally advanced vulval cancers require complex and highly individualized treatment, which may be a combination of radical excision with reconstruction with or without radiotherapy. Sentinel lymph node assessment for staging is now standard of care, replacing en-bloc inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy for surgical staging of smaller, early-stage tumours, and groin dissection is omitted in these women if sentinel node biopsy is negative (GROINSS-V I study). Recent GROINSS-V II study has shown that radiotherapy is a safe alternative in patients with sentinel lymph node micro metastases (≤2 mm) with low groin recurrence rate and lower treatment-related morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study analyses the effectiveness of aggregate as well as sectoral foreign aid on growth and structural transformation for 32 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries over the period from 2002 to 2019. For this purpose, a structural transformation index (STI) has been constructed using the value-added and employment shares of the economy. There is a lack of studies in the aid effectiveness literature that examine the effects of sectoral aid on overall growth and development of the economy. Comparing the effectiveness of different types of aid on growth and structural transformation is a novel approach. In this analysis, we also take into account the roles of institutional quality and human capital on aid effectiveness. To this end, we have used Driscoll–Kraay Fixed-Effect estimators, Fixed-Effects Panel Threshold regression and Method of Moments Quantile regression to analyse the effectiveness of aggregate and sectoral foreign aid. Our estimation techniques are robust to cross-sectional dependence and slope heterogeneity. We find that both agricultural and social-sector aid have positive significant effects on growth but negative significant effect on structural transformation. This suggests that foreign aid should be increased in these sectors, conditioned by the level of institutional quality. Human capital is found to increase the effectiveness of foreign aid. Aid to economic infrastructure is the only type of aid which is found to increase structural transformation significantly. This study helps in designing aid allocation strategies, so as to promote both growth and structural transformation in the SSA countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of polarimetric decomposition techniques improves the capability to understand the complex scattering mechanisms occurring in the dryland crops. The present study is focused on assessing the sensitivity of coherent, incoherent, model and Eigen vector-based decomposition techniques from multitemporal Radarsat-2 polarimetric dataset to scattering mechanisms occurring in the critical growth stages of pearl millet crop. Yamaguchi volume component along with its temporal response was observed to be sensitive and reliable due to its dynamic biomass characterization. Overestimation of volume component and earlier saturation of biomass from 4 kgm−2 were observed limitations in Freeman 2 & 3 component decomposition when dealing with higher vegetation crops. The decrease in volume scattering over increasing biomass proved Van Zyl response contrary to the established understanding. Panicle stage was identified as the critical stage for discriminating pearl millet from similar structured maize and sorghum crops. In this stage, alpha angle generated from Cloude-Pottier decomposition almost reached 550 indicating the increase in contribution of dihedral scattering due to vertical prominent panicles in the pearl millet fields. The various Touzi parameters (α1, Ψ1, φ1 and τ1) were observed to have sensitivity towards changes in crop canopy structures, which will require further research to verify. The proposed Δ(F3-Y4) was the most suitable Volume Difference Index (VDI) for characterizing biomass of erectophile crops as the dynamic biomass response was found even beyond 8 kgm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni is a plant known for its natural sweeteners and potential health benefits. Traditionally used to treat diabetes, its impact on cellular signaling proteins such as PKC is unknown. This study begins with examining a database to analyse publications related to S. rebaudiana. The objective was to identify its experimentally validated phytochemicals and biological targets and to perform network pharmacological analysis of gene-disease associations. The identified targets are subsequently validated using a mouse model for LPS-induced PKC phosphorylation assay on mouse macrophage cells. The effect of HPTLC-standardized S. rebaudiana extract was also evaluated using FACS, ELISA, and fluorescence microscopical analysis. A total of 32 unique phytochemicals were found to interact with three targeted proteins, including 5′-Adenosine Monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase catalytic subunit alpha-2/beta-1/gamma-1, 1,3-beta-D-glucan synthase, and xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase. Network analysis and molecular modelling also supported targeted lead's binding and inhibition with AMP-activated protein kinase. The LPS significantly enhanced the phosphorylation of PKC in both ex vivo and in vivo assays. The standardised extract, which contains Rebaudioside and Stevioside at 4.82% w/w and 20.12 % w/w, respectively, attenuated the phosphorylation of PKC, suppressed nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). This study found that stevia extract inhibited PKC phosphorylation in macrophages induced by LPS. Additional research is necessary to understand the potential effects of S. rebaudiana in managing PKC-mediated disorders. This includes exploring the mechanisms by which S. rebaudiana may interact with PKC and the possible therapeutic implications for various health conditions associated with PKC dysregulation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charcot neuroarthropathy (CN) of the ankle joint can cause marked bone resorption of the talus resulting in severe deformity and instability. The utilisation of a 3-D printed bespoke titanium porous block that allows the use of an intramedullary calcaneo-tibial nail is an attractive option in such cases that has been reported for use in post-trauma deformities, following tumour resections, in avascular necrosis of talus and for revision of failed total ankle replacements, however has not previously been reported for Charcot ankle reconstructions. We present a novel case and surgical technique illustrating the use of a 3-D printed titanium porous block and hindfoot nail for reconstruction of a deformed and unstable Charcot hindfoot. • Charcot neuroarthropathy (CN) of the ankle joint can cause marked bone resorption of the talus. • Charcot neuroarthropathy (CN) of the ankle joint can therefore result in severe deformity and instability. • 3-D printed bespoke titanium porous blocks with an intramedullary calcaneo-tibial nail can be used in such cases. • We present a novel case and surgical technique illustrating this strategy for complex Charcot hindfoot reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vernacular buildings are the classic examples of sociocultural development, centuries of experience, and empirical knowledge gained from past earthquakes to construct climate-cum-earthquake resistant indigenous buildings in seismic-prone regions across the globe. Vernacular buildings are constructed using re-usable or re-cyclable materials with a low carbon footprint and are thus sustainable, and these buildings also follow local seismic culture in their building attributes. Elaborate field investigations are conducted in the Indian Himalayas to investigate the local seismic culture in prevalent vernacular building systems, namely, Kath-Kunni, Thathara, Taq, Dhajji-Dewari, Ikra, and Rammed-earth. Based on field observations, these building systems are rated to understand their relative merits/de-merits for earthquake-resiliency and construction sustainability attributes. Simple, ready-to-use sketches are developed to disseminate the construction process of vernacular buildings. Further, recommendations are made to overcome deficits and promote vernacular buildings for earthquake-resilient sustainable development in the Indian Himalayas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A novel aggregated multiposition noncontact mapping (AMP-NCM) algorithm is proposed to diagnose cardiac arrhythmias.Objective: The purpose of this study was to computationally determine an accuracy threshold and to compare the accuracy and clinical utility of AMP-NCM to gold standard contact mapping.Methods: In a cellular automata model, the number of catheter positions and chamber coverage were varied to establish accuracy requirements for clinically relevant AMP-NCM. This guided the clinical study protocol. In a prospective cohort of patients with atrial tachycardia (AT), noncontact mapping (NCM) recordings from a single position (SP) and multiple positions were compared to contact mapping with a high-density multipolar catheter using morphology and timing differences of reconstructed signals. Identification of AT mechanisms and ablation targets using both AMP-NCM and contact mapping were randomly evaluated by 5 blinded reviewers.Results: AMP-NCM accuracy was asymptotic at 60 catheter positions in computational modeling. Twenty patients (age 65 ± 12 years; 19 male) with 26 ATs (5 focal, 21 reentrant) were studied. Morphologic correlation of signals derived from AMP-NCM was significantly better than those from SP-NCM compared to contact signals (median 0.93 vs 0.76; P <.001). AMP-NCM generated maps more rapidly than contact mapping (3 ± 1 minutes vs 13 ± 6 minutes; P <.001) and correctly diagnosed AT mechanisms in 25 of 26 maps (96%). Overall, 80% of arrhythmia mechanisms were correctly identified using AMP-NCM by blinded reviewers.Conclusion: Once 60 catheter positions were achieved, AMP-NCM successfully diagnosed mechanisms of AT and identified treatment sites equal to gold standard contact mapping in 3 minutes of procedural time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dehydrodieugenol, an ortho dimer of eugenol is a widely bioactive natural neolignan. Known chemical or enzymatic methods for its preparation have one or more drawbacks such as hazardous reagents, low efficiency or high cost. In this study, a mushroom catalyzed whole-cell biocatalytic process was developed for the selective oxidative coupling of eugenol in the unfractionated clove oil (2.0 g/L) to produce dehydrodieugenol in its submerged culture. In an optimized condition (yeast malt extract medium, initial pH 7.0, 25–30 °C, 130–150 rpm, 6 h), Ganoderma sessile , a polypore mushroom of 'Reishi' group efficiently dimerized eugenol with good to excellent conversion. Preparative scale fermentation generated a metabolite titer of 0.62 g/L in the medium and subsequent purification yielded 38.3% w/w dehydrodieugenol with high purity (>98%). A substrate selectivity study indicated the strain to be highly selective to eugenol for an efficient and productive dimerization. Interestingly, the culture broth lyophilisate performed this coupling successfully even after storage of 3 months, revealing its potential as a ready-to-use storable biocatalyst. Further, cell-based assays found dehydrodieugenol to be 6–16 fold more cytotoxic (IC 50 5.2–18.4 μM) than eugenol against three cancer cell-lines. Thus, the developed bioprocess may have a synthetic utility to convert a natural extract to a promising cytotoxic candidate of natural origin. [Display omitted] • Dehydrodieugenol: a eugenol dimer (neolignan) with wide-spectrum bioactivities. • Ganoderma sessile efficiently transformed eugenol in clove oil to dehydrodieugenol. • Optimization study: established the fermentation conditions in submerged culture. • Culture broth lyophilisate: ready-to-use storable catalyst. • Dehydrodieugenol was few fold more cytotoxic than eugenol against cancer cell-lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is of utmost importance to move towards green energy in order to achieve sustainability. Future energy crises might be significantly reduced by using lignocellulosic waste biomass from a variety of industrial and agro-processing sources. Of all the biofuels, biohydrogen appears to be the most promising. It may be made from lignocellulosic biomass using microbial fermentation techniques and has a high energy content. During the last decade, numerous research works on biohydrogen have been conducted to fulfill the purpose of sustainability. The present review article mainly focuses on the existing criticalities of the central dogma of biohydrogen production using waste lignocellulose biomass of different kinds. In view of that, the various pretreatment methods, the enzymatic hydrolysis, and the process of fermentation to produce biohydrogen are well comprehended and analyzed. The structural properties of biomass including the composition and porosity are comprehensively analyzed to identify the selection of raw material in biohydrogen production. Nevertheless, the formation of unwanted inhibitors in the hydrolysate obtained after biomass pretreatment typically affects the subsequent fermentation for biohydrogen production. Therefore, an emphasis is given on the nature of different kinds of inhibitors formed from a variety of pretreatment methods. The subsequent aim of this paper is to gather the latest ideas employed as emerging technologies for biohydrogen production using waste biomass. Finally, an attempt is made to conclude the paper by mentioning the technical challenges trailing by the best possible directives to follow as future recommendations. Hence, the readers of this article will be benefitted with an in-depth knowledge on the key factors that typically influence the development of a process employed for biohydrogen production in a lignocellulosic biorefinery. [Display omitted] • Emphasizing biohydrogen as a clean and sustainable energy source. • Discussion of critical parameters on biohydrogen production from lignocellulosic biomass. • Analysis of inhibitor formation in hydrolysate and methods of detoxification. • Elaboration on the advanced pretreatment techniques to enhance biohydrogen yield. • Knowledge gap and future perspectives on biohydrogen production are summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Noncontact charge-density mapping allows rapid real-time global mapping of atrial fibrillation (AF), offering the opportunity for a personalized ablation strategy.Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the 2-year outcome of an individualized strategy consisting of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) plus core-to-boundary ablation (targeting the conduction pattern core with an extension to the nearest nonconducting boundary) guided by charge-density mapping, with an empirical PVI plus posterior wall electrical isolation (PWI) strategy.Methods: Forty patients (age 62 ± 12 years; 29 male) with persistent AF (10 ± 5 months) prospectively underwent charge-density mapping-guided PVI, followed by core-to-boundary stepwise ablation until termination of AF or depletion of identified cores. Freedom from AF/atrial tachycardia (AT) at 24 months was compared with a propensity score-matched control group of 80 patients with empirical PVI + PWI guided by conventional contact mapping.Results: Acute AF termination occurred in 8 of 40 patients after charge-density mapping-guided PVI alone and in 21 of the remaining 32 patients after core-to-boundary ablation in the study cohort, compared with 8 of 80 (10%) in the control cohort (P <.001). On average, 2.2 ± 0.6 cores were ablated post-PVI before acute AF termination. At 24 months, freedom from AF/AT after a single procedure was 68% in the study group vs 46% in the control group (P = .043).Conclusion: An individualized ablation strategy consisting of PVI plus core-to-boundary ablation guided by noncontact charge-density mapping is a feasible and effective strategy for treating persistent AF, with a favorable 24-month outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brass metal handicrafts are the traditional cultural heritage of Indian society. Its artisans are still using age-old technologies and coal for the melting of brass scrap. The present case study compares the environmental aspects associated with 1.0 t brass scrap melting using coal and light fuel oil. The effects of coal and light fuel oil on different climate impact categories are analyzed for production as well as for the use phase. In the production phase, the coal has a lower global warming potential (7.05 kg CO 2 -Equiv.), acidification potential (0.04 kg SO 2 -Equiv.), abiotic depletion potential-elements (2.87 E-7 kg Sb-Equiv.), and human toxicity potential (0.613 kg DCB-Equiv.) compared to light fuel oil. However, during the use phase, i.e., thermal energy production for melting (1.0 t brass scrap), the light fuel oil has a lower global warming potential (76.15 kg CO 2 -Equiv.), acidification potential (0.24 kg SO 2 -Equiv), eutrophication potential (0.045 kg phosphate-Equiv.), and minimum human toxicity potential (1.82 kg DCB-Equiv.). It appears evident that the overall phases need to be considered in order to make a well-balanced decision for sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Synthesis of MWCNT/PPY using oxidation polymerization method. • Detail theoretical approach for CO 2 and humidity sensing with CNT/PPY. • Room temperature CO 2 and humidity sensing with higher accuracy, fast response and recovery time. • The broader impacts and advantages of the MWCNT/PPY based sensor over other nanomaterials. This paper includes the synthesis of a composite of multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and conducting polymer polypyrrol (PPY) and its characterizations along with the applications direct liquid injection chemical vapour deposition (DLICVD) and oxidation polymerization method have been used for the synthesis of MWCNT and MWCNT/PPY nanocomposite respectively. MWCNT/PPY's thin film was prepared using the technique of spin coating and characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), particle size analyzer and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). Raman spectroscopy has been used to observe the vibrational and rotational spectra of MWCNT and MWCNT/PPY nanocomposite. The optical bandgap and minimum crystallite size have been calculated and found to be 3.2 eV and 8.1 nm respectively. The synthesized MWCNT/PPY has been used for CO 2 and humidity sensing at room temperature (300 K). The sensor response of thin-film towards CO 2 was found to be 7.2 at 1000 ppm and minimum response and recovery time at 250 ppm were found to be 30 s and 37 s respectively. The sensitivity of thin-film towards humidity was found to be 41.33 kΩ/%RH. The theoretical calculation was also performed in support of experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vulval cancer is a rare gynaecological cancer, predominantly seen in postmenopausal women. It accounts for about 4% of gynaecological malignancies. Most women present with vulval symptoms such as a painful lump, ulcer or itching, although some women may be asymptomatic. It is best managed in experienced cancer centres where relevant expertize and experience is available to provide multidisciplinary, individualized care for these women. The majority of vulval cancers are squamous cell cancers. Wide local excision of the lesion, usually with surgical staging of groin nodes, through separate incisions is recommended for early disease. Locally advanced vulval cancers require complex and highly individualized treatment, which may be a combination of radical excision with reconstruction with or without radiotherapy. Sentinel lymph node dissection is now becoming a standard of care instead of en-bloc inguino-femoral lymphadenectomy for surgical staging of smaller, early stage tumours. Radiotherapy is often required as adjuvant treatment following surgery, or for treatment of recurrent disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intraoperative mapping has demonstrated focal activations during human atrial fibrillation (AF). These putative AF sources can manifest sustained periodic bipolar and unipolar QS electrograms (EGMs). We have automated the detection of these EGM features using our validated Focal Source and Trigger (FaST) computational algorithm.Objective: The purpose of this study was to conduct a randomized controlled pilot evaluating the feasibility and efficacy of FaST mapping/ablation as an adjunct to pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in reducing AF recurrence.Methods: We randomized 80 patients with high-burden paroxysmal or persistent AF (age 61 ± 10 years; 75% male) to PVI alone (n = 41) or PVI+FaST mapping/ablation (n = 39). The primary endpoint was time to AF recurrence >30 seconds between 3 and 12 months after 1 procedure.Results: FaST sites were identified in all but 1 patient and were localized to pulmonary vein (PV) (2.1 ± 1.1 per patient) and extra-PV regions (2.8 ± 1.4 per patient). FaST mapping and ablation times were 27 ± 9 minutes and 8.5 ± 5 minutes, respectively. Patients with AF termination during ablation had greater AF cycle length prolongation with PVI+FaST than PVI (Δ20 ± 14 ms vs Δ5 ± 17 ms; P = .046). Freedom from AF recurrence at 12 months was higher in PVI+FaST vs PVI for patients off antiarrhythmic drugs (74% vs 51%; hazard ratio 0.48; 95% confidence interval 0.21-1.08; P = .064) but did not quite reach statistical significance. Major adverse events were similar between the 2 groups.Conclusion: In this randomized controlled pilot, real-time FaST mapping provided an intuitive, automated approach for localizing focal AF sources. FaST ablation as an adjunct to PVI may reduce AF recurrence, which requires verification with a larger multicenter trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a simple solution for monitoring blood pressure in an economic and user-friendly method. Combining the concepts of Internet of Things with an Arduino microcontroller and a pressure sensor a Blood Pressure Monitoring System using Wireless Technologies are developed. The project aims to setup a network so that concerned people can remotely access patient's blood pressure readings. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology are used to access results on hand held devices like mobiles, tabs, laptops etc. The project also incorporates a prediction algorithm via MATLAB software program. Readings can be recorded overtime manually and when into the program such a data log is passed, it predicts possible blood pressure values for the patient and as well as suggest medical assistance like dosage of medicines [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In June 2020, Leicester was the first city in the UK to go into a local lockdown, as community COVID-19 cases remained high. • In contrast to this community (Pillar 2) data, the hospitalised (Pillar 1) COVID-19 case counts continued to remain low. • A Public Health England phylogenetic analysis of Pillar 2 sample sequences did not find any specific pattern of transmission. • Here we perform a complementary phylogenetic analysis of Pillar 1 sample sequences, tagged with anonymised metadata. • We found no specific pattern of transmission between any of the metadata related to these hospitalised COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paradoxical reaction (PR) in tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is a major management issue. We report mRNA profiling of cytokines to understand PR in HIV-uninfected TBM patients. 72 patients with TBM were included, and their clinical, MRI, and mRNA profiling of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α, interleukin (IL) 6, IL10 and interferon (IFN) γ genes in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells were done at admission and 6 weeks of antitubercular treatment. Cytokine profiling was done using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. PR was defined if repeat MRI at 6 weeks revealed new or increase in exudates, tuberculoma, hydrocephalus or infarctions. Outcome was defined at 6 months using modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and categorized as death, poor and good. 44 (61.1 %) patients had PR, and 28 (38.9 %) had paradoxical tuberculoma (PT). The expression of IL6 and TNFα genes were higher in PR and PT groups. Stage of meningitis and hydrocephalus at admission predicted PR. Patients with PR and PT had more frequently poor outcome. About three-fifth HIV-uninfected TBM patients have PR and two-fifth have PT. Paradoxical reaction is associated with higher expression of IL6 and TNFα. Patients with severe meningitis with hydrocephalus develop PR more frequently. • 61 % HIV-uninfected TBM patients had paradoxical response and 38.9 % had paradoxical tuberculoma. • IL6 and TNFα expressions were higher at the time of paradoxical response. • TNFα expression was higher at the time paradoxical tuberculoma compared to baseline. • Severity of meningitis and hydrocephalous at admission predicted paradoxical response. • Higher proportion of patients with paradoxical response had poor recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most severe manifestation of tuberculosis and its diagnosis remains a challenge even today due to the lack of an adequate test. HspX antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was previously established as a reliable diagnostic biomarker for TBM in an ELISA test format using anti-HspX polyclonal antibodies. Towards overcoming the limitations of batch-to-batch variation and challenges of scalability in antibody generation, we utilized Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment (SELEX) to develop high affinity DNA aptamers against HspX as an alternative diagnostic reagent. Post-SELEX optimization of the best-performing aptamer candidate, H63, established its derivative H63 SL-2 M6 to be superior to its parent. Aptamer H63 SL-2 M6 displayed a specific and high affinity interaction with HspX (K d ∼9.0 × 10−8 M). In an Aptamer Linked Immobilized Sorbent Assay (ALISA), H63 SL-2 M6 significantly differentiated between cerebrospinal fluid specimens from TBM and non-TBM subjects (n = 87, ***p < 0.0001) with ∼100% sensitivity and ∼91% specificity. Notably, ALISA exhibited comparable performance with previously reported antibody-based ELISA and qPCR. Altogether, our findings establish the utility of HspX aptamer for the reliable diagnosis of TBM and pave the way for developing an aptamer-based point-of-care test for TBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims constitutive modeling of rate dependent anisotropic viscoelastic brain tissue that experiences large deformation during accidental impact. Many experimental studies confirm that brain parenchyma mechanisms are strongly influenced by anisotropy, nonlinear viscoelasticity, rate dependent loading/unloading and tension-compression asymmetry of the soft brain tissues. We present a rigorous thermodynamically consistent phenomenological approach to capture these mechanisms in a single model. Model parameters are calibrated from the experiments, and mechanical responses are predicted for different loading conditions. We consider a 2-D fibrous circular tube geometry, an idealized form of a human head, to simulate shear stress distribution for a given boundary condition. Different orientations of the fibers are considered to investigate the influence of anisotropy on the shear stress. Finally, stretch rate dependency of stress responses for a particular fiber orientation is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details about the spatial extent of rice cultivation in different seasons are essential for ensuring global food security as well as addressing environmental issues and climate change. This study aims to introduce a novel approach to discriminate between different rice cultural types and subtypes and identify their optimum stages to represent crop growth profiles using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data. Dense time series Sentinel-1 SAR backscatter data were analyzed at 12 days intervals throughout the growth period of summer and kharif rice. Statistical analysis using ANOVA at 5% level of significance was conducted to identify the critical stages of discrimination for all cultural types and subtypes. Knowledge-based decision tree algorithm was employed to classify all major types of rice grown during summer and kharif season. A comprehensive analysis revealed significant variations in backscatter profiles among different rice types. The most critical period for effectively distinguishing between various rice cultural types and subtypes was found to be from transplanting to tillering stage. Decision tree algorithm was able to discriminate between rice cultural types and subtypes with high overall accuracy and Kappa coefficient, viz., 94.74% and 0.94 for summer rice and 91.80% and 0.90 for kharif rice, respectively. The findings of this study revealed that C-band co and cross-polarized Sentinel-1 data have the potential to detect differences between different cultural types and subtypes of rice and, therefore, will be helpful in crop growth monitoring and agro-ecological change detection in the cultivation pattern. • First attempt to differentiate various rice cultural types and subtypes using SAR backscatter data. • The novelty of statistically comparing all cultural types and subtypes together is presented. • Critical stages of discrimination were determined statistically for all rice types. • Transplanting to tillering was the most crucial period for discrimination. • High accuracy and kappa coefficients were found to be consistent across most of the cultural types and subtypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pleural tuberculosis (pTB) is a grave clinical challenge. A novel cell-free M. tuberculosis DNA (cf M.tb -DNA) probe-based-qPCR assay was developed for the diagnosis of pTB. Total cell-free DNA was extracted from pleural fluid (PF) and paired plasma samples and cf M.tb -DNA was quantified by probe-based qPCR targeting devR (109-bp) gene of M. tuberculosis in patients with pleural effusion. Patient categorization was done using 'Composite-Reference-Standard' formulated for the study. Assay cut-offs were determined from samples in the 'Development set' (n = 17; 'Definite & Probable' pTB; n = 9 and 'Non-TB'; n = 8) by ROC-curve analysis and applied to 'Validation set' (n = 112; 'Definite' pTB; n = 8, 'Probable' pTB; n = 34, 'Possible' pTB; n = 28 and 'Non-TB'; n = 42). cf M.tb -DNA qPCR had a sensitivity of 62.5% (95%CI; 24.4,91.4) in 'Definite' pTB category and 59.5% (95%CI; 43.2,74.3) in 'Definite & Probable' pTB category with 95.2% (95%CI; 83.8,99.4) specificity using PF. In plasma (n = 85), the assay had a sub-optimal sensitivity of 7.6% (95%CI; 0.95,25.1) with 88.2% (95%CI; 72.5,96.7) specificity in 'Definite & Probable' pTB group. Xpert MTB/RIF assay detected only six-samples in the 'Validation set'. Logistic regression analysis indicated that PF-cf M.tb -DNA qPCR provided incremental advantage over existing pTB diagnostic algorithms. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing the utility of cf M.tb -DNA for pTB diagnosis in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Catheter ablation (CA) outcomes for long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (LSPAF) remain suboptimal. Thoracoscopic surgical ablation (SA) provides an alternative approach in this difficult to treat cohort.Objective: To compare electrophysiological (EP) guided thoracoscopic SA with percutaneous CA as the first-line strategy in the treatment of LSPAF.Methods: Fifty-one patients with de novo symptomatic LSPAF were recruited. Twenty-six patients underwent electrophysiologically guided thoracoscopic SA. Conduction block was tested for all lesions intraoperatively by an independent electrophysiologist. In the CA group, 25 consecutive patients underwent stepwise left atrial (LA) ablation. The primary end point was single-procedure freedom from atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial tachycardia (AT) lasting >30 seconds without antiarrhythmic drugs at 12 months.Results: Single- and multiprocedure freedom from AF/AT was higher in the SA group than in the CA group: 19 of 26 patients (73%) vs 8 of 25 patients (32%) (P = .003) and 20 of 26 patients (77%) vs 15 of 25 patients (60%) (P = .19), respectively. Testing of the SA lesion set by an electrophysiologist increased the success rate in achieving acute conduction block by 19%. In the SA group, complications were experienced by 7 of 26 patients (27%) vs 2 of 25 patients (8%) in the CA group (P = .07).Conclusion: In LSPAF, meticulous electrophysiologically guided thoracoscopic SA as a first-line strategy may provide excellent single-procedure success rates as compared with those of CA, but there is an increased up-front risk of nonfatal complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endocardial mapping tools use variable interelectrode resolution, whereas body surface mapping tools use narrow bandpass filtering (BPF) to map fibrillatory mechanisms established by high-resolution optical imaging.Objective: The purpose of this study was to study the effect of resolution and BPF on the underlying mechanism being mapped.Methods: Hearts from 14 healthy New Zealand white rabbits were Langendorff perfused. We studied the effect of spatial resolution and BPF on the location and characterization of rotors by comparing phase singularities detected by high-resolution unfiltered optical maps and of fibrillating myocardium with decimated and filtered maps with simulated electrode spacing of 2, 5, and 8 mm.Results: As we decimated the maps with 2-mm, 5-mm, and 8-mm interelectrode spacing, the mean ( ± SD) number of rotors detected decreased from 10.2 ± 9.6, 1.6 ± 3.2, and 0.2 ± 0.5, respectively. Lowering the resolution led to synthesized pseudo-rotors that may be inappropriately identified. Applying a BPF led to fewer mean phase singularities detected (248 ± 207 vs 333 ± 130; P<.01), giving the appearance of pseudo-spatial stability measured as translation index (with BPF 3.6 ± 0.4 mm vs 4.0 ± 0.5 mm without BPF; P<.01) and pseudo-temporal stability with longer duration (70.0 ± 17.6 ms in BPF maps vs 44.1 ± 6.6 ms in unfiltered maps; P<.001) than true underlying fibrillating myocardium mapped.Conclusion: Electrode resolution and BPF of electrograms can result in distortion of the underlying electrophysiology of fibrillation. Newer mapping techniques need to demonstrate sensitivity analysis to quantify the degree of distortion before clinical use to avoid inaccurate electrophysiologic interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian women with breast cancer are usually diagnosed in advanced stages leading to poor survival. Improving breast awareness and increasing access to early diagnosis and adequate treatment has been advocated for breast cancer control. We implemented a program to increase awareness on breast cancer and access to its early detection in an occupational health care scheme in Mumbai, India. Breast awareness brochures were mailed annually between June 2013 and June 2016 to a cohort of 22,500 eligible women aged 30–69 years old receiving universal health care from an occupational health care scheme comprising of primary health centres and a referral secondary care hospital in Mumbai. Women with suspected breast cancers were provided with diagnostic investigations and treatment. Socio-demographic information and tumour characteristics were compared between the breast awareness pre-intervention period (Jan 2005–May 2013) and the breast awareness intervention period after four rounds of mailers (June 2013–June 2016). The proportion of women with early tumours and axillary lymph node negative cancers increased from 74% to 81% and 46% to 53% respectively, between the two periods. While the proportion of patients receiving breast conserving surgery increased from 39% to 51%, the proportion receiving chemotherapy decreased from 84% to 56%. Interim results following efforts to improve breast awareness and access to care in a cohort of women in an occupational health care scheme indicate early detection and more conservative treatment of breast cancers. Creating awareness and improving access to care may result in cancer down-staging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The mapping of ventricular arrhythmias in humans using a minibasket 64-electrode catheter paired with a novel automatic mapping system (Rhythmia) has not been evaluated.Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of mapping ventricular arrhythmias and clinical outcomes after ablation using this system.Methods: Electroanatomic maps for ventricular arrhythmias were obtained during 20 consecutive procedures in 19 patients (12 with ventricular tachycardia [VT] and 2 with ventricular ectopy [VE]). High-density maps were acquired using automatic beat acceptance and automatic system annotation of electrograms.Results: Forty-seven electroanatomic maps (including 3 right ventricular and 9 epicardial maps) were obtained. Left ventricular endocardial mapping by transseptal (n = 13) and/or transaortic (n = 11) access was safe with no complications related to the minibasket catheter. VT substrate maps (n = 14; median 10,184 points) consistently demonstrated late potentials with high resolution. VT activation maps (n = 25; median 6401 points) obtained by automatic annotation included 7 complete maps (covering ≥90% of the tachycardia cycle length) in 5 patients in whom the entire VT circuit was accurately visualized. VE timing maps (n = 8) successfully localized the origin of VEs in all, with all accepted beats consistent with clinical VEs. Over a median follow-up of 10 months, no arrhythmia recurrence was noted in 75% after VT ablation and 86% after VE ablation.Conclusion: In this first human experience for ventricular arrhythmias using this system, ultra-high-density maps were created rapidly and safely, with a reliable automatic annotation of VT and consistent recording of abnormal electrograms. Medium-term outcomes after ablation were encouraging. Further larger studies are needed to validate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoplankton acts as carbon sinks due to photosynthetic efficacy and their diversity is expressed by SWDI (Shannon-Weaver Diversity Index), which depends on water quality parameters. The coastal water of Diu was studied for three seasons, and the relationship between different parameters and SWDI was established. Subsequently, an attempt was made to build up a prediction model of SWDI based on multilayer perceptron Artificial neural network (ANN) using the R programme. Analysis shows interrelationship between the water quality parameters and phytoplankton diversity is same in linear principal component analysis (PCA) and neural network model. Variations of different parameters depend on seasonal changes. The ANN model shows that ammonia and phosphate are key parameters that influence the SWDI of phytoplankton. Seasonal variation in SWDI is related to variation in water quality parameters, as explained by both ANN and PCA. Hence, the ANN model can be an important tool for coastal environmental interaction study. • Factors influencing the phytoplankton diversity are nitrite, nitrite, ammonium and phosphate. • SWDI influencing parameters are estimated using the PCA analysis. • MLP-ANN has been used for SWDI model prediction • Prediction trends were similar for PCA and MLP-ANN model [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the continual march to a predominantly urbanized civilization, anthropogenic activities have increased scrupulously, industrialization have occurred, economic growth has increased, and natural resources are being exploited, causing huge waste management problems, disposal issues, and the evolution of several pollutants. In order to have a sustainable environment, these pollutants need to be removed and degraded. Bioremediation employing microorganisms or enzymes can be used to treat the pollutants by degrading and/or transforming the pollutants into different form which is less or non-toxic to the environment. Laccase is a diverse enzyme/biocatalyst belonging to the oxidoreductase group of enzymes produced by microorganisms. Due to its low substrate specificity and monoelectronic oxidation of substrates in a wide range of complexes, it is most commonly used to degrade chemical pollutants. For degradation of emerging pollutants, laccase can be efficiently employed; however, large-scale application needs reusability, thermostability, and operational stability which necessitated strategies like immobilization and engineering of robust laccase possessing desirable properties. Immobilization of laccase for bioremediation, and treatment of wastewater for degrading emerging pollutants have been focussed for sustainable development. Challenges of employing biocatalysts for these applications as well as engineering robust laccase have been highlighted in this study. [Display omitted] • Laccase is a versatile biocatalyst capable of degrading pollutants. • Laccase immobilization enables it to overcome limitations for its industrial applications. • Robust laccases are needed which can be produced by genetic engineering. • Laccase application with real pollutants is necessary to prove its feasibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel reliability evaluation method for large nonlinear engineering systems excited by dynamic loading applied in time domain is presented. For this class of problems, the performance functions are expected to be function of time and implicit in nature. Available first- or second-order reliability method (FORM/SORM) will be challenging to estimate reliability of such systems. Because of its inefficiency, the classical Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) method also cannot be used for large nonlinear dynamic systems. In the proposed approach, only tens instead of hundreds or thousands of deterministic evaluations at intelligently selected points are used to extract the reliability information. A hybrid approach, consisting of the stochastic finite element method (SFEM) developed by the author and his research team using FORM, response surface method (RSM), an interpolation scheme, and advanced factorial schemes, is proposed. The method is clarified with the help of several numerical examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste, which constitutes more than 30% of the solid waste stream in India is not given proper attention and loses it's recycling potential. Absence of enforcement and negligence on behalf of the authorities has given rise to independent overlords who fight among themselves for the control of waste thereby making it even more difficult to categorize and quantify C&D waste. Re-utilization of Solid Waste is in developmental stage and thus ends up mostly in landfills without taking into consideration the malignant effects on the environment. Elements like Lead, Arsenic, Cadmium and Silica find their way into the soil and are then transported into the ground water (Stefania Butera, 2015). So the directive is to minimize the exploitation on the environment and find a means for recycling the waste into environment friendly building materials. Estimation of CD waste is carried out by making use of Building specific and region specific waste generation rates. An all encompassing model which can successfully predict the total amount of waste generated from a particular project does not exist and this fact is quite evident given the diversity of construction techniques and composition of building materials. Even If such a database were to be compiled, end users would find it hard to comprehend and apply this data into meaningful quantity. The most appealing way of making users more aware of the need to recycle is by offering a perspective where they can perform a cost benefit analysis of the revenue that can be generated from proper optimization and reutilization of CD waste. Contractors can make a prior estimate of the investment for a particular project and order precise quantities of the materials required. This would not only eliminate the additional cost incurred but also reduce waste on site from off cuts and poor handling of surplus materials. Therefore the objective is to propose a model which makes use of easily available data like transportation rates and resale value of recyclable materials which would provide an intuitive and simple optimization model while imbibing the basic principles of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle into action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapidly changing bioremediation prospects are key drive to develop sustainable options that can offer extra benefits rather than only environmental remediation. Algal remediating is gaining utmost attention due to its mesmerising sustainable features, removing odour and toxicity, co-remediating numerous common and emerging inorganic and organic pollutants from gaseous and aqueous environments, and yielding biomass for a range of valuable products refining. Moreover, it also improves carbon footprint via carbon-capturing offers a better option than any other non-algal process for several high CO 2 -emitting industries. Bio-uptake, bioadsorption, photodegradation, and biodegradation are the main mechanisms to remediate a range of common and emerging pollutants by various algae species. Bioadsorption was a dominant remediation mechanism among others implicating surface properties of pollutants and algal cell walls. Photodegradable pollutants were photodegraded by microalgae by adsorbing photons on the surface and intracellularly via stepwise photodissociation and breakdown. Biodegradation involves the transportation of selective pollutants intracellularly, and enzymes help to convert them into simpler non-toxic forms. Robust models are from the green microalgae group and are dominated by Chlorella species. This article compiles the advancements in microalgae-assisted pollutants remediation and value-addition under sustainable biorefinery prospects. Moreover, filling the knowledge gaps, and recommendations for developing an effective platform for emerging pollutants remediation and realization of commercial-scale algal bioremediation. [Display omitted] • Algal remediation is evolving for emerging organic pollutants from industrial origin. • Algal remediation is gaining major focus for persistent organic pollutants removal. • Algal remediation offers sustainable solutions and promising circular economy option. • It improves environmental-footprint, offsets treatment-costs via valuable products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the earliest days, occurrence of deadly outbreaks caused by prevalence of different pathogenic virus infections affected human community periodically and caused millions of deaths per year. In order to improve safety and quality of human life against virus infections, it is imperative to do rigorous evaluation of existing virus treatment or elimination processes that would help to understand their potential merits, limitations and further prompts identifying the scope for developing advanced future technologies towards viral elimination. Considering the objective, present review comprehensively analyze present scope, potential and limitations of individual physical, chemical and biological methods in the direction of holistic management (recovery, purification, detection, elimination and disinfection) of viruses from liquid, solid, gaseous and interfacial environments. Among various treatment approaches, membrane filtration technology has been recognized as most promising, cost effective and energy efficient tool to deal with virus elimination from various resources. Membrane-based methods facilitates wide ranges of virus removal and disinfection capacity, mediated by size-exclusion, electrostatic or hydrophobic interactions and entrapment mechanisms. Based on the present demand of developing a complete and fully mature virus disinfection technique, potential of electro-spun nanofibrous membranes in selective capture and inactivation of viruses are clearly evaluated in the present review. Furthermore, it was found out from comprehensive analysis of available membrane mediated virus elimination processes that membranes derived from different forms of abundantly available, renewable and natural polymers such as cellulose are quite effective to capture, separate and inactivate viruses through depth filtration, charge based filtration and adsorption-oriented techniques. [Display omitted] • Threat and future concern due to the emergence of deadly virus- infected diseases. • Different routes and factors influence in transmission of various viral infections. • Advances, strength and limitations of conventional virus separation and inactivation processes. • Suitability of different membrane process mechanisms for intensified virus separations. • Identifying low cost and promising polymeric membrane materials for virus inactivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]