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Severe adverse drug reactions (sADRs) are important causes of morbidity and mortality. The Southern Network on Adverse Drug Reactions (SONAR), a National Cancer Institute-funded pharmacovigilance program, has outlined a novel 9-stop methodology, termed ANTICIPATE, that has evaluated this methodology, among persons with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

About 1-10% of all serious adverse drug reactions (sADRs) are reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ( Moore T, Bennett C. Underreporting of Hemorrhagic and Thrombotic Complications of Pharmaceuticals to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Empirical Findings for Warfarin, Clopidogrel, Ticlopidine, and Thalidomide from the Southern Network on Adverse Reactions (SONAR). Semin Thromb Hemost. 2012;38(08):905-907. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0032-1328890 ). Prevailing opinion suggests that low reporting rates reflect time constraints.

Logistic regression is a statistical tool of paramount significance in the field of epidemiology

Throughout the last decade, utilization of machine learning has seen a sharp rise in fields such as computing, transportation, engineering, and medicine. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) have demonstrated increased application due to their versatility and ability to learn from large datasets. The emergence of electronic health records has propelled healthcare into an era of personalized medicine largely aided by computers. This review summarizes the current state of ANNs as a predictive tool in medicine and the downfalls of reliance on a self-adjusting computer network to make healthcare decisions. Medical ANN studies can be grouped into three categories - diagnosis, classification, and prediction, with diagnostic studies currently dominating the field. However, recent trends show prediction studies may soon outnumber the remaining categories. ANN prediction studies dominate in fields such as cardiovascular disease, neurologic disease, and osteoporosis. Neural networks consistently show higher predictive accuracy than industry standards. But several pitfalls are preventing mainstream adoption. Clinicians often rely on situational pearls to make complex healthcare decisions, ANNs often do not account for intuitive variables during their analysis. Instead, ANNs rely on incomplete patient data and ‘black box’ computing to make decisions that are not completely transparent to the end-user. This has led to ‘runaway’ networks that may ultimately make inaccurate and harmful decisions. This review emphasizes the extensive potential of machine learning in medicine and the obstacles that must be overcome to utilize its full potential.

The EU, the USA, and Japan account for the majority of biological pharmacotherapy use worldwide. Biosimilar regulatory approval pathways were authorised in the EU (2006), in Japan (2009), and in the USA (2015), to facilitate approval of biological drugs that are highly similar to reference products and to encourage market competition. Between 2007 and 2020, 33 biosimilars for oncology were approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), 16 by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and ten by the Japan Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA). Some of these approved applications were initially rejected because of manufacturing concerns (four of 36 [11%] with the EMA, seven of 16 [44%] with the FDA, none of ten for the PMDA). Median times from initial regulatory submission before approval of oncology biosimilars were 1·5 years (EMA), 1·3 years (FDA), and 0·9 years (PMDA). Pharmacists can substitute biosimilars for reference biologics in some EU countries, but not in the USA or Japan. US regulation prohibits substitution, unless the biosimilar has been approved as interchangeable, a designation not yet achieved for any biosimilar in the USA. Japan does not permit biosimilar substitution, as prescribers must include the product name on each prescription and that specific product must be given to the patient. Policy Reviews published in 2014 and 2016 in The Lancet Oncology focused on premarket and postmarket policies for oncology biosimilars before most of these drugs received regulatory approval. In this Policy Review from the Southern Network on Adverse Reactions, we identify factors preventing the effective launch of oncology biosimilars. Introduction to the market has been more challenging with therapeutic than for supportive care oncology biosimilars. Addressing region-specific competition barriers and educational needs would improve the regulatory approval process and market launches for these biologics, therefore expanding patient access to these products in the EU, the USA, and Japan.

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) are available to treat chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA). In 2007-2008, regulatory notifications advised of venous thromboembolism and mortality risks while the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services' restricted ESA initiation to patients with hemoglobin

Contaminants of emerging concerns such as endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) and pharmaceuticals/personal-care products (PPCPs) constitute a problem since they are not completely eliminated by traditional water and wastewater treatment methods. Non-thermal plasma (NTP) is considered as one of the most favorable treatment methods for the removal of organic contaminants in water and wastewater. The degradation of selected EDCs and PPCPs of various classes was reviewed, based on the recent literature, to (i) address the effect of the main NTP treatment parameters (water quality and NTP conditions: pH, initial concentration, temperature, background common ion, NOM, scavenger, gas type/flow rate, discharge/reactor type, input power, and energy efficiency/yield) on the degradation of contaminants and their intermediates, (ii) assess the influences of different catalysts and hybrid systems on degradation, (iii) describe EDC and PPCP degradation along with their properties, and (iv) evaluate mineralization, pathway, and degradation mechanism of selected EDCs and PPCPs for different cases studied. Furthermore, areas of potential research in NTP treatment for the degradation of EDCs and PPCPs in aqueous solutions are recommended. It could be reasonably predicted that this review is valid for developing our understanding of the fundamental scientific principles concerning the catalytic NTP of EDCs and PPCPs, providing helpful and practical references for researchers and designers on the effective removal of EDCs/PPCPs and the optimized operation of catalytic NTP systems.

The study applies the current knowledge on microbiome in built environments towards identifying microbes, specifically bacteria as bio-fingerprints which can reflect indoor space and occupant characteristics. Data were collected from the literature on the bacterial family and the indoor environment. The factorial design approach was applied to quantify and compare the influence of selected indoor environmental parameters, sampling region (air or surface), sampling locations (residence or non-residence), gender and age and their interactions on the types and concentration of detected bacterial families. Factorial design analysis identified and confirmed Corynebacteriaceae and Lactobacillaceae as the gender signature for males and females, respectively. The significant bacterial families across all scenarios are: Corynebacteriaceae, Propionibacteriaceae, Bacillaceae, Staphylococcaceae, Lactobacillaceae, Methylobacteriaceae, Moraxellaceae, Micrococcaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Rhodobacteraceae, Streptococcaceae and Pseudomonadaceae. Higher concentrations of Propionibacteriaceae indicate that the specific location is an adult-occupied space. Staphylococcaceae presence is the bio-fingerprint of contaminated air of hospitals bio-fingerprint and Moraxellaceae on hospital surfaces are distinct characteristics. Streptococcaceae is a bio-fingerprint of contaminated air of schools and other children-occupied spaces. Enterobacteriaceae is a bio-fingerprint of contaminated air of non-residence locations. Bacillaceae does not indicate any indoor characteristics.

Biosimilar filgrastims are primarily indicated for chemotherapy-induced neutropenia prevention. They are less expensive formulations of branded filgrastim, and biosimilar filgrastim was the first biosimilar oncology drug administered in European Union (EU) countries, Japan, and the U.S. Fourteen biosimilar filgrastims have been marketed in EU countries, Japan, the U.S., and Canada since 2008, 2012, 2015, and 2016, respectively. We reviewed experiences and policies for biosimilar filgrastim markets in EU countries and Japan, where uptake has been rapid, and in the U.S. and Canada, where experience is rapidly emerging. U.S. regulations for designating biosimilar interchangeability are under development, and such regulations have not been developed in most other countries. Pharmaceutical substitution is allowed for new filgrastim starts in some EU countries and in Canada, but not Japan and the U.S. In EU countries, biosimilar adoption is facilitated with favorable hospital tender offers. U.S. adoption is reportedly 24%, while the second filgrastim biosimilar is priced 30% lower than branded filgrastim and 20% lower than the first biosimilar filgrastim approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Utilization is about 60% in EU countries, where biosimilar filgrastim is marketed at a 30%–40% discount. In Japan, biosimilar filgrastim utilization is 45%, primarily because of 35% discounts negotiated by Central Insurance and hospital-only markets. Overall, biosimilar filgrastim adoption barriers are small in many EU countries and Japan and are diminishing in Canada in the U.S. Policies facilitating improved U.S. adoption of biosimilar filgrastim, based on positive experiences in EU countries and Japan, including favorable insurance coverage; larger price discount relative to reference filgrastim pricing; closing of the “rebate trap” with transparent pricing information; formal educational efforts of patients, physicians, caregivers, and providers; and allowance of pharmaceutical substitution of biosimilar versus reference filgrastim, should be considered. Implications for Practice We reviewed experiences and policies for biosimilar filgrastims in Europe, Japan, Canada, and the U.S. Postmarketing harmonization of regulatory policies for biosimilar filgrastims has not occurred. Acceptance of biosimilar filgrastims for branded filgrastim, increasing in the U.S. and in Canada, is commonplace in Japan and Europe. In the U.S., some factors, accepted in Europe or Japan, could improve uptake, including acceptance of biosimilars as safe and effective; larger cost savings, decreasing “rebate traps” where pharmaceutical benefit managers support branded filgrastim, decreased use of patent litigation/challenges, and allowing pharmacists to routinely substitute biosimilar for branded filgrastim.

The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has reinforced the necessity of understanding and establishing baseline information on the fate and transport mechanisms of viruses under indoor environmental conditions. Mechanisms governing virus interactions in built spaces have thus far been established based on our knowledge on the interaction of inorganic particles in indoor spaces and do not include characteristics specific to viruses. Studies have explored the biological and kinetic processes of microbes' attachments on surfaces in other fields but not in the built environment. There is also extensive literature on the influence of indoor architecture on air flow, temperature profiles, and forces influencing aerosol transport. Bridging the gap between these fields will lead to the generation of novel frameworks, methodologies and know-how that can identify undiscovered pathways taken by viruses and other microbes in the built environment. Our study summarizes the assessment of the influence of surface properties on the adhesion kinetics of vaccinia virus on gold, silica, glass, and stainless-steel surfaces. We found that on gold the virus layer was more viscoelastic compared to stainless-steel. There was negligible removal of the layer from the stainless-steel surface compared to the others. The results further highlight the importance of converging different fields of research to assess the fate and transport of microbes in indoor built spaces.

Biosimilars are biologic drug products that are highly similar to reference products in analytic features, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, immunogenicity, safety, and efficacy. Biosimilar epoetin received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2018. The manufacturer received an FDA nonapproval letter in 2017, despite receiving a favorable review by FDA's Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) and an FDA nonapproval letter in 2015 for an earlier formulation. We discuss the 2018 FDA approval, the 2017 FDA ODAC Committee review, and the FDA complete response letters in 2015 and 2017; review concepts of litigation, naming, labeling, substitution, interchangeability, and pharmacovigilance; review European and U.S. oncology experiences with biosimilar epoetin; and review the safety of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. In 2020, policy statements from AETNA, United Health Care, and Humana indicated that new epoetin oncology starts must be for biosimilar epoetin unless medical need for other epoetins is documented. Empirical studies report that as of 2012, reference epoetin use decreased from 40%–60% of all patients with cancer with chemotherapy-induced anemia to Implications for Practice Few oncologists understand substitution and interchangeability of biosimilars with reference drugs. Epoetin biosimilar is new to the market, and physician and patient understanding is limited. The development of epoetin biosimilar is not familiar to oncologists.

Background: Adverse drug/device reactions (ADRs) can result in severe patient harm. We define very serious ADRs as being associated with severe toxicity, as measured on the Common Toxicity Criteria Adverse Events (CTCAE)) scale, following use of drugs or devices with large sales, large financial settlements, and large numbers of injured persons. We report on impacts on patients, clinicians, and manufacturers following very serious ADR reporting. Methods: We reviewed clinician identified very serious ADRs published between 1997 and 2019. Drugs and devices associated with reports of very serious ADRs were identified. Included drugs or devices had market removal discussed at Food and Drug Advisory (FDA) Advisory Committee meetings, were published by clinicians, had sales > $1 billion, were associated with CTCAE Grade 4 or 5 toxicity effects, and had either >$1 billion in settlements or >1,000 injured patients. Data sources included journals, Congressional transcripts, and news reports. We reviewed data on: 1) timing of ADR reports, Boxed warnings, and product withdrawals, and 2) patient, clinician, and manufacturer impacts. Binomial analysis was used to compare sales pre- and post-FDA Advisory Committee meetings. Findings: Twenty very serious ADRs involved fifteen drugs and one device. Legal settlements totaled $38.4 billion for 753,900 injured persons. Eleven of 18 clinicians (61%) reported harms, including verbal threats from manufacturer (five) and loss of a faculty position (one). Annual sales decreased 94% from $29.1 billion pre-FDA meeting to $4.9 billion afterwards (p

Erythropoisis stimulating agent (ESA) use was addressed in Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Oncology Drug Advisory Committee (ODAC) meetings between 2004 and 2008. FDA safety-focused regulatory actions occurred in 2007 and 2008. In 2007, black box warnings advised of early death and venous thromboembolism (VTE) risks with ESAs in oncology. In 2010, a Risk Evaluation Strategies (REMS) was initiated, with cancer patient consent that mortality and VTE risks were noted with ESAs. We report warnings and REMS impacts on ESA utilization among Veterans Administration (VA) cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA). Data were from Veterans Affairs database (2003-2012). Epoetin and darbepoetin use were primary outcomes. Segmented linear regression was used to estimate changes in ESA use levels and trends, clinical appropriateness, and adverse events (VTEs) among chemotherapy-treated cancer patients. To estimate changes in level of drug prescription rate after policy actions, model-specific indicator variables as covariates based on specific actions were included. ESA use fell by 95% and 90% from 2005, for epoetin and darbepoetin, from 22% and 11%, respectively, to 1% and 1%, respectively, among cancer patients with CIA, respectively (p

Introduction: Adverse drug/device reactions (ADRs) can result in severe patient harm. We operationally define titanic ADRs as Common Toxicity Criteria Adverse Events grade 4 or 5 that follow use of drugs or devices that have large sales, large safety financial settlements, and affect large numbers of persons. We report on the impact of titanic ADRs identified between 1997 and 2019. Methods: We reviewed clinician reported titanic ADRs. Data sources included Food and Drug Advisory (FDA) Advisory Committee transcripts, news reports, and medical journals. We reviewed data on timing of titanic ADR reports, Boxed warnings, product withdrawals, and impacts on patients, clinicians, and manufacturers. Results: Overall, twenty titanic ADRs involved 15 drugs and 1 device. Legal settlements totaled $38.4 billion for 874,000 persons reportedly developing titanic ADRs. Five clinicians reported receiving threats from manufacturers’ employees, one clinician lost a university faculty position, and five clinicians were not invited to FDA meetings where their safety findings were discussed. Annual sales for 9 still patented drugs and 1 device decreased 78% from $21.3 billion pre-ADR report to $3.9 billion afterwards. Following FDA approval, the median time to titanic ADRs reporting was 7.5 years. Fourteen drugs received Box warnings a median of 7.5 years following titanic ADR reporting. Six drugs and 1 device were withdrawn from marketing (median of 5 years after titanic ADR reporting). Conclusion: Overall, 874,000 persons were purportedly injured by fifteen drugs and one device that caused titanic ADRs, reputational harms were reported by eleven clinicians , and $38.4 billion in legal settlements were paid . Because titanic ADRs impacts are so large, and investigative processes not always transparent, policy makers should develop an independently funded drug safety board. Funding Statement: This work received support from the National Cancer Institute (1R01 A102713 (CLB), https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/nih-almanac/national-cancer-institute-nci; the American Cancer Society (IRG-13-043-01), https://www.cancer.org/; and an unrestricted grant from Doris Levkoff Meddin. Declaration of Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Wastewater treatment plants act as socio-ecological couplers through the concentration, treatment, and subsequent environmental release of sewage collected from surrounding communities and are often considered hotspots for antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). While studies have identified the release of ARB/ARGs in treated liquid sewage, little is known about potential dispersal through wastewater bioaerosol emissions. The aim of this study was to better define the contribution of WWTP bioaerosols to potential environmental distribution of ARB/ARGs. Bioaerosols were collected immediately upwind and downwind from the aeration tanks of a municipal wastewater treatment plant and liquid sludge samples were obtained from the aeration tanks. From the bioaerosol and liquid samples, qPCR assays identified 44 ARGs that confer resistance to a wide range of antibiotics. Comparison of the ARG profiles across samples showed that the downwind bioaerosol profile was 68% similar to the profile found in liquid sludge samples. Community 16S rRNA gene sequencing also showed that downwind bioaerosols had similar taxonomic profiles as those generated from liquid sludge while the upwind profiles showed a distinct difference. Preliminary ARG dispersion modeling estimated an ARG emission rate of ~10,620 genes per hour from the liquid sludge and indicated that the bioaerosols have the potential to be carried kilometers away from the WWTP source based on wind speed. The overall results from this study suggest that bioaerosols generated during WWTP processes can aid in the emission and dispersal of bacteria and ARGs, resulting in a possible route of human exposure and deposition into surrounding environments.

2074 Background: Some clinicians have reported initial series of severe or fatal adverse drug reactions (ADRs) that affected large hematology-oncology patient numbers and for which pharmaceutical manufacturers subsequently paid large settlements or fines for allegedly failing to inform physicians about such ADRs. Based on their large human costs ( > 1,000 serious illnesses or deaths) and large financial costs ( > $100 million in settlements or fines), we have termed these ADRs as titanic ADRs. At a Senate hearing on one titanic, Vioxx, (a COX-2 inhibitor that was evaluated for colorectal cancer prevention), the clinician reporter was termed a “whistleblower” by a senator although this individual had not filed a formal whistleblower lawsuit. We identified physicians who would fit this characterization of whistleblowers and had published titanic hematology-oncology ADR reports in high impact journals. Methods: Hematology-oncology titanic ADRs were identified by collaborators with two NIH-funded drug safety networks (RADAR and SONAR (1998-2019)). Exclusion criteria included having also filed a whistleblower lawsuit. Qualitative research analyses evaluated content of statements made by whistleblowers to national reporters or at congressional hearings. Results: 18 physicians who reported titanic hematology/oncology-associated ADRs in peer-reviewed literature and discussed their findings in national news media outlets are included. Titanic ADRs included death, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, coronary artery disease, and venous thromboembolism related to COX-2 inhibitors, heparin, gadolinium dye, thalidomide, lenalidomide, epoetin, and darbepoetin. Related financial settlements ranged from $100 million to $4.85 billion. Whistleblowers were from the United States, Denmark, and Germany. Primary motivations were public health and medical awareness. Whistleblowers reported having gone through lawsuits and having had executives request that the whistleblowers’ university terminate employment. One whistleblower was quoted saying “I believe that the lawsuit is an attempt to silence me.” Conclusions: Clinician whistleblowers of titanic hematology-oncology ADRs experienced reputational, financial, and personal threats. Motivations for reporting titanic ADRs were mainly public health and medical awareness focused. This differs from our previous study on clinicians publishing on non-titanic ADRs, where the primary motivation was scientific curiosity.

HVAC systems consumes 37 % of the electricity in educational buildings. Energy consumption varies depending on the ventilation strategy. School buildings have a responsibility of ensuring energy performance and maintenance of indoor environmental quality for its occupants. This study assesses the efficiency of the ventilation system in terms of the microbes present in the spaces. Microorganisms and particulate matters were sampled in classrooms, locker rooms, libraries in two high schools and an elementary school. Six bacterial species and seven fungal species were identified. The most abundant microorganisms were Staphylococcus sp., Bacillus sp., and Micrococcus sp. Elementary school, especially kindergarten, showed higher microbial concentration and particulate matter as a result of higher human activity. Microbial concentration was influenced by the types of room in the same building with the same ventilation system. Canonical correspondence plot (CCA) determined that gender and school type have significant effects. The presence of Bacillus sp., Aerococcus sp., Corynebacterium sp., and Penicillium sp. was significantly related to gender, while Staphylococcus sp. and Alternaria sp. were related to type of school. The presence of Aerococcus sp. and Micrococcus sp. depended on the distance from the vent location. Relatively lower number of Aerococcus sp. was detected when the distance between sampling site and vent was less than 2 m. Micrococcus sp. was generally detected when the distance was < 3.5 m. The distance from the door was not significant.

Supplemental Material for Does the presence of certain bacterial family in the microbiome indicate specific indoor environment characteristics? A factorial design approach for identifying bio-fingerprints by Dahae Seong and Shamia Hoque in Indoor and Built Environment

Cross-contamination between occupants in an indoor space may occur due to transfer of infectious aerosols. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) provides detailed insight into particle transport in indoor spaces. However, such simulations are site-specific. This study couples CFD with statistical moments and establishes a framework that transitions site-specific results to generating guidelines for designing &ldquo, healthy&rdquo, indoor spaces. Eighteen cases were simulated, and three parameters were assessed: inlet/outlet location, air changes per hour, and the presence/absence of desks. Aerosol release due to a simulated &ldquo, sneeze&rdquo, in a two-dimensional ventilated space was applied as a test case. Mean, standard deviation, and skewness of the velocity profiles and particle locations gave an overall picture of the spread and movement of the air flow in the domain. A parameter or configuration did not dominate the values, confirming the significance of considering the combined influence of multiple parameters for determining localized air-flow characteristics. Particle clustering occurred more when the inlet was positioned above the outlet. The particle dispersion pattern could be classified into two time zones: &ldquo, near time&rdquo, &lt, 60 s, and &ldquo, far time&rdquo, &gt, 120 s. Based on dosage, the 18 cases were classified into three groups ranging from worst case scenario to best case scenario.

We examined the feasibility of using two types of fly ash (an industrial waste from thermal power plants) as a low-cost catalyst to enhance the ultrasonic (US) degradation of ibuprofen (IBP) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX). Two fly ashes, Belews Creek fly ash (BFA), from a power station in North Carolina, and Wateree Station fly ash (WFA), from a power station in South Carolina, were used. The results showed that >99% removal of IBP and SMX was achieved within 30 and 60 min of sonication, respectively, at 580 kHz and pH 3.5. Furthermore, the removal of IBP and SMX achieved, in terms of frequency, was in the order 580 kHz > 1000 kHz > 28 kHz, and in terms of pH, was in the order of pH 3.5 > pH 7 > pH 9.5. WFA showed significant enhancement in the removal of IBP and SMX, which reached >99% removal within 20 and 50 min, respectively, at 580 kHz and pH 3.5. This was presumably because WFA contains more silicon dioxide than BFA, which can enhance the formation of OH radicals during sonication. Additionally, WFA has finer particles than BFA, which can increase the adsorption capacity in removing IBP and SMX. The sonocatalytic degradation of IBP and SMX fitted pseudo first-order rate kinetics and the synergistic indices of all the reactions were determined to compare the efficiency of the fly ashes. Overall, the findings have showed that WFA combined with US has potential for treating organic pollutants, such as IBP and SMX, in water and wastewater.

Linear, quadratic, and artificial neural network (ANN)-based metamodels were developed for predicting the extent of anthrax spore inactivation by chlorine dioxide in a ventilated three-dimensional space over time from computational fluid dynamics model (CFD) simulation data. Dimensionless groups were developed to define the design space of the problem scenario. The Hammersley sequence sampling (HSS) method was used to determine the sampling points for the numerical experiments within the design space. A CFD model, comprised of multiple submodels, was applied to conduct the numerical experiments. Large eddy simulation (LES) with the Smagorinsky subgridscale model was applied to compute the airflow. Anthrax spores were modeled as a dispersed solid phase using the Lagrangian treatment. The disinfectant transport was calculated by solving a mass transport equation. Kinetic decay constants were included for spontaneous decay of the disinfectant and for the reaction of the disinfectant with the surfaces of the three-dimensional space. To enhance the mixing of the disinfectant with the room air, a momentum source was included in the simulation. An inactivation rate equation accounted for the reaction between the spores and the disinfectant. The ANN-based metamodels were most successful in predicting the number of viable bioaerosols remaining in an arbitrary enclosed space. Sensitivity analysis showed that the mass fraction of the disinfectant, inactivation rate constant, and contact time had the most influence on the inactivation of the spores.

Laboratory experiment on vermicomposting of distillation waste of java citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt.) was carried out employing Eudrilus eugeniae, in two seasonal trials, covering summer and winter periods. Two vermicomposting treatments were conducted in earthen pots, one with citronella plant waste only (CW) and the other, a mixture of citronella waste and cowdung in the proportion 5:1 (CW+CD). Vermicomposting of citronella waste resulted reduction in C/N ratio (83.5-87.7%), enhancement of ash content and a number of macro and micronutrients. The FT-IR spectroscopy of the vermicompost revealed the reduction in aliphatic and aromatic compound as well as increase in amide group after the 105 days stabilization process. The vermicompost output was significantly enhanced in CW+CD treatment than CW treatment. Even, nutrient content of the vermicompost was also higher in CW+CD treatment than CW alone indicating the positive role of cowdung in improvement of quantity and quality.

Artificial neural network (ANN) based metamodels were developed to describe the relationship between the design variables and their effects on the dispersion of aerosols in a ventilated space. A Hammersley sequence sampling (HSS) technique was employed to efficiently explore the multi-parameter design space and to build numerical simulation scenarios. A detailed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was applied to simulate these scenarios. The results derived from the CFD simulations were used to train and test the metamodels. Feed forward ANN’s were developed to map the relationship between the inputs and the outputs. The predictive ability of the neural network based metamodels was compared to linear and quadratic metamodels also derived from the same CFD simulation results. The ANN based metamodel performed well in predicting the independent data sets including data generated at the boundaries. Sensitivity analysis showed that particle tracking time to residence time and the location of input and output with relation to the height of the room had more impact than the other dimensionless groups on particle behavior.

Aerosol dispersion in living spaces especially bioaerosols, due to accidents or deliberate acts, is of significant current interest. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) provides an accurate and detailed platform to study the influence of different parameters on aerosol distribution in indoor spaces. The simulations however are time consuming and site-specific. The work here introduces an approach toward addressing this challenge. During emergencies, an accurate, quicker, and more general model is required to give rapid answers to first responders. Significant parameters influencing aerosol behavior in an office room were identified and through dimensional analysis, nine dimensionless groups were developed. Fractional factorial design was used to build sixteen scenarios to explore the design space. These scenarios were then simulated using a comprehensive CFD model. Large eddy simulation with the Smagorinsky subgrid scale model was applied to compute the airflow. Aerosols were modeled as a dispersed solid p...

Desalination of brackish groundwater is an increasingly important option for inland communities. However, disposing of concentrated saline residual waste streams in evaporation ponds is land intensive. Large facilities might be concerned that this technology is one of the few treatment methods that offers decreasing returns to scale because of increasing boundary-layer resistance for larger ponds. This study evaluated several innovative options for improving evaporation pond performance, including fabric evaporators, wetted-boundary layer breakers, salt-tolerant plants, and droplet spraying. Cost models were developed for boundary-layer breakers and droplet spraying. Incremental costs and evaporation enhancements are compared with site-specific cost information for a wastewater treatment facility in California's Central Valley. Results indicate that boundary-layer breakers and spray technologies are cost-effective compared to a simple pond expansion. Boundary-layer breakers appear to be more cost-...

Large amounts of non-ferrous slags containing Co, Ni, and Cu are produced and stockpiled by metallurgical industries. These industries also produce sulphur dioxide, an air pollutant. Using sulphur dioxide as a leaching reagent to leach the valuable metals from slag would reap both economical gains and environmental benefits. Extraction of these metals using aqueous sulphur dioxide (SO2(aq)) is being carried out in our group. The OLI software, was applied to study the thermodynamics of slag–SO2 system. A private data bank was created and incorporated into the OLI software. Unknown thermodynamic data, mainly for metal-S(IV) complexes, were estimated and used for the simulation. The solubility of slag in SO2(aq) increased with increasing concentration of SO2(aq) and decreased with increase in temperature, ionic strength and pH. The main species in the system were the metal-S(IV) species. About 80% of dissolved Fe was present as FeSO3 , while FeHSO3 and Fe 2+ each accounted for about 10%. Co– and Ni–SO3 complexes contributed about 60% of the dissolved Co and Ni while the Co– and Ni–HSO3 complexes and free metal ions each contributed about 20%. As the total concentration of S(IV) increased in the system the species FeSO3 would become saturated and precipitate as FeSO3·3H2O. This suggested that iron could be removed from the system as sulphite and the Co and Ni in the solution could be enriched. Lower temperatures and ionic strengths enhanced the formation of this precipitate. The calculated solubility was compared with experimental results and a good agreement was obtained. Experimentally, when the pH of the leach solution was increased FeSO3·3H2O precipitate was obtained. As a result the ratio of Co to Fe in solution doubled while Ni to Fe ratio increased nearly four times. The increase of ratio was less than expected likely due to the coprecipitation of Co and Ni with Fe. The metal/Fe ratio in solution was sensitive to pH. High metal/Fe ratio is obtained within a pH range of 3–4; pH values above 5 result in overall removal of metals from the solution. © 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Despite the use of cerium oxide nanoparticles (nCe) in some regions as a diesel fuel additive, the physicochemical properties of the resulting exhaust particles in the ambient atmosphere are not well known. The mixing state of ceria with other exhaust particles is one such physicochemical property that has been shown to potentially affect ecosystem/human health. In this study, cerium-containing particles associated with an nCe additive were collected in the laboratory and in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK where the local bus fleet uses the Envirox nCe additive. Electron microscopy of laboratory-generated exhaust samples indicated both individual ceria and soot particles (external mixture) and ceria contained within soot agglomerations (internal mixture). Low ambient concentrations prevented quantification of the ceria particle mixing state in the atmosphere; therefore, a multicomponent sectional aerosol dynamic model was used to predict the size, chemical composition, and mixing state of ceria particles as a function of distance from an idealized roadway. Model simulations predicted that most ceria particles remain nonmixed in the ambient atmosphere (300 m downwind from the roadway) due to slow coagulation, with the mixing rate most sensitive to the ceria content of emitted nuclei-mode particles and the particle concentration upwind of the road. Although microscopy analysis showed both external and internal mixtures of ceria and soot in freshly emitted particles, the ambient mass concentration, and size distribution of ceria particles predicted by the model was insensitive to the emitted mixing state.Copyright 2015 American Association for Aerosol Research

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (nCe) are used as a fuel-borne catalyst in diesel engines to reduce particulate emissions, yet the environmental and human health impacts of the exhaust particles are not well understood. To bridge the gap between emission measurements and ambient impacts, size-resolved measurements of particle composition and mass concentration have been performed in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom, where buses have used an nCe additive since 2005. These observations show that the noncrustal cerium fraction thought to be associated with the use of nCe has a mass concentration ∼ 0.3 ng m(-3) with a size distribution peaking at 100-320 nm in aerodynamic diameter. Simulations with a near-roadway multicomponent sectional aerosol dynamic model predict that the use of nCe additives increases the number concentration of nuclei mode particles (50 nm in diameter) while decreasing the total mass concentration. The near-road model predicts a downwind mass size distribution of cerium-containing particles peaking at 150 nm in aerodynamic diameter, a value similar to that measured for noncrustal cerium in Newcastle. This work shows that both the emission and atmospheric transformation of cerium-containing particles needs to be taken into account by regional modelers, exposure scientists, and policymakers when determining potential environmental and human health impacts.

Laboratory investigation on vermicomposting efficacy of Perionyx excavatus for recycling of distillation waste biomass of java citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt) was carried out in two seasonal trials i.e. summer and winter periods. The experiment was conducted in earthen pots using a mixture of citronella waste material and cowdung in the proportion of 5:1. A control treatment without earthworms was setup for comparison of the results. The vermicompost had shown 5.8 folds reduction in C/N ratio and 5.6 folds enhancement in ash content. The nutrient contents (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) in the vermicompost had increase in the range of 1.2 – 4.1 fold than the initial level. The FT-IR spectra of the vermicompost confirmed increase in nitrogen rich compounds and decrease in aliphatic/aromatic compounds as compared to the initial level of the biowaste materials. The vermicomposting process is influenced by seasonal variation and summer was more productive than winter.