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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The efficient removal of fluoride from zinc smelting waste acid by complex extraction using P204 as the extractant was investigated. The effects of concentration of fluorine and aluminum in aqueous phase, pH, extraction temperature and time on the extraction rate of fluorine and aluminum were examined, The resource utilization of aluminum fluoride was also discussed. The results show that under P204 concentration of 1 mol/L, Al3+ concentration in aqueous phase of 0.1 mol/L, F concentration of less than 0.025 mol/L,pH = 3.0-3.5, extraction time of 8 min and room temperature, the extraction rate of fluorine can reach 96.18%. Using 1.0 mol/L sulfuric add solution to strip of the fluorine-aluminum-loaded organic phase, the stripping rates for F and Al3+ are 81.88% and 39.39%, respectively. Cryolite can be obtained by precipitation of stripping solution, and the synthesis of cryolite is more favorable under the condition of pH = 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorine is a harmful element in the process of zinc hydrometallurgy. During zinc electrodeposition, it will corrode plates and equipment and release toxic gases such as chlorine, resulting in increased production cost and environmental pollution. The sources of chlorine elements in the process of zinc hydrometallurgy and IS hazard to the process of zinc hydrometallurgy are briefly introduced. The research and development status, advantages and disadvantages of the main chlorine removal processes such as chemical precipitation, extraction and on exchange are summarized, and the main research and development directions in the future are pointed out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

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

The article addresses the pressing issue of ensuring legality in the field of transplantation. The current state of healthcare in Ukraine, the need for high-quality medical services, and the necessity of adapting national legislation to international standards prompt a thorough analysis and improvement of the legal regulation of the transplantation of anatomical materials. The main focus of the article is on identifying violations of legislation in the field of transplantation, analyzing their types, and consequences. Various aspects of offenses are examined, including illegal organ trade, violations of the donor consent procedure, and non-compliance with medical ethics and safety standards during transplantation operations. The peculiarities of violations committed by both medical professionals and other related workers in the transplantation of human anatomical materials are revealed. The authors explore the international experience of transplantation regulation and highlight key points that require attention in Ukrainian legislation. The provisions of the Brussels Declaration on the Laws and Customs of War, the Geneva Conventions, and other international documents establishing norms and principles in this field are analyzed. Violations of these norms can have serious consequences for patients' health and the reputation of medical institutions. The article emphasizes the need to strengthen state control over compliance with legislation in the field of transplantation, improve legal mechanisms of accountability for violations, and create conditions for the effective functioning of the transplantation system in Ukraine. Specifically, the author proposes an original definition of violations of the established order of transplantation of human anatomical materials and provides a classification of violations by areas and forms of activity at each stage of this his process. The study aims to form theoretical and practical foundations for ensuring the legality and ethics of the transplantation of anatomical materials in Ukraine, which is an important step in the development of the medical field and the protection of patients' rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

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

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

Introduction: Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) eliminates these small solutes with equal efficacy under the same conditions. However, variations in the reduction rates of these solutes observed in patients with CRRT are likely influenced by factors other than removal through CRRT. This study evaluated the reduction rates of these small solutes during CRRT and their possible association with mortality. Methods: This study used the data of limited patients registered in the CHANGE study, which is a large retrospective observational study on CRRT management across 18 Japanese ICUs. Reduction rates of three solutes in blood, calculated on the 1st and 2nd days, were compared in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) treated by CRRT. The potential association between solute reduction rates and mortality during CRRT or within 7 days after the termination of CRRT was evaluated. Results: In total, 163 patients with AKI were included in the analysis. The reduction rates of uric acid (UA) were significantly higher than those of urea and creatinine for the 1st and 2nd tests in the entire cohort. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that lower UA reduction rates were significantly associated with mortality during CRRT or within 7 days after CRRT termination {area under the ROC curve: 0.62 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.52–0.71] for the 1st test and 0.63 [95% CI: 0.54–0.72] for the 2nd test}. After adjusting for age and SOFA score, a significant association was observed between lower UA reduction rates and hospital mortality for both tests. Conclusion: Among the small solutes, UA reduction rates in patients with AKI treated with CRRT were notably higher than those of creatinine and urea. Furthermore, the significant association between lower UA reduction rates and mortality suggests that UA reduction rate may serve as a valuable indicator of insufficient removal of uremic solutes by CRRT, although the decline in UA production must be taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P) overloading in aquatic environments has long-been recognized as the leading cause of water quality deterioration, harmful algal bloom, and eutrophication. This study investigated P removal performance by five cost-effective carbonaceous materials (CMs) in flow-through packed column systems. These CMs include biochars pyrolyzed from feedstocks of Eucalyptus (E-biochar) and Douglas fir (D-biochar), commercial biochar (C-biochar), iron oxide-coated biochar (Fe-biochar), and commercial activated carbon (AC). The physicochemical properties of CMs, such as specific surface area (SSA), pore volume, pore diameter, elemental composition, and surface charge, were characterized. The packed column experimental results showed that P removal performance followed the order: E-biochar < D-biochar < C-biochar < Fe-biochar < AC. Specifically, the sorption capacity of 1 mg/L of P in packed columns was 0.0036 mg P/g E-biochar, 0.0111 mg P/g D-biochar, 0.0369 mg P/g D-biochar, 0.077 mg P/g Fe-biochar, and 0.088 mg P/g AC, respectively. The largest SSA (1012 m2/g) and pore volume (0.57 cm3/g) of AC accounted for the most outstanding P removal efficiency mainly by physical sorption, while electrostatic interaction explained the high P removal by Fe-biochar (SSA as low as 32.4 m2/g). Our findings provide direct practical implications for effectively removing P in water by cost-effective CMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red macroalgae in the genus Porphyra are widely collected for human consumption and increasingly harvested along the North Atlantic coasts but their ability to withstand repeated harvesting and maintain high cover and abundance on natural shorelines remains poorly explored, raising sustainability concerns. Therefore, we investigated the effect of frequent hand-harvesting on Porphyra dioica in a population in South Wales, UK, where it is commercially harvested. Twelve control and twelve treatment quadrats were installed in spring and six control and treatment plots in autumn. Monthly hand-harvesting of P. dioica individuals larger than 5 cm was performed in the treatment plots, while the control plots remained undisturbed. We monitored P. dioica percentage cover, yield, thallus length and recruit density, as well as benthic flora and fauna. Harvesting only impacted P. dioica thallus length, resulting in 41% smaller thalli compared to unharvested plots during summer, with possible long-term implications (e.g. reproductive output). Strong seasonality of P. dioica cover and yield was observed, peaking during spring and summer. The results suggest high resilience of the opportunistic life strategy of P. dioica under frequent harvesting, but to allow for full recovery, we urge for a recovery period of more than the tested 4 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction Methods Results Conclusion Hyperkalemia is frequently encountered and associated with cardio‐vascular mortality in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients. While online hemodiafiltration (OL‐HDF) is thought to offer clinical benefit over high‐flux HD, the impact of convective clearance on intra‐dialytic potassium removal is unknown.Chronic dialysis patients undergoing outpatient HD or OL‐HDF at a single center attached to a university hospital were recruited in a prospective observational study. Spent dialysate along with clinical and biological variables were collected during a single mid‐week session.We included 141 patients, with 21 treated with HD and 120 with OL‐HDF. Mean age was 65.7 ± 15.6 years with 87 (61.7%) men. Mean intra‐dialytic potassium removal was 69.9 ± 34.2 mmol. Patients on OL‐HDF and HD have similar intra‐dialytic potassium removal, with mean values of 69.1 ± 34.2 and 74.3 ± 35.0, respectively. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with intra‐dialytic potassium removal were (decreasing order of effect size): dialysate potassium (β −15.5, p < 0.001), pre‐HD serum potassium (β 9.1, p < 0.001), and session time (β 7.8, p = 0.003). In OL‐HDF patients, substitution flow was not associated with potassium removal.In chronic dialysis patients, convective therapy provided by OL‐HDF does not affect potassium removal when compared with high‐flux HD. Moreover, the importance of convective volume is not associated with potassium clearance in OL‐HDF. Overall, session length and serum‐to‐dialysate potassium gradient are the main determinants of potassium clearance regardless of dialysis modality. Those results should inform clinicians on the optimal therapy in chronic dialysis patients in the era of OL‐HDF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The behavior of 7 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in agricultural Chernozem and Fluvisol soils from the Czech Republic planted with radishes, onions, and carrots was studied. Only the total biomass yield of carrots was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) when compared to the control biomass yield. All tested PCBs, especially congener PCB 28, were able to accumulate in slightly higher amounts in the radish surface than in the onion one. The highest PCB content was observed in the surface layer of carrots, which could be related to the agrochemical properties of soil, vegetation period, and more intensive contact of carrot roots with PCBs in a bulk soil. The translocation factors of PCBs were lower than 1, indicating a poor ability for PCB uptake from soil. The highest relative PCB removal from soil was observed in acidic Fluvisol, accounting for 27.2%, with a maximum of 2% plant contribution to soil PCB dissipation. The low relative removal of PCBs by plants indicates that in vegetable-planted soil, the removal of PCBs could be due to autochthonous soil microorganisms in the rhizosphere of vegetables. The bioaccumulation factors for PCBs derived from the cultivation of examined root vegetables in Chernozem and Fluvisol soils contaminated with PCBs at nearly 1500 µg/kg dry weight can be considered low and negligible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pollution has become a worldwide issue, particularly in developing countries. This study aimed to cleanse water contaminated with reactive red (RR-198) and reactive blue (RB-19) dyes via adsorption onto nonliving white rot fungal biomass Phanerochaete chrysosporium under different operational conditions. It was found that P. chrysosporium removed more of RB-19 than RB-198. The conditions of pH 3, temperature 50 °C, adsorbent dosage 0.6 g, particle sizes of adsorbent (0.25 mm), and contact time (30 min) were optimum for removal of the dyes. RR-198 and RB-19 were removed with levels of 78.4% and 86.4%, respectively at pH 3; 79.6% and 90.0%, respectively using 0.6 g of adsorbent dosage; 82.0% and 87.0%, respectively at 30 min; and 82.0% and 87.2%, respectively at 50 °C. Thus, dead P. chrysosporium biomass was shown to be a biosorbent for the uptake of RB-19 and RR-198 dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A flue gas condenser (FGC) system recovers heat from exhaust flue gases in energy production and chemical plants, reducing air pollution due to dust, SOx, and HCl. An FGC system is divided into indirect contact condenser (ICC) and direct contact condenser (DCC) types. In an ICC, the exhaust gases do not mix with the working fluid, and a water film is formed during flue gas condensation for partial SOx removal. In a DCC, direct mixing of the exhaust flue gas with the cooling fluid (mainly water) occurs, with simultaneous absorption of SOx. In this study, we investigated the SO2 removal efficiency and heat recovery of an ICC, a DCC, and a DCC–ICC hybrid system, and compared the results of the hybrid system with those obtained for a single DCC type at the same liquid-to-gas (L/G) ratio. The SO2 removal characteristics of the hybrid system were examined based on the L/G ratio and absorbent-to-SO2 molar ratio. In the reference ICC-type FGC system, the exit temperature of the mixed gas was 28 °C, with the condensed water ratio and heat recovery efficiency being 80.9% and 93.4%, respectively. At an L/G ratio of 1.5–3.5, the SO2 removal efficiency of a single DCC was 31.5–65.9%, whereas that of the hybrid FGC system (with packing material) increased from 47.1% to 72.3%, which further increased to ~90% upon the addition of NaOH at a molar ratio of 0.7 and an L/G ratio of 1.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aims to develop a new adsorbent material using oak crown and explore its effectiveness in removing I2 ions through a series of batch experiments. ACOW was characterised by zero charge (pHpzc) and FTIR spectroscopy. The impact of the initial I2 concentration (20-100 mg/L), temperature (25-55 °C), pH (2-14), adsorbent dosage (2-10 g/L), Stirring speed (100-900 rpm), particle size (100-2000μm) and contact time (0-30 min) on I2 adsorption was examined. The adsorption kinetic obeys the pseudo-second order model with a determination coefficient (R2) equal to 0.999. Adsorption follows the Langmuir equation well, with the best fit to the experimental data at equilibrium. A qmax value (= 103.606 mg/g) at 25°C and 120.773 mg/g at 55°C were eliminated under the optimised conditions, indicating homogeneous adsorption on the surface of the adsorbent. The thermodynamic parameters gave a negative free energy ΔGo (-3.445 to -5.629 kJ/mol), a positive enthalpy ΔHo (18.406 kJ/mol) and an activation energy Ea (= 22.599 kJ/mol), thus confirming the spontaneous and endothermic nature of adsorption of iodine on ACOW. The positive entropy ΔSo (0.0733 kJ/mol K) show increased randomness of the solid-liquid interface during the adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether adenomyosis is present in the cornual portion of hysterectomies of symptomatic sterilization device users and in patients hysterectomized for different benign causes and who presented with pelvic pain and/or menstrual alterations. Methods: An observational, analytical, cross‐sectional, single‐center, retrospective cohort study was conducted in a secondary level hospital. Cohort 1 consisted of women who had Essure® hysteroscopic sterilization devices inserted between 2009 and 2017, who developed gynecologic symptoms (pelvic pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, and/or abnormal uterine bleeding) and who underwent a hysterectomy for explantation of the devices. Cohort 2 consisted of women with the same gynecologic symptoms, who underwent a hysterectomy for other benign causes. All surgeries were performed by the gynecology team between 2018 and 2022. A descriptive and comparative analysis of sociodemographic, clinical characteristics, and pathologic findings between cohorts was made. Results: In total, 96 patients were studied (cohort 1 included 34 women, cohort 2 included 62 women). Pelvic pain was found to be more frequent in the cohort of Essure users (76.47% vs. 50%, P = 0.012), with a ratio of three times higher in this group (odds ratio 3.25, 95% confidence interval 1.27–8.28). Adenomyosis was more frequently found in the Essure group, both at corporal and cornual portions, the latter being five times higher in this cohort (relative risk = 5.47; 95% confidence interval 1.17–25.64). Conclusions: The present study may be the first to describe cornual adenomyosis related to Essure devices. These devices may play a role in the development of adenomyosis and, consequently, pelvic pain. However, causality is difficult to establish. Synopsis: The study provides new histopathologic findings in women with Essure® devices, suggesting new lines of research to deepen the symptomatology of its users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electro-Fenton process could remove pollutant in in tannery industry wastewater. The objectives of this is used to know the effect of electro-Fenton on, ammonia (NH3), chromium (III) (Cr(III), total suspended solid (TSS), biological oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal in tannery wastewater treatment. The voltage variation used to trigger the electro-Fenton reaction was 6 V, 8 V, and 10 V. Observation time at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 mins was used to see changes in the sample. The results obtained are electro-Fenton method has an effective time of 30 mins to removal efficiency of 60.7%, 32.9%, 72.8%, 53.4%, and 53.4% for NH3, Cr(III), TSS, BOD, and COD respectively. Pollution from tannery effluent can be eliminated to a sufficient extent using the electro-Fenton technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This work reports the amine and mercapto bi-functionalized mesoporous silica MCM-41 for heavy metal ions removal from aqueous solutions. XRD, FTIR and N2 adsorption–desorption analyses confirmed that a series of bi-functionalized mesoporous silica MCM-41 with huge specific surface area were successfully obtained. In aqueous solution, the adsorption performance were evaluated by the adsorption of Zn(II), Cu(II), Cr(III) and Pb(II). The obtained results indicate that synthesis process has no significant influence on the structure and the existence of functional group resulted in outstanding adsorption capacity. The methodology of pre-hydrolysis was one effective treatment for grafting useful functional group on to mesoporous silica. The adsorption reactions for the adsorption of heavy metal ions by bi-functionalized silica-based mesoporous materials were spontaneous adsorption processes over the range of experimental temperatures. The adsorption isotherm is consistent with the Freundlich adsorption isotherms model. The Freundlich parameters KF and n indicated favorable adsorption. The adsorption kinetics of heavy metalions over these bi-functionalized mesoporous silica could be well described by pseudo-second-order models. Therefore, this bi-functionalized mesoporous material has promise for the removal and recovery of heavy metal ions from water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to investigate the energy cost of eliminating Cr(VI) by nanofiltration membranes (NF). The modified pore flow model was utilized to predict the performance of NF membrane in terms of ion retention and water productivity. Then, the energy cost was estimated according to the obtained results from this model as well as available data from literature. The effect of feed flow, applied pressure, and temperature on energy cost were highlighted and thoroughly assessed. It is shown that high retention values can be achieved with relatively high energy cost. Nonetheless, energy cost of 0.04 $/m3 have been estimated for Cr retention less than 95 % at a pressure of 5 bar. It is also assessed that feed flow has a significant influence on energy cost relative to other operating parameters. In particular, increasing feed flow from 40 to 760 L/h leading the energy cost to be increased by twelve times. At high feed flow, however, energy cost can be largely reduced by applying pressure higher than 10 bar. It is concluded that high feed temperature is favored if there is no need for heating equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]