Environmental Impact Factors Research Articles

Banana slice drying using waste heat from an air conditioner for enhancing performance and sustainability

AbstractAs waste heat dryers (WHD) exhibit conservation of energy with environmental and economic benefits, the direct use of waste hot air rejected from the outdoor unit of a window air conditioning (AC) unit for drying banana slices is demonstrated experimentally in the present research work. For this purpose, a drying chamber was directly coupled to an AC unit (AC‐WHD) and analyzed its performance during banana slice drying by revisiting the concepts of generalized drying curve and drying performance index (DPI). The experimental data set of moisture content ratio obtained with AC‐WHD matched well with the generalized drying curve and the DPI value was found to be 0.999. It was found that the waste air supplied by the AC unit to the drying chamber was hot (≈ 50°C) and 28% dry, which aided the drying process. The thermodynamic performance of AC‐WHD was also evaluated using warm and wet exergy to provide insight into the mechanism of AC‐WHD drying. The exergy based sustainability index was higher while the exergetic destruction coefficient and environmental impact factor were lower for AC‐WHD when compared to literature values of the solar drying method. The findings of this research work indicate the practicality of coupling AC units with dryer units to address sustainable development goals (SDG).

Models of forming logistics infrastructure for complex equipment recycling

Subject matter: models for forming the logistics infrastructure for complex equipment recycling. The work aims to create optimization models that consider key factors in forming recycling infrastructure and combine centralized and decentralized elements to enhance the efficiency of this process. Tasks: analyze modern approaches to organizing complex equipment recycling; identify criteria and factors for optimizing recycling infrastructure; develop a multi-level recycling infrastructure; formulate optimization models for recycling infrastructure, taking into account enterprise production capacities, logistical costs, environmental impact, and other factors. Methods: a systems approach, structural modeling, optimization models. Research results: approaches to organizing recycling infrastructure were analyzed: centralized, distributed, and combined; the selection of a combined approach for creating logistics infrastructure for complex equipment recycling was justified; a structural multi-level model of recycling infrastructure was developed with a lower level (sorting enterprises), middle level (processing enterprises), and upper level (organizational management); mathematical models for optimizing recycling infrastructure were formulated, considering enterprise production capacities, logistical costs, and environmental impact. The conclusions: proposed structural multi-level model of complex equipment recycling infrastructure combines the advantages of centralized and decentralized management, ensuring flexibility, system reliability against external influences, cost minimization, and sustainable process control. The application of the developed optimization models allows for consideration of enterprise production capacities, logistical costs, environmental impact, and other factors to find the most effective configuration of recycling infrastructure. Implementation of the proposed recycling infrastructure will ensure the formation of coherent interaction between government bodies, enterprises, public organizations, and international partners.

Environmental Impact Assessment of a Plant Cell-Based Bio-Manufacturing Process for Producing Plant Natural Product Ingredients

Purpose: This study employed a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology to evaluate the environmental impacts of a novel plant cell-based biomanufacturing process for producing plant natural product ingredients. The primary purpose was to assess the relative sustainability of the process and to provide insights into potential areas of improvement in the biomanufacturing process. Method: The LCA method used an MS Excel (Ver. 2407) -based approach with a cradle-to-gate system boundary covering raw material sourcing (A1), raw material transportation (A2), and product extract manufacturing (A3) stages. Energy use and material inventory data are presented for different unit operations, and environmental impact factors were obtained from the Ecoinvent database. The study included a Material Circularity Index (MCI) calculation to assess the circularity of the biomanufacturing process for the production of saponin emulsifiers that are normally extracted from the woody tissue of the Chilean soapbark tree (Quillaja saponaria). Comparative analyses were performed against a wild-harvest approach for plant tannin extraction from spruce (Picea abies) tree bark. Key Results: The environmental impact assessment focused on determining relative Global Warming Potential (GWP), Acidification Potential (AP), Freshwater Eutrophication (FE), Particulate Matter Formation (PMF), and Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP). Results indicated that the extract manufacturing stage (A3) contributed significantly to adverse environmental impacts, with varying levels of effects based on the energy source used. Comparative analysis with the wild harvest approach highlights the lower environmental impact of the alternative biomanufacturing process. The biomanufacturing process showed a 23% reduction in GWP, AP, and FE and a 25% reduction in PMF and ODP relative to the wild harvest approach. However, the MCI for the biomanufacturing process was estimated to be 0.186, indicating a low material circularity. Conclusions: The results revealed that the extract manufacturing stage, particularly energy consumption, significantly influences the relative environmental impacts of the alternative production processes. Different energy sources exhibit varying effects, with renewable energy sources showing lower environmental impacts. The Material Circularity Index indicated a low circularity for the biomanufacturing process, suggesting opportunities for improvement, such as incorporating recycled or reused materials. Compared with the tannin extraction process, the plant cell-based biomanufacturing process demonstrated lower environmental impacts, emphasising the importance of sustainable practices and the use of renewable energy sources in future plant natural product sourcing. Recommendations include implementing more sustainable practices, optimising raw material choices, and extending product life spans to enhance circularity and overall environmental benefits.

Synthesis of Pyrrolo [2,1-a]isoquinolines using Cu NPs decorated microcrystalline cellulose in 2-Methyl-THF: A biodegradable heteregeneous nanocatalyst for the sustainable cascade approach

Copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) supported on microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) serve as an efficient and biodegradable heterogeneous nanocatalyst for the synthesis of pyrrolo [1,2a] isoquinoline under mild and sustainable reaction conditions through a cascade reaction involving condensation, addition, oxidation, and cyclization events. The catalyst underwent thorough characterization via various techniques, including FT-IR, PXRD, XPS, FE-SEM, EDX, TEM, and HR-TEM analysis. Optimized reaction conditions facilitated high-yield production of a diverse range of pyrrolo [1,2a] isoquinolines in 2-Me THF solvent, and the method demonstrated scalability with successful gram-scale synthesis. Notably, the catalyst exhibited reusability for up to five cycles without a significant decrease in activity. This approach aligns with eco-friendly principles, as evidenced by favorable green chemistry metrics for compound 4a, including low process mass intensity (7.83), a minimal environmental impact factor (6.83), a substantial atom economy (67.56 %), efficient reaction mass efficiency (60.76 %), high chemical yield (92.37 %), low mass intensity (1.64), notable mass productivity (60.97 %), considerable carbon efficiency (69.15 %), and optimum efficiency (89.93 %). These results highlight the sustainable and environmentally conscious nature of the developed synthetic methodology.

Application of Fe3O4@MCC Nanoparticles as a Heterogeneous Catalyst for Sustainable Multicomponent Synthesis of 2,3′‐Biindoles

AbstractDeveloping innovative methods for synthesizing unique 2,3'‐biindole derivatives is crucial for the progression of drug and material discovery. The use of transition‐metal‐catalyzed coupling improves the efficiency and structural diversity in the synthesis of biindoles. Among these methods, heterogeneous catalysis, particularly using Fe3O4 nanocatalyst supported by microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), is promising for green chemistry applications. In the present work, sixteen 2,3'‐biindole derivatives (4a‐p) were prepared using Fe3O4@MCC nanocatalyst which demonstrated enhanced performance, cost‐effectiveness, and reusability. The magnetic properties of the catalyst enable easy separation, simplifying purification processes, and enhancing overall reaction efficiency to 78%–93%. This method aligns with sustainable chemical practices and offers practical benefits for various industrial applications. This environment friendly method boasts several advantages and demonstrates excellent green chemistry metrics, including process mass intensity, environmental impact factor, atom economy, and reaction mass efficiency, atom economy, carbon efficiency, chemical yield, and optimum efficiency.

Depositional Environment and Ecological Response of Bioconstructions: A Case Study of Southern China (Guizhou Province) in Moscovian-Gzhelian.

From the late Carboniferous to the early Permian, multiple pulses of glaciation and deglaciation have been caused by the LPIA. The Pennsylvanian period experienced phases of recovery, proliferation, and decline, ultimately forming a reef system distinctly different from that of the Mississippian period. During the late Bashkirian to Moscovian, the metazoan reef experienced a limited resurgence, with reef predominantly formed by chaetetid developing in the United States, northern China, and Japan. During the Kasimovian to Gzhelian, the phylloid algal reef dominated the global reef systems. In the late Pennsylvanian, bioconstruction cases and paleoenvironmental proxies in southern Guizhou Province were studied to investigate the composition, recovery, and evolutionary processes of the bioconstructions as well as their response to environmental variations during this period. Several bioconstructions have been reported in the Lumazhai section of Houchang Town, Guizhou Province, southern China, from the Moscovian to the Gzhelian. The upper Carboniferous strata are well-preserved and continuously exposed. The continuous strata, abundant fossils, and diverse bioconstructions provide excellent research materials for exploring the mutual constraints between organisms and their environment. This study identified ten microfacies, whose vertical evolution indicated significant changes in the depositional environment related to relative sea-level fluctuations. Skeletal grains are widely present in these facies. Among them, foraminifera, algae, bryozoans, crinoids, and Tubiphytes are the most common and exhibit distinct distribution characteristics in various environments. Quantitative statistics, CCA and theoretical ecospace have been utilized to examine and interpret environmental impact factors. Quantitative analysis of their relative abundance and distribution patterns provides insights into the complex interactions between organisms and environmental factors. The relative abundances of different organisms and factors controlling their bioconstructions are influenced by relative sea-level changes. CCA analysis reveal that hydrodynamic conditions are the primary influencing factor. Variation trends in average tiering and motility reveal the characteristics of biological communities during environmental changes in phylloid algae and microbial bioconstructions. These bioconstructions are not directly correlated with changes in environmental factors, and the biological communities in phylloid algae mounds and biostromes exhibit similar organism compositions and ecological niches across different environments.

Phosphate ligand-mediated production of reactive oxygen species during oxygenation of Fe(II)-phosphate complexes

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production upon the oxygenation of reduced iron minerals is of critical importance to redox cycles of Fe and the fate of refractory organic contaminants. The environmental impact factors during this process, however, have been underappreciated. In this study, prominently enhanced production of hydroxyl radicals (•OH) was observed by oxygenation of Fe(II) with 5–50 mM phosphate. The results of spin trap electron spin resonance (ESR) experiment showed that Fe(II)-phosphate complexes facilitated the generation of •OH. The degradation experiment of p-nitrophenol (PNP) confirmed that •OH formation was dominated by a consecutive one-electron O2 reduction (90.2–96.9 %), and the quantification of PNP degradation products revealed that Fe(II)/phosphate molar ratios regulated the O2 activation pathways for O2•− or •OH production. The further experimental and theoretical investigation demonstrated that the coordination of phosphate with Fe(II) plays a dual role in ROS generation that facilitated O2•− formation by lowering the energy barrier for Fe(II) oxidation and altered the reaction pathway of •OH formation due to its occupation of sites for electron transfer. The present work highlights an important role of natural oxyanions in O2 activation by Fe(II) and raises the possibility of in situ degradation of contaminants in subsurface environment.

Development of integrated assessment tool for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in non-household settings under climate change context

Access to improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services is crucial in recognizing human rights to water and sanitation and due to their impacts on education, livelihoods, and human health. However, these services are often inadequate in non-household settings such as prisons, refugee camps, schools, and healthcare facilities. Progress in monitoring to ensure sustainable services in these settings has been limited. Although several tools are available to assess WASH services in both household and non-household settings, they have limitations, and none has taken a holistic approach to evaluate WASH performance in all non-household settings. Furthermore, the impacts of climate change on WASH services are rarely considered in these evaluations, making the inadequacies of WASH services worse. To address these gaps, an integrated tool was developed to assess WASH performance in non-household settings, incorporating financial, institutional, environmental impact, technical, social, and climate change factors. The tool provides scores for indicators to solve the problem of a lack of final aggregated data to enable decision-makers to determine the level of WASH performance in a setting. Moreover, it provides qualitative explanations for each score, allowing decision-makers to identify areas for improvement. This tool offers valuable and insightful data for improving WASH facilities and ensuring sustainable services in non-household settings, particularly for WASH service providers and local governments.

Eco-Friendly Mechanochemical Synthesis of Bifunctional Metal Oxide Electrocatalysts for Zn-Air Batteries.

The development of green and environmentally friendly synthesis methods of electrocatalysts is a crucial aspect in decarbonizing energy generation. In this study, eco-friendly mechanochemical synthesis of perovskite metal oxide-carbon black composites is proposed using different conditions and additives such as KOH. Furthermore, the optimization of ball milling conditions, including time and rotational speed, is studied. The mechanochemical synthesis in solid-state conditions without additives produces electrocatalysts that exhibit the highest bifunctional electrochemical activity towards both oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Moreover, this synthesis demonstrates a lower Environmental Impact Factor (E-factor), indicating its greener nature, and due to its simplicity, it has a great potential for scalability. The obtained bifunctional electrocatalysts have been tested in a rechargeable zinc-air battery (ZAB) for 22 h with similar performance compared to the commercial catalyst (Pt/C) at significantly lower cost. These promising findings are attributed to the enhanced interaction between the perovskite metal oxide and carbon material and the improved dispersion of the perovskite metal oxide on the carbon materials.

Boosting methanolysis of polycarbonate (PC) for bisphenol A recovery from end-of-life PC and PC/ABS blend

Poly(bisphenol A carbonate) (PC) is an essential polymer from fossil sources. Currently, PC lacks any economically viable recycling strategy, which leads to a loss of valuable resources, and the accumulation of PC in the environment can have a negative impact on human health due to the leaching of toxic Bisphenol A (BPA). BPA recovery from PC wastes is a prerequisite to meet the demand for sustainable resource utilization and address environmental concerns. Hence, this work demonstrates the efficient BPA recovery from PC wastes via methanolysis at high PC loading (47 wt%) in the presence of a low amount of sodium hydroxide (NaOH, ≤0.05 wt%) at moderate temperatures (125 °C – 175 °C). Selected conditions prevented unwanted decomposition of BPA and ensured a mild alkaline product requiring simple purification steps to recover BPA. The environmental impact factor (ξ) of these processes was shown to be quite low compared to the ones represented in the literature. When these processes were used to recover BPA from real wastes: 93 ± 1.5 % of pure BPA was recovered from end-of-life PC roof panels (EOL-PC) after 30 min at 175 °C with 0.004 wt% of NaOH. On the other hand, direct recovery of BPA from the EOL-PC/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (EOL-PC/ABS) blend was hindered by additive contamination and proceeded at a slower reaction rate due to the presence of ABS. However, subjecting EOL-PC/ABS to a decolorization-depolymerization method ensured ∼94 ± 2.5 % BPA yield.

Calculation of Lateral Logging Response and Environmental Impact Factor Analysis for Small Borehole Array

This paper refines an optimized array lateral logging tool designed for small boreholes, leveraging existing technologies. The tool features four investigation depth curves, and resistivity response curves are derived through finite element model simulations considering variables such as borehole size, mud characteristics, invasion zone features, resistive annuli, formation rock properties, and formation resistivity anisotropy. The findings included the following: (1) Increasing the wellbore diameter uniformly decreased resistivity across all four investigation depths, positively correlating with borehole size. When mud resistivity (Rm) exceeded formation resistivity (Rt), resistivity curves became distorted. (2) For high- and low-invasion models, the ratio of the deepest to the shallowest investigation depth curves ranged from 1 to 8 and 0.6 to 0.9, respectively, with maximum separation at an invasion depth of 0.5–0.8 m. (3) Under invasion conditions with annuli, an invasion zone depth and annulus width around 0.4 m yield well separated the resistivity curves for all depths. Low- and high-resistivity annuli of 2 m and 0.7 m, respectively, can cause curve intersections. (4) When the formation thickness exceeded 0.2 m, the tool accurately reflected formation resistivity variations and demonstrated effective layer identification in multi-layer conditions. (5) In anisotropic formations, resistivity was negatively correlated with the anisotropy coefficient (λ) as it changed from 2 to 4. The instrument can be fully utilized in the exploration of thin interlayers in oil and gas, significantly enhancing the accuracy of resource identification and extraction technologies.

Experimental investigation on a solar dryer assisted with minimum phase change material (PCM) placed on the inner walls of drying chamber

Solar dryers assisted with phase change material (PCM) speed up the drying process by compensating the negating effect of reduced or absence of solar energy under cloudy or non-sunshine hours respectively. The study of the relevant and recent literature indicated that the minimum quantity and proper placement of this PCM have not been explored to take full advantage of using them in solar dryers. Hence in this research work, experimental investigations on banana slice drying were carried out with 4 and 10 numbers of copper tubes filled with 176 and 494 kg of commercial paraffin wax respectively (correspondingly designated as SD-PCM1 and SD-PCM2). The copper tubes were placed in vertical and horizontal orientations on the inner wall of the drying chamber so that the upward movement of air would not disturbed. A comparison of the drying performance of a PCM-based unit with a natural convective solar dryer without PCM (SD) was also presented. As no appreciable differences between the mass loss during drying under SD and SD-PCM1 modes were observed, it was concluded that a mass of PCM greater than 176 g would enhance drying rates. Thus for the same final mass of dried banana slices, the drying time was about 15 and 9 h with SD and SD-PCM2 respectively. As the operating conditions of SD and SD-PCM vary considerably in terms of the thermal energy supplied during the drying process, the concept of a generalized drying curve with dimensionless time was used to study the drying kinetics. A close alignment of experimental data of moisture content ratio with the generalized drying curve under SD and SD-PCM modes indicates similar dryer performance irrespective of the differences in thermal energy supplied. The average exergetic efficiency of SD, SD-PCM1 and SD-PCM2 was 21, 26 and 28 % respectively. The sustainability index and environmental impact factor for SD-PCM2 were 1.41 and 2.5 respectively which was better compared to the respective values of 1.27 and 3.77 in SD mode favoring the use of PCM in solar dryers.

Making minimally invasive procedures more sustainable: A systematic review comparing the environmental footprint of single-use versus multi-use instruments.

Healthcare systems contribute 5%-10% of the global carbon footprint. Given the detrimental impact of climate change on population health, health systems must seek to address this environmental responsibility. This is especially relevant in the modern era of minimally invasive procedures (MIP) where single-use instruments are increasingly popular. We compared the environmental footprint of single-use versus multi-use instruments in MIP. We conducted a systematic review across five databases to identify relevant original studies, following the PRISMA guidelines. We extracted environmental impact data and performed a quality assessment of included studies. We included 13 studies published between 2005 and 2024. Eight employed Life Cycle Analysis (LCAs), which is the gold standard methodology for studies evaluating environmental impact. The instruments studied included laparoscopy systems, endoscopes, cystoscopes, bronchoscopes, duodenoscopes, and ureteroscopes. Six studies, including three high quality LCAs and one fair quality LCA, showed that single-use instruments have a significantly higher environmental footprint than their multi-use counterparts. Six studies suggested a lower environmental footprint for single-use instruments, and one study presented comparable results. However, these studies were of poor/fair quality. Although our systematic review yielded mixed results, all high quality LCAs suggested multi-use instruments may be more environmentally friendly than their single-use counterparts. Our findings are limited by inter-study heterogeneity and methodological quality. There is an urgent need for additional research employing gold standard methodologies to explore the interplay between environmental impact and operational factors such as workflow efficiency and cost-benefit ratio to allow health systems to make more informed decisions.

Motorcycle Taxi in Shared Mobility and Informal Transportation: A Bibliometric Analysis

Background: Motorcycle taxi (MCT) is a form of widely used informal transportation. Over the last few years, MCT has developed from conventional public transportation into a modern business using digital technology. In these services, digitalization has received a positive response from the public and the increasing number creates many challenges. However, there is a gap in the discussion of new service models for shared mobility transportation. Objective: This research aimed to analyze MCT, providing an overview of the services as informal transportation. Methods: Bibliometric analysis was used to evaluate 366 articles published in the Scopus database between 2011-2023. In addition, annual publications and citation topics, most productive sources and influential articles, relevant affiliations, productive countries, location research, main topics, and future research options were identified. Results: Frequently occurring topics were reported with past and present academic developments related to MCT services. Based on the publication themes, the main topics were arranged into five clusters, namely (a) the development of more sustainable transportation services, (b) environmental and health impact, (c) road safety, (d) risky behaviors or risk factors as MCT drivers, and (e) utilization of MCT for medical or health services. Meanwhile, the research topics comprised themes about travel behavior, health, safety-security, customer satisfaction, and advanced mobility topics. Conclusion: This research increased knowledge about main topics, trends and future analysis options in MCT. The academic developments served as a guide to future topics. Keywords: Motorcycle taxi, public transportation, informal transportation, shared mobility, bibliometric analysis

Life cycle assessment of sewage sludge treatment and disposal technologies based on carbon emissions and environmental impacts

ABSTRACT This study aimed to create a comprehensive evaluation method for sewage sludge (SS) treatment and disposal technologies, considering carbon emission and environmental impacts. Life cycle assessment (LCA) were conducted on six SS treatment and disposal technologies in China. The assessments used the IPCC emission factor approach to calculate carbon emissions and the CML2001 method to determine environmental impact factors. Additionally, a colour-coded method was implemented to quantify the evaluation results. The study found that S1 (anaerobic digestion + land application) had the lowest carbon emissions and environmental impact, making it the optimal technology. The S1 scenario had carbon emissions of 669 kg CO2(t DS)−1 and environmental impacts of 5.20E-10. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to show the impacts of each unit in the six technologies on total carbon emissions and environmental impacts. The results showed that landfilling has a high sensitivity to carbon emissions and environmental impacts. Therefore, controlling greenhouse gases and toxic substances in sludge landfills is crucial for reducing carbon emissions and environmental pollution.

Simultaneous methane mitigation and nitrogen removal by denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation in lake sediments

Methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas, with lake ecosystems significantly contributing to its global emissions. Denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation (DAMO) process, mediated by NC10 bacteria and ANME-2d archaea, links global carbon and nitrogen cycles. However, their potential roles in mitigating methane emissions and removing nitrogen from lake ecosystems remain unclear. This study explored the spatial variations in activities of nitrite- and nitrate-DAMO and their functional microbes in Changdanghu Lake sediments (Jiangsu Province, China). The results showed that although the average abundance of ANME-2d archaea (5.0 × 106 copies g−1) was significantly higher than that of NC10 bacteria (2.1 × 106 copies g−1), the average potential rates of nitrite-DAMO (4.59 nmol 13CO2 g−1 d−1) and nitrate-DAMO (5.01 nmol 13CO2 g−1 d−1) showed no significant difference across all sampling sites. It is estimated that nitrite- and nitrate-DAMO consumed approximately 6.46 and 7.05 mg CH4 m−2 d−1, respectively, which accordingly achieved 15.07–24.95 mg m−2 d−1 nitrogen removal from the studied lake sediments. Statistical analyses found that nitrite- and nitrate-DAMO activities were both significantly related to sediment nitrate contents and ANME-2d archaeal abundance. In addition, NC10 bacterial and ANME-2d archaeal community compositions showed significant correlations with sediment organic carbon content and water depth. Overall, this study underscores the dual roles of nitrite- and nitrate-DAMO processes in CH4 mitigation and nitrogen elimination and their key environmental impact factors (sediment organic carbon and inorganic nitrogen contents, and water depth) in shallow lake, enhancing the understanding of carbon and nitrogen cycles in freshwater aquatic ecosystems.

Visible Light Mediated Synthesis of 3‐Indolmethyl Chromones via the Cyclization of o‐Hydroxyaryl Enaminones with 3‐Indoleacetic Acids Catalyzed by Graphitic Carbon Nitride Adorned with Copper Nanoparticles

AbstractCopper nanoparticles (Cu2O NPs) supported on graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) have been introduced as an effective heterogenous catalyst for the synthesis of 3‐indolmethyl chromones (3 a–q) under visible light conditions via the cyclization of o‐hydroxyaryl enaminones with 3‐indoleacetic acids. The catalyst was thoroughly characterized using various techniques such as FT‐IR, PXRD, XPS, FE‐SEM, EDX, TEM, and HR‐TEM analysis. The optimized reaction conditions enabled the high yield production of a wide range of 3‐indolmethyl chromones in a short timespan at room temperature under visible light and method was successfully applied to the gram‐scale synthesis. Importantly, the catalyst could be reused for up to five cycles without significant decrease in its activity. This approach aligns with eco‐friendly principles, demonstrating favorable green chemistry metrics for compound 3 a, including process mass intensity (7.83), environmental impact factor (6.83), atom economy (67.56 %), reaction mass efficiency (60.76 %), chemical yield (92.37 %), mass intensity (1.64), mass productivity (60.97 %), carbon efficiency (69.15 %) and optimum efficiency (89.93 %).

Abnormal H3K4 enzyme catalytic activity and neuronal morphology caused by ASH1L mutations in individuals with Tourette syndrome.

ASH1L potentially contributes to Tourette syndrome (TS) and other neuropsychiatric disorders, as our previous studies have shown. It regulates essential developmental genes by counteracting polycomb-mediated transcriptional repression, which restricts chromatin accessibility at target genes. ASH1L is highly expressed in the adult brain, playing a crucial role in the early stage. However, it remains unclear how ASH1L mutations carried by patients with TS participate in regulating neuronal growth processes leading to TS traits. Five TS families recruited in our study underwent comprehensive physical examinations and questionnaires to record clinical phenotypes and environmental impact factors. We validated the variants via Sanger sequencing and constructed two mutants near the catalytic domain of ASH1L. We conducted molecular modeling, in vitro assays, and primary neuron cultures to find the role of ASH1L in neuronal development and its correlation with TS. In this study, we validated five pathogenic ASH1L rare variants and observed symptoms in patients with simple tics and behavioral comorbidities. Mutations near the catalytic domain of TS patients cause mental state abnormalities and disrupt ASH1L function by destabilizing its spatial conformation, leading to decreased activity of catalytic H3K4, thereby affecting the neurite growth. We need to conduct larger-scale studies on TS patients and perform additional neurological evaluations on mature neurons. We first reported the effects of ASH1L mutations in TS patients, including phenotypic heterogeneity, protein function, and neurological growth. This information contributes to understanding the neurodevelopmental pathogenesis of TS in patients with ASH1L mutations.

Manajemen Risiko Pelaksanaan Proyek Peningkatan Jalan Kota Denpasar Dan Dampaknya Terhadap Lingkungan

Good roads are one of the important things in the world of transportation, especially in Denpasar City. This encourages improvements to road infrastructure in Denpasar City through road management activities including road maintenance and improvement. Road improvement construction work is the work that has the most risks and impacts on the surrounding environment during the road improvement project process. This research aims to identify and mitigate risks in road improvement construction work in Denpasar City. The method used in the research was interview methods with respondents involved in road construction projects in Denpasar City. The risk assessment is carried out after receiving answers from respondents, this aims to measure the dominant risks that exist. The risk mitigation process and risk ownership will be held accountable by the project owner as well as contractors, supervisory consultants, and planning consultants. The results of the research were 30 risks found in road improvement projects in Denpasar City with the sources being the environment (14.3%), politics (5.8%), planning (8.5%), economy (5.7%), natural (8.52%), technical (22.08%), human (8.5%), criminal (6.7%), safety (5.7%), project (14.2%). From the results of this analysis, risks in the technical, environmental, and project categories have the highest percentage. The environmental impact factor is also considered in this construction work because it is ranked second after technical risk. This encourages the implementation of risk management in every road improvement project activity in the following years, to create appropriate handling strategies that do not harm the environment.

Non-target screening and prioritization of organic contaminants in seawater desalination and their ecological risk assessment

The impact of desalination brine on the marine environment is a global concern. Regarding this, salinity is generally accepted as the major environmental factor in desalination concentrate. However, recent studies have shown that the influence of organic contaminants in brine cannot be ignored. Therefore, a non-targeted screening method based on comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC × GC-qMS) was developed for identifying organic contaminants in the desalination brine. A total of 404 compounds were tentatively identified from four seawater desalination plants (three reverse osmosis plants and one multiple effect distillation plant) in China. The identified compounds were prioritized based on their persistence, bioaccumulation, ecotoxicity, usage, and detection frequency. Twenty-one (21) compounds (seven phthalates, ten pesticides, four trihalomethanes) were then selected for further quantitative analysis and ecological risk assessment, including compounds from the priority list along with substances from the same chemical classes. Ecologically risky substances in brine include diisobutylphthalate and bis(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate, atrazine and acetochlor, and bromoform. Most of the contaminants come from raw seawater, and no high risk contaminants introduced by the desalination process have been found except for disinfection by-products. In brine discharge management, people believed that all pollution in raw seawater was concentrated by desalination process. This study shows that not all pollutants are concentrated during the desalination process. In this study, the total concentration of pesticide in the brine increased by 58.42%. The concentration of ∑PAEs decreased by 13.65% in reverse osmosis desalination plants and increased by 10.96% in the multi-effect distillation plant. The concentration of trihalomethane increased significantly in the desalination concentrate. The change in the concentration of pollutants in the desalination concentrate was related to the pretreatment method and the chemical characteristics of the contaminants. The method and results given in this study hinted a new idea to identify and control the environmental impact factors of brine.