Safe Environment Research Articles

Deciphering Host-Parasite Interplay in Leishmania Infection through a One Health View of Proteomics Studies on Drug Resistance.

Recent efforts in the study of vector-borne parasitic diseases (VBPDs) have emphasized an increased consideration for preventing drug resistance and promoting the environmental safety of drugs, from the beginning of the drug discovery pipeline. The intensive use of the few available antileishmanial drugs has led to the spreading of hyper-resistant Leishmania infantum strains, resulting in a chronic burden of the disease. In the present work, we have investigated the biochemical mechanisms of resistance to antimonials, paromomycin, and miltefosine in three drug-resistant parasitic strains from human clinical isolates, using a whole-cell mass spectrometry proteomics approach. We identified 14 differentially expressed proteins that were validated with their transcripts. Next, we employed functional association networks to identify parasite-specific proteins as potential targets for novel drug discovery studies. We used SeqAPASS analysis to predict susceptibility based on the evolutionary conservation of protein drug targets across species. MATH-domain-containing protein, adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette B2, histone H4, calpain-like cysteine peptidase, and trypanothione reductase emerged as top candidates. Overall, this work identifies new biological targets for designing drugs to prevent the development of Leishmania drug resistance, while aligning with One Health principles that emphasize the interconnected health of people, animals, and ecosystems.

Green Packaging and Environmental Safety in Ghana’s Hospitality Industry: A Systematic Review

This study seeks to review on green packaging practices on environmental safety in Ghana’s hospitality industry. The reviewed studies adopted a cross-sectional study design. A systematic review was carried out with the aid of online research journal websites as well as other in-context articles. While conducting this study, the key words in the search query were directed towards the impact of green practices on environmental safety in Ghana. Areas noted in relation to this study was use of green practices in hotels. Therefore, there was linkage of papers pointing out the impact of green practices on environmental safety. The results revealed that, hotels fared well in environmental health but badly in eco-labeling and certification. At 34%, hotels supported sustainability. Results affect MDGs, volunteering, and environment. Hierarchical multiple regression demonstrated that hotel size, class, national hotel trade association engagement, and manager remuneration increased environmental performance. No performance improvement from global chain link. Many Ghanaian hotels provide green enhancements. Most municipal hotels affect the environment. Sustainability demands hotel personnel green management training. Based on observations and interviews, they promote resilience in solid and liquid waste management, renewable energy development, green designs, energy efficiency, water conservation, and green environmental regulatory compliance. Conclusion: The research shows that hotels are important to their communities' economies, but if we neglect their environmental impact, they may damage the ecosystem. There is a need for hotels that invest money into environmental audits or certification programs like eco-labels to get monetary recompense for their environmental efforts.

Rate of Microelement Quantitative Changes during the Composting of Sewage Sludge With Various Bulking Agents

The composting of sewage sludge (SS) with structure-forming additives is a popular and inexpensive method for the management of biodegradable waste. During this process, a number of transformations of organic matter and nutrients occur. This study presents the rates and directions of quantitative changes in Cu, Zn, and Ni during the composting of various mixtures. The following substances were used for preparing compost mixtures: SS, sawdust, straw, and bark. These substances were mixed together in appropriate proportions as follows: C1: 45% SS + 50% sawdust + 5% straw; C2: 45% SS + 50% bark+ 5% straw; and C3: 45% SS + 35% bark + 15% sawdust + 5% straw. Single (DTPA solution) and sequential extraction methods (BCR protocol) were used for microelement mobility assessment. Compost valorization was performed in each individual composting phase. The chain relative increment analysis was used for such assessment. Additionally, the potential metal pollution in the composts was evaluated by applying the following indices: the pollutant accumulation index (PAI), heavy metal enrichment index (HMEI), and heavy metal pollution load index (HMPLI). During composting, generally, the amounts of Ni, Cu, and Zn increased in the various extracted combinations, which was independent of their susceptibility to decomposition. Despite of this, the tested composts should be considered as a source of slowly available microelements for plants. The most intense quantitative changes in metals occurred in the thermophilic phase, and the weakest changes occurred in the cooling phase. At the same time, the calculated indices indicated a lack of contamination of the composts with the analyzed metals, emphasizing their environmental safety and lack of negative impact. The bulking agents used for composting with SS did not significantly influence the intensity of the quantitative changes in the tested metals.

Safety evaluation of recombinant Newcastle disease virus expressing IBV multi-epitope chimeric live vaccine

Newcastle Disease (ND) and Infectious Bronchitis (IB) are two significant diseases that pose threats to the poultry industry, caused by Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), respectively. Currently, the control and prevention of these diseases primarily rely on vaccination. However, commercial ND and IB vaccines face challenges such as poor cross-protection of inactivated IBV strains and interference from live vaccines when used together, leading to immunization failures. Previously, we reported the successful rescue of a recombinant NDV expressing multiple epitopes of IBV, named rNDV-IBV-T/B, which showed promising immunoprotective efficacy against both NDV and IBV. This study focuses on the biosafety of the genetically modified recombinant vaccine candidate rNDV-IBV-T/B. Immunization was performed on day-old chicks, ducklings, goslings, and ICR mice. Observations were recorded on clinical symptoms, body weight changes, and post-mortem examination of organs, as well as histopathological preparations of tissue samples. The results indicated that the rNDV-IBV-T/B vaccine candidate had no adverse effects on the growth of targeted animals (chickens) and non-target species (ducks, geese) as well as in mammals (mice). Additionally, histopathological slides confirmed that the vaccine is safe for all tested species. Further studies evaluated the potential of rNDV-IBV-T/B to spread horizontally and vertically post-immunization, and its environmental safety. The findings revealed that the vaccine candidate lacks the capability for both horizontal and vertical transmission and does not survive in the environment. In conclusion, the rNDV-IBV-T/B strain is safe and holds potential as a new chimeric live vaccine for ND and IB.

Analysis of Road Safety Perception and Influencing Factors in a Complex Urban Environment—Taking Chaoyang District, Beijing, as an Example

Measuring human perception of environmental safety and quantifying the street view elements that affect human perception of environmental safety are of great significance for improving the urban environment and residents’ safety perception. However, domestic large-scale quantitative research on the safety perception of Chinese local cities needs to be deepened. Therefore, this paper chooses Chaoyang District in Beijing as the research area. Firstly, the network safety perception distribution of Chaoyang District is calculated and presented through the CNN model trained based on the perception dataset constructed by Chinese local cities. Then, the street view elements are extracted from the street view images using image semantic segmentation and target detection technology. Finally, the street view elements that affect the road safety perception are identified and analyzed based on LightGBM and SHAP interpretation framework. The results show the following: (1) the overall safety perception level of Chaoyang District in Beijing is high; (2) the number of motor vehicles and the proportion of the area of roads, skies, and sidewalks are the four factors that have the greatest impact on environmental safety perception; (3) there is an interaction between different street view elements on safety perception, and the proportion and number of street view elements have interaction on safety perception; (4) in the sections with the lowest, moderate, and highest levels of safety perception, the influence of street view elements on safety perception is inconsistent. Finally, this paper summarizes the results and points out the shortcomings of the research.

Impact of Wollastonite and Glass Powder as Partial Cement Replacement on the Properties of Concrete

Abstract: Scientists are currently concentrating their efforts on waste products, agricultural waste, and other natural elements in an effort to develop technologies that might be utilized as raw materials for construction. Recycling, on the other hand, stimulates the economy and contributes to the creation of a cleaner, safer environment. To solve this problem, a variety of ingredients are used in place of some cement, such as fly ash, GGBS, silica fume, wollastonite, waste glass powder, etc. You can cut down on pollutants in the environment by replacing part of the cement with wollastonite and glass powder. Since glass does not biodegrade, filling it with shattered glass is an unsustainable and damaging activity for the environment. Silica makes up the majority of glass. Wollastonite is a naturally occurring material that costs less than cement. This study's main goal is to investigate possible impacts and determine how the wollastonite-glass powder (W-GP) combination influences the mechanical properties and longevity of M40-grade concrete. We study the properties of concrete strength after adding wollastonite at 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%. In order to maintain the optimal percentage of wollastonite replacement, mineral admixtures such as glass powder (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) can be used in place of more cement. Test results show that utilizing cement instead of 15% wollastonite yields superior outcomes to employing the recommended mixture. The mixture that demonstrated the largest strength enhancement was composed of 15% wollastonite and 15% GP.

A reproductive justice analysis of Black motherwork

AbstractThis paper examines how Black mothers have had each tenet of reproductive justice violated by state powers and institutions, how Black mothers have resisted these injustices, and how this struggle between reproductive oppression and resistance is critical to understanding the relevance of Black motherwork in intersectional theories in family science. I argue that applying a reproductive justice analysis to Black motherwork involves three key components: (a) the right to identify and engage with Black motherwork; (b) the right of empowerment to disengage (further) with Black motherwork; and (c) the right to perform Black motherwork in safe and survivable environments. This paper emphasizes that infringements on Black women's reproductive liberties happens beyond the site of the body, it expands into their homes, their neighborhoods, and even their educational spaces.

Crime-related perceptions and walking for recreation inside and outside one's home neighborhood

It is widely assumed crime and related concerns, including neighborhood incivilities and fear of crime, are barriers to physical activity (PA). Past studies reveal mixed evidence. Studies of impacts for crime-protective factors are less common but have similarly mixed results. This paper evaluates a comprehensive transdisciplinary conceptual framework of cross-sectional associations between crime-related perceptions and reported minutes/week of recreational walking inside and outside one's home neighborhood. Safe and Fit Environments Study (SAFE) recruited and surveyed 2302 participants from adolescents to older adults from four U.S. metropolitan areas. A zero-inflated model estimated two components of each outcome: whether the respondent walked, and minutes/week walked. Correlates of recreational walking were location-specific, differing based on walking location. Fear of crime, risk evaluation, victimization, and incivilities were not consistently associated with walking for recreation inside one's neighborhood. People with crime concerns about their own neighborhoods, however, more commonly walked for recreation outside their neighborhoods. Protective crime-related perceptions that seldom have been studied in relation to PA, such as street efficacy (i.e., the perceived ability to avoid and manage danger), were strongly associated with recreational walking in both locations, indicating the additional heuristic value of the SAFE conceptual framework.Crime-related perceptions and walking for recreation: Evaluating a conceptual model.

Exploring Systems Thinking and Systemic Design: Insights from a Summer School Experiment Addressing Urban Health Crises

This paper relates urban healthcare crises to the global challenges of overshoot and collapse and suggests systems thinking as an innovative approach towards addressing these amalgamated crisis situations. We begin by reviewing what systems are and how they are structured and behave, highlighting how systems thinking can identify high-leverage interventions and systemic design to achieve effective change. Subsequently, we illustrate how these system concepts were applied in an international, multidisciplinary summer school between European and Southeast Asian partners in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Technical Science for Health Network (Téchne). Examining how ventilation, temperature, humidity, and daylighting control strategies enhance Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), the initiative developed ideas and designs for a multiple disease treatment center that would provide isolation units and create a safe care environment for patients, families, and communities. The design process was informed through consultation with three physically and socio-economically diverse neighborhoods across the Bangkok Metropolitan Region to gain a richer understanding of the varied experiences and approaches in managing the COVID-19 disruption. Leveraging WHO guidelines, students adopted a systemic design approach to develop innovative solutions that could withstand natural hazards and used local materials and natural ventilation to prevent airborne infection and control indoor temperature. In conclusion, we propose a novel working model linking specific stages of systemic thinking and systemic design into a generalized, iterative urban and healthcare design framework that will be further refined as part of specific electives at the KU Leuven Faculty of Architecture and joint summer schools in 2023, 2024 and beyond.

Capture and removal of nanoplastics using ZIF-derived defective nanoframework: Structure-performance correlation, theoretical calculation and application

Nanoplastics, as a novel pollutant, are widely found in the environment and water, which also can be migrated to vegetables and fruits through irrigation water and the growing process, posing threat to the human health. In this study, post-modification strategy was implemented to synthesize a series of fine-tuning hierarchically porous ZIF-derived nanoframework (Zn-Co-Ni-ZIF, Zn-Co-TA-ZIF and ZIF67-Ni-ZIF) with various morphologies and structures to investigate the relationship between the polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) adsorption performance and structure property. The correlation degree between PS-NPs adsorption property and structure parameter followed the order of the intensity of Co2p > the intensity of M-N > the number of linker deficiencies > crystal defect > zeta potential. The gray models (GM) (1,1) between adsorption capacity and evaluation items were successfully established (C < 0.342; RSD < 18.108 %) but zeta potential. A highly linked association (R2 = 0.9561) between the PVmeso/PVmicro and equilibrium constants kt2 may be discovered. The combined findings from experimental analysis and Density Functional Theory calculations demonstrated that the adsorption capacity of adsorbents for PS-NPs was greatly enhanced by the introduction of additional defects and the reinforcement of adsorbent-adsorbate interactions, including electrostatic and coordination interactions. Among the selected materials, Zn-Co-ZIF and Zn-Co-Ni-(60 mg)-ZIF exhibited better resistance to acid, alkali, and salt. Moreover, the PS-NPs removal efficiency of Zn-Co-ZIF and Zn-Co-Ni(60 mg)-ZIF were > 83.55 % and > 87.80 %, respectively, in irrigation water, watermelon, strawberry, and carrot, meeting the environmental and food safety. Therefore, this work provides valuable insights into the modification of MOFs to improve the elimination of micropollutants in water, fruit, vegetable, as well as a comprehensive comprehension of the correlations between structure and performance.

Symposium 4: The Networked Learning Forum 2021: Early researchers’ expectations and experiences

Early researchers (ERs) benefit from opportunities to present, discuss and develop their research work. A typical professional learning experience that may support ERs is their active participation in conferences. In this paper, we report on the expectations and experiences of five ERs who participated in the Networked Learning (NL) Forum 2021 by presenting their research and then having opportunities to gain feedback and insights from one-to-one interactions with more knowledgeable others and the larger community within the event itself. We draw on qualitative research with our main data sources being a pre- and a post-event online survey. We were interested to explore the extent to which the experiences described by the five ERs participants met their pre-event perceived views and expectations. While the pre-event survey delved into the participants’ professional background, motivations for participation and expectations, the post-event survey targeted participants’ perceptions about their learning and potential takeaways. Findings indicate that the five ERs saw their participation as an opportunity for their professional development and as an avenue to make and create professional connections with others in the same field of research. Most notably, they expected feedback from the NL Forum 2021 community and their interactions with field experts (referred to also as knowledgeable others) as support that could help them gain new and deepened insights for developing their research ideas and work. In describing their experiences (post-event), participants highlight opportunities for one-to-one conversations with experts, discussions in small groups, individual and collective reflections, connections with other ERs and the possibilities for expanding their professional learning networks. These findings highlight the importance of design features when offering events specifically targeted for ERs. In particular, findings indicate that creating an intimate, interactive and safe environment is essential for ERs to feel confident to present their research, critically analyse new perspectives and knowledge shared by others, and eventually acquire new knowledge.

Cardiac rehabilitation patient perspectives during COVID-19 pandemic: quantitative and qualitative study

BackgroundThis study aimed to quantitatively assess stress, anxiety and obsessive thinking related to coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) and qualitatively appraise perceptions in patients after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing cardiac rehabilitation (CR) during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsWe used mixed-methods design in patients referred for CR in 2 centres which delivered uninterrupted service during COVID-19 pandemic. Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (OCS), COVID-19 Stress Scale (CSS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and in-person interviews (combination of a priori questions and probing) were used to evaluate patient experience and perceptions with COVID-19 and the healthcare services during pandemic.ResultsIn total, 109 patients (mean age 59 ± 10, 20% women) were included in quantitative part and in 30 of them we conducted the in-person interviews. About a quarter of patients met HADS threshold for anxiety and depression while CAS and OCS results demonstrated extremely low possibility of coronavirus related dysfunctional thinking (3%) and anxiety (2%). The CSS indicated the most prevalent concerns were related to COVID-19 vaccines safety (60%) and fear of getting infected (60%). During interviews, patients perceived the CR as well as health care providers as safe, trustworthy and with enough support to avoid or manage COVID-19 related health risks.ConclusionsOverall, patients reported AMI affected their lives more than the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 related stress and anxiety were relatively low and mostly related to general views of infectious disease. CR was perceived safe and trustworthy in terms of primary disease and COVID-19.Lay summaryThis mixed-method study included 109 patients with acute myocardial infarction who underwent cardiac rehabilitation during the COVID-19 and focused on their experience and perceptions with COVID-19 and the healthcare services during pandemic.-Patients reported acute myocardial infarction affected their lives more than the COVID-19 pandemic.-The COVID-19 related concerns were mostly related to general views of infectious disease (vaccine safety, fear of getting infected) whilst cardiac rehabilitation was perceived safe and trustworthy environment during COVID-19.

A qualitative study of individuals with acquired brain injury’ and program facilitators’ experiences in virtual acquired brain injury community support programs

Purpose Acquired brain injury (ABI) community support programs aim to help support long-term needs through informational and psychosocial support. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many support programs adopted virtual program delivery. However, the experiences of facilitators and people with ABI who participate in virtual support programs are understudied. This study aimed to describe the experiences of people with ABI and program facilitators participating in virtual ABI community support programs. Materials and Methods This was a qualitative descriptive study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with people with ABI and program facilitators who participated in virtual ABI community support programs. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results In total, 16 participants were included in this study. Of the 16 participants, 14 were people with ABI (three of whom were also program facilitators) and two were program facilitators without ABI. Our analysis generated three themes including perceived benefits (theme 1), perceived challenges (theme 2), and considerations to improve program quality (theme 3). Each theme outlines subthemes relaying the experiences of participants. Conclusions These findings highlight the need for stakeholders to implement guidelines and training for program facilitators and attendees of virtual ABI support programs to maximize accessibility, usability, inclusivity and safety. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION This study described the experiences of people with acquired brain injury and facilitators who participated in virtual support programs. Benefits of virtual support programs include connecting with peers, increased access to resources, and enhanced feasibility and accessibility. Difficulties with virtual support programs include intrapersonal (e.g., increased side effects), interpersonal (e.g., communication barriers), and environmental and contextual (e.g., privacy concerns) challenges. Suggestions to improve program quality include creating a safe and respectful environment, fostering engagement and managing challenging situations, and enhancing accessibility and inclusivity.

Advanced Electrode Materials Dedicated for Electroanalysis

The development of advanced electrode materials has significantly enhanced the capabilities of electrochemical devices, enabling their application in diverse fields such as environmental monitoring, medical diagnostics, food safety, and industrial processes [...]

Implementasi Sistem Kalkulasi Berat Dan Iuran Sampah Berbasis Internet Of Things Pada Perumahan Bekasi Jaya Indah

Waste is a complex problem in developing countries like Indonesia, negatively impacting the environment and public health. Bekasi Jaya Indah Housing Estate, Bekasi City, faces the challenge of sub-optimal waste management. One of them is the gap between waste fees and the weight of waste generated, especially from houses with home industry activities. This research aims to improve monitoring efficiency by developing a tool based on firebase technology or user interface. This technology allows real-time access from various locations to monitor environmental conditions. This tool is not only a monitor of environmental conditions, but also a management tool to support better decision making in maintaining environmental stability and safety. The method used is the prototype method with the stages of communication, quick plan, quick design modeling, construction of prototype, and deployment delivery &amp; feedback. This monitoring tool, it is expected that residents, officers, and administrators can easily monitor environmental conditions from various locations. User have the ability to take the necessary response actions quickly based on real-time information obtained from this monitoring tool.

One-step removal of anionic/cationic heavy metal ions from wastewater by magnetic amphoteric adsorbent

Simultaneous treatment of wastewater containing anionic and cationic pollutants in an easy-to-operate and environmentally friendly manner is a formidable challenge in environmental remediation. This work designed a low-cost and high-efficient amphoteric adsorbent Fe3O4/Mg-Al LDOs/AlS (SMA) for the simultaneous removal of Cr (VI) and Cu (II) pollutants from wastewater in one step. SMA is prepared with waterworks aluminum-containing sludge (AlS) from typical municipal engineering waste as the base material and loaded with magnetic nanoparticles to enhance recycling process after adsorption. SMA exhibits large specific surface area (~418 m2/g), thereby providing sufficient adsorption active sites. Adsorption studies indicate that the adsorption of SMA on two pollutants conforms to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, while the Langmuir model was used to simulate the adsorption isotherm. The maximum adsorption capacity is calculated to be 235.3 mg/g for Cr (VI) and 669.2 mg/g for Cu (II). Thermodynamic studies reveal the process's spontaneous nature. The main adsorption mechanisms involve electrostatic attraction, surface complexation, isomorphic replacement, and chemical precipitation. Notably, SMA exhibits excellent adsorption performance in a wide pH range and water system containing multiple anions and cations. Moreover, the strong magnetic property facilitates easy separation and recovery through an external magnetic field, maintaining stable adsorption performance even after five cycles. Therefore, this study provides a win-win strategy for promoting environmental safety, not only proposing feasible approaches for the high value-added utilization of waste sludge, but also efficiently addressing the purification problem of complex anionic and cationic coexisting wastewater.

Antagonistic Effects and the Underlying Mechanisms of Bacillus velezensis and its Antibacterial Peptide LCI Against Aeromonas hydrophila Infection in Largemouth Bass.

Aeromonas hydrophila is one of the most prevalent pathogenic bacteria in largemouth bass. The use of antibiotics to inhibit A. hydrophila poses a significant threat to fish and environmental safety. Bacillus velezensis, a safe bacterium with probiotic and antibacterial characteristics, is an ideal candidate for antagonizing A. hydrophila. This study explored the antagonistic effects of B. velezensis FLU-1 on A. hydrophila in vivo and in vitro. In addition, we explored the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) produced by strain FLU-1 and clarified the underlying antibacterial mechanisms. The results showed that strain FLU-1 could inhibit a variety of fish pathogens, including A. hydrophila. The challenge test showed that dietary supplementation with B. velezensis FLU-1 significantly improved the survival rate of largemouth bass and reduced the bacterial load in liver. Subsequently, the AMP LCI was isolated from B. velezensis FLU-1 and was found to be effective against A. hydrophila in vitro and in vivo. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that LCI downregulated the genes associated with flagellar assembly and peptidoglycan synthesis in A. hydrophila. Phenotypic test results showed that LCI disrupted the membrane integrity, markedly reduced the biofilm biomass and diminished the swimming motility of A. hydrophila. Furthermore, the results showed that LCI bound to the genomic DNA of A. hydrophila and destroyed the DNA structures. Overall, these findings elucidated the mechanism of action of LCI against A. hydrophila at the phenotypic and physiological levels. This study suggests that B. velezensis FLU-1 and its AMP LCI could serve as antibiotic alternatives for controlling pathogens in aquaculture.

Effects of different Mg/Ca molar ratio on the formation of carbonate minerals in microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) process

Traditional MICP technology has been extensively applied to improve soil properties and solidify heavy metal contaminated soil. However, the traditional product performance of calcite is far less than that of huntite, dolomite, and other carbonate minerals. Therefore, the soil strength and environmental safety after curing cannot reach the safety index. This study has examined the distribution of carbonate minerals induced by microorganisms under different Mg/Ca ratio. Compared with the sample with 0 Mg/Ca content, the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) can be increased by 1–5 times by increasing the content. By X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), the contents of different carbonate minerals under different Mg/Ca content were determined semi-quantitatively. The microscopic results have also shown that the introduction of microorganisms can provide nucleation sites for the synthesis of dolomite and huntite. MICP experiment coupled with Quantum ESPRESSO calculations revealed the mechanism of microbial influence on the formation of carbonate minerals under different Mg/Ca conditions through first principles calculations and nucleation kinetics. These findings advance our understanding of the reaction mechanisms and pathways of biogenic precipitation of carbonate minerals, and provide insights into the artificial quantitative synthesis of dolomite.

City lights revolution: Next-gen optical fibre for smart cities

In the rapidly evolving landscape of smart cities, the integration of advanced technologies is crucial for ensuring safety, optimizing traffic flow, and enhancing the urban living experience. Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication and visible light communication (VLC) have emerged as promising solutions to address these challenges. This paper explores the integration of V2V communication and VLC at smart pedestrian crosswalks to enhance pedestrian safety and traffic management in smart cities. It explores the impact of neighbouring vehicles on V2V-VLC performance and proposes novel methodologies to assess traffic density effects. Results indicate a significant chance of encountering nearby cars during rush hours, emphasizing the importance of these integrated systems for safety and mobility in urban environments. The outcomes show that the chance of running into extra cars in nearby lanes is independent of the particular lane and increases to 80% through rush hours, but falls to a lower amount than 20% through off-peak and initial morning hours.

Novel solution-gated transistor sensor-based SnO2 epitaxial thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition for nitrite detection.

A solution-gate controlled thin-film transistor with SnO2 epitaxial thin films (SnO2-SGTFT) is successfully utilized for highly sensitive detection of nitrite. The SnO2 films are deposited as channel materials on a c-plane sapphire (c-Al2O3) substrate through pulsed laser deposition (PLD), with superior crystal quality and out-of-plane atomic ordering. PtAu NPs/rGO nanocomposites are electrodeposited on agold electrode to function as a transistor gate to further enhance the nitrite catalytic performance of thedevice. The change in effective gate voltage due to the electrooxidation of nitrite on the gate electrode is the primary sensing mechanism of the device. Based on the inherent amplification effect of transistors, the superior electrical properties of SnO2, and the high electrocatalytic activity of PtAu NPs/rGO, the SnO2-SGTFT sensor has a low detection limit of 0.1nM and a wide linear detection range of 0.1nM ~ 50mM at VGS = 1.0V. Furthermore, the sensor has excellent characteristics such as rapid response time, selectivity, and stability. The practicability of the device has been confirmed by the quantitative detection of nitrite in natural lake water. SnO2 epitaxial films grown by PLD provide a simple and efficient way to fabricate nitrite SnO2-SGTFT sensors in environmental monitoring and food safety, among others. It also provides a reference for the construction of other high-performance thin-film transistor sensors.