Human Toxicity Research Articles

Modulation of cadmium-induced nephrotoxicity by iron supplementation in rats

Cadmium is known to cause nephrotoxicity in rats. This research aimed to evaluate the influence of iron on cadmium toxicity when rats were exposed to water and food-chain-mediated feed. Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups containing three rats for the two-phase studies. After four weeks of exposure, the rat’s kidney was excised and evaluated for a kidney function test involving alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities. In rats exposed via water, Cd-exposed rats show a significantly increased ALT level (266.250 ± 0.005U/I) compared to the control group (238.321 ± 0.0001U/I) while Fe-exposed rats exhibit a significant decrease in ALT levels (182.972 ± 0.029U/I) compared to the control group. Cd+Fe-exposed rats show a further significant decrease in ALT levels compared to both the control and other experimental groups. Also, Cd-exposed rats show a significant decrease in AST levels (200.176 ± 0.018U/I) compared to the control group (287.108 ± 0.003 U/I) while Fe-exposed rats do not show a significant difference in AST levels (277.553 ± 0.448U/I) compared to the control. In rats exposed via feeding, Cd-exposed rats show decreased ALT levels (159.868 ± 0.132U/I) compared to the control group (179. 076 ± 0.001U/I) while Cd+Fe-exposed rats have ALT levels (178.001 ± 0.001U/I) almost identical to the control group, indicating that the combined exposure to Cd and Fe might neutralize the individual effects on ALT levels. The results revealed that iron offers protection against cadmium-induced toxicity in the kidney. This finding suggests that cadmium toxicity in the kidney could be ameliorated in the presence of iron, potentially opening new and promising avenues for the prevention and treatment of cadmium toxicity in humans. This is a finding of direct relevance to the fields of biochemistry and environmental science, and it brings hope for the future of cadmium toxicity research.

In silico and in vitro toxicity assessment of ferulic acid and nicotinamide: analysis using admet tools and effects on bacteria, erythrocytes, and sun protection

The study addresses the properties of ferulic acid (FA) and nicotinamide (NAM), which are widely explored due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, beneficial for cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. The objective was to assess the toxicity of these substances, both in silico and in vitro, to predict safety and efficacy. Using software such as Molinspiration© and admetSAR©, pharmacokinetic properties, including absorption and toxicity, were calculated. The in vitro analyses involved cytotoxicity assays in human erythrocytes and antibacterial activity tests. Results indicated that both compounds comply with Lipinski's “Rule of 5,” suggesting potential for adequate absorption. Regarding toxicity, FA and NAM showed low human toxicity, though FA exhibited considerable environmental toxicity. In vitro tests revealed that FA demonstrated bacteriostatic activity against Gram-positive bacteria and a dose-dependent effect on human erythrocytes, with higher hemolysis observed at high concentrations. Additionally, FA provided effective sun protection, reaching a sun protection factor (SPF) of 25.01 at all tested concentrations. It is concluded that FA and NAM have promising safety and efficacy profiles, with FA standing out as a potential photoprotective and antimicrobial agent, while NAM exhibits neuroprotective properties due to its permeability through the blood-brain barrier.

Ecological and health risk assessments of heavy metal contamination in soils surrounding a coal power plant

Coal combustion at power plants is a significant source of environmental pollution, with the deposition of heavy metals in soils leading to extensive ecosystem contamination and exacerbating the harmful impacts of human activities. This study presents a field investigation of heavy metal concentrations in soils around a coal-fired power plant, with monitoring sites located 1.7 to 15.2km from the plant. Data collection occurred in 2015, 2020, and 2024 across 11 monitoring sites. X-ray fluorescence analysis was used to assess heavy metal concentrations in soil. A life cycle assessment (LCA) with ReCiPe method was conducted to evaluate the impacts on both ecological and human health. The results revealed that the concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Mn, Cd, and Cr exceeded threshold levels set by both the World Soil Average and the Regional Geochemical Background. The correlation analysis shows that organic matter and clay content play vital roles in reducing the mobility of heavy metals in soil through adsorption. Notably, strong correlations between Pb and Cd suggest a common origin from coal seam minerals. The LCA shows that freshwater ecotoxicity, marine ecotoxicity, terrestrial ecotoxicity, and human toxicity increased by over 30% compared to the World Soil Average pollutant levels. Nickel was identified as the primary contributor to marine and freshwater ecotoxicity, while manganese had the most significant impact on human toxicity. This study provides a better understanding of the long-term consequences of heavy metal accumulation in soils near coal-fired power plant. The data on anthropogenic impacts are crucial for developing effective strategies to mitigate environmental risks associated with pollution.

Investigating the environmental impacts of lithium-oxygen battery cathode production: A comprehensive assessment of the effects associated with oxygen cathode manufacturing

Lithium-oxygen batteries offer remarkably high energy density compared to current lithium-ion batteries. The key to their electrochemical performance lies in the processes occurring at the air cathode. However, the complexity of these reactions, coupled with the by-products generated during discharge, can make the reaction process slow or impede their efficiency. This study evaluates the environmental impact of high-efficiency lithium-oxygen batteries cathodes, including titanium oxide composites, graphene-based composites and activated carbon-based composites, through a life cycle assessment across 18 impact categories using a cradle-to-gate approach with a functional unit of 25 kWh. Results show that active material production was the largest contributor to environmental impact, particularly Global Warming Potential. Among the evaluated cathodes, reduced graphene oxide/α-mnaganese oxide/palladium (rGO/α-MnO2/Pd) demonstrated the highest environmental impact, with a global warming potential of 1130.71 kg carbon dioxide from active material production, due to its energy-intensive synthesis and the use of chemicals like sulfuric acid, sodium borohydride, hydrochloric acid, and hydrogen peroxide. Additionally, the rGO/α-MnO2/Pd cathode had the highest Human Toxicity Potential and Ozone Depletion Potential. Batteries with graphene-based cathodes achieved a specific capacity of 7500 mAh.g-1, underscoring their performance potential while highlighting the need for more sustainable cathode manufacturing methods. These findings emphasize the environmental considerations necessary for large-scale lithium-oxygen batteries implementation.

Environmental insights of bioethanol production and phenolic compounds extraction from apple pomace-based biorefinery

Food waste is one of the main challenges of solid waste management throughout the food supply chain. Apples are one of the most widely consumed fruits worldwide, the production of which is accompanied by the generation of pomace as a by-product with valuable nutrients. This research presents the first environmental insights of a multiproduct apple pomace-based biorefinery through a life cycle perspective. The design and process modelling of this platform aims to produce bioethanol and extract total phenolic compounds (TPC) towards an efficient use of the pomace obtained from the apple manufacturing industry (juice production). Bioethanol production consist of pressing, fermentation, distillation as the main processes; while in the case of TPC, two extraction techniques were evaluated: i) solvent extraction (mainly water), and ii) the Soxhlet method. The life cycle analysis followed an attributional cradle-to-gate approach considering different midpoint impact categories from the ReCipe 2016 method such as Global Warming (GW), Eutrophication, Human Toxicity, Fossil Scarcity, among others. The results indicate that bioethanol production encompasses a GW profile of 3.17 kg of CO2 eq per kg of product, being the vinasse treatment (subproduct after distillation) the most impactful stage. Phenolic compounds extraction with water achieves a total value of 5.8 kg CO2 eq per g of TPC, while 0.22 kg CO2 eq per g of TPC is obtained with Soxhlet technique. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis is addressed to improve the environmental profile of bioethanol and TPC. This research demonstrated the relevance of process design on the environmental performance of bioethanol and TPC, where stillage treatment has a key contribution to the results and the use of solvents in TPC extraction, although improving extraction yield, leads to a higher environmental impact.

Occurrence of selected Covid-19 drugs in surface water resources: a review of their sources, pathways, receptors, fate, ecotoxicity, and possible interactions with heavy metals in aquatic ecosystems

The outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) led to the high consumption of antibiotics such as azithromycin as well as corticosteroids such as prednisone, prednisolone, and dexamethasone used to treat the disease. Seemingly, the concentrations of these four Covid-19 drugs increased in wastewater effluents and surface water resources. This is due to the failure of traditional wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs) to eliminate pharmaceuticals from wastewater. Therefore, the objective of the current research was to review the present state of literature on the occurrence of four Covid-19 drugs in water resources, the associated risks and toxicity, their fate, as well as the emergence of combined pollutants of Covid-19 drugs and heavy metals. From late 2019 to date, azithromycin was observed at concentrations of 935 ng/L, prednisone at 433 ng/L, prednisolone at 0.66 ng/L, and dexamethasone at 360 ng/L, respectively, in surface water resources. These concentrations had increased substantially in water resources and were all attributed to pollution by wastewater effluents and the rise in Covid-?19 infections. This phenomenon was also exacerbated by the observation of the pseudo-persistence of Covid-19 drugs, long half-life periods, as well as the excretion of Covid-19 drugs from the human body with about 30?90% of the parent drug. Nonetheless, the aquatic and human health toxicity and risks of Covid-19 drugs in water resources are unknown as the concentrations are deemed too low; thus, neglecting the possible long-term effects. Also, the accumulation of Covid-19 drugs in water resources presents the possible development of combined pollutants of Covid-19 drugs and heavy metals that are yet to be investigated. The risks and toxicity of the combined pollutants, including the fate of the Covid-19 drugs in water resources remains a research gap that undoubtably needs to be investigated.

A virtual scalable model of the Hepatic Lobule for acetaminophen hepatotoxicity prediction

Addressing drug-induced liver injury is crucial in drug development, often causing Phase III trial failures and market withdrawals. Traditional animal models fail to predict human liver toxicity accurately. Virtual twins of human organs present a promising solution. We introduce the Virtual Hepatic Lobule, a foundational element of the Living Liver, a multi-scale liver virtual twin. This model integrates blood flow dynamics and an acetaminophen-induced injury model to predict hepatocyte injury patterns specific to patients. By incorporating metabolic zonation, our predictions align with clinical zonal hepatotoxicity observations. This methodology advances the development of a human liver virtual twin, aiding in the prediction and validation of drug-induced liver injuries.

Environmental performance analysis of three organic waste disposal scenarios: landfilling, composting, and EP-50

The rapid increase in the population, urbanization, increasing standard of living, indifference, and other factors can be used to explain the concerning rate of waste generation. Research suggests that most countries prefer to process and dispose of their waste via open dumping or landfilling due to its affordability and simple mechanism. However, leachate and landfill gas emissions present environmental risks associated with landfilling. To prevent landfilling’s detrimental impacts on the ecosystem, alternative methods of disposing of organic waste need to be investigated. An environmental impact analysis was undertaken utilizing the openLCA software to evaluate the ecological footprints of three distinct waste management strategies i.e., Landfilling, Composting, and composting using EP-50 assessing four key environmental indicators. Composting using EP-50 (EcoProbe 50) is a recent advancement towards waste management where organic waste is turned to compost artificially under high temperature and pressure along with constant mixing and churning of the waste for better nutrient value. The EP-50 composter, according to our research hypothesis, offers a greener option to conventional landfilling and composting. We evaluated the potential for global warming, acidification, eutrophication, and human toxicity of landfilling, conventional composting, and EP-50 composting utilizing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). According to our findings, the EP-50 system minimizes the potential for global warming to around 420 kgCO2 eq in comparison to 1243 kgCO2 eq from conventional composting and 4653 kgCO2 eq for landfilling. In addition, EP-50 increases the amount of nutrients in the compost generated while reducing the effects of eutrophication and acidification by more than 15%. These results demonstrate EP-50 as a scalable and effective method for managing organic waste.

In-house green hydrogen production for steelmaking decarbonization using steel slag as thermal energy storage material: A life cycle assessment

Steel production is a highly energy-intensive industry, responsible for significant greenhouse gas emissions. Electrification of this sector is challenging, making green hydrogen technology a promising alternative. This research performs a thermodynamic analysis of green hydrogen production for steel manufacturing using the direct reduction method. Four solid oxide electrolyzer (SOE) modules replace the traditional reformer to produce 2.88 kg/s of hydrogen gas, serving as a reducing agent for iron pellets to yield 30 kg/s of molten steel. These modules are powered by 37,801 photovoltaic units. Additionally, a thermal storage system utilizing 1342 tons of steel slag stores waste heat from Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) exhaust gases. This stored energy preheats iron scraps charged into the EAF, reducing energy consumption by 5 %. A life cycle assessment, conducted using open LCA software, reveals that the global warming potential (GWP) for the entire process, with a capacity of 30 kg/s, equates to 93 kg of CO2. The study also assesses other environmental impacts such as acidification potential, ozone formation, fine particle formation, and human toxicity. Results indicate that the EAF significantly contributes to global warming and fine particle formation, while the direct reduction process notably impacts ozone formation and acidification potential.

Evaluation of Fifteen 5,6-Dihydrotetrazolo[1,5-c]quinazolines Against Nakaseomyces glabrata: Integrating In Vitro Studies, Molecular Docking, QSAR, and In Silico Toxicity Assessments

Nakaseomyces glabrata (Candida glabrata), the second most prevalent Candida pathogen globally, has emerged as a major clinical threat due to its ability to develop high-level azole resistance. In this study, two new 5,6-dihydrotetrazolo[1,5-c]quinazoline derivatives (c11 and c12) were synthesized and characterized using IR, LC-MS, 1H, and 13C NMR spectra. Along with 13 previously reported analogues, these compounds underwent in vitro antifungal testing against clinical N. glabrata isolates using a serial dilution method (0.125–64 mg/L). Remarkably, compounds c5 and c1 exhibited potent antifungal activity, with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 0.37 μM and 0.47 μM, respectively—about a 20-fold improvement in μM concentration over standard drugs like amphotericin B, caspofungin, and micafungin. A detailed structure–activity relationship analysis revealed crucial molecular features enhancing antifungal potency. Extensive molecular docking studies across 18 protein targets explored potential binding pockets and affinities of the lead compounds. A robust 3D-QSAR model, incorporating molecular descriptors Mor26m and Mor29e, displayed good predictive ability for antifungal activity. In silico predictions indicated an absence of herbicidal effect, negligible environmental toxicity (to honeybees, avian species, and aquatic organisms), and mild human toxicity concerns for these compounds. This comprehensive approach aims to develop novel and effective antifungal compounds against the clinically relevant pathogen N. glabrata.

Life cycle assessment (LCA) of biodegradable linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) manufactured in India

The global plastic crisis requires urgent attention, as highlighted by a comprehensive review of LCA studies on plastics. Mismanagement of plastic waste has worsened this crisis, affecting all life forms and contaminating natural resources. Plastic production leads to Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. Plastic consumption has resulted in pollution across land, water, and even the air, with microplastics entering the human posing health risks like cancer and allergies. The article stresses the importance of LLDPE and explores the potential of bioplastics. Identifying research gaps led to the initiation of an innovative cradle-to-grave LCA investigation. NICHEM Solutions pioneered a three-stage process to manufacture three products: 1) a novel additive, 2) biodegradable LLDPE granules from the additive, and 3) biodegradable LLDPE film from these granules. Utilizing GaBi software and adhering to ISO 14040 guidelines, this study assessed the environmental and health impacts associated with all three products. Additive production had the highest environmental impact, followed by granule and film formation. Material production led to the overall environmental footprint, with LLDPE film production exhibiting notable effects. Transportation impacts were minimal but presented opportunities for optimization. Results revealed significant marine aquatic impacts across various processes, with global warming and human toxicity also identified as concerns. The study also evaluated alternative energy sources, finding natural gas to be the most favorable overall, followed by solar energy and biogas. Conversely, coal and grid-based electricity usage had the most detrimental effects on global warming and marine aquatic impact. Disposal methods such as landfilling and incineration were shown to exacerbate environmental impacts across multiple categories.

Macamides as Potential Therapeutic Agents in Neurological Disorders.

Therapeutic treatment of nervous system disorders has represented one of the significant challenges in medicine for the past several decades. Technological and medical advances have made it possible to recognize different neurological disorders, which has led to more precise identification of potential therapeutic targets, in turn leading to research into developing drugs aimed at these disorders. In this sense, recent years have seen an increase in exploration of the therapeutic effects of various metabolites extracted from Maca (Lepidium meyenii), a plant native to the central alpine region of Peru. Among the most important secondary metabolites contained in this plant are macamides, molecules derived from N-benzylamides of long-chain fatty acids. Macamides have been proposed as active drugs to treat some neurological disorders. Their excellent human tolerance and low toxicity along with neuroprotective, immune-enhancing, and and antioxidant properties make them ideal for exploration as therapeutic agents. In this review, we have compiled information from various studies on macamides, along with theories about the metabolic pathways on which they act.

End-of-life management of electric vehicle batteries utilizing the life cycle assessment

ABSTRACT To achieve sustainable development in the electric vehicle (EV) industry, this study assesses the environmental impacts of retired electric vehicle batteries (EVBs) throughout the life cycle. The life cycle assessment (LCA) with the ReCiPe method is implemented with environmental impacts: CO2eq emissions, human toxicity, terrestrial acidification, particulate matter (PM) formation, metal depletion, and fossil depletion. Four EOL management scenarios, namely the landfilling, remanufacturing, repurposing, and recycling processes, are examined with the background data obtained from the Ecoinvent database v3.6 and data collected from secondary sources. The study results reveal that the landfilling scenario is highly harmful to humans and due to its highest environmental impacts, specifically CO2 emission (2,236 kg CO2eq) from the material extraction process. In contrast, the recycling scenario is the most environmentally friendly scenario, as it reduces the human toxicity (45,934 kg 1,4-DBeq), terrestrial acidification (425 kg SO2eq), and metal depletion (20,129 kg Feeq), achieving the lowest final impact score of -277. The study further examines the recycling scenario with different energy mixes, i.e. natural gas, coal, and renewable energy. The results suggest that the complete use of renewable energy could improve the final impact value to -281.1. The results also recommend the remanufacturing scenario as it reduces CO2eq emission by 1,193 kg CO2eq. The government may utilize the study results to enhance the circular economy of retired EVBs through various strategies to compete in the global market. A comprehensive evaluation of EOL management practices of retired EVBs offers valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders to minimize the ecological footprint of the EV industry and support Thailand’s sustainability goals. A future study may be performed to compare the EOL management scenarios with actual practices and suggest suitable improvements. The policy-based simulations could be implemented to examine long-term impacts of EOL management practices in Thailand. Implication Statement The global warming issue has become critical and countries worldwide initiate policies and strategies to minimize waste and environmental impacts. The use of electric vehicles (EVs) is expected to reduce such impact; nevertheless, it leads to the issue of electric vehicle battery (EVB) waste. This study examines the environmental impacts of the end-of-life (EOL) management of the retired EVBs, specifically the remanufacturing, repurposing, and recycling processes. The results pinpoint several key impacts, namely CO2eq emissions, human toxicity, terrestrial acidification, particulate matter formation, metal depletion, and fossil depletion in the EOL management processes. It is clear that the current practice (i.e. landfilling) is highly harmful to humans and the environment, mainly from the material extraction process. In contrast, the most effective EOL strategy for retired EVBs is recycling, as it generates the lowest human toxicity, terrestrial acidification, and metal depletion. The remanufacturing scenario is the most suitable scenario when CO2eq emission is a major concern. The study also examines the recycling scenario’s different energy mixes (i.e. natural gas, coal, and renewable energy). The results suggest that at least half of the energy used in electricity production should be renewable to improve the final impact of this scenario further. A comprehensive evaluation of EOL management practices of retired EVBs offers valuable insights for the government and stakeholders to plan for sustainable EOL management policies to reduce the ecological footprint and achieve sustainable development in the long term.

Cyclosporin A toxicity on endothelial cells differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells: Assembling an adverse outcome pathway

Cyclosporin A (CSA) is a potent immunosuppressive agent in pharmacologic studies. However, there is evidence for side effects, specifically regarding vascular dysfunction. Its mode of action inducing endothelial cell toxicity is partially unclear, and a connection with an adverse outcome pathway (AOP) is not established yet. Therefore, we designed this study to get deeper insights into the mechanistic toxicology of CSA on angiogenesis. Stem cells, especially induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with the ability of differentiation to all organs of the body, are considered a promising in vitro model to reduce animal experimentation. In this study, we differentiated iPSCs to endothelial cells (ECs) as one cell type that in other studies would allow to generate multi-cell type organoids from single donors. Flow cytometry and immunostaining confirmed our scalable differentiation protocol. Then dose and time course experiments assessing CSA cytotoxicity on iPS derived endothelial cells were performed. Transcriptomic data suggested CSA dependent induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial dysfunction, and impaired angiogenesis via ROS induction which was confirmed by in vitro experiments. In order to put these data into a potential adverse outcome pathway (AOP) context, we performed a literature review for CSA-mediated endothelial cell toxicity and combined our experimental data with the publicly available knowledge. Such an AOP will help to design in vitro test batteries and to model events observed in human toxicity studies, as well in predictive toxicology.

Assessing the environmental footprint of microalgae biofuel production: A comparative analysis of cultivation and harvesting scenarios

This study investigated the impact of fixed combinations of three flocculants and four buoy-beads under two cultivation systems on the harvesting efficiency, as well as the environmental performance in different scenarios. Results showed that the harvesting efficiency exhibited a tendency of initially increasing and then decreasing with rising concentrations of buoy-beads and flocculants, with an optimal harvesting efficiency of 98.03 %. Life cycle assessment (LCA) compared the environmental performance of five scenarios. Ecotoxicity Soil Chronic (ESC) and Aquatic Eutrophication EP(P) (AEP(P)) were major environmental impacts. The scenario employing re-frying oil emulsion (RFOE) and aluminum sulfate flocculation (R+A) contributed significantly to Human Toxicity Water (HTW) and Aquatic Eutrophication EP(N) (AEP(N)) with normalized values of 0.0137 and 0.0147, respectively. In the assessment of Global Warming Potential (GWP), R+A was responsible for a high amount of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions (2.826 kg CO2 eq/100 g of dry algal biomass in photobioreactor (PBR) and 2.917 kg CO2 eq/ 100 g of dry algal biomass in open raceway ponds (ORP)). Notably, sodium alginate microspheres (SAMs) and aluminum sulfate flocculation (S+A) was considered a more environmentally favorable option, 0.773 kg CO2 eq and 0.864 kg CO2 eq GHG emissions of PBR and ORP, respectively. Furthermore, the less GHG emissions of PBR than ORP, making it a more effective solution for reducing emissions and mitigating global warming trends.

Bacillus xiamenensis Inhibits the Growth of Moraxella osloensis by Producing Indole-3-Carboxaldehyde.

Moraxella osloensis, a gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium found on human skin, produces 4-methyl-3-hexenoic acid, contributing to clothing and body malodor. M. osloensis is resistant to UV light, drying, and antimicrobials, making its eradication challenging. As the skin is low in nutrients, commensal bacteria compete for resources and use diverse strategies to inhibit their competitors. Therefore, skin-derived bacteria that exhibited growth-inhibitory activity against M. osloensis were searched. Screening skin-derived bacteria using a coculture halo assay revealed that Bacillus xiamenensis formed an inhibition zone with M. osloensis. Coculture plates were extracted with ethyl acetate and fractionated using a silica gel column and preparative thin-layer chromatography to isolate the active compound from the B. xiamenensis metabolites. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy identified the active compound as indole-3-carboxaldehyde, which has low toxicity in humans. At soluble concentrations, indole-3-carboxaldehyde does not inhibit the growth of other bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis, suggesting M. osloensis is highly sensitive to indole-3-carboxaldehyde. These findings highlight B. xiamenensis as a promising candidate for the development of a skin probiotic to promote skin health and combat malodor-causing bacteria.

Combined application of life cycle assessment and neural network model for modeling energy and environmental emissions in sugar beet production

Current agricultural energy management methods do not sufficiently account for the environmental impacts related to farm size. This gap limits the ability to accurately predict the ecological effects of sugar beet cultivation, particularly regarding climate change, eutrophication, acidification, human toxicity, and terrestrial and aquatic ecotoxicity. Moreover, optimizing agricultural productivity and integrating artificial intelligence (AI) are necessary to improve energy management and anticipate future consumption patterns, considering current constraints. Our innovative solution combines LCA with AI to better forecast the ecological impacts of sugar beet cultivation across farms of different sizes. By using historical data and advanced neural models, this method anticipates future energy consumption while integrating environmental and energy constraints. The study highlights that medium-sized farms (MF) show the lowest environmental impacts, according to the CML and USEtox methodologies, unlike small (SF) and large farms (LF), which do not significantly differ in their contribution to pollutants. The average energy consumption for beet production was 1,092,000 MJ/ha on small farms, 1,126,100 MJ/ha on medium farms, and 1,107,080 MJ/ha on large farms. The key critical points identified were related to the use of diesel, machinery, seeds, and pesticides. In terms of energy distribution, chemical fertilizers accounted for 41 % of the total energy used, followed by fuel (24 %), pesticides (18 %), and machinery (7 %). Neural models revealed correlation coefficients (R2) ranging from 0.634 to 0.945 for testing, 0.861 to 0.967 for validation, and 0.944 to 0.982 for training. These results suggest good predictive accuracy for our AI-based approach. Finally, to improve energy efficiency, the study proposes modernizing agricultural equipment and developing more sustainable technologies, such as hybrid tractors, robotic and automated weeding systems, and cultivation techniques that reduce carbon emissions.

Life cycle assessment of ethanol production from broken wheat and rice grains

Ethanol from broken grains will contribute to India’s fuel mix, therefore, the environmental impacts must be systematically quantified. This work performs a detailed life cycle assessment (LCA) of ethanol production from broken wheat and rice in the Indian context. Cradle-to-gate system boundary is considered, and the functional unit is 1 L ethanol. Process inventory is based on literature studies and basic process engineering calculations. Ecoinvent® v3.3 database is also used to get required inventory data. OpenLCA 1.11.0 software and the ReCiPe midpoint (H) model are used for the calculations. A key conclusion is that ethanol from broken grains has substantially lower global warming potential (GWP) (0.536–0.983 kg CO2 eq.) as compared to other fuels. Ethanol from rice has higher GWP and water depletion than that from wheat. The results also show the impacts are dominated by the farming stage. About 98% of water depletion was due to the agricultural stage for both grains. The other import impact factors are fossil depletion, human toxicity, metal depletion, marine eutrophication, and terrestrial acidification. The main driving factors for these are the depletion of coal, natural gas, and crude oil and by the emissions in the form of methane, mercury, manganese, and other metals.

Revolutionizing new drug discovery: Harnessing AI and machine learning to overcome traditional challenges and accelerate targeted therapies

Designing highly targeted, selective drugs with desirable absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles; single-digit nanomolar efficacy; and a wider therapeutic index are challenging. In the traditional drug discovery process, researchers screen thousands of chemical compounds during pre-clinical development, progressing through hit identification, lead optimization, and candidate selection to shortlist – potential clinical candidates with favorable PK profiles, high tolerability, and manageable toxicity. The selected candidate must demonstrate sufficient efficacy in treating the target disease in humans. Despite these efforts, the success rate of the pre-clinical candidate to sail through Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III in clinical trials remains exceedingly low. Supported by powerful data-driven tools, artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed this traditional drug discovery process by enabling the analysis of large quantities of omics, phenotypic, and expression data to identify the biological mechanisms of pathological conditions and in turn identify druggable proteins or genes. The generative AI-powered toolbox creates novel compounds from scratch, assists scientists in optimizing druggability attributes, and bridges the differences between animal and human physiology and anatomy to predict potential toxicity in humans with high accuracy. This review discusses the bottlenecks in the traditional drug discovery approach, the impact of AI and machine learning (ML) in drug discovery, and potential challenges associated with AI/ML adoption.

Environmental Footprints of Yogurt Production: A Case Study of a Small-Scale Manufacturing Process in Sri Lanka

This study investigated the life cycle environmental impacts of yogurt production from cradle to gate at the Pulathisi milk factory in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. The functional unit considered was one kilogram of yogurt produced in the factory using existing technology. The defined system boundary encompassed raw milk production and transportation, machinery fabrication, standardization of milk, and standard unit operations of yogurt production. Material and energy usage data were collected through a series of observations, literature and Ecoinvent 3.7.1 databases. The ReCiPe 2008 method was employed for impact analysis, considering eighteen impact categories with SimaPro software. The inventory analysis included material consumption for machinery fabrication, energy consumption, and emissions for each unit operation in yogurt production. Results were characterized using midpoint indicators, and normalized impacts were calculated. The characterized outcomes of the yogurt production process contributed 2.48 kgCO2eq to climate change, 0.0297 kgSO2eq to acidification, 0.0002 kgPeq to eutrophication, and 6.9199 kg 1,4-DBeq to human toxicity. The study identified hotspots, emphasizing the significant contributions of cow milk production and electricity usage to environmental impacts. Potential mitigations, such as improved waste management in dairy farming and switching to renewable energy sources, are proposed to address these impacts. The normalized impacts provided insights for decision-makers and stakeholders to compare environmental performances and guide sustainable practices in yogurt production. The total impact was recorded as 0.014-person equivalent per year per one kilogram of yogurt.