Article
Environmental Sciences
M. F. S. Goncalves, G. Petraconi Filho, A. A. Couto, A. S. da Silva Sobrinho, F. S. Miranda, M. Massi
Summary: This study evaluated the efficiency of a thermal plasma treatment process in processing solid radioactive waste. The results showed that this method is a promising way to manage and reduce the mass and volume of radioactive waste.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sai Pavan Kalakonda, Gandluri Parameswarreddy, Emil Ninan Skariah, Benu George, T. Suchithra, T. K. Sindhu
Summary: The use of non-thermal plasma technology for treating bacteria-contaminated water shows promising efficiency and feasibility. The research results demonstrate that 100% bacterial removal can be achieved after 15 minutes of NTP treatment, and the water remains completely sterile after treatment.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Estefani Rondon Toro, Amaya Lobo, Antonio Gallardo Izquierdo
Summary: Circular Economy is crucial for sustainability, and waste processing plants play a key role in minimizing resource loss. This study proposes a new circularity indicator for municipal solid waste treatment plants, which evaluates material and energy recovery efficiency.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Chi Ho Li, Tsz Ting Lee, Stephen Siu Yu Lau
Summary: With a global population of 8 billion people, waste generation is expected to continue increasing in the future. Solid waste management is crucial for sustainable development and reducing environmental impacts. Despite decades of monitoring waste problems, some regions, such as Hong Kong, still face challenges in achieving their sustainability goals, particularly with overloaded landfills and high daily disposal rates.
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yin Ding, Jun Zhao, Jia-Wei Liu, Jizhi Zhou, Liang Cheng, Jia Zhao, Zhe Shao, Cagatay Iris, Bingjun Pan, Xiaonian Li, Zhong-Ting Hu
Summary: The management of MSW in China still has room for improvement and should be combined with advanced technologies to achieve resource utilization. The amount of MSW generated in eastern coastal regions of China is increasing, but the management efficiency is lower than that of developed countries.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Dhundi Raj Pathak, Suvash Nepal, Tejendra Thapa, Nimesh Dhakal, Pravin Tiwari, Tirtha Kumar Sinha
Summary: This study examines the possibility of establishing a Common Treatment Facility (CTF) in Nepal to treat infectious healthcare waste. It conducted a survey in healthcare facilities in Nepalgunj to investigate current practices of waste management and estimate waste generation rates. Different scenarios for the capacity assessment and implementation modality of the CTF are proposed based on waste generation data and fraction of infectious waste. The study aims to provide a sustainable solution for healthcare waste management in rapidly urbanising cities of developing countries.
WASTE MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Debasree Purkayastha, Sudipta Sarkar
Summary: The article introduces a new technology based on black soldier fly larvae to treat the biodegradable fraction of municipal solid waste. The larvae can selectively consume this fraction and separate themselves from the rest of the waste, providing a promising method for further treatment of the waste.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Filipe Ferreira de Oliveira Leite, Jose Carlos Escobar Palacio, Madson John Arcanjo Batista, Maria Luiza Grillo Reno
Summary: This study evaluated technological alternatives for Municipal Solid Waste management in Minas Gerais, Brazil, showing that scenarios combining incineration, gasification, anaerobic digestion, and recycling can achieve the highest potential for electricity generation.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yi Liu, Jianliang Wang
Summary: This study estimates the carbon emissions from municipal solid waste treatment across 30 Chinese provinces from 2011 to 2020. The results show that technological advances in waste treatment are the main driver of national carbon emissions reduction. Additionally, the impact of policies on carbon emissions changes is further analyzed using the LMDI-PDA model, considering socio-economic factors. The methods and results of this study can provide better decision-making support for national and provincial carbon emissions control policies targeting MSW treatment.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Afsaneh Ghasemi, Mohammad Mehdi Golbini Mofrad, Iman Parseh, Ghassem Hassani, Hamed Mohammadi, Ramin Hayati, Navid Alinejad
Summary: Filtered cigarettes are the most common type of tobacco used, and cigarette butts are the most significant environmental consequence of smoking. This study found that cigarette butts are the most abundant and widespread hazardous waste globally, and the current management systems are facing serious challenges. Future efforts should focus on reducing cigarette butt pollution and decreasing the amount of pollutants leaking from them.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Seejeen Park, Sounman Hong
Summary: This study analyzed the impact of outsourcing solid waste services on the solid waste management budget using time-series cross-sectional data, finding that outsourcing does not save costs. The proportion of private sector waste treatment also does not significantly affect the solid waste management budget.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Junqi Wang, Solomon Inalegwu Okopi, Haoxiang Ma, Miao Wang, Rui Chen, Wangyang Tian, Fuqing Xu
Summary: By comparing the environmental impacts of anaerobic digestion-pyrolysis and pyrolysis-anaerobic digestion integrations with single anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis technologies for organic solid waste, it was found that anaerobic digestion-pyrolysis has the least environmental impact, while pyrolysis-anaerobic digestion exhibits the heaviest environmental burden. Hence, the anaerobic digestion-pyrolysis integration is considered the top priority for treating organic solid waste from an environmental perspective.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Long Yu, Shunfeng Wang, Zheng Qiao, Linglin Xu, Kai Wu, Peizhen Li, Zhenghong Yang
Summary: A novel type of green and non-sintered lightweight aggregates (LWAs) was successfully prepared using quarry tailings and fly ash as raw materials. The effects of curing time and temperatures on the properties of LWAs, such as compressive strength, water absorption, and pore structures, were systematically investigated. SEM linking nanoindentation technology was applied to analyze the microstructure and micromechanical properties of LWAs. The prepared LWAs exhibited high compressive strength, low apparent density, and low water absorption, making them potentially suitable for structural applications.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Kangana P. Bhatt, Sanjay Patel, Darshit S. Upadhyay, Rajesh N. Patel
Summary: Solid waste management has become a significant global concern due to the increase in per capita waste generation. Improper waste management practices have had a significant negative impact on the environment. Plasma pyrolysis technology offers an environmentally safe approach to converting solid waste into energy, producing high-quality syngas/hydrogen, and minimizing solid residue. This review examines the current status of plasma pyrolysis technology and its application in treating various types of solid waste, including hazardous waste. It also explores the compositions and uses of the resulting solid residue and syngas, as well as the design and generation sources of plasma reactors. Additionally, the cost estimation and challenges of this technology are discussed, along with recommendations to make it a viable option on a larger scale.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND PROCESSING-PROCESS INTENSIFICATION
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Yuying Zhang, Lei Wang, Liang Chen, Bin Ma, Yike Zhang, Wen Ni, Daniel C. W. Tsang
Summary: Municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash is considered hazardous waste that requires specific treatment. In recent years, there has been interest in developing low carbon and sustainable treatment technologies for MSWI fly ash to maximize benefits. This review highlights innovative technologies, resource utilization approaches, and future perspectives for MSWI fly ash management.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Sylvia Annabel Dass, Venugopal Balakrishnan, Norsyahida Arifin, Crystale Siew Ying Lim, Fazlina Nordin, Gee Jun Tye
Summary: This article discusses the importance of prioritizing tuberculosis during the COVID-19 pandemic, compares COVID-19 and tuberculosis in various aspects, and emphasizes the importance of antibody therapy. The article also presents how the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic can be applied to enhance antibody-based immunotherapy for tuberculosis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Azka Ainun Nisaa, Chern-Ein Oon, Sasidharan Sreenivasan, Venugopal Balakrishnan, Jun Jie Tan, Cindy Shuan-Ju Teh, Salina Sany, Svetoslav Dimitrov Todorov, Guoxia Liu, Yong-Ha Park, Min-Tze Liong
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the immunological and antimicrobial properties of breast milk in pregnant women with or without vaginal yeast infections. The study found that concentrations of IL-10, IgA, IgM, IgG, EGF, and TGF-alpha were similar in both groups. However, breast milk from women in the W-group who were below 31 years old had a higher concentration of EGF compared to the WO-group. Additionally, breast milk from the WO-group exhibited higher anti-Candida properties. Correlation analysis showed that the concentration of TGF-alpha in breast milk positively correlated with the concentrations of IL-10 and IgA in the W-group. These findings suggest that while breast milk from women with vaginal infections during pregnancy may not hinder Candida growth, other immuno-modulatory bioactives may compensate for this protective effect.
FOOD SCIENCE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Shandra Devi Balasubramaniam, Venugopal Balakrishnan, Chern Ein Oon, Gurjeet Kaur
Summary: By studying the various stages of cervical cancer development, we have identified the perturbed cellular pathways and changes in gene expression that contribute to the disease. These findings provide guidance for further investigation and validation of the molecular mechanisms involved in HPV-associated cervical cancer.
Article
Polymer Science
Mohammad F. Bostanudin, Mosab Arafat, Suk Fei Tan, Md Zaidul I. Sarker
Summary: This study aimed to develop and characterize nanoformulations made from modified pectin to enhance drug permeation through the skin. The results showed that the spherical nanostructures produced from modified pectin had controlled drug release and efficient cellular absorption, suggesting their potential for percutaneous delivery of poorly penetrating drugs.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Kashif Ghafoor, Md. Zaidul Islam Sarker, Fahad Y. Al-Juhaimi, Elfadil E. Babiker, Mohammed S. Alkaltham, Abdullah K. Almubarak
Summary: Date (Phoenix dactylifera) seed can be a potential source of natural antioxidants. Innovative green and low temperature antioxidant recovery techniques, such as supercritical fluid (SFE) and subcritical (SubCO(2)) extractions using CO2 as a solvent, can improve the yields and quality of antioxidant extracts. This study compared SFE, SubCO(2), and Soxhlet techniques for enriching antioxidants in extracts from different date seed varieties. The results showed that SFE and SubCO(2) methods extracted significantly higher levels of phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and carotenoids compared to Soxhlet. In vitro evaluation also demonstrated that SFE and SubCO(2) extracts had promising antioxidant properties, making them potential candidates for functional and nutraceutical applications.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Kashif Ghafoor, Md Zaidul Islam Sarker, Fahad Y. Al-Juhaimi, Elfadil E. Babiker, Mohammed S. Alkaltham, Abdullah K. Almubarak, Isam A. Mohamed Ahmed
Summary: Supercritical and subcritical extraction techniques were used to produce flesh extracts from four Saudi date fruits. The subcritical CO(2) method showed significant extraction of phytochemicals, while the Majdool date variety exhibited the highest levels of both phytochemicals and biological properties.
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Tariqul Islam, Md Zaidul Islam Sarker, A. B. M. Helal Uddin, Shah Samiur Rashid, Liew Kai Bin
Summary: In this study, N-phenylbenzamide (N-PBA) was synthesized using solvent-pair mixtures containing hydrogen bond donor and hydrogen bond acceptor to explore the replacement/limitation of hazardous dipolar aprotic solvents in amide drug synthesis. Different pure solvents and mixed solvents were selected based on their Kamlet-Taft parameters and GSK 2016 health-safety scores. The yields of N-PBA were evaluated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) under an amide coupling system at 25 degrees C. The results showed that safe solvent mixtures could be used to avoid/limit hazardous dipolar aprotic solvents and significantly improve the yield of N-PBA.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Matthew Tze Jian Wong, Satvinder Singh Dhaliwal, Venugopal Balakrishnan, Fazlina Nordin, Mohd Nor Norazmi, Gee Jun Tye
Summary: This study investigates the effectiveness of booster doses on the Omicron wave in Malaysia against COVID-19 infections and deaths, and the results show that boosters have high efficacy in reducing COVID-19 infections and deaths.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Md Abdur Rashid Mia, Qamar Uddin Ahmed, Sahena Ferdosh, Abul Bashar Mohammed Helaluddin, Md Shihabul Awal, Murni Nazira Sarian, Md Zaidul Islam Sarker, Zainul Amiruddin Zakaria
Summary: This study evaluated the potential therapeutic effects of Phaleria macrocarpa fruit extracts on diabetes, specifically focusing on their antioxidant properties and their ability to inhibit the protein alpha-glucosidase. The study confirmed the presence of potent alpha-glucosidase inhibitors in the extracts and analyzed their mechanisms of action using molecular dynamic simulations and network pharmacology approaches. The findings suggest that these compounds have the potential to be developed as alternative alpha-glucosidase inhibitors for more effective diabetes management.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Kashif Ghafoor, Md. Zaidul Islam Sarker, Fahad Y. Al-Juhaimi, Isam A. Mohamed Ahmed, Elfadil E. Babiker, Mohammed S. Alkaltham, Abdullah K. Almubarak
Summary: The bioactive compounds of four Saudi date flesh extracts were evaluated using different extraction methods. Both the date variety and extraction method affected the phenolic profile of the extracts. The incorporation of date flesh extracts into yogurt increased the total phenolic content, antiradical activity, viscosity, and redness of the product.
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Nor Dyana Zakaria, Hairul Hisham Hamzah, Ibrahim Luqman Salih, Venugopal Balakrishnan, Khairunisak Abdul Razak
Summary: Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) genes are bacteria strains that are resistant to the antibiotic vancomycin. They exhibit phenotypic and genotypic variations and pose significant issues for hospitalized patients. This review summarizes methods for detecting VRE strains and explores the potential use of electrochemical DNA biosensors for detecting VRE genes. However, no information was found on the development of electrochemical biosensors for VRE genes, only for vancomycin-susceptible bacteria.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Azka Ainun Nisaa, Chern-Ein Oon, Sasidharan Sreenivasan, Venugopal Balakrishnan, Deepa Rajendran, Jun-Jie Tan, Fatin Fazrina Roslan, Svetoslav Dimitrov Todorov, Woo-Sik Jeong, Feiyan Zhao, Nur Syafiqah Mohamad Nasir, Zakuan Zainy Deris, Heping Zhang, Yong-Ha Park, Guoxia Liu, Min-Tze Liong
Summary: We compared the microbiota profiles of breast milk from women with and without vaginal yeast infection during pregnancy. Breast milk from women with vaginal yeast infection exhibited higher alpha diversity across different taxonomic levels. The composition of breast milk from the two groups showed marginal differences at certain taxonomic levels. Our findings suggest that vaginal infection during pregnancy may affect breast milk composition, but it may not pose a threat to infant growth and development.
PREVENTIVE NUTRITION AND FOOD SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Horticulture
Kashif Ghafoor, Fahad Y. Al-Juhaimi, Elfadil E. Babiker, Md. Zaidul Islam Sarker, Isam A. Mohamed Ahmed
Summary: In this study, functional coatings developed using chitosan, olive-cake, and orange-peel extracts were applied to preserve Barhi dates. The coatings significantly improved the functional properties and phytochemical content of the dates, and slowed down the ripening process.
Review
Polymer Science
H. P. S. Abdul Khalil, Esam Bashir Yahya, Husnul Azan Tajarudin, Venugopal Balakrishnan, Halimatuddahliana Nasution
Summary: This article introduces the fabrication approach and properties of biopolymeric xerogels for the first time, and discusses their latest applications in drug delivery, wound healing and dressing, tissue scaffolding, and biosensing.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
R. S. Rajan, S. A. Dass, G. J. Tye, V. Balakrishnan
Summary: Cervical cancer is a major cause of death in women worldwide, and extensive research is being conducted to develop efficient diagnostics and treatments. The characterization of cervical cell lines is essential for these studies, as it ensures the suitability of the cells and enables accurate therapy.
EUROPEAN REVIEW FOR MEDICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
