Hasil untuk "Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering"

Babita Sharma, A. K. Dangi, Pratyoosh Shukla

Junwei Yu, Mufeng Yang, Yepeng Ding et al.

The proliferation of AI-powered search engines has shifted information discovery from traditional link-based retrieval to direct answer generation with selective source citation, creating new challenges for content visibility. While existing Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) approaches focus primarily on semantic content modification, the role of structural features in influencing citation behavior remains underexplored. In this paper, we propose GEO-SFE, a systematic framework for structural feature engineering in generative engine optimization. Our approach decomposes content structure into three hierarchical levels: macro-structure (document architecture), meso-structure (information chunking), and micro-structure (visual emphasis), and models their impact on citation probability across different generative engine architectures. We develop architecture-aware optimization strategies and predictive models that preserve semantic integrity while improving structural effectiveness. Experimental evaluation across six mainstream generative engines demonstrates consistent improvements in citation rate (17.3 percent) and subjective quality (18.5 percent), validating the effectiveness and generalizability of the proposed framework. This work establishes structural optimization as a foundational component of GEO, providing a data-driven methodology for enhancing content visibility in LLM-powered information ecosystems.

Md Shahin Alam, Farzaneh Tahriri, Gang Chen

The growing concern over environmental pollution has spurred extensive research into various contaminants impacting ecosystems and human health. Emerging contaminants (ECs), including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, nanomaterials, and microplastics, have garnered significant attention due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of EC research, aiming to detail the research landscape, highlight significant contributions, and identify influential researchers and pivotal studies. Data were sourced from the Web of Science, encompassing 62,670 documents from January 2000 to May 2024. Advanced bibliometric tools, including Bibliometrix, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace, were employed to analyze publication outputs, citation metrics, and collaboration patterns. The analysis revealed an exponential increase in EC research, with annual publications growing from fewer than 1,000 before 2006 to nearly 7,000 by 2022. Environmental Science & Technology emerged as the most influential journal. Based on the number of publications and citations as a country, China and the United States led in research outputs. Co-authorship and collaboration networks highlighted key hubs and prominent researchers, with significant contributions from environmental sciences, chemical engineering, and toxicology. Keyword co-occurrence analysis identified core themes, such as degradation, removal, and the impacts of ECs, reflecting evolving research interests and emerging topics. This bibliometric analysis provides valuable insights into the development and current state of EC research, serving as a resource for guiding future research efforts and fostering collaborations. The study indicates the critical need for continued research to address the challenges posed by ECs and develop effective regulatory policies and remediation strategies.

R. Mandal, Z. Bashir, Deep Raj

Water pollution from Heavy metal (HM) contamination poses a critical threat to environmental sustainability and public health. Industrial activities have increased the presence of HMs in wastewater, necessitating effective remediation strategies. Conventional methods like chemical precipitation, ion exchange, adsorption, and membrane filtration are widely used but possess various limitations. These include high costs, environmental impacts, and the potential for generating secondary pollutants, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives. Phytoremediation, enhanced by microbial interactions, offers an eco-friendly solution to this issue. The unique physiological and biochemical traits of plants, combined with microbial metabolic capabilities, enable efficient uptake and detoxification of HMs. Microbial enzymes play a crucial role in these processes by breaking down complex compounds, enhancing HM bioavailability, and facilitating their conversion into less toxic forms. Synergistic interactions between root-associated microbes and plants further improves metal absorption and stabilization, boosting phytoremediation efficiency. However, challenges remain, including the limited bioavailability of contaminants and plant resilience in highly polluted environments. Recent advancements focus on improving microbial-assisted phytoremediation through mechanisms like bioavailability facilitation, phytoextraction, and phytostabilization. Genetic engineering facilitates the altering of genes that control plant immune responses and growth which improves the ability of plants to interact beneficially with microbes to thrive in HM rich environments while efficiently cleaning contaminated wastewater. This review examines these strategies and highlights future research directions to enhance wastewater remediation using phytoremediation technologies.

DENG Zhihua, LIU Rui, LI Biqing

Coffee grounds, walnut shells, water hyacinth and coconut shells were used as raw materials to prepare biochars at different pyrolysis temperatures, and the simulated wastewater containing Cu, Zn, OTC, CIP, and DOX was purified. The results showed that 700 ℃ was the optimal pyrolysis temperature for biochar, and water hyacinth biochar(SBC700) had the best adsorption effect on single heavy metal Cu and Zn. Coconut shell biochar(YBC700) had a strong adsorption effect on single antibiotic OTC, CIP, and DOX. The adsorption behaviors of four biochars on single heavy metal and antibiotic were chemical adsorption. Composite biochar was prepared from SBC and YBC at 700 ℃, and its adsorption effect on Cu, Zn and one antibiotic compound contaminant was studied. Composite biochar was beneficial for enhancing the adsorption efficiecy of Cu and antibiotics in compound contaminant systems. The longer the residence time, the better the removal effect of composite biochar on Cu and Zn, and the effect on three antibiotics was no significant. Considering the economic benefits and removal effects, the optimal dosage of composite biochar was 2.5 g/L. The adsorption capacity of biochar for Cu and Zn also increased gradually with the increase of pH, which was 1.90 mg/g and 8.40 mg/g at pH 6, respectively. There was no significant change in the adsorption capacity of biochar for OTC, CIP, and DOX, and the average removal rates were higher than 88%. The water hyacinth and coconut shell composite biochar prepared at the pyrolysis temperature of 700 ℃ had the best comprehensive properties, which provided a new idea for the adsorption of heavy metals and antibiotic compound pollution.

Luxin Zhang, Xinran Li, Yichen Zhao et al.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used synthetic compound that could cause neurobehavioral abnormalities in mammals. Previous studies have suggested that NMDAR may be a potential target of BPA-induced neurotoxicity. However, the impact of exposure to BPA on glutamate (Glu) and D-serine (D-ser) metabolism (key regulators of NMDAR activation) has not been clarified yet. Pregnant SD rats were exposed to 0, 0.05, 0.5, 5 and 50 mg/kg/day BPA via oral gavage from gestational day (GD) 5 to GD 19, and primary cultured astrocytes (AS) from neonatal rats were exposed to 5, 10 and 20 μmol/L BPA, respectively. Neurochemical experiments were conducted to investigate dysfunctions in Glu and D-ser metabolism both in the hippocampus of rats’ offspring at different developmental stages and in AS. Results showed that BPA exposure in utero induced Glu accumulation and inhibited GS, GLS1, and GDH expression and activity at the gene, protein, and enzymatic levels in the hippocampus of rats’ offspring during different developmental stages (GD 20, PND 21, and PND 56). However, BPA exposure in utero increased D-ser levels at GD 20 but decreased them from PND 21 onward. Additionally, BPA exposure in utero inhibited SR, asc-1, and ASCT2 expression, while promoting ASCT1 expression during these stages. Besides, BPA exposure in utero up-regulated DAAO expression at GD 20 but down-regulated it from PND 21 onward. Moreover, BPA exposure inhibited the expression and activity of GS (except for its expression), GLS1, and GDH, while suppressing SR and DAAO expression but increasing ASCT2 expression without altering ASCT21 expression in AS. These findings will provide new insights into the pathogenesis of BPA-induced neurotoxicity through Glu and D-ser metabolic pathways.

Hashini Gunatilake, John Grundy, Rashina Hoda et al.

Empathy plays a crucial role in software engineering (SE), influencing collaboration, communication, and decision-making. While prior research has highlighted the importance of empathy in SE, there is limited understanding of how empathy manifests in SE practice, what motivates SE practitioners to demonstrate empathy, and the factors that influence empathy in SE work. Our study explores these aspects through 22 interviews and a large scale survey with 116 software practitioners. Our findings provide insights into the expression of empathy in SE, the drivers behind empathetic practices, SE activities where empathy is perceived as useful or not, and the other factors that influence empathy. In addition, we offer practical implications for SE practitioners and researchers, offering a deeper understanding of how to effectively integrate empathy into SE processes.

Daniel N. Wilke

This paper introduces Design for Sensing and Digitalisation (DSD), a new engineering design paradigm that integrates sensor technology for digitisation and digitalisation from the earliest stages of the design process. Unlike traditional methodologies that treat sensing as an afterthought, DSD emphasises sensor integration, signal path optimisation, and real-time data utilisation as core design principles. The paper outlines DSD's key principles, discusses its role in enabling digital twin technology, and argues for its importance in modern engineering education. By adopting DSD, engineers can create more intelligent and adaptable systems that leverage real-time data for continuous design iteration, operational optimisation and data-driven predictive maintenance.

Hashini Gunatilake, John Grundy, Rashina Hoda et al.

Empathy plays a critical role in software engineering (SE), influencing collaboration, communication, and user-centred design. Although SE research has increasingly recognised empathy as a key human aspect, there remains no validated instrument specifically designed to measure it within the unique socio-technical contexts of SE. Existing generic empathy scales, while well-established in psychology and healthcare, often rely on language, scenarios, and assumptions that are not meaningful or interpretable for software practitioners. These scales fail to account for the diverse, role-specific, and domain-bound expressions of empathy in SE, such as understanding a non-technical user's frustrations or another practitioner's technical constraints, which differ substantially from empathy in clinical or everyday contexts. To address this gap, we developed and validated two domain-specific empathy scales: EmpathiSEr-P, assessing empathy among practitioners, and EmpathiSEr-U, capturing practitioner empathy towards users. Grounded in a practitioner-informed conceptual framework, the scales encompass three dimensions of empathy: cognitive empathy, affective empathy, and empathic responses. We followed a rigorous, multi-phase methodology, including expert evaluation, cognitive interviews, and two practitioner surveys. The resulting instruments represent the first psychometrically validated empathy scales tailored to SE, offering researchers and practitioners a tool for assessing empathy and designing empathy-enhancing interventions in software teams and user interactions.

Ernian Zhao, Hang Yin, Xin Zhang et al.

ABSTRACT In the field of civil engineering, the utilization of bio-based composites is a viable solution for promoting environmentally friendly practices. A novel bio-based inorganic-bonded bamboo composite (InorgBam) prepared with roller-pressing impregnation, cold pressing, and molding technology was first introduced, and 72 double-shear specimens were tested to investigate the load-carrying performance of InorgBam single-bolted connections. The failure characteristics of the InorgBam single-bolted connections were evaluated using the European yield model (EYM). By incorporating the existing bilinear and Attiogbe models, the load-displacement relationship of the InorgBam single-bolted connections was foretasted with precision. The effect of bolt diameter and component thickness on load-bearing capacity was compared, and relevant design suggestions were proposed. Prediction equations of load-bearing capacity for timber connections in existing standards were briefly reviewed and compared with the test results to illustrate their applicability for InorgBam connections. Comparison results indicated that the equations for timbers exhibited an adequate safety redundancy for the InorgBam. Finally, a simplified equation was proposed based on nonlinear fitting that aims to provide a convenient approach to design activities for InorgBam bolted connections and promote the structural application of InorgBam material.

Mengdi Zhang, Jindong Gao, Md. F. Kulyar et al.

Acute renal failure is a common clinical disease in canines, affecting antioxidant levels and decreasing the body's resistance. This study aims to explore the therapeutic mechanism of Nano-selenium in acute renal failure. The histopathological and imaging changes of kidney tissue were observed with the gene and protein expression levels of Keap1, Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1 in the kidney. According to our findings, adding nano-selenium can effectively reduce the concentration of CRE and BUN in blood and kidney tissues. It increased the activity of GSH-PX and SOD by an effective reduction of MDA. Through pathological and imaging observations, it was found that adding nano-selenium could improve the kidney tissue structure of acute renal failure. The results of the RT-qPCR experiment showed that after the addition of nano-selenium, the mRNA expression of the Keap1 gene decreased significantly. In contrast, the mRNA expression of the Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1 genes increased significantly. The experimental results were further verified by western blot and immunohistochemical analysis. Hence, the nano-selenium intervention improved kidney function and increased antioxidant levels in canines suffering from acute renal failure with the involvement of the Keap1-Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway.

Ishfaq Showket Mir, Ali Riaz, Julie Fréchette et al.

Abstract Bacterial cellulose composites hold promise as renewable bioinspired materials for industrial and environmental applications. However, their use as free-standing water filtration membranes is hindered by low compressive strength, fouling, and poor contaminant selectivity. This study investigates the potential of bacterial cellulose-graphene oxide composites membranes for fouling resistance in pressure-driven filtration. Graphene oxide dispersed in poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-400) is incorporated as a reinforcing filler into 3D network of bacterial cellulose using an in-situ synthesis method. The effect of graphene oxide on in situ fermentation yield and the formation of percolated-network in the composites shows that the optimal membrane properties are reached at a graphene oxide loading of 2 mg/mL. The two-dimensional graphene oxide nanosheets uniformly dispersed into the matrix of bacterial cellulose nanofibers via hydrogen-bonded interactions demonstrated nearly twofold higher water flux (380 L m−2 h−1) with a molecular weight cut-off ranging between 100–200 KDa and a sixfold increase in wet compression strength than pristine BC. When exposed to synthetic organic foulants and bacterial rich feed solutions, the composite membranes showed more than 95% flux recovery. Additionally, the membranes achieved over 95% rejection of synthetic natural organic matter and bacterial rich solutions, showcasing their enhanced fouling resistance and selectivity.

Shahnaz Nayeri, Jalal Basiri Parsa

PES/TiO2-AgBr-Ag membrane with different loadings of TiO2-AgBr-Ag was investigated as a photocatalyst for the remove of Cefixime (CFX) in aqueous solution to solve the separation problems of the suspended photocatalysts and membrane fouling that happen in photocatalytic technology. The prepared membranes underwent characterization using various analytical techniques including XRD, FE-SEM, AFM, DRS, FT-IR, EDX and CA methods. The Cross-sectional images of SEM also show that the prepared membranes transformed into porous structures with finger-like porosity, and the porosity of pure PES increased up to 1.5 wt% PES/TiO2-AgBr-Ag then decreases slightly due to the onset of aggregation. The EDX analysis revealed a uniform dispersion of the nanoparticles in the PES membrane matrix. The contact angle of the membranes was observed to decrease from 77° to 30° upon the augmentation of TiO2-AgBr-Ag content. However, increasing the TiO2-AgBr-Ag loading to 2 wt% results in a decrease in performance, which is due to agglomeration and a possible defective porous structure of the membrane. Furthermore, the mentioned blended membrane showed a higher flux recovery rate (FRR (%)) in the Cefixime fouling.

Yi-Duo Chen, Jian-Yue Guan, Zhi-Xi Wu

Dynamic environments shape diverse dynamics in evolutionary game systems. We introduce spatial heterogeneity of resources into the prisoner's dilemma game model to explore coevolutionary game dynamics with environmental feedback. The availability of resources significantly affects the survival competitiveness of surrounding individuals. Feedback between individuals' strategies and the resources they can use leads to the oscillating dynamic known as the "oscillatory tragedy of the commons". Our findings indicate that when the influence of individuals' strategies on the update rate of resources is significantly high in systems characterized by environmental heterogeneity, they can attain an equilibrium state that avoids the oscillatory tragedy. In contrast to the numerical results obtained in well-mixed structures, self-organized clustered patterns emerge in simulations utilizing square lattices, further enhancing the stability of the system. We discuss critical phenomena in detail, demonstrating that the aforementioned transition is robust across various system parameters, including the strength of cooperators in restoring the environment, initial distributions of cooperators, system size and structures, and noise.

Isaiah Lahr, Saghir Alfasly, Peyman Nejat et al.

Searching for similar images in archives of histology and histopathology images is a crucial task that may aid in patient matching for various purposes, ranging from triaging and diagnosis to prognosis and prediction. Whole slide images (WSIs) are highly detailed digital representations of tissue specimens mounted on glass slides. Matching WSI to WSI can serve as the critical method for patient matching. In this paper, we report extensive analysis and validation of four search methods bag of visual words (BoVW), Yottixel, SISH, RetCCL, and some of their potential variants. We analyze their algorithms and structures and assess their performance. For this evaluation, we utilized four internal datasets ($1269$ patients) and three public datasets ($1207$ patients), totaling more than $200,000$ patches from $38$ different classes/subtypes across five primary sites. Certain search engines, for example, BoVW, exhibit notable efficiency and speed but suffer from low accuracy. Conversely, search engines like Yottixel demonstrate efficiency and speed, providing moderately accurate results. Recent proposals, including SISH, display inefficiency and yield inconsistent outcomes, while alternatives like RetCCL prove inadequate in both accuracy and efficiency. Further research is imperative to address the dual aspects of accuracy and minimal storage requirements in histopathological image search.

Stefanie Betz, Birgit Penzenstadler

The landscape of software engineering is evolving rapidly amidst the digital transformation and the ascendancy of AI, leading to profound shifts in the role and responsibilities of software engineers. This evolution encompasses both immediate changes, such as the adoption of Language Model-based approaches in coding, and deeper shifts driven by the profound societal and environmental impacts of technology. Despite the urgency, there persists a lag in adapting to these evolving roles. By fostering ongoing discourse and reflection on Software Engineers role and responsibilities, this vision paper seeks to cultivate a new generation of software engineers equipped to navigate the complexities and ethical considerations inherent in their evolving profession.

P. Sanghamitra, D. Mazumder, S. Mukherjee

Abstract One of the complex environmental problems that triggers at present is oily wastewater contamination arising out of the activities related to engineering vehicular (automobile) workshop or garage, kitchens in houses and restaurants, gas stations, metal finishing house, petrochemical industry, edible oil production unit etc. Oily wastewater discharge is a major issue of environmental pollution in the present decade as some of its constituents are hazardous in nature. Hence, appropriate treatment technology for oily wastewater needs to be addressed. Biological treatment (BT) technique would be the best option in this regard, because it has multiple advantages over various other techniques as available today. BT degrades effectively the harmful constituents of oily wastewater into innocuous products that are environment friendly and it is considered to be the economical method. The resulting effluent of pretreatment followed by biological treatment of oily wastewater can be reused after conforming discharge limits. Again, numerous research works in these days have optimized the function and result of existing laboratory and pilot scale treatment technologies. This review paper describes a comprehensive understanding of the origin and characteristics, existing techniques in laboratory and pilot scale, screening of different methods, justification for advocating biological methods for treatment of oily wastewater.

Kyle D. Fish, Natalie R. Rubio, Andrew J. Stout et al.

Background In vitro meat production has been proposed as a solution to environmental and animal welfare issues associated with animal agriculture. While most academic work on cell-cultured meat has focused on innovations for scalable muscle tissue culture, fat production is an important and often neglected component of this technology. Developing suitable biomanufacturing strategies for adipose tissue from agriculturally relevant animal species may be particularly beneficial due to the potential use of cell-cultured fat as a novel food ingredient. Scope and Approach Here we review the relevant studies from areas of meat science, cell biology, tissue engineering, and bioprocess engineering to provide a foundation for the development of in vitro fat production systems. We provide an overview of adipose tissue biology and functionality with respect to meat products, then explore cell lines, bioreactors, and tissue engineering strategies of potential utility for in vitro adipose tissue production for food. Regulation and consumer acceptance are also discussed. Key Findings and Conclusions Existing strategies and paradigms are insufficient to meet the full set of unique needs for a cell-cultured fat manufacturing platform, as tradeoffs are often present between simplicity, scalability, stability, and projected cost. Identification and validation of appropriate cell lines, bioprocess strategies, and tissue engineering techniques must therefore be an iterative process as a deeper understanding of the needs and opportunities for cell-cultured fat develops.

Shengqi Zhang, Qian Yin, Siqin Wang et al.

Ji-Young Lee, Sung-Eun Lee, Dong-Woo Lee

Abstract Current fossil-based commercial products pose a serious threat to global reserves of natural resources and the preservation of the natural environment. During recent decades, great efforts have been made to increase the availability of non-utilizable biomass as alternative feedstocks and reduce environmental pollution to achieve a more sustainable bioeconomy. Several bio-sectors have emerged for the production of bio-based products to replace fossil-based equivalents through bioprocesses using biomass feedstocks. Indeed, advanced microbial fermentation technologies encompassing metabolic engineering and genome-based systems biology approaches have enabled the design and development of new bio-based refineries using engineered platform cells. Herein, we focus on recent progress in the area of microbial fermentation-aided bioprocesses for the production of bio-based products derived from naturally occurring biomasses as feedstocks. Furthermore, we discuss the application of bio-based products and remaining technical barriers and assess possible biorefineries. Graphical abstract