Development of natural treatment system consisting of black soil and Kentucky bluegrass for the post-treatment of anaerobically digested strong wastewater

To develop a sound post-treatment process for anaerobically-digested strong wastewater,a novel natural treatment system comprising two units is put forward.The first unit,a trickling filter,provides for further reduction of biochemical oxygen demand and adjustable nitrification.The subsequent soil–plant unit aims at removing and recovering the nutrients nitrogen（N）,phosphorus（P）and potassium（K）.As a lab-scale feasibility study,a soil column test was conducted,in which black soil and valuable Kentucky bluegrass were integrated to treat artificial nutrient-enriched wastewater.After a long-term operation,the nitrification function was well established in the top layers,despite the need for an improved denitrification process prior to discharge.P and K were retained by the soil through distinct mechanisms.Since they either partially or totally remained in plant-available forms in the soil,indirect nutrient reuse could be achieved.As for Kentucky bluegrass,it displayed better growth status when receiving wastewater,with direct recovery of 8%,6% and 14% of input N,P and K,respectively.Furthermore,the indispensable role of Kentucky bluegrass for better treatment performance was proved,as it enhanced the cell-specific nitrification potential of the soil nitrifying microorganisms inhabiting the rhizosphere.After further upgrade,the proposed system is expected to become a new solution for strong wastewater pollution.

Local Application of Combined Drugs of Natural Essential Oils for the Prevention of Acute Pharyngitis

Objective: Viral pharyngitis, commonly known as a sore throat, is a widespread condition affecting people of all ages globally. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a medical device containing the combined drugs of natural essential oils (CDNEO) formulation in managing throat pain in patients with acute viral pharyngitis. With the growing resistance to traditional antibacterial treatments, essential oils have attracted interest for their potential analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. Results: The study involved 81 patients randomly divided into two groups: those taking a medical device containing combined drugs of natural essential oils (CDNEO) and those taking a placebo. A questionnaire was used to assess throat pain among the participants, with 45 receiving the CDNEO and 36 the placebo. The CDNEO group experienced a significant reduction in throat pain, with the average VAS score decreasing from 5.36 to 1.09, compared to the placebo group, which saw a decrease from 4.97 to 2.19. This difference, with p Conclusion: By using a double-blind research method, it was possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the oils more objectively, since there was also a control placebo group. The study shows that CDNEO significantly reduces throat pain and decreases the need for additional pain relief medication in patients with acute viral pharyngitis. The findings suggest that natural essential oils could serve as an alternative treatment for pharyngitis, particularly in efforts to minimize NSAID use and combat antibiotic resistance.

Efficacy and tolerability of chitin-glucan combined with simethicone(GASTRAP^(■)DIRECT)in irritable bowel syndrome:A prospective,open-label,multicenter study

BACKGROUND Irritable bowel syndrome(IBS),defined according to the Rome IV diagnostic criteria,is a chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by recurrent abdominal pain related to altered bowel habits.First-line recommended treatments are limited to combining drugs targeting predominant symptoms,particularly pain(antispasmodics),constipation(laxatives),and diarrhea(loperamide),yielding only a limited therapeutic gain.GASTRAP^(■)DIRECT is a class IIa medical formulation composed of a combination of chitin-glucan and simethicone indicated for the symptomatic treatment of gas-related gastrointestinal disorders by combining different mechanisms of action.AIM To evaluate the efficacy,tolerability,and safety of 4-week GASTRAP^(■)DIRECT treatment in patients with IBS.METHODS In this prospective,multicenter,open-label trial,120 patients with IBS received three sticks of GASTRAP^(■)DIRECT(1.5 g/d of chitin-glucan and 0.75 mg/d of simethicone)per day for 4 weeks.The primary endpoint was the responder rate,defined as the number of patients whose abdominal pain score decreased by≥30%from baseline to week(W)4.The analysis was performed using the per-protocol set.Cardinal symptoms,impact of global symptoms on daily life,change in stool consistency,and improvement in defecatory disorders were evaluated.RESULTS Overall,100 patients were evaluated.At W4,67%(95%CI:57-75)showed improvement in abdominal pain(score:5.8±2.4 vs 2.9±2.0,P<0.0001).Similar improvements were observed for bloating[8.0±1.7 vs 4.7±2.9,P<0.0001;60%(95%CI:50-70)responders],abdominal distension[7.2±2.1 vs 4.4±3.1,P<0.0001;53%(95%CI:43-63)responders],and impact of global symptoms on daily life[7.1±2.0 vs 4.6±2.9,P<0.0001;54%(95%CI:44-64)responders].Stool consistency improved in most patients(90%and 57%for patients with liquid and hard stools,respectively).Overall,42%of patients with defecatory disorders reported very much/considerable improvements by W2.No severe adverse event occurred,and tolerability was rated“good”or“very good”by 93%of patients.CONCLUSION GASTRAP^(■)DIRECT is safe and well tolerated,alleviating IBS symptoms rapidly in 2 weeks.This open-label study suggests that the combination of chitin-glucan and simethicone could be beneficial in patients with IBS.

Tamanu Oil in Acne Management: Potential Anti-Inflammatory and Wound-Healing Properties for Scar Reduction

Tamanu oil, derived from the nuts of Calophyllum inophyllum, has gained increasing attention for its potential in acne management due to its purported anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. This analysis evaluates the efficacy of tamanu oil in acne treatment with a specific focus on its impact on inflammation and scar reduction. The novelty of this research lies in its comprehensive analysis of tamanu oil’s dual mechanism of action: reducing acne-related inflammation and promoting the healing of acne scars. Clinical trials and laboratory analyses were conducted to assess the oil’s effectiveness in diminishing erythema, swelling, and post-acne scarring compared to conventional treatments. Preliminary findings demonstrate that tamanu oil significantly reduces inflammation and accelerates wound healing, potentially offering a promising adjunct or alternative to standard acne therapies. Future research should aim to optimize formulation and application protocols, long-term effects, and comparative therapeutic efficacy with other anti-inflammatory agents. Tamanu oil offers a novel and effective approach to acne management, with potential advantages that go beyond inflammation reduction to include enhanced scar reduction, making it a subject that warrants further investigation.

Evaluating Drinking Water Treatment Methods in the Njala University and Neighboring Mokonde Communities in Southern Sierra Leone

Rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are always faced with the challenge of securing safe water for beneficial uses. Most communities lack a centralized water supply system and, thus, each residence utilizes the treatment method that they can afford. This study evaluated three treatment methods for drinking water in the Njala University and Mokonde communities in southern Sierra Leone. In the perceived natural treatment, residents in the Mokonde community believe that groundwater has been purified by the soil media and, hence, does not require further treatment. In the conventional treatment, the Njala University Water Works use sand filtration and chlorine disinfection to treat water from the Taia River. The third treatment method, first flush diversion, was introduced by Njala University researchers in 2014. We studied the populations of coliform bacteria and E. coli in untreated and treated water samples to determine if each of the treatment methods supported the beneficial use of drinking. This study concludes that the natural filtration does not remove pathogens in the well water. Even though the first flush and conventional treatments were efficient in reducing microbial populations in the water, the World Health Organization’s 100% removal guideline was not achieved most of the time. Therefore, all three treatment methods did not support the beneficial use of drinking. Further treatment was needed to render the water potable.

Forecast of Changes Concerning the Water Budget in a Wetland of Danube Floodplain

The water budget of the examined wetland was extremely variable in the past six years. Principally, it was affected by the water regime of the River Danube and the climatic factors. In order to investigate the changes of these elements, and to succeed to forecast, statistical methods by using SPSS program were performed. The time series of the evaporation, of the precipitation and of the river＇s water-level were analysed by linear regression, by exponential smoothing, by deterministic models. In consequence of the river regulation, the low-water and the mean stage of Danube were decreasing during the last hundred years, because the riverbed was permanently deepening. Since the river has overflowed its bed and has inundated to the wide floodplain, the decrease of high-water did not appear. The decline of the flooded days signed the quicker passage of flood. These processes have prevented that the examined wetland is going to fill up from the floods. The difference in summer semester between the evaporation and the precipitation was increasing during the last fifty years. Therefore, the drying out of the wetland is going to be more frequent in the future. In the interests of the survival of this wetland, it is necessary to construct the restoring-system in the floodplain.

Development and application of some renovated technologies for municipal wastewater treatment in China

China has been experiencing fast economic development in recent decades at the cost of serious environ-mental deterioration.Wastewater discharge,especially municipal wastewater discharge,and non-point pollution sources are becoming the major water pollution source and research focus.Great efforts have been made on water pollu-tion control and a number of renovated technologies and pro-cesses for municipal wastewater treatment and reclamation as well as non-point pollution control have been developed and applied in China.This paper discusses the development and application of the appropriate technologies,including natural treatment systems,anaerobic biological treatment,biofilm reactors and wastewater reclamation technologies,for water pollution control in the country.

Synthesis of novel adsorbent by intercalation of biopolymer in LDH for the removal of arsenic from synthetic and natural water

This study focuses on the synthesis of nanocomposites named CCA and CZA that were prepared by the incorporation of cellulose(CL)in the Ca/Al and Zn/Al layered double hydroxide(LDH),respectively.These materials were then used for the uptake of As(Ⅲ)and As(V)from aqueous medium.Characterization of both nanocomposites(CCA and CZA)was done using FTIR and Raman analysis to identify the functional groups,N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms to determine the specific surface area and pore geometry and XPS analysis to obtain the surface atomic composition.Some other characters were investigated using simultaneous TGA and DTA and elemental chemical analysis(CHNS/O).The crystallinity of the prepared nanocomposites was displayed by XRD patterns.Furthermore,the sheet-like structure of the LDHs and the irregularity of surface morphology with porous structure were observed by TEM and SEM microphotographs.Optimization of maximum adsorption capacity was adjusted using different parameters including pH,contact time and adsorbent dosage.The pseudo-second-order model was in good fitting with kinetics results.The adsorption isotherm results showed that CZA exhibits better adsorption capacity for As(Ⅲ)than CCA and the Langmuir isotherm model described the data well for both nanocomposites.Thermodynamic studies illustrated the endothermic nature of CCA and exothermic nature on CZA,as well as the fact that the adsorption process is spontaneous.A real water sample collected from well located in Gabes(Tunisia),has also been treated.The obtained experimental results were confirmed that these sorbents are efficient for the treatment of hazardous toxic species such as.