This study explored the use of biochars derived from the co-pyrolysis of oily sludge and agricultural wastes as partial cement replacements in mortar. To evaluate the effect of mixed-feedstock biochars on cement mortar, oily sludge was co-pyrolyzed with rice husk, wheat straw, or corn core at 500°C and a 1:1 mass ratio, producing RHB, WSB, and CHB. respectively. The physicochemical properties of the biochars were characterized by SEM, XRD, FTIR, XRF, and proximate analysis. Mortars containing 1%, 3%, 5%, and 8% biochar were then evaluated for strength, water absorption, porosity, setting time, and microstructure. Compared with Common cement mortar, CHB and RHB showed better physicochemical properties and more effectively improved mortar performance. The addition of 1% RHB, 1% CHB, and 3% WSB increased compressive strength by 8.2%, 15.2%, and 4.0%. The study also revealed changes in key mortar properties, including porosity, water absorption, and setting time. Overall, biochar derived from the co-pyrolysis of oily sludge and agricultural wastes significantly enhanced the mechanical properties of cement-based composites, demonstrating its potential for application in cementitious materials.
To enhance energy and material recovery from complex residual municipal wastes, the post-treated thermally hydrolyzed mechanically sorted organic fraction (PHSW) was evaluated through thermophilic acidogenic fermentation. Using a sequential approach, batch tests first assessed the influence of inoculum source and substrate-to-inoculum ratio on fermentative performance. Stabilized mixed sludge outperformed digested sewage sludge, increasing biohydrogen production by 46%, associated with a higher microbial diversity (Shannon index: 5.489) that favored complementarity between hydrolytic and acidogenic taxa. Despite thermal pretreatment, substrate conversion remained limited, with hydrolysis efficiencies ranging from 8% to 26%. Subsequently, semi-continuous stirred tank reactors were operated at 55 °C under different hydraulic retention times (HRT: 3, 5, and 8 days) to evaluate process performance. The highest specific hydrogen production rate was obtained at HRT of 3 days, reaching 19.6 mL H2·g-1 volatile solids·d-1 and a volatile fatty acids productivity of 3.31 g chemical oxygen demand·L-1·d-1, with butyrate as the predominant metabolite. Microbial analysis revealed a community shift from hydrogen-producers acidogens toward a syntrophic consortium, which was associated with the emergence of hydrogenotrophic methanogenic activity under mildly acidic conditions (pH 5.5-6.5). These findings highlight the potential of PHSW valorization through thermophilic acidogenic fermentation, supporting the transition toward a circular biorefinery model.
Radioactive aerosol size classification is important for exposure assessment and decommissioning operations, particularly at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant decommissioning site, where airborne particles may be generated or resuspended during remote inspection and debris retrieval. This study presents the development of a two-stage 3D-printed virtual impactor, called μSPLIT, designed to separate aerosols into three aerodynamic diameter classes (>10 μm, 1-10 μm, and <1 μm) while enabling direct postcollection analysis on integrated filters. The objective is to develop a virtual impactor that can be fabricated at a reduced cost and be disposed of easily after usage by incineration, without generating any hazardous human exposure during cleaning and decontamination activities, and free from metallic wastes that are not easily disposed of. The flow path was designed and optimized by computational fluid dynamics and Lagrangian particle tracking, and prototypes were fabricated by stereolithography. Numerical simulations predicted cutoff diameters of 9.0 and 1.3 μm for the first and second stages, respectively, with relatively sharp separation in both cases. The simulations also identified limitations of the current geometry, including small-particle contamination in the minor flow and large-particle contamination in the major flow of the second stage. Dimensional measurements of printed prototypes revealed contraction and corner rounding in the internal channels, confirming the need for fabrication compensation and quality control. Experimental tests with incense smoke provided a preliminary functional check, showing that submicrometric particles were mostly collected in the <1 μm particle class. Additional tests with Rn-progeny-bearing NaCl particles, characterized by a geometric mean aerodynamic diameter of 1.70 μm, produced the highest α activity on the middle filter (1-10 μm particle class), consistent with the expected classification. These results demonstrate the proof of concept of a lightweight and low-cost impactor for simultaneous aerosol size classification and direct radioactive particle analysis, while also identifying key areas requiring further optimization, particularly the second-stage geometry, quantitative wall loss assessment, and validation with standardized aerosols.
Spent hydrogenation catalysts (SHC) are solid wastes from petroleum refining but contain high levels of MoS2 and V2S3, offering a valuable source for recycling Mo, V, and S. This study presented a one-step soda-roasting process designed to achieve simultaneous desulfurization and sodium conversion of SHC. During roasting, MoS2 and V2S3 were oxidized and reacted with Na2CO3 to form water-soluble Na2MoO4 and NaVO3, thereby enhancing the leaching efficiency of Mo and V. Increasing temperature favored spontaneous desulfurization and prevents its fixation in the calcine. Ni was immobilized as stable NiAl2O4, while alumina transformed into α-Al2O3, thereby suppressing the leaching of Ni and Al. Response surface methodology was employed to optimize soda-roasting parameters. About 99.55% of S was removed, and 98.26% of V and 99.68% of Mo were leached out, after roasting at 1150 °C for 60 min with Na2CO3 dosage molar ratio of 1.21. Compared with conventional multistep roasting, the one-step process generates a net incremental benefit of USD 3.405 million/a at 15 000 t/a, with the extra investment recovered in only 0.12 years. This process provides a direct soda-roasting approach for recovery of Mo, V and removal of S from SHC.
U.S. healthcare spending has remained persistently high despite repeated efforts at correction. This essay offers a structural explanation. Waste, excess prices, and administrative complexity matter, but much spending growth reflects durable features of the sector that cannot be readily eliminated. Baumol's cost disease provides the core framework: in labor-intensive services with limited productivity gains, costs rise because wages in them must keep pace with more productive sectors. Medical technology more often expands capacity, utilization, and clinical expectations than it reduces labor inputs. The U.S. physician training pathway is unusually long and expensive, and federal residency caps have artificially constrained physician supply, reinforcing a high compensation floor. The healthcare and social assistance sector functions as a de facto industrial policy, as it is the nation's largest employment sector and the top employer in 38 states, making aggregate cost compression politically costly in ways that are structural, not incidental. Domestic multiplier effects deepen that political durability. Five distinctively American features further limit centralized cost control: population scale and decentralization, higher per capita income, a heavier chronic disease burden, the absence of a national health technology assessment authority, and weaker redistributive institutions. Given the constraints, the aspiration to make American healthcare dramatically cheaper without major disruption is unrealistic. A more credible agenda is to foster local stewardship within a structurally high-cost system.
Pulsed air sparging can supplement oxygen to effectively stimulate biodegradation of toluene in groundwater. However, nitrate, commonly coexisting with toluene, can compete with oxygen for electron donors, while this specific influence on toluene degradation kinetics and metabolic pathway is still unclear. In this study, the influence of nitrate on toluene degradation during pulsed oxygen supplementation was investigated at different pulsed levels with the initial headspace concentration of 5% (O5), 10% (O10) and 21% (O21). Results showed that the average first-order toluene biodegradation rate coefficients in O5, O10 and O21 were 0.14, 0.50 and 0.73 h-1, respectively, suggesting that oxygen greatly enhanced toluene biodegradation. Nitrite was initially accumulated in O10, which was further consumed after toluene supplementation. A numerical model was developed to simulate the degradation kinetics of toluene, demonstrating that the degradation rate coefficient of toluene by oxygen was >10 times higher than nitrate. Additionally, when the supplemented oxygen was insufficient (O5), nitrate and nitrite acted as important electron acceptors. Under such conditions, toluene might be anaerobically oxidized to benzoyl-CoA, which underwent ring-opening reactions by the regulation of badDEFG, bamBC and boxAB. When the supplemented oxygen was sufficient (O10 and O21), toluene might be degraded aerobically into catechol and dihydroxybenzoic acid, which further underwent ring-opening reactions associated with dmpB, catAE, pcaGH, chqB and ligAB. The proposed degradation pathway was supported by the detection of selected intermediates including o-cresol, benzoic acid and hydroxybenzoic acid. These findings provide insights into the toluene degradation pathway and mechanism during pulsed oxygen supplementation.
Sustainable management of plastic waste is critical for advancing circular material flows and reducing dependence on fossil resources. However, comparative environmental assessments across treatment technologies remain limited, particularly in developing regions where informal disposal practices persist. This study presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) framework comparing four plastic waste treatment pathways: mechanical recycling, pyrolysis-based plastic-to-fuel (PTF) conversion, chemical recycling for monomer recovery, and open burning. Using primary operational data from an industrial-scale PTF facility with literature-validated parameters for comparative scenarios, we applied ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H) method to quantify environmental impacts, with emphasis on global warming potential (GWP). Monomer recovery exhibited lowest net GWP (9443 kg CO₂ eq per ton of plastic waste) due to credits from displacing virgin polymer production, representing approximately 20% lower emissions than mechanical recycling (11,830 kg CO₂ eq/t) and 31% lower emissions than PTF conversion (13,700 kg CO₂ eq/t). Open burning, still common in informal systems, generated catastrophic emissions exceeding 3.2 million kg CO₂ eq per ton, approximately 230-340 times higher than engineered alternatives. For the engineered treatment pathways, transportation was the dominant contributor to total GWP (60-73%), suggesting that infrastructure decentralization and improved collection logistics may deliver larger benefits than process-level efficiency improvements. Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis confirmed robust comparative rankings, with coefficients of variation below 15% for all scenarios. These findings support integrated waste management strategies that combine mechanical and chemical recycling based on feedstock quality, and inform policy priorities for regions transitioning from informal to formal waste management. The framework provides a transferable method for context-specific assessment of plastic waste treatment options.
Efficient removal of organic pollutants from hypersaline wastewater is critical yet challenging for resource recovery. Here, a MXene-doped Ti₄O₇ (Ti₃C₂/Ti₄O₇) flow-through anode achieved an outstanding 90.4% dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal from real waste brines, nearly doubling the performance of a conventional pristine flow-by configuration (49.1%). Notably, this heterostructure enhanced hydroxyl radical (•OH) generation by 3.52-fold. Scavenging kinetics revealed that the system reconfigured the reactive matrix, establishing •OH (66.7%) and direct electron transfer (DET, 31.9%) as the dominant mechanisms while minimizing reactive chlorine species (RCS) interference. FT-ICR MS and linkage analysis identified dealkylation and oxygenation as the prevailing transformation pathways. The elevated •OH concentration effectively intercepted chlorinated intermediates via secondary oxidation, reducing adsorbable organic chlorine (AOCl) accumulation by 19.8% and slashing effluent bioluminescence inhibition from 76.5% to 21.6%. Frequency-based paired mass distance (F-PMD) analysis coupled with machine learning demonstrated that this radical intensification shifted the organic degradation mechanism from chemical structural selectivity to physical mass-transfer control. Consequently, the recovered NaCl transformed from yellow aggregates into pristine white crystals, with its carbon mass fraction decreased from 17.15% to 0.68%. Overall, this study presents an intensified electrochemical flow-through technology that achieves deep brine mineralization, providing a highly efficient strategy for high-value resource recovery.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) remains the leading cause of irreversible blindness in Western populations, with no approved therapies for the dry form characterized by drusen accumulation and retinal pigment epithelium atrophy. This review examines extracellular matrix alterations in Bruch's membrane by comparing healthy aging, AMD pathogenesis, and Doyne Honeycomb Retinal Dystrophy-a monogenic disorder that serves as a surrogate model for AMD due to similar phenotypic manifestations. We focus on the critical interactions between epidermal growth factor-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix protein 1 (EFEMP1), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3, and complement factors. We explore their roles in extracellular matrix homeostasis disruption. In healthy aging, oxidative stress and inefficient waste removal drive gradual matrix remodeling and low-grade inflammation. Age-related macular degeneration results from polygenic risk variants in complement and extracellular matrix genes, combined with environmental stressors, leading to accelerated matrix dysfunction and chronic complement activation. In Doyne Honeycomb Retinal Dystrophy, the EFEMP1 R345W mutation causes rapid disease progression through impaired protein secretion, abnormal matrix accumulation, and complement dysregulation. Our analysis reveals that EFEMP1-tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 complexation may represent a critical threshold in drusen formation across both conditions, AMD and Doyne Honeycomb Retinal Dystrophy. While AMD pathogenesis unfolds over decades through cumulative insults, the EFEMP1 mutation compresses similar pathological changes into 30 to 40 years, suggesting this mutation acts as a major hazard for matrix homeostasis disruption. Understanding these shared mechanisms provides insights into therapeutic targets, including complement inhibition, MMP modulation, and EFEMP1-directed interventions. We propose continued investigation of Doyne Honeycomb Retinal Dystrophy as a valuable model for identifying AMD treatments. Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.
Nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) nanoparticles are promising magnetic hyperthermia agents, but conventional synthesis relies on toxic reagents. Plant-extract-mediated biogenic synthesis offers an eco-friendly alternative; however, the influence of specific agro-waste phytochemical matrices and precursor chemistry on nanoparticle structure and heating efficiency remains poorly characterized. Aqueous extracts from pomegranate peel (Punica granatum L) and raspberry leaves/shoots (Rubus idaeus L) were characterized for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Cherry stalk extract showed insufficient reactivity and was excluded. Two precursor systems - nitrate (Fe(NO3)3/Ni(NO3)2) and acetate-sulfate (Ni(CH3COO)2/FeSO4) - were combined with each extract, yielding four nanoparticle batches (M1, M2, G1, G2) after calcination at 500°C for 4 h. Nanoparticles were characterized by XRD, XRF, FTIR, TEM, DLS, and zeta potential. Magnetic heating performance was assessed under AMF (532.4 kHz, 3.1 kA·m-1); SAR and ILP were calculated with ferrite-mass correction based on XRF data. Pomegranate extract showed the highest phytochemical activity (DPPH: 1283.9 μM TE·g-1). XRD confirmed the spinel NiFe2O4 structure in all batches, with crystallite sizes of 15.0-21.8 nm and lattice parameters of 8.35-8.38 Å. The acetate-sulfate batches (M2, G2) contained substantially higher Fe/Ni fractions (M2: Fe 49.0%, Ni 11.5%) than the nitrate batches (M1, G1: Fe ≤2.9%, Ni ≤1.7%). DLS indicated hydrodynamic diameters of 200-400 nm; zeta potential values (-14.0 to +7.8 mV) indicated limited colloidal stability. Under AMF, M2 and G2 reached maximum temperatures of 46.0°C and 43.4°C (baseline 31°C), with SAR of 15.7 and 15.0 W·g-1 and ILP of 3.08 and 2.93 nH·m2·kg-1, respectively. Sample M1 showed negligible heating (SAR 0.93 W·g-1; ΔT =1.1°C). Precursor chemistry critically determines ferrite yield and heating efficiency, with the acetate-sulfate system consistently outperforming the nitrate system. The obtained ILP values are comparable to literature reports for NiFe2O4 under similar AMF conditions. However, the observed aggregation and low zeta potential limit biomedical applicability. As no cytotoxicity or in vitro/in vivo data were obtained, these findings represent proof-of-concept for the thermal conversion potential of biogenically synthesized NiFe2O4, pending biological validation.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a rapidly escalating global health crisis that extends beyond clinical environments into food systems and natural ecosystems. Increasing evidence indicates that foodborne and environmental biofilms are critical reservoirs and amplifiers of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Biofilms, structured microbial communities embedded within extracellular polymeric matrices, facilitate enhanced tolerance to antimicrobials, promote horizontal gene transfer, and enable long-term persistence of resistant microorganisms under diverse environmental stresses. In food production and processing environments, biofilms formed on equipment and contact surfaces can harbor pathogenic and commensal bacteria, creating opportunities for cross-contamination and the dissemination of resistance along the food chain. Similarly, environmental biofilms in wastewater systems, agricultural soils, and aquatic habitats act as ecological hubs where antibiotics, disinfectants, heavy metals, and diverse microbial populations converge, fostering co-selection and co-resistance mechanisms. Adopting a One Health perspective underscores the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in the context of the AMR crisis. Resistant organisms emerging in one sector can circulate across others through food, water, waste streams, and direct contact, with biofilms serving as persistent bridging niches. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the mechanisms underpinning biofilm-associated resistance, the occurrence of resistant biofilms in food and environmental matrices, and the pathways facilitating cross-sectoral transmission. It further highlights emerging surveillance and mitigation strategies targeting biofilm control. Understanding foodborne and environmental biofilms as active drivers rather than passive reservoirs of AMR is essential for designing integrated interventions that can interrupt resistance dissemination across the One Health continuum.
This review presents field-relevant criteria for selecting hydrolysis-based decontaminants for organophosphorus nerve-agent decontamination according to water and base availability. We compare metal oxides, zeolites and porous silicas, carbon-based composites, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and polyoxometalates (POMs) by active-site structure, medium dependence, reaction selectivity, and product-induced deactivation. Because reported half-life and rate constants depend strongly on reaction conditions, we reclassify literature data using water availability (W-Class) and base availability (B-Class) and relate them to dry surfaces, humid interfaces, and bulk aqueous systems. This classification clarifies how apparent catalytic performance changes with water supply, base or buffer addition, interfacial mass transfer, and product accumulation. Here, life-cycle considerations are scoped as screening-level cradle-to-gate production burdens, complemented by W/B-Class-linked discussion of operational resource inputs, secondary-waste generation, spent-solid handling, and spent-liquid management. Therefore, this review proposes that hydrolysis-based decontaminant selection should move beyond laboratory rate comparisons and toward system-level assessment based on agent identity, water/base availability, reaction selectivity, application form, cradle-to-gate production burden, and operational waste-management requirements.
The global spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a major challenge to food safety and public health. To evaluate foodborne transmission as a critical pathway, we analyzed 713,343 Salmonella enterica genomes from the NCBI Pathogen Detection database across 164 countries. A total of 363,409 ARGs conferring resistance to aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, and β-lactams were identified. Source-specific resistome signatures were evident, with primary sources (human feces, animal waste) exhibiting the highest ARG abundance and diversity, followed by secondary sources (food products) and tertiary sources (environmental matrices). Structural equation modeling (SEM) demonstrated that the food chain is a key transmission pathway for ARGs to humans, with strong positive associations from environment to food (β = 5.320) and food to humans (β = 11.334), while the direct environment-to-human pathway showed a significant negative effect (β = -34.809). Additionally, strong interclass correlations (r ≥ 0.96) among ARGs suggest co-selection and horizontal gene transfer as major drivers of resistance propagation. Our findings further reveal pronounced geographic and ecological variability in ARG prevalence, with the United States, United Kingdom, and China accounting for the highest ARG burdens. These findings highlight the central role of foodborne transmission in AMR dissemination and highlight the need for integrated surveillance and interventions targeting agricultural practices, food production, and environmental contamination. Overall, our work provides insights into the ARGs connectivity between environment, food and humans, and could help identify strategies to prevent dissemination of antibiotic resistance.
This work explores the valorization of orange peel residues from essential oil extraction as support for Co/Pt nanoparticles in the catalytic hydrolysis of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) for hydrogen production. Hydrochar was produced via hydrothermal carbonization at 130 °C for 6 h, preserving surface functional groups that facilitate metal nanoparticle dispersion. Co/Pt nanoparticles were successfully deposited on the hydrochar, as confirmed by TEM, SEM, EDS, and XRD analyses, revealing homogeneous distribution and nanoscale size. FTIR, TGA and BET characterization demonstrated a chemically rich, mesoporous structure, conducive to high catalytic performance. The catalytic activity was evaluated through NaBH4 hydrolysis under varying metal loadings, NaOH concentrations, NaBH4 concentrations, and temperatures. Monometallic Pt and Co achieved hydrogen generation rates (HGR) of 2573 and 4074 mL·min-1·g-1, respectively, while a 50:50 Co/Pt bimetallic composition showed a synergistic effect, reaching 3359 mL·min-1·g-1. Durability assays indicated that the catalyst retained approximately 95% of its initial activity over ten consecutive cycles. Kinetic isotope effect (KIE) experiments using H2O and D2O revealed a high KIE value of 4.97, indicating that water activation is the rate-determining step. This work demonstrates that orange peel residues can be efficiently repurposed as a sustainable catalyst support, combining waste valorization with environmentally friendly hydrogen production. The approach offers a cost-effective and green strategy for generating hydrogen while contributing to circular economy initiatives.
Upcycled foods offer a promising pathway for reducing food waste, improving resource-use efficiency, and promoting sustainable food consumption by transforming food resources that retain edible or nutritional value into new food products. However, the mechanisms through which consumers form purchase intention toward upcycled foods remain insufficiently understood. Drawing on the extended theory of planned behavior, this study developed a research model to examine the effects of health consciousness, environmental awareness, and product knowledge on attitude, as well as the effects of attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control on purchase intention. The mediating role of attitude was also tested. Data were collected using a three-wave survey design, 406 valid responses were retained for analysis. Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling, and bias-corrected bootstrap analysis were used to test the measurement and structural models. Exploratory factor analysis identified seven factors, consistent with the theoretical constructs proposed in this study. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated satisfactory composite reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity for all constructs. The structural equation modeling results showed that health consciousness, environmental awareness, and product knowledge all had significant positive effects on consumers' attitude toward upcycled foods, with product knowledge showing the strongest effect. Attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control were also found to positively influence purchase intention. The mediation analysis further showed that attitude significantly mediated the relationships between health consciousness, environmental awareness, product knowledge, and purchase intention. Health consciousness and environmental awareness provide value-based foundations for consumers' evaluation of upcycled foods, while product knowledge helps reduce conceptual uncertainty and supports the formation of a favorable attitude. Attitude further links these antecedents to purchase intention, while subjective norm and perceived behavioral control also play important roles in shaping purchase intention. This study extends the application of the theory of planned behavior to the context of emerging sustainable food consumption and provides empirical evidence for the promotion of upcycled foods, consumer education, and sustainable food policy design.
To evaluate the results of antibiotic dispensing in a Primary Health Care Unit in the municipality of São Paulo and to explore users' knowledge regarding the use and disposal of antibiotics through pharmaceutical consultation. A prospective, quantitative study was conducted between January and April 2024, through the analysis of oral antibiotic prescriptions and pharmaceutical consultations using a semi-structured questionnaire. It was identified that 81.9% (n = 1,225) of 1,495 prescriptions resulted in leftover medication, generating a waste of 8,061 pharmaceutical units and an estimated financial loss of R$2,349.54. Among the 17 users interviewed, there was low knowledge about antimicrobial resistance, medication use and disposal. Only 29.4% (n = 5) returned the leftover medication after pharmaceutical intervention. Dispensing medication with leftovers encourages the improper use and disposal of antibiotics, contributing to antimicrobial resistance. Pharmaceutical care, within a multidisciplinary team approach, has the potential to reduce waste and promote rational use. We propose the implementation of unit-dose packaging protocols and educational initiatives for professionals and users. Avaliar os resultados da dispensação de antibióticos em uma Unidade Básica de Saúde do município de São Paulo e explorar o conhecimento de usuários a respeito do uso e descarte de antibióticos por meio da consulta farmacêutica. Estudo prospectivo, quantitativo, realizado entre janeiro e abril de 2024, por meio da análise de prescrições de antibióticos orais e consultas farmacêuticas em questionário semiestruturado. Identificou-se que 81,9% (n = 1.225) de 1.495 prescrições resultaram em sobras, gerando desperdício de 8.061 unidades farmacêuticas e perda financeira estimada em R$2.349,54. Entre os 17 usuários entrevistados, verificou-se baixo conhecimento sobre resistência microbiana, uso e descarte de medicamentos. Apenas 29,4% (n = 5) devolveram as sobras após intervenção farmacêutica. A dispensação com sobras favorece o uso e descarte inadequados dos antibióticos, contribuindo para a resistência antimicrobiana. O cuidado farmacêutico, dentro de uma abordagem na equipe multiprofissional, tem potencial para reduzir desperdícios e promover o uso racional. Propõe-se a implantação de protocolos de unitarização e ações educativas para profissionais e usuários. Evaluar los resultados de la dispensación de antibióticos en una Unidad de Atención Primaria de Salud en el municipio de São Paulo y explorar el conocimiento de los usuarios sobre el uso y el desecho de antibióticos a través de la consulta farmacéutica. Entre enero y abril de 2024 se realizó un estudio prospectivo y cuantitativo mediante el análisis de las prescripciones de antibióticos orales y las consultas farmacéuticas, utilizando un cuestionario semiestructurado. Se identificó que el 81,9% (n = 1.225) de 1.495 recetas dieron como resultado medicamentos sobrantes, generando un desperdicio de 8.061 unidades farmacéuticas y una pérdida financiera estimada de R$2.349,54. Entre los 17 usuarios entrevistados, se observó un bajo nivel de conocimiento sobre la resistencia a los antimicrobianos, el uso de medicamentos y su correcto desecho. Solo el 29,4% (n = 5) devolvió la medicación sobrante tras la intervención farmacéutica. La dispensación de medicamentos con sobrantes fomenta el uso y el desecho inadecuados de antibióticos, lo que contribuye a la resistencia a los antimicrobianos. La atención farmacéutica, en el marco de un enfoque de equipo multidisciplinario, tiene el potencial de reducir el desperdicio y promover un uso racional. La propuesta incluye la implementación de protocolos de envasado en dosis unitarias e iniciativas educativas para profesionales y usuarios.
Global food systems are highly vulnerable to catastrophic disruptions, highlighting the need for alternative food sources that do not rely on conventional crop production. Lignocellulosic biomass is an abundant non-food resource with substantial stored energy, but it is not directly edible by humans. We present an integrated bioconversion strategy that converts lignocellulosic biomass into three essential macronutrients. Lime [Ca(OH)2] pretreatment solubilizes lignin and deacetylates hemicellulose to liberate soluble acetate, facilitating subsequent enzymatic cellulose hydrolysis. This acetate-rich liquid supports the growth of an edible alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, under low light, producing 835-971 mg/L cell mass with 30-31% lipid content, approximately twice that of standard medium. The algal biomass contained 5-10% protein, while the remaining solid lignocellulosic residue yielded up to 22% glucose upon enzymatic hydrolysis, twice that from untreated biomass. These results show that lime-treated lignocellulosic biomass can be fractionated into glucose-rich hydrolysates and acetate-derived algal biomass enriched in lipids, although protein production remains limited. Life-cycle and techno-economic analyses indicate that this biomass-based algal system is environmentally and economically viable, offering a resilient food source under extreme conditions, although further optimization is needed to improve protein yield and practical scalability.
Hospitals are known to have a significant carbon footprint, particularly in high-income countries, yet evidence on patients' view regarding mitigation initiatives within hospital policy is limited. To examine patients' perspectives on a Dutch hospital-led environmental sustainability policy related to healthy nutrition, waste reduction, sustainable mobility, and disease prevention by lifestyle interventions. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in October 2024 among members of a patient panel from a Dutch tertiary University Medical Centre. The survey included four closed-ended questions and one open-ended question on important environmental sustainability initiatives. Descriptive statistics were used, associations between demographics (sex, age, education) and perceived importance were assessed using Chi-square tests and logistic regression. Qualitative responses underwent thematic content analysis. Of the 2473 invited patients, 1285 (52%) responded to the closed-ended questions and 742 (30%) provided open-ended responses. Disease prevention was rated most important (88%), followed by waste reduction (82%), healthy nutrition (76%), and sustainable mobility (58%). Older age and level of education were significantly associated with perceived importance. Additional themes for hospital policy include medication use, energy consumption, and awareness. Patients generally support environmental sustainability initiatives in hospital-led policy, particularly those promoting disease prevention, waste reduction, and healthy nutrition. They also identify opportunities for policy development, such as circularity strategies to retain the value of health care products and health promotion strategies focusing on nutrition and lifestyle. Future research should explore how patients wish to participate in shared decision-making on environmental sustainability.
Polyurethane (PU) is widely used due to its low-cost production, stability and structural versatility. However, due to inadequate waste management, the widespread use of this material has raised environmental concerns. Recently, academic and industrial efforts have been made to discover enzymes capable of depolymerizing PU. Nevertheless, the enzymes discovered to date lack sufficient efficiency and stability for industrial implementation, requiring further engineering. In this work, we present a new mechanism-based inhibitor (also called a "suicide inhibitor") based on a model substrate representative of industrial PU formulations and designed to bind the enzyme covalently, forming a stable complex that mimics the rate-limiting transition state (TS) for hydrolysis. This is a key structure for rational enzyme optimization which is difficult to observe experimentally, due to its very short lifetime. Therefore, the inhibitor can aid in overcoming this hurdle by forming an experimentally observable complex. We used computational methodologies to model the enzyme:inhibitor complex and study its mechanism of action. Pseudomonas sp. MIS38 lipase was chosen as the template enzyme because thermochemical data is available for its catalytic hydrolysis of the model substrate. The action mechanism of the suicide inhibitor has a low energetic barrier of 9.29 kcal mol-1 (≈ two-fold lower than that obtained for the substrate) and corresponds to the collapse of the intermediate and elimination of the leaving group. Thus, the designed inhibitor forms a stable covalent bond rapidly. In the enzyme-inhibitor complex, the enzyme nucleophile (Ser207) is bound to the inhibitor's P atom. Moreover, it resembles the rate-limiting TS for urethane bond hydrolysis, as determined by earlier QM/MM calculations. Consequently, this inhibitor can guide rational engineering efforts, by enabling researchers to identify potential mutational targets to enhance enzyme efficiency (increasing the probability of industrial implementation). Altogether, we believe that this inhibitor can be a valuable tool for enabling future engineering efforts.