Urban wastewater treatment with mature constructed wetlands

Despite the global acceptance for the application of vertical-flow constructed wetlands (VF CWs) as sustainable and cost-efficient technology in treating various types of wastewater, including urban wastewater, continuous loading of wetlands over time can lead to performance inefficiency and generate operational problems especially when high shock loads, such as petroleum hydrocarbon spills, are subjected to the system. Contamination with petroleum hydrocarbon compounds results in changing the structure, function and ecosystem service values of wetlands, which can eventually lead to clogging of the wetland substrate and affect the life time of the system. Sound knowledge of long-term performance in mature vertical-flow constructed wetlands linked with hydrocarbon treatment processes is needed to make guided judgments about the probable effects of a given suite of impacts and revise the management plans accordingly. A study was conducted to compare the impact of different design (aggregate size) and operational (contact time, rest time and chemical oxygen demand (COD) loading) variables on the long-term and seasonal performance of vertical-flow constructed wetland filters operated in tidal flow between June 2011 and March 2016. Ten different vertical-flow wetland systems were planted with Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. (Common Reed). Approximately 130 and 975 grams of diesel fuel (equivalent to 20 and 150 grams/litre, respectively) were each poured into four wetland filters on 26/09/2013 and 26/09/2014 respectively. Overall findings showed that the mature wetland system improved the water quality except for ortho-phosphate-phosphorus (PO₄-P), which reduced less over time. Findings also indicated that the wetland filter with the highest chemical oxygen demand (COD) loading but no diesel contamination performed the best in terms of COD and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) removal. Filters contaminated by diesel performed worse in terms of COD and BOD but considerably better regarding nitrate-nitrogen removal. The removal efficiencies dropped for those filters impacted by the diesel spills. Seasonal analysis for water quality from different wetlands showed clear seasonal outflow concentration trends (low in summer) for COD, and nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N) while effluent BOD showed high treatment performance in winter. No clear seasonal trend for ammonia-nitrogen (NH₄-N), PO₄-P or suspended solids (SS) was noted. Serious clogging phenomena, impacting negatively on the treatment performance and the hydraulic conductivity, were not observed. The simulation model confirms the experimental findings that notable wetland clogging restricting the operation did not occur. Moreover, results showed that small aggregate diameter, low inflow COD load, and high contact and rest time were most efficient in reducing SS accumulation within the wetland filter bed. With regard to the treatment performance of the hydrocarbon contaminants, results indicated that all wetland systems had a relatively good performance in treating petroleum hydrocarbon compounds and the evaluation showed that all the hydrocarbon components were highly degraded and their concentrations were reduced in all treated effluents of wetland filters with time. This indicates that VF CW zones provide appropriate conditions for high treatment capacity of diesel compounds spilled with urban wastewater by a combination of processes taking place in the wetland filters, thus minimizing hydrocarbon compounds within the filter.A new experimental artificial ponds system, including: ponds with wastewater; ponds with wastewater and reeds; and ponds with wastewater, reeds and aeration, was operated in parallel with the mature experimental vertical-flow constructed wetland system, for the period between July 2015 and October 2015, to compare performance, design and operation variables between the two treatment technologies in the treatment of urban wastewater. Findings showed that highest COD and SS removals were observed for wetlands in comparison to ponds. Moreover, mature wetlands were better in removing NH₄-N and PO₄-P than ponds unless the ponds were aerated. Both systems were linked with medium to high levels of BOD removal. The aerated pond system demonstrated better treatment performance in terms of NH₄-N and PO₄-P. The NO₃-N concentration increased in the aerated ponds reflecting the high oxygen availability. Due to increasing water scarcity and droughts, which are key concerns worldwide, there is considerable interest in recycling various wastewater streams, such as treated urban wastewater, for irrigation in the agricultural sector. Recycling of effluents from various wetland filters (with/without diesel contamination) was assessed for the irrigation of chilli plants (De Cayenne; Capsicum annuum (Linnaeus) Longum Group ‘De Cayenne’) grown in a greenhouse environment. Concerning chilli fruit numbers, findings showed that the highest fruit yields for all wetland filters were associated with those that received inflow wastewater with a high loading rate, reflecting the high nutrient availability in treated wastewater, which is of obvious importance for yield production. Findings also indicated that wetlands without hydrocarbon contamination, with small aggregate size, low contact time, and low inflow loading rate provided high marketable yields (expressed in economic return). In comparison, chillies irrigated by filters with hydrocarbon contamination, small aggregate size, high contact time and high loading rate also resulted in high marketable yields of chillies, which pointed out the role of high contact time and high inflow load for better diesel degradation rates. The overall outcome of this research could considerably contribute to optimization of the design and development of long-term operation variables for constructed wetland technology particularly in petroleum industry applications. Statistically validated long-term data interpretation can particularly help the wetland modelling community and wetland managers to define, with insight into long-term and seasonal factors, removal processes for individual water quality parameters to maximize wetlands treatment performance

The Qur'anic Approach is a Consolidation of Peaceful and Societal Coexistence: The Model of Madinah Document

This study was summarized by explaining the Qur'anic approach and the Prophet's approach in showing a document or a constitution that the nation will follow. According to a divine system and law that adopts equality in rights and duties, and establishes security and peace in all Islamic and non-Islamic countries that take upon themselves the status of individuals and ensure that they live in dignity and security for their safety. They are stable and, in their countries, enjoying dignity. Therefore, the city document was a successful solution because it was built according to the Quranic approach, based on its provisions and everything related to the lives of people of all sects, nationalities, and races. Keywords: Quranic method, consolidation of peaceful coexistence, city documen

Objectivity and Subjectivity to Explain and Interpret the Author's Online Legal Rights

ان السلوكيات الانسانية بشكل عام الصحيحة منها والمنحرفة, المجرمة والمباحة هي في مجملها تصدر من كيان مركبا يتكون من عناصر مادية واخرى غير مادية, ولعل هذه الاسطر البسيطة في السرد تعد من اكبر الاشكاليات التي تواجه المنهجية العلمية في دراسة الانسان والظواهر الاجتماعية المحيطة به. ان اقرب المصطلحات الفقهية التي تتناول هذه الاشكالية بالدرس والتحليل تسمى (الموضوعية والذاتية), والموضوع بشكل عام يراد به شيء موجود في عالم خارجي يمكن ان يدرك بالحس ويقبل الخضوع للتجربة, وبهذا الوجود المادي المحسوس له يحقق عزلة واستقلالية عن الانسان وعيا وارادة. اما الذات فيراد بها ذات الشيء من جوهر ومضمون وشخصية. ولنجعل الانسان وفق المفاهيم العامة السابقة للموضوع والذات كونه كيان مادي محسوس, هو المحور لدراسة الموضوع والذات, فنجد ان الوجود المادي للإنسان هو الموضوع وان العقل الانساني والارادة الحرة التي يمتلكها هما الذات.  In general, human behaviors, whether appropriate and inappropriate or permissible and impermissible, that are of a composite entity consists of physical and non-physical elements. Perhaps, these simple lines are considered one of the biggest problems facing the scientific methodology in studying the human and the surrounding social phenomena. The closest terms of jurisprudence that tackle this problem through study and analysis are called "Objectivity and Subjectivity". The object, in general, means something exists in an external world that can be recognized by sense and subjects to experiments. It achieves isolation and independence from human by this tangible physical existence. The subject is the essence, content and personality of the thing. To make human the focus to study the subject and object in accordance with the previous principles of object and subject as he is a tangible physical entity,  we find that the human physical existence is the object and human mind and free will are the subject. Objectivity is the perception of things as they are without desires, interests or self-tendencies. It is merely facts based upon a mind that is free from biases and prejudices, resulting in an analysis called knowledge. If the objective effort in research and analysis is dedicated based upon the individual's autonomous mind with his experience or study benefiting from his scientific and practical experiments and the resulting taste and feeling,  this cognitive product will be called the auto cognitive product as it is the source of subject rather than the abstract reality. The issue is more precise and needs to be considered further concerning the type of phenomenon that is studied and analyzed by the researcher. If the phenomenon was natural, its physical monitoring, even it was external, would be enough for analysis and giving a result close to the fact and logic. If the phenomenon was human, the monitoring and analysis of the natural phenomenon would not be enough and it would be unacceptable becaus

The Role of Social Media in Spreading the Holy Qur'an

The current era is also known as the digital age, where highly developed satellites and the global internet are nascent of the modern information revolution. The digital age has impacted all activities and life areas and has become a reality. Moreover, it is inevitable and has a major role in influencing the users, whether this is a positive or negative influence, social networking sites such as Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram have attracted millions of Internet users. In recent times, it has evolved to become the most widespread and used network among Internet pioneers; especially adolescents and young people who have been liberated from the social reality restrictions category and became more free to express themselves through interaction by means of social networking, which has eventually become the users own culture, views, trends, and has affected their behavior in all aspects. Each technique, with its pros and cons, offers social networking a lot of features and services that can bring significant benefits such as an abundance of information and speed of communicating with others. At the same time can be used for bad purposes such as spreading rumors and extremist ideas, due primarily to the same user, and how his education and upbringing can get him awareness and knowledge of the risk and disadvantages of social networking when he uses it. The research deals with the role of media in community awareness, especially for adolescents and young people, the hazards of using social media, and how to face them. It requires a comprehensive strategy overseen by the concerned authorities in the country, focusing on the moral, religious, social, cultural, economic, political dimensions, science, and security. This paper is concerned with using social media to serve the Holy Quran sciences. It was based on presenting reading for social media that receive wide attention from individuals, given that it is easy to use, it went far from that by being used in different sciences and educational domains. This emerged by using it in teaching the rules of reciting the Holy Quran as one of its most important sciences. The lessons of the rules of recitation that were posted on Facebook are characterized by diversity and universality, and any user can benefit from them and grasp the content. For reason that it changed the traditional function of teaching the Holy Quran. The teaching process became a participatory one, where all the users can contribute and exchange information, in order to reach a mutual understanding of what is published from the lessons. Keywords: influence, role, service, internet, networks social communication, creation, development, Holy Quran, scienc

Investigation of enhanced double weight code in point to point access networks

© 2020 Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd. In this paper, an investigation and evaluation to enhanced double weight (EDW) code is performed, a new technique for code structuring and building using modified arithmetical model has been given for the code in place of employing previous technique based on Trial Inspections. Innovative design has been employed for the code into P2P networks using diverse weighted EDW code to be fitting into optical CDMA relevance applications. A new developed relation for EDW code is presented, the relation is based on studying and experimenting the effect of input transmission power with code weight, and the relation developed using numerical analysis method. This relation makes the estimation for the system input power needed more efficient. The results of the code has been explained by eye diagram and parametric illustrations from the simulated results. The result shows a magnificent performance of the code during high number of users and weight. On the other hand, the relation developed for power measurement helps to prevent power loss and consumption

Investigation the nonlinear optical properties of silver nanoparticles using femtosecond laser

© 2020 Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd. In this research, the fabrication of silver nanoparticles and experimental nonlinear response (NLO). The fabrication of the silver nanoparticles has been done using E-Beam evaporation on a glass substrate (Ag-NPs) and investigation of their nonlinear optical response (NLO). The silver nanoparticles was evaluated by optical spectrum (UV-Vis) that shows localized surface Plasmon band at 375 nm. The experiment shows the nonlinear absorption and nonlinear refraction effect of silver nanoparticles, the silver nanoparticles is analysed by Z-Scan technique using a femtoseconds laser with 800 nm wavelength. The result shows the nonlinear absorption (NLA) is at 4.8710-4cmW-1, while (NLR) is at 7.9410-9cmW-1

ANO4 Expression Is a Potential Prognostic Biomarker in Non-Metastasized Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Background: Over the past decade, transcriptome profiling has elucidated many pivotal pathways involved in oncogenesis. However, a detailed comprehensive map of tumorigenesis remains an enigma to solve. Propelled research has been devoted to investigating the molecular drivers of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). To add another piece to the puzzle, we evaluated the role of anoctamin 4 (ANO4) expression as a potential prognostic biomarker in non-metastasized ccRCC. Methods: A total of 422 ccRCC patients with the corresponding ANO4 expression and clinicopathological data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA). Differential expression across several clinicopathological variables was performed. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to assess the impact of ANO4 expression on the overall survival (OS), progression-free interval (PFI), disease-free interval (DFI), and disease-specific survival (DSS). Univariate and multivariate Cox logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify independent factors modulating the aforementioned outcomes. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to discern a set of molecular mechanisms involved in the prognostic signature. Tumor immune microenvironment was estimated using xCell. Results: ANO4 expression was upregulated in tumor samples compared to normal kidney tissue. Albeit the latter finding, low ANO4 expression is associated with advanced clinicopathological variables such as tumor grade, stage, and pT. In addition, low ANO4 expression is linked to shorter OS, PFI, and DSS. Multivariate Cox logistic regression analysis identified ANO4 expression as an independent prognostic variable in OS (HR: 1.686, 95% CI: 1.120–2.540, p = 0.012), PFI (HR: 1.727, 95% CI: 1.103–2.704, p = 0.017), and DSS (HR: 2.688, 95% CI: 1.465–4.934, p = 0.001). GSEA identified the following pathways to be enriched within the low ANO4 expression group: epithelial–mesenchymal transition, G2-M checkpoint, E2F targets, estrogen response, apical junction, glycolysis, hypoxia, coagulation, KRAS, complement, p53, myogenesis, and TNF-α signaling via NF-κB pathways. ANO4 expression correlates significantly with monocyte (ρ = −0.1429, p = 0.0033) and mast cell (ρ = 0.1598, p = 0.001) infiltration. Conclusions: In the presented work, low ANO4 expression is portrayed as a potential poor prognostic factor in non-metastasized ccRCC. Further experimental studies should be directed to shed new light on the exact molecular mechanisms involved.The article processing charges were funded jointly by Qatar National Library and Qatar University

Treatment of synthetic textile wastewater containing dye mixtures with microcosms

The aim was to assess the ability of microcosms (laboratory-scale shallow ponds) as a post polishing stage for the remediation of artificial textile wastewater comprising two commercial dyes (basic red 46 (BR46) and reactive blue 198 (RB198)) as a mixture. The objectives were to evaluate the impact of Lemna minor L. (common duckweed) on the water quality outflows; the elimination of dye mixtures, organic matter, and nutrients; and the impact of synthetic textile wastewater comprising dye mixtures on the L. minor plant growth. Three mixtures were prepared providing a total dye concentration of 10 mg/l. Findings showed that the planted simulated ponds possess a significant (p < 0.05) potential for improving the outflow characteristics and eliminate dyes, ammonium-nitrogen (NH4-N), and nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) in all mixtures compared with the corresponding unplanted ponds. The removal of mixed dyes in planted ponds was mainly due to phyto-transformation and adsorption of BR46 with complete aromatic amine mineralisation. For ponds containing 2 mg/l of RB198 and 8 mg/l of BR46, removals were around 53%, which was significantly higher than those for other mixtures: 5 mg/l of RB198 and 5 mg/l of BR46 and 8 mg/l of RB198 and 2 mg/l of BR46 achieved only 41 and 26% removals, respectively. Dye mixtures stopped the growth of L. minor, and the presence of artificial wastewater reduced their development