Environmental Impacts and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Life Cycle Assessment of Wastewater Treatment Plants

University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology.Due to the impact of methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide on global warming, the quantity of these greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions from municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) has attracted more and more attentions. For decades, there has been a strong interest in mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The amount of GHG emitted depends on the influent and effluent characteristics, type of energy, and operation condition. Numerous tools have been developed to measure the emissions and propose the quantification, while Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) assesses the potential environmental impacts. However, the current knowledge for suggesting proper strategies towards sustainable development for WWTP is still limited due to the complex situation. This thesis investigated the environmental issues concerning the construction, operation, and demolition phases of the WWTP. Production and end-of-life solution activities for material, chemicals, energy, and all treatment processes were considered for the research. Detailed data inventories for various type of wastewater treatment systems, consists of natural-based and activated-based, were collected for calculation. ReCiPe 2016, EPD 2018, and TRACI life cycle impact assessment methods were employed via SimaPro 9.1 to measure all impact categories at both midpoint and endpoint levels. Two single-issue approaches, including Greenhouse Gas Protocol and Cumulative Energy Demand, were applied to support the results ensuring the hypotheses. The uncertainty analyses presented the accuracy of data, which significantly influenced the outcomes of the LCA. Obtaining information from other studies or using representative data from a single unit led to imprecision results. Therefore, the inclusion of construction and demolition phases in the assessment is vital. Moreover, results show that 12.8% of the total impacts were generated by construction and destruction activities. Their consequences on ozone depletion were 34%. The main contributors for the construction and demolition stage are concrete and reinforcing steel, while electricity and sludge are responsible for operation phase problems. It was found that operation period creates the most significant burdens and GHG emissions due to 90% of consumed energy are non-renewable fossil type. Regarding the benefit of nature and GHG emissions mitigation, materials recycling and different biogas conversion techniques are considered. The thesis concludes that 100% of recycled concrete and metal could reduce 4 ktons of CO₂ equivalent. The method of producing electricity and heat from biogas for internal utilization becomes the most optimistic when being avoided 115 g of CO₂ per m³ of wastewater

Urinary catecholamine excretion, cardiovascular variability, and outcomes in tetanus

Severe tetanus is characterized by muscle spasm and cardiovascular system disturbance. The pathophysiology of muscle spasm is relatively well understood and involves inhibition of central inhibitory synapses by tetanus toxin. That of cardiovascular disturbance is less clear, but is believed to relate to disinhibition of the autonomic nervous system. The clinical syndrome of autonomic nervous system dysfunction (ANSD) seen in severe tetanus is characterized principally by changes in heart rate and blood pressure which have been linked to increased circulating catecholamines. Previous studies have described varying relationships between catecholamines and signs of ANSD in tetanus, but are limited by confounders and assays used. In this study, we aimed to perform detailed characterization of the relationship between catecholamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline), cardiovascular parameters (heart rate and blood pressure) and clinical outcomes (ANSD, mechanical ventilation required, and length of intensive care unit stay) in adults with tetanus, as well as examine whether intrathecal antitoxin administration affected subsequent catecholamine excretion. Noradrenaline and adrenaline were measured by ELISA from 24-h urine collections taken on day 5 of hospitalization in 272 patients enrolled in a 2 × 2 factorial-blinded randomized controlled trial in a Vietnamese hospital. Catecholamine results measured from 263 patients were available for analysis. After adjustment for potential confounders (i.e., age, sex, intervention treatment, and medications), there were indications of non-linear relationships between urinary catecholamines and heart rate. Adrenaline and noradrenaline were associated with subsequent development of ANSD, and length of ICU stay

Safety and efficacy of fluoxetine on functional outcome after acute stroke (AFFINITY): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background Trials of fluoxetine for recovery after stroke report conflicting results. The Assessment oF FluoxetINe In sTroke recoverY (AFFINITY) trial aimed to show if daily oral fluoxetine for 6 months after stroke improves functional outcome in an ethnically diverse population. Methods AFFINITY was a randomised, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial done in 43 hospital stroke units in Australia (n=29), New Zealand (four), and Vietnam (ten). Eligible patients were adults (aged ≥18 years) with a clinical diagnosis of acute stroke in the previous 2–15 days, brain imaging consistent with ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke, and a persisting neurological deficit that produced a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 1 or more. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 via a web-based system using a minimisation algorithm to once daily, oral fluoxetine 20 mg capsules or matching placebo for 6 months. Patients, carers, investigators, and outcome assessors were masked to the treatment allocation. The primary outcome was functional status, measured by the mRS, at 6 months. The primary analysis was an ordinal logistic regression of the mRS at 6 months, adjusted for minimisation variables. Primary and safety analyses were done according to the patient's treatment allocation. The trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12611000774921. Findings Between Jan 11, 2013, and June 30, 2019, 1280 patients were recruited in Australia (n=532), New Zealand (n=42), and Vietnam (n=706), of whom 642 were randomly assigned to fluoxetine and 638 were randomly assigned to placebo. Mean duration of trial treatment was 167 days (SD 48·1). At 6 months, mRS data were available in 624 (97%) patients in the fluoxetine group and 632 (99%) in the placebo group. The distribution of mRS categories was similar in the fluoxetine and placebo groups (adjusted common odds ratio 0·94, 95% CI 0·76–1·15; p=0·53). Compared with patients in the placebo group, patients in the fluoxetine group had more falls (20 [3%] vs seven [1%]; p=0·018), bone fractures (19 [3%] vs six [1%]; p=0·014), and epileptic seizures (ten [2%] vs two [<1%]; p=0·038) at 6 months. Interpretation Oral fluoxetine 20 mg daily for 6 months after acute stroke did not improve functional outcome and increased the risk of falls, bone fractures, and epileptic seizures. These results do not support the use of fluoxetine to improve functional outcome after stroke

INTERACTION BEHAVIORS OF STUDENTS FROM THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION WITH CHATGPT: BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES / HÀNH VI TƯƠNG TÁC CỦA SINH VIÊN TRƯỜNG ĐHSP – ĐH THÁI NGUYÊN VỚI CHATGPT: LỢI ÍCH VÀ THÁCH THỨC

This study was conducted against the backdrop of the robust growth in the use of technology in education, specifically the application of ChatGPT. The primary objective of the research was to examine the interaction behaviors and evaluations of students from the Thai Nguyen University of Education when approaching and utilizing ChatGPT for learning. Employing a survey method based on both closed and open-ended questions, we gathered information regarding usage objectives, benefits, and challenges faced by students. The results revealed that students predominantly use ChatGPT to address personal queries, practice communication skills, and seek academic information. To leverage this tool more effectively, there is a desire among students for the institution to provide paid accounts and organize training sessions. Alongside, there are concerns about managing and using this tool in the learning process. The study emphasizes the significance of integrating ChatGPT into the learning journey, aiding students in enhancing their skills and knowledge.Nghiên cứu này được thực hiện trong bối cảnh tăng trưởng mạnh mẽ của việc sử dụng công nghệ trong giáo dục, đặc biệt là ứng dụng của ChatGPT. Mục tiêu chính của nghiên cứu là khảo sát hành vi tương tác và đánh giá của sinh viên Trường ĐHSP - ĐH Thái Nguyên khi tiếp cận và sử dụng ChatGPT trong việc học. Sử dụng phương pháp khảo sát dựa trên câu hỏi đóng và mở, chúng tôi thu thập thông tin về mục tiêu sử dụng, lợi ích và thách thức mà sinh viên gặp phải. Kết quả cho thấy sinh viên chủ yếu sử dụng ChatGPT để giải đáp thắc mắc cá nhân, luyện tập kỹ năng giao tiếp và tìm kiếm thông tin học thuật. Để sử dụng hiệu quả hơn công cụ này, sinh viên có mong muốn nhà trường cung cấp tài khoản trả phí và tổ chức các buổi tập huấn. Bên cạnh đó cũng có những lo ngại về việc quản lý và sử dụng công cụ này trong học tập. Nghiên cứu nhấn mạnh tầm quan trọng của việc sử dụng ChatGPT vào quá trình học tập, giúp sinh viên nâng cao kỹ năng và kiến thức của mình.  Article visualizations

The impact of organizational culture on bank stability

This paper examines the impact of organizational culture on bank stability. We rely on the Competing Values Framework (CVF) to identify the four cultural dimensions of banks, namely Control, Collaborate, Compete and Create cultures. Using the textual analysis technique and banks’ annual reports, we obtain organizational culture values in conjunction with the CVF for a large sample of US-listed banks from 1994 to 2020. We find that banks with cultures leaning toward consistency, monitoring, and control practices (i.e., Control-oriented and Compete-oriented cultures) exhibit a higher level of stability. Additional analyses show that Control-oriented banks have higher asset quality and are less risky, whereas Compete-oriented banks have higher asset quality and better financial performance. We also find that the impact of culture on bank stability is more pronounced during “non-crisis” periods and is more prominent for small and medium-sized banks

Gelatin Encapsulated Curcumin Nanoparticles Moderate Behavior of Human Primary Gingival Fibroblasts In Vitro

Objective. Currently, there is no study evaluating the effect of nano-curcumin on human oral cells in vitro. In this study, we developed gelatin encapsulated curcumin nanoparticles (GelCur) and cultured the primary human gingival fibroblasts (hGFs) to verify the effect of GelCur on the cellular events related to oral wound healing capacities, such as cell migration and proliferation of gingival fibroblasts. Materials and Methods. GelCur was produced by the sonoprecipitation method. Particle size, zeta potential, SEM morphological observation, entrapment efficiency, and drug loading were used to characterize new GelCur. Primary hGFs were cultured from the attached gingival tissue of healthy third molar teeth. The effect of different concentrations of GelCur on hGFs was investigated by cell toxicity assay (MTT), cell proliferation assay, and cell migration assays by scratch test and transwell migration assay. Results. The average particle size of GelCur was around 356 nm with a moderate zeta potential of 26.5 mV. The mean PdI value of GelCur was 0.2, while the entrapment efficiency and drug loading of curcumin in this study were around 57% and 2.4%, respectively. IC30 of GelCur on hGFs was 3.96 mg/ml, while IC50 was 12,37 mg/ml. More than 70% of cells were viable after 24 hours incubated with 1, 2, and 3 mg/ml GelCur. At the concentration of 2 mg/ml GelCur virtually limited cell proliferation and migration. Conclusions. GelCur remained physically stable and did not alter cell proliferation and migration. The concentration of GelCur <3.96 mg/ml did not cause hGF cytotoxicity. Our study showed that within appropriate doses, GelCur can be used safely for hGFs

Optimization Production of an Endo-β-1,4-Xylanase from <i>Streptomyces thermocarboxydus</i> Using Wheat Bran as Sole Carbon Source

Xylanases, key enzymes for hydrolyzing xylan, have diverse industrial applications. The bioprocessing of agricultural byproducts to produce xylanase through fermentation approaches is gaining importance due to its significant potential to reduce enzyme production costs. In this work, the productivity of Streptomyces thermocarboxydus TKU045 xylanase was enhanced through liquid fermentation employing wheat bran as the sole carbon source. The maximum xylanase activity (25.314 ± 1.635 U/mL) was obtained using the following optima factors: 2% (w/v) wheat bran, 1.4% (w/v) KNO3, an initial pH of 9.8, an incubation temperature of 37.3 °C, and an incubation time of 2.2 days. Xylanase (Xyn_TKU045) of 43 kDa molecular weight was isolated from the culture supernatant and was biochemically characterized. Analysis through liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry revealed a maximum amino acid identity of 19% with an endo-1,4-β-xylanase produced by Streptomyces lividans. Xyn_TKU045 exhibited optimal activity at pH 6, with remarkable stability within the pH range of 6.0 to 8.0. The enzyme demonstrated maximum efficiency at 60 °C and considerable stability at ≤70 °C. Mg2+, Mn2+, Ba2+, Ca2+, 2-mercaptoethanol, Tween 20, Tween 40, and Triton X-100 positively influenced Xyn_TKU045, while Zn2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Cu2+, and sodium dodecyl sulfate exhibited adverse impact. The kinetic properties of Xyn_TKU045 were a Km of 0.628 mg/mL, a kcat of 75.075 s−1 and a kcat/Km of 119.617 mL mg−1s−1. Finally, Xyn_TKU045 could effectively catalyze birchwood xylan into xylotriose and xylobiose as the major products