This study investigates the use of thermal indexes, specifically Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) and Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), to determine outdoor comfort in the Bogor Botanical Gardens (KRB). This park is centrally located in Bogor city, with elevations ranging from 215-260 m above sea level. The thermal sensation was determined using seven references: PET in Europe, Taiwan, Tianjin, Tel Aviv, and UTCI in the Mediterranean, Tianjin, and general contexts. The study involved 284 visitors surveyed for their thermal comfort perceptions. Findings indicate that, based on thermal sensation criteria from the seven references, KRB is generally not within the comfort zone throughout the year, except for the PET in Taiwan, which is comfortable year-round. In-situ measurements show an average daily PET of 33.8°C and UTCI of 34.4°C. According to the Taiwan PET range, the thermal sensation is categorized as somewhat warm to warm (uncomfortable). However, 69.4% of visitors reported feeling comfortable, likely due to the environmental conditions, with 70.3% tree coverage in the 54.7 ha park area.

Bioremediation is an important technique to remove heavy metals from wastewater. The current research aimed to use Azospirillum bacteria in removing cadmium ions from wastewater. The source of Azospirillum bacteria was the soil of Al-Mishkhab in Al-Najaf province, Iraq (rice fields), while the source of wastewater was taken from the Al-Rustamia wastewater treatment plant, in Baghdad in October 2020. All the experiments were carried out in Soil and Water Research Center, Ministry of Science and Technology. After collecting the soil, the microorganisms were isolated through the Immunomagnetic beads (IMB) process and were incubated on a certain synthesized medium. The concentration of cadmium ion was determined through the Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) technique. The Azospirillum colonies were identified and characterized as white colonies while the concentration of cadmium ion ranged from 0.03-1.6 mg/L and applying the microorganism on the wastewater will decrease the concentration up to 99.9% in a process called biosorption. Treatment time was also studied for 24, 48, 72, and 168 hours. The statistical analysis shows that increasing time will enhance the removal of cadmium. Cadmium is one of the heavy metals responsible for soil contamination; bacteria play a crucial role in bioremediation, demonstrating stability in decomposing various compounds and materials. Azospirillum is employed for soil decontamination purposes; increasing incubation time will enhance the removal of the trace element; also further investigate the effect of other factors such as temperature, pH, and the effect of using other microorganisms.

Food banks play a crucial role in reducing food waste and addressing food vulnerability. Their operations involve an efficient supply chain that collects surplus food, processes it, and distributes it to those in need. This aligns with the goals of a circular economy, aiming to minimize food crises. This research aims to understand the supply chain of the Food Bank Bandung and analyze the implementation of circular economy principles within its supply chain. The study employs qualitative methods, with data gathered through interviews conducted with representatives from the Food Bank located in Bandung City. The collected information was used to design a comprehensive supply chain model, which was then meticulously analyzed. The analysis reveals that the Food Bank in Bandung effectively implements a circular economy by transforming surplus food, which would otherwise go to waste, into consumable items. Furthermore, the food bank adopts circular economy concepts by providing inedible food to Black Soldier Fly (BSF) cultivation for maggot consumption, which then can be used as an alternative source of protein for animal feed. The findings of the study show how circular economy practices can be integrated into food bank operations. By analyzing the circular economy approach in the Food Bank of Bandung, this research contributes to the existing body of knowledge and provides a foundation for future studies, offering a more extensive dataset for researchers and practitioners in the field.

Plastic pollution is a global concern affecting water, soil, and air quality. Urgent action is needed to address this issue. This study aims to identify factors influencing the use of biodegradable plastic to reduce its negative impacts. Data were collected from 269 households-129 in Punggawan and 140 in Mojosongo, Surakarta, and analyzed using multiple regression analysis to study the determinants of WTP (Willingness to Pay) for biodegradable plastic with STATA software. The results show that the average WTP for biodegradable plastic is IDR 2,214. Most people in Surakarta are already environmentally conscious. Age, knowledge, occupation, interaction of sex and location, education, and marital status influence WTP for biodegradable plastic. It is hoped that the implications of the research will be used as a recommendation for government policies to reduce the amount of plastic waste generation, which is a danger to human beings and the environment.

The key observations on the study concerning the geostatistical appraisal, hydrogeochemical environment of major ions (cations and anions) as well as groundwater suitability from the part of Balaghat District (MP) latitude 21°31ʹ42ʺ: 21°43ʹ11ʺ N and longitude 79°50ʹ30ʺ:80°11ʹ30ʺ E., Central India are presented here. The pH (7.3 to 8.6) of the groundwater samples and range of EC values (50-5080 μS.cm-1) typically clarify the alkaline nature and the involvement of diverse processes (geogenic as well as anthropogenic) deciding the hydrogeochemical environment of groundwater. This prominent behavior is the result of the conductivity in groundwater, which is the consequence of ion exchange along with the solubilization processes during the rock-water interaction and also represents anthropogenic activity. The abundance succession of cations is Ca2+ > Na+ > Mg2+ > K+, while the profusion sequence of anions is HCO3- > Cl- > NO3- > SO42- > F-. The positive correlation among the pair of Ca2+ with Mg2+ (r = 0.657), Na+(r = 0.691), and HCO3- (r = 0.842) as well as the high positive association between K+ and SO42- (r = 0.856), plus K+ and NO3- (r = 0.779) unravels the derivation of ions from the geogenic origin and the agro-chemical derivation of ions respectively. The three factors (1:6.350, 2:2.732, and 3:2.697), having a total variance of 87.923%, correspond with the geogenic factor, anthropogenic factor, and alkalinity factor, respectively. The groundwater from the study area is suitable for drinking and irrigation purposes with a slight threat of exchangeable sodium.

Because of the superior qualities of biosurfactants over their equivalents derived from fossil fuels, they have recently attracted more attention. Although production costs are still a major barrier to biosurfactants’ superiority over synthetic surfactants, biosurfactants are expected to grow in market share over the next several decades. Glycolipids, a class of low-molecular-weight biosurfactants, are particularly sought-after for a variety of surfactant-related applications due to their effective reduction of surface and interfacial tension. Rhamnolipids, trehalose lipids, sophorolipids, and mannosyl erythritol lipids are the primary types of glycolipids. Glycolipids are made of hydrophilic carbohydrate moieties joined to hydrophobic fatty acid chains by ester bonds. This review addresses the unique glycolipid production and the wide range of goods available in the global market, as well as the present state of the glycolipid industry. Applications include food processing, petroleum refining, biomedical usage, bioremediation, and boosting agricultural productivity. With biosurfactants, their beneficial Ness in releasing oil encased in rock, a need for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Another crucial biotechnological component in anti-corrosion procedures is biosurfactants, which stop Crude oil transportation in pipelines and are made easier by incrustations and the growth of biofilms on metallic surfaces. They are also employed in the production of emulsifiers and demulsifies and have other cutting-edge uses in the oil sector. Natural surfactants can be used to lessen pollution produced by chemical solvents or synthetic detergents without compromising the oil industry’s financial gains. Consequently, it is imperative to invest in biotechnological processes. It is anticipated that natural surfactants will take over the global market in the not-too-distant future and prove to be economically feasible. It is likely possible to substitute synthetic surfactants used in agricultural product composition with biosurfactants. Because biosurfactants can benefit crops without harming the environment, they hold great potential as a useful tool in the fight against pesticide use. Furthermore, by making hazardous and leftover pesticides more soluble and thus accessible for biodegradation by other microbes, their potential as bioremediation agents can help to improve the health of soil systems. This article is based on the explanation of various applications of Biosurfactants.

The study was conducted within the Protected Area of the Tumauini Watershed Natural Park located in the municipality of Tumauini province of Isabela along the western part of the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park. The protected areas in the Philippines cover 39% of the total forest cover. Protection and conservation of protected areas is significant due to the increasing habitat loss and biodiversity loss. The main objective of the study is to assess the tree diversity of the park using the modified belt-transect method adopted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The transect line has a distance of 2 kilometers and a total of 9 stations. A Nested Quadrat was established along the transect line for tree identification. Results of the assessment show that the park has a species richness of 34 tree species in eight families and 26 genera. Species diversity indicates low (2.4) to very low (1.12) based on the Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index despite the high number of individuals found in the watershed area. The low diversity of the watershed is affected by the rampant anthropogenic activities and naturally-induced hazards occurring in the protected area. Shorea polysmerma is the most dominant and the most important species, with an Importance Value index of 38.78. Three species of trees were recorded as generalists in the area such as Calophyllum blancoi, Shorea palosapis, and Ficus sp.

Improper disposal of solid waste obstructs drainage systems and pollutes surface water. Additionally, the dumping of unsorted garbage generates emissions and leachate, which harm local ecosystems and contribute to climate change. With Rewari City’s growing population, effective municipal solid waste management, including landfill site selection, is crucial. This study employs Geographic Information System (GIS), Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP), and Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) methodologies to determine appropriate sites for landfills. The FAO, ALOS PALSAR DEM, Sentinel 2B images, Google Earth Pro, and interviews were employed to gather data. The results of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) indicate that 35.4% of the parameters under consideration are associated with Land Use Land Cover (LULC), whereas roads rank as the second most significant criterion, accounting for 24.0%. The WLC technique determined that 4.65 square kilometers were inappropriate for dump sites, while 0.11 square kilometers were extremely favorable. These findings can assist decision-makers in determining the order of importance for variables when selecting a landfill location.

This research investigated the potential for using vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides L.) to remediate metal-polluted sites in Bulgaria. In the second year of the experiment, the vetiver grass was gathered. The heavy metal (Pb, Cd, Hg), micro (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn), and macro (P, K, Ca, Mg) element contents in vetiver roots and shoots were determined by ICP after microwave mineralization. The essential oil of the ground vetiver roots was obtained by steam distillation in laboratory conditions. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified fifteen compounds in the oil, mainly sesquiterpenes. The vetiver grass is tolerant to heavy metals with no signs of toxicity (chlorosis and necrosis) and can be grown on heavy metal polluted soils (37.7 mg.kg-1 Cd, 1238.7 mg.kg-1 Pb and 1676.4 mg.kg-1 Zn). Bioaccumulation factor and translocation factor values (BAF and TF < 1) were less than one, suggesting low accumulation in the shoot. This crop can be referred to as a non-accumulating plant for Pb, Cd, and Zn and can be used for the phytostabilisation of contaminated soils in situ. Cultivating vetiver on soils contaminated with heavy metals has a beneficial effect on the yield and production of oil of high commercial value (high in khusimol).

Heavy metal contamination poses a significant threat to soil ecosystems and the health of living organisms, necessitating sustainable remediation strategies. Selective earthworm species play a pivotal role in enhancing microbial activity, thereby influencing heavy metal transformation processes. This study investigates the synergistic interactions between earthworms and soil microbes in heavy metal bioconversion. Using a controlled experimental design, specific earthworm species that significantly enhance microbial-mediated reduction, immobilization, and detoxification of heavy metals, including lead, cadmium, and arsenic. Key findings indicate that Eisenia fetida, Eudrilus eugeniae, Dendrobaena octaedra and Lumbricus terrestris stimulate microbial populations capable of producing bioavailable heavy metal chelators and reducing agents. Enhanced enzymatic activities, such as phosphatases and dehydrogenases, were strongly correlated with the presence of these earthworms. Despite these promising results, critical gaps remain in understanding species-specific microbial dynamics and long-term impacts on heavy metal bioavailability. Furthermore, the effects of varying soil physicochemical conditions on bioremediation efficiency require a comprehensive investigation. This study underscores the potential of integrating selective earthworm species into bioremediation frameworks for sustainable soil management. Future research should prioritize field-scale trials, advanced metagenomic analyses, and the assessment of eco-toxicological implications to optimize earthworm-mediated bioremediation strategies.