High rates of irreversible oligo- or azoospermia are found among Nigerian men, leading many to consume herbal male sex enhancement products. The possibility of reproductive toxicity due to heavy metal contamination (Cr, As, Co, Hg, Cd, and Pb) of herbal products commonly used to boost libido or treat erectile dysfunction necessitated this study. In this study, herbal sex enhancement supplements were bought from pharmaceutical shops in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and analyzed for heavy metals (Cr, As, Co, Hg, Cd, and Pb) contents using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The estimated daily metal intake (EDImetal), target hazard quotients (THQ), and total target hazard quotients (TTHQ) were determined. All the herbal sex enhancers used in this study contained heavy metals in these ranges: lead (0.032–0593), cobalt (0.025–0.075), cadmium (0.0011–0.048), and chromium (0.016–0.49) mg/kg. About 24.32% of the samples had TTHQ greater than 1. The EDImetal, THQ, and TTHQ of herbal sex enhancement supplements suggest that the use of some of these herbal sex enhancement supplements may not be risk-free after chronic exposure. Herbal sex enhancement supplements sold in Nigeria contain high levels of lead and cadmium. Since these metals are known to have male reproductive toxicity, these supplements may be adding to both the body burden of these metals and also implicated in the increasing incidence of male infertility in Nigeria.

In this study, we proposed integrated tools to evaluate the wind power potential, economic viability, and prioritize 15 proposed sites for the installation of wind farms. Initially, we used modified Weibull distribution model coupled with power law to assess the wind power potential. Secondly, we employed value cost method to estimate per unit cost ($/kWh) of proposed sites. Lastly, we used Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (F-TOPSIS) to rank the best alternatives. The results indicate that Pakistan has enormous wind power potential that cost varies from 0.06 $/kWh to 0.58 $/kWh; thus, sites S12, S13, S14, and S15 are considered as the most economic viable locations for the installation of wind power project, while remaining sites are considered to be less important, due to other complexities. The further analysis using Fuzzy-TOPSIS method reveals that site S13 is the most optimal location followed by S12, S14, and S14 for the development of wind power project. We proposed that government should formulate wind power policy for the implementation of wind power projects in order to meet energy demand of the country.

This paper examines the effects of energy consumption, economic growth, and financial development on carbon emissions in a panel of 122 countries. We employ both first-generation and second-generation cointegration and estimation procedures in order to address diverse economic and econometric issues such as heterogeneity, endogeneity, and cross-sectional dependence. We find a cointegration relationship between the variables. Energy consumption, economic growth, and financial development have detrimental effects on carbon emissions in the full sample. When the sample is split into different income groups, we reveal that economic growth and financial development mitigate carbon emissions in high-income group but have the opposite effects in low-income and middle-income groups. The implication of the findings is that energy consumption increases carbon emissions. While high levels of income and financial development decrease carbon emissions, low levels of income and financial development intensify it. Based on the findings, the paper makes some policy recommendations.

Acrylamide (ACR), a ubiquitous agent, has various chemical and industrial applications, and it is found in backed or fried carbohydrate-rich food. It has been related to multiple toxicological effects, and it causes high cytotoxicity through oxidative stress. The present study aimed to investigate the potential effect of ACR toxicity administered at different concentrations (5, 10, and 20 mg/L), during 5 days, in order to evaluate the fatty acid (FA) composition and redox state in the digestive gland of Mactra corallina. The results showed, in ACR-treated clams, a significant increase in malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, protein carbonyl, and metallothionein levels, as well as an alteration of the enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase) and non-enzymatic (reduced glutathione and ascorbic acid) antioxidant status. However, acetylcholinesterase activity was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner. In our experiment, the n-3 (Omega-3) and n-6 (Omega-6) polyunsaturated fatty acid levels were significantly changed in all ACR-treated groups. A decrease in eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n-3, EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n-3, DHA) was observed in 10-mg/L and 20-mg/L ACR-treated groups. Nevertheless, arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6, ARA) and its precursor linoleic acid (C18:2n-6, LA) were increased. Besides oxidative stress parameters, FA composition may be an additional tool for assessing ACR contamination.

The aim of the present work was to assess the efficiency of biochars obtained from the co-gasification of blends of rice husk + corn cob (biochar 50CC) and rice husk + eucalyptus stumps (biochar 50ES), as potential renewable low-cost adsorbents for Cr(III) recovery from wastewaters. The two gasification biochars presented a weak porous structure (ABET = 63–144 m² g⁻¹), but a strong alkaline character, promoted by a high content of mineral matter (59.8% w/w of ashes for 50CC biochar and 81.9% w/w for 50ES biochar). The biochars were used for Cr(III) recovery from synthetic solutions by varying the initial pH value (3, 4, and 5), liquid/solid (L/S) ratio (100–500 mL g⁻¹), contact time (1–120 h), and initial Cr(III) concentration (10–150 mg L⁻¹). High Cr(III) removal percentages (around 100%) were obtained for both biochars, due to Cr precipitation, at low L/S ratios (100 and 200 mL g⁻¹), for the initial pH 5 and initial Cr concentration of 50 mg L⁻¹. Under the experimental conditions in which other removal mechanisms rather than precipitation occurred, a higher removal percentage (49.9%) and the highest uptake capacity (6.87 mg g⁻¹) were registered for 50CC biochar. In the equilibrium, 50ES biochar presented a Cr(III) removal percentage of 27% with a maximum uptake capacity of 2.58 mg g⁻¹. The better performance on Cr(III) recovery for the biochar 50CC was attributed to its better textural properties, as well as its higher cation exchange capacity.

Chromate can be reduced by methanotrophs in a membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR). In this study, we cultivated a Cr(VI)-reducing biofilm in a methane (CH₄)-based membrane biofilm batch reactor (MBBR) under anaerobic conditions. The Cr(VI) reduction rate increased to 0.28 mg/L day when the chromate concentration was ≤ 2.2 mg/L but declined sharply to 0.01 mg/L day when the Cr(VI) concentration increased to 6 mg/L. Isotope tracing experiments showed that part of the ¹³C-labeled CH₄ was transformed to ¹³CO₂, suggesting that the biofilm may reduce Cr(VI) by anaerobic methane oxidation (AnMO). Microbial community analysis showed that a methanogen, i.e., Methanobacterium, dominated in the biofilm, suggesting that this genus is probably capable of carrying out AnMO. The abundance of Methylomonas, an aerobic methanotroph, decreased significantly, while Meiothermus, a potential chromate-reducing bacterium, was enriched in the biofilm. Overall, the results showed that the anaerobic environment inhibited the activity of aerobic methanotrophs while promoting AnMO bacterial enrichment, and high Cr(VI) loading reduced Cr(VI) flux by inhibiting the methane oxidation process.

To identify the enzymes potentially useful for the decolorization of azo dyes, the secretome of the ascomycetous fungus Myrothecium roridum IM6482 was studied by using a bottom-up proteomic approach. Among the identified proteins, the most promising for dye removal was laccase, which decolorized respectively, 66, 91, 79, and 80% of Acid Blue 113 (AB 113), Acid Red 27 (AR 27), Direct Blue 14 (DB 14), and Acid Orange 7 (AO 7). The degradation of dyes was enhanced at the wide range of pH from 4 to 8. The addition of redox mediators allowed eliminating AB 113 in concentrations up to 400 mg/L and decolorization of the simulated textile effluent. Microbial toxicity and phytotoxicity tests indicated that dyes are converted into low-toxicity metabolites. This is the first insight into the M. roridum secretome, its identification and its application for removal of select azo dyes. Obtained results extended knowledge concerning biodegradative potential of ascomycetous, ligninolytic fungi and will contribute to the improvement of dye removal by fungi.

The concepts of the cities we know nowadays, and which we are accustomed to, change at a very rapid pace. The philosophy of their design is also changing. It will base on new standards, entering a completely different, futuristic dimension. This stage is related to changes in the perception of space, location and lack of belonging to definite, national or cultural structures. Cities of the future are cities primarily intelligent, zero-energetic, zero-waste, environmentally sustainable, self-sufficient in terms of both organic food production and symbiosis between the environment and industry. New cities will be able to have new organisational structures—either city states, or, apolitical, jigsaw-like structures that can change their position—like in the case of the city of Artisanopolis, designed as a floating city, close to the land, reminiscent of the legendary Atlantis. This paper is focused on the main issues connected with problems of the contemporary city planning. The purpose of the research was to identify existing technological solutions, whose aim is to use solar energy and urban greenery. The studies were based on literature related to future city development issues and futuristic projects of the architects and city planners. In the paper, the following issues have been verified: futuristic cities and districts, and original bionic buildings, both residential and industrial. The results of the analysis have been presented in a tabular form.

Water pollution caused by Cr(III) is a serious environmental problem which bring adverse effect to environmental protection and public safety. Efficient removal of Cr(III) from aqueous solution is important for the remediation of Cr(III) pollution. Herein, a series of silica-gel/polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer hybrid materials (SG-G0~SG-G4.0) were used for the removal of Cr(III) from aqueous solution. The factors that affect the adsorption were extensively studied and the adsorption mechanism was demonstrated based on the experimental results and density functional theory (DFT) calculation. Result demonstrates the adsorption capacity of ester-terminated silica-gel/PAMAM dendrimers follow the order of SG-G2.5 > SG-G3.5 > SG-G1.5 > SG-G0.5, while that of amino-terminated ones decrease in the order of SG-G2.0 > SG-G4.0 > SG-G3.0 > SG-G1.0 > SG-G0. The highest adsorption is achieved at pH 4.0 for both ester- and amino-terminated materials. Adsorption kinetic indicates the adsorption equilibrium can be reached at about 240 and 180 min for amino- and ester-terminated hybrids, respectively. Adsorption kinetic can be well fitted by pseudo-second-order kinetic model with film diffusion process as the rate-limiting step. Adsorption isotherm follows Langmuir model with monolayer adsorption behavior. Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) indicate the adsorption of Cr(III) by PAMAM dendrimer mainly involve the participation of N–H and C=O groups. DFT calculation demonstrates the uptake of Cr(III) by ester-terminated adsorbents mainly involves carbonyl oxygen and secondary amine nitrogen atoms to form tetra-coordinated chelate, while that of amino-terminated one tends to form hexa-coordinated chelates by carbonyl oxygen, primary and secondary amine nitrogen atoms.

The current study investigated the influence of organic amendments on cadmium (Cd) uptake and its effects on biochemical attributes of young and old leaves of bean. Bean seedlings were exposed to two levels of Cd (25 and 100 μM) in the presence and absence of different levels of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and citric acid (CA). An increase in Cd concentration in growth medium significantly enhanced Cd accumulation in bean roots and shoot. Cadmium stress increased the production of H₂O₂ which resulted in lipid peroxidation and decreased chlorophyll contents. The presence of organic amendments significantly affected Cd accumulation and toxicity to bean plants. Application of EDTA alleviated Cd toxicity in terms of chlorophyll contents, H₂O₂ contents, and lipid peroxidation possibly by chelating toxic Cd ions, and as such forming Cd-EDTA complexes. The presence of CA decreased Cd toxicity by decreasing its uptake. The biochemical responses (H₂O₂ contents, lipid peroxidation, and chlorophyll contents) of bean plants were more severely affected by Cd treatments in old leaves compared to young leaves. This study shows that the effect of CA and EDTA on biochemical behavior of Cd varies greatly with applied levels of Cd and amendments as well as the age of leaves. Based on the results, it is proposed that the presence of organic amendments can greatly affect biogeochemical behavior of Cd in the soil-plant system (ecosystem).