Occurrence of Pesticides and Their Removal From Aquatic Medium by Adsorption

Author(s):  
Irfan Rashid Sofi ◽  
Rayees Ahmad Bhat ◽  
Rabia Quadir ◽  
Javid Manzoor

Large amounts of pesticides are used annually, and in some cases, a part of the pesticide enters the water bodies by surface runoff to form long-term residues. In the recent past, the adverse effects of pesticides on the environment and human health received serious attention by the public and the competent authorities. Various conventional methods are used to remove these pesticides from water, but those methods are either costly or typical in operation. Therefore, adsorption is considered as an ecofriendly method. The adsorbent derived from biomaterial is considered an encouraging adsorbent due to its cost-effective and high adsorption capacity. In this chapter, detailed information on different types of pesticides, their metabolites, environmental concerns, and present status on degradation methods using adsorbents will be reviewed. This chapter presents a comprehensive overview on the recent advancement in the utilization of different adsorbents for the removal of pesticides. Overall, this study assists researchers to move forward in exploring a simple and economically viable technique to produce adsorbents with outstanding physiochemical properties and excellent adsorption capacity, so that the pesticides can be removed from aquatic ecosystem.

Mathematics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (17) ◽  
pp. 2088
Author(s):  
Cristiana Vaz ◽  
Rui Pascoal ◽  
Helder Sebastião

Since its launch in 2009, bitcoin has thrived, attracting the attention of investors, regulators, academia, and the public in general. Its price dynamics, characterized by extreme volatility, severe jumps, and impressive long-term appreciation, suggest that bitcoin is a new digital asset. This study presents a comprehensive overview of the fractality of bitcoin in a high-frequency framework, namely by applying Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (MF-DFA) and a Multifractal Regime Detecting Method (MRDM) to Bitstamp 1 min bitcoin returns from January 2013 to July 2020. The results suggest that bitcoin is multifractal, with smaller and larger fluctuations being persistent and anti-persistent, respectively. Multifractality comes from significant long-range correlations, which cast some doubts on the informational efficiency at this frequency, but mainly comes from fat-tails, which highlights the significant risks undertaken by investors in this market. Our most important result is that the degree and richness of multifractality is time-varying and increased after 2017, when volumes and prices experienced an explosive behaviour. This complexity puts into perspective the duality of bitcoin: while it is characterized by long-run attractiveness and increasing valuation, it also has a high short-run instability. Hence, this study provides some empirical evidence supporting the relationship between these two observable features.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. e001539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harkesh Dabas ◽  
Sarang Deo ◽  
Manisha Sabharwal ◽  
Arnab Pal ◽  
Sachin Salim ◽  
...  

A majority of patients with tuberculosis (TB) in India are diagnosed and treated in the private sector. Yet, most private providers do not use most recent WHO-endorsed microbiological tests such as liquid cultures, line probe assays and Xpert MTB/RIF due to a combination of factors such as lack of awareness, misaligned incentives and high prices that are unaffordable for patients. We designed a market-based approach to transform a high-price, low-volume market equilibrium into a low-price, high-volume equilibrium to improve the uptake of these tests. Toward this end, a non-profit consortium of private laboratories, called Initiative for Promoting Affordable and Quality Tuberculosis Tests (IPAQT) was formed in India in March 2013. It negotiated lower pricing on equipment and reagents with manufacturers, closer to that offered to the public sector. In return, IPAQT assured that this discount was passed on to patients, who typically paid for these tests out of their pockets, through an informally agreed on retail ceiling price. IPAQT also invested in demand generation activities that complemented the supply-side effort. IPAQT membership grew from 56 laboratories in 2013 to 211 in 2018. During this period, the initiative resulted in a 10-fold increase in the uptake of Xpert and a 30%–50% reduction in price. This initiative is planned to be expanded to other South Asian countries with similar TB epidemic and private market structure and dynamics. However, long-term sustainability of the initiative would require developing more cost-effective marketing activities and integration with broader private sector engagement agenda of the national TB programme.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yulia Furlong

Since the turn of the century, we are witnessing a dramatic surge in the numbers of children and adolescents referred to gender clinics, this is happening in the context of general increase in numbers of individuals identifying as non-binary. The chapter ahead will initially address the shifting landscape of gender dysphoria (GD), and provides a comprehensive overview of the latest findings in the fields of autism and GF. The higher rates of autism’ diagnosis among gender diverse samples prompted the development of several hypotheses that attempt to explain the link between autism spectrum and gender spectrum, as well as development of relevant clinical guidelines that contain strong advocacy for adolescents with neurodiversity not to be precluded from gaining access to gender-related services. In the public arena, a highly publicised UK High Court’s case that is commonly referred to as Bell v Tavistock highlighted the growing concerns regarding the unexplained surge in the number of adolescents identifying as having GF, as well as pointed to the lack of evidence that hormones and surgery improve long-term outcomes. The chapter explored the recommendations that came out of this ruling and highlighted the implications for Australian jurisdiction by illustrating medico-legal changes on Perth-based gender services.


2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Mason ◽  
Nicole Schnackenberg ◽  
Robin Monro

Abstract The emergence of yoga therapy in the United Kingdom began about 45 years ago with the emergence of yoga therapy organizations that offered both treatment and training. The integration of yoga into the National Health Service (NHS) is gradually happening Because: (a) yoga research supports its efficacy as a cost-effective, preventive and complementary treatment for a host of non-communicable diseases; and (b) the escalating economic burden of long-term conditions is overwhelming the NHS. The NHS is actively developing ‘sustainability and transformation plans’ that include yoga. Chief among these is ‘social prescribing,’ which empowers patients with complex health needs through activities groups. These activities reduce sedentary habits and social isolation, while helping patients to be more self-reliant. The NHS has allocated £450 million in funding to implement a variety of programs for its own staff, in which staff yoga classes were expressly mentioned. The yoga community is mobilizing forces and applying for funding to pilot relevant NHS staff yoga courses that can support the service in achieving its vision. Research shows that integrating yoga therapy for the treatment of low back pain (LBP) into the NHS would result in significant cost savings as compared with usual care. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guidelines on LBP and sciatica include yoga as one of the recommended treatments for these conditions. Three groups of yoga teachers, using different yoga practices, have gained traction with the NHS for the application of yoga therapy to LBP. Many regional hospitals in England have yoga classes. The NHS Choices website, which conveys information to the public regarding treatment options, has a page dedicated to the health benefits of yoga. Several institutions offer comprehensive training programs in yoga therapy and yoga therapy is recognized as an official profession. The Yoga in Healthcare Alliance has been established to help integrate yoga therapy into the NHS. This consists of parliamentarians, leaders in the NHS, yoga researchers, health professionals, and representatives from leading yoga organizations.


2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald J. LeBlanc ◽  
Conrad J. Allain ◽  
Peter J. Laughton

The paper traces the success of a large Canadian wastewater utility that has dealt with the issue of biosolids management and recycling to the extent that it now has more demand for its biosolids than it produces. The Greater Moncton Sewerage Commission's (GMSC) problem is not one of disposing of biosolids, but one of determining which product and uses will be best for the environment as well as being most sustainable and cost effective in the long term. Wastewater treatment and the management of the sludge or biosolids produced are global issues, with growing challenges, that must address the concerns of all of the stakeholders, including the facility administrators and operators, regulators and elected officials, the scientific community, wastewater generators, taxpayers and the general public. The failure to take into consideration the concerns of all of the stakeholders including the lack of meaningful communication with the public has resulted in predictable but preventable problems, including the banning of scientifically acceptable biosolids recycling options in different countries. Consequently, a successful and viable wastewater treatment and biosolids recycling management plan requires a "big picture" view and a sustainable approach, which takes into consideration the concerns of all stakeholders. The paper will deal with key issues to the success of an environmentally sustainable biosolids management programme.


2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 186-192
Author(s):  
Suzanne Chabaud

Abstract This is a call for action to protect and assist children of hoarding parents. Action that minimises harm to children living in hoarded homes also promotes family safety and health. Optimal care involves the whole family system, both children and parents. Prevention of harm through early identification and intervention for hoarding can reduce the burden of a disorder that often increases in severity over a lifetime and deprives humans of a full and safe life. Helping children and their parents severely affected by hoarding disorder is for the public good. Public policy and funded programmes can reduce long-term and immense costs to children, families and the many systems hoarding affects. Specifically, public policy can facilitate and fund outreach, education, coordination of providers of health, social and public services, and research-driven methods for assessment and intervention on behalf of children, individuals and families. Releasing people from the grips of hoarding disorder can enable them to devote generative resources to themselves, their families and their communities. Ultimately, prevention of hoarding through early assessment and intervention for minors and young adults is the most efficient, long-term and cost-effective method for minimising harm. When unidentified, hoarding disorder intensifies, people go into hiding, risk increases and opportunity for detection and intervention decreases. Informing the public about hoarding disorder must be followed with sufficient resources to address it, otherwise, helplessness ensues, and people will likely remain in the hidden world it governs.


2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Duvvuru Ashok Kumar ◽  
Languluri Reddenna ◽  
Shaik Ayub Basha

Pharmacovigilance is defined as "the pharmacological science relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects, principally long term and short term adverse effects of medicines." It is an important and integral part of clinical research. India is the world's second most populated country with over one billion potential drug consumers. Although, India is participating in the Uppsala monitoring center program, its contribution to that database is relatively small. This problem is essentially due to the absence of a robust ADR monitoring system and also the lack of awareness of reporting concepts among Indian health care professionals. The specific aims of pharmacovigilance are to advance patient care and safety in relation to the use of medicines and all medical and paramedical interventions, contribute to the assessment of benefit, harm, effectiveness, and risk of medicines, promising their safe, rational, and more effective use, promote indulgent, education, and clinical training in pharmacovigilance and its effective communication to the public. Pharmacovigilance methods must also be capable to designate which patients are at risk of developing an adverse drug reaction. A suitably working pharmacovigilance system is important if medicines are to be used prudently. It will be advantageous for healthcare professionals, regulatory authorities, pharmaceutical companies and consumers to monitor medicines for risk.   Type: Commentary


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (14) ◽  
pp. 69-79
Author(s):  
Elina Kruze ◽  
Janis Priede

The possibility to achieve successful resocialization of former prisoners back into society is an ongoing public debate, making it challenging for policymakers to implement prisoner rehabilitation programs capable of maintaining the public safety while allocating public funds in the most efficient way. The main aim of this study is to examine what is necessary for an investment in prison system development to be justified. The hypothesis of this study suggests that such investment can be cost-effective by reducing crime and recidivism rates in the long term by ensuring proper rehabilitation of prisoners. Accordingly, this research compares various European countries regarding their imprisonment standards and costs in order to conclude which countries operate in the most effective way and what is crucial to obtain a decrease in the reoffending rates. The key results suggest that it is possible to find a correlation between such variables as the imprisonment costs, incarceration rates and the recidivism rates. It is possible to draw parallels between the amount of money countries spend on one prisoner a year and the recidivism rates of such countries, suggesting that the reoffending rates can be reduced by increasing the amount of resources allocated for the improvement of prisoner’s lives. Furthermore, such an investment should not only take the form of establishment of a proper environment for successful rehabilitation – prisoners should be provided with education and work possibilities to prepare them for life outside the prison walls. Moreover, the study highlights the need for post-release support mechanisms capable of re-integrating former convicts back into society, since such mechanisms could reduce the likelihood of re-offending.  


1988 ◽  
Vol 1 (21) ◽  
pp. 212
Author(s):  
R. Simoen ◽  
H. Verslype ◽  
D. Vandenbossche

Steady erosion has occured on the beaches at Ostend, Belgium, especially on the section between the Casino and the Harbour Entrance. The gravel beach supported by a sandfill core has been proven to be a feasible and cost effective flood protection alternative, the first objective of the long term beach enhancement programme. Secondary goals are also met such as : new beach recreational facilities in safe conditions for the public ; the economic incentive for the needed redevelopment of this part of down-town Ostend and the beach front ; the conservation of the present sea-view from the promenade.


2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 242-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Éva Kállay

Abstract. The last several decades have witnessed a substantial increase in the number of individuals suffering from both diagnosable and subsyndromal mental health problems. Consequently, the development of cost-effective treatment methods, accessible to large populations suffering from different forms of mental health problems, became imperative. A very promising intervention is the method of expressive writing (EW), which may be used in both clinically diagnosable cases and subthreshold symptomatology. This method, in which people express their feelings and thoughts related to stressful situations in writing, has been found to improve participants’ long-term psychological, physiological, behavioral, and social functioning. Based on a thorough analysis and synthesis of the published literature (also including most recent meta-analyses), the present paper presents the expressive writing method, its short- and long-term, intra-and interpersonal effects, different situations and conditions in which it has been proven to be effective, the most important mechanisms implied in the process of recovery, advantages, disadvantages, and possible pitfalls of the method, as well as variants of the original technique and future research directions.


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