Research papers of the month – September 2024
We present the highest-score research papers of September 2024. These papers have ben published in journals with the highest Ministerial score – 200 points.
Hydrothermal carbonization of combined food waste: A critical evaluation of emergent products
Waheed Rasaq; Thiruchenthooran Vaikunthavasan; Katarzyna Wirkijowska; Marvin Valentin; Łukasz Bobak; Chinenye Igwegbe; Andrzej Białowiec
Waste Management
Ministerial score = 200.0
Journal Impact Factor (2023) = 7.1 (Q1)
Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) increasingly appears as an eco-friendly method for managing food waste (FW). In this work, a combination of FW was subjected to HTC, and products were critically evaluated. This involved a lab-scale pressure reactor and optimization of HTC conditions: temperature (220–340 °C) and residence time (90–260 min) via central composite design type of response surface methodology (CCD-RSM). Results showed varying temperatures and residence time to impact the hydrochar (HC) and hydrothermal carbonization aqueous phase (HTC-AP) properties. Although HC produced through HTC exhibited lower ash content (<2%) despite higher fixed carbon (>55 %) with respect to the raw FW, the heating value of HC ranged from 19.2 to 32.5 MJ/kg. Temperature primarily influenced FW conversion, affecting carbonaceous properties. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) were found to be predominant in the HTC-AP under all tested operating conditions (77.3, 48.4, and 37.1 wt% for HTC at 340, 280, and 220 °C in 180 min, respectively). Total phosphorus recovery in HC and HTC-AP respectively peaked at 340 °C and 220 °C in 180 min. The study concludes that HTC holds promise for energy-dense biofuel production, nutrient recovery, and fostering a circular economy.
Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) increasingly appears as an eco-friendly method for managing food waste (FW). In this work, a combination of FW was subjected to HTC, and products were critically evaluated. This involved a lab-scale pressure reactor and optimization of HTC conditions: temperature (220–340 °C) and residence time (90–260 min) via central composite design type of response surface methodology (CCD-RSM). Results showed varying temperatures and residence time to impact the hydrochar (HC) and hydrothermal carbonization aqueous phase (HTC-AP) properties. Although HC produced through HTC exhibited lower ash content (<2%) despite higher fixed carbon (>55 %) with respect to the raw FW, the heating value of HC ranged from 19.2 to 32.5 MJ/kg. Temperature primarily influenced FW conversion, affecting carbonaceous properties. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) were found to be predominant in the HTC-AP under all tested operating conditions (77.3, 48.4, and 37.1 wt% for HTC at 340, 280, and 220 °C in 180 min, respectively). Total phosphorus recovery in HC and HTC-AP respectively peaked at 340 °C and 220 °C in 180 min. The study concludes that HTC holds promise for energy-dense biofuel production, nutrient recovery, and fostering a circular economy.DOI:10.1016/j.wasman.2024.08.012
Application of selected indicators to assess contamination of municipal landfill leachate and its impact on groundwater
Aleksandra Wdowczyk; Agata Szymańska-Pulikowska; Anshu Gupta
Water Resources and Industry
Ministerial score = 200.0
Journal Impact Factor (2023) = 4.5 (Q1)
Leachate formation is one of the most important factors taken into account during the operation and long-term management of municipal waste landfills. Systematic assessment of groundwater and leachate contamination may be useful in selecting the appropriate method of leachate management or treatment processes. The use of indicators to quantify the contamination potential of leachate and groundwater in the vicinity of MSW could help landfill managers assess their quality. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the representativeness of selected indicator methods for analyzing the temporal variability of leachate and groundwater properties in the vicinity of two municipal waste landfills in a Central European country (Poland). The leachate pollution index (LPI), sub-LPI and adjusted leachate pollution index (r-LPI) were used to assess the quality of leachate water, while the landfill water pollution index (LWPI) was used to assess the variability of groundwater quality. The results confirmed that LWPI is an effective method for assessing the quality of groundwater in the vicinity of municipal waste landfills. The obtained results confirm the negative impact of landfills, despite the insulation used. LWPI showed poor quality of groundwater and visible impact of the landfill (landfill W, average LWPI - 2.34) and moderately polluted waters and minor impact of the landfill (landfill S, average LWPI - 1.37). In most cases, it was observed that two parameters, EC and TOC, are the main factors contributing to the deterioration of groundwater quality. The sub-LPI analysis showed that leachates from both landfills have a very low content of heavy metals, so they should not have a negative impact on the biological treatment process. The obtained r-LPI values were in all cases higher than the calculated LPI values. For landfill S, the average r-LPI was 26.3 (Z-1) and 25.7 (Z-2). However, the average LPI was 13.5 (Z-1) and 13.2 (Z-2). For landfill W, the average r-LPI was 14.6 and the average LPI was 11.4. Analysis conducted on multi-year leachate and groundwater data using specific indicators can help managers better understand the impact of MSW on surrounding areas and help avoid potential operational problems in the future.
DOI:10.1016/j.wri.2024.100265
Expanding the boundaries in the face of global warming: A lesson from genetic and ecological niche studies of Centaurium erythraea in Europe
Anna Jakubska-Busse; Adrian Wysocki; Paweł J. Domagała; Anna Brudzińska-Kosior; Monika Sporek; Grzegorz Kosior
Science of the Total Environment
Ministerial score = 200.0
Journal Impact Factor (2023) = 8.2 (Q1)
Climate change affects plant species, especially those with restricted ecology and distribution. Centaurium erythraea is a flowering plant species in the Gentianaceae family, native to Europe, with its centre of diversity in the Mediterranean and western Asia. Of the 11 infraspecific taxa distinct from C. erythraea, only two are common in Europe: C. erythraea subsp. erythraea (widespread nominal subspecies) and C. erythraea subsp. majus (mainly distributed in the western Mediterranean region). Freshly collected samples of 36 plants from 11 localities across Lower Silesia (Central Europe) were utilised for taxonomic and genetic analysis. The barcode sequences of chloroplast DNA region matK were used for molecular analysis. Data deposited in GenBank was also used. Five haplotypes were identified among the analysed specimens. Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) techniques were applied to predict the current and future (short- and long-term projections) potential distribution of C. erythraea subsp. majus and to identify the most influential climatic factors. Despite the typical Mediterranean distribution, the presence of C. erythraea subsp. majus outside its natural range in SW Poland has been confirmed by morphological and genetic studies. The mean monthly precipitation of the wettest quarter and the mean daily temperatures of the warmest quarter were identified as the key climatic factors. Short-term scenarios suggest that C. erythraea subsp. majus will maintain most of its current suitable habitats and potentially expand into the lowlands of Central Europe. However, long-term projections indicate a potential reduction in its currently suitable areas, especially in the southern parts of its range, with a possible expansion into north-western Europe. The results of these studies provide clear evidence of the impact of ongoing climate change on species range changes. These findings suggest that climate change may create new opportunities for Mediterranean species to spread to new regions, using C. erythraea subsp. majus as an example.
DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176134
Zophobas morio versus Tenebrio molitor: Diversity in gut microbiota of larvae fed with polymers
Aneta Urbanek; Justyna Rybak; Beata Hanus-Lorenz; Dominika Komisarczyk; Aleksandra Mirończuk
Science of the Total Environment
Ministerial score = 200.0
Journal Impact Factor (2023) = 8.2 (Q1)
Plastics are common synthetic materials that have been abundantly present as pollutants in natural ecosystems for the past few decades. Thus scientists have investigated the capability of plastic digestion by insects. Here we compare the effectiveness of biodegradation of the specific polymers: expanded polystyrene (EPS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP) altogether with above variants of plastics with microelements and vitamins by the mealworm – the larval form of the beetle Tenebrio molitor – and larvae of the beetle Zophobas morio, known as superworms. Z. morio beetles on all diets were able to complete their life cycle from larvae through pupae and imago, gaining 19 % and 22 % in mass on LDPE and EPS; 8 % and 7 % on PVC and PP. Mealworms (T. molitor) reared on polymers had minimal weight gain, gaining 2 % on LDPE and EPS, and a slight reduction in mass was observed when reared on PP and PVC. Not all specimens of T. molitor were able to pupate and transform to the adult stage. The results suggest that larvae of Z. morio can eat and degrade some types of plastic compounds more effectively than T. molitor. The changes in microbial gut communities were compared between these two species. The highest mass gain for Z. morio is associated with higher diversity in gut microbia and it was more diverse than that of T. molitor. Citrobacter freundii, a bacterium recognized for its ability to degrade long-chain polymers, linear hydrocarbons and cyclic hydrocarbons, was found in the microflora of Z. morio. The results confirm that superworms can survive on polymer feed. Moreover, this diet supplemented with microelements and vitamins increases the number of bacterial species and the diversity in the microbial gut.
DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176005
Brewers’ spent grain as a food ingredient: Techno-processing properties, nutrition, acceptability, and market
Joncer Naibaho; Małgorzata Korzeniowska; Azis Boing Sitanggang; Yuyun Lu; Elisa Julianti
Trends in Food Science & Technology
Ministerial score = 200.0
Journal Impact Factor (2023) = 15.1 (Q1)
Objectives The study aimed to present the current trend during the 10 years study in the valorization of brewers’ spent grain (BSG) derived compounds in food products from processing, nutritional improvement, and sensory acceptability. Results The study discovered that BSG-derived compounds have been used in a variety of food products such as bread, cookies, baked snacks, pasta, noodles, muffin, yogurt, plant-based yogurt, ready to drink, confectionary, sausage, burgers, and mayonnaise. BSG flour was reported to reduce fat and sugar thus potentially as fat replacer and sugar reduction in food products. Several BSG-derived compounds in food products are reported including dried BSG flour, water fraction from fresh BSG, and protein hydrolysates. The main impact of BSG in food processing is its ability to modify the matrix formation of food products which at certain levels could diminish the textural properties thus negatively affecting the sensory acceptability. Several modifications have been made in order to improve the desirability of BSG-derived compounds in food products such as ingredients modification (e.g., sugar modification, oil vegetables, and others), utilizing pre-treated BSG (e.g., fermented, cooked, and extruded), and extraction of interest compounds (e.g., water fraction, protein, and BSG residue utilization). Conclusions Although the evidence of BSG as a sustainable food ingredient has been clear, the study showed that lack of investigation was made in the commercialization approach such as big scale production and consumer familiarization on BSG-added food products which delay the feasibility of technological readiness and system readiness level.
DOI:10.1016/j.tifs.2024.104685
Reporting population size in wastewater-based epidemiology: A scoping review
Mackay Price; Bradley S. Simpson; Benjamin J. Tscharke; Fahad Ahmed; Emma L. Keller; Hannah Sussex; Melanie Kah; Katarzyna Siła-Nowicka; Andrew Chappell; Cobus Gerber; Sam Trowsdale
Science of the Total Environment
Ministerial score = 200.0
Journal Impact Factor (2023) = 8.2 (Q1)
Knowledge of the number of people present in a catchment is fundamental for the assessment of spatio-temporal trends in wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE). Accurately estimating the number of people connected to wastewater catchments is challenging however, because populations are dynamic. Methods used to estimate population size can significantly influence the calculation and interpretation of population-normalised wastewater data (PNWD). This paper systematically reviews the reporting of population data in 339 WBE studies. Studies were evaluated based on their reporting of population size, the source of population data, the population calculation methods, and the uncertainties in population estimates. Most papers reported population size (96 %) and the source of population data (60 %). Fewer studies reported the uncertainties in their population data (50 %) and the methods used to calculate these estimates (28 %). This is relevant because different methods have unique strengths and limitations which can affect the accuracy of PNWD. Only 64 studies (19 %) reported all four components of population data. The reporting of population data has remained consistent in the past decade. Based on the findings, we recommend generalised reporting criteria for population data in WBE. As WBE is further mainstreamed and applied, the clear and comprehensive reporting of population data will only become increasingly important.
DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176076
Use of sedation-awakening electroencephalography in dogs with epilepsy
Marcin Wrzosek; Aleksandra Banasik; Adriana Czerwik; Agnieszka Olszewska; Marta Płonek; Veronika Stein
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Ministerial score = 200.0
Journal Impact Factor (2023) = 2.1 (Q1)
Background: Electroencephalography (EEG) recording protocols have been standardized for humans. Although the utilization of techniques in veterinary medicine is increasing, a standard protocol has not yet been established. Hypothesis: Assessment of a sedation-awakening EEG protocol in dogs. Animals: Electroencephalography examination was performed in a research colony of 6 nonepileptic dogs (control [C]) and 12 dogs with epilepsy admitted to the clinic because of the epileptic seizures. Methods: It was a prospective study with retrospective control. Dogs with epilepsy were divided into 2 equal groups, wherein EEG acquisition was performed using a “sedation” protocol (IE-S, n = 6) and a “sedation-awakening” protocol (IE-SA, n = 6). All animals were sedated using medetomidine. In IE-SA group, sedation was reversed 5 minutes after commencing the EEG recording by injecting atipamezole IM. Type of background activity (BGA) and presence of EEG-defined epileptiform discharges (EDs) were evaluated blindly. Statistical significance was set at P > 0.05. Results: Epileptiform discharges were found in 1 of 6 of the dogs in group C, 4 of 6 of the dogs in IE-S group, and 5 of 6 of the dogs in IE-SA group. A significantly greater number of EDs (spikes, P = .0109; polyspikes, P = .0109; sharp waves, P = .01) were detected in Phase 2 in animals subjected to the “sedation-awakening” protocol, whereas there was no statistically significant greater number of discharges in sedated animals. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: A “sedation-awakening” EEG protocol could be of value for ambulatory use if repeated EEG recordings and monitoring of epilepsy in dogs is needed.
DOI:10.1111/jvim.17153
Correlation between semiautomated magnetic resonance imaging volumetry of the cingulate gyrus and interictal epileptiform discharge lateralization in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy
Aleksandra Banasik; Marcin Wrzosek; Paulina Drobot; Karolina Owsińska-Schmidt; Laura Brewińska; Anna Zimny; Przemysław Podgórski
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Ministerial score = 200.0
Journal Impact Factor (2023) = 2.1 (Q1)
Background Brain imaging suggests the involvement of the limbic system, particularly the cingulate gyrus (GC), in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (IE). Hypothesis A correlation exists between the side of interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) and the volume of the ipsilateral GC (GCe) in dogs with IE. Animals Dogs admitted to the neurological consultation (32 with epileptic seizures and 13 control) were included. Methods This retrospective, blinded study followed the International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force recommendations for diagnosing IE at the Tier III confidence level. The IE group included 18 and 14 dogs with IEDs in the left and right hemispheres, respectively (median age: 36 months, median weight: 19.5 kg), whereas the control group included 13 dogs (median age: 32 months, median weight: 20 kg). Whole-brain and GC-volumetric assessments were performed by a semiautomated method. Results In the control group, the volume of the GC was: left, from 743.63 to 1001.61 mm3, right, from 789.35 to 1015.86 mm3. In the study group, the volume of the GC was: left, from 720.88 to 1054.9 mm3 and right, from 566.29 to 987.77 mm3. In dogs with IE, GCe volume was significantly lower than the mean volume of the GC in the control group relative to total intracranial volume (TIV; P = .00044). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Alterations in the volume of the GC provide insights into structural changes during IE. The use of semiautomatic volumetry provides an advantage by reducing the potential for human error.
DOI:10.1111/jvim.17178
