Antimicrobial activity of metal-substituted cobalt ferrite nanoparticles synthesized by sol–gel technique

We review the increasing body of research on urban water security. First, we reflect on the four different focusses in water security literature: welfare, equity, sustainability and water-related risks. Second, we make an inventory of the multiple perspectives on urban water security: disciplinary perspectives (e.g. engineering, environmental, public policy, public health), problem-oriented perspectives (e.g. water shortage, flooding, water pollution), goal-oriented perspectives (e.g. better water supply and sanitation, better sewerage and wastewater treatment, safety from flooding, proper urban drainage), integrated-water versus water-integrated perspectives, and policy analytical versus governance perspectives. Third, we take a systems perspective on urban water security, taking the pressure-state-impact-response structure as an analytical framework and link that to the ‘urban water transitions framework’ as proposed by Brown et al (Water. Sci. Technol. 59 2009). A systems approach can be helpful to comprehend the complexity of the urban system, including its relation with its (global) environment, and better understand the dynamics of urban water security. Finally, we reflect on work done in the area of urban water security indices.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/aaba52/pdf

Urban water security: A review

Water plays an important role in underpinning equitable, stable and productive societies and ecosystems. Hence, United Nations recognized ensuring water security as one (Goal 6) of the seventeen sustainable development goals (SDGs). Many international river basins are likely to experience 'low water security' over the coming decades. Water security is rooted not only in the physical availability of freshwater resources relative to water demand, but also on social and economic factors (e.g. sound water planning and management approaches, institutional capacity to provide water services, sustainable economic policies). Until recently, advanced tools and methods are available for the assessment of water scarcity. However, quantitative and integrated—physical and socio-economic—approaches for spatial analysis of water security at global level are not available yet. In this study, we present a spatial multi-criteria analysis framework to provide a global assessment of water security. The selected indicators are based on Goal 6 of SDGs. The term 'security' is conceptualized as a function of 'availability', 'accessibility to services', 'safety and quality', and 'management'. The proposed global water security index (GWSI) is calculated by aggregating indicator values on a pixel-by-pixel basis, using the ordered weighted average method, which allows for the exploration of the sensitivity of final maps to different attitudes of hypothetical policy makers. Our assessment suggests that countries of Africa, South Asia and Middle East experience very low water security. Other areas of high water scarcity, such as some parts of United States, Australia and Southern Europe, show better GWSI values, due to good performance of management, safety and quality, and accessibility. The GWSI maps show the areas of the world in which integrated strategies are needed to achieve water related targets of the SDGs particularly in the African and Asian continents.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/11/12/124015/pdf

Measuring global water security towards sustainable development goals

Therapeutic and diagnostic potential of nanomaterials for enhanced biomedical applications.

The nexus between water, energy, and food in the context of the global risks: An analysis of the interactions between food, water, and energy security

The synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using natural pigments from plants as reducing agents is presented in this study. The natural pigments were extracted from Alfalfa leaves. The reduction reaction was investigated by UV–Vis and FTIR analyses. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV–Vis, XRD, TEM, and DLS. UV–Vis analysis revealed that AgNPs were produced with a persistent plasmonic absorption peak at about 418 nm accompanied by consumption of pigments. The reduction is suggested to occur, mainly, by chlorophyll a and carotenes. Characterization revealed pure synthesized AgNPs with an average particle size of 25 nm. In an interesting novel experiment, the progress of reduction reaction was traced at the interface between reacting phases under UV illumination making use of fluorescence of both chlorophylls and formed Ag nano-clusters (AgNCs). The enrollment of chlorophylls in reduction was suggested depending on FTIR and fluorescence analyses. The synthesized AgNPs possessed a superior antimicrobial activity towards Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213; 24.0 mm ZOI, followed by Escherichia coli ATCC 25922; 17.0 mm ZOI. In addition, AgNPs were a strong antifungal agent against Candida albicans ATCC 10231; 26.0 mm ZOI.

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using natural pigments extracted from Alfalfa leaves and its use for antimicrobial activity

An increasing number of factors pose challenges to the development and management of water resources in rural, remote, or otherwise marginalized (RRM) communities. Indicators and indices have been developed for evaluation, prioritization, and decision-making at local and supra-local scales. Indicators and indices are useful assessment tools as they simplify the modeling process and provide results in an accessible format. The purpose of this paper is to consolidate a list of indicators (n = 176) from a review of community- and basin- level indices and a selection of other literature within a water security framework for RRM communities. A detailed discussion of each of the six dimensions within the framework is provided. This paper concludes with some general remarks on the standards used for evaluation, the reliance upon historical and field data, suggestions for improving the descriptive clarity where it is lacking, and the prospect of these indicators getting used by community members.

Water Security Assessment Indicators: The Rural Context

An appreciation of the dissolution from entrapped nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) in fractures is essential as we attempt to understand and predict the fate of NAPLs present in fractured rock systems. Eight long-term dissolution experiments using 1,1,1-trichloroethane and trichloroethylene were conducted in two laboratory-scale dolomitic limestone variable aperture fractures under various conditions. Between 560 and 2600 fracture volumes of water were passed through the fractures resulting in the removal of 10-60% of the initial mass trapped. The effluent concentration profiles revealed three distinct and characteristic stages of dissolution: an initial pseudosteady stage, a transient stage, and a tailing stage. On average, 8% of the initial volume of NAPL present was removed during the initial pseudosteady stage. Data from the dissolution experiments were used in conjunction with statistical techniques to develop a continuous empirical model describing the initial pseudosteady and transient stages of dissolution. The model was used to successfully replicate effluent concentration data from two separate and independent dissolution experiments. The experimental results provide an indication of the expected dissolution behavior of entrapped NAPLs, while the developed model is a useful tool for characterizing mass transfer rates in variable aperture fractures.

Sarah E. Dickson

Papers

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using natural pigments extracted from Alfalfa leaves and its use for antimicrobial activity

Water Security Assessment Indicators: The Rural Context

Dissolution of entrapped DNAPLs in variable aperture fractures: experimental data and empirical model.

Slow gas expansion in saturated natural porous media by gas injection and partitioning with non-aqueous phase liquids

Differential transport and dispersion of colloids relative to solutes in single fractures.