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influence of co-morbidities. Adaptations should improve validity and reliability of the Dutch-IVI, however, cross-cultural comparisons may be at stake.

Minor problems in the Dutch translation were detected and adjusted. The layout and instructions of the Dutch-IVI resulted in some comprehensibility problems. The Dutch-IVI appeared to be at risk of being interpreted as a generic patient reported outcome measure, instead of a disease-specific instrument, mainly due to the influence of co-morbidities. Adaptations should improve validity and reliability of the Dutch-IVI, however, cross-cultural comparisons may be at stake.Chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) are persistent organic pollutants which are harmful to public health and the environment. Many CVOCs occur in substantial quantities in groundwater and soil, even though their use has been more carefully managed and restricted in recent years. This review summarizes recent data on several innovative treatment solutions for CVOC-affected media including bioremediation, phytoremediation, nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI)-based reductive dehalogenation, and photooxidation. There is no optimally developed single technology; therefore, the possibility of using combined technologies for CVOC remediation, for example bioremediation integrated with reduction by nZVI, is presented. Selleckchem MEK inhibitor Some methods are still in the development stage. Advantages and disadvantages of each treatment strategy are provided. It is hoped that this paper can provide a basic framework for selection of successful CVOC remediation strategies.The present study reports the photocatalytic degradation of analgesic drug diclofenac using the hydrothermally prepared TiO2-CdS heterojunction catalyst. The results suggest that the prepared catalysts exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. The photodegradation kinetics were well fitted to the pseudo-first-order reaction. The apparent reaction rate constant for TC5 catalyst in the diclofenac degradation was 0.02316 min-1. Mineralisation of diclofenac using TC5 photocatalyst was around 86% within 4 h of irradiation time. The operating parameters such as optimal catalyst dosage, apparent solution pH and the effect of initial diclofenac concentration were also studied using the TC5 catalyst. The role of active species in the degradation mechanism was elucidated and it was found that the hydroxyl radical is the main active species in the diclofenac degradation mechanism. The charge transfer between heterojunction catalysts is facilitated by direct Z-scheme heterojunction structure. The coupled photocatalysts also showed good photochemical stability and reusability over five successive reaction cycles. The tentative degradation pathway has been devised based on LC-MS peaks, and it is found that only m/z 224, m/z 178 and m/z 124 were persisted at the end of the reaction.In addressing the current COVID-19 pandemic and evaluating the measures taken by global leaders so far, it is crucial to trace back the circumstances influencing the emergence of the crisis that the world is presently facing. Could it be that the failure to act in a timely manner dates way back to when first concerns about climate change and its inevitable threat to human health came up? Multiple lines of evidence suggest that the large-scale and rapid environmental changes in the last few decades may be implicated in the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic by increasing the potential risk of the occurrence and the spread of zoonotic diseases, worsening food security, and weakening the human immune system. As we are facing progressive climatic change, a failure to act accordingly could inevitably lead to further, more frequent confrontations with newly emerging diseases.In order to achieve at better water quality of a given trans-boundary river mainly contributed by high-intensive and spatially dispersed pig farming at upstream area, an effective ecological compensation system is in urgent need. In this study, an evolutionary bottom-up framework of ecological compensation system was proposed to analyze the tradeoffs of behavior among the pig farmers, government of upstream area, and government of downstream area. Shutting down pig farms, upgrading traditional piggeries to elevated bed piggeries, and adopting centralized facilities for disposing wastes from small-scale pig farms are three effective measures to control pollution from pig farming and were considered into this study. The combined use of cost-benefit analysis, linear programming, willingness to accept and willingness to pay method, and its application to a typical case of Jiuzhou River, China, showed good performance to quantify short-term and long-term watershed ecological compensation standard and amount for promoting sustainability of livestock industry. Besides, we also proposed a framework of long-term reward and punishment compensation mechanism binding upon both sides for maintaining good water quality. The proposed systematic and feasible framework of methodology has important theoretical and application significance for other similar related researches and enriched the field in paying for good water quality.Fossil fuels account for more than 80% of the world’s energy consumption. Constituents of the atmosphere have changed perceptibly due to the increased use of fossil fuels. Therefore, many researchers have tried to relate their effect on society. In Pakistan, fossil fuel consumption and its CO2-based emission factor have been significantly correlated to economic growth. However, it needs further attention to study the adverse effects of fossil fuels. This study is an attempt to assess the cost of fossil fuels to society. Damages caused by fossil fuels are evaluated for the years of 2005-2009, using local pollution factors based on CO2 emission. Results show that the market price of fossil fuels increases after adding up the cost of damage caused by the final use of the fuel. People pay a huge amount of PKR 133 billion per year for taxes, health services, insurance premiums, and low living standards. Accordingly, it is suggested that we must shift from fossil fuels to other alternative clean types of energy.