Papers

The Essentials of Marine Biotechnology

This comprehensive article reviews the field of marine biotechnology, which harnesses ocean organisms for applications in medicine, food, cosmetics, agriculture, and energy. Researchers describe the enormous diversity of marine life, from microorganisms to deep-sea species, and the promising biomolecules they produce. The study outlines both the opportunities and the environmental responsibilities involved in developing products inspired by or derived from marine resources.

Needleless electrospun phytochemicals encapsulated nanofibre based 3-ply biodegradable mask for combating COVID-19 pandemic

Researchers developed a three-layer biodegradable face mask combining cotton outer layers with a polylactic acid nanofibrous filtration layer infused with plant-derived antimicrobials, achieving 97.9% bacterial filtration efficiency and demonstrating biodegradation in a microbial slurry — offering a potential eco-friendly alternative to single-use synthetic masks.

Polyolefin colonization and partial degradation by Gordonia sp., and Arthrobacter sp. isolated from wetlands and compost

Researchers isolated Gordonia sp. and Arthrobacter sp. bacteria from wetlands and compost and tested their ability to degrade polypropylene and polystyrene over 28 days. Gordonia achieved 22.8% PP mass loss and 19.5% PS mass loss, formed biofilms on PP surfaces, and carried a putative alkane-degrading enzyme (AlkB), representing promising organisms for plastic biodegradation.

Dairy processing sludge and co-products: A review of present and future re-use pathways in agriculture

This review examines reuse pathways for dairy processing sludge in agriculture, identifying gaps in knowledge about nutrient value and calling for testing of contaminants including microplastics and nanoplastics before land application.

Plastic Ingestion in Post-hatchling Sea Turtles: Assessing a Major Threat in Florida Near Shore Waters

Plastic fragments were found in the digestive tracts of 93% of stranded juvenile loggerhead sea turtles examined in Florida, with up to 287 fragments and a plastic-to-body weight ratio as high as 1.23%. The high ingestion rates in animals this young suggest that plastic pollution poses a serious threat to sea turtle survival from the earliest life stages.

A Methodology for Industrial Water Footprint Assessment Using Energy-Water-Carbon Nexus

Researchers developed a methodology using the energy-water-carbon nexus to assess industrial water footprints, applying it to Irish milk and beer production facilities to quantify the carbon emissions associated with industrial water consumption and treatment.

Strain gradient crystal plasticity modelling of size effects in a hierarchical martensitic steel using the Voronoi tessellation method

Dairy processing sludge and co-products: A review of present and future re-use pathways in agriculture

This review examines current and potential uses of dairy processing sludge and similar nutrient-rich residues as agricultural fertilizers and soil amendments. It also flags concerns about contaminants in these materials — including residues of antibiotics, hormones, and potentially microplastics — that could enter the food chain.

The effect of prior deformation on subsequent microplasticity and damage evolution in an austenitic stainless steel at elevated temperature