Expressions of miR-21 TGF-beta/Smad signaling pathway in peripheral blood of bronchial asthma patients complicated with respiratory virus infection

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expressions of peripheral blood microRNA-21(miR-21) and transforming growth factor-beta(TNF-beta)/Smad signaling transduction pathway in patients with bronchial asthma complicated with respiratory virus infection. METHODS: Totally 109 patients with asthma complicated with respiratory virus infection(study group) and 104 patients without virus infection(control group) in the Third People's Hospital of Gansu Province between Feb.2019 and Feb.2021 were selected for the cross-sectional study. The basic data of the two groups were collected, and parameters including vital signs, lung function, peripheral blood miR-21 and TGF-beta/Smad signaling pathway proteins were measured. According to the guidelines, the patients of the two groups were divided into acute exacerbation phase and stable phase. The examination results of each group were compared and the levels of peripheral blood miR-21 and TGF-beta/Smad signaling pathway proteins expression of patients with asthma complicated with respiratory virus infection were analyzed. RESULTS: In study group, the proportion of respiratory virus infection among 109 patients was 33.94% for influenza virus, 23.85% for human rhinovirus, 19.27% for respiratory syncytial virus, 10.09% for parainfluenza virus, 6.42% for adenovirus, 4.59% for human coronavirus and 1.83% for human metapneumovirus respectively. The proportion of patients with acute exacerbation phase in the study group was higher than that in the control group, and the levels of peripheral blood miR-21, TGF-beta1, Smad7, pSmad2 and pSmad3 were higher than those in control group(P<0.05). The levels of miR-21, TGF-beta1, Smad2, Smad3, Smad7, pSmad2 and pSmad3 in peripheral blood of patients with acute exacerbation phase of asthma were higher than those of patients with stable phase of asthma(P<0.05). There were no statistical differences in peripheral blood miR-21, TGF-beta1, Smad2, Smad3, Smad7, pSmad2 and pSmad3 levels in asthma patients with different virus infections. CONCLUSION: Early respiratory virus infections might lead to increased expression of peripheral blood miR-21 and increased activation of TGF-beta/Smad signaling pathway in patients with asthma, which played an important role in acute attack of asthma.

Assessing the Spontaneous Spread of Climate-Adapted Woody Plants in an Extensively Maintained Collection Garden

Climate change may strongly modify the habitat conditions for many woody plant species. Some species could disappear from their natural habitats and become endangered, while others could adapt well to the changed environmental conditions and continue to survive successfully or even proliferate more easily. A similar process can occur within the artificial urban environment as the hitherto popularly planted urban trees may suffer from the extremities of the urban climate. However, among the planted taxa, there are species that spread spontaneously and appear as weeds in extensively managed gardens. In our study, we evaluated the native and non-native species involved in spontaneous spreading in the institutional garden of Buda Arboretum (Budapest) during the COVID-19 period in 2020–2021 when entry was prohibited, and maintenance went on in a restricted, minimal level. We investigated the correlation between spontaneously settling and planted individuals, and then performed multivariate analyses for native and non-native spreading plants for spatial and quantitative data. During our studies, we observed the spontaneous spreading of 114 woody species, of which 38 are native and 76 are non-native. Taking the total number of individuals into account, we found that, in addition to the 2653 woody species planted, a further 7087 spontaneously emerged weeds developed, which creates an additional task in the maintenance. © 2023 by the authors.

Discover the Medication Potential of Algerian Medicinal Plants Against Sars-Cov-2 Main Protease (Mpro): Molecular Docking, Molecular Dynamic Simulation, and ADMET Analysis

At the end of 2019, the world faced a big challenge and crisis caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It spreads rapidly and is contagious;no treatment has officially been found. Algeria has used medicinal plants native to the country to defend against this pandemic. The objective of this paper is based on a molecular docking study of the active compounds of five Algerian medicinal plants with their target Sars-2Cov-2 virus protease to assess their potential antiviral activity against COVID-19. Innovative software and computerized databases were introduced into the in-silico domain, mainly the Auto-Dock software version 1.5.6. Similar results were obtained for all ligands, with a better chemical affinity of − 5.600 kcal/mol for the protease target 6LU7 and − 5.700 kcal/mol for the protease target 6WTT, with an average of − 4.227 kcal/mol and − 4.221 kcal/mol, respectively. The protease targets 6LU7 and 6WTT. In the ADME-Tox study, the active compounds of Algerian medicinal plants also demonstrated an excellent pharmacokinetic and toxic profile. Best scores were noted for cedrol, camphor, and eucalyptol. A molecular dynamics simulation showed the stability of camphor-6LU7 and cedrol-6LU7 complexes, favoring the biological potential of white artemisia and cypress plants. Graphical : [Figure not available: see fulltext.] © 2023, This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US;foreign copyright protection may apply.

Why China Cannot Decarbonise

[...]it is often argued—as by Yifei Li and Judith Shapiro, for example—that China's dictatorship should be an advantage in this context: ‘Given the limited time that remains to mitigate climate change and protect millions of species from extinction, we need to consider whether a green authoritarianism can show us the way' (Li and Shapiro 2020, quoted from the publisher's book description). Since CCP bosses do not have to contend with public hearings, environmental studies, recalcitrant legislatures, labour unions, a critical press, and so on, Xi should be able to force state-owned polluters to stop polluting or else, and ram through his promised transition to renewable energy (see Smith 2017, 2020c). Climate Action Tracker estimates that in 2021 China's emissions increased by 3.4 per cent to 14.1 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO2e)—nearly triple those of the United States (4.9 GtCO2e) with a gross domestic product just three-fourths as large (CAT n.d.;EIA 2022). Since 2019, China's emissions have exceeded those of all developed countries combined and presently account for 33 per cent of total global emissions (Larsen et al. 2021;IEA 2021). In the first half of 2021, rebounding from the first wave of Covid-19, China's carbon dioxide emissions surged past pre-pandemic levels to reach an all-time high 20 per cent increase in the second quarter before dropping back in late 2021 and the first half of 2022 as the real estate collapse, Omicron lockdowns, and drought-induced hydropower reductions slashed economic growth to near zero in the summer (Hancock 2021;Myllyvirta 2022a;Riordan and Hook 2022). China promised to stop building coal-fired power plants abroad, but it is building more than 200 new coal-fired plants at home in a drive to boost economic growth, maintain jobs in coal-dependent regions, and ensure energy self-sufficiency—locking the country into coal reliance for many decades to come, derailing the transition to renewables, and dooming Xi's UN pledge to transition to a green and low-carbon mode of development (Xie 2020).

Marginal Cost of Energy Volatility in the Brazilian Interconnected Power System

From 2018 to 2022, on average, 70% of the Brazilian effective electric generation was produced by hydropower, 10% by wind power, and 20% by thermal power plants. Over the last five years, Brazil suffered from a series of severe droughts. As a result, hydropower generation was reduced, but demand growth was also declined as results of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession. From 2012 to 2022, the Brazilian reservoir system operated with, on average, only 40% of the active storage, but storage recovered to normal levels in the first three months of 2022. Despite large capacity of storage reservoirs, high volatility of the marginal cost of energy was observed in recent years. In this paper, we used two optimization models, NEWAVE and HIDROTERM for our study. These two models were previously developed for mid-range planning of the operation of the Brazilian interconnected power system. We used these two models to optimize the operation and compared the results with observed operational records for the period of 2018-2022. NEWAVE is a stochastic dual dynamic programming model which aggregates the system into four subsystems and 12 equivalent reservoirs. HIDROTERM is a nonlinear programming model that considers each of the 167 individual hydropower plants of the system. The main purposes of the comparison are to assess cooperation opportunities with the use of both models and better understand the impacts of increasing uncertainties, seasonality of inflows and winds, demand forecasts, decisions about storage in reservoirs, and thermal production on energy prices. © World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2023.All rights reserved

Comprehensive review about automatic classification of medicinal plants

The word Taxonomy is the way of Classification. It is the science of naming and classifying all the living organisms as well as extinct organisms of the world. Swedish Botanist Carlous Linnaeus was the father of taxonomy;Out of 17000 plant species present in India, more than 7600 plants are medicinal plants. Indigenous Indian medicines are formulations of traditional knowledge and medicinal plant extracts. The traditional knowledge is transferred from one generation to other generations which is used as drug for various diseases, instead of relying on what is the ingredients and proportions these drugs are based on traditional knowledge. These drugs involve the use of plant extract. The World Health Organization (WHO), leading agency in health care found that 80 % population in low economic output countries depend on traditional medicine for their essential health care[1]. In the current era of pandemic medicinal plant species like citrus spp, allium sativum, allium cepa found effective in management of COVID 19. As per WHO guidelines, In the field of medicinal research where clinical trials are used for new drug discovery, there is need of continuous supply of authenticated products which are correctly identified, classified, and verified [1]. Traditional identification and classification methods are not quick, efficient and reliable. Automated Classification of medicinal Plants help to conserve knowledge of medicinal plant species, share it from one generation to next generation and help the whole society to improve the knowledge about medicinal plants. The paper presents traditional and recent trends using Computer vision and machine learning for classifying medicinal plant species. The main focus is on Leaf image as input. It presents the challenges as well as opportunities in identifying and classifying medicinal plant species by performing comprehensive review of traditional methodologies. © 2023 Author(s).

Tulsi Leaf Disease Detection using CNN

Since the start of the covid 19 pandemic, a wide range of medications have been produced and are currently being utilized to treat the disease. Tulsi, in addition to all of the chemical-based medications, is an herbal therapy that is particularly effective in the treatment of this ailment. Tulsi has been used to heal ailments and infections for millennia, particularly in India. Because we use tulsi for medicinal purposes, it's vital to monitor its health in order to reap the full benefits of its herbal properties. Plant diseases harm the health and growth of the plant. Disease detection in plants is crucial so that it can be treated before it spreads throughout the plant. To detect illnesses in tulsi leaves, we propose employing a model based on convolution neural networks. Image processing and CNN are widely employed. The prepared model extracts the image's key features and categorizes it into different disorders. The model has a 75 percent accuracy rate. © 2022 IEEE.

Effect of Some Plant Growth Hormones on the Performance of Artemisia vulgaris L. Cuttings

In the wake of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), many plant material such as artemisia (Artemisia vulgaris L) have received renewed attention as cheap, easy-to-make treatment for many infections. However, the proliferation of artemisia from seeds is often a lengthy process. Here we investigated the role of commercial (Indol-3-butyric acid - IBA, Natural Rooting Hormone Powder - NRHP, Apple Cider Vinegar - ACV) and cottage-made (coconut water - CW and aloe vera gel - AVG) rooting hormone, and water as control (CONT) on the proliferation of artemisia cuttings in a greenhouse experiment in 2021. The survival of artemisia cuttings did not differ significantly (P > .05) across the treatments. The highest number of stems (19) and plant height (138.0 cm) was observed from CW + AVG, and the differed significantly from the others (P < .05) from the others. AVG produced the highest number of leaves per plant (1466), followed by CW (1317), CW + AVG (1278), and IBA (1241). The leaf dry weight was highest in CW + AVG, followed by those of CW and IBA. A similar pettern was observed for the root dry weight. The findings from this study showed that cottage-made plant based (coconut water and aloe vera gel) growth hormone has comparable effect to commercially available IBA on overall performance of artemisia cuttings. This study has great implications for low-tech proliferation of artemisia.

A Review on Solar Energy Policy and Current Status: Top 5 Countries and Kazakhstan

The article describes the world's experience in developing the solar industry. It discusses the mechanisms of state support for developing renewable energy sources in the cases of five countries that are the most successful in this area—China, the United States, Japan, India, and Germany. Furthermore, it contains a brief review of state policy in producing electricity by renewable energy facilities in Kazakhstan. This paper uses statistical information from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the International Energy Agency (IEA), British Petroleum (BP), and the Renewable Energy Network (REN21), and peer-reviewed sources. The research methodology includes analytical research and evaluation methods to examine the current state of solar energy policy, its motivators and incentives, as well as the prospects for its development in Kazakhstan and in the world. Research shows that solar energy has a huge development potential worldwide and is sure to take its place in gross electricity production. This paper focuses on the selected economic policies of the top five countries and Kazakhstan, in what may be considered a specific research limitation. Future research suggestions for the expansion of Renewable Energy (RE) in Kazakhstan could include analysing the impact of introducing dedicated policies and incentives for solar systems and exploring the benefits and challenges of implementing large RE zones with government–business collaboration.

Potential inhibition of Melaleuca leucadendron L. compounds against the NSP5 SARS CoV-2 protein

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV-2), causing a global health emergency as a pandemic disease. The lack of certain drug molecules or treatment strategies to fight this disease makes it worse. Therefore, effective drug molecules are needed to fight COVID-19. Non Structural Protein (NSP5) or called Main Protease (Mpro) of SARS CoV 2, a key component of this viral replication, is considered a key target for anti-COVID-19 drug development. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the compounds in the Melaleuca leucadendron L. plant such as 1,8-cineole, terpene, guaiol, linalol, a-selinenol, beta-eudesmol and P-eudesmol are predicted to have antiviral activity for COVID-19. Interaction of compounds with NSP5 with PDB code 6WNP analyzed using molecular docking with Molegro Virtual Docker. Based on binding affinity, the highest potential as an anti-viral is Terpineol with binding energy (-119.743 kcal/mol). The results of the interaction showed that terpinol has similarities in all three amino acid residues namely Cys 145, Gly 143, and Glu 166 with remdesivir and native ligand. Melaleuca leucadendron L. may represent a potential herbal treatment to act as: COVID-19 NSP5, however these findings must be validated in vitro and in vivo.

Characterization of varieties biofortified in iron and zinc and local varieties of common bean

Iron and zinc are important minerals in humans in sub Saharan Africa, whose deficiency is known as "hidden hunger" due to the lack of recognised symptoms in the early stages. Although iron deficiency is the most prevalent, zinc is also involved in inhibition of replication of viruses, including the corona virus (COVID-19). In North Kivu and South Kivu provinces where more than 50% of common bean is produced and consumed in Democratic Republic of Congo, 36% and 47% of preschool children are anemic due to iron deficiency. This paradox is mainly due to insufficiency of iron-rich foods. The aim of this study is to characterise 59 iron and zinc biofortified varieties together with six local varieties of common bean for a potential selection programme in Butembo town in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We focused on 15 qualitative and five quantitative parameters. The qualitative parameters were helpful to distinguish the different morphotypes and for cluster analysis. In addition to the descriptive statistics, the quantitative data were used for Pearson correlation and for principal component analysis, PCA. Qualitative parameters enabled grouping of the study genotypes into 14 morphotypes according to the aspect and colour of the seed coat, the colour around the hilum and the size of seeds. Clustering grouped the 65 genotypes into 12 clusters with the most similar genotypes grouped in the same cluster. Quantitative parameters showed that the study genotypes were dissimilar (P=0.00). A positive correlation was obtained between the days to flowering and the days to maturity (P<0.05) and between the number of pods per plant and the days to flowering. A strong correlation was found between the number of pods per plant and seeds per pod (P<0.01). In contrast, a negative correlation was observed between the 100 seed weight and the number of seeds per pod. The PCA represented on two perpendicular axes showed 64.1% of the total variance of which the 42.3% is explained by the first axis and 21.8% by the second axis. Overall, the study genotypes are morphologically and quantitatively different and thus can be used in a selection programme.

Face masks as sources of cross-contamination during food preparation

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, mask-wearing has become a common practice in the foodservice industry to prevent the spread of respiratory diseases. Like kitchen utensils, a mask may serve as a vehicle for cross-contamination of pathogens during food handling. The objective of this study was to quantify cross-contamination between tasks of handling contaminated chicken and chopping lettuce. Chicken breasts were inoculated with a high or a low level of nonpathogenic Escherichia coli surrogates (ca. 6 or 4 log CFU/ml) and sliced for 1, 5, or 10 min. During slicing, duplicate, single-use medical masks were touched each minute. One mask was immediately sampled, but the second mask was used to contaminate lettuce by touching the mask each minute while chopping the lettuce for 5 min. E. coli were enumerated from the second mask and lettuce. Masks touched while slicing both high- and low-inoculated chicken showed significant contamination (0.8-4.9 log CFU/cm2) after each slicing scenario of 1, 5, or 10 min (P > 0.05). Lettuce was significantly contaminated regardless of inoculation level (1.0-3.2 log CFU/g). Slicing time was a significant factor in some cases (P < 0.05), whereas inoculation level was not (P > 0.05). Data indicate masks can be a source of cross-contamination if not replaced appropriately.

Potential cultivating plant-based raw materials in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern for the pharmaceutical industry: an online survey from the perspective of the pharmaceutical industry

The goal of this study is to assess the potential of cultivating plant-based raw materials in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern from the perspective of the pharmaceutical industry and to discuss the factors that could hinder the realization of high-quality cultivation. Procuring high-quality plant-based materials is crucial for the production of plant-based medicines, and the pharmaceutical industry has faced increasing challenges in sourcing these materials in recent years. The methodology involved surveying pharmaceutical companies that are members of the German Pharmaceutical Industry Association and are involved in the fields of homeopathic/anthroposophic medicines and plant-based pharmaceuticals. An online questionnaire was used to collect data. According to the pharmaceutical industry's perspective, there is growing demand for plant-based raw materials from domestic cultivation. Stable supply chains, quality, and reliability are seen as primary advantages over foreign cultivation. Geopolitical conflicts, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic have negatively affected the stability of supply chains for imported goods. 73% of companies reported encountering import difficulties multiple times. The majority of pharmaceutical companies can envision increased cooperation with agricultural enterprises in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Sustainability in sourcing was already deemed significant by more than two-thirds of the respondents. The study concludes that the importance of sustainable pharmaceutical production, stable supply chains, and high-quality plant-based raw materials will continue to grow. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern provides favorable conditions to meet a portion of the demand. To fully utilize the theoretical potential, close collaboration between the industry, academia, and policymakers is needed, along with minimizing regulatory and bureaucratic barriers for agricultural enterprises.

Pharmacological Properties and Safe Use of 12 Medicinal Plant Species and Their Bioactive Compounds Affecting the Immune System

This paper presents raw plant materials and their characteristic compounds which may affect the immune system. Plant-derived agents in specific doses affect the body's non-specific, antigen-independent defense system. They have immunostimulatory effects on the entire immune regulatory system. They can enhance the immune response through various factors such as macrophages, leukocytes, and granulocytes, as well as through mediators released by the cellular immune system. This paper was inspired by the threats caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The proper functioning of the immune system is important in limiting the effects of viral infection and restoring the normal functioning of the body. This paper also emphasizes the importance of the skillful use of plant immunostimulants by potential patients, but also by those who prescribe drugs. It is important not only to choose the right plant drug but above all to choose the correct dose and duration of treatment.

Impact of COVID-19 (2020-2022) on cotton and garments market of Bangladesh: a small country case. (Special Issue: COVID-19 impacts on selected commodities.)

Bangladesh imports roughly 98% of cotton from abroad to produce fabric or yarn (USDA 2020. Cotton and Products Update. Bangladesh. Also available at https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/Report/DownloadReportByFileName?fileName=Cotton%20and%20Products%20Update_Dhaka_Bangladesh_11-30-2020). The production of textiles in Bangladesh depends on the price of raw material, the demand for garment products in the importing countries, smooth supply chain management, and the domestic supply of cheap garment laborers. The global pandemic of COVID-19 disrupted the supply chain of almost all physical goods and services, including textiles. It caused the price of textiles to fall due to a drop in worldwide demand, and increased the marginal cost of textile production due to supply chain interruptions. This paper shows how the decline in the demand for garments, coupled with an increase in cost, shrinks the producer welfare of textile manufacturing and garment exports of the small producing country, Bangladesh.

Evolution of oilseed sector in Romania - an analysis from the perspective of effects produced by the COVID-19 pandemic

Romania ranks first in the European Union for the production of sunflower seeds, third for the production of soybeans and seventh for the production of rapeseed. The paper aims to analyse the effects produced by the COVID-19 pandemic on the evolution of the oilseed sector in Romania. Thus, the following indicators were analysed: evolution of areas under oilseeds, total oilseed production and average yields, as well as the volatility of selling prices for oilseeds. The results of the study reveal that Romania has been the largest producer of sunflower seeds in the European Union. The average yields in sunflower, soybeans and rapeseed have shown great variations in the analysed period. According to Eurostat data, it can be noticed that although Romania is the third large producer of oilseeds in the EU, the average yields continue to be low compared to those from other large EU producers. Yields are also among the most volatile in the EU. The selling prices for soybeans showed a higher increase in the year 2020 than in 2019 in Romania, compared to the increase in the average selling prices of the EU-27 (+9.89%). The selling prices for rapeseed also had a higher increase in 2020 than in 2019 in Romania, compared to the increase in the average selling prices of the EU-27 (+2.31%).

Select Global Immune-Boosting Plants Used in Folklore Medicine

There are numerous foods and herbal plants that boost the immune system. They stimulate the activity of cells responsible for fighting infections. In fact, over centuries, people have relied on herbs and other plants for treating medical conditions and boosting immunity. Considering the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, natural immune boosters are being sought after in the current war against this viral infection. Most likely, immune-boosting plants help human health by tackling viruses, bacteria, and abnormal cells in the form of prevention, to support and strengthen the body's natural immune system. In this chapter, we review several terrestrial species and plants from various sources including China, India, Europe, and Africa, which have long folklore use, and we provide information on the chemistry and biological activity where available. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2022.

Challenges in the construction of a tunnel under crossing a channel in Singapore

To increase the conveyance capacity to Western Singapore and to meet long-term water needs in a more cost-effective manner, four new transmission pipelines consisting of 2 numbers of 2200 mm diameter and 2 numbers of 1200mm diameter water pipes will be needed by 2024 to convey water from a Water Reclamation Plant to existing networks in the western region of Singapore. Out of the several possible routes studied, the most cost-effective and technically feasible route was selected by laying the proposed 1.6km-long pipelines that under crosses a channel via a 6m diameter subsea tunnel. This paper outlines the challenges the team faced throughout the project thus far. It also examines the difficulties such as the construction of a 56m-deep launching shaft near a highly sensitive 700mm diameter Gas Transmission Pipeline (GTP) and at a location with high groundwater;and manpower and supply disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic situation. © 2023 The Author(s).

EWRI Friends Visit London Water & Steam Museum and Union Chain Bridge-IHCEL

We strongly recommend EWRI members visit the London Water & Steam Museum. This presentation includes many slides of this outstanding museum near the Kew tube station. London Museum of Water & Steam features artefacts and interactive exhibits on water. On October 26, 2018, David Gilbert and Jerry Rogers toured the London Museum of Water & Steam, located at Green Dragon Lane, Brentford, London, TW8 0EN near Kew station. Kew Bridge Pumping Station was originally opened in 1838 by the Grand Junction Waterworks Company. In 1999, the United Kingdom government's Department for Culture, Media, and Sport described Kew Bridge Pumping Station as "the most important historic site of the water supply industry in Britain." The heart of the museum showcases a majestic collection of steam pumping engines, including engines from Corynwall, as well as rotative engines. There are many excellent London water supply and treatment exhibits also. Due to COVID-19, the planned International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark plaque ceremony of July 26, 2020, for the 200-year-old Union Chain Suspension Bridge at Berwick-upon-Tweed was cancelled. Note the book: Samuel Brown and Union Chain Bridge: Gordon Miller, Friends of the Union Bridge, 306 pp, 135 photographs, 15.5 GBP. A tour of the Paxton Estate (Paxton Trust), a historic house at Paxton, Berwickshire, was planned to be a part of the plaque ceremony. There is discussion of having a modified plaque ceremony in the spring of 2023 (specific date to be determined) possibly before the May 2023 EWRI Congress in Henderson, Nevada. © World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2023.All rights reserved

Pilot Plant Keeps Aurora Water Ahead of the Curve

No sooner had Aurora (Colo.) Water established its new pilot plant than the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted its introduction to testing the utility's water treatment processes. Once put into action, Mini-Binney, as the pilot plant is called, became an invaluable tool for numerous projects to advance and improve the treatment plant's operations. The pilot plant allows for research of innovative treatment methods without affecting full-scale treatment or putting public health at risk. © 2023 American Water Works Association.