Aamir Mahmood

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) represent an escalating threat in marine and coastal ecosystems, posing increasing risks to ecological balance, public health, and blue economy industries including fisheries, aquaculture, and tourism. This review examines the impact of climate change and anthropogenic pressures on the escalation of HAB occurrences, focusing especially on vulnerable regions in Mexico, which are the primary case study for this investigation. The methodological framework integrates HAB risk assessment (RA) methods found in the literature. Progress in detection and monitoring technologies—such as sensing, in situ sensor networks, and prediction tools based on machine learning—are reviewed for their roles in enhancing early-warning systems and aiding decision support. The key findings emphasize four linked aspects: (i) patterns of HAB risk in coastal zones, (ii) deficiencies and prospects in HAB-related policy development, (iii) how governance structures facilitate or hinder effective actions, and (iv) the growing usefulness of online monitoring and evaluation tools for real-time environmental observation. The results emphasize the need for coupled technological and governance solutions to reduce HAB impacts, protect marine biodiversity, and enhance the resilience of coastal communities confronting increasingly frequent and severe bloom events.

Basalt fiber-reinforced composites are increasingly utilized in sustainable construction due to their high strength, environmental benefits, and durability. However, the long-term tensile performance of these composites in alkaline environments remains a critical concern. This study investigates the degradation performance of basalt fibers exposed to different alkaline solutions (NaOH, KOH, and Ca(OH)₂) with varying concentrations (5 g/L, 15 g/L, and 30 g/L) over various exposure periods (7, 14, and 28 days). The performance assessment is carried out by mechanical properties, including tensile strength and modulus of elasticity, using experimental techniques and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to find influential factors on tensile performance. The findings indicate that tensile strength degradation is highly dependent on alkali type and concentration, with Ca(OH)₂-treated fibers exhibiting superior mechanical retention (max tensile strength: 938.94 MPa) compared to NaOH-treated samples, which showed the highest degradation rate. Five machine learning (ML) models, including Tree Random Forest (TRF), Function Multilayer Perceptron (FMP), Lazy IBK, Meta Bagging, and Function SMOreg (FSMOreg), were also implemented to predict tensile strength based on exposure parameters. FSMOreg demonstrated the highest prediction accuracy with a correlation coefficient of 0.928 and the lowest error metrics (RMSE 181.94). The analysis boosts basalt fiber durability evaluations in cement-based composites.

Using waste materials in the mixture of building materials is an approach aligned with the circular economy, a viewpoint that creates sustainable building industries, especially in developed countries. This study concentrated on the application of laponite (LAP), fly ash (FA), and bentonite (BENT) materials in the mixture of cement pastes. The first step used experimental practices to examine the metrics of toughness, three-point bending, and compressive strength with different percentages of added LAP, FA, and BENT after the characterization of samples by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The next step entailed assessment of cement paste specifications through some regressive equations obtained by the application of 2D curve fitting and sensitive analysis of additive (FA, LAP, and BENT) fluctuations in the structure of cement paste. The results show that linear polynomial equations are the best for the evaluation of cement paste terms as per different percentages of the additives. The environmental impact assessment (EIA) of nine prepared samples demonstrated that LAP created the safest condition in comparison to others. However, the ordered weighted averaging (OWA) computations applied for the sustainability assessment (SA) of the samples showed that the LAP is the most appropriate option for use in the structure of cement paste. Using experimental analysis and mathematical modeling, the behavior of cement paste interacting with mineral additives is evaluated. Sustainable mixtures are then presented based on EIA.

Given their exceptional attributes, aerogels are viewed as a material with immense potential. Being a natural polymer, cellulose offers the advantage of being both replenishable and capable of breaking down naturally. Cellulose-derived aerogels encompass the replenish ability, biocompatible nature, and ability to degrade naturally inherent in cellulose, along with additional benefits like minimal weight, extensive porosity, and expansive specific surface area. Even with increasing appreciation and acceptance, the undiscovered possibilities of aerogels within the textiles sphere continue to be predominantly uninvestigated. In this context, we outline the latest advancements in the study of cellulose aerogels’ formulation and their diverse impacts on textile formations. Drawing from the latest studies, we reviewed the materials used for the creation of various kinds of cellulose-focused aerogels and their properties, analytical techniques, and multiple functionalities in relation to textiles. This comprehensive analysis extensively covers the diverse strategies employed to enhance the multifunctionality of cellulose-based aerogels in the textiles industry. Additionally, we focused on the global market size of bio-derivative aerogels, companies in the industry producing goods, and prospects moving forward.

Given its exceptional attributes, aerogel is viewed as a material with immense potential. Being a natural polymer, cellulose offers the advantage of being both replenishable and capable of breaking down naturally. Cellulose-derived aerogels encompass the replenish ability, biocompatible nature, and ability to degrade naturally inherent in cellulose, along with additional benefits like minimal weight, extensive porousness, and expansive specific surface area. Even with increasing appreciation and acceptance, the undiscovered possibilities of aerogels within the textile sphere continue to be predominantly uninvestigated. In this context, we outline the latest advancements in the study of cellulose aerogel formulation and their diverse impacts on textile formations. Drawing from the latest studies, we reviewed the materials used for the creation of various kinds of cellulose-focused aerogels and their properties, analytical techniques, and multiple functionalities in relation to textiles. This comprehensive analysis extensively covers the diverse strategies employed to enhance the multi-functionality of cellulose-based aerogels in the textile industry. Additionally, we focused on the global market size of bio-derivative aerogels, companies in the industry producing goods, and prospects moving forward.

The present study deals with modal work that is a type of framework for structural dynamic testing of linear structures. Modal analysis is a powerful tool that works on the modal parameters to ensure the safety of materials and eliminate the failure possibilities. The concept of classification through this study is validated for isotropic and orthotropic materials, reaching up to a 100% accuracy when deploying the machine learning approach between the mode number and the associated frequency of the interrelated variables that were extracted from modal analysis performed by ANSYS. This study shows a new classification method dependent only on the knowledge of resonance frequency of a specific material and opens new directions for future developments to create a single device that can identify and classify different engineering materials.

This paper discusses the influence of fiber reinforcement on the properties of geopolymer concrete composites, based on fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag and metakaolin. Traditional concrete composites are brittle in nature due to low tensile strength. The inclusion of fibrous material alters brittle behavior of concrete along with a significant improvement in mechanical properties i.e., toughness, strain and flexural strength. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is mainly used as a binding agent in concrete composites. However, current environmental awareness promotes the use of alternative binders i.e., geopolymers, to replace OPC because in OPC production, significant quantity of CO₂ is released that creates environmental pollution. Geopolymer concrete composites have been characterized using a wide range of analytical tools including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and elemental detection X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Insight into the physicochemical behavior of geopolymers, their constituents and reinforcement with natural polymeric fibers for the making of concrete composites has been gained. Focus has been given to the use of sisal, jute, basalt and glass fibers.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) in various nano forms (nanoparticles, nanorods, nanosheets, nanowires and nanoflowers) has received remarkable attention worldwide for its functional diversity in different fields i.e., paints, cosmetics, coatings, rubber and composites. The purpose of this article is to investigate the role of photocatalytic activity (role of photogenerated radical scavengers) of nano ZnO (nZnO) for the surface activation of polymeric natural fibres especially cotton and their combined effect in photocatalytic applications. Photocatalytic behaviour is a crucial property that enables nZnO as a potential and competitive candidate for commercial applications. The confirmed features of nZnO were characterised by different analytical tools, i.e., scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field emission SEM (FESEM) and elemental detection spectroscopy (EDX). These techniques confirm the size, morphology, structure, crystallinity, shape and dimensions of nZnO. The morphology and size play a crucial role in surface activation of polymeric fibres. In addition, synthesis methods, variables and some of the critical aspects of nZnO that significantly affect the photocatalytic activity are also discussed in detail. This paper delineates a vivid picture to new comers about the significance of nZnO in photocatalytic applications.