phlboss game download

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Democrats and Republicans agreed on at least one thing before November’s election: California would play a central role in determining control of the U.S. House. Indeed it did. Democrat Adam Gray’s come-from-behind victory over Republican Rep. John Duarte in a Central Valley farm-belt district Tuesday — the final House contest decided this year — gave Democrats their third pick-up of a GOP-held seat in the state, a small victory in a for Democrats nationally. While Democratic wins narrowed the gap in the House, Republicans held their ground in two other toss-up contests that helped the GOP defend its fragile majority in Washington. Republicans won 220 House seats this , with Democrats holding 215 seats. Despite falling short of a majority, Democrats stressed that the party will gain seats next year, leaving the chamber even more closely divided. “Netting three seats was a very big deal,” Rep. Pete Aguilar, the third-ranking Democrat in the chamber, who lives in Redlands, east of Los Angeles, said in Washington. Democratic enthusiasm was tempered, however, by turnout figures that lagged the 2020 presidential election in the heavily Democratic state, even with Kamala Harris leading the Democratic ticket in her home state. Also, Republicans made in the state Legislature. Voters overwhelmingly endorsed a that makes shoplifting a felony for repeat offenders again and increases penalties for some drug charges amid frustration over retail crimes, a proposal opposed by some Democrats. The election showed Democrats will need to pay closer attention to issues like crime and the cost of living, even in a state where the party holds every statewide office and dominates the Legislature and congressional delegation, Claremont McKenna College political scientist Jack Pitney said. In the House, Democrats “were hoping that California would push them over the top to gain a majority. But their gains elsewhere were not strong enough,” Pitney added, pointing to GOP wins in North Carolina. Gray won by a margin of less than 200 votes, with election officials reporting Tuesday all ballots had been counted. Duarte in 2022 when he defeated Gray by one of the closest margins in the country, 564 votes. He was often listed among the most vulnerable House Republicans given that narrow margin of victory in a district with a Democratic tilt — about 11 points over registered Republicans. Gray said in a statement: “We always knew that this race would be as close as they come, and we’re expecting a photo finish this year, too.” In other Democratic House gains, first-time candidate Derek Tran ousted Republican Rep. Michelle Steel in a Southern California district anchored in Orange County, while Democrat George Whitesides toppled Republican Rep. Mike Garcia is a district north of Los Angeles. In a district east of Los Angeles, Republican Rep. Ken Calvert again held off Democrat Will Rollins in a repeat of their 2022 contest. And Republican Rep. David Valadao kept his grip on a farm-belt seat, despite its heavy Democratic registration edge. The outcome will leave Republicans with nine of the state’s 52 U.S. House seats next year. Although California is often seen as a liberal monolith, a string of House districts has proved volatile in recent elections, spotlighting their importance to both parties. Democrats snatched seven seats from Republicans in 2018, then Republicans seized four from Democrats in 2020. In the 2022 elections, Republicans gained one seat, from 11 to 12, while Democrats dropped to 40 seats from 42, after California lost a House seat in reapportionment after the 2020 census. Overall, the state dropped to 52 districts from 53. The state played a pivotal role in securing the gavel for Republicans in 2022 and .

Maha: ISKCON priest beaten for sending lewd texts to womanRepresentative Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican , warned on Saturday that the recent drone sightings over the Garden State are "a very considerable danger." The mystery drones have been spotted in recent weeks across New Jersey and neighboring states, prompting concern among residents and lawmakers and launching investigations by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. The FBI says that it has received over 5,000 tips related to the drone sightings, with most of the purported observations occurring at night. Of these tips, however, the FBI official said that "less than 100 leads have been generated and deemed worthy of further investigative activity." The FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a joint statement on Thursday that there was "no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus." Speaking at a news conference in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, on Saturday, Smith addressed the drone sightings, calling them "a very considerable danger" as he called on federal agencies to investigate more. "This crisis really is the ultimate wake-up call to threats posed by potentially hostile drones...I've written Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin asking the Pentagon to authorize the use of force to down one or more of these unmanned threats to uncover the mystery...This is not the time to trivialize or dismiss a threat," the congressman said. In addition, Smith said he's working on legislation to give state and local authorities more power to track and potentially bring down aerial drones. Newsweek has reached out to DHS and the Department of Defense via email for comment. This is not the first time lawmakers have called on federal agencies to investigate the issue. In a letter to President Joe Biden requesting more federal resources to investigate the matter, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said that since November 18 state police have been receiving reports of UAS [unmanned aircraft systems] sightings in New Jersey's airspace. Murphy said in the letter dated Thursday that DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas briefed his administration and the state's congressional delegation "on actions the agency would take to learn more about the reported UAS activity." Mayorkas said on Friday during a CNN appearance that he has been in contact with Murphy every day and the DHS has its "state-of-the-art technology" and experts on the ground in New Jersey. Meanwhile, in its most recent update officials stated on a press call on Saturday that no threats have yet been detected to national or public security, emphasizing that the investigation remains ongoing and that some questions remain unanswered. "Obviously, we are taking this incredibly seriously," one senior official of Biden's administration told reporters during a press call on Saturday. "At this point, we have not identified any basis for believing that there's any criminal activity involved, that there's any national security threat, that there's any particular public safety threat, or that there is a malicious foreign actor involved in these drones." While the investigation was initially opened due to reports of pilots identifying unidentified UAS's, the FBI official said that "most of the reports of UAS have originated from the ground, with very, very few reports of UAS activity from pilots of manned aircraft." Radar analysis conducted at U.S. military installations monitoring the situation have since "determined all large fixed-wing reported sightings have been manned aircraft," the FBI official said. Officials also said that efforts to compare the trajectory of such sightings with standard air traffic emanating from some of busiest airports in New Jersey and New York resulted in a solid match. "Overlaying the visual sightings reported to the FBI with approach patterns for Newark Liberty, JFK and LaGuardia airports, the density of reported sightings matches the approach patterns for these very busy airports, with flights coming in throughout the night," the FBI official said. "This modeling is indicative of manned aviation being quite often mistaken for unmanned aviation or UAS." A DHS official backed these findings as well, saying "we're confident that many of the reported drone sightings are, in fact, manned aircraft being misidentified as drones." However, frustration has continued to mount, as evidenced over incidents such as the closure of an upstate New York airport due to reports of alleged UAS flying nearby. Some area politicians, such as New Jersey Assemblyman Erik Peterson, have also claimed that the federal government is "lying to us," arguing that the supposed unmanned craft were moving in a way that airplanes could not and flew too silently to be a helicopter. "They're lying to us. First, they say you're not seeing what you're seeing. There's nothing here, nothing here to be seen. And then they tell us that they don't know what it is. They don't know what's happening. It's all a lie," Peterson said. On Friday night, President-elect Donald Trump spoke out in favor of shooting down the mysterious drones if necessary, while suggesting that the Biden administration was withholding information about the sightings. "Mystery Drone sightings all over the Country," he wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform. "Can this really be happening without our government's knowledge. I don't think so! Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!! DJT."Delaware judge reaffirms ruling that invalidated massive Tesla pay package for Elon Musk

Supreme Court NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Monday took strong exception to bureaucrats' wives enjoying posts in societies functioning within the administrative jurisdictions of their husbands and said such practices, a product of colonial mindset , must be forthwith discarded. What irked a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan was the vindictive action indirectly taken by the district magistrate of Bulandshahr, where it had been a custom since inception in 1957 till 2019 to make the wife of the officiating district magistrate or his nominee hold the office of president of the Zila Mahila Samiti , Bulandshahr. The general body of the Samiti in Jan 2020 by a majority amended the bylaws and decided not to give its presidency to the DM's wife by recognising her only as a patron. This change was approved by the deputy registrar of societies. After election to all posts, including the president, was held in Sept 2022, the deputy registrar sent a show-cause notice based on a secret inquiry by the city magistrate, who alleged that articles of association of the Samiti were illegally amended to gobble up the property of the organisation. Appearing for the Samiti, senior advocate Tapesh Kumar Singh said the inquiry was conducted by the magistrate without summoning any office bearer or a visit to the Samiti office. Despite a detailed response, the deputy registrar on Feb 17, 2023, declared the amendments illegal without even granting a hearing to the parties. This order meant the DM's wife would continue to be president of the Samiti. The body moved Allahabad HC, which dismissed its plea. SC took umbrage and said, "Why does she want to hold the post of president of the Samiti based on her husband's position? If she wants to be the president of the Samiti, she should join politics and contest elections." Appearing for UP, additional solicitor general K M Natraj told SC, govt wants to get rid of this colonial mindset and sought its permission to do so in view of the HC order. "The colonial mindset of giving ex-official positions to family members of administrative authorities must be erased by bringing suitable amendments through a model bylaw that would clearly define the composition of the governing body of societies," SC said. It said it would make it mandatory for all societies, whether aided or not aided by the govt, to mandatorily follow the model bylaws, failing which they would be declared non-entities under the law. "Let an appropriate draft amendment/model bylaw be placed before the court in six weeks," the bench said, while restraining the Samiti to carry on its work without the DM's wife being part of the governing body.

Anne-Mette Elkjær Andersen Joins Tannenbaum Helpern as Partner in the Firm's Corporate Practice GroupUnlikely battleground California plays key role -- again -- in setting US House's political balance

31 Weirdly Charming Gifts Sure To Put A Smile On Their Face

NEW YORK , Dec. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of ordinary shares of ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ: ASML) between January 24, 2024 and October 15, 2024 , both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important January 13, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline. So what: If you purchased ASML ordinary shares during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. What to do next: To join the ASML class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=31159 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for more information. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than January 13 , 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Details of the case: According to the lawsuit, during the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the issues being faced by suppliers, like ASML, in the semiconductor industry were much more severe than defendants had indicated to investors; (2) the pace of recovery of sales in the semiconductor industry was much slower than defendants had publicly acknowledged; (3) defendants had created the false impression that they possessed reliable information pertaining to customer demand and anticipated growth, while also downplaying risk from macroeconomic and industry fluctuations, as well as stronger regulations restricting the export of semiconductor technology, including the products that ASML sells; and (4) as a result, defendants' statements about ASML's business, operations, and prospects lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the ASML class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=31159 mailto: or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. ------------------------------- Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/asml-deadline-asml-investors-with-losses-in-excess-of-100k-have-opportunity-to-lead-asml-holding-nv-securities-fraud-lawsuit-302331928.html SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.

Apple’s Foldable iPad: Could It Be Like Two iPad Pros Side-by-Side?Rutgers is in flux heading into its bowl game. The Scarlet Knights (7-5, 4-5) learned on Sunday that they will participate in the Rate Bowl , where they will face Kansas State (8-4, 5-4) at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. Scheduled for December 26th, the contest is coming up quick, leaving Rutgers with little time to figure out its most pressing staff situation.

NEW YORK , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report with market evolution powered by AI - The global digital photo frame market size is estimated to grow by USD 110.4 million from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of almost 2.94% during the forecast period. Inclination toward high standard of living is driving market growth, with a trend towards introduction of smart digital photo frames. However, supply chain complexity poses a challenge. Key market players include Aluratek Inc., Creedon Technologies USA LLC, Danfoss AS, Eastman Kodak Co., GiiNii Tech Corp., Glimpse LLC, Hama GmbH and Co KG, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Highland Technologies Ltd., Koninklijke Philips N.V., Lenovo Group Ltd., LG Corp., Netgear Inc., PhotoSpring Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Sony Group Corp., Spheris Digital Ltd., Sungale Inc., ViewSonic Corp., and XElectron Technologies Pvt. Ltd.. AI-Powered Market Evolution Insights. Our comprehensive market report ready with the latest trends, growth opportunities, and strategic analysis- View Free Sample Report PDF Forecast period 2024-2028 Base Year 2023 Historic Data 2018 - 2022 Segment Covered Distribution Channel (Offline and Online), Source (Electricity-powered and Battery-powered), and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa) Region Covered North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Key companies profiled Aluratek Inc., Creedon Technologies USA LLC, Danfoss AS, Eastman Kodak Co., GiiNii Tech Corp., Glimpse LLC, Hama GmbH and Co KG, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Highland Technologies Ltd., Koninklijke Philips N.V., Lenovo Group Ltd., LG Corp., Netgear Inc., PhotoSpring Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Sony Group Corp., Spheris Digital Ltd., Sungale Inc., ViewSonic Corp., and XElectron Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Key Market Trends Fueling Growth The digital photo frame market is experiencing growth due to the increasing popularity of home automation and smart hubs. Smart digital photo frames, a segment of the digital photo frame market, are benefiting from repeat purchases, particularly in regions like the Americas and Europe . Innovations and technological advances, such as wireless connectivity and IoT integration, are key drivers for these purchases. Smart home technologies, including AI-enabled controllers and hubs, are fueling the adoption of smart and innovative home decor products like digital photo frames. Devices like Amazon Echo and Alexa-enabled frames from NixPlay and PhotoSpring enable users to control their frames remotely via Wi-Fi and voice commands. Uninterrupted connectivity to smart appliances is crucial for handling tasks remotely, and vendors are incorporating Wi-Fi and IoT technologies to differentiate their offerings and attract tech-savvy consumers. The growing popularity of IoT is expected to continue driving the growth of the global digital photo frame market. The Digital Photo Frame market is experiencing significant trends in various sectors. Portrait and landscape positions are popular for both tabletop and wall-mounted frames. The smart home market is driving demand, with internet users seeking multifunctional devices. Households and commercial segments, including hotels and restaurants, are key customers. Profit margins are low, making economic recessions challenging. Simple multimedia frames use cameras' memory cards or built-in memory, while Bluetooth technology enables wireless image transfer. Traditional advertising is being replaced by low-cost digital displays from brands like Sylvania, Nixplay, Micca Electronics, Tenker, Danfoss, and Frame. Urbanization and emerging countries expand the general population's disposable incomes, increasing demand. A holistic evaluation of Digital Picture Frames and Digital Media Frames as image screens for digital images reveals a substantial role in our modern lifestyle, replacing monitors and printers with gadgets that are more convenient and cost-effective. Insights on how AI is driving innovation, efficiency, and market growth- Request Sample! Market Challenges Insights into how AI is reshaping industries and driving growth- Download a Sample Report This digital photo frame market report extensively covers market segmentation by 1.1 Offline- The Digital Photo Frame market is growing steadily, with increasing demand for innovative and user-friendly products. Companies are focusing on improving image quality and adding features like Wi-Fi connectivity and motion sensors. Consumers appreciate the convenience of remotely uploading and displaying their cherished memories. Market size is expected to expand due to rising disposable income and the trend towards digitalization. Competition is fierce, with major players like Samsung, Kodak, and Pix-Star offering diverse product lines. Companies are also exploring partnerships with social media platforms to enhance user experience. Download complimentary Sample Report to gain insights into AI's impact on market dynamics, emerging trends, and future opportunities- including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022) Research Analysis The Digital Photo Frame market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing disposable incomes of customers and the urbanization trend in emerging countries. A digital photo frame is more than just a display for photos; it's a holistic evaluation of modern technology and art. With an image screen replacing the traditional Photo Frame, digital media frames have taken center stage. The integration of cameras' memory cards, built-in memory, and Bluetooth technology has made these frames more versatile and user-friendly. Households and commercial segments, including hotels and restaurants, have found substantial roles for these frames in their spaces. Brands like Sylvania, Nixplay, Micca Electronics, and Tenker have emerged as key players, offering a range of low-cost digital displays for various applications, challenging traditional advertising methods. Danfoss, a leading engineering company, has also entered the market with its digital media frames, adding to the competition. Market Research Overview The Digital Photo Frame market is experiencing significant growth, driven by increasing disposable incomes and urbanization in emerging countries. This market caters to customers seeking to showcase their digital images in a more sophisticated way than traditional photo frames. A holistic evaluation of the market reveals a substantial role for digital picture frames and digital media frames, which offer an image screen for displaying digital images. These gadgets can be placed on tables or walls in portrait or landscape position and are gaining popularity in the smart home market. The market also includes multifunctional devices that serve as monitors, printers, or even smart tabs. The household sector and commercial segment, including hotels, restaurants, and traditional advertising, are key areas for growth. However, the market faces low profit margins and economic recession challenges. Simple multimedia devices with built-in memory or cameras' memory cards and Bluetooth technology are popular features. Companies like Sylvania, Nixplay, Micca Electronics, and Tenker have made significant strides in this market, offering low-cost digital displays for the general population. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/digital-photo-frame-market-to-grow-by-usd-110-4-million-2024-2028-driven-by-rising-living-standards-with-ai-redefining-the-market-landscape---technavio-302318981.html SOURCE Technavio

Be careful what you wish for

India News | TDP MP Donates 10 Drones to NTR District Police to Boost Tech-driven Policing

Indian researchers have proposed a theory for a sustainable wastewater treatment method using a microalgae-bacterial consortium to remove toxic ammonium. The method, proposed in a recently published study , leverages algae’s photosynthesis mechanism to produce oxygen, cutting energy costs by up to 90% compared to traditional aeration methods. This is pertinent given that India’s wastewater situation is critical. According to a 2022 Niti Aayog report , India generates approximately 39,604 million litres per day of wastewater in rural regions, while in the urban centres, the wastewater generation has been estimated as 72,368 MLD for the year 2020-’21. Most of the wastewater in India is generated from agricultural runoff, industrial effluents, and sewage, all of which contain various toxic chemicals. One of the most concerning pollutants in significant quantities is ammonium. Formed from gaseous ammonia, ammonium is a highly toxic nitrogen compound that can exist as nitrate, nitrite, or ammonia. It poses serious risks to living organisms, being lethal to animal cells and harmful to aquatic life. Ammonium can also cause water acidification and contribute to eutrophication, where excessive nutrients in the water lead to harmful algal blooms. “It is crucial to remove ammonium from wastewater to prevent damage to aquatic life and maintain the overall quality of surface and groundwater,” says Kannan Pakshirajan, a professor in the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati. He further explains, “Ammonia can harm mammalian cells and human health due to its potential to alter water pH. Drinking water is typically slightly alkaline, and if its pH becomes acidic, it becomes unfit for consumption.” Cost-effective way Traditional ammonium removal methods involve oxygenation, which is energy-intensive, accounting for up to 90% of a treatment plant’s energy consumption. Pakshirajan and his team have developed an approach for wastewater treatment using a microalgae-bacterial consortium, specifically targeting ammonium removal. “Biological methods, such as those involving microorganisms in anaerobic digestion, are preferred over chemical methods for ammonium removal due to their environmental sustainability and lower energy requirements,” Pakshirajan explains. Men with lines and rods catch fish at Mustoor lake in Chikkaballapur district. The quality of fish in these lakes that are filled with treated wastewater from Bengaluru has gone down, resulting in eutrophication evident from the concentration of algae. Credit: Arathi Menon/Mongabay. The study authors note that traditional ammonium removal methods often come with significant drawbacks, including high energy costs and the generation of waste-activated sludge. “The first step is converting ammonia into another, less harmful nitrogen species like nitrite or nitrate through oxidation. For this, we need to supply oxygen. What is often done is, we aerate the system by means of any pumping mechanism or mechanical operations or even supply pure air into the system by compressed air and so on. This is energy consuming, and the major cost involved in the wastewater treatment,” according to Pakshirajan. In contrast, the new system is self-activated and leverages the microalgae’s ability to produce oxygen through photosynthesis, reducing the need for external aeration. This can potentially save 50%-90% in energy costs. While chemical methods are also commonly used to remove ammonium, Pakshirajan emphasises that the new approach is a green technology that aligns with the country’s sustainability goals. “Using chemicals may be faster, but it often requires more energy, which is not favourable for the environment,” he says. Using light and algae The team designed a photo-sequencing batch reactor where ammonia is first converted into a less toxic form, such as nitrate, and eventually into nitrogen, the least toxic form. This is a biological process involving both bacteria and microalgae. Ammonia oxidation to nitrogen requires oxygen, while nitrate conversion to nitrogen occurs under anoxic conditions. The microalgae-bacterial consortium facilitates this process. The algae produce oxygen through photosynthesis, which supports ammonia oxidation, and in the absence of light, they not only stop producing oxygen but also consume the remaining oxygen. “During the conversion of ammonia to nitrate and nitrate to nitrite, a significant amount of oxygen is required. We can regulate this oxygen demand by exposing the algae to light and blocking it – what we call the light and dark cycle. This process is what we refer to as the photo-activated sludge process,” Pakshirajan explains. In this system, the “sludge” is a microbial flock composed of algae, ammonia-oxidising bacteria, nitrate-oxidizing bacteria, and denitrifying bacteria. The system can operate in batches, continuously, or sequencing batch modes, depending on the wastewater treatment needs, the paper notes. A dog drinks water from a puddle. Harmful toxins like ammonium in wastewater can be detrimental to the health of humans and animals. Credit: JacLou-Dl, via Pexels. The absorption of ammonia by the bacteria manifests as increased biomass which is advantageous, says Pakshirajan. When more biomass is present and there is more light, more oxygen will be produced through photosynthesis. “So, this way, both the algae and the bacteria and so are we,” he points out. Pakshirajan describes this approach as a cost-effective, nature-based solution for wastewater treatment. “On one hand, we use entirely natural substances, mimicking the natural processes of ammonium absorption, and on the other, we reduce the costs associated with aeration, oxygen supply, and pumping that are typically involved in traditional systems,” he explains. TV Ramachandra, a scientist at the Centre for Ecological Science, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, says he believes the concept is well-known. “A microalgae-bacterial consortium is often used at the inlet of lakes,” says Ramachandra, who has led lake rejuvenation efforts in Bengaluru. While he acknowledges that the concept itself is not novel, he commends the modelling approach developed in the study. However, he suggests that incorporating more field samples would have likely yielded better results. Pakshirajan also points out some limitations of the study. “Since ammonia is toxic, higher concentrations can hinder the efficiency of ammonia-oxidising bacteria,” he notes. However, he adds that the ammonium concentration in wastewater typically falls within the tolerable range for these bacteria, so this is not a major concern. This article was first published on Mongabay .Steve Smith's embarrassing career first that shows greatest asset has become glaring weakness