Computational Identification and Analysis of the Key Biosorbent Characteristics for the Biosorption Process of Reactive Black 5 onto Fungal Biomass

The performances of nine biosorbents derived from dead fungal biomass were investigated for their ability to remove Reactive Black 5 from aqueous solution. The biosorption data for removal of Reactive Black 5 were readily modeled using the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Kinetic analysis based on both pseudo-second-order and Weber-Morris models indicated intraparticle diffusion was the rate limiting step for biosorption of Reactive Black 5 on to the biosorbents. Sorption capacities of the biosorbents were not correlated with the initial biosorption rates. Sensitivity analysis of the factors affecting biosorption examined by an artificial neural network model showed that pH was the most important parameter, explaining 22%, followed by nitrogen content of biosorbents (16%), initial dye concentration (15%) and carbon content of biosorbents (10%). The biosorption capacities were not proportional to surface areas of the sorbents, but were instead influenced by their chemical element composition. The main functional groups contributing to dye sorption were amine, carboxylic, and alcohol moieties. The data further suggest that differences in carbon and nitrogen contents of biosorbents may be used as a selection index for identifying effective biosorbents from dead fungal biomass

Kinetic, Isotherm and Thermodynamic Analysis on Adsorption of Cr(VI) Ions from Aqueous Solutions by Synthesis and Characterization of Magnetic-Poly(divinylbenzene-vinylimidazole) Microbeads

The magnetic-poly(divinylbenzene-1-vinylimidazole) [m-poly(DVB-VIM)] microbeads (average diameter 53–212 μm) were synthesized and characterized; their use as adsorbent in removal of Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solutions was investigated. The m-poly(DVB-VIM) microbeads were prepared by copolymerizing of divinylbenzene (DVB) with 1-vinylimidazole (VIM). The m-poly(DVB-VIM) microbeads were characterized by N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, ESR, elemental analysis, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and swelling studies. At fixed solid/solution ratio the various factors affecting adsorption of Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solutions such as pH, initial concentration, contact time and temperature were analyzed. Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin–Radushkvich isotherms were used as the model adsorption equilibrium data. Langmuir isotherm model was the most adequate. The pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, Ritch-second-order and intraparticle diffusion models were used to describe the adsorption kinetics. The apparent activation energy was found to be 5.024 kJ mol−1, which is characteristic of a chemically controlled reaction. The experimental data fitted to pseudo-second-order kinetic. The study of temperature effect was quantified by calculating various thermodynamic parameters such as Gibbs free energy, enthalpy and entropy changes. The thermodynamic parameters obtained indicated the endothermic nature of adsorption of Cr(VI) ions. Morever, after the use in adsorption, the m-poly(DVB-VIM) microbeads with paramagnetic property were separeted via the applied magnetic force. The magnetic beads could be desorbed up to about 97% by treating with 1.0 M NaOH. These features make the m-poly(DVB-VIM) microbeads a potential candidate for support of Cr(VI) ions removal under magnetic field

Prevalence of Frailty in European Emergency Departments (FEED): an international flash mob study

Introduction Current emergency care systems are not optimized to respond to multiple and complex problems associated with frailty. Services may require reconfiguration to effectively deliver comprehensive frailty care, yet its prevalence and variation are poorly understood. This study primarily determined the prevalence of frailty among older people attending emergency care. Methods This cross-sectional study used a flash mob approach to collect observational European emergency care data over a 24-h period (04 July 2023). Sites were identified through the European Task Force for Geriatric Emergency Medicine collaboration and social media. Data were collected for all individuals aged 65 + who attended emergency care, and for all adults aged 18 + at a subset of sites. Variables included demographics, Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), vital signs, and disposition. European and national frailty prevalence was determined with proportions with each CFS level and with dichotomized CFS 5 + (mild or more severe frailty). Results Sixty-two sites in fourteen European countries recruited five thousand seven hundred eighty-five individuals. 40% of 3479 older people had at least mild frailty, with countries ranging from 26 to 51%. They had median age 77 (IQR, 13) years and 53% were female. Across 22 sites observing all adult attenders, older people living with frailty comprised 14%. Conclusion 40% of older people using European emergency care had CFS 5 + . Frailty prevalence varied widely among European care systems. These differences likely reflected entrance selection and provide windows of opportunity for system configuration and workforce planning

Infarction after fine needle aspiration biopsy of pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland.

BACKGROUND: Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a well-established and safe method for the rapid diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma. A few clinically important complications, including bleeding, infection and inflammatory reactions, result from FNA. In a small number of cases FNA has been followed by varying degrees of necrosis in some organs. In the literature there are a few reports associated with necrosis in a pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland following FNA. CASE: A 27-year-old female had a two-year history of a right parotid mass. FNA revealed pleomorphic adenoma. A histologic diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma of the right parotid with infarction was made. CONCLUSION: Necrosis associated with infarction may cause diagnostic problems. It is not a sufficient sign of malignant transformation

Mature cystic teratoma in round ligament: case report.

Our report describes an unusual presentation of mature cystic teratoma. In this case, 3 mature cystic teratomas were encountered during cesarean section, one in each round ligament and the other in the left ovary. According to the literature, round ligament is one of the rarest sites for the presentation of mature cystic teratoma

Auditory evoked potentials in vitiligo patients.

There is convincing evidence that vitiligo is a systemic disorder influencing the whole pigmentary system, including melanocytes in the inner ear. Cochlear melanocytes and also melanin-containing cellular elements of the auditory system may be affected in vitiligo and interfere with the conduction of action potentials. We conducted a prospective clinical trial to determine hearing status and auditory evoked potentials in 50 patients affected by vitiligo and compared the results with those of 50 healthy controls. I, III, V latencies and amplitudes and I-III, III-V, I-V interpeak latencies were compared with each group. Statistical evaluation was accomplished using the t-test. With the exception of two subjects, all patients demonstrated normal audiological results. No statistically significant difference was noted between the study group and controls in regard to latencies, interpeak latencies and amplitudes. We conclude that auditory investigations supported by postmortem histopathological studies of the inner ear and brainstem may provide more accurate knowledge in vitiligo patients

Low dose sultamicillin in acute sinusitis.

OBJECTIVES: To study the effectiveness of low dose sultamicillin in the treatment of acute sinusitis. METHODS: A total of 108 patients, between 16-56 years of age (mean 32.8), suffering from acute sinusitis took part in the trial. Patients received orally 2 x 375 mg sultamicillin, and compared with patients receiving 3 x 500 mg amoxicillin. The first control was made between the 5th and 7th days. A patient was considered clinically cured when all pretreatment signs and symptoms of infection were eliminated. Clinical improvement was defined as the partial disappearance of pretreatment signs and symptoms. In either result, study drugs were reconstituted for additional 5 days. Failure was defined as no change or worsening of signs and symptoms; and study drug was changed. The second control was made between 10-12th days, and the third was four weeks later. RESULTS: The clinical success (improvement + cure) rate was (17+11)/42 (66.6%) and (28+21)/66 (74.2%) for amoxicillin and sultamicillin respectively, at first control. All improved patients were cured at the second control. No significant side-effects were noted in either amoxicillin or sultamicillin treated patients. All side effects were gastrointestinal, 11.9% and 3.0% in the same order. CONCLUSIONS: Low dose sultamicillin was comparable to amoxicillin; sultamicillin has fewer side effects than amoxicillin (p>0.05)

Importance of mastoid pneumatization on secretory otitis media.

Secretory otitis media is the most common middle ear disease of childhood. It heals spontaneously, by medical therapy or by minor surgical procedures in most of the cases. Sequelae such as retraction pockets and adhesive otitis that lead to cholesteatoma rarely occur, but initially it is hard to diagnose which patient will acquire a sequela. It is well known that mastoid pneumatization is poor in the patients who had complications like retraction pocket, adhesive otitis and cholesterol granuloma. The aim of this study was to determine if any relationship exists between mastoid pneumatization and secretory otitis media. Lateral mastoid X-rays of 47 children with secretory otitis media were evaluated. After 2 months of follow-up with medical therapy, 30 of the 47 patients needed ventilation tube insertion. The remaining 17 patients showed total recovery with medicines only. Control X-rays of the operated patients were taken 6 months after the operation. Mastoid pneumatizations of patients healed with medicine were compared with the operated patients. There were statistically significant differences between the mastoid pneumatizations of surgically and medically treated groups. In addition we observed a statistically significant difference between the mastoid areas of the preoperative and the postoperative X-rays. We concluded that mastoid pneumatization might be considered as a prognostic indicator in secretory otitis media. The estimated prognosis is poor when the mastoid pneumatization is poor