Automatic Control on Dosing Coagulant as to Stream Current

Abstract: As recently raw water quality has been polluted as well as its quality has been remarkably varied according to season and region, the precise control of coagulant dosage is being keenly required in water treatment plants. The amount of coagulant is closely related to raw water quality such as turbidity, alkalinity, water temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, etc. Since the optimum quantity of chemicals is not yet finalized, so dosage rate must be decided by using jar test that takes one or two hours. Hereupon, the output signal of stream current and multi-regression on historical data were proposed to be applied to the coagulant dosing control. In consequence of applying the scheme to automatic determination of the dosage rate, it was testified that the determination of dosage rate was very effective in case it is performed as to real-time sensing of water quality and the output signal of stream current

Identification of restoration species for early roadcut slope regeneration using functional group approach

Current restoration protocols for roadside cut slopes in South Korea involve hydroseeding with exotic species to achieve early greening and soil stabilization. However, exotic species can negatively affect adjacent native ecosystems. This study investigated the functional traits of early colonizers in slope restoration and surrounding environments to inform restoration methods that generate similar communities as those of native ecosystems. Slope vegetation (species density, species cover, upperstory species, canopy cover) and environment (aspect, angle, soil properties) were surveyed from the road edge to the forest boundary, and were classified as three distinct zones: a hydroseeded slope, a transition zone, and the forest edge. Naturally occurring species were classified into functional groups to examine dominant traits during early colonization. Hemicryptophyte or geophyte forest species and forest interior woody species were well established and dominant in transition zones and cut slopes. Potential native species for slope restoration can be identified by examining functional group species in the adjacent forest. These native species can achieve restoration goals and block invasive species in the same functional group. Festuca arundinacea (tall fescue), which is reported as an invasive alien species, rapidly spread after introduction for restoration. Thus, continuous monitoring for impact on native communities is required after sowing invasive alien species. Future slope restoration should consider native woody species and perennial forest sedge species that develop rhizomes, and reconsider the use of tall fescue. This study indicates that cut slopes can be appropriately managed to enhance the quality of habitats for native species.N

Occult bacteremia in children with simple febrile seizure in the post-pneumococcal conjugate vaccine era

Purpose The authors aimed to investigate the utility of blood culture (BC) for children with simple febrile seizure (SFS) in the emergency department (ED) in the post-10/13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) era. Methods This study was performed at the ED of a tertiary care university-affiliated women and children’s hospital, and involved 3,237 previously healthy children aged 6-60 months who visited the ED with SFS from January 2013 through December 2017. The SFS was defined according to the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision codes related to seizure. The children were divided into 2 groups according to the vaccination rates of the period of their visit: the 70-PCV (70%, 2013-2014) and 97-PCV (97%, 2015-2017) groups. The primary outcome was the yield, defined as a true positivity of BC. In addition, we collected information on baseline characteristics, ED length of stay, inflammatory biomarkers, and ED outcomes. Results Of the 1,578 children with SFS who underwent BC, 1,357 belonged to the 97-PCV group. The median age of the study population was 22 months (interquartile range, 16.0-30.0), and 935 children (59.3%) were boys. Of the 41 children (2.6%) with positive BC results, 3 had the yield (0.2%): Staphylococcus aureus in 2 children and Streptococcus pneumoniae in the other. All 3 children belonged to the 97-PCV group. There were 38 contaminated BCs (2.4%; 95% confidence interval, 1.6%-3.2%). The 97-PCV group showed a shorter median ED length of stay (166.0 minutes [108.0-279.5] vs. 143.0 [109.5-209.5]; P = 0.010) and a lower rate of hospitalization (39.4% vs. 12.8%; P < 0.001). No differences between the 2 groups were found in the baseline characteristics and biomarkers. Conclusion This study suggests a low utility of BC in previously healthy children with SFS in emergency settings in the post-10/13-valent PCV era

Diagnostic accuracy of urinary biomarkers in infants younger than 3 months with urinary tract infection

PurposeThe aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of urinary biomarkers, such as neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) and β-2 microglobulin (uB2MG), in early detection of urinary tract infection (UTI) in infants aged <3 months with fever.MethodsA total of 422 infants aged <3 months (male:female=267:155; mean age, 56.4 days), who were admitted for fever, were retrospectively included in this study. We compared uNGAL and uB2MG between the UTI and non-UTI groups at the time of admission. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the curve (AUC) of uNGAL and uB2MG for use in diagnosing UTI were assessed.ResultsAmong 422 patients, 102 (24.2%) were diagnosed with UTI. Levels of uNGAL were higher in the UTI group than in the non-UTI group (366.6 ng/mL vs. 26.9 ng/mL, P<0.001). Levels of uB2MG were not different between the 2 groups. Multivariate analysis revealed that uNGAL was an independent predictive factor for UTI (P=0.033). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 90.2%, 92.5%, and 91.9% for uNGAL, and 48.0%, 43.8%, and 44.8% for uB2MG, respectively. AUC of uNGAL was 0.942 and that of uB2MG was 0.407.ConclusionAccuracy of uNGAL in the diagnosis of UTI is high in febrile infants aged <3 months. uNGAL can help in the early diagnosis and treatment of UTI in infants

Agreement between the Facial Nerve Grading System 2.0 and the House-Brackmann Grading System in Patients with Bell Palsy

ObjectivesWe have analyzed the correlation between the House-Brackmann (HB) scale and Facial Nerve Grading System 2.0 (FNGS 2.0) in patients with Bell palsy, and evaluated the usefulness of the new grading system.MethodsSixty patients diagnosed with Bell palsy from May 2009 to December 2010 were evaluated using the HB scale and FNGS 2.0 scale during their initial visit, and after 3 and 6 weeks and 3 months.ResultsThe overall intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.908 (P=0.000) and the Spearman correlation coefficient (SCC) was 0.912 (P<0.05). ICC and SCC displayed differences over time, being 0.604 and 0.626, respectively, at first visit; 0.834 and 0.843, respectively, after 3 weeks; 0.844 and 0.848, respectively, after 6 weeks; and 0.808 and 0.793, respectively, after 3 months. There was a significant difference in full recovery, depending on the scale used (HB, P=0.000; FNGS 2.0, P<0.05). The exact agreements between regional assessment and FNGS 2.0 for the mouth, eyes, and brow were 72%, 63%, and 52%, respectively.ConclusionFNGS 2.0 shows moderate agreement with HB grading. Regional assessment, rather than HB grading, yields stricter evaluation, resulting in better prognosis and determination of grade

High Grade Hemangioendothelioma of the Temporal Bone in a Child: A Case Report

Hemangioendothelioma is a rare vascular tumor characterized by endothelial tumor cells and variable malignant behavior, and it's not common for this lesion to involve the bone. Although there are a few reports of cranial involvement by hemangioendothelioma, only rare cases arising in temporal bone have been published. We present the radiologic findings of a 7-year-old boy who had a high grade hemangioendothelioma involving the temporal bone with intracranial extension. Evidence of flow voids on MR images suggested a tumor of vascular origin, and the ill-defined margins, cortical destruction and intracranial extension on the CT and MR images were correlated with the tumor's high histologic grade

Diagnostic performance of ultrasonography-guided core-needle biopsy according to MRI LI-RADS diagnostic categories

Purpose According to the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) guidelines, biopsy is a diagnostic option for focal hepatic lesions depending on the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) category. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of ultrasonography-guided core-needle biopsy (CNB) according to LI-RADS categories. Methods A total of 145 High-risk patients for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) followed by CNB for a focal hepatic lesion preoperatively were retrospectively enrolled. Focal hepatic lesions on MRI were evaluated according to LI-RADS version 2018. Pathologic results were categorized into HCC, non-HCC malignancies, and benignity. The categorization was defined as correct when the CNB pathology and surgical pathology reports were identical. Nondiagnostic results were defined as inadequate CNB pathology findings for a specific diagnosis. The proportion of correct categorizations was calculated for each LI-RADS category, excluding nondiagnostic results. Results After excluding 16 nondiagnostic results, 131 lesions were analyzed (45 LR-5, 24 LR-4, 4 LR-3, and 58 LR-M). All LR-5 lesions were HCC, and CNB correctly categorized 97.8% (44/45) of LR-5 lesions. CNB correctly categorized all 24 LR-4 lesions, 16.7% (4/24) of which were non-HCC malignancies. All LR-M lesions were malignant, and 62.1% (36/58) were non-HCC malignancies. CNB correctly categorized 93.1% (54/58) of LR-M lesions, and 12.5% (3/24) of lesions with CNB results of HCC were confirmed as non-HCC malignancies. Conclusion In agreement with AASLD guidelines, CNB could be helpful for LR-4 lesions, but is unnecessary for LR-5 lesions. In LR-M lesions, CNB results of HCC did not exclude non-HCC malignancy