Municipal wastewater treatment and associated bioenergy generation using anaerobic granular bed baffled reactor

This study assesses a modified anaerobic granular bed baffled reactor (GRABBR) which was assessed for municipal wastewater treatment at high organic loading rates (chemical oxygen demand ≥ 1,100 mg/l) under varying temperatures. For the two mesophilic temperatures tested (37⁰C and 25⁰C) under steady state conditions, the removal of Chemical OxygenDemand (COD) and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) was 80 to 90 %. At lower organic loadings, the reactor operated as a completely mixed system with most of the treatment occurring in the first two compartments. The GRABBR also showed very high solids retention with low effluent suspended solids concentration for all organic and hydraulic conditions. Applications ofGRABBR as a single unit, two-phase treatment system could be an economical option reducing the cost to achieve similar treatment goals for high strength wastewaters. The findings of this research suggest that the application of GRABBR is suitable for the treatment of multiple pollutants present in wastewater where each compartment acts as a specialised treatment stagewith biogas production

Adoption and implementation barriers for worksite health programs in the United States

Worksite health promotion programs have been identified as having the potential to mitigate chronic health risks. In the most recent 2017 U.S. CDC survey of workplace health promotion, respondents identified several perceived barriers related to program adoption and implementation. The analysis indicates that challenges negatively associated with having worksite program were lack of senior management support (OR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.32–0.78), lack of qualified vendors (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.4–0.79), lack of qualified personnel (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.35–0.73), and cost (OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.39–0.88). Challenges associated with having a program were lack of employee inter-est (OR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.44–3.03), lack of space (OR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.26–2.48), and demonstrating program results (OR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.44–3.03). These findings can provide insights to policy makers, insurers, and employers seeking to implement workplace-based health promotion initiatives

Low cost urban wastewater infrastructure for environmental sustainability across Caribbean small island developing states (SIDS)

Effluent Dominated Hydrosystems (EDHs) across the Caribbean primarily consist of surface water systems affected by discharged treated and possibly untreated runoff from urban and agricultural zones in addition to wastewater catchments. These urban water bodies are precious and vital natural resources beneficial to the Caribbean’s economy, its environment and revitalisation. Human activities influence whether a hydrosystem consists of problems including excessive withdrawal for potable water supply, water quality, emerging contaminants from untreated stormwater runoff or wastewater. Land use patterns are one of the key driving forces behind changes in hydrology for EDHs. Runoff from agricultural land has also resulted in substances such as farm chemicals, petroleum products, nutrients and organic matter being washed into the surround EDHs. Historically, many industries across Trinidad and Tobago have been developed nearby natural hydrosystems with discharging pre-treated effluents directly into the water and transported away downstream. While such practices have been semi-regulated for several years by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) for Trinidad and Tobago, several EDHs still consist of large amounts of pollutants present in sediments. This project evaluates the application of combined Biological and Photochemical (B-P) technologies as a low cost wastewater option for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean. The application of B-P treatment for waste streams can significantly reduce industrial waste treatment cost, the water rates for farming and improve water quality in EDHs. The programme of research and implementation conducted by the University of Greenwich and the University of Trinidad and Tobago evaluates remediation technologies using two treatment processes (i) Biological and (ii) Photochemical. Although some organic contaminants can be degraded through biological process, many other composed synthetic compounds are non-biodegradable and hence the photochemical process will also be examined. The biological process is utilised like a pre-treatment step to enhance the photo-degradability and eliminate the toxicity of the effluents, whereby the total mineralization of contaminants would be completed in the photochemical process. The biological reactors are characterised by anaerobic respiration using pollutant-reducing bacteria as a terminal electron acceptor. These bacteria can thrive in human-impacted environments impacted by sewage or urban drainage. The photoreactor implements heterogeneous photocatalysts (readily available, cheap, non-toxic and inert semiconductors) such as Titanium Dioxide (TiO2). In this process TiO2 absorbs solar energy and transfers photonic energy to mobile toxic constituents. Various sources wastewater are being processed through the B-P reactors studying the kinetics of degradation

Fibroadenoma of the breast in a South African population -a pilot study of the diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspirate cytology and breast ultrasonography

Background: The triple assessment of clinical breast exam (CBE), fine needle aspirate cytology (FNAC) and breast ultrasonography (US) is used in many settings for the diagnosis of fibroadenoma (FA). The diagnostic accuracy of FNAC and US for FA in South African (SA) women with palpable breast masses (PBM) is unknown.Objective: To report the diagnostic accuracy of FNAC/US for FA in SA women with PBM. Methods: We conducted a retrospective pilot diagnostic study of 91 women who presented with PBM to a SA regional academic hospital. Data for CBE, US, unguided FNAC, and open biopsies was collected from study participant medical records and analyzed using diagnostic accuracy tables. Results: A total of 57/91 (62.6%) study participants had uninterpretable FNAC results. No study participants had uninterpretable US results. The overall diagnostic accuracy of FNAC for FA was 36.3% (95% Confidence Interval - CI: 27.1-46.5%). The overall diagnostic accuracy of US for FA was 83.5% (95% CI: 74.6-89.8%). Conclusion: The yield of interpretable test results for FNAC was poor in our study. The diagnostic accuracy of US for FA appears to be superior to that of FNAC. Omission of FNAC from the triple assessment in our setting should be considered. .Keywords: Fibroadenoma, diagnosis, breast ultrasonography, fine needle aspirate cytology

Synthesis and biological activities of 2-hydroxyphenylacyl azoles and their oxime derivatives.

M. Sc. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.Fourteen phenylacyl and 2-hydroxyphenylacyl azoles and their oxime derivatives of which three were new, 2-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)-1-phenylethanone oxime 7; 1-(2- hydroxyphenyl)-2-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethanone oxime 13 and 1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)- 2-(1H-1,2,4 traizol-1-yl)ethanone oxime 14. The yields obtained for the ketone derivatives were between 50 and 60%, and between 80 and 95% for the oxime derivatives. All compounds were characterized using NMR, IR, UV and GCMS, and were tested for their antifungal and antibacterial activity. These compounds possessed moderate antifungal and weak antibacterial activity, with compound 12, 1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(1H-imidazol-1- yl)ethanone oxime showing the highest antifungal activity with a MIC value of 1 μg mL̹̹̹⁻¹. In general, the 2'-hydroxy substituted compounds were shown to have better antifungal and antibacterial activity than the unsubstituted compounds

Direct admission versus inter-hospital transfer to a level I trauma unit improves survival An audit of the new Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital trauma unit

Objective. To audit the performance of a new level I trauma unit and trauma intensive care unit. Methods. Data on patients admitted to the level I trauma unit and trauma intensive care unit at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Durban, from March 2007 to December 2008 were retrieved from the hospital informatics system and an independent database in the trauma unit. Results. Four hundred and seven patients were admitted; 71% of admissions were inter-hospital transfers (IHT) and 29% direct from scene (DIR). The median age was 27 years (range 1 - 83), and 71% were male. Blunt injury accounted for 66.3% of admissions and penetrating trauma for 33.7%. Of the former, motor vehicle-related injury accounted for 87.4%, with 81% of paediatric admissions due to pedestrian-related injuries. The median injury severity score (ISS) for the entire cohort was 22 (survivors 18, deaths 29; p<0.001). Patients in the DIR group had a significantly higher mean ISS compared with the IHT group (DIR 25, IHT 20; p<0.02). The overall mortality rate was 26.3%. There were 37 deaths (31.1%) in the DIR group and 70 (24.3%) in the IHT group (p=0.19). In patients surviving more than 12 hours the overall mortality rate was 21.1% (DIR 13.7%, IHT 23.5%; p=0.042). Conclusions. Trauma is a major cause of premature death in the young. Despite a significantly higher median ISS in direct admissions, there was no difference in mortality. Of those surviving more than 12 hours, patients admitted directly had a significant decrease in mortality. Dedicated trauma units improve outcome in the critically injured

Training to Be an Early Childhood Professional: Teacher Candidates’ Perceptions about Their Education and Training

Professionalism in the context of early care and education has received considerable attention in recent years (Caulfield, 1997; Harte, 2011; Tigistu, 2013). According to the 2010 National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Standards for Initial & Advanced Early Childhood Professional Preparation Programs, teacher candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs should identify and conduct themselves as members of the profession, know and use ethical guidelines and utilize other professional standards related to early childhood practice (NAEYC, 2012). In their final journal entry for a student teaching practicum course, teacher candidates in an accredited early childhood program reflected on what it means to be an early childhood professional. In alignment with the 2010 NAEYC Standards, teacher candidates appeared to recognize that being an early childhood professional means having an understanding of the specialized knowledge required to be effective in early childhood education. They also appeared to be aware that providing responsive, supportive curricula, which acknowledges and respects the whole child and family and their cultural backgrounds, is an integral aspect of the early childhood profession. Implications from this inquiry suggest that the early childhood program should ensure the fidelity to the NAEYC Standards by aligning assignments that incorporate the language and expectations of the Standards

Fibroadenoma of the breast in a South African population -a pilot study of the diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspirate cytology and breast ultrasonography

Background: The triple assessment of clinical breast exam (CBE), fine needle aspirate cytology (FNAC) and breast ultrasonography (US) is used in many settings for the diagnosis of fibroadenoma (FA). The diagnostic accuracy of FNAC and US for FA in South African (SA) women with palpable breast masses (PBM) is unknown. Objective: To report the diagnostic accuracy of FNAC/US for FA in SA women with PBM. Methods: We conducted a retrospective pilot diagnostic study of 91 women who presented with PBM to a SA regional academic hospital. Data for CBE, US, unguided FNAC, and open biopsies was collected from study participant medical records and analyzed using diagnostic accuracy tables. Results: A total of 57/91 (62.6%) study participants had uninterpretable FNAC results. No study participants had uninterpretable US results. The overall diagnostic accuracy of FNAC for FA was 36.3% (95% Confidence Interval - CI: 27.1-46.5%). The overall diagnostic accuracy of US for FA was 83.5% (95% CI: 74.6-89.8%). Conclusion: The yield of interpretable test results for FNAC was poor in our study. The diagnostic accuracy of US for FA appears to be superior to that of FNAC. Omission of FNAC from the triple assessment in our setting should be considered.