Application of ion exchange and air stripping methods to remove ammonium in recirculation fish culture system effluents

Increase in water pH in recirculation fish culture systems turns ammonium into ammonia which can kill fish even in low concentrations. The purpose of this study was to apply ion exchange and air stripping methods to remove ammonium in effluents of recirculation fish culture systems. Ion exchange method was done using Graded Zeolite Clinoptilolite from Semnan Province to remove ammonium and air stripping was applied to zap ammonium from Zeoilte. Regeneration tests were conducted in which known weights of ammonium saturated Clinoptilolite were contacted with 1 normal concentration of CINa solution. Different concentrations of ammonium were selected and the effects of temperature and pH in releasing ammonia were also investigated. Results show that the cation exchange capacities in continuous systems were 7.61 to 11.22 (in breakthrough point) and 16.31 to 19.5mg ammonium per gram of ion exchanger as total capacity. The results of regeneration experiments by NaCI (1 normal) solution proved the efficiency of chemical regeneration of zeolite column to be as high as 94.9% to 99.1%. The efficiency of regeneration by air stripping was determined to be 92% in 16 hours. The efficiency of acid absorption of released ammonia in stripping process was determined as 55% where the surplus was rejected to the atmosphere. It is concluded that the method may be regarded as a completing process for water treatment in closed fish tanks

Tracking development assistance for health and for COVID-19 : a review of development assistance, government, out-of-pocket, and other private spending on health for 204 countries and territories, 1990-2050

Background The rapid spread of COVID-19 renewed the focus on how health systems across the globe are financed, especially during public health emergencies. Development assistance is an important source of health financing in many low-income countries, yet little is known about how much of this funding was disbursed for COVID-19. We aimed to put development assistance for health for COVID-19 in the context of broader trends in global health financing, and to estimate total health spending from 1995 to 2050 and development assistance for COVID-19 in 2020. Methods We estimated domestic health spending and development assistance for health to generate total health-sector spending estimates for 204 countries and territories. We leveraged data from the WHO Global Health Expenditure Database to produce estimates of domestic health spending. To generate estimates for development assistance for health, we relied on project-level disbursement data from the major international development agencies' online databases and annual financial statements and reports for information on income sources. To adjust our estimates for 2020 to include disbursements related to COVID-19, we extracted project data on commitments and disbursements from a broader set of databases (because not all of the data sources used to estimate the historical series extend to 2020), including the UN Office of Humanitarian Assistance Financial Tracking Service and the International Aid Transparency Initiative. We reported all the historic and future spending estimates in inflation-adjusted 2020 US$, 2020 US$ per capita, purchasing-power parity-adjusted US$per capita, and as a proportion of gross domestic product. We used various models to generate future health spending to 2050. Findings In 2019, health spending globally reached$8. 8 trillion (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 8.7-8.8) or $1132 (1119-1143) per person. Spending on health varied within and across income groups and geographical regions. Of this total,$40.4 billion (0.5%, 95% UI 0.5-0.5) was development assistance for health provided to low-income and middle-income countries, which made up 24.6% (UI 24.0-25.1) of total spending in low-income countries. We estimate that $54.8 billion in development assistance for health was disbursed in 2020. Of this,$13.7 billion was targeted toward the COVID-19 health response. $12.3 billion was newly committed and$1.4 billion was repurposed from existing health projects. $3.1 billion (22.4$2.4 billion (17.9%) was for supply chain and logistics. Only $714.4 million (7.7$1519 (1448-1591) per person in 2050, although spending across countries is expected to remain varied. Interpretation Global health spending is expected to continue to grow, but remain unequally distributed between countries. We estimate that development organisations substantially increased the amount of development assistance for health provided in 2020. Continued efforts are needed to raise sufficient resources to mitigate the pandemic for the most vulnerable, and to help curtail the pandemic for all. Copyright (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010–19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND: Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. METHODS: The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk–outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. FINDINGS: Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4·45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4·01–4·94) deaths and 105 million (95·0–116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44·4% (41·3–48·4) of all cancer deaths and 42·0% (39·1–45·6) of all DALYs. There were 2·88 million (2·60–3·18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50·6% [47·8–54·1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1·58 million (1·36–1·84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36·3% [32·5–41·3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20·4% (12·6–28·4) and DALYs by 16·8% (8·8–25·0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34·7% [27·9–42·8] and 33·3% [25·8–42·0]). INTERPRETATION: The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden

Investigation Of Clinoptilolite Natural Zeolite Regeneration By Air Stripping Followed By Ion Exchange For Removal Of Ammonium From Aqueous Solutions

The purpose of this study was to regenerate clinoptilolite natural zeolite by air stripping followed by removal of ammonium from aqueous solutions. The research was carried out in continuous system. The characteristics of graded clinoptilolite from Semnan (one of the central provinces in Iran) mines were determined and then regeneration tests were done by contacting of 1 N NaCl solution with given weights of ammonium saturated zeolite. Then the brine of column was transferred to the air stripping column for regeneration. The pH of brine solution before entrance to a stripping column was increased to 11. Air stripped ammonia from the brine was converted to the ammonium ion by using acid scrubber. The outlet effluent from stripping column was collected for reuse. The results showed that the cation exchange capacities were 17.31 to 18.38 mg NH4+/g of zeolite weight. Regeneration efficiency of zeolite by NaCl solution and air stripping was in the range of 92%-97% under various operational conditions. However, the efficiency of acid absorption of released ammonia in stripping process was 55% with a major rejection of the surplus ammonia to the atmosphere. It could be concluded that the method studied may be considered as an advanced and supplementary process for treating effluents of aqueous solution and fishponds in existing treatment plants

Evaluating the results of CEAM regimen as a conditioning regimen for autologous stem cell transplantation in 25 patients with NHL

Background: An effective and useful therapy for NHL patients (relapsed or with incomplete response) is autologous bone marrow/peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (SCT). In this case, the type of conditioning regimen is an important factor for transplant outcome. This study carried out for evaluating the results of CEAM regimen as a conditioning regimen for autologous stem cell transplantation in 25 patients with NHL in Dr Shariati hospital bone marrow transplantation research center, Tehran University of medical sciences. Materials and methods: In this survival study 25 patients were selected according to inclusion criteria: ages between 14-60 years old, in complete or partial remission, in any stage and grade, with good function of bone marrow, heart, kidney and liver, and good performance status. After introducing mobilization regimen with G-CSF alone or with cyclophosphamide, the conditioning regimen (CEAM) was applied to the patients. After transplantation all patients were evaluated for rate of infection, hematologic engraftment, conditioning related organ toxicities and number of transfused packed cell and platelet units. In follow-up period after discharge, patients had regular examinations for B symptoms, lymph nodes and laboratory tests. Results: The peripheral blood was the stem cell source of all patients except one. At transplantation time, 6 (24) were in the first complete remission, 11 (44) in the second, 6 (26) in third and 2 (8) in partial remission. The mean duration of hospitalization after SCT was 25.5 days. From 25 person under going autologous transplantation, 16 (64) did not have relapse 8 (32) had relapse, and one person never had any response to transplant. Mortality rate in this study was 5(20). One-year overall survival (OS) was 78.4 (SE=8.6) two-year overall survival was the same. One-year and two-year disease free survival (DFS) were 70 (SE=9.5) and 59.1 (SE=10.7), respectively . The most common different organ toxicity in admission interval was as follow: Hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicities were seen in 100. The grade IV hematologic toxicities were 96 granulocytopenia, 20 anemia and 52 thrombocytopenia. The greatest part of mucositis in grade I (40), nausea and vomiting in grade II (respectively 44 and 52) were seen. Fever and infection, with or without positive culture, occurred during hospitalization in all patients except one (96). Overally the patients well tolerated the toxicities. Conclusion: According to the results, CEAM regimen can be suggest the as a good alternative for BEAM regimen with the added benefits of shorter duration of conditioning regimen (4 days vs. 6 days), no need for stem cell cryopreservation, no need for cold chain required for BCNU replaced by CCNU, better one year DFS result than previous conditioning regimen in this center (70 vs 30) and tolerable treatment associated toxicities