Production and application of activated carbons derived from waste materials

The development of waste management legislation in the 1990's has placed great importance on the sustainability of waste disposal/treatment options. Landfill of wastes is increasingly seen as a last resort and reduction, re-use and recovery of wastes is encouraged. The wastes investigated in this study (caustic tar and sewage sludges) are often disposed of by non-sustainable methods. In addition production of sewage sludge will have doubled by 2005 and disposal options are increasingly limited. Alternative treatment options are required for both these waste types that offer re-use potential. In this study the carbonisation and activation of these wastes has been demonstrated to be an effective means of treatment that also produces adsorbents that can be safely and usefully applied to treatment of aqueous waste streams. Previous studies have examined the production of clay-carbon adsorbents from spent bleaching earth and limited studies have been conducted on producing adsorbents from sewage sludges. However, the majority of these have limited investigations to production of oils from sludge and no previous studies of caustic tar carbonisation have been conducted. Treatment of caustic tar involved neutralisation with HCl and absorption of the organic content of the waste by Fullers or Acid Activated Earth. The clay-waste mix was subsequently carbonised (375°C for 2 hours) and activated using an optimised ZnClj activation procedure (600°C for 1 hour). Activated carbons were produced from sewage sludges using carbonisation (500°C for 2 hours), CO^ activation (700°C for I hour) and ZnCl^ activation (450°C for 2 hours and 600°C for 1 hour). The adsorbents produced had well developed porosity and large surface areas (up to 225mVg for caustic tar derived carbons and up to 995mVg for sewage sludge based carbons) and were adsorptive of a range of organic pollutants common in effluents. ZnC^ activated, un-digested sewage sludges proved to be the most effective adsorbents. COj activated sewage sludges and caustic tar derived carbons had similar adsorption capacities for the organic pollutants studied. Leaching tests demonstrated that metals present in the adsorbents other than the ZnClj activated carbons were not readily leachable and would not prevent re-use of the carbons in the treatment of aqueous effluents.Imperial users onl

No Ifs, No Butts: Compliance with Smoking Cessation in Secondary Care Guidance (NICE PH48) by Providers of Cancer Therapies (Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy) in the UK.

Background: Legislation preventing smoking in public places was introduced in England in July 2007. Since then, smoke-free policies have been extended to the majority of hospitals including those providing cancer therapies. Whilst studies have been conducted on the impact and effectiveness of hospital smoke-free policy in the UK and other countries, there have not been any studies with a focus on cancer care providers. Cancer patients are a priority group for smoking cessation and support and this study aimed to examine implementation of the National Institute Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance (PH48) in acute cancer care trusts in the UK. Methods: Participants were recruited from UK radiotherapy and chemotherapy departments (total 80 sites, 65 organisations) and asked to complete a 15 min online questionnaire exploring the implementation of NICE guidance at their hospital site. Results: Considerable variability in implementation of the NICE guidance was observed. A total of 79.1% trusts were smoke-free in theory; however, only 18.6% were described as smoke-free in practice. Areas of improvement were identified in information and support for patients and staff including in Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) provision, staff training and clarity on e-cigarette policies. Conclusions: While some trusts have effective smoke-free policies and provide valuable cessation support services for patients, improvements are required to ensure that all sites fully adopt the NICE guidance

Measurement of Young’s modulus of thin SmS films by Nanoindentation and surface acoustic wave

Nanoindentation was used to measure the elastic modulus of thin semiconducting form of Samarium Sulphide (SmS) thin films with nominal thickness of 100 nm, 200 nm and 400 nm on silicon substrate at different loads. The indentation results are fitted with modified King’s model [1] to exclude the effect of substrate, of which the Young’s moduli of films are consistent with measurement from Laser Surface Acoustic Wave system (LaWave) and calculated results from literature [2]. [1] [1] R. Saha, W. D. Nix, Acta Mater. 50 (2002) 23. [2] E. G. Soboleva et al, Appl. Mech. Mater. 770 (2015) 137; V. V. Kaminskiy et al, Sol. Sys. Res., 48 (2014) 561

Associations Between Covid-19-Related Threat, Stress, and Smoking in UK Adults Aged Under- and Over-30

It has been suggested that smoking and age are associated with higher vulnerability to Covid-19. While threat of Covid-19 may reduce or stop smoking, increased stress due to lockdown could increase smoking behaviour. This study aimed to investigate changes in smoking behaviour in relation to age, Covid-19-related threat and subjective perceived stress during the UK lockdown. A cross-sectional study was performed. Online adverts were used to recruit UK residents who smoked combustible tobacco any time from January 2020. A questionnaire measured demographic information, smoking behaviour pre- and during-lockdown, perceived subjective stress (PSS), and Covid-19 related threat. Data were collected from a total of 145 participants (58% women, 39% men, 3% non-binary; mean age: 26 years, SD = 7.7), during UK lockdown between 22nd May and 22nd June 2020. Independent of stress and Covid-19-related threat, smoking was reduced in those aged less than 30 years. In participants aged 30 and above, increases in smoking behaviour were associated with higher PSS. The results highlight the relevance of the different stages of life on the relationship between stress, threat, and smoking behaviour. Greater emphasis should be placed on stress reduction for adult smokers aged 30 and above to enable smoking cessation

Using discursive approaches to examine the utility and functions of language in public health and health promotion: highlighting social constructions of e-cigarettes

This article uses discursive approaches to examine the utility and functions of language in public health, focusing on social constructions of e-cigarettes. Due to the ambiguity surrounding the use of e-cigarettes, understanding may be negotiated collaboratively through co-construction in talk. Ten participants, three men and seven women aged 26–47 years, took part in two focus groups in Manchester, UK, where they discussed e-cigarettes. Data were analysed using blended discourse analysis, with a view to identifying dominant repertoires used by speakers. Participants drew from two discursive frameworks to communicate perceptions of e-cigarettes: (1) uncertainty and risk and (2) the social acceptability and stigma spectrum. The ambiguity surrounding e-cigarettes was reflected in the linguistic devices used in talk. This article demonstrates the value of drawing on discourse analysis to better understand the impact of health-related communication by providing insight into how existing messages are interpreted, co-constructed, and assigned meaning through shared interactions

The Impact of Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Children: A Pilot Study

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in indoor air is a substantial risk factor for many health issues. Children are particularly susceptible to ETS with increased risk of asthma attacks, respiratory infections and sudden infant death syndrome. The health effects of ETS are well researched in adults, but few studies examine the impact on children’s cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). CRF has been shown to be a useful biomarker for monitoring health effects which would normally be too subtle to identify at rest. In adults, ETS has been shown to reduce CRF, and children may be at greater risk due to high respiration rates and developing organs. This preliminary research tests the hypothesis that ETS has a detrimental impact on CRF in children. Twenty-five children (9–11 years) from one Merseyside primary school were recruited. ETS exposure was determined by parental surveys and coupled with children’s exhaled carbon monoxide concentration. CRF was determined using a VO2 peak test, with lung function assessed using standard spirometry, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) provided an indication of lung inflammation. Initial results show that children exposed to ETS had statically lower CRF scores (p = 0.048) and were more likely to be classified as ‘unfit’ compared to children not exposed. A negative correlation was found between the number of cigarettes smoked at home and children’s CRF (r = −0.526, p = 0.008), suggesting a possible dose–response relationship. Spirometry and FeNO values were not statistically different between groups. Results indicate that ETS exposure is likely to be detrimental to children’s CRF. They highlight the need for further work, on a larger dataset that will allow more robust analysis with greater statistical power. To the author’s knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to use laboratory-based fitness measurements to explore associations between ETS and CRF in childre

Ways of Coping to deal with Stress used by The Iraqi Repatriated Prisoners of the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988

AbstractObjective: To find out the ways of coping to deal with stress used by the Iraqi repatriated prisoners of Iran-Iraq war, and also to find out the relationship between these ways and some demographic characteristics.Methodology: A descriptive study was carried out from Oct. 18th, 2010 through Jan. 10th, 2011. A Snowball sampling as a non-probability sampling technique was used to recruit 92 repatriates who had visited Ministry of Human Rights. An instrument was constructed for the purpose. The constructed instrument consisted of six demographic characteristics, and twenty eight items for measuring the level coping in POWs. Data were collected with using the constructed instrument and the process of the interview as means for data collection. Data were analyzed through the application of descriptive statistical analysis, which are; percentages, frequencies and inferential statistic analysis (Pearson correlation coefficient).Results: The study revealed that the majority of IRPOWs have some levels of coping that 31.5% (n= 29) of IRPOWs have weak level of coping; 64.1% (n= 59) have medium level of coping; and only 4.3% (n= 4) have good level of coping. The findings also indicated that there is no significant relationship between coping relative to; current age, age at capture, duration of captivity, marital status, and level of education.Conclusions: The present study concluded that all the IPOWS were males and married, the majority were stayed in captivity sixteen years and more, high percentage of them had Bachelor degree. The study indicated that the majority of IPOWS used the religious commitment and mediation as a mean of coping to deal with stress.Recommendations: The study recommends that it is very important to establish special mental health-2-order to diagnose and treat them and further studies in this field with follow-up studies for the repatriates.Keyword: way, coping, stress, Iraqi, repatriated, prisoners, war

MicroRNA-210 Regulates Mitochondrial Free Radical Response to Hypoxia and Krebs Cycle in Cancer Cells by Targeting Iron Sulfur Cluster Protein ISCU

BACKGROUND: Hypoxia in cancers results in the upregulation of hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) and a microRNA, hsa-miR-210 (miR-210) which is associated with a poor prognosis. METHODS AND FINDINGS: In human cancer cell lines and tumours, we found that miR-210 targets the mitochondrial iron sulfur scaffold protein ISCU, required for assembly of iron-sulfur clusters, cofactors for key enzymes involved in the Krebs cycle, electron transport, and iron metabolism. Down regulation of ISCU was the major cause of induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in hypoxia. ISCU suppression reduced mitochondrial complex 1 activity and aconitase activity, caused a shift to glycolysis in normoxia and enhanced cell survival. Cancers with low ISCU had a worse prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Induction of these major hallmarks of cancer show that a single microRNA, miR-210, mediates a new mechanism of adaptation to hypoxia, by regulating mitochondrial function via iron-sulfur cluster metabolism and free radical generation

The relationship between workers' self-reported changes in health and their attitudes towards a workplace intervention: lessons from smoke-free legislation across the UK hospitality industry

Background: The evaluation of smoke-free legislation (SFL) in the UK examined the impacts on exposure to second-hand smoke, workers’ attitudes and changes in respiratory health. Studies that investigate changes in the health of groups of people often use self-reported symptoms. Due to the subjective nature it is of interest to determine whether workers’ attitudes towards the change in their working conditions may be linked to the change in health they report. Methods: Bar workers were recruited before the introduction of the SFL in Scotland and England with the aim of investigating their changes to health, attitudes and exposure as a result of the SFL. They were asked about their attitudes towards SFL and the presence of respiratory and sensory symptoms both before SFL and one year later. Here we examine the possibility of a relationship between initial attitudes and changes in reported symptoms, through the use of regression analyses. Results: There was no difference in the initial attitudes towards SFL between those working in Scotland and England. Bar workers who were educated to a higher level tended to be more positive towards SFL. Attitude towards SFL was not found to be related to change in reported symptoms for bar workers in England (Respiratory, p = 0.755; Sensory, p = 0.910). In Scotland there was suggestion of a relationship with reporting of respiratory symptoms (p = 0.042), where those who were initially more negative to SFL experienced a greater improvement in self-reported health. Conclusions: There was no evidence that workers who were more positive towards SFL reported greater improvements in respiratory and sensory symptoms. This may not be the case in all interventions and we recommend examining subjects’ attitudes towards the proposed intervention when evaluating possible health benefits using self-reported methods. Keywords: ‘Self-Reported Health’, Attitudes, ‘Workplace Intervention’, ‘Public Health Intervention

LSST: from Science Drivers to Reference Design and Anticipated Data Products

(Abridged) We describe here the most ambitious survey currently planned in the optical, the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST). A vast array of science will be enabled by a single wide-deep-fast sky survey, and LSST will have unique survey capability in the faint time domain. The LSST design is driven by four main science themes: probing dark energy and dark matter, taking an inventory of the Solar System, exploring the transient optical sky, and mapping the Milky Way. LSST will be a wide-field ground-based system sited at Cerro Pach\'{o}n in northern Chile. The telescope will have an 8.4 m (6.5 m effective) primary mirror, a 9.6 deg$^2$ field of view, and a 3.2 Gigapixel camera. The standard observing sequence will consist of pairs of 15-second exposures in a given field, with two such visits in each pointing in a given night. With these repeats, the LSST system is capable of imaging about 10,000 square degrees of sky in a single filter in three nights. The typical 5$\sigma$ point-source depth in a single visit in $r$ will be $\sim 24.5$ (AB). The project is in the construction phase and will begin regular survey operations by 2022. The survey area will be contained within 30,000 deg$^2$ with $\delta<+34.5^\circ$, and will be imaged multiple times in six bands, $ugrizy$, covering the wavelength range 320--1050 nm. About 90\% of the observing time will be devoted to a deep-wide-fast survey mode which will uniformly observe a 18,000 deg$^2$ region about 800 times (summed over all six bands) during the anticipated 10 years of operations, and yield a coadded map to $r\sim27.5$. The remaining 10\% of the observing time will be allocated to projects such as a Very Deep and Fast time domain survey. The goal is to make LSST data products, including a relational database of about 32 trillion observations of 40 billion objects, available to the public and scientists around the world.Comment: 57 pages, 32 color figures, version with high-resolution figures available from https://www.lsst.org/overvie