Novel hydroxyapatite-based bio-ceramic hollow fiber membrane derived from waste cow bone for textile wastewater treatment

Industrial textile wastewater is toxic due to the presence of recalcitrant color pigments and poisonous heavy metals. In this study, the hydroxyapatite (HAp)-based bio-ceramic hollow fiber membranes (h-bio-CHFM) were developed via the combined phase inversion and sintering technique. It was found that the properties of the developed h-bio-CHFMs were greatly affected by the HAp content of the ceramic suspension, and sintering temperature. The h-bio-CHFM with the sintering temperature of 1200 degrees C exhibited the long rod-shaped HAp particles and the smallest pore size (0.013 mu m). High removals of color (99.9%), COD (80.1%), turbidity (99.4%) and conductivity (30.1%) were achieved using the h-bio-CHFM sintered at 1200 degrees C with stable high flux of 88.3 L/m(2)h. Remarkably, the h-bio-CHFM sintered in the temperature range of 1000-1200 degrees C also demonstrated excellent adsorption ability towards heavy metals with 100% removals. The results of this study show the potential of the h-bio-CHFM for the efficient industrial textile wastewater treatment applications

Approach-alcohol action tendencies can be inhibited by cognitive load

Rationale: Dysregulated alcohol consumption has been attributed to an imbalance between an approach-alcohol action tendency and executive control processes. However, which specific executive control processes are involved is not known. One candidate executive process is interference suppression, which refers to the suppression of task-irrelevant information through the active maintenance of task-relevant information or a cognitive load. Objective: The present study aimed to (1) establish whether alcohol action tendency can be inhibited by interference suppression through the use of cognitive loads and (2) to assess whether individual differences in the degree of interference suppression from cognitive loads is related to individual differences in the ability to regulate alcohol consumption. Method: Two groups of social drinkers (total N = 58) who differed in their ability to regulate their alcohol consumption completed a novel cognitive load variant of the approach avoidance task (AAT) and an alcohol taste test. Results: Results indicated that (1) there was a relationship between alcohol bias on the AAT and alcohol consumption under low load, but not high load, consistent with the hypothesis that the action tendency would be inhibited through interference suppression, and (2) this effect of load was not modified by drinking group, with both groups demonstrating equivalent ability to inhibit the action tendency. Conclusions: The present findings suggest that alcohol action tendency can be inhibited through interference suppression, and that this is effective even for those that have difficulty regulating their alcohol consumption

Effects of temperature on rice husk silica ash additive for fouling mitigation by polysulfone-RHS ash mixed matrix composite membranes

Abstract: It has been found that the preparation of green silica based on agricultural crops preserves environmental sustainability. In this study, rice husk silica (RHS) ash was prepared by burning rice husk (RH) at different temperatures (400 and 1200 °C). Both types of green RHS ash additives were blended with polysulfone dope, after which membranes were fabricated via phase inversion. The RHS ash that was synthesised at 400 °C (RHS400) had an amorphous structure with strong hydrophilic properties, while the composite membrane containing 3 wt% of RHS400 (A3 membrane) achieved the optimum properties of a dense top, an extended sub-layer of continuous smaller finger-like pores and a bottom layer of macrovoids. A satisfactory mean surface roughness, average pore size (1.90 ± 9.50 × 10−2 µm), porosity (40.66 ± 2.03%) and tensile strength (3.27 ± 0.16 MPa) were also obtained. The contact angle (52.5° ± 3.6°) further proved that this membrane was hydrophilic. The elemental and thermal analyses confirmed the presence of Si and O, which correlated with the 12% residual that was contributed by the silica inside the membrane. The optimum properties of the A3 membrane were an increased PWF (154.04 ± 7.70 L m−2 h−1) with the highest rejection of HA (96.00 ± 4.80%) and a fouling mitigation with the lowest internal resistance (6.79 ± 0.34 × 1012 m−1). Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Evaluation of rectal dose discrepancies between planned and in vivo dosimetry using MOSkin detector and PTW 9112 semiconductor probe during \u3csup\u3e60\u3c/sup\u3eCo HDR CT-based intracavitary cervix brachytherapy

2019 Associazione Italiana di Fisica Medica Purpose: Dose to the rectum during brachytherapy treatment may differ from an approved treatment plan which can be quantified with in vivo dosimetry (IVD). This study compares the planned with in vivo doses measured with MOSkin and PTW 9112 rectal probe in patients undergoing CT based HDR cervical brachytherapy with Co-60 source. Methods: Dose measurement of a standard pear-shaped plan carried out in phantom to verify the MOSkin dose measurement accuracy. With MOSkin attached to the third diode, RP3 of the PTW 9112, both detectors were inserted into patients\u27 rectum. The RP3 and MOSkin measured doses in 18 sessions as well as the maximum measured doses from PTW 9112, RPmax in 48 sessions were compared to the planned doses. Results: Percentage dose differences ΔD (%) in phantom study for two MOSkin found to be 2.22 ± 0.07% and 2.5 ± 0.07%. IVD of 18 sessions resulted in ΔD(%) of −16.3% to 14.9% with MOSkin and ΔD(%) of −35.7% to −2.1% with RP3. In 48 sessions, RPmax recorded ΔD(%) of −37.1% to 11.0%. MOSkin_measured doses were higher in 44.4% (8/18) sessions, while RP3_measured were lower than planned doses in all sessions. RPmax_measured were lower in 87.5% of applications (42/47). Conclusions: The delivered doses proven to deviate from planned doses due to unavoidable shift between imaging and treatment as measured with MOSkin and PTW 9112 detectors. The integration of MOSkin on commercial PTW 9112 surface found to be feasible for rectal dose IVD during cervical HDR ICBT

Outbreak of melioidosis and leptospirosis co-infection following a rescue operation.

We analyzed the epidemiological data of all people who were involved in the search and rescue operation in Lubuk Yu, a natural recreational forest with waterfall and stream. The hospital admission records of the cases who fulfilled the case definition and the environmental samples result taken at Lubuk Yu recreational area were studied. 153 people were exposed to this outbreak, 85 (55.5%) were professional rescuers from various government agencies and 68 (44.5%) were villagers. 21 fulfilled the case definition. Ten cases were confirmed melioidosis, six melioidosis alone and four coinfected with leptospirosis. There were eight deaths in this outbreak, seven were villagers and one professional rescuer. Overall case fatality was 70%. All confirmed melioidosis cases and seven who died had diabetes mellitus. The morbidity rate were higher among the villagers, 23.5% compared to professional rescuers, 5.9%. The case fatality rate were also higher in this group which was 100% compared to 33.3% in professional rescuers. The soil and water samples in Lubuk Yu recreational area were positive for leptospira and Burkholderia pseudomallei. The presence of co-infection and co-morbidities especially diabetes mellitus among the exposed led to the high mortality in this outbreak hence a high index of suspicion is important among the healthcare professionals in the management of melioidosis cases. To avoid similar incident in future, search and rescue operation should be only conducted by professional rescuers with appropriate personal protective equipment. A register of rescuers should be maintained for surveillance and follow up if necessary

Antifouling polysulfone membranes blended with green SiO2 from rice husk ash (RHA) for humic acid separation

This study investigated the effects of silica prepared from rice husk (RHA) as an antifouling additive in the polysulfone (PSf) membrane. The ultrafiltration mixed matrix PSf/rice husk silica (RHS) flat-sheet membrane was prepared via phase inversion technique at different percentages of silica concentration. The characterization and performance test were conducted on the prepared membrane. The thermal stability of the membrane was observed by using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The cross section area and particles distribution of additive were carried out by using the scanning electron microscope (SEM) while the surface morphology was investigated via field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The surface roughness and hydrophilicity were also determined by using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and contact angle measurement respectively. The performance of the membrane was evaluated in terms of pure water flux (PWF), humic acid rejection and antifouling properties. The results of SEM, FESEM and AFM revealed that the incorporating of RHS improved the microstructure of the membrane especially at top layer and sub layer. The results also demonstrated that the mean pore size decreased and the hyrophilicity increased with an increase of RHS particles in PSf membrane. The performance result was found that the addition of RHS in the PSf membrane significantly improved the PWF, rejection and antifouling properties. The results indicated that the addition of 4 g RHS give the highest flux at 300.50 L/m2 h (LMH) and excellent mitigating fouling. The highest rejection was found at 3 g of RHS with a value of 98% for ultraviolet light (UV254) and 96% for Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC)

Novel ceramic hollow fibre membranes contactor derived from kaolin and zirconia for ammonia removal and recovery from synthetic ammonia

The adverse effects of ammonia found in wastewater streams lead to the development of advanced water treatment technology, i.e. membrane contactor (MC). In this study, single layer hollow fibre membrane (SLZK) and dual layer hollow fibre membrane (DLZK) were prepared from zirconia and kaolin and modified into hydrophobic membrane through simple grafting process via fluoroalkylsilane (FAS) agent. The properties of membranes such as morphology, surface roughness, mechanical strength, wettability and liquid entry pressure were analysed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), 3-point bending strength, contact angle and LEPw setup. Finally, the performance of the membranes was also investigated towards ammonia removal via membrane contactor system