Analcime geopolymers as sorbents in water treatment

Zeolite mineral, analcime [Na16(Al16Si32O96)·16H2O], is formed in mining industry as lithium carbonate is produced from spodumene (LiAlSi2O6) using sodium pressure leaching process (1). Zeolite structure possess aluminosilicate framework and pores occupied by water and exchangeable cations (2). Zeolites act as cation exchangers due to which they have been applied as sorbents in water treatment (2). Geopolymers (GP) consist of an anionic framework of corner-sharing SiO4 and AlO4, and the exchangeable cations are located in the voids in the same way as in zeolites (3). However, GP are x-ray amorphous unlike zeolites. Also, GP are excellent sorbent materials in water treatment for e.g. As3+, Cu2+, NH4+ Ni2+, Sb3+ (4-6). The ion-exchange capacity of analcime at room temperature is quite low (Querol et al. 2002) and therefore analcime was geopolymerized with a 1:1 mixture of 10 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium silicate (SiO2:Na2O = 3.1-3.4) to improve the sorption properties of analcime. Then analcime GP were applied as sorbents in the removal of different anions and cations (e.g. ammonium, nitrate, potassium). Before sorption experiments, the GP were crushed and sieved to a particle size \u3c500 \u3eµm and washed with deionized water until pH was stable. Experiments were conducted in batch mode with synthetic wastewater. The effect of sorbent dosage, sorption time, temperature, and anion/cation solution concentration on the anion/cation removal efficiencies of analcime GP were studied. The results indicate that analcime GP could be used as sorbents in water treatment. The use of the analcime GP in water treatment could lead to cost savings in water treatment as a low-cost by-product based GP are used instead of the commercial ion exchange resins. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Consistency and risk-basis of using administrative enforcement measures in local food control

Consistency and risk-basis are core elements of effective enforcement of food safety legislation. In Finland, inspections of food retail premises have been conducted since 2013 based on new national guidelines for evaluation and grading. According to the guidelines, food control authorities should initiate an administrative enforcement process to ensure compliance if the food business operator (FBO) is given the poorest grade in the inspection. In this study, we examined the consistency within and between local food control units on the threshold of initiating an enforcement process. The study was conducted through an analysis of inspection reports of FBOs and by an electronic survey and interviews of local food control officials. The results reveal that most officials consider the national evaluation guidelines as helpful in improving the consistency of using enforcement measures. However, inconsistencies exist between and within the local food control units in the alignments of initiating an enforcement process. Enforcement measures are mainly used on a risk-basis and gradually, as in most enforcement cases the FBO had multiple non-compliances and the FBO had been given a prior request to correct the non-compliance before initiating an enforcement process. The results, however, revealed rather weak compliance and repeated violations among some FBOs. Based on the observed persistence of non -compliances and the efficacy of enforcement measures in inducing compliance, a lower threshold of initiating an enforcement process towards FBOs with repeated violations appears beneficial in enhancing the correction of violations. Increasing the consistency of the enforcement process begins with unifying the practices within the local food control units by establishing clear procedures for enforcement and ensuring adequate orientation of personnel. Further strengthening of cooperation, peer-review and discussion on interpretations of required control actions between the units is needed for nationally consistent implementation of the evaluation and disclosure system and use of enforcement measures. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Novel Zero-Heat-Flux Deep Body Temperature Measurement in Lower Extremity Vascular and Cardiac Surgery

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare deep body temperature obtained using a novel noninvasive continuous zero-heat-flux temperature measurement system with core temperatures obtained using conventional methods. Design: A prospective, observational study. Setting: Operating room of a university hospital. Participants: The study comprised 15 patients undergoing vascular surgery of the lower extremities and 15 patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Interventions: Zero-heat-flux thermometry on the forehead and standard core temperature measurements. Measurements and Main Results: Body temperature was measured using a new thermometry system (SpotOn; 3M, St. Paul, MN) on the forehead and with conventional methods in the esophagus during vascular surgery (n = 15), and in the nasopharynx and pulmonary artery during cardiac surgery (n = 15). The agreement between SpotOn and the conventional methods was assessed using the Bland-Altman random-effects approach for repeated measures. The mean difference between SpotOn and the was +0.08 degrees C (95% limit of agreement-0.25 to +0.40 degrees C). During cardiac surgery, during off CPB, the mean difference between SpotOn and the pulmonary arterial temperature was-0.05 degrees C (95% limits of agreement-0.56 to +0.47 degrees C). Throughout cardiac surgery (on and off CPB), the mean difference between SpotOn and the nasopharyngeal temperature was-0.12 degrees C (95% limits of agreement-0.94 to +0.71 degrees C). Poor agreement between the SpotOn and nasopharyngeal temperatures was detected in hypothermia below approximately 32 degrees C. Conclusions: According to this preliminary study, the deep body temperature measured using the zero-heat-flux system was in good agreement with standard core temperatures during lower extremity vascular and cardiac surgery. However, agreement was questionable during hypothermia below 32 degrees C. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

eMulli - Ruokinnan suunnittelu- ja tulosennusteohjelma lihanautojen loppukasvatukseen

201

Extending the straight leg raise test for improved clinical evaluation of sciatica : reliability of hip internal rotation or ankle dorsiflexion

Background The straight leg raise (SLR) is the most commonly applied physical tests on patients with sciatica, but the sensitivity and specificity ratings for disc hernia and neural compression leave areas for improvement. Hip internal rotation tensions the lumbosacral nerve roots and ankle dorsiflexion tensions the sciatic nerve along its course. We added these movements to the SLR (extended SLR = ESLR) as structural differentiators and tested inter-rater reliability in patients with LBP, with and without sciatica. Methods Forty subjects were recruited to the study by the study controller (SC), 20 in the sciatic group and in the control group. Two independent examiners (E1&E2) performed the ESLR and did not communicate to the subjects other than needed to determine the outcome of the ESLR. First, SLR was performed traditionally until first responses were evoked. At this hip flexion angle, a location-specific structural differentiation was performed to confirm whether the emerged responses were of neural origin. Cohen's Kappa score (CK) for interrater reliability was calculated for ESLR result in detection of sciatic patients. Also, the examiners' ESLR results were compared to the traditional SLR results. Results The interrater agreement between Examiner 1 and Examiner 2 for the ESLR was 0.85 (p <0.001, 95%CI: 0.71-0.99) translating to almost perfect agreement as measured by Cohen's Kappa When the ESLR was compared to the traditional SLR, the overall agreement rate was 75% (30/40). Kappa values between the traditional SLR and the E1's or E2's ESLR results were 0.50 (p <0.0001; 95%CI 0.27-0.73) and 0.54 (p <0.0001; 95%CI 0.30-0.77), respectively. Conclusions ESLR with the addition of location-specific structural differentiation is a reliable and repeatable tool in discerning neural symptoms from musculoskeletal in patients with radiating low back pain. We recommend adding these movements to the standard SLR with aim of improving diagnostic ability.Peer reviewe

Totuus?

Teema : totuu