Preparation and characterization of flax, hemp and sisal fiber-derived mesoporous activated carbon adsorbents

The first aim of this study was to investigate mesoporous activated carbon adsorbents from sisal, hemp, and flax fibers by cost-effective methods. Fibers were impregnated with low concentration (20 wt.%) phosphoric acid. Carbonization temperatures were defined by thermal analysis. Bast fibers (hemp, flax) decompose at lower temperatures (419.36℃, 434.96℃) than leaf fibers (sisal, 512.92℃). The second aim was to compare bast and leaf fibers-derived activated carbon adsorbents by determining physical adsorption properties, chemical compositions, scanning electron microscope, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Results showed that natural fibers have good candidates to prepare mesoporous activated carbon adsorbents with high surface area (1186–1359 m2/g), high mesopore percentage (60–72%), and high C content (80–86%). Even though leaf-derived activated carbon developed more mesoporous structure (72%), bast-derived activated carbons provided higher surface areas (Shemp = 1359 m2/g; Sflax = 1257 m2/g) and C content. Fourier transform infrared spectra for bast fibers-derived activated carbon adsorbents were quite similar while leaf fiber-derived activated carbon adsorbent had a different spectrum

Efficacy of usage of intraarterial regional hyperglycemia at therapy of oral cavity cancer

Проведено дослідження з визначення вмісту лактату в ракових пухлинах порожнини рота під впливом внутрішньоартеріальної регіонарної гіперглікемії. Виявлено, що посилення протипухлинного ефекту відбувається внаслідок рН-залежного підвищення чутливості пухлинних клітин до лікарського впливу.A study was conducted to determine the content of lactate in cancerous tumors of the oral cavity under the influence of intraarterial regional hyperglycemia, and an antitumor effect would be increased due to the pH-dependent increase in the sensitivity of tumor cells to the medicinal effect

The effectiveness of emergency obstetric referral interventions in developing country settings : a systematic review

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Efficiency of thermal outgassing for tritium retention measurement and removal in ITER

Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Plasma Surface Interactions 2016, 22nd PSIAs a licensed nuclear facility, ITER must limit the in-vessel tritium (T) retention to reduce the risks of potential release during accidents, the inventory limit being set at 1kg. Simulations and extrapolations from existing experiments indicate that T-retention in ITER will mainly be driven by co-deposition with beryllium (Be) eroded from the first wall, with co-deposits forming mainly in the divertor region but also possibly on the first wall itself. A pulsed Laser-Induced Desorption (LID) system, called Tritium Monitor, is being designed to locally measure the T-retention in co-deposits forming on the inner divertor baffle of ITER. Regarding tritium removal, the baseline strategy is to perform baking of the plasma-facing components, at 513K for the FW and 623K for the divertor. Both baking and laser desorption rely on the thermal desorption of tritium from the surface, the efficiency of which remains unclear for thick (and possibly impure) co-deposits. This contribution reports on the results of TMAP7 studies of this efficiency for ITER-relevant deposits.Peer reviewe

Inadequate lopinavir concentrations with modified 8-hourly lopinavir/ritonavir 4:1 dosing during rifampicin-based tuberculosis treatment in children living with HIV

BACKGROUND: Lopinavir/ritonavir plasma concentrations are profoundly reduced when co-administered with rifampicin. Super-boosting of lopinavir/ritonavir is limited by nonavailability of single-entity ritonavir, while double-dosing of co-formulated lopinavir/ritonavir given twice-daily produces suboptimal lopinavir concentrations in young children. We evaluated whether increased daily dosing with modified 8-hourly lopinavir/ritonavir 4:1 would maintain therapeutic plasma concentrations of lopinavir in children living with HIV receiving rifampicin-based antituberculosis treatment. METHODS: Children with HIV/tuberculosis coinfection weighing 3.0 to 19.9 kg, on rifampicin-based antituberculosis treatment were commenced or switched to 8-hourly liquid lopinavir/ritonavir 4:1 with increased daily dosing using weight-band dosing approach. A standard twice-daily dosing of lopinavir/ritonavir was resumed 2 weeks after completing antituberculosis treatment. Plasma sampling was conducted during and 4 weeks after completing antituberculosis treatment. RESULTS: Of 20 children enrolled; 15, 1-7 years old, had pharmacokinetics sampling available for analysis. Lopinavir concentrations (median [range]) on 8-hourly lopinavir/ritonavir co-administered with rifampicin (n = 15; area under the curve 0-24 55.32 mg/h/L [0.30-398.7 mg/h/L]; C max 3.04 mg/L [0.03-18.6 mg/L]; C 8hr 0.90 mg/L [0.01-13.7 mg/L]) were lower than on standard dosing without rifampicin (n = 12; area under the curve 24 121.63 mg/h/L [2.56-487.3 mg/h/L]; C max 9.45 mg/L [0.39-26.4 mg/L]; C 12hr 3.03 mg/L [0.01-17.7 mg/L]). During and after rifampicin cotreatment, only 7 of 15 (44.7%) and 8 of 12 (66.7%) children, respectively, achieved targeted pre-dose lopinavir concentrations ≥1mg/L. CONCLUSIONS: Modified 8-hourly dosing of lopinavir/ritonavir failed to achieve adequate lopinavir concentrations with concurrent antituberculosis treatment. The subtherapeutic lopinavir exposures on standard dosing after antituberculosis treatment are of concern and requires further evaluation

Social capital insights from healthy settings needs assessment in Malawi

Despite global health improvements, substantial challenges in social determinants of health and poverty remain in rural communities in low-income countries. Public health theorists suggest that communities with high social capital are less vulnerable to such challenges and more likely to participate in community development. This research examines levels of social capital amongst rural communities in southern Malawi through data gathered as part of a participatory needs assessment for a Healthy Settings project, and discusses the potential benefits of having access to such data before project implementation. Social capital data was collected during 108 focus group discussions in 18 communities (split by gender, age, status) by adapting an existing mixed methods measurement tool, the Schutte tool. Five indicators were measured: sense of belonging, friendship, reliance, ability to work together and influence. Mean results showed all 18 communities had medium-high levels of social capital. Means from each group in the 18 communities highlighted the lowest social capital among the youth groups and the highest with the leaders. A more detailed breakdown highlighted that all groups had a strong sense of belonging to the community, while youth and women had lower social capital levels in terms of influence over local decisions and ability to rely on other community members. Incorporating social capital tools into community health needs assessments in low-income settings provides a valuable overview of community dynamics before project implementation, and Monitoring & Evaluation indicators which allow changes in social capital to be measured at different stages of the project

Two strategies for partner notification and partner HIV self-testing reveal no evident predictors of male partner HIV testing in antenatal settings: A secondary analysis

BackgroundTo meet global targets for the elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission, tailored approaches to HIV testing strategies need prioritizing. Herein, we sought to identify individual-level factors associated with male partner HIV testing.MethodsWe conducted a secondary analysis of data from two parallel randomized trials of pregnant women living with HIV and those HIV-negative in Lusaka, Zambia. Across both trials, control groups received partner notification services only, while intervention groups received partner notification services plus HIV self-test kits for their partners. Associations between baseline factors and male partner testing were estimated using a probability difference. The outcome of interest was uptake of male partner HIV testing of any kind within 30 days of randomization.ResultsThe parent study enrolled 326 participants. Among the 151 women in the control groups, no clear associations were noted between maternal or male partner characteristics and reported uptake of male partner HIV testing. There were positive trends favouring partner testing among women who completed primary school education, had larger households (>2 members), and whose partners were circumcised. Likewise, no clear predictors of male partner testing were identified among the 149 women in the intervention groups. However, negative trends favouring no testing were noted among older, multiparous women from larger households.ConclusionNo consistent predictors for male partner HIV testing across two compared strategies were observed. Our findings suggest that differentiated strategies for male partner HIV testing may not be necessary. Instead, consideration should be given to universal approaches when bringing such services to scale