Treatment technologies of fresh market wastewater

Fresh Market Wastewater (FMWW) is rich with high amounts of suspended solids, organic and inorganic compounds, nutrients, gases and some elements which come from fish entrails and seafood preparation sales, meat cutting, poultry slaughtering, fruits and vegetables sales. The excess of these parameters are harmful to the aquatic life since the FMWW is usually discharged into the drainage systems without any treatment or partial treatment. The FMWW technologies are developed due to some technical factors influencing the designation and construction. There are several projects of fresh market treatment technologies used on site area in small scale which could be replicated to other fresh market, and some case study have been tested in laboratory batch experiments. All the projects exhibited an efficiency to reduce critical parameters in FMWW and give positive impacts to the locals and responsible parties

Evaluation of two mobile health apps in the context of smoking cessation: qualitative study of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) versus non-CBT-based digital solutions.

BACKGROUND: Mobile health (mHealth) apps can offer users numerous benefits, representing a feasible and acceptable means of administering health interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is commonly used in the treatment of mental health conditions, where it has a strong evidence base, suggesting that it represents an effective method to elicit health behavior change. More importantly, CBT has proved to be effective in smoking cessation, in the context of smoking-related costs to the National Health Service (NHS) having been estimated to be as high as £2.6bn in 2015. Although the evidence base for computerized CBT in mental health is strong, there is limited literature on its use in smoking cessation. This, combined with the cost-effectiveness of mHealth interventions, advocates a need for research into the effectiveness of CBT-based smoking cessation apps. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was, first, to explore participants' perceptions of 2 mHealth apps, a CBT-based app, Quit Genius, and a non-CBT-based app, NHS Smokefree, over a variety of themes. Second, the study aimed to investigate the perceptions and health behavior of users of each app with respect to smoking cessation. METHODS: A qualitative short-term longitudinal study was conducted, using a sample of 29 smokers allocated to one of the 2 apps, Quit Genius or Smokefree. Each user underwent 2 one-to-one semistructured interviews, 1 week apart. Thematic analysis was carried out, and important themes were identified. Descriptive statistics regarding participants' perceptions and health behavior in relation to smoking cessation are also provided. RESULTS: The thematic analysis resulted in five higher themes and several subthemes. Participants were generally more positive about Quit Genius's features, as well as about its design and information engagement and quality. Quit Genius users reported increased motivation to quit smoking, as well as greater willingness to continue using their allocated app after 1 week. Moreover, these participants demonstrated preliminary changes in their smoking behavior, although this was in the context of our limited sample, not yet allowing for the finding to be generalizable. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings underscore the use of CBT in the context of mHealth apps as a feasible and potentially effective smoking cessation tool. mHealth apps must be well developed, preferably with an underlying behavioral change mechanism, to promote positive health behavior change. Digital CBT has the potential to become a powerful tool in overcoming current health care challenges. The present results should be replicated in a wider sample using the apps for a longer period so as to allow for generalizability. Further research is also needed to focus on the effect of greater personalization on behavioral change and on understanding the psychological barriers to the adoption of new mHealth solutions

Forecasting ground-based sensitivity to the Rayleigh scattering of the CMB in the presence of astrophysical foregrounds

The Rayleigh scattering of cosmic microwave background (CMB) photons off the neutral hydrogen produced during recombination effectively creates an additional scattering surface after recombination that encodes new cosmological information, including the expansion and ionization history of the universe. A first detection of Rayleigh scattering is a tantalizing target for next-generation CMB experiments. We have developed a Rayleigh scattering forecasting pipeline that includes instrumental effects, atmospheric noise, and astrophysical foregrounds (e.g., Galactic dust, cosmic infrared background, or CIB, and the thermal Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect). We forecast the Rayleigh scattering detection significance for several upcoming ground-based experiments, including SPT-3G+, Simons Observatory, CCAT-prime, and CMB-S4, and examine the limitations from atmospheric and astrophysical foregrounds as well as potential mitigation strategies. When combined with Planck data, we estimate that the ground-based experiments will detect Rayleigh scattering with a significance between 1.6 and 3.7, primarily limited by atmospheric noise and the CIB.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figures (v2 additional author added

Characterization of MKIDs for CMB observation at 220 GHz with the South Pole Telescope

We present an updated design of the 220 GHz microwave kinetic inductance detector (MKID) pixel for SPT-3G+, the next-generation camera for the South Pole Telescope. We show results of the dark testing of a 63-pixel array with mean inductor quality factor $Q_i = 4.8 \times 10^5$, aluminum inductor transition temperature $T_c = 1.19$ K, and kinetic inductance fraction $\alpha_k = 0.32$. We optically characterize both the microstrip-coupled and CPW-coupled resonators, and find both have a spectral response close to prediction with an optical efficiency of $\eta \sim 70\%$. However, we find slightly lower optical response on the lower edge of the band than predicted, with neighboring dark detectors showing more response in this region, though at level consistent with less than 5\% frequency shift relative to the optical detectors. The detectors show polarized response consistent with expectations, with a cross-polar response of $\sim 10\%$ for both detector orientations.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, ASC 2022 proceeding

Cohort profile : the Kilifi vaccine monitoring study

The Kilifi Vaccine Monitoring Study (KiVMS) is a long-term continuous cohort study set up to investigate effectiveness, impact, coverage, safety and indirect vaccine effects by recruiting birth cohorts and, where applicable, cohorts of older and adults. It is based in the area covered by the Kilifi Health and Demographic Surveillance System, Kilifi, Kenya, and currently has records of 33 962 children in the birth cohort database. A major strength of KiVMS is its unique integration of a vaccine registry, a morbidity surveillance system and the largest health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) in Africa

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vaccine coverage in Kilifi, Kenya: A retrospective cohort study.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented disruption in health service delivery, globally. This study sought to provide evidence on the impact of the pandemic on vaccine coverage in Kilifi County, Kenya. We conducted a vaccine coverage survey between April and June 2021 within the Kilifi Health and Demographic Surveillance System (KHDSS). Simple random sampling was used to identify 1500 children aged 6 weeks-59 months. Participants were grouped into three retrospective cohorts based on when they became age-eligible for vaccination: before the pandemic, during the first year, or during the second year of the pandemic. Survival analysis with Cox regression was used to evaluate the association between the time-period at which participants became age-eligible for vaccination and the rate of vaccination within a month of age-eligibility for the third dose of pentavalent vaccine (Pentavalent-3) and within three months of age-eligibility for the first dose of Measles vaccine (MCV-1). A total of 1,341 participants were included in the survey. Compared to the pre-COVID-19 baseline period, the rate of vaccination within a month of age-eligibility for Pentavalent-3 was not significantly different in the first year of the pandemic (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.03, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.90-1.18) and was significantly higher during the second year of the pandemic (aHR 1.33, 95 % CI 1.07-1.65). The rate of vaccination with MCV-1 within three months of age-eligibility was not significantly different among those age-eligible for vaccination during the first year of the pandemic (aHR 1.04, 95 % CI 0.88-1.21) and was 35 % higher during the second year of the pandemic (95 % CI 1.11-1.64), compared to those age-eligible pre-COVID-19. After adjusting for known determinants of vaccination, the COVID-19 pandemic did not adversely affect the rate of vaccination within the KHDSS

Predictors of outcomes in mild pulmonary hypertension according to 2022 ESC/ERS guidelines: the EVIDENCE-PAH UK study

Background and Aims Interventional studies in pulmonary arterial hypertension completed to date have shown to be effective in symptomatic patients with significantly elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) (≥25 mmHg) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) > 3 Wood Unit (WU). However, in health the mPAP does not exceed 20 mmHg and PVR is 2 WU or lower, at rest. The ESC/ERS guidelines have recently been updated to reflect this. There is limited published data on the nature of these newly defined populations (mPAP 21–24 mmHg and PVR >2–≤3 WU) and the role of comorbidity in determining their natural history. With the change in guidelines, there is a need to understand this population and the impact of the ESC/ERS guidelines in greater detail. Methods A retrospective nationwide evaluation of the role of pulmonary haemodynamics and comorbidity in predicting survival among patients referred to the UK pulmonary hypertension (PH) centres between 2009 and 2017. In total, 2929 patients were included in the study. Patients were stratified by mPAP ( 2–≤3 WU, and >3 WU), with 968 (33.0%) in the mPAP <21 mmHg group, 689 (23.5%) in the mPAP 21–24 mmHg group, and 1272 (43.4%) in the mPAP ≥25 mmHg group. Results Survival was negatively correlated with mPAP and PVR in the population as a whole. Survival in patients with mildly elevated mPAP (21–24 mmHg) or PVR (>2–≤3WU) was lower than among those with normal pressures (mPAP <21 mmHg) and normal PVR (PVR ≤ 2WU) independent of comorbid lung and heart disease [hazard ratio (HR) 1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14–1.61, P = .0004 for mPAP vs. HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.10–1.49, P = .0012 for PVR]. Among patients with mildly elevated mPAP, a mildly elevated PVR remained an independent predictor of survival when adjusted for comorbid lung and heart disease (HR 1.33, 95% CI 1.01–1.75, P = .042 vs. HR 1.4, 95% CI 1.06–1.86, P = .019). 68.2% of patients with a mPAP 21–24 mmHg had evidence of underlying heart or lung disease. Patients with mildly abnormal haemodynamics were not more symptomatic than patients with normal haemodynamics. Excluding patients with heart and lung disease, connective tissue disease was associated with a poorer survival among those with PH. In this subpopulation evaluating those with a mPAP of 21–24 mmHg, survival curves only diverged after 5 years. Conclusions This study supports the change in diagnostic category of the ESC/ERS guidelines in a PH population. The newly included patients have an increased mortality independent of significant lung or heart disease. The majority of patients in this new category have underlying heart or lung disease rather than an isolated pulmonary vasculopathy. Mortality is higher if comorbidity is present. Rigorous phenotyping will be pivotal to determine which patients are at risk of progressive vasculopathic disease and in whom surveillance and recruitment to studies may be of benefit. This study provides an insight into the population defined by the new guidelines

Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy as a tool for breeding Andropogon gayanusKunth for forage quality.

Abstract: The objective was to investigate the usefulness of Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) to predict bromatological traits concentrations of gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus Kunth). Random samples from different plant genetic backgrounds, climatic conditions over years, experimental sites, and harvests were used for spectral reading and reference analysis. Partial Least Square (PLS) regressions were used for developing the models with 239 samples for calibration and 119 for external validation. Crude Protein, Ash, and Dry Matter models had R2= 0.91, 0.91, and 0.90 and low standard errors of calibration (SEC) of 8.7, 3.8, and 5.5 g.kg-1 , respectively. Neutral and Acid Detergent Fibers, and Organic Matter had R2 = 0.85, 0.88, and 0.89 and SEC valuesof10.2, 9.4, and 7.9 g.kg-1 , respectively. In vitro digestibility of dry matter had R2= 0.79 and SEC 28.0 g.kg-1 . Acid Detergent Lignin had a poor fit with R2= 0.36.A high correlation between NIRS predictions and wet lab data was observed. Models were adequate and accurate for predicting all bromatological traits but ADL. Significative differences among 51 half-sib families were detected for quality traits predicted throughPLS models. NIRS can be effectively used in gamba grass breeding programs for selecting superior forage quality genotypes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Progression of echocardiographic parameters and prognosis in transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis

Aims: Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is an increasingly diagnosed disease. Echocardiography is widely utilized, but studies to confirm the value of echocardiography for tracking changes over time are not available. We sought to describe (i) changes in multiple echocardiographic parameters; (ii) differences in rate of progression of three predominant genotypes; and (iii) the ability of changes in echocardiographic parameters to predict prognosis. Methods and results: We prospectively studied 877 ATTR-CM patients attending our centre between 2000 and 2020. Serial echocardiography findings at baseline, 12 months and 24 months were compared with survival. Overall, 565 patients had wild-type ATTR-CM and 312 hereditary ATTR-CM (201 with V122I; 90 with T60A). There was progressive worsening of structural and functional parameters over time, patients with V122I ATTR-CM showing more rapid worsening of left and right ventricular structural and functional parameters compared to both wild-type and T60A ATTR-CM. Among a wide range of echocardiographic analyses, including deformation-based parameters, only worsening in the degree of mitral (MR) and tricuspid regurgitation (TR) at 12- and 24-month assessments was associated with worse prognosis (change at 12 months: MR, hazard ratio 1.43 [95% confidence interval 1.14–1.80], p = 0.002; TR, hazard ratio 1.38 [95% confidence interval 1.10–1.75], p = 0.006). Worsening in MR remained independently associated with poor prognosis after adjusting for known predictors. Conclusion: In ATTR-CM, echocardiographic parameters progressively worsen over time. Patients with V122I ATTR-CM demonstrate the most rapid deterioration. Worsening of MR and TR were the only parameters associated with mortality, MR remaining independent after adjusting for known predictors