Digestion of Sand-Laden Manure Slurry in an Upflow Anaerobic Solids Removal (UASR) Digester

Studies on the Performance of a Laboratory Scale Up flow Anaerobic Solids Removal (UASR) Digester Were Carried Out using Sand-Laden Cow Manure Slurries Having Total Solids (TS) Concentration as 50 and 100 G/l. Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) Was Maintained as 32.4 Days, Which Resulted in the Volatile Solids (VS) Loading Rates of 1 and 1.64 G/l D. the UASR System Was Designed to Remove Sand from the Manure Slurry, While Anaerobically Digesting Biodegradable Solids Inside a Single Reactor. to Enhance the Contact of Microorganisms and Substrate, the Liquor from the Top of the Digester Was Recirculated through the Bed of Settled Solids at its Bottom. Volatile Solids Reduction through This Process Was Observed to Be 62% and 68% in the Case of Feed Slurries Having TS Concentration as 50 and 100 G/l (Referred in the Text as 5% and 10% Feed Slurries), Respectively. the Methane Production Rates Were Observed to Be 0.22 and 0.38 L/l D, While Methane Yield Was 0.21 and 0.27 L CH4/g vs. Loaded, for 5% and 10% Feed Slurries, respectively. This Indicates that the Increase in the vs. Loading Had a Positive Impact on Methane Production Rate and Methane Yield. It Would Be of Interest to Study the Performance of a UASR Digester at Higher Solids Loadings and with Longer Solids Retention Times. Nonetheless, the Presented Study Showed that Sand-Laden Manure Slurries Can Be Successfully Digested in a UASR Digester Producing Methane Energy Equivalent to 4 KW H Per M3 of Digester Volume Per Day. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media B.V

Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Chronic Kidney Disease Patients on Regular Hemodialysis

OBJECTIVES To determine the frequency of the Hepatitis C Virus in patients with chronic kidney disease receiving regular hemodialysis. METHODOLOGY At a tertiary care hospital in Peshawar, 211 patients were observed to ascertain the frequency of the Hepatitis C Virus in chronic kidney disease patients receiving regular hemodialysis. The technique of non-probability sequential sampling was employed to acquire samples. SPSS version 26.0 was used. RESULTSAmong the CKD patients with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection, a higher proportion of males (48.5%) tested positive compared to females (28.1%). Furthermore, the prevalence of HCV infection was significantly higher in CKD patients residing in urban areas (98.5%) compared to those in rural areas (1.5%). The statistical analysis indicated a significant association between the prevalence of Hepatitis and the factors of gender and residency (P value = 0.002). Out of 211, hepatitis C-positive patients 66.2% were diabetics and hypertensive were 77.9%. CONCLUSION Hospitalized CKD patients have a considerably higher frequency of hepatitis C infection. To stop the spread of the hepatitis C virus, nephrology wards should undertake strict universal infection control procedures

Methane Production in a 100-L Upflow Bioreactor by Anaerobic Digestion of Farm Waste

Manure Waste from Dairy Farms Has Been Used for Methane Production for Decades, However, Problems Such as Digester Failure Are Routine. the Problem Has Been Investigated in Small Scale (1-2 L) Digesters in the Laboratory; However, Very Little Scale-Up to Intermediate Scales Are Available. We Report Production of Methane in a 100-L Digester and the Results of an Investigation into the Effect of Partial Mixing Induced by Gas Upflow/recirculation in the Digester. the Digester Was Operated for a Period of About 70 D (With 16-D Hydraulic Retention Time) with and Without the Mixing Induced by Gas Recirculation through an Internal Draft Tube. the Results Show a Clear Effect of Mixing on Digester Operation. Without Any Mixing, the Digester Performance Deteriorated within 30-50 D, Whereas with Mixing Continuous Production of Methane Was Observed. This Study Demonstrates the Importance of Mixing and its Critical Role in Design of Large-Scale Anaerobic Digesters. Copyright © 2006 by Humana Press Inc. All Rights of Any Nature Whatsoever Reserved

Biostimulatory effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on rate of orthodontic tooth movement and associated pain, applied at 3-week intervals: A split-mouth study

Objective: Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is a noninvasive modality to stimulate bone remodeling (BR) and the healing of hard and soft tissues. This research evaluates the biostimulatory effect of LIPUS on the rate of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) and associated pain, when applied at 3-week intervals.Methods: Twenty-two patients (11 males and 11 females; mean age 19.18 ± 2.00 years) having Angle\u27s Class II division 1 malocclusion needing bilateral extractions of maxillary first bicuspids were recruited for this split-mouth randomized clinical trial. After the initial stage of alignment and leveling with contemporary edgewise MBT (McLaughlin-Bennett-Trevisi) prescription brackets (Ortho Organizers, Carlsbad, Calif) of 22 mil, followed by extractions of premolars bilaterally, 6 mm nickel-titanium spring was used to retract the canines separately by applying 150 g force on 0.019 × 0.025-in stainless steel working archwires. LIPUS (1.1 MHz frequency and 30 mW/cm2 intensity output) was applied for 20 minutes extraorally and reapplied after 3 weeks for 2 more successive visits over the root of maxillary canine on the experimental side whereas the other side was placebo. A numerical rating scale- (NRS-) based questionnaire was given to the patients on each visit to record their weekly pain experience. Impressions were also made at each visit before the application of LIPUS (T1, T2, and T3). Models were scanned with a CAD/CAM scanner (Planmeca, Helsinki, Finland). Mann-Whitney U test was applied for comparison of canine movement and pain intensity between both the groups.Results: No significant difference in the rate of canine movement was found among the experimental (0.90 mm ± 0.33 mm) and placebo groups (0.81 mm ± 0.32 mm). There was no difference in pain reduction between experimental and placebo groups (p \u3e 0.05).Conclusion: Single-dose application of LIPUS at 3-week intervals is ineffective in stimulating the OTM and reducing associated treatment pain

Prevalence and severity of urinary incontinence among females after normal vaginal delivery

Background: Urinary Incontinence is the most common disorder associated with women after vaginal delivery due to the weakening of pelvic floor muscles. More than 50% of females experience urinary incontinence. It is defined as the involuntary leakage of urine. The condition is common not only in older women but also in young nulliparous women. Objective: The key objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and severity of Urinary Incontinence after normal vaginal delivery. Method: The study was Cross-sectional and there were 160 participants in the study. The study was conducted at the Physical Therapy department and Gynaecology Ward of Fauji Foundation and Geo hospital Lahore. The data was collected from women who had delivered between the ages of 20-40 years. The data collection was done by using Incontinence Severity Index that was used as primary outcome measure. Results: A total of 160 responses were received, based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Among respondents, females in the age group of 20-25 had a rate of urinary incontinence with 31.3 percent. Results showed that females in the age group of 25-30 had high BMI and had a high rate of urinary incontinence with the range of 61.3 percent. As result, there was a positive correlation of urinary incontinence between age and score that ranged from 0.185. There was a positive correlation of urinary incontinence between the score and BMI that ranged between 0.174. Conclusion: This analysis revealed that there was a high prevalence rate of urinary incontinence among females after delivery that had a correlation with age

Effect of Shear on Performance and Microbial Ecology of Continuously Stirred Anaerobic Digesters Treating Animal Manure

We Determined the Effect of Different Mixing Intensities on the Performance, Methanogenic Population Dynamics, and Juxtaposition of Syntrophic Microbes in Anaerobic Digesters Treating Cow Manure from a Dairy Farm. Computer Automated Radioactive Particle Tracking in Conjunction with Computational Fluid Dynamics Was Performed to Quantify the Shear Levels Locally. Four Continuously Stirred Anaerobic Digesters Were Operated at Different Mixing Intensities of 1,500, 500, 250, and 50 Revolutions Per Min (RPM) over a 260-Day Period at a Temperature of 34 ± 1°C. Animal Manure at a Volatile Solids (VS) Concentration of 50 G/L Was Fed into the Digesters Daily at Five Different Organic Loading Rates between 0.6 and 3.5 G vs./L Day. the Different Mixing Intensities Had No Effect on the Biogas Production Rates and Yields at Steady-State Conditions. a Methane Yield of 0.241 ± 0.007 L CH 4/g vs. Fed Was Obtained by Pooling the Data of All Four Digesters during Steady-State Periods. However, Digester Performance Was Affected Negatively by Mixing Intensity during Startup of the Digesters, with Lower Biogas Production Rates and Higher Volatile Fatty Acids Concentrations Observed for the 1,500-RPM Digester. Despite Similar Methane Production Yields and Rates, the Acetoclastic Methanogenic Populations Were Different for the High- and Low-Intensity Mixed Digesters with Methanosarcina Spp. and Methanosaeta Concilii as the Predominant Methanogens, Respectively. for All Four Digesters, Epifluorescence Microscopy Revealed Decreasing Microbial Floc Sizes Beginning at Week 4 and Continuing through Week 26 after Which No Microbial Flocs Remained. This Decrease in Size, and Subsequent Loss of Microbial Flocs Did Not, However, Produce Any Long-Term Upsets in Digester Performance. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Mesophilic Digestion Kinetics of Manure Slurry

Anaerobic Digestion Kinetics Study of Cow Manure Was Performed at 35°C in Bench-Scale Gas-Lift Digesters (3.78 L Working Volume) at Eight Different Volatile Solids (VS) Loading Rates in the Range of 1.11-5.87 G L-1 Day-1. the Digesters Produced Methane at the Rates of 0.44-1.18 L L-1 Day-1, and the Methane Content of the Biogas Was Found to Increase with Longer Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT). based on the Experimental Observations, the Ultimate Methane Yield and the Specific Methane Productivity Were Estimated to Be 0.42 L CH4 (G vs. Loaded)-1 and 0.45 L CH4 (G vs. Consumed)-1, Respectively. Total and Dissolved Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) Consumptions Were Calculated to Be 59-17% and 78-43% at 24.4-4.6 Days HRTs, respectively. Maximum Concentration of Volatile Fatty Acids in the Effluent Was Observed as 0.7 G L-1 at 4.6 Days HRT, While It Was Below Detection Limit at HRTs Longer Than 11 Days. the Observed Methane Production Rate Did Not Compare Well with the Predictions of Chen and Hashimoto\u27s [1] and Hill\u27s [2] Models using their Recommended Kinetic Parameters. However, under the Studied Experimental Conditions, the Predictions of Chen and Hashimoto\u27s [1] Model Compared Better to the Observed Data Than that of Hill\u27s [2] Model. the Nonlinear Regression Analysis of the Experimental Data Was Performed using a Derived Methane Production Rate Model, for a Completely Mixed Anaerobic Digester, Involving Contois Kinetics [3] with Endogenous Decay. the Best Fit Values for the Maximum Specific Growth Rate (Μm) and Dimensionless Kinetic Parameter (K) Were Estimated as 0.43 Day-1 and 0.89, Respectively. the Experimental Data Were Found to Be within 95% Confidence Interval of the Prediction of the Derived Methane Production Rate Model with the Sum of Residual Squared Error as 0.02. © Humana Press Inc. 2007

Pain Perception and Rate of Canine Retraction Through Self- Ligating Brackets and Conventional Elastomeric Ligation System: A Split Mouth Study

Objective: To evaluate the rate of tooth movement and the pain perception via self-ligating (SL) and conventional elastomeric ligation brackets (CB) system. Material and Methods: This study has been conducted at the Orthodontic Department of Baqai Dental College, Baqai Medical University. The sample size of this study comprised 40 patients, falling between the age of 12-30 years without any sex discrimination. Shapiro-Wilk was used to check the distribution of data. Non-parametric Mann Whitney U test was applied to evaluate the pain associated with SL and CB brackets system. To analysis the canine retraction Wilcoxon test was applied for the comparison of CB and SL brackets system. For all statistical analyses, the p-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Pain level associated with retraction via CB and SL shows significant differences. However, the rate of canine retraction via CB and SL shows no significant differences at stages T0-T1 and T1-T2. However, stage T2-T3 shows a significant difference. Conclusion: As pain during orthodontic treatment is mostly associated with the level of compression of the periodontal ligament, it may be hypothesized that lower frictional forces generate less compression of the periodontal ligament and blood vessels, and so alter the type of pain experienced

IMPROVED BIOMASS UTILIZATION THROUGH REMOTE FLOW SENSING

The growth of the livestock industry provides a valuable source of affordable, sustainable, and renewable bioenergy, while also requiring the safe disposal of the large quantities of animal wastes (manure) generated at dairy, swine, and poultry farms. If these biomass resources are mishandled and underutilized, major environmental problems will be created, such as surface and ground water contamination, odors, dust, ammonia leaching, and methane emission. Anaerobic digestion of animal wastes, in which microorganisms break down organic materials in the absence of oxygen, is one of the most promising waste treatment technologies. This process produces biogas typically containing {approx}65% methane and {approx}35% carbon dioxide. The production of biogas through anaerobic digestion from animal wastes, landfills, and municipal waste water treatment plants represents a large source of renewable and sustainable bio-fuel. Such bio-fuel can be combusted directly, used in internal combustion engines, converted into methanol, or partially oxidized to produce synthesis gas (a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide) that can be converted to clean liquid fuels and chemicals via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Different design and mixing configurations of anaerobic digesters for treating cow manure have been utilized commercially and/or tested on a laboratory scale. These digesters include mechanically mixed, gas recirculation mixed, and slurry recirculation mixed designs, as well as covered lagoon digesters. Mixing is an important parameter for successful performance of anaerobic digesters. It enhances substrate contact with the microbial community; improves pH, temperature and substrate/microorganism uniformity; prevents stratification and scum accumulation; facilitates the removal of biogas from the digester; reduces or eliminates the formation of inactive zones (dead zones); prevents settling of biomass and inert solids; and aids in particle size reduction. Unfortunately, information and findings in the literature on the effect of mixing on anaerobic digestion are contradictory. One reason is the lack of measurement techniques for opaque systems such as digesters. Better understanding of the mixing and hydrodynamics of digesters will result in appropriate design, configuration selection, scale-up, and performance, which will ultimately enable avoiding digester failures. Accordingly, this project sought to advance the fundamental knowledge and understanding of the design, scale up, operation, and performance of cow manure anaerobic digesters with high solids loading. The project systematically studied parameters affecting cow manure anaerobic digestion performance, in different configurations and sizes by implementing computer automated radioactive particle tracking (CARPT), computed tomography (CT), and computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and by developing novel multiple-particle CARPT (MP-CARPT) and dual source CT (DSCT) techniques. The accomplishments of the project were achieved in a collaborative effort among Washington University, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the Iowa Energy Center teams. The following investigations and achievements were accomplished: Systematic studies of anaerobic digesters performance and kinetics using various configurations, modes of mixing, and scales (laboratory, pilot plant, and commercial sizes) were conducted and are discussed in Chapter 2. It was found that mixing significantly affected the performance of the pilot plant scale digester ({approx}97 liter). The detailed mixing and hydrodynamics were investigated using computer automated radioactive particle tracking (CARPT) techniques, and are discussed in Chapter 3. A novel multiple particle tracking technique (MP-CARPT) technique that can track simultaneously up to 8 particles was developed, tested, validated, and implemented. Phase distribution was investigated using gamma ray computer tomography (CT) techniques, which are discussed in Chapter 4. A novel dual source CT (DSCT) technique was developed to measure the phase distribution of dynamic three phase system such as digesters with high solids loading and other types of gas-liquid-solid fluidization systems. Evaluation and validation of the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models and closures were conducted to model and simulate the hydrodynamics and mixing intensity of the anaerobic digesters (Chapter 5). It is strongly recommended that additional studies be conducted, both on hydrodynamics and performance, in large scale digesters. The studies should use advanced non-invasive measurement techniques, including the developed novel measurement techniques, to further understand their design, scale-up, performance, and operation to avoid any digester failure. The final goal is a system ready to be used by farmers on site for bioenergy production and for animal/farm waste treatment

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries