Pilot-scale studies of combined clarification, filtration, and ultraviolet radiation systems for disinfection of secondary municipal wastewater effluent

Disinfection of municipal wastewater effluent was evaluated using three alternatives, including: (1) low-pressure (LP)+medium-pressure (MP) UV lamps; (2) clarifier+LP+MP; and (3) pressurized sand filter+ LP+MP. Total coliform (TC), fecal coliform (FC), fecal Streptococcus (FS), TSS, several physicochemical parameters, absorbtivity and UV transmittance (UVT; ) were tested. The UVT for secondary, clarified and filtered effluents were 3.5, 34 and 50, respectively. A 15 photo-reactivation in secondary effluent disinfected by LP lamp was observed, while it was limited to 0.03 by the MP lamp after filtration. Filtration to a surface overflow rate (SOR) of 1050 L/m2h, followed by MP irradiation at a dose of 230 mW s/cm2 was an effective alternative to reduce the TC, FC, and FS in the disinfected secondary effluent. Filtration+MP lamp met the standards of 1000 TC and 400 FC/100 mL for effluent discharge to receiving waters. This process can also inactivate FS, effecting a 6-log reduction. Among the evaluated alternatives, none of the other treatment systems performed as well as the pressurized sand filter+MP lamp, making this the best combination for post-treatment and disinfection of secondary effluent from a well-run wastewater treatment plant. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Cone Beam CT Evaluation of the Prevalence and Characteristics of the Retromolar Canal

Statement of problem: Retro-molar canal (RMC) is of clinical significance because of its neurovascular content, which may be at risk of damage during the surgical procedures of the area. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency and anatomic characteristics of RMC by using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods: The sample of this study consisted of 500 CBCT images (1000 sides), evaluated for the presence, type, and width of RMC. The canals were categorized into five groups based on their course as A1 (vertical), A2 (vertical with a horizontal branch), B1 (curved), B2 (curved with a horizontal branch), and C (horizontal). Results: The study showed that 57 (11.4%) subjects and 67 (6.7%) sides had RMC in which 47 (9.4 %) were unilateral and 10 (2%) were bilateral. There was no statistically significant difference between male and female individuals in the occurrence of RMC (10.2% and 12.7%, respectively) (P-value=0.387). The most common morphologic types were B1 (50.7%) and A1 (23.9%), while A2 (3%) and B2 (4.5%) were the least frequent types. The mean width of the mandibular canal and RMC were 3.51 ± 0.55 mm and 1.30 ± 0.47 mm, respectively. These dimensions were not significantly influenced by gender (P-value=0.440, 0.569, respectively). Conclusions: The results of the present investigation showed that the RMC was a common anatomic structure. Therefore, because of its clinical significance, it is highly recommended that dental practitioners consider this structure in pre-surgical evaluations of the region in order to avoid related complications

Clinical and Radiographic Evaluation of Styloid Process and Eagle Syndrome in Shiraz: Prevalence, Morphology and Symptoms

Introduction: Eagle syndrome, which can be a source of craniofacial pain, is caused by elongation of styloid process more than 25 mm. The present study aimed to assess the structural characteristics and prevalence of elongated styloid process (ESP), Eagle syndrome and the related symptoms in the adults aged above 20 years in Shiraz. Methods: In this cross- sectional study, 500 panoramic radiographs were evaluated in regard with styloid process length and morphology. In the presence of any symptoms in patients with ESP, they were clinically evaluated. Those symptoms reproduced by tonsillar fossa palpation were regarded relevant to ESP. Results: The prevalence of ESP was 35.2%, which  was proved not to be sex-dependent. Individuals aged 40-60 years and those with more than 60 years had respectively 1.76 (1.16-2.66, CR: 95%) and 2.01 (1.10-3.66, CR: 95%) times greater chance for ESP compared to those aged below 40. The most and the least prevalent structural morphologies were continuous calcification and multiple pseudo articulation respectively. Eagle syndrome was observed in 1.8% of the study population. Moreover, headache, dizziness, and foreign body sensation were respectively reported as the most evaluated symptoms. Conclusion: ESP was demonstrated to occur commonly in the study population which can get more prevalent by increasing age. With respect to avoiding unnecessary treatments, clinical examination of patients seem to be essential in order to differentiate Eagle syndrome from other sources with the same complications

16p subtelomeric duplication: a clinically recognizable syndrome

We report on two patients with duplication of the subterminal region of chromosome 16p (dup16p) recognized by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) telomere analysis, presenting with closely overlapping facial features and neurological impairment. Distinct facial anomalies included high forehead, sparse eyebrows, blepharophimosis, short nose, everted upper lip, high-arched palate, wide-spaced teeth, and cupped anteverted ears. Susceptibility to vascular anomalies, in particular pulmonary hypertension and portal cavernoma, was found in one patient. Subtelomeric analysis by FISH demonstrated a de novo duplication of the subtelomeric region of chromosome 16p and a deletion of the subtelomeric region of chromosome 4q in case 1, and duplication of the subtelomeric region of 16p and a deletion of the subtelomeric region of 21q, resulting from malsegregation of a balanced maternal traslocation t(16pter;21qter) in case 2. The extension of duplicated regions measured by array-comparative genome hybridization was about 12Mb on 16p13.3p13.13 in case 1, and about 8.5Mb on 16p13.3p13.2 in case 2. In conclusion, we reported a clinically recognizable disorder in two patients with dup16p. Pulmonary hypertension, vascular ring, and manifestations of vascular disruption, as terminal hypoplasia of hands and aplasia cutis, have been previously described in association with dup16p. Thus, susceptibility to pulmonary vascular disease and other vascular anomalies can be a feature of dup16p, suggesting that this subtelomeric region in some respect could be related to vascular anomalies. European Journal of Human Genetics (2009) 17, 1135-1140; doi: 10.1038/ejhg.2009.14; published online 18 Marc