Population-level risks of alcohol consumption by amount, geography, age, sex, and year: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2020

Background The health risks associated with moderate alcohol consumption continue to be debated. Small amounts of alcohol might lower the risk of some health outcomes but increase the risk of others, suggesting that the overall risk depends, in part, on background disease rates, which vary by region, age, sex, and year. Methods For this analysis, we constructed burden-weighted dose–response relative risk curves across 22 health outcomes to estimate the theoretical minimum risk exposure level (TMREL) and non-drinker equivalence (NDE), the consumption level at which the health risk is equivalent to that of a non-drinker, using disease rates from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2020 for 21 regions, including 204 countries and territories, by 5-year age group, sex, and year for individuals aged 15–95 years and older from 1990 to 2020. Based on the NDE, we quantified the population consuming harmful amounts of alcohol. Findings The burden-weighted relative risk curves for alcohol use varied by region and age. Among individuals aged 15–39 years in 2020, the TMREL varied between 0 (95% uncertainty interval 0–0) and 0·603 (0·400–1·00) standard drinks per day, and the NDE varied between 0·002 (0–0) and 1·75 (0·698–4·30) standard drinks per day. Among individuals aged 40 years and older, the burden-weighted relative risk curve was J-shaped for all regions, with a 2020 TMREL that ranged from 0·114 (0–0·403) to 1·87 (0·500–3·30) standard drinks per day and an NDE that ranged between 0·193 (0–0·900) and 6·94 (3·40–8·30) standard drinks per day. Among individuals consuming harmful amounts of alcohol in 2020, 59·1% (54·3–65·4) were aged 15–39 years and 76·9% (73·0–81·3) were male. Interpretation There is strong evidence to support recommendations on alcohol consumption varying by age and location. Stronger interventions, particularly those tailored towards younger individuals, are needed to reduce the substantial global health loss attributable to alcohol. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Heterogeneous photocatalytic degradation of methanol over uranyl-anchored nanoporous MCM-41 and MCM-48

The vapor-phase photoclegraclation of methanol to carbon dioxide was carried out over uranylanchored nanoporous MCM-41 and MCM-48 hosts (designated as UO22 divided by/MCM-41 UO22 divided by/MCM-48 48, respectively) under simulated light and ambient conditions. Preliminary results indicate that the photoactivity of the latter is considerably decreased as compared to the former due to the presence of a smaller fraction of photoactive uranyl (UO22+) ions in UO22 divided by/MCM-48

Uranyl-anchored MCM-41 as a highly efficient photocatalyst for the complete oxidation of methanol under sunlight

A photocatalyst that may exhibit high activity for oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) under solar radiation would offer a practical and economic means for the cleaning of air under environmental conditions. We report here for the first time that the uranyl ions anchored within the mesopores of MCM-41 may serve as an efficient heterogeneous photocatalyst for the complete destruction of methanol in vapor phase, and in the presence of sunlight and air. The uranyl-anchored MCM-41 was found to be more efficient than a TiO(2) photocatalyst in terms of CH(3)OH-->CO(2) conversion rates. The reversible and active participation of uranyl groups in the studied photocatalytic reaction was ascertained with the help of in situ fluorescence and electron paramagnetic resonance techniques, whereas the radiation-induced transient species over catalyst surface were monitored using in situ FTIR spectroscopy. The detailed reaction mechanism and the role played by uranyl ions in the photooxidation of methanol over UO(2)(2+)/MCM are elucidated on the basis of these results. (C) 200

An in situ FT-IR study of photo-oxidation of alcohols over uranyl-anchored MCM-41: Possible reaction pathways

Photosensitive uranyl ions anchored onto MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieves serve as remarkable photocatalysts in the degradation of alcohols, under ambient conditions of light, temperature, and air. The rates of conversion of alcohols to carbon dioxide was found to decrease in the order methanol > ethanol > 2-propanol > 1-propanol, with the difference in reactivity attributed to the stability of the carbon-centered radicals formed during photo-oxidation. Kinetics revealed that the photo-oxidation of alcohols followed a first-order reaction. A detailed in situ FT-IR analysis was used to identify the transient species formed during the photo-oxidation of ethanol and 2-propanof over uranyl-anchored photocatalyst. Acetic acid, ethyl acetate, and acetaldehyde were the intermediates obtained over UO22+/MCM-41 during photo-oxidation of ethanol, whereas acetate species, methyl acetate, and acetone were detected during photo-oxidation of 2-propanol. Based on the intenriediate species formed, their growth with respect to irradiation time, and their intensities, appropriate reaction mechanisms were proposed to corroborate our observations. (c) 2007 All fiahts reserved

Sunlight-assisted photocatalytic oxidation of methane over uranyl-anchored MCM-41

Uranyl ions anchored within the mesopores of MCM-41 silicate host matrix served as highly efficient heterogeneous catalysts for sunlight-assisted room-temperature photooxidation of methane in the presence of air to selectively form carbon dioxide. The extent of conversion depended upon the methane content; lower the concentration, faster was the completion of reaction. It was also confirmed that no thermocatalytic reaction occurred below 200 degreesC in the absence of radiation, other test conditions remaining the same. These results are of relevance from the point of view of abatement of VOCs in the environment

Vapor-phase photocatalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds over novel uranyl-anchored MCM-41 heterogeneous catalyst

In the present investigation, we exploited the visible region absorbance (lambda > 380 nm) of uranyl ions anchored onto mesoporous MCM-41 matrix for the vapor-phase photooxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, toluene, cyclohexane, cyclohexene, and oxylene. In all cases, the only complete oxidation products, viz., carbon dioxide and water, were obtained. Further, the extent of conversion to carbon dioxide depended upon the nature of the organic compound. Under sunlight, the uranyl-anchored catalyst was found to be highly active for the degradation of a stable molecule like benzene, though longer irradiation times were needed for its complete conversion. This study signifies the potential applicability of the uranyl-anchored photocatalyst for applications related to air cleaning under ambient conditions of solar radiation and air

Uranyl-anchored MCM-41 as a highly efficient photocatalyst in the oxidative destruction of short chain linear alkanes: An in situ FTIR study

Uranyl ions anchored in the mesopores of MCM-41 molecular sieve were found to be a highly efficient heterogeneous photocatalyst in the complete degradation of short chain linear alkanes such as methane, ethane, propane, and butane, carried out under ambient conditions of light irradiation. In addition to the formation of carbon dioxide and water, a negligible amount of methane was detected during the photooxidation of ethane, propane, and butane. Further, small amounts of ethane were also obtained during photooxidation of butane, suggesting quenching of *UO22+ by a C-C bond cleavage, in addition to a hydrogen atom abstraction. An C, in situ Fourier transform IR spectroscopy analysis was employed in order to monitor the photooxidation of methane and ethane over *UO22+/MCM-41, where formic acid, formaldehyde, and formate species were the transient species identified from methane, and acetic acid, acetaldehyde, and acetate species were the intermediates obtained from ethane. Appropriate reaction pathways were proposed based on the formation of these species (C-H cleavage) and also from the negligible quantitites of methane and ethane obtained during photooxidation of higher alkanes (C-C cleavage)

A Matched-Cohort Evaluation of a Bedside Asthma Intervention for Patients Hospitalized at a Large Urban Children’s Hospital

Emergency care and hospitalizations account for 36% of asthma-related medical expenses for children. National asthma guidelines emphasize the need for asthma self-management education at multiple points of care, including the hospital, to help prevent acute exacerbations. The integration of a bedside asthma education program into discharge planning at a busy urban children’s hospital aimed to reduce repeat emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations by educating the community’s highest-risk children and their families about asthma. A trained respiratory professional provided 45 minutes of individualized bedside education to families at the hospital and one follow-up support phone call within 3 weeks after discharge. Children receiving the intervention were matched to a control group of children not receiving the intervention by age and 2 markers of past utilization using data obtained from hospital records. Repeat ED utilization was analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model controlling for sex, residence, race or ethnicity, and year. Compared to 698 matched controls, no significant improvement was observed in the 698 intervention participants or any subgroups followed for 12 months after the intervention