The Effects of Additional Treatment of Activated Coal on the Increase of Special Characteristics of Gas Diffused Cathods of Aluminum-air Electrochemical Generator

The investigation was based on two facultative stabilization ponds initially designed to operate in parallel, and now receive wastewater in excess of their capacities from a fast expanding housing estate in the Caribbean Island of Trinidad. Because of the deterioration of the effluent quality relative to acceptable standards, an attempt was made to upgrade the ponds using water hyacinths at the early stages. However, from the results, it was clear that the introduction of water hyacinths in the test pond did not lead to any substantial improvement in the effluent because of the high loading on the pond. Therefore the ponds were modified to operate in series with surface aerators installed in the first pond. Initially, the effluent quality was monitored in terms of total suspended solids, volatile suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand, faecal coliform bacteria, pH and dissolved oxygen with aeration in the first pond and no aquatic plants in the second pond. Although there was a significant improvement in the effluent quality, the values remained above the standards. As a result, water hyacinths were introduced in the second pond and the effluent quality monitored together with aeration in the first pond. The effluent quality improved with total suspended solids and biochemical oxygen demand values both as low as 10 mg/l in certain months, but additional treatment was needed to reduce faecal conforms.

Download Full-text

Use in Agriculture of Sludge from Chemical Treatment of Sewage

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1987.0052 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 19 (8) ◽

pp. 139-145

Author(s):

G. Castillo ◽

A. Ortega

Keyword(s):

Sodium Hydroxide ◽

Chemical Treatment ◽

Application Rate ◽

Additional Treatment ◽

Fecal Coliforms ◽

Aluminium Sulfate ◽

Leguminous Crops ◽

Dried Sludge ◽

Chemical Sludge ◽

Sludge Application

The reutilization in agriculture of the sludge produced in the chemical treatment of sewage is investigated. Aluminium sulfate (50 mg/l) and sodium hydroxide (50 and 200 mg/l) are added to domestic sewage allowing it to settle and eliminating floating materials. Three kinds of raw chemical sludge are digested and dried. Their sanitary quality is determined by two bacterial indicators (total and fecal coliforms) and one viral indicator (E. coli bacteriophage) and the fertilizing capability of digested and dry sludge by sowing leguminous crops (Phaseolus spp ) in soil with 11 tons/ha sludge application rate. Digested and dried sludge from conventional treatment in equal conditions to those of chemical sludge is used as reference. Sanitary quality results show that raw and digested chemical sludge are not recommended for use in agriculture due to their high microbiological contamination. Dry sludge could be considered for this purpose due to its low fecal organisms content. However the development of leguminous crops in soil with dry aluminium sludge application shows no seed germination. The results of leguminous growth in digested sludge of sodium hydroxide (200 mg/l) justify an additional treatment to adequate its sanitary quality for use in agriculture.

Download Full-text

Conventional versus Mindfulness-based Interventions for Anxiety and Worry: A Review and Recommendations

Current Psychiatry Research and Reviews ◽

10.2174/2666082216666200220121648 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 60-67

Author(s):

Deah Jo Abbott ◽

Caleb Wayne Lack

Keyword(s):

Treatment Options ◽

Additional Treatment ◽

Third Wave ◽

Stage Model ◽

Pharmacological Treatments ◽

The Past ◽

Behavioral Therapies ◽

Cognitive Behavioral Therapies ◽

Specific Disorders ◽

Psychiatric Problems

Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent and most functionally impairing psychiatric problems experienced by the population. Both pharmacological and psychological evidencebased treatments exist for a number of specific disorders, but may fail to fully relieve symptoms, pointing to the need for additional treatment options. Often considered to be part of the “third wave” of cognitive-behavioral therapies, treatments incorporating mindfulness have emerged in the past two decades as increasingly popular with clinicians and frequently sought out by consumers. The present article reviews the extant literature regarding the efficacy and effectiveness of mindfulnessbased treatments for anxiety, worry, and related problems. Although they have not attained the solid empirical status of CBT or certain pharmacological treatments, the extant research shows mindfulness- based interventions appear to be a promising and useful treatment for people suffering from anxiety and worry. Further work should be done, levels 3-5 of the NIH stage model to determine whether or not they should be further implemented.

Download Full-text

Effectiveness of a digital therapeutic as adjunct to treatment with medication in pediatric ADHD

npj Digital Medicine ◽

10.1038/s41746-021-00429-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Scott H. Kollins ◽

Ann Childress ◽

Andrew C. Heusser ◽

Jacqueline Lutz

Keyword(s):

Video Game ◽

Primary Outcome ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Stimulant Medication ◽

Additional Treatment ◽

Adhd Medication ◽

Open Label ◽

Serious Adverse Events ◽

Treatment Benefit ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder

AbstractSTARS-Adjunct was a multicenter, open-label effectiveness study of AKL-T01, an app and video-game-based treatment for inattention, as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy in 8–14-year-old children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on stimulant medication (n = 130) or not on any ADHD medication (n = 76). Children used AKL-T01 for 4 weeks, followed by a 4-week pause and another 4-week treatment. The primary outcome was change in ADHD-related impairment (Impairment Rating Scale (IRS)) after 4 weeks. Secondary outcomes included changes in IRS, ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS). and Clinical Global Impressions Scale—Improvement (CGI-I) on days 28, 56, and 84. IRS significantly improved in both cohorts (On Stimulants: −0.7, p < 0.001; No Stimulants: −0.5, p < 0.001) after 4 weeks. IRS, ADHD-RS, and CGI-I remained stable during the pause and improved with a second treatment period. The treatment was well-tolerated with no serious adverse events. STARS-Adjunct extends AKL-T01’s body of evidence to a medication-treated pediatric ADHD population, and suggests additional treatment benefit.

Download Full-text

Switching to intravitreal fluocinolone acetonide implant for refractory diabetic macular edema: 12- and 24-month results

European Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.1177/1120672121992982 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 112067212199298

Author(s):

Argyrios Chronopoulos ◽

Panagiotis Chronopoulos ◽

Agharza Ashurov ◽

Christina Korb ◽

Norbert Pfeiffer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Macular Edema ◽

Diabetic Macular Edema ◽

Fluocinolone Acetonide ◽

Additional Treatment ◽

Multicentric Study ◽

Goldmann Tonometry ◽

Refractory Diabetic Macular Edema ◽

Intravitreal Implant ◽

Fluocinolone Acetonide Implant

Purpose: To report visual and anatomical outcomes of chronic/refractory diabetic macular edema (DME) treated with intravitreal fluocinolone acetonide implant. Setting: Retrospective, one arm, multicentric study. Method: Between 2013 and 2018, 27 consecutive eyes of 25 patients with chronic/refractory DME were treated with a fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant. Best registered visual acuity (BRVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), and Goldmann tonometry intraocular pressure (IOP) were assessed at 12 and 24 months. The need for IOP lowering treatment as well as top-up therapy during the follow-up were also assessed. Results: The duration of DME prior to treatment in our study was 54 ± 24 months. The baseline mean BRVA of 0.7 ± 0.34 logMAR improved to 0.5 ± 0.3 ( p = 0.01) at 12 months and 0.46 ± 0.3 ( p = 0.04) at 24 months. At 12 months, BRVA improved in 14 eyes (52%), stabilized in 5 eyes (20%), and decreased in 3 eyes (11%). At 24 months, BRVA improved further in 6 eyes (24%), stabilized in 3 eyes (12%), and decreased in 6 eyes (24 %). Mean CRT decreased from 497 ± 176 to 349 ± 186 μm at 12 months ( p = 0.0005) and to 267 ± 104 μm at 24 months ( p = 0.001). Only five eyes required additional treatment for DME and only three eyes required treatment for raised IOP. Discussion: Our results show that the visual and the anatomical improvements achieved by a single injection of a fluocinolone acetonide implant were maintained up to 24 months with minimal additional therapy even in eyes with a long and heavy history; however, IOP monitoring remains essential.

Download Full-text

Evaluation of Hypersensitivity Reactions in Pediatric Patients Using Biological Drugs

International Archives of Allergy and Immunology ◽

10.1159/000515500 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Ozge Yilmaz Topal ◽

Volkan Kose ◽

Banu Acar ◽

Umut Selda Bayrakci ◽

Derya Ozyoruk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pediatric Patients ◽

Additional Treatment ◽

Hypersensitivity Reactions ◽

Biological Drugs ◽

Rheumatologic Diseases ◽

Culprit Drug ◽

Dose Infusion ◽

History Of ◽

Oncologic Diseases ◽

Biologic Drug

Introduction: Biological drugs are currently used for the treatment of chronic inflammatory, autoimmune, and neoplastic diseases. With their expanding indication spectrum and increasing use, hypersensitivity reactions to these drugs are also becoming more frequent. The present study aimed to report the incidence and the features of such reactions in pediatric patients using biologicals for the treatment of various diseases. Methods: The medical records of pediatric patients treated with biological agents between October 1, 2011 and August 31, 2019 were reviewed and adverse reactions were evaluated retrospectively. Results: During the study period, 211 patients (116 boys, 55%) used 21 different biological drugs for the treatment of various diseases. Their median age at the time of the first treatment was 139.9 (IQR: 92.2–187.8) months. Hematologic-oncologic diseases were the most common indication for biological therapy (97/211; 46.0%), followed by rheumatologic diseases (82/211; 38.9%). Of the 211 patients, 14 (6.64%) experienced reactions to biological drugs. The most common culprit agent was rituximab (57.1%). Most of the patients (85.7%) had a history of reactions either during the infusion or within 1 h after taking the drug. Five patients underwent desensitization to the culprit drug, while 7 other patients continued treatment with a reduced dose/infusion rate or premedication. Also 1 patient continued to take the drug without any additional treatment. Conclusion: It was reported that 6.64% of the patients who received biologic drug therapy for various reasons in our hospital had hypersensitivity. The most common culprit agent was rituximab, and most of the reactions were immediate reactions.

Download Full-text