A Study on Applying Phenol Foam Insulation Material as Pipe Lagging Material

During a fire, the major cause of casualties is the toxic gas produced from combustible interior and exterior materials. Increasing the time for occupant evacuation by reducing toxic gas is the most effective way of reducing casualties. Many casualties occurred in recent fires at the Jecheon Sports Center, Miryang Sejong Hospital, and Icheon Distribution Center. The commonality is that the toxic gas produced from combustible interior and exterior materials was the major cause of the casualties. In this study, phenol foam insulation material was considered as an alternative pipe lagging material, owing to its limited combustibility and non-production of toxic gas, to determine a method for removing the toxic gas generated from the combustion of pipe lagging material. Phenol foam insulation material is often used as the insulation material for building exteriors owing to its excellent insulation performance. Moreover, it has the advantage of being an environment-friendly product with zero ozone layer destruction coefficient and low harmful substance emissions. The incombustibility of phenol foam insulation material was verified through the Standard Performance Test of the Limited Combustible Material (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Notice No. 2020-1053). Further, an alternative is to be proposed if a pipe lagging material with inadequate incombustibility is used in the site even though a tested pipe lagging material with limited combustibility is available.

Reduction of 3-Deoxyglucosone by Epigallocatechin Gallate Results Partially from an Addition Reaction: The Possible Mechanism of Decreased 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural in Epigallocatechin Gallate-Treated Black Garlic

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) is a harmful substance generated during the processing of black garlic. Our previous research demonstrated that impregnation of black garlic with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) could reduce the formation of 5-HMF. However, there is still a lack of relevant research on the mechanism and structural identification of EGCG inhibiting the production of 5-HMF. In this study, an intermediate product of 5-HMF, 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG), was found to be decreased in black garlic during the aging process, and impregnation with EGCG for 24 h further reduced the formation of 3-DG by approximately 60% in black garlic compared with that in the untreated control. The aging-mimicking reaction system of 3-DG + EGCG was employed to determine whether the reduction of 3-DG was the underlying mechanism of decreased 5-HMF formation in EGCG-treated black garlic. The results showed that EGCG accelerated the decrease of 3-DG and further attenuated 5-HMF formation, which may be caused by an additional reaction with 3-DG, as evidenced by LC-MS/MS analysis. In conclusion, this study provides new insights regarding the role of EGCG in blocking 5-HMF formation.

Removal of Dissolved Oxygen from Water by Nitrogen Stripping Coupled with Vacuum Degassing in a Rotor–Stator Reactor

Oxygen is a harmful substance in many processes because it can bring out corrosion and oxidation of food. This study aimed to enhance the removal of dissolved oxygen (DO) from water by employing a novel rotor–stator reactor (RSR). The effectiveness of the nitrogen stripping coupled with vacuum degassing technique for the removal of DO from water in the RSR was investigated. The deoxygenation efficiency (η) and the mass transfer coefficient (KLa) were determined under various operating conditions for the rotational speed, liquid volumetric flow rate, gas volumetric flow rate, and vacuum degree. The nitrogen stripping coupled with vacuum degassing technique achieved values for η and KLa of 97.34% and 0.0882 s−1, respectively, which are much higher than those achieved with the vacuum degassing technique alone (η = 89.95% and KLa = 0.0585 s−1). A correlation to predict the KLa was established and the predicted KLa values were in agreement with the experimental values, with deviations generally within 20%. The results indicate that RSR is a promising deaerator thanks to its intensification of gas–liquid contact.

Potentially Harmful Maillard Reaction Products in Food and Herb Medicines

The Maillard reaction is of great significance in food, herb medicines, and life processes. It is usually occurring during the process of food and herb medicines processing and storage. The formed Maillard reaction productions (MRPs) in food and herb medicines not only generate a large number of efficacy components but also generate a small amount of harmful substance that cannot be ignored. Some of the MRPs, especially the advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are concerning humans, based on the possibility to induce cancer and mutations in laboratory animals. Numerous studies have been reported on the formation, analysis, and control of the potentially harmful MRPs (PHMRPs). Therefore, the investigation into the formation, analysis, and control of PHMRPs in food and herb medicines is very important for improving the quality and safety of food and herb medicines. This article provides a brief review of the formation, analysis (major content), and control of PHMRPs in food and herb medicines, which will provide a base and reference for safe processing and storage of food and herb medicines. Practical Applications. The formed Maillard reaction productions in food and herb medicines not only generate a large number of functional components but also generate a small amount of harmful substance that cannot be ignored. This contribution provides a brief review on the formation (including the correlative studies between MRs and the PHMRPs, mechanisms, and the main pathways); analysis (major content, pretreatment for analysis, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and structural identification analysis); and control (strategies and mechanisms) of PHMRPs in food and herb medicines, which will provide a solid theoretical foundation and a valuable reference for safe processing and storage for food and herb medicines.

Increase in foreign body and harmful substance ingestion and associated complications in children: a retrospective study of 1199 cases from 2005 to 2017

Background Children with a history of caustic or foreign body ingestion (FBI) seem to be presenting more frequently to emergency departments. This study aims to elucidate the clinical presentation, diagnostic procedures, and complications associated with the ingestion of different object categories over a 13-year time period. Methods A structured retrospective data analysis of patients who presented between January 2005 and December 2017 to the University Medical Centre Ulm was performed. Patients up to 17 years of age with food impaction or foreign body or harmful substance ingestion were included by selection of the corresponding International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD10-GM) codes. Descriptive statistics, parametric or non-parametric tests, and linear regression analysis were performed. Result In total, 1199 patients were analysed; the mean age was 3.3 years (SD 3.12; range 7 days to 16 years), the male to female ratio was 1.15:1, and 194 (16.2%) were hospitalized. The number of patients seen annually increased from 66 in 2005 to 119 in 2017, with a rise in percentage of all emergency patients from 0.82% in 2010 to 1.34% in 2017. The majority of patients (n = 619) had no symptoms, and 244 out of 580 symptomatic patients complained of retching or vomiting. Most frequently, ingested objects were coins (18.8%). Radiopaque objects accounted for 47.6%, and sharp objects accounted for 10.5% of the ingested foreign bodies, both of which were significantly more often ingested by girls (p < 0.001 for both). Button battery ingestion was recorded for 63 patients with a significant annual increase (R2 = 0.57; β = 0.753; p = 0.003). The annual rate of complications also increased significantly (R2 = 0.42; β = 0.647; p = 0.017). Conclusion We found an alarming increase in the number of children who presented to our emergency department with FBI and associated complications. A standardized diagnostic and therapeutic approach may reduce and prevent serious complications. Further preventive measures within the home environment are needed to stop this trend.

Increase in foreign body and harmful substance ingestion and associated complications in children: a retrospective study of 1199 cases from 2005 to 2017

Background: Children with a history of caustic or foreign body ingestion (FBI) seem to be presenting more frequently to emergency departments. This study aims to elucidate the clinical presentation, diagnostic procedures, and complications associated with the ingestion of on different object categories over a 13-year time period. Methods: A structured retrospective data analysis of patients who presented in between January 2005 and December 2017 to the University Medical Centre Ulm was performed. Patients up to 17 years of age with food impaction or foreign body or harmful substance ingestion were included by selection of the corresponding International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD10-GM) codes. Descriptive statistics, parametric or non-parametric tests, and linear regression analysis were performed.Result: In total, 1199 patients were analysed; the mean age was 3.3 years (SD 3.12; range 7 days to 16 years), the male to female ratio was 1.15:1, and 194 (16.2%) were hospitalized. The number of patients seen annually increased from 66 in 2005 to 119 in 2017, with a rise in percentage of all emergency patients from 0.82% in 2010 to 1.34% in 2017. The majority of patients (n=619) had no symptoms, and 244 out of 580 symptomatic patients complained of retching or vomiting. Most frequently, ingested objects were coins (18.8%). Radiopaque objects accounted for 47.6%, and sharp objects accounted for 10.5% of the ingested foreign bodies, both of which were significantly more often ingested by girls (p<0.001 for both). Button battery ingestion was recorded for 63 patients with a significant annual increase (R2=0.57; b=0.753; p=0.003). The annual rate of complications also increased significantly (R2=0.42; b=0.647; p=0.017).Conclusion: We found an alarming increase in the number of children who presented to our emergency department with FBI and associated complications. A standardized diagnostic and therapeutic approach may reduce and prevent serious complications. Further preventive measures within the home environment are needed to stop this trend.

Increase in foreign body and harmful substance ingestion and associated complications in children: a retrospective study of 1199 cases from 2005 to 2017

Background: Children with a history of caustic or foreign body ingestion (FBI) seem to be presenting more frequently to emergency departments. This study aims to elucidate the clinical presentation, diagnostic procedures, and complications associated with the ingestion of on different object categories over a 13-year time period.Methods: A structured retrospective data analysis of patients who presented in between January 2005 and December 2017 to the University Medical Centre Ulm was performed. Patients up to 17 years of age with food impaction or foreign body or harmful substance ingestion were included by selection of the corresponding International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD10-GM) codes. Descriptive statistics, parametric or non-parametric tests, and linear regression analysis were performed.Result: In total, 1199 patients were analysed; the mean age was 3.3 years (SD 3.12; range 7 days to 16 years), the male to female ratio was 1.15:1, and 194 (16.2%) were hospitalized. The number of patients seen annually increased from 66 in 2005 to 119 in 2017, with a rise in percentage of all emergency patients from 0.82% in 2010 to 1.34% in 2017. The majority of patients (n=619) had no symptoms, and 244 out of 580 symptomatic patients complained of retching or vomiting. Most frequently, ingested objects were coins (18.8%). Radiopaque objects accounted for 47.6%, and sharp objects accounted for 10.5% of the ingested foreign bodies, both of which were significantly more often ingested by girls (p<0.001 for both). Button battery ingestion was recorded for 63 patients with a significant annual increase (R2=0.57; β=0.753; p=0.003). The annual rate of complications also increased significantly (R2=0.42; β=0.647; p=0.017).Conclusion: We found an alarming increase in the number of children who presented to our emergency department with FBI and associated complications. A standardized diagnostic and therapeutic approach may reduce and prevent serious complications. Further preventive measures within the home environment are needed to stop this trend.

Psychological Treatment of Medical Patients Struggling with Harmful Substance Use

As part of the Clinical Health Psychology Series, Psychological Treatment of Medical Patients Struggling with Harmful Substance Use is a comprehensive yet concise book that explains the neurobiology of addiction and offers clear guidance on how to spot and treat it.

Incidence, mortality and survival in children and young people aged 11-25 in Wales with co-occurring mental disorders and problem, hazardous or harmful substance use: estimates derived from linked routine data

Background Mental disorder (MD) and problem, hazardous or harmful substance use (SUD) are associated with poorer than average health and greater mortality. We analysed routine data to estimate incidence of co-occurring (CC) MD and SUD, and to estimate all-cause mortality and survival with CC, a single MD or SUD diagnosis or neither condition (NC), in young people aged 11-25 in Wales, UK. Methods A retrospective population-based electronic cohort study using data from the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank. Participants were 958,603 individuals aged 11-25 between 2008 and 2017, with a subset for mortality and survival analysis of 465,242 individuals born between 1983 and 1997 and present in the data on 1st January 2008. Incidence was defined as date of first recorded occurrence of a CC code. Incidence and observed unadjusted mortality were reported as rates per 1,000 person-years at risk (PYAR). We plotted Kaplan-Meier survival curves and carried out Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios for risk of death by condition group (CC; MD or SUD only; NC). Results CC incidence in primary care significantly decreased, from 2.5/1,000 PYAR (95% CI 2.3-2.6) in 2008 to 2.1/1,000 (95% CI 2.0-2.2) in 2017 (Incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 0.9, 95% CI 0.8-1.0, p=0.01), and in hospital admissions remained stable, from 2.3/1,000 (95% CI 2.1-2.4) in 2008 to 2.2/1,000 (95% CI 2.0-2.3) in 2017 (IRR = 1.0, 95% CI 0.9-1.1). Higher incidence was associated with male sex, older age and greater deprivation.Observed unadjusted mortality rates for CC (1.4/1,000 PYAR, 95% CI 1.2-1.5) and SUD only (1.1/1,000, 95% CI 0.9-1.4) were significantly higher than for MD only (0.4/1,000, 95% CI 0.3-0.4) and no condition (NC) (0.3/1,000, 95% CI 0.2-0.3). Risk of death was significantly higher for CC (HR = 8.7, 95% CI 7.5-10.0, p<0.001), SUD only (HR = 4.5, 95% CI 3.4-5.9, p<0.001) and MD only (HR = 2.7, 95% CI 2.4-3.1, p<0.001), compared with NC.Conclusions Male sex, older age and greater deprivation were associated with significantly higher CC incidence. CC, and also SUD or MD only, were associated with greater risk of death, compared with individuals with NC.