The development of nanocomposite photocatalysts with high photocatalytic activity, cost-effectiveness, a simple preparation process, and scalability for practical applications is of great interest. ...In this study, nanocomposites of TiOsub.2 Degussa P25 nanoparticles/activated carbon (TiOsub.2/AC) were prepared at various mass ratios of (4:1), (3:2), (2:3), and (1:4) by a facile process involving manual mechanical pounding, ultrasonic-assisted mixing in an ethanol solution, paper filtration, and mild thermal annealing. The characterization methods included XRD, SEM-EDS, Raman, FTIR, XPS, and UV-Vis spectroscopies. The effects of TiOsub.2/AC mass ratios on the structural, morphological, and photocatalytic properties were systematically studied in comparison with bare TiOsub.2 and bare AC. TiOsub.2 nanoparticles exhibited dominant anatase and minor rutile phases and a crystallite size of approximately 21 nm, while AC had XRD peaks of graphite and carbon and a crystallite size of 49 nm. The composites exhibited tight decoration of TiOsub.2 nanoparticles on micron-/submicron AC particles, and uniform TiOsub.2/AC composites were obtained, as evidenced by the uniform distribution of Ti, O, and C in an EDS mapping. Moreover, Raman spectra show the typical vibration modes of anatase TiOsub.2 (e.g., Esub.1g sup.(1), Bsub.1g sup.(1), Esub.g sup.(3)) and carbon materials with D and G bands. The TiOsub.2/AC with (4:1), (3:2), and (2:3) possessed higher reaction rate constants (k) in photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) than that of either TiOsub.2 or AC. Among the investigated materials, TiOsub.2/AC = 4:1 achieved the highest photocatalytic activity with a high k of 55.2 × 10sup.−3 minsup.−1 and an MB removal efficiency of 96.6% after 30 min of treatment under UV-Vis irradiation (120 mW/cmsup.2). The enhanced photocatalytic activity for TiOsub.2/AC is due to the synergistic effect of the high adsorption capability of AC and the high photocatalytic activity of TiOsub.2. Furthermore, TiOsub.2/AC promotes the separation of photoexcited electron/hole (esup.−/hsup.+) pairs to reduce their recombination rate and thus enhance photocatalytic activity. The optimal TiOsub.2/AC composite with a mass ratio of 4/1 is suggested for treating industrial or household wastewater with organic pollutants.
•P. pentosaceus exhibited strong halotolerant, resistance to low pH and bile salts•P. pentosaceus showed strong antagonistic activity against Vibrio spp•P. pentosaceus exhibited strong ...autoaggregation and coaggregation activities•P. pentosaceus improved shrimp survival rate as well as weight gain
This study reports the isolation of a potential probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from fermented Solanum macrocarpon food and evaluates shrimp bacterial pathogens' inhibition. The isolate was determined by identifying the inhibition zone against Vibrio parahaemolyticus with an antagonistic activity of 360 AU/mL. Molecular identification based on 16S rRNA indicated that the isolate belongs to the Pediococcus genus, named as Pediococcus pentosaceus HN10. The isolate exhibited effective inhibitory ability against various pathogenic including antibiotic-resistant Vibrio spp., Escherichia coli ATCC 85922 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25023. P. pentosaceus HN10 showed potential probiotic properties such as strong salt tolerance, low pH and bile salts resistance, autoaggregation and coaggregation activities. P. pentosaceus HN10 was negative for β-hemolytic and amino acid decarboxylase. Antibiotic resistance assay showed that this strain was sensitive to ampicillin and chloramphenicol. P. pentosaceus HN10 expressed strongly antioxidant activity. In vivo challenge to V. parahaemolyticus in shrimp model indicated P. pentosaceus HN10 enhanced survival rate, weight gain as well as reduced the number of Vibrio in shrimp intestine tract. Overall, this study suggests that P. pentosaceus HN10 could be applied as a supplementation feed for shrimp to minimize pathogenic bacteria's negative effect.
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Even one case of foodborne botulism constitutes a public health emergency. We report a series of cases with delayed treatment due to delayed diagnosis. Clostridium botulinum type A(B) was isolated ...from vegetarian home-canned pate, but not from stool samples. These are the first recorded cases of foodborne botulism in Hanoi.
•This report describes the first recorded cases of foodborne botulism in Hanoi.•Clostridium botulinum was isolated from a vegetarian, home-canned pate.•The isolate was characterized biochemically and genetically.•The isolate belongs to group I.•It carries the complete bont/A gene and an incomplete bont/B gene.
Excessive accumulation of zinc in the environment poses ecological risks. Hence, an approach with cost-effective and eco-friendly treatment media, such as microbial biomass, should be explored to ...remediate zinc from effluents. This study demonstrated the removal of Zn2+ by packed columns, comprising Spirulina platensis (cyanobacterium) biomass fixed on polyurethane. Machine learning (ML) was also used to optimize and predict the concentration of Zn2+ in the effluent. The results show optimum condition for Zn2+ removal at a biomaterial height of 25 cm, a flow rate of 5 mL/min, and an inlet Zn2+ concentration of 100 mg/L. Further, the Cubist algorithm predicted the Zn2+ concentrations (new data) with R2 of 0.988 and 5.34 mg/L in RMSE, and artificial neural networks (ANN) achieved 0.979 in R2 and 6.94 mg/L in RMSE. Based on both the estimated accuracy and computing time, the Cubist model was found more advantageous than the ANN and linear regression models. This study provides optimum conditions for scaling up Zn2+ treatment systems and an ML-based tool to estimate Zn2+ effluents to support the design of adsorption column systems.
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•Spirulina platensis-polyurethane packed column built for Zn2+ removal.•Machine learning used to explore adsorption column for Zn2+ treatment.•Optimal conditions were height 25 cm, flow 5 mL/min, and inlet 100 mg/L.•Cubist and ANN achieved R2 0.98 and RMSE 5.34-6.94 mg/L.•Findings could optimize and scale up Zn2+ treatment column systems.
Background: Red blood cell distribution width (RDW), a hematologic index, is a quantitative measure of the range in volume and size of red blood cells. Hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes ...is considered to promote the formation of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) and to shorten the lifespan of red blood cells by reducing their deformability and increasing their osmotic fragility and adhesiveness. Objectives: To evaluate the association between red cell distribution width (RDW), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin content (MCHC) of red blood cells and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: This retrospective study included 107 patients with type 2 diabetes who were undergoing treatment at Tien Giang General Hospital from April to August 2019. Gender, age, complete blood count, plasma glucose, HbA1C, cholesterol, and triglyceride data were collected. The patients were divided into two groups: group I (HbA1C less than or equal to 6.5-6.9%; n=51) and group II (HbA1C greater than or equal to 7.0%; n=56). Results: RWD was 13.32 for the group I and 13.95 for group II. MCHC was 32.21 for the group I and 32.84 for group II. RDW and MCHC were significantly higher in patients without good glycemic control (HbA1C greater than or equal to 7.0%) than with good HbA1C control (6.5-6.9%). RDW showed a significant correlation between glucose concentration and MCHC. HbA1C and MCHC were also significantly correlated. Conclusion: Good glycemic control is associated with lower RDW and MHC values in patients with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, RDW and MCHC can be used as prognostic markers to assist in blood glucose control in these patients. Keywords: Type 2 Diabetes, HbA1C, Red Blood Cell Distribution Width, Tien Giang
Background/Aims: Screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV) is recommended in populations with anticipated prevalence ≥2%. This study surveyed HBV screening and vaccination practices of Asian American ...primary care providers (PCPs). Methods: Approximately 15,000 PCPs with Asian surnames in the New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, and Chicago areas were invited to participate in a web-based survey. Asian American PCPs with ≥25% Asian patients in their practice were eligible. Results: Of 430 (2.9%) survey respondents, 217 completed the survey. Greater than 50% followed ≥200 Asian patients. Although 95% of PCPs claimed to have screened patients for HBV, 41% estimated that ≤25% of their adult Asian patients had ever been screened, and 50% did not routinely screen all Asian patients. In a multivariable analysis, the proportion of Asian patients in the practice, provider geographic origin and the number of liver cancers diagnosed in the preceding 12 months were significantly associated with a higher likelihood of screening for HBV. Over 80% of respondents reported that ≤50% of their adult Asian patients had received the HBV vaccine. Conclusions: Screening and vaccination for HBV in Asian American patients is inadequate. Measures to improve HBV knowledge and care by primary-care physicians are critically needed. (Gut Liver 2013; 7:450-457)
Background/Aims: Screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV) is recommended in populations with anticipated prevalence ≥2%. This study surveyed HBV screening and vaccination practices of Asian American ...primary care providers (PCPs). Methods: Approximately 15,000 PCPs with Asian surnames in the New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, and Chicago areas were invited to participate in a web-based sur￢vey. Asian American PCPs with ≥25% Asian patients in their practice were eligible. Results: Of 430 (2.9%) survey respon￢dents, 217 completed the survey. Greater than 50% followed ≥200 Asian patients. Although 95% of PCPs claimed to have screened patients for HBV, 41% estimated that ≤25% of their adult Asian patients had ever been screened, and 50% did not routinely screen all Asian patients. In a multivariable analysis, the proportion of Asian patients in the practice, provider geographic origin and the number of liver cancers diagnosed in the preceding 12 months were significantly as￢sociated with a higher likelihood of screening for HBV. Over 80% of respondents reported that ≤50% of their adult Asian patients had received the HBV vaccine. Conclusions: Screen￢ing and vaccination for HBV in Asian American patients is inadequate. Measures to improve HBV knowledge and care by primary-care physicians are critically needed.
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