Origination of Radon-222 (222Rn) from soil and its concentration, contributing to the highest exposure of ionizing radiation to the public is natural. It is a known radioactive gas and its percentage ...in concentrations contributing to outdoor radon atmospheric level depends on some physical parameters of the soil. To ascertain some of its dependency on soil porosity, a radiometric survey was carried out on soil depths at varying locations and the laboratory analysis was carried out on the soil sample at each location and depth in order to determine its porosity. The measurements were done using radon detector at five (5) locations. At each location, data were collected at four (4) different soil depths of 20, 40, 60 and 100 cm respectively. In addition, soil samples at these locations and depths were taken to the laboratory for porosity test. The result showed that highest value of 222Rn concentration at 100 cm depth is 24680 ± 1960 Bqm−3 with maximum porosity level of 69.92%, while the lowest concentration at 100 cm depth is 7370 ± 1139 Bqm−3 with minimum porosity level 51.61% respectively. Inferentially, a statistical analysis carried out using Pearson correlation showed that there exist some relationships between soil-gas 222Rn concentrations measured and soil porosity determined at each measurement soil-depths. The nature of the established relationship shows interdependency of 222Rn on soil porosity at different depths, such that if the soil porosity is known, its corresponding soil-gas radon concentration can be determined.
Infiltration and/or inflow (I/I) into a collection system often causes hydraulic overloads at the associated treatment plant. The impacts from I/I can become especially severe in areas with unstable ...soil conditions and deteriorating sewer systems. I/I can (a) result in increased operation and maintenance costs and (b) cause overflows and bypasses of untreated wastewater within the collection system during wet weather conditions. A major reason for I/I flows is improper installation and degradation of privately owned sewer lines as well as illegal or improper private connections. Previous studies have indicated that a large percentage of I/I flows are the result of defective sewer lines on private property. This article presents a computer model that has been developed as a comparison and/or decision-making tool to predict the reduction of sanitary sewer overflows and private property I/I for various rehabilitation approaches.
Background: Inflammation is known to underlie the pathogenesis in neuropathic pain. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective mechanisms involved in antinociceptive effects of ...co-administration of acetaminophen and L-carnosine in chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced peripheral neuropathy in male Wistar rats.
Methods: Fifty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into seven experimental groups (n = 8) treated with normal saline/acetaminophen/acetaminophen + L-carnosine. CCI was used to induce neuropathic pain in rats. Hyperalgesia and allodynia were assessed using hotplate and von Frey tests, respectively. Investigation of spinal proinflammatory cytokines and antioxidant system were carried out after twenty-one days of treatment.
Results: The results showed that the co-administration of acetaminophen and Lcarnosine significantly (P < 0.001) increased the paw withdrawal threshold to thermal and mechanical stimuli in ligated rats compared to the ligated naïve group. There was a significant (P < 0.001) decrease in the levels of nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer B cell inhibitor, calcium ion, interleukin-1-beta, and tumour necrotic factor-alpha in the spinal cord of the group coadministered with acetaminophen and L-carnosine compared to the ligated control group. Co-administration with acetaminophen and L-carnosine increased the antioxidant enzymatic activities and reduced the lipid peroxidation in the spinal cord.
Conclusions: Co-administration of acetaminophen and L-carnosine has anti-inflammatory effects as a mechanism that mediate its antinociceptive effects in CCIinduced peripheral neuropathy in Wistar rat.
In this study, the surface sediments of the Malacca and Prai Rivers were analyzed to identify the distributions, and sources of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). The total PAH concentrations ...varied from 716 to 1210 and 1102 to 7938 ng g(-1)dw in the sediments of the Malacca and Prai Rivers, respectively. The PAH concentrations can be classified as moderate and high level of pollution in the sediments of the Malacca and Prai Rivers, respectively. The comparison of PAHs with the Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs) indicates that the PAHs in the sediments of the Malacca and Prai Rivers may have the potential to cause adverse toxicity effects on the sampled ecosystems. The diagnostic ratios of individual PAHs indicate both petrogenic- and pyrogenic-origin PAHs with dominance of pyrogenic source in both rivers. These findings demonstrate that the environmental regulations in Malaysia have effectively reduced the input of petrogenic petroleum hydrocarbons into rivers.
Abstract
Herein, esterification of oleic acid (OA) over tosylic acid functionalized eucalyptus bark biochar (TsOH-MBC) to synthesize fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) was investigated. The TsOH-MBC ...catalyst was prepared via pyrolysis-activation-sulfonation process at various impregnation ratios and was characterized by SEM, FTIR, EDX, XRD, BET, TGA and acid site density techniques. The catalytic performance of the sulfonated biochar catalyst was described in terms of acidity and FAME yield. 6 g of sulfonic acid loaded on 10 g of MBC (6TsOH-MBC) appeared to be most appropriate combination to achieve a highly active catalyst for the esterification of OA with 96.28% conversion to FAME at 80 °C for 5 h with catalyst loading of 4.0 wt% and 8:1 methanol/OA molar ratio. The catalytic reaction kinetic data were very well described by the second-order model, with a rate coefficient of 0.223 mL mol
−1
h
−1
at 80 °C and activation energy of 81.77 kJ mol
−1
. The thermodynamic parameters such as
$$\Delta H$$
Δ
H
,
$$\Delta S$$
Δ
S
and
$$\Delta G$$
Δ
G
were determined to be 78.94 kJ mol
−1
, 135.3 J mol
−1
K
−1
and 33.03 kJ mol
−1
, respectively. This research provided an environmentally friendly procedure for FAME production that could be replicated on a commercial scale.
Objectives: This study explored the prevalence and predictors of alcohol and cannabis co-use among 9263 Filipino adolescents, using data from the 2019 Global School-based Student Health Survey ...(GSHS). Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional secondary analysis of the GSHS, targeting adolescents aged 13-17 years and excluding cases with incomplete data on alcohol and cannabis use. Our analysis employed the bivariate chi-square test of independence and multivariable logistic regression using Stata version 18 to identify significant predictors of co-use, with a p-value threshold set at 0.05. Results: The weighted prevalence of co-users was 4.2% (95% confidence interval CI, 3.4 to 5.3). Significant predictors included male sex (adjusted odds ratio aOR, 4.50; 95% CI, 3.31 to 6.10; p<0.001) and being in a lower academic year, specifically grade 7 (aOR, 4.08; 95% CI, 2.39 to 6.99; p<0.001) and grade 8 (aOR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.30 to 3.72; p=0.003). Poor sleep quality was also a significant predictor (aOR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.29 to 2.44; p<0.001), as was a history of attempted suicide (aOR, 5.31; 95% CI, 4.00 to 7.06; p<0.001). Physical inactivity was associated with lower odds of co-use (aOR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.33 to 0.62; p<0.001). Additionally, non-attendance of physical education classes (aOR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.06 to 2.05; p=0.021), infrequent unapproved parental checks (aOR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.80; p=0.024), and lower parental awareness of free-time activities (aOR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.45 to 0.87; p=0.005) were associated with higher odds of co-use. Factors not significantly linked to co-use included age group, being in grade 9, always feeling lonely, having no close friends, being bullied outside school, and whether a parent or guardian understood the adolescent's worries. Conclusions: The findings highlight the critical need for comprehensive interventions in the Philippines, addressing not only physical inactivity and parental monitoring but also focusing on sex, academic grade, participation in physical education classes, sleep quality, and suicide attempt history, to effectively reduce alcohol and cannabis co-use among adolescents.
•Characterization and possible applications of waste biomass ash from oleoresin industries.•Acid treatment yields high surface area material suitable as adsorbent.•Magnetic separation affords iron ...rich fraction with excellent surface area.•Ash suitable as fertilizer and cement substitute after pretreatment.•Rich in carbon which could be recovered and used as adsorbent for pollutants and as additive in rubber composites.
The oleoresin industries in India make use of the spice residue as boiler fuel and the combustion of this waste biomass generates tons of ash everyday. Herein the study we have carried out the characterization of this industrial waste ash in order to have a broad awareness of its properties in terms of toxicity, composition and possible utility. Techniques like XRF, ICP-AES, SEM–EDS, surface area, pore volume analysis, powder XRD, TG–DTA, FTIR and elemental analyses were used for the purpose. Ash collected from the grate fired furnace (bottom ash) as well the flyash deposited on the boiler walls and pipes were analyzed. Elemental analysis of the ashes indicates its potential as a crude fertilizer or cement replacement material. PXRD indicates the presence of several crystalline phases such as harrisonite (Ca(Fe3+,Mg)6(PO4)2(SiO4)2), aphthitalite ((K,Na)3Na(SO4)2, cryptomelane (KMn4+6Mn2+2O16), varulite (NaCaMn2+2.25Fe2+0.5Fe3+0.25(PO4)3), marokite (CaMn2O4), fersilicite (FeSi) in the flyash fraction and the phases magnetite (Fe3+2Fe2+O4), kalsilite (KAlSiO4), cryptomelane (KMn4+6Mn2+2O16), fukuchilite (Cu3Fe2+S8), walthierite (Ba0.5Al3(SO4)2(OH)6), and magnesite (Mg(CO3) in furnace ash. The amorphous nature of silica in the ashes is evident from the characteristic broad hump around 2θ=30. The iron rich fraction of the ash consists primarily of magnetite which leads to a greenish blue color on heating the ash above 650°C. This magnetite fraction if separated could find use as catalysts in organic reactions. SEM images indicate the ashes to be highly agglomerated and EDX data shows the surface of the ash particles covered with potassium oxide and carbon. The percentage of K seems to be higher in the flyash due to the volatility of the potassium compounds which is carried up by the air current. Even though the surface area of the as received ashes is negligible an acid treatment removes the surface adsorbed species and increases the surface area to 368m2/g making it an effective adsorbent.
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