This report proposes a new approach to evaluate the odour nuisance of cattle manure samples from three different cattle breeds (i.e., native cattle, beef cattle, and milk cow) by means of ...quantification and speciation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs). To this end, non-catalytic esterification thermally induced in the presence of a porous material (silica) was undertaken, and the optimal operational parameters such as the derivatizing temperature (330°C) for the maximum yield (≥99±0.4%) of volatile fatty acid methyl esters (VFAMEs) were established. Among the VFA species in cattle manure based on quantification of VFAs, the major species were acetic, butyric and valeric acid. Considering the odour threshold of each VFA, our experimental results suggested that the major contributors to odour nuisance were C4–5 VFA species (i.e., butyric and valeric acid). Hydrothermal treatment was performed at 150°C for 0–40min to correlate the formation of VFAs with different types of cattle feed formulations. Our experimental data demonstrated that the formation of total VFAs is linearly proportional to the hydrothermal treatment duration and the total content of VFAs in native cattle, beef cattle, and milk cow manure samples reached up to ~1000, ~3200, and ~2800ppm, respectively. Thus, this study demonstrated that the degree of VFA formation is highly dependent on cattle feed formulations, which rely significantly on the protein content. Furthermore, the hydrothermal treatment provides a favourable condition for generating more VFAs. In this context, producing cattle manure into refused derived fuel (RDF) via a hydrothermal treatment is not a viable option to control odour.
Display omitted
•Volatile fatty acid measurement (VFAs) via the non-catalytic esterification•Using volatile fatty acid as an odour indicator from cattle manure•High conversion for volatile fatty acid methyl esters (>99%) from VFAs
•Up to 47 sites in 16 countries monitored over three years.•Synthetic cathinones most commonly found class.•Highest loads for mitragynine, particularly in sites from the United States.•Some temporal ...and regional trends evident.
The proliferation of new psychoactive substances (NPS) over recent years has made their surveillance complex. The analysis of raw municipal influent wastewater can allow a broader insight into community consumption patterns of NPS. This study examines data from an international wastewater surveillance program that collected and analysed influent wastewater samples from up to 47 sites in 16 countries between 2019 and 2022. Influent wastewater samples were collected over the New Year period and analysed using validated liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry methods. Over the three years, a total of 18 NPS were found in at least one site. Synthetic cathinones were the most found class followed by phenethylamines and designer benzodiazepines. Furthermore, two ketamine analogues, one plant based NPS (mitragynine) and methiopropamine were also quantified across the three years. This work demonstrates that NPS are used across different continents and countries with the use of some more evident in particular regions. For example, mitragynine has highest mass loads in sites in the United States, while eutylone and 3-methylmethcathinone increased considerably in New Zealand and in several European countries, respectively. Moreover, 2F-deschloroketamine, an analogue of ketamine, has emerged more recently and could be quantified in several sites, including one in China, where it is considered as one of the drugs of most concern. Finally, some NPS were detected in specific regions during the initial sampling campaigns and spread to additional sites by the third campaign. Hence, wastewater surveillance can provide an insight into temporal and spatial trends of NPS use.
Display omitted
Gender differences have been recognized in several aspects of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, evidence for gender differences in long-term outcomes after left main coronary artery (LMCA) ...revascularization is limited. We sought to evaluate the impact of gender on outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for unprotected LMCA disease. We evaluated 4,320 patients with LMCA disease who underwent CABG (n = 1,456) or PCI (n = 2,864) from the Interventional Research Incorporation Society-Left MAIN Revascularization registry. The primary outcome was a composite of death, myocardial infarction (MI), or stroke. Among 4,320 patients, 968 (22.4%) were females and 3,352 (77.6%) were males. Compared to males, females were older, had a higher prevalence of hypertension and insulin-requiring diabetes, more frequently presented with acute coronary syndrome, but had less extensive CAD and less frequent left main bifurcation involvement. The adjusted risk for the primary outcome was not different after PCI or CABG in females and males (hazard ratio HR 1.09; 95% confidence interval CI: 0.73–1.63 and HR 0.97; 95% CI: 0.80–1.19, respectively); there was no significant interaction between gender and the revascularization strategy (P for interaction = 0.775). In multivariable analysis, gender did not appear to be an independent predictor for the primary outcome. In revascularization for LMCA disease, females and males had a comparable primary composite outcome of death, MI, or stroke with either CABG or PCI without a significant interaction of gender with the revascularization strategy.
A multisignaling assay for the selective detection of Fe³⁺ ions with a cruciform-shaped alkynylpyrene (1) bearing four peripheral N,N-dimethylethynylaniline units is reported. Upon exposure to ...various metal ions, only Fe³⁺ showed significant changes in the optical, electrochemical, and electrochemiluminescent behaviors of 1.
Inflammasomes are cytosolic, multiprotein complexes that act at the frontline of the immune responses by recognizing pathogen- or danger-associated molecular patterns or abnormal host molecules. ...Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been reported to possess multipotency to differentiate into various cell types and immunoregulatory effects. In this study, we investigated the expression and functional regulation of NLR Family Pyrin Domain Containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in human umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (hUCB-MSCs). hUCB-MSCs expressed inflammasome components that are necessary for its complex assembly. Interestingly, NLRP3 inflammasome activation suppressed the differentiation of hUCB-MSCs into osteoblasts, which was restored when the expression of adaptor proteins for inflammasome assembly was inhibited. Moreover, the suppressive effects of MSCs on T cell responses and the macrophage activation were augmented in response to NLRP3 activation. In vivo studies using colitic mice revealed that the protective abilities of hUCB-MSCs increased after NLRP3 stimulation. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the NLRP3 inflammasome components are expressed in hUCB-MSCs and its activation can regulate the differentiation capability and the immunomodulatory effects of hUCB-MSCs. BMB Reports 2020; 53(6): 329-334.
•Aerosol retention in a steam generator of OPR1000 during SGTR accident was evaluated experimentally.•Decontamination factor in dry SG condition can be varied depending on the SG tube ...arrangement.•Aerosol size increment was detected with resuspension of agglomerated aerosol on SG tube wall.•Jet scrubbing dominant region that can contribute to improvement of accident management strategy was identified.
The necessity has arisen to conduct risk evaluations of the steam generator tube rupture (SGTR) accident for domestic operating nuclear power plants in the Republic of Korea in accordance with a recent amendment to the Nuclear Safety Act. To evaluate the aerosol-type radionuclides released to the environment during the accident and to prepare mitigation strategies, tests conducted in experimental facilities that faithfully reflect the properties of domestic plants are essential. In this work, one such experimental facility was installed at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute with scaling work considering the geometrical shapes of a domestic Korean plant and the major aerosol removal mechanisms inside the steam generators. A preliminary test was first conducted to understand the amount of aerosol removal inside the pipes of the facility with analytical methods. Then, aerosol retention tests were performed in both dry and flooded conditions. Decontamination factors were evaluated in each test, and the results were analyzed using filter measurements, an electrical low-pressure impactor, and deposition mass in the tubes. The test results are believed to provide a good starting point to improve the related accident management strategies to increase the safety of domestic Korean nuclear power plants.
Introduction: Acute pyelonephritis (APN) is a common infection during pregnancy that increases the risk of unfavorable maternal and fetal outcomes. However, it has not been clearly elucidated which ...demographic and clinical characteristics are associated with the incidence of APN during pregnancy. Objective: This population-based cohort study aimed to determine the risk factors for APN during pregnancy. Methods: Using the database of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service of South Korea, we enrolled Korean women who delivered infants between 2010 and 2014 in Korea and had complete health examination records within 1 year of pregnancy. We performed multivariate logistic regression analysis to evaluate the risk factors for APN during pregnancy. Results: Of 370,248 women, 2,526 (0.7% of the total participants) were treated for APN while in hospitalization during pregnancy. Younger age, history of previous APN within 1 year of pregnancy, and abnormal results of health examination before pregnancy, such as high fasting glucose level (>100 mg/dL) and proteinuria, were associated with an increased risk of APN during pregnancy. Conclusion: Certain maternal demographic and clinical characteristics were associated with the incidence of APN during pregnancy, and these should be monitored closely during antenatal care.
► We examined seven polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) congener’s levels in Korean. ► The total PBDEs concentrations in the umbilical cord blood were 10.7±5.13ngg−1 lipid. ► We found that BDE-47 ...accounted for the majority of total PBDEs in all samples. ► PBDE was shown to easily pass through the blood-placenta barrier or breast milk.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), commonly used flame retardants, have been reported as potential endocrine disruptor and neurodevelopmental toxicants, thus giving rise to the public health concern. The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between umbilical cord blood, maternal blood, and breast milk concentrations of PBDEs in South Korean. We assessed PBDE levels in paired samples of umbilical cord blood, maternal blood, and breast milk. The levels of seven PBDE congeners were measured in 21 paired samples collected from the Cheil Woman’s Hospital (Seoul, Korea) in 2008. We also measured thyroid hormones levels in maternal and cord blood to assess the association between PBDEs exposure and thyroid hormone levels. However, there was no correlation between serum thyroxin (T4) and total PBDEs concentrations. The total PBDEs concentrations in the umbilical cord blood, maternal blood, and breast milk were 10.7±5.1ngg−1 lipid, 7.7±4.2ngg−1 lipid, and 3.0±1.8ngg−1 lipid, respectively. The ranges of total PBDE concentrations observed were 2.28–30.94ngg−1 lipid in umbilical cord blood, 1.8–17.66ngg−1 lipid in maternal blood, and 1.08–8.66ngg−1 lipid in breast milk. BDE-47 (45–73% of total PBDEs) was observed to be present dominantly in all samples, followed by BDE-153. A strong correlation was found for major BDE-congeners between breast milk and cord blood or maternal blood and cord blood samples. The measurement of PBDEs concentrations in maternal blood or breast milk may help to determine the concentration of PBDEs in infant.
Objective:
To evaluate the effectiveness of a modified Palva flap used for external auditory canal reconstruction and mastoid obliteration in canal wall down mastoidectomy.
Methods:
We ...retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent canal wall down mastoidectomy with tympanoplasty using modified Palva flap. All patients underwent pure tone audiometry and temporal bone computed tomography (CT) before surgery, and the same tests were performed in the first year after surgery. The external auditory canal volumes were calculated by summing the areas of each section selected in temporal bone CT. For each patient, the ratio of external auditory canal volume was calculated from CT taken before and after surgery.
Results:
The mean of external auditory canal volume after canal wall down with a modified Palva flap was about 1.4 times larger than before surgery. The modified Palva flap is effective for the reconstruction of the external auditory canal. Both pure tone audiometry level and air-bone gap showed statistically significant improvement after surgery (Ps = .001 and .002, respectively).
Conclusions:
The external auditory canal volume slightly increased, but the status of mastoid obliteration was well maintained 1 year after surgery. The modified Palva flap used in this study is an easy and effective method in external auditory canal reconstruction and mastoid obliteration.
The objective of this study was to determine the trends in national rates of peripartum hysterectomy (PH) and uterine arterial embolization (UAE) in Korea. We used data collected by the Health ...Insurance Review & Assessment Service of Korea and analyzed data from patients who gave birth during the period from 2005 to 2008. There were 1785,178 deliveries during the study period, including 2636 cases of PH (1.48 per 1000 deliveries). The PH rate in 2005 was 1.57 per 1000 deliveries and in 2008 it was 1.33 per 1000 deliveries. UAE was performed in 161 women (incidence, 0.38 per 1000 deliveries) and 447 women (incidence, 0.98 per 1000 deliveries) in 2005 and 2008, respectively. In Korea, the rate of PH decreased slightly, while the rate of UAE rate increased dramatically during the period from 2005 to 2008. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effects of UAE on the rate of PH performed.
PDF
