Intermediate Unit Research Articles

Irrigation in the western region of Cochinchina under the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1867)

In the first half of the 19th century, when regional relations had many fluctuations, the Nguyen Dynasty implemented the resolute policies to protect the Southwest border and dug canals along the border to defend the territory. The responsibility and obligation to protect the sovereignty of the military force were strictly regulated in the Gia Long Code completed in the 11th Gia Long year (Lunar year 1812). The Nguyen Dynasty made the total land recording directory of the entire Luc Nam Ky province (1836), established and consolidated the administrative organization, and completed the social management apparatus from the village (commune) to the intermediate local administrative unit between a district and a commune, district, and province. In addition to the administrative apparatus, the Theravada Buddhist pagoda of the Khmer, cultural institutions, and folk beliefs of the Vietnamese were formed and operated: the tutelary deity temple, the Taoist temple, and the Mahayana Buddhist pagoda. The institutions, cultural facilities, and folk beliefs help calm people's minds, stabilize society, and contribute to the exercise of Vietnam's sovereignty over new lands. The digging of canals, embankment of roads, and development of water and road transport such as Thoai Ha canal (1817), Vinh Te canal (1819-1824), and Vinh An canal (1843-1844) created artificial moats combined with natural ones to protect the territory. Facing the invading force of the French colonialists, the Nguyen Dynasty gradually ceded the provinces of Cochinchina to the French in 1862, 1867, and 1874 although this showed the inability of the Nguyen Dynasty, legally, especially in the international legal sense, these treaties are evidence of Vietnam's indisputable territorial sovereignty over the land of Cochinchina. France could not sign a treaty dividing part of a country's territory if the country did not have sovereignty over that territory, which proved the ingenious leadership of the Nguyen Dynasty at that time, specifically King Minh Mang. Although he was in Phu Xuan capital (Hue), he extended his power to the whole country, carried out a drastic administrative reform, and reorganized the entire state apparatus under the Nguyen Dynasty. Thanks to that, Dai Nam became a country that unified administrative territories and rituals from the exercise of sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea.

Lithology and geochemistry of the Guadalupe Group base around Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia

The base of the Guadalupe Group, in the Tunja area of Colombia, contains cherts, porcellanites, mudstones, and siltstones with subordinate quartz arenites. The lithostratigraphic description of two stratigraphic sections showed that the dominant facies have fine granular textures and siliceous compositions, which considerably differ from those of the prevailing sandy terrigenous facies described in the type locality in the Eastern Hills of Bogotá, in the Arenisca Dura Formation, the basal unit of the Guadalupe Group in this sector.
 The units that form the Guadalupe Group (base of the Guadalupe Group, Plaeners, and Arenisca Tierna) markedly differ from each other morphologically, which facilitates their mapping because the base and top units generate a steep morphology, and the intermediate units form surface depressions or valleys, similar to the morphology of the Guadalupe Group in its type locality in the Eastern Hills of Bogotá. The base of the Guadalupe Group consists of cherts and porcellanites toward the NW of the study area (Alto del Gavilán section), with mudstones, siltstones, quartz arenites, and to a lesser extent porcellanites and cherts prevailing toward the SE (Vereda Salitre section).
 Geochemical analysis of total rock samples by XRD and XRF confirmed the primarily siliceous nature of the base of the Guadalupe Group, with SiO2 ranging from 62 to 98%, CaO less than 3.0%, and P2O5 peaking at 15.0%. Etayo-Serna (2015) conducted paleontological determinations of ammonites found in the stratigraphic section of Alto del Gavilán and assigned the base of the Guadalupe Group mainly to the Lower Campanian.

High progression-free survival after intermediate intensity double unit cord blood transplantation in adults

AbstractCord blood transplantation (CBT) after high intensity or nonmyeloablative conditioning has limitations. We investigated cyclosporine-A/mycophenolate mofetil–based intermediate intensity (cyclophosphamide 50 mg/kg, fludarabine 150 mg/m2, thiotepa 10 mg/kg, total body irradiation 400 cGy) unmanipulated double-unit CBT (dCBT) with prioritization of unit quality and CD34+ cell dose in graft selection. Ninety adults (median age, 47 years [range, 21-63]; median hematopoietic cell transplantation comorbidity index, 2 [range, 0-8]; 61 [68%] acute leukemia) received double-unit grafts (median CD34+ cell dose, 1.3 × 105/kg per unit [range, 0.2-8.3]; median donor-recipient human leukocyte antigen (HLA) match, 5/8 [range 3-7/8]). The cumulative incidences of sustained CB engraftment, day 180 grade III-IV acute, and 3-year chronic graft-versus-host disease were 99%, 24%, and 7%, respectively. Three-year transplant-related mortality (TRM) and relapse incidences were 15% and 9%, respectively. Three-year overall survival (OS) is 82%, and progression-free survival (PFS) is 76%. Younger age and higher engrafting unit CD34+ cell dose both improved TRM and OS, although neither impacted PFS. Engrafting unit-recipient HLA match was not associated with any outcome with a 3-year PFS of 79% in 39 patients engrafting with 3-4/8 HLA-matched units. In 52 remission acute leukemia patients, there was no association between minimal residual disease (MRD) and 3-year PFS: MRD negative of 88% vs MRD positive of 77% (P = .375). Intermediate intensity dCBT is associated with high PFS. Use of highly HLA mismatched and unmanipulated grafts permits wide application of this therapy, and the low relapse rates support robust graft-versus-leukemia effects even in patients with MRD.

Intermediate units in multinational corporations: A resource dependency view on coordinative versus entrepreneurial roles

Due to the dispersion of headquarters’ activities across organizational and geographical boundaries, intermediate units (IUs) are emerging as a key actor of international business. IUs are intermediate structural layers between headquarters (HQ) and local subsidiaries with specific HQ responsibilities. Our study relies on original data of 67 IUs and, taking on a Resource Dependence approach, explores empirically the two HQ roles attributed to IUs: coordinative versus entrepreneurial. According to our results, the main differences between both roles relate to external network embeddedness, internal network position and autonomy. We argue that these differences arise from the dominant sources of power in each role. These findings have significant relevance for theory development and managerial practice as we provide a starting point for understanding the dispersion of complex HQ systems as well as how those systems are discharged and add value.

Lower limb deep vein thrombosis in COVID-19 patients admitted to intermediate care respiratory units

COVID-19 has been associated with an increased risk of thrombotic events; however, the reported incidence of deep vein thrombosis varies depending, at least in part, on the severity of the disease. Aim of this prospective, multicenter, observational study was to investigate the incidence of lower limb deep vein thrombosis as assessed by compression ultrasound in consecutive patients admitted to three pulmonary medicine wards designated to care for patients with COVID-19 related pneumonia, with or without respiratory failure but not requiring admission to an intensive care unit.Consecutive patients admitted between March 27 and May 6, 2020 were enrolled. Patients were excluded if they were less than 18-year-old or if compression ultrasound could not be performed for any reason. Patients were assessed at admission (t0) and after 7 days (t1). Major and non-major clinically relevant bleedings were recorded.Sixty-eight patients were enrolled. Two were excluded due to anatomical abnormalities that prevented compression ultrasound; sixty patients were retested at (t1). All patients were started on antithrombotic prophylaxis, unless therapeutic anticoagulation was required.Deep vein thrombosis as assessed by compression ultrasound was observed in 2 patients (3%); one of them was later deemed to represent a previous episode. No new episodes were detected at t1. One major and 2 non-major clinically relevant bleedings were observed.In the setting of patients with COVID-related pneumonia not requiring admission to an intensive care unit, the incidence of deep vein thrombosis is low and our data support not screening asymptomatic patients.

Creation of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly energy sources on fossil fuels to address global climate issues

For industrialized economies, a strategically important area is developing active methods for industrial use of carbon dioxide emissions to produce marketable products. A rational approach to the problem of clean generation should be based on the complete coordination of the output parameters of the CO2 discharged from the power plant and the input (working) CO2 parameters of the consumer, which will reduce the cost of emissions conditioning, and maintain power plant efficiency. The CO2 parameters from fossil fuel power plants and CO2 consumers’ potential were analyzed for three main indicators most sensitive to power generation: the amount of CO2, operating pressure, and purity considering the level of technological maturity and market attractiveness. Based on the analysis, three types of energy-industrial symbioses were identified with a cost-effective Power Plant – Consumer model without an intermediate unit for matching input and output parameters of CO2 (without a CO2 capture and conditioning system). A hybrid solution combining modern IGCC and the latest thermodynamic cycles based on oxy-fuel technologies is offered as a generalized configuration of the energy part of the promising complex. The concept and key technological solutions of the promising energy-industrial symbiosis “Power Generation Unit – CO2-based production” are being developed at Ural Federal University. Such symbiosis ensures the low-cost supply of CO2 to industrial consumers using mineralization technology. It will allow utilizing not only technogenic carbon but also ash, slag, and construction industry waste to produce marketable products (cement, concrete, and other materials).

Tectono-Sedimentary Evolution of the Madrid Basin (Spain) during the Late Miocene: Data from Paleokarst Profiles in Diagenetically-Complex Continental Carbonates

An intra-Vallesian (Upper Miocene) paleokarst developed at the top of the Intermediate Miocene Unit in the continental intracratonic Madrid Basin is recognized. This paleokarst is an early shallow, tabular-shaped karst that shows a marked control by the depositional facies pattern and lithologies. By integrating morphological, petrological, and geochemical data, three hydrogeological zones were established throughout the paleokarstic profiles: (i) a paleo-vadose zone, characterized by vertically elongated caves and vadose cementation; (ii) a 3–7 m thick paleo-epiphreatic zone (paleo-water table fringe), with development of stratiform breccia bodies, the superimposition of both vadose and phreatic features, and the lowest Fe and Mn contents in host-rock carbonates; and (iii) a paleo-phreatic zone characterized by an increase in δ13C values and the predominance of phreatic cementation. The paleogeographic reconstruction for the intra-Vallesian paleokarst using profiles revealed relative topographic highs to the north and topographic lows to the south, drawing the paleokarst landscape. Immediately overlaying the paleokarst surface are fluvio-lacustrine facies belonging to the Miocene Upper Unit (Late Vallesian to Late Turolian). Their lowermost deposits consist of fluvial terrigenous facies deposited by approximately N–S fluvial streams, and pass upward into fluvio-lacustrine fresh-water limestones. This paleokarstic surface represents a major change in the evolution of sedimentary patterns of basin, from endorheic to exorheic conditions, as the result of a change from compressive to extensional conditions in the tectonic regime.

Complexity in restorative justice education circles: Power and privilege in voicing perspectives about sexual health, identities, and relationships

ABSTRACT Restorative justice pedagogies, such as dialogue or peacemaking circles, allow students to learn how to share and listen with peers, set boundaries for moral dialogue, and engage constructively with each other’s perspectives. This study is part of a larger project focused on teachers’ professional development and circle implementation. The focus of this article is on one teacher’s approach to using circles in teaching her intermediate health curriculum unit, situated in a school with a strong restorative justice initiative. In this restorative classroom, dialogue was integrated into regularly enacted academic as well as interpersonal curriculum; this interrupted, or at times reaffirmed, the status quo. Data includes classroom observations, professional development observations, teacher and student interviews, and a reflective researcher journal. Dialogue enacted in this classroom illustrated moral issues students grappled with, relating to sexual health, inclusive sexual identities, and sociocultural relationships. Results illustrated how the teacher’s pedagogical choices transmitted values and shaped opportunities for critical dialogue, and that students’ social and cultural capital impacted how certain topics were discussed.

Citizen’s Trust on Local Government: A Study on Sylhet Sadar Upazila and Kanaighat Upazila

Bangladesh is one of the most governance deficit countries of the world. In this reality, Upazila system, as an intermediate tier local government unit, is reestablished under the Upazila Parishad Act 2009. This Act is the basis of the formation and function of the Upazila Parishad. In this study, survey method has been applied to primary data collection from two upazila (Sylhet Sadar Upazila and Kanaighat Upazila) in Sylhet district. The study finds that the existing upazila parishad activities do not meet the demand of the people. Citizen’s trust on the Upazila Parishad is very low. The study also finds some other challenges, including unskilled manpower, proper planning and a lack of financial resouces. Moreover, the officials are not professional and their behaviors are not good while performing their duties. Most of the service receiver did not get best service from upazila officials. However this study suggests some recommendation for improving the service of upazila parishad. Officials should be highly trained and professional on their service delivery. By ensuring the best services, they can achieve the trust of general people.And the Government should take additional steps with regards to improving the upazila parishad service.

Intermediate Units in Multinational Corporations: Advancing Theory on their Co‐parenting Role, Dynamics and Outcomes

AbstractDue to the dispersion of headquarters’ activities across organizational and geographical boundaries, intermediate units (IUs) are emerging as a key actor in international business. These units are intermediate structural layers between headquarters (HQ) and local subsidiaries with specific HQ responsibilities. Through a systematic review of 68 studies published between 1996 and 2020, we develop a conceptual framework that integrates complementary streams of theoretical and empirical research with IUs as the focal unit of analysis. Our aims are to disentangle how the main theories in this field address the antecedents of IU creation, and explain the dynamism in the roles and functions of IUs and their outcomes. We also propose a conceptualization of IUs as co‐parents in a dynamic system in which parenting functions are shared by IUs and headquarters. Finally, we highlight avenues for future research, emphasizing opportunities to advance the understanding of IUs using different theoretical lenses that may help scholars position their work within the broader stream of literature.

H−ErMnO3 absorbance, reflectivity, and emissivity in the terahertz to mid-infrared from 2 to 1700 K: Carrier screening, Fröhlich resonance, small polarons, and bipolarons

We report the temperature dependent THz to mid-infrared response of hexagonal-ErMnO3 using absorption, reflectivity, and emissivity techniques from 2 K to 1700 K. At low temperatures, lowest frequency vibrational modes coexist with paramagnon excitations associated with well-defined crystal field Rare Earth pure magnetic replicas in an intriguing phonon-magnetic convergence. Increasing the temperature, a number of vibrational bands close to the space group predicted undergo profile broadening and softening. In particular, a distinctive set of bands in the 288-329 cm-1 (300 K) range has a component whose profile is carrier screened becoming nearly fully blurred in the intermediate phase between ~830 K and ~1500 K. Below TC ~830 K this asymmetric band further splits as spin phonon interaction and the tripling of the unit cell takes place revealing a delicate balance of long- and short-range interactions. Ambient Raman scattering brings up evidence of a Fr\"ohlich resonance due to Coulomb interactions between carriers and the macroscopic field of the longitudinal optical phonon mode. We found it is dynamically correlated to the hexagonal c-axis negative thermal expansion. Mid-infrared (MIR) optical conductivity show that also plays a role in small polarons and mediates in high temperature bipolarones.At higher temperatures a low frequency Drude contribution is triggered by electron hopping signaling an insulator-metal phase transition at ~1600 K while the MIR response suggests coexistence between single small polarons and bipolarons. We draw a parallel with improper ferroelectrics sustaining a lattice incommensurate intermediate phase and unit cell tripling. We argue that in the h-RMnO3 (R=Rare Earth, Y) family of compounds the intermediate phase be considered incommensurate with onset at TINC ~1500 K and ferroelectric lock-in at TC ~830 K delimiting this regime in h-ErMnO3.

Compreensão da prevalência do uso do leite artificial para recém-nascidos a partir das indicações: um diagnóstico para prevenção

Objetivo: Identificar a prevalência do uso do leite artificial em recém-nascidos atendidos em um projeto de extensão universitária; analisar as indicações para o uso do leite artificial; discutir os cuidados necessários ao incentivo, apoio e promoção do aleitamento materno que se aplicam às indicações de uso de leite artificial encontradas. Metodologia: Estudo quantitativo, exploratório, descritivo, realizado de setembro de 2015 a novembro de 2016, por meio da análise dos registros de atendimento prévio sobre amamentação e dos prontuários de 137 binômios internados em um hospital público localizado na cidade do Rio de Janeiro/RJ. A organização e análise foram feitas no software Excel, com o embasamento teórico de artigos e manuais de recomendações do Ministério da Saúde, da Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde e Organização Mundial da Saúde. Pesquisa aprovada pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, sob nº 1.241.895. Resultados: Foram detectados 28 recém-nascidos em uso de complemento sem proscrição por HIV-positivo, em Unidade Intermediária ou Unidade de Terapia Intensiva. A prevalência do uso do complemento foi de 20,43%. Os motivos das indicações foram: 10,71% condições maternas; 10,71% sem sorologia anti-HIV; 64,28% condições do recém-nascido; e 14,28% por outras condições. Observou-se que, em alguns casos, o uso do leite artificial seria evitável caso a intervenção, na orientação e detecção precoce dos problemas, fosse mais intensa. Conclusão: Com a identificação dos problemas, em tempo oportuno, pode-se traçar um plano de cuidados para a prevenção do uso do leite artificial.

Reassessing Groundwater Potentials and Subsurface water Hydrochemistry in a Tropical Anambra Basin, Southeastern Nigeria

This review presented a detailed re-assessment of the hydrogeology and hydrochemistry of the Tropical Anambra Basin. It identified and discussed the major geological formations and their groundwater potentials. The geological examination showed that the Ajali Formation is confined in places forming an artesian condition; the potentials of this aquifer decline in the western basin due to a decrease in thickness. The sandstone associates of the Nsukka Formation are aquiferous and have produced high-pressure artesian boreholes along the Oji River. The Imo Shale is characterized by permeability stability all over much of the intermediate unit. The Bende-Ameki aquifer has a lesser amount of groundwater when equated to other formations; the geologic characteristics do not produce favorable hydrogeological conditions for groundwater occurrence. The stratigraphical and structural framework suggested the presence of an efficient throughflow in the basin. Based on physical and chemical parameters of water quality, the basin holds water of acceptable quality. While there are considerable investigations on the hydrogeology and hydrochemistry, studies are short of analysis of the hydrogeochemical evolution of groundwater, water quality index, heavy metals pollution index as well as total hazard quotient. Suitability of groundwater based on agricultural water quality indices (e.g. SAR) is also salient. Therefore, future studies should address these owing to increasing dependence on groundwater.

Abandoned Mine Tailings Affecting Riverbed Sediments in the Cartagena–La Union District, Mediterranean Coastal Area (Spain)

This study presents the results of the geoenvironmental characterization of La Matildes riverbed, affected by mine tailings in the Cartagena–La Unión district, Murcia (southeast Spain). Soils and riverbeds in this area are highly polluted. Two Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) profiles were carried out to obtain information about the thickness of the deposits and their internal structure. For the mine tailings deposits of La Murla, a tributary of the El Miedo riverbed, the geophysical method imaged two different units: the upper one characterized by low resistivity values and 5–8 m thickness, correlated with the mine tailings deposits; and the lower more resistive unit corresponding to the Paleozoic metasediments bedrock. The ERI profile transverse to the Las Matildes dry riverbed revealed the existence of three different units. The uppermost one has the lowest resistivity values and corresponds to the tailings deposits discharged to the riverbeds. An intermediate unit, with intermediate resistivity values, corresponds to the riverbed sediments before the mining operations. The lower unit is more resistive and corresponds to the bedrock. Significant amounts of pyrite, sphalerite, and galena were found both in tailings and riverbed sediments. The geochemical composition of borehole samples from the riverbed materials shows significantly high contents of As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn being released to the environment. Mining works have modified the natural landscape near La Unión town. Surface extraction in three open-pit mines have changed the summits of Sierra de Cartagena–La Unión. Rock and metallurgical wastes have altered the drainage pattern and buried the headwaters of ephemeral channels. The environmental hazards require remediation to minimize the environmental impact on the Mar Menor coastal lagoon, one of the most touristic areas in SE Spain.

Post–east African Orogen dilation and magmatism: development of a conjugate-style of dolerite dike swarm in the northwestern Arabian shield

The Al Madinah area bimodal dike swarms underwent detailed field mapping, measurements of dikes’ attitudes, structural analyses, remote sensing data interpretation, and petrology study. The oldest rock unit is a greenish intermediate dioritic unit that varies in its petrologic composition between microdiorite and andesite porphyry which is intruded by alkali granite. The dioritic and alkali granite units have been cut by intermediate to mafic dikes, ranging in texture and composition from micromonzodiorite and micromonzonite to microgabbro, microdolerite, and basalt or basaltic andesite, as revealed by thin-section work. A stereographic projection and rose diagrams of the mafic dikes formed a regional conjugate dike system, following probably a typical andersonian style, consisting of three major sets, namely, the WNW set which trends between N295 and N330, E-W set between N265 and N270, and finally the ENE (N065) set. The WNW set has its own local system, but it is considered as a set in the overall regional conjugate dike system. The WNW and E-W sets are the conjugate pair of the WNW Najd fault system maximum horizontal shearing, where the ENE set reflects the minimum regional horizontal shearing stress of the Najd system. The interpretation of this dike system is a WNW-ESE sinistral faulting and NE-SW dilation that formed Wadi Al-Hamd Ediacaran continental basin, bounded by two Najd faults and Thurwah-Bir Um suture. The study area underwent final thrust faulting that tilted the dikes towards the east. For the consequent magmatisms during the Neoproterozoic period, followed by Cenozoic volcanism, the Al Madinah area is considered a large igneous province.

Evolution of the South-Iberian paleomargin: From hyperextension to continental subduction

Three crustal-scale sequentially restored cross-sections along the Central External Betic Cordillera enable us to pinpoint the role of extreme crustal thinning, tectonic inheritance and salt tectonics during the evolution of the South-Iberian paleomargin from Mesozoic rifting to Cenozoic continental subduction. This interpretation puts forward the existence of a former highly extended Mesozoic rift system, namely the Subbetic Basin. The basin comprises three main domains that coincide with the classical zoning of the External Betics: (i) The Intermediate units in the northern basin margin represent primary thick minibasins separated by salt walls; (ii) the External Subbetic units attest an inflated salt body in a central trough; and (iii) the Median and Internal Subbetic units in the southern basin margin are analogous to a group of primary minibasins with intercalations of submarine volcanic rocks overlying hyperextended crust. Shortening led to the extrusion of a salt canopy and the development of secondary minibasins. Furthermore, the tectonic inversion of the Subbetic Basin created two major thrusts sheets detached at the Upper Triassic evaporites, accommodating a shortening of ≈100–145 km at early Eocene-middle Miocene time. Compression reshaped the hyperextended domain into a subduction trench, and the former transfer faults into tear faults. Ongoing shortening led to the subduction of the South-Iberian paleomargin beneath the Alborán Domain lithosphere. Our results provide a new perspective on the inversion of segmented rift basins partly floored by mantle rocks and call for a major reconsideration on the tectonic architecture and evolution of the Betic-Rif Cordillera.

Paleogene carbonate systems of Saint Barthélemy, Lesser Antilles: stratigraphy and general organization

Saint Barthelemy is the only island of the northern Lesser Antilles where it is possible to investigate in the detail the chronostratigraphy of the mixed carbonate-volcaniclastic deposits of the Paleogene Caribbean volcanic arc. Based on field mapping and new biostratigraphical and sedimentological data, we study the limestone units interbedded in the Paleogene volcaniclastic deposits. We find that four main carbonate units occur instead of previously believed six ones. Based on the ages given by the foraminifera assemblages, and taking into account the recently published 40Ar/39Ar ages of magmatic rocks, the Lower Limestone unit dates Lutetian, the Intermediate Limestone unit late (?) Bartonian-late Priabonian, the Upper Limestone late Priabonian and the Top Limestone unit early Miocene. The Paleogene carbonate beds were deposited on gently dipping submarine volcaniclastic deposits issued from emergent volcanoes, in muddy, unrimmed inner to mid-ramp setting dominated by bottom communities. A major subaerial unconformity is evidenced during the Oligocene, most probably corresponding to uplift affecting Saint Barthelemy. Our work offers a revised lithostratigraphic succession of Saint Barthelemy as a first key-point for further studies of the Paleogene Caribbean arc deposits which were dismembered following the entrance of the Bahamas Bank in the Lesser Antilles subduction zone.

Wastewater Treatment by Using Biofilm Technologies as a Low-Cost Solution for Rural Areas

The increase of demands on treatment efficiency and cost effective solution for municipal and Industrial wastewater treatment technologies leads to new interest in the biofilm technology. Different fixed growth biofilm reactors are commercially used to increase wastewater treatment efficacy, saving space and energy. Aerated Submerged Fixed Biofilm Bed (SFBB) reactors work based on biofilms attached to plastic supports. Mixing and transport processes within the fixed media are achieved by the aeration in aerobic systems (oxidation of organic compounds and nitrification), and denitrification can be realized in anoxic conditions. The concept of application the moving bed in this study for denitrification reactor (MBDR) has been considered as a viable extension of the capabilities of a SFBB plant in the anaerobic-denitrification stage. Therefore, this novel study was implemented as pilot hybrid-reactor-container-plant to treat municipal wastewater of 200 PE, based on a combination of an aerated submerged fixed bed biofilm (SFBB) and an anoxic moving bed denitrification (MBDR) reactor. The one-year evaluation of this concept shows high nitrification, denitrification rates and, BOD reduction; by controlling the effluent (BOD5≤10 mg/l, COD ≤100 mg/l, TSS: ≤25 mg/l, NH4-: ≤2 mgN/l, NO3≤10 mgN/l)). However, Implementing of certain novel elements leads to improve operation process: (Mixing, intermediate solids removal unit, applicability of Moving bed for denitrification and submerged fixed film in aerobic reactor..etc).

Porous Enzymatic Membrane for Nanotextured Glucose Sweat Sensors with High Stability Towards Reliable Noninvasive Health Monitoring

Development of reliable glucose sensors for noninvasive monitoring without interruption or limiting users’ mobility is highly desirable, especially for diabetes diagnostic which requires routine/long term monitoring. However, their applications are largely limited by the relatively poor stability. Herein, a porous membrane is synthesized for effective enzymes immobilization and it is robustly anchored to the modified nanotextured electrode solid contacts, so as to realize glucose sensors with significantly enhanced sensing stability and mechanical robustness. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first report on utilizing such nanoporous membranes for electrochemical sensor applications, which eliminates enzymes escaping and provides sufficient surface area for molecular/ion diffusion and interactions, thus to ensure the sustainable catalytic activities of the sensors and generate reliable measureable signals during noninvasive monitoring. The as-assembled nanostructured glucose sensors demonstrates reliable long-term stable monitoring with minimal response drift for up to 20 hours, which delivered a remarkable enhancement. Moreover, they can be integrated into a microfluidic sensing patch for noninvasive sweat glucose monitoring. The as-synthesized nanostructured glucose sensors with remarkable stability can inspire developments of various enzymatic biosensors for reliable noninvasive composition analysis.Besides, in order to realize the ultimate applications of these sensors in predictive clinical diagnostics, personalized healthcare monitoring and chronic diseases management, a self-powered and fully integrated smartwatch in a “smartwatch” fashion was demonstrated. It consists of flexible photovoltaic cells and rechargeable batteries in form of a “watch strap”, electrochemical glucose sensors, customized circuits and display units integrated into a “dial” platform, is successfully fabricated for real-time and continuously monitoring of sweat glucose levels. The functionality of the smartwatch, including sweat glucose sensing, signal processing and display, can be supported with the harvested/converted solar energy without external charging devices. The Zn-MnO2 batteries serve as intermediate energy storage units and the utilization of aqueous electrolytes eliminated safety concerns for batteries, which is critical for wearable devices. Such a wearable smartwatch realizes integration of energy modules with self-powered capability, electrochemical sensors for noninvasive glucose monitoring, in situ and real-time signals processing/display in a single platform for the first time. The as-fabricated fully integrated and self-powered smartwatch also provides a promising protocol for statistical study and clinical investigation to reveal correlations between sweat compositions and human body dynamics.

Distinguishing Recurrent Thyroid Cancer from Residual Nonmalignant Thyroid Tissue Using Multiphasic Multidetector CT

During thyroidectomy incomplete resection of the thyroid gland may occur. This complicates the imaging surveillance of these patients as residual thyroid needs to be distinguished from local recurrence. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if multiphasic multi-detector computed tomography (4D-MDCT) can differentiate residual nonmalignant thyroid tissue and recurrent thyroid carcinoma after thyroidectomy. In this retrospective study, Hounsfield unit values on multiphasic multidetector CT in precontrast, arterial (25 seconds), venous (55 seconds), and delayed (85 seconds) phases were compared in 29 lesions of recurrent thyroid cancer, 29 with normal thyroid, and 29 with diseased thyroid (thyroiditis/multinodular thyroid). The comparison of Hounsfield unit values among lesion types by phase was performed using ANOVA. The performance of Hounsfield unit values to predict recurrence was evaluated by logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analysis. All 3 tissue types had near-parallel enhancement characteristics, with a wash-in-washout pattern. Statistically different Hounsfield unit density was noted between the recurrence (lowest Hounsfield unit), diseased (intermediate Hounsfield unit), and normal (highest Hounsfield unit) thyroid groups throughout all 4 phases (P < .001 for each group and in each phase). Dichotomized recurrence-versus-diseased/normal thyroid tissue with univariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for differentiating benign from malignant thyroid for the various phases of enhancement was greatest in the precontrast phase at 0.983 (95% CI, 0.954-1), with a cutoff value of ≤62 (sensitivity/specificity, 0.966/0.983) followed by the arterial phase. Recurrent thyroid carcinoma can be distinguished from residual nonmalignant thyroid tissue using multiphasic multidetector CT with high accuracy. The maximum information for discrimination is in the precontrast images, then the arterial phase. An optimal clinical protocol could be built from any number of phases but should include a precontrast phase.