Longer Treatment Times Research Articles

A Survey on the Use of Outcome Measures during Physical Therapy Interventions by Physical Therapists in Korea.

The purpose of this study was to determine the current status of patient care provided by Korean physical therapists (KPTs) in clinical practice by studying the outcome measures (OMs) used in physical therapy interventions among KPTs with experience in treating patients. A total of 225 KPTs with experience in treating patients in clinical settings participated in the study and completed the online questionnaire. The questionnaire included questions about the use of OMs and the reasons for using them, as well as the types, benefits, and barriers of OMs. The participants' responses were analyzed and reported in terms of frequencies and percentages. A total of 220 questionnaires were analyzed. The results show that the majority of KPTs in clinical practice used OMs during interventions. The main reasons for using OMs were to check the patient's condition and to determine the direction and effectiveness of treatment. In terms of the types of OMs used, the highest percentage of subjects used both patient-reported OMs (PROMs) and performance-based OMs (PBOMs). They chose OMs that were quick and easy to use and used them voluntarily. Barriers to and reasons for not using OMs were similar, including lack of benefits, lack of time, and problems with patient performance and uncooperative behavior. When analyzing the effect of demographic characteristics on the use of OMs, we found that physical therapists specializing in musculoskeletal and neurological systems, physical therapists with longer treatment times, and physical therapists who valued OMs were more likely to use them. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended that improvements in the work environment and healthcare system are needed to enhance the professionalism of KPTs working in the field of physical agent therapy by improving their awareness of Oms and improving the quality of physical therapy interventions.

Nutrient recovery as struvite from aquaculture wastewater by bipolar membrane electrodialysis with magnesite tailings

In this study, the feasibility of simultaneously recovering Mg, nitrogen (NH4-N) and phosphorus (P) from magnesite tailings and freshwater aquaculture have been confirmed through the bipolar membrane electrodialysis with a processing unit for the first time. The H+ required for Mg2+ leaching and OH– needed for struvite formation can be provided by the BMED system. The results indicate that adding 0.3 mol/L initial HNO3 could enhance the Mg2+ leaching and reduce the energy consumption (EC). The recovery ratios of P and NH4-N reached to about 97.9 % and 52.3 %, respectively, while the EC was about 0.051 kWh/L. Increasing the tailing dosage shortened the required treatment time and reduced the EC. Increasing the current density significantly enhanced nutrient recovery rate, but accompanied by an increase in EC. A longer treatment time is necessary for treating larger volumes of wastewater, while a P recovery ratio of approximately 99 % can be achieved. Calcium is the predominant impurity. The purity of struvite was enhanced through a multi-batch process, achieving a maximum of 97.1 % at the third time. This study provides new insights into the resourceful treatment of tailings and wastewater.

Neurocognitive Function with Conventional Hemodialysis versus Post-Dilution Hemofiltration as Initial Treatment in ESKD Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial – The DA-VINCI Study

Introduction: The ideal modality choice and dialysis prescription during the first renal replacement therapy (RRT) session remain unclear. We conducted a pilot study to determine the safety risk for hemodialysis (HD) versus hemofiltration (HF) and its relationship with neurocognitive assessment on incident RRT patients. Methods: Twenty-four incident RRT patients were included. Patients were randomized to the conventional HD group or post-dilution HF group. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) tests were applied in all patients before and after session, and brain magnetic resonance image (MRI) was performed in 7 patients from the conventional HD group and 8 patients from the post-dilution HF group before and after the intervention. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Compared to conventional HD, post-dilution HF had longer treatment time. There were no significant changes in blood pressure after RRT in both groups. The MMSE test showed no significant differences between groups or within groups. The MOCA test showed an increase in the total score for the post-dilution HF group with no significant changes between groups. The MRI evaluation showed no differences between or within groups. Conclusion: Post-dilution HF is a safe alternative for the first HD session in incident RRT; it allows longer treatment time if ultrafiltration is required and has a similar neurological risk than conventional HD. This is a pilot study and that larger studies are needed to confirm the findings.

Glass Fiber Manufacturing Wastewater Treatment Using Chemical Coagulation and Combined Electrooxidation Processes

This study investigated the oxidation of wastewater generated during the production of glass fiber manufacturing material, which contains high organic carbon (18.32 g/L) and has a pH of 8.8, by chemical coagulation and electro-advanced oxidation techniques. It was determined that the organic content of the wastewater decreased by 53% with chemical coagulation. After electrocoagulation with Al/Al electrode pair for 300 minutes at 500 mA, 73% TOC removal was achieved at pH 8.8. While 50% mineralization was completed in 2 h at 400 mA in electrocoagulation with Fe/Fe electrode pair, 71% TOC removal was obtained in the combined EC/EF process by adding hydrogen peroxide to the medium under the same conditions. It was observed that the success of the anodic oxidation methods alone was lower. The electro-Fenton application after electrocoagulation was effective (78% TOC removal) but required work at pH 3 and a longer treatment time.

Detection of micro-plasma-induced exosomes secretion in a fibroblast-melanoma co-culture model

BackgroundMelanoma is a highly aggressive tumor and a significant cause of skin cancer-related death. Timely diagnosis and treatment require identification of specific biomarkers in exosomes secreted by melanoma cells. In this study, label-free surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) method with size-matched selectivity was used to detect membrane proteins in exosomes released from a stimulated environment of fibroblasts (L929) co-cultured with melanoma cells (B16–F10). To promote normal secretion of exosomes, micro-plasma treatment was used to gently induce the co-cultured cells and slightly increase the stress level around the cells for subsequent detection using the SERS method. Results and discussionFirstly, changes in reactive oxygen species/reactive nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) concentrations in the cellular microenvironment and the viability and proliferation of healthy cells are assessed. Results showed that micro-plasma treatment increased extracellular ROS/RNS levels while modestly reducing cell proliferation without significantly affecting cell survival. Secondly, the particle size of secreted exosomes isolated from the culture medium of L929, B16–F10, and co-cultured cells with different micro-plasma treatment time did not increase significantly under single-cell conditions at short treatment time but might be changed under co-culture condition or longer treatment time. Third, for SERS signals related to membrane protein biomarkers, exosome markers CD9, CD63, and CD81 can be assigned to significant Raman shifts in the range of 943–1030 and 1304-1561 cm-1, while the characteristics SERS peaks of L929 and B16–F10 cells are most likely located at 1394/1404, 1271 and 1592 cm-1 respectively. Significance and noveltyTherefore, this micro-plasma-induced co-culture model provides a promising preclinical approach to understand the diagnostic potential of exosomes secreted by cutaneous melanoma/fibroblasts. Furthermore, the label-free SERS method with size-matched selectivity provides a novel approach to screen biomarkers in exosomes secreted by melanoma cells, aiming to reduce the use of labeling reagents and the processing time traditionally required.

Effects of slightly acidic electrolysed water spraying and ultraviolet C light-emitting diode irradiation combination on the inactivation kinetics of Escherichia coli biofilms on food contact surfaces

In this study, we aimed to quantitatively investigate the effect of ultraviolet C (UVC)-light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation and slightly acidic electrolysed water (SAEW) treatment, alone or in combination, on elimination and inactivation mechanisms and the inactivation kinetics of E. coli O157:H7 biofilms formed on stainless-steel coupons. Although E. coli biofilms were inactivated significantly up to 2.36 log and 3.23 log, respectively, by both SAEW and UVC-LED disinfection treatment alone, a lesser reduction was seen with sprayed SAEW droplet treatment than with UVC-LED irradiation, possibly due to the interactions between extracellular polymeric substances and the constituents of biofilms and the chemical composition of SAEW. The inactivation kinetics of E. coli O157:H7 biofilms were evaluated using mathematical models to fit nonlinear reduction curves (Mean Sum of Squared Error (MSSE): 0.055–0.245; Root-mean-square deviation (RMSE): 0.236–0.495; R2: 0.943–0.985). For disinfection by a combination of spraying SAEW droplets and UVC-LED irradiation, inactivation synergy effect values and synergy ratios were calculated, where synergy effect values and synergy ratios were not time-dependent. The synergistic effect of the combined treatment showed the highest value of 1.2 log10 in the 14-min treatment condition, whereas the synergistic effect value of the 19-min treatment condition, which was the longest treatment time, was 0.9 log10. Our results established that the combination of sprayed SAEW droplets and UVC-LED irradiation could have a more efficient synergistic effect in biofilm reduction on SUS food contact surface materials than sprayed SAEW droplets or UVC-LED treatment alone. Further studies are required to simulate typical commercial conditions to develop reliable combined applications of SAEW and UVC-LEDs for food safety management.

Enhancing seed germination and growth parameters of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea, variety Botrytis) using plasma-activated water

The effects of plasma-activated water (PAW), generated through atmospheric pressure air gliding arc discharge, on the germination and growth parameters of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea, variety Botrytis) seeds have been investigated. Results demonstrate significant influences of PAW on seed germination characteristics and seedling growth parameters. Increasing the exposure time of seeds to plasma from 0 to 20 min leads to a notable increment in the water uptake rate, ranging from approximately 94.0% to 115.0%. Furthermore, the physio-chemical characteristics of PAW are examined, revealing its transformation into acidic solutions, accompanied by rising electrical conductivity, oxidation-reduction potential, total dissolved solids, and nitrate and nitrite concentrations with longer treatment times. Notably, applying PAW for 10–15 min results in higher seed germination and seedling growth. Comparative experiments involving PAW and control water demonstrate enhanced germination, increased root and shoot lengths, and elevated chlorophyll content. However, prolonged exposure to PAW shows adverse effects. Cauliflower plants treated with 10 min and 15 min of PAW exhibit the highest chlorophyll concentration, root and shoot lengths. These findings underscore the potential of PAW to improve seed germination and plant growth, emphasizing the importance of adjusting the plasma treatment period for each specific seed.

Magnetic superhydrophobic sponge with 3D interpenetrating network structure coating for multimodal driven oil/water separation

In this paper, a simple dipping technique was employed to construct a 3D interpenetrating network structure coating, which was used to prepare a robust, superhydrophobic and magnetic sponge. The modified sponge exhibits rapid adsorption behavior, high adsorption capacity (up to 60–159 times its own dry weight or above 119 %–186 % of its own volume for various oils/organic solvents), stable superhydrophobicity and reusability. After 100 times extrusion adsorption test, it retains 70 % adsorption capacity and the WCA is still over 140°. More importantly, the modified sponge presents excellent robustness and chemical stability after a long time of chemical reagent treatment (HCl, KOH, NaCl) and mechanical friction test 1000 cycles. Notably, the magnet, pump, self-adsorption, gravity and solar-driven oil/water separation devices based on the modified sponge also were applied, particularly the separation of crude oil mixtures via the solar-driven mode, demonstrating the broad prospects of such modified sponges in actual applications. As such, this study not only provides an environmentally friendly, efficient, robust and low-cost design strategy for multi-state oil spill cleaning, but also focuses on solving the problem of material recovery and the use of materials in harsh environment.

Revealing the Effects of Three Different Antimicrobial Agents on E. coli Biofilms by Using Soft-Probe Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy

This paper evaluated the use of soft-probe scanning electrochemical microscopy complementarily with confocal laser scanning microscopy to study the effects of different antimicrobial agents and treatments on E. coli DH5α biofilm. The antimicrobial agents were sodium azide, silver nanoparticles, and a flashlight. The effects of these agents were monitored by measuring the change in biofilm properties, such as biofilm biomass, live/dead studies, and surface activity. The results showed that sodium azide, silver nanoparticles, and the flashlight effectively killed E. coli biofilms and explained the mode of action for each treatment. Sodium azide was more effective in killing the biofilm after a short treatment time by blocking the ATPase, while silver nanoparticles were more effective at killing the biofilm after longer treatment times through several antibiofilm actions. This work showed that scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) is a very valuable tool for studying the effects of antimicrobial agents on biofilms. SECM is a sensitive technique that can be used to monitor the changes in biofilm properties in real-time. Additionally, SECM does not require any sample preparation, which makes it a convenient and efficient technique. Overall, the results of this study could be used to develop new strategies for treating E. coli biofilm infections and provide valuable insights into the use of SECM to study the effects of antimicrobial agents on E. coli biofilms.

Pore tracing in additive manufactured and hot isostatic pressed components

Despite past scientific efforts and the increased use of hot isostatic pressing (HIP) in additive manufacturing applications, a complete understanding of the exact pore-closing behaviour has yet to be achieved. The present research focuses on laser powder bed fused (LPBF), hot isostatic pressed components made of AlSi10Mg, and process-related defects. The study shows the effect of HIPing in relation to various pore characteristics, such as pore shape, size, and type. A pore tracing method using X-ray data was developed to characterise the pores before and after HIP. The method is based on the k-nearest neighbours approach and allows to match leftover pores with the initial ones. Hence, the efficiency of the pore-closing behaviour for different HIP settings can be analysed. Moreover, the exact number of pore transformations can be tracked, providing a comprehensive insight into the change of pore characteristics during HIP. In this framework, eight different HIP settings and a total number of 274,886 pores were examined and discussed. The findings demonstrate that longer treatment times and higher pressure and temperature settings accelerated the pore transformation. Irregularly shaped and large pores close faster than spherically shaped and smaller ones. Furthermore, regardless of the initial pore type, all pores started transforming their shape towards irregular shapes and small pore diameters. Some pores remained after the HIP treatments, probably due to the inefficiency of HIP in closing pores connected with the component surface or the presence of oxide particles interfering with the diffusion bonding process.

Development of a Ranibizumab Biosimilar using Bovine Milk-Derived Exosomes for the Inhibition of Corneal Neovascularization

Introduction: Corneal neovascularization disease is an important clinical symptom of many ocular surface disorders, and the use of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drugs is considered the most promising treatment method. Method: Ranibizumab (RB) is one of the few anti-VEGF drugs approved by the FDA in the treatment of ophthalmic diseases, but the special synthetic route leads to a short biological half-life, and therapeutic concentration cannot be maintained for a long time in clinical treatment. Therefore, we aim to develop a low immunogenicity sustained release system to improve the bioavailability of RB. RB was loaded on bovine milk-derived exosomes (MEXOs), and the in vitro release profile and pharmacokinetic characteristics were detected. RB was continuously release from the MEXOs (2 days, 60 h). The tubular network formation experiment of human umbilical vein endothelial cells showed that the MEXOs enhanced the inhibitory effects of RB on VEGF-induced tube formation, as confirmed by a cell proliferation experiment. Results: In vivo experiments showed that RB-loaded bovine milk-derived exosomes (RB-MEXOs) increased the precorneal residence time and half-life period of RB in New Zealand white rabbits. Conclusion: These results suggested that RB-MEXOs is conducive to the maintenance of effective RB concentration in vivo, and their use is potential strategy for treating corneal vascularization.

350. FUNCTIONAL RESPONSES OF SWINE ESOPHAGUS TO FOCAL CRYOTHERAPY

Abstract Barrett’s esophagus is a premalignant condition where the squamous epithelium of the distal esophagus is replaced by columnar epithelium. Treatment involves endoscopic resection followed by ablation for complete eradication. Various ablative techniques exist including cryotherapy which utilizes a cryogen spray or balloon catheter. While efficacious, complications such as dysphagia have been reported. To better understand the underlying mechanism of how cryotherapy might damage the muscularis, isolated muscle strips were ablated and their function studied. Isolated muscle strips with the mucosa layers removed were prepared from freshly isolated swine esophagus and placed in tissue baths where they were electrically stimulated, and contractile forces were recorded. Contractile responses were allowed to stabilize before a given muscle strip was removed for focal ablation. Cryoablation was performed with a focal cardiac ablation catheter (Freezor, Medtronic). Following ablation, the given muscle strip was returned to the tissue baths. Regression analyses were performed using temperature data from a thermocouple integrated into the tip of the ablation catheter and contractile forces after the esophageal muscle strips had recovered for 3 hours. Ablations lasting less than 60 seconds were applied to 135 esophageal muscle strips: with an average mass of 94 mg. From the experimental data, a multiple linear regression model was generated: 71.93 + 0.4770x—0.5530y = z, where x is the minimum temperature (C), y is the time below 0 C, and z is the contractile force (normalized to preablative force, %). Our model has an adjusted R-squared value of 0.508. As expected, lower minimum temperatures and longer treatment times were associated with greater losses in stimulated muscle forces. We were able to reproducible ablate isolated swine esophageal strips that elicited contractile responses in vitro. Lower temperatures and longer treatment times were associated with greater losses in stimulated muscle forces. Yet, the adjusted R-squared value indicates that temperature and time only partially explain the response. Future studies could be improved by accounting for variabilities in sample sizes and additionally, regression diagnostics need to be performed to check for outliers and validate model assumptions.

Alkali-modified halloysite for enhanced cadmium/lead vapor capture: Focus on silicic surface via experimental and computational investigations

We attempted to activate the Si surface of Halloysite (Hal) to enhance its adsorption capacity for heavy metal (HM, CdCl2/PbCl2) vapors through thermal-alkali modification. A combination of experimental and simulation methods was used to analyze the stabilization mechanism of CdCl2/PbCl2 comprehensively. FTIR, 1H MAS NMR, and XPS results confirm the generation of Si-OH groups on the alkali-treated Hal (AHal) surface. The adsorption performance of adsorbents was investigated in a two-stage high-temperature adsorption setup, and the results show that a relatively short alkali treatment time (20 min) improved the adsorption capacity of Hal, while a longer treatment time (60 min) led to a negative impact. XPS results revealed that the adsorption of CdCl2/PbCl2 involved both physical and chemical adsorption. Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulations demonstrated an increased adsorption potential of AHal and enhanced reactivity with the HMs. Density functional theory was employed to investigate the adsorption mechanism of Cd/Pb compounds on the Si surface. Compared to raw Hal, AHal exhibited higher adsorption energy for HMs after introducing Si-OH groups, resulting in a more stable configuration. The stabilization of Cd/Pb monomers on the Si surface primarily relies on promoting the H migration from Si-OH to interlayer O and then forming covalent bonds with the remaining active O atoms, while Si-OH played a role in facilitating the occurrence of De-HCl reaction, thereby transforming the adsorption of metal chlorides into more stable metal monomers adsorption.

Optimization of Silicon Selective Leaching with Glycerol Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

Selective removal of silicon might open-up the possibility of reusing silicon-contaminated spent catalyst. Unfortunately, study regarding this topic is still scarce. The effect of important parameters such as leaching treatment time and temperature was investigated, and the process conditions were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite design (CCD). Based on analysis of variance (ANOVA) results, leaching treatment time was found to be the most significant parameter, followed by temperature. Higher temperature and longer treatment time were satisfactorily enough for efficient silicon leaching from spent catalyst. The obtained quadratic model (R2 = 0.995) shows a good correlation between the predicted values and experimental data. The optimum condition for silicon leaching was identified to be a temperature of 213.3°C and a treatment time of 5.83 hours.

General and violent recidivism of former forensic psychiatric patients in Finland.

Forensic psychiatric care in Finland is provided to individuals who have committed a crime due to a serious mental disorder and are in need of psychiatric care. The reconviction (recidivism) rates for this patient group vary in time and between countries, likely due to different treatment practices and requirements for forensic care. We set out to study criminal recidivism in a national cohort of all patients released from forensic psychiatric care in Finland between 1999 and 2018. National registries were used to identify the patients and gain information on their criminal sentences. Forensic psychiatric examinations were used to record demographic information for the cohort. The cohort was followed up from hospital discharge to the end of 2019. We identified a total of 501 patients who were released from forensic psychiatric care (mean age: 46.6 years [SD 13.4), 434 (86.6%) were male). The mean and median times spent in treatment for the cohort was 10.0 years [SD 6.5] and 8.7 years, respectively. 91% of the patients had schizophrenia spectrum disorder (F2*), and 63.5% had a substance use disorder. A total of 83 patients (16.6%) committed any crime after being released from care, and the mean time to recidivism was 3.8 years. The recidivism rate was 2015 per 100,000 person years. A total of 48 patients (9.6%) committed a violent crime. The mean time to violent recidivism was 4.2 years. The violent recidivism rate was 1,083 per 100,000 person years. A longer duration of treatment was associated with a decreased risk of general recidivism (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.00, p = 0.05). Factors associated with higher recidivism were male sex, having a comorbid substance use disorder and younger age at discharge. The recidivism rate in Finland was markedly lower than has been previously reported for other Western countries, and the mean duration of treatment was also longer. A longer treatment time may reduce the risk of criminal recidivism in forensic psychiatric patients. The results suggest, as previous studies have found, that more effort is indicated on the treatment of substance abuse.

Efficacy and safety profile of pimicotinib (ABSK021) in tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT): Phase 1b update.

11559 Background: TGCT is a rare type of locally aggressive neoplasm that is mainly caused by overexpression of colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF1) gene. Pimicotinib is an oral, highly potent, and selective small-molecule antagonist of CSF-1R with minimum inhibition of c-Kit and PDGFR, and has been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for TGCT by FDA in Jan 2023. Here, we report the updates from 50 mg QD cohort as well as the preliminary data from 25 mg QD cohort in TGCT pts. Methods: The study (NCT04192344) is to evaluate the safety and preliminary antitumor activity of Pimicotinib at 50 mg QD and 25 mg QD in TGCT pts not amenable to surgical resection. Results: As of December 31, 2022, 49 TGCT pts were enrolled, including 37 pts treated with 50 mg QD and 12 pts with 25 mg QD. Median age was 39 y (range: 19-76) and 40.8% were male. The tumor location was mainly in knee (53.1%), hip (18.4%) or ankle (12.2%). Thirty-one pts received at least one prior surgery, and 1 pt received prior exploratory systemic therapy (Anlotinib). Median treatment duration was 7.9 mos (range: 0.4-12.5), and 89.8% remained on treatment. The ORR was 77.4% (24/31, including 2 CR) in 50 mg QD and 40% (4/10, including 1 CR) in 25 mg QD by IRC based on RECIST 1.1. Most responses were achieved within 25 wks and median DOR in both cohorts was not reached. Average improvement of flexion range of knee at wk 13 from baseline was 30.2 degrees (n = 13, range: 2, 105) in 50 mg QD and 4.8 degrees (n = 5, range: -12, 24) in 25 mg QD. Proportion of responders based on BPI-30 at wk 25 was 66.7% (16/24) in 50 mg QD and 60% (3/5) in 25 mg QD, along with a similar trend of stiffness. Most TEAEs were Gr 1 or 2. Four Gr 3/4 TEAEs were reported (2 drug-related), including 1 Gr 3 serious TEAE. Most common TEAEs (≥20%) include LDH increase (75.5%), CPK increase (67.3%), α-HBDH increase (63.3%), AST increase (42.9%), amylase increase (26.5%), ALT increase (24.5%), pruritus (20.4%) and rash (20.4%). No hair color changes or serious liver injuries were reported. CPK and transaminase elevations were asymptomatic, on-target and quickly recovered after drug interruptions. nder steady-state, 50 mg QD resulted in ~ 2-fold higher Cmax and Ctrough compared to 25 mg QD, in sync with findings from escalation phase. Significant PD changes were observed in both cohorts, such as increase in plasma CSF-1 levels, decrease in non-classical monocytes and C-terminal telopeptide(CTx). Changes from baselines in both CSF-1 and CTx showed a correlation with pimocetinib plasma concentrations. Conclusions: Pimicotinib has demonstrated a significant antitumor activity, favorable safety, and PK profiles at both 50 mg QD and 25 mg QD with no apparent hepatotoxicity. The changes in PD biomarkers indicate significant CSF-1R inhibition in TGCT pts. Updated data from 50 mg QD cohort showed higher ORR and continuous improvement over a longer treatment time, which supports the further evaluation of Pimicotinib in a phase 3 study. Clinical trial information: NCT04192344 .

Ozonation Vs sequential solar driven processes as simultaneous tertiary and quaternary treatments of urban wastewater: A life cycle assessment comparison

Solar driven advanced oxidation processes (S-AOPs) have been successfully investigated in the last years as tertiary and quaternary treatment of urban wastewater for simultaneous inactivation of microorganisms and removal of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), respectively. However, the lack of data about the comparison with consolidated technologies, including also the evaluation of their impact on the environment, has contributed to humper their application at full scale so far. In this study, the environmental impact of a new S-AOP, namely sequential treatment (ST) with sunlight/H2O2 and solar photo-Fenton (SPF) at neutral pH (using Ethylenediamine-N, N′-disuccinic acid (EDDS) as chelating agent) operated at pilot scale in a raceway pond reactor, was compared to a pilot scale ozonation (O3) treatment unit in terms of simultaneous bacteria inactivation and CECs removal, through a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Different urban wastewater treatment plant (UWWTP) sizes and scenarios (namely effluent disposal and reuse) were evaluated. While the reuse scenario resulted in a higher impact compared to the disposal scenario in the construction/deconstruction phase, due to the more stringent limits that resulted in longer treatment time and a higher consumption of raw materials, the positive impact on water resources saving compared to disposal makes the reuse scenario a more sustainable solution. Despite O3 disinfection by-products were taken into account, ST resulted in a higher toxicity to human health (0.27·10−9 DALYs Vs 2.11 10−9 DALYs, respectively) due to the higher residual concentration of the target CECs. However, it is noteworthy that both values are significantly lower than the acceptable DALYs value (≤10−6). Chemicals, energy, groundwater consumption and residual CECs can affect resources 1125 and 1874 times more for O3 treatment than for the ST, for disposal and reuse scenarios, respectively. The total impact of O3 on the human health was 13 and 19 times higher compared to ST, for disposal and reuse scenarios, respectively, due to the higher energy and chemical consumption. According to the LCA results, ST resulted in a better overall environmental performance compared to O3 and it is a more sustainable and attractive solution in particular for small UWWTPs.

Hydrothermal treatment-induced changes in wood iron concentrations and colour: a technological study

ABSTRACT This study aimed to reveal the changes in Fe concentration and colour in the wood obtained from selected tree species: Pinus sylvestris L., Picea abies (L.) H. Karst., Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco, Juglans regia L., and Acer platanoides L. at different stages of the hydrothermal treatment with additive Fe2O3 in combination with tannic acid. The study results showed that wood obtained from deciduous and coniferous trees responded slightly differently to the duration of treatment, and the temperature applied. In all cases, the higher Fe concentrations were found the outer wood layers, which directly contacted the modifying solvent. In deeper wood layers, Fe concentrations gradually decreased. Higher Fe concentration determined darkening of the colour. The longer treatment time and the higher temperature caused the higher Fe concentrations in all wood layers. For the most reliable and efficient technological process, the treatment temperature could be optimised up to 90°C, when the wood is exposed to the solvent made of water with the addition of Fe2O3 and tannic acid. The duration of the full hydrothermal process could be optimised up to 120 h for the wood from coniferous species, and it could be prolonged up to 150–240 h for deciduous species.

Single-Strain Probiotic Lactobacilli for the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Probiotics are known for their positive effects on the gut microbiota. There is growing evidence that the infant gut and skin colonization have a role in the development of the immune system, which may be helpful in the prevention and treatment of atopic dermatitis. This systematic review focused on evaluating the effect of single-strain probiotic lactobacilli consumption on treating children's atopic dermatitis. Seventeen randomized placebo-controlled trials with the primary outcome of the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index were included in the systematic review. Clinical trials using single-strain lactobacilli were included. The search was conducted until October 2022 using PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Cochrane library and manual searches. The Joanna Briggs Institute appraisal tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Meta-analyses and sub meta-analyses were performed using Cochrane Collaboration methodology. Due to different methods of reporting the SCORAD index, only 14 clinical trials with 1124 children were included in the meta-analysis (574 in the single-strain probiotic lactobacilli group and 550 in the placebo group) and showed that single-strain probiotic lactobacilli statistically significantly reduced the SCORAD index compared to the placebo in children with atopic dermatitis (mean difference [MD]: -4.50; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -7.50 to -1.49; Z = 2.93; p = 0.003; heterogeneity I2 = 90%). The subgroup meta-analysis showed that strains of Limosilactobacillus fermentum were significantly more effective than strains of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei or Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus. A longer treatment time and younger treatment age statistically significantly reduced symptoms of atopic dermatitis. The result of this systematic review and meta-analysis shows that certain single-strain probiotic lactobacilli are more successful than others in reducing atopic dermatitis severity in children. Therefore, careful consideration to strain selection, treatment time and the age of the treated patients are important factors in enhancing the effectiveness of reducing atopic dermatitis in children when choosing probiotic single-strain lactobacilli.

Enhancing the Anaerobic Biodegradation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soils with Electrically Conductive Materials.

Anaerobic bioremediation is a relevant process in the management of sites contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons. Recently, interspecies electron transfer processes mediated by conductive minerals or particles have been proposed as mechanisms through which microbial species within a community share reducing equivalents to drive the syntrophic degradation of organic substrates, including hydrocarbons. Here, a microcosm study was set up to investigate the effect of different electrically conductive materials (ECMs) in enhancing the anaerobic biodegradation of hydrocarbons in historically contaminated soil. The results of a comprehensive suite of chemical and microbiological analyses evidenced that supplementing the soil with (5% w/w) magnetite nanoparticles or biochar particles is an effective strategy to accelerate the removal of selected hydrocarbons. In particular, in microcosms supplemented with ECMs, the removal of total petroleum hydrocarbons was enhanced by up to 50% relative to unamended controls. However, chemical analyses suggested that only a partial bioconversion of contaminants occurred and that longer treatment times would have probably been required to drive the biodegradation process to completion. On the other hand, biomolecular analyses confirmed the presence of several microorganisms and functional genes likely involved in hydrocarbon degradation. Furthermore, the selective enrichment of known electroactive bacteria (i.e., Geobacter and Geothrix) in microcosms amended with ECMs, clearly pointed to a possible role of DIET (Diet Interspecies Electron Transfer) processes in the observed removal of contaminants.