National Standard Value Research Articles

Relationship among Childbirth, Onset of Lower Back Pain, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Female Patients with Lower Back Pain: A Retrospective Study.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between childbirth and lower back pain and determine the health-related quality of life of female patients with lower back pain. A total of 111 patients were divided into three groups: those who had given birth and developed lower back pain due to pregnancy, childbirth, or child-rearing movements (childbirth group, n=41), those who had given birth and developed lower back pain due to other causes (childbirth and other cause group, n=29), and those who were nulliparous (nulliparous group, n=41). A total of 22 physical therapists evaluated the patients during initial rehabilitation. Basic information and health-related quality of life were compared among the three groups using a one-way analysis of variance for the visual analog scale scores for lower back pain, summary scores (physical health [physical component summary] and mental health [mental component summary]), and subscales (physical functioning, role-physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional, and mental health) of the Short Form-8 Health Survey. These values were also compared with the national standard values for health-related quality of life. The chi-square test of independence was used to compare distributions, and Fisher's exact probability test was used for cells with an expected value of <5. Most participants had physical component summary scores below the national standard values. The visual analog scale scores for lower back pain were significantly higher in the birth group than in the nonbirth group. The physical component summary, physical functioning, and general health scores were significantly lower in the birth group than in the nonbirth group. Moreover, bodily pain scores were significantly lower in the birth group than in the other groups. For female patients with lower back pain due to pregnancy, childbirth, or childcare activities, physical conditions unique to postpartum women should be considered, and if necessary, instructions for activities of daily living should be provided.

Rapid Recovery Technology of SF6/N2 Mixed Insulation Gas in Electrical Equipment

SF6 mixed gas is widely used as an insulation and arc extinguishing medium in electrical equipment in cold regions of northern China. Due to its low liquefaction temperature, existing gas recovery technologies are unable to achieve efficient and rapid recovery of SF6/N2 mixed insulation gases. In response to this challenge, a two-stage membrane separation and recovery technology has been proposed, which can efficiently and quickly separate SF6 and N2 from the mixed gas. The volume fraction (V/V) of obtained product SF6 gas reaches 90%, and the use of compression and refrigeration units can achieve rapid filling of 50 m3/h mixed gas. At the same time, the enrichment and recovery of trace SF6 gas in the exhaust gas are achieved. After enrichment, the volume fraction (V/V) of SF6 gas reaches 92%, and the volume fraction (V/V) of SF6 gas in the emptied mixed gas is 600 μL/L, far below the national standard value, solving the problems in actual production.

Evaluation of characteristics on the indoor dwelling environments of traditional villages in Hehuang area of China based on basic environmental parameters under remote sensing technology

In Chinese northwestern rural households where the indoor air quality is worse than the outside, rural residents face much higher health risks than urban residents. In this study, remote physical sensor devices and detectors technology were used to monitor and calculate the dwelling environmental quality index of 12 dwellings of traditional villages in the Hehuang area of China based on four environmental parameters to assess the indoor air quality of local dwellings. The results show that (1) the DEQI value reached 76 in summer but only 50 in winter, and the indoor dwelling environment quality in the Hehuang area was better in summer than in winter. (2) The ST was only 34 in summer and even lower in winter, at only 10, and low indoor temperatures were a chronic problem for the indoor dwelling spaces throughout the year. (3) In both summer and winter, the SRH reached 86, which was satisfactory overall. (4) In summer, the SCO2 value was 89 and the SPM10 value was 96, reflecting relatively good overall conditions. In winter, the SCO2 value was 65, the concentrations generally increased, and the SPM10 value was equal to 40, with concentrations exceeding the national standard value more than half the time. This study enables local governments and residents to accurately evaluate and analysis existing indoor dwelling environment problems based on this remote sensing technology, enhance the environmental health awareness of local residents, and provide an objective basis for improving the local dwelling environment and developing relevant policies.

Using Biochar and Iron-calcium Material to Remediate Paddy Soil Contaminated by Cadmium and Arsenic

In this study, iron-calcium material (FC) and hickory-cattail biochar (BC) were applied to prepare composite material (BF), which was used to repair the combined pollution of cadmium and arsenic in paddy soil to reduce the content of cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) in rice grain. Soil pore water, rhizosphere soil, bulk soil, rice plants, and root iron plaque samples were collected during the growth period of rice in a pot experiment to explore the effects and mechanism of FC, BC, and BF on the bioavailability of Cd and As in paddy soil and their contents in plants. The results showed that biochar could significantly (P &lt; 0.05) increase the pH value of bulk soil (0.55-0.66 units) and rhizosphere soil (0.28-0.36 units) and elevate the soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content. FC material could significantly (P &lt; 0.05) reduce the pH of bulk soil (0.14-0.27 units) and rhizosphere soil (0.38-0.41 units), as well as the soil DOC content. Iron-calcium materials and composite could simultaneously reduce the contents of available Cd and As in soil pore water, rhizosphere soil, and bulk soil, whereas biochar could reduce the content of Cd but increase the content of As. Among them, a 1% addition of composite had the best effect. The available Cd and As in soil decreased by 41.8%-48.2% and 6.1%-10.1%, respectively. Biochar, iron-calcium materials, and composites improved plant biomass (dry weight of root, stem, leaf, and grain). For example, the dry weights of rice grains under these treatments were higher (48.5%-184.0%) than that of CK, as was the root iron plaque content (7.5%-13.6%). Compared with that in the CK, biochar could effectively reduce the Cd content in rice grain by 21.0%-26.1%. Iron-calcium material and composite could simultaneously reduce the Cd and As contents in rice grain. Among them, the BF treatment had the best effect on the reduction of Cd and As in rice grain, with a decrease of 36.9%-42.0% and 40.4%-44.4%, respectively. The Cd and As contents in rice grain were lower than the national standard values (GB 2762-2017).

Modification mechanism, heavy metal coupling and ecological security risk assessment of phosphogypsum utilization in self-leveling mortar

Few researches on high efficiency modified phosphogypsum (MPG) and its resource utilization in bulding materials. This article investigated the effects of different lower temperatures and drying times on the thermodynamic modification mechanism of macroscopic performance and microscopic structure of MPG, and investigates its application in phosphogypsum-based self-leveling mortars (PBSLM). Then, the coupling mechanism of characteristic heavy metals in the modification process (original-modification-hydration) was discussed, and the safety evaluation was conducted on the content of heavy metal elements in the sample. Data from microscopic analysis showed that with the increase of temperature and drying time, the strength of MPG blocks and the decomposition rate of dihydrate gypsum crystal both increased, while the particle size decreased. The degree of crystal decomposition becomes more complete as the temperature rises if the holding time remains constant. As well as, the MPG at 180 °C/7 h, 195 °C/7 h/10 h met the Chinese standard of “Calcined gypsum” (GB/T9776). The heavy metal elements in MPG decreased obviously, caused by the substitution solid solution formed by Ca2+ and Fe3+ and heavy metal ions and the adsorption of calcium sulfate hemihydrate crystals. After hydration of MPG, As and Cd increased slightly because dicalcium phosphate was insoluble in water and soluble in acid, and iron oxide reduced and dissolved Cd. Then, the ecological hazards of heavy metals in hydrated MPG after hydration were evaluated. The results showed that there was no environmental safety problem in the hydrated MPG, but the As and Cr elements in it had an acceptable carcinogenic risk through oral intake. Based on ensuring the safety of MPG, MPG powder was used in PBSLM. The research demonstrates that the basic mechanical properties of the PBSLM produced, when the MPG powder content is 330 g, and cement is 40 g are the best. The heavy metal aqueous solution's leaching amount is lower than China's national standard limit value. (30min fluidity, 24 h-flexural and compressive strength were 154 mm, 5.7 MPa and 10.6 MPa). Finally, based on this research, a set of general evaluation system for safe utilization of solid waste was established according to national standards. This provides theoretical support for the research of heavy metal in PG at low temperature and the ways of harmless and resource utilization.

The Usefulness of the Short Form-8 for Chronic Pain in the Orofacial Region: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background and purpose Given that chronic pain has become a major problem in recent years, affecting approximately 30% of the general population, this study used the Japanese version of the Short Form-8 (SF-8) to investigate (1) the quality of life (QOL) of patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS) or persistent idiopathic facial pain (PIFP) (compared with a Japanese control group) and (2) whether therapeutic intervention improves the QOL and reduces pain (comparison between 0 and 12 weeks) of patients with BMS or PIFP. Materials and methods A total of 63 patients diagnosed with either BMS (n=45) or PIFP (n=18) were included in this study. The diagnostic criteria for BMS and PIFP were established based on the third edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders. Results Our study results showed that while Physical Component Summary (PCS) in patients with BMS or PIFP improved with treatment, it did not improve to the national standard value (NSV) after 12 weeks of intervention. In contrast, the Mental Component Summary (MCS) improved to the same level as the NSV after 12 weeks of intervention. Conclusions We found that therapeutic intervention improves MCS and reduces pain; however, improving PCS requires time.

Natural aging mechanism of buried polyethylene pipelines during long-term service

Currently, accelerated aging tests are widely used to study the aging process of polyethylene pipelines. However, this approach can only simulate one or several main influencing factors in the natural environment, which are often quite different from the actual environment of the buried pipelines. In this study, five types of PE80 buried pipelines in service for 9–18 years were taken as the research object, while new PE80 pipelines were taken as the reference group. The aging process and mechanism of polyethylene buried pipelines were studied through mechanical and chemical property tests and microstructural analysis. The results showed that the pipeline exhibited cross-linking as the main aging mechanism after being in service for 0–18 years. The aging degree and law of the inner and outer surface of the pipeline were compared, and the observed mechanism of both surfaces was explained. After 18 years in service, the elongation at the break of the pipe decreased by 16.2%, and the toughness of the matrix in the main collapse area of the tensile sample was the fundamental reason responsible for changes in the mechanical properties. Finally, after 18 years in service, the oxidation induction time of the pipeline was 25.7 min, which was 28.5% higher than the national standard value. There were no potential safety hazards during continuous long-term service. The results of this paper provide reference data and theoretical guidance for the aging process study of buried polyethylene pipelines.

Levels, sources, variations, and human health risk assessment of 90Sr and 137Cs in water and food around Sanmen Nuclear Power Plant (China) from 2011 to 2020.

Radioactivity monitoring around nuclear facilities is crucial to provide important baseline data for effective detection of radioactive leakage to the environment. We aim to establish a baseline study for monitoring radioactive levels of 90Sr and 137Cs around Sammen Nuclear Power Plant (SNPP) and to assess their associated health impact on surrounding residents. In this study, we collected water and food samples around the SNPP from 2011 to 2020 and determined for 90Sr and 137Cs activity concentrations. We statistically analyzed the temporal trends of 90Sr and 137Cs and evaluated their radiation exposure to the local residents. During this period, the activity concentrations of 90Sr and 137Cs varied within 1.2-9.9 mBq/L and 0.10-7.6 mBq/L in water, and 0.037-1.3 Bq/kg and 0.011-0.45 Bq/kg in food, respectively, with no significant seasonal variation trend. All reported activity concentrations of 90Sr and 137Cs were significantly lower than the recommended value of WHO and Chinese national standards. There is no indication of notable radioactive release into the study area due to the operation of SNPP during 2018-2020. The annual effective doses (AEDs) from the ingestion of 90Sr and 137Cs in water and food were well below the international permissible limits, indicating the radiation exposure around SNPP during 2011-2020 was kept at a safe level.

Light Environment Evaluation and Optimization of College Classrooms from a Dual-Carbon Perspective

Under the background of the country's vigorous advocacy of “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality”, in order to understand the current situation of the light environment of university classrooms and provide reference for the direction and measures of the improvement of university classrooms, this paper selected a typical classroom in a university in Henan province to carry out subjective and objective assessment of the light environment. Objectively, from two aspects of daylighting coefficient and artificial lighting measurement, the results show that the average illumination and evenness of the classroom are lower than the national standard value under the condition of natural lighting and night lighting. Subjectively, a questionnaire survey was conducted on the classroom light environment of the students who have used the classroom, and it was concluded that under both natural lighting and night lighting conditions, most of the students believed that the subjective feeling of the classroom light environment was poor, and the classroom light environment needed to be improved.In addition, the paper uses DIALux software to optimize the light environment according to the current situation, and simulates the current situation and optimization measures of the light environment of the classroom, so that the classroom can realize the requirements of energy saving while meeting the comfort of the indoor light environment.

Heavy metals contamination in water, sediment, and fish in Situ Gunung Putri, Bogor, Indonesia

Situ Gunung Putri is one of the urban lakes in Bogor Regency, Indonesia, which has been affected by population growth and industrialization, making these waters vulnerable to heavy metals contamination. This study aimed to determine the distribution and concentration of heavy metals in Situ Gunung Putri in the water, sediment, and fish. Heavy metals were analyzed using the acid destruction method referring to APHA Standard Methods, while data analysis consisted of descriptive analysis and Bioaccumulation Factor (BAF). Heavy metals concentration in surface water still meets the tolerable value of national quality standards, except for Pb. Meanwhile, heavy metals concentration in sediments has exceeded the Threshold Effect Level (TEL) and Probability Effect Level (PEL) of Canadian Freshwater Sediment Guidelines, and the highest concentrations for all metals found at station 1, located near the inlet from the industries. Metals analysis in fish flesh showed that they exceeded the permitted threshold, except for Cu. Several types of heavy metals show a negative correlation between fish body length and heavy metal concentrations. The BAF value in fish flesh shows results of &gt;1000 for Cu and Zn metals.

Species distribution and concentration pollution of soil heavy metals in coal mine reclamation areas

In order to understand the distribution characteristics of heavy metal elements in the soil of the coal mine reclamation area and its impact on the surrounding environment and provide technical support for the selection of a reasonable method for the coal mine land reclamation, taking the soil of the Shanxi coal mine reclamation area as the research object, the distribution characteristics of four heavy metal elements in the soil of two different reclamation methods in deep and shallow coal mines were studied by the continuous extraction method. The research results show that the content of heavy metals in the deep reclamation area is significantly higher than that in the unreclaimed area, and the content of Zn and Cr is 6.23 times and 1.57 times that of the unreclaimed area, respectively. The content of heavy metal Zn is nine times more than the national standard value. Soils in deep reclamation areas have been contaminated with Zn and Cr. The heavy metal content in the shallow reclamation area is higher than that in the unreclaimed area but lower than the national standard value. Pb in the coal mine reclamation area has a high pollution impact on the surrounding soil. Although the content of Zn in the soil is relatively large, due to the stable nature of the residue, it has little impact on the environment. Heavy metals Ni and Cr are dangerous to the surrounding soil under certain conditions; the RSP value of the heavy metal Pb in the soil of the deep and shallow reclamation areas is the largest, which has the greatest impact on the environment, and the other three heavy metals have no pollution. Pb in coal mines has a serious impact on the environment.

Reduction of cadmium bioavailability in paddy soil and its accumulation in brown rice by FeCl3 washing combined with biochar: A field study

Cadmium (Cd) removal from paddy soil to reduce Cd accumulation in brown rice is essential for agroecology, food safety, and human health. In this study, we demonstrate that ferric chloride (FeCl3) washing combined with biochar treatment efficiently remediates Cd-contaminated paddy soil in field trials. Our results showed that 30.9 % of total Cd and 41.6 % of bioavailable Cd were removed by the addition of 0.03 M FeCl3 at a liquid/soil ratio of 1.5:1. The subsequent addition of 1 % biochar further reduced bioavailable Cd by 36.5 and 41.5 %, compared with FeCl3 washing or biochar treatment alone. The principal component regression analysis showed that the Cd content in brown rice was primarily affected by the bioavailable Cd in soil. The combined remediation contributed to the decreased Cd contents in brown rice by 45.5–62.5 %, as well as a 2.7–11.8 % increase in rice yield. The Cd contents in brown rice decreased to 0.12 and 0.04 mg kg−1 in two cultivars of rice (Zhuliangyou189 and Zhuliangyou929), lower than the national food safety standard limit value of China (0.2 mg kg−1). Meanwhile, the combined remediation promoted the restoration of soil pH and organic matter as well as the improvement of available nutrients. This finding suggests that the combination of FeCl3 washing and biochar is an effective remediation strategy to minimize Cd bioavailability in paddy soil, and improves soil quality, thus contributing to food safety.

Analysis of Health-Related Quality of Life and Clinical Evaluations in Patients with the Triad of Combined Knee Injuries.

Combined knee injuries of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and medial meniscus were called "the unhappy triad" in the past. With recent advances in diagnostic technology, combined ACL, MCL, and lateral meniscus injuries are now known to be the predominant triad. We examined and verified the treatment outcomes of the triad of combined knee injuries from both patient-based subjective evaluation and objective assessments. We studied 49 knees (49 patients) with combined injuries of the ACL, MCL, and lateral meniscus. These cases were divided into those who underwent simultaneous ACL and MCL reconstruction (group A, 18 cases) and those who underwent ACL reconstruction only because MCL injury could be treated conservatively (group B, 31 cases). Clinical evaluation was conducted preoperative and 24 months or longer after surgery. The methods included patient-reported outcomes using Short Form-36, and conventional assessments using Lysholm's score, visual analogue scale (VAS), and quantitative measurement of knee instability using Telos SE. Compared with presurgical scores, the postsurgical Short Form-36 scores showed improvements in all eight subscales, all reaching the national standard values. Significant improvements were observed in the five subscales in group A and seven subscales in group B. Furthermore, significant improvements in Lysholm's score, VAS pain score, and quantitative knee instability were achieved in both groups. This study demonstrated successful clinical outcomes in patients with a triad of knee injuries who were treated with lateral meniscus repair or partial meniscectomy and either combined MCL/ACL reconstruction or ACL reconstruction alone.

The Integrated Development of Tourism and Cultural and Creative Industries Based on Smart City Cloud Service Information System

In response to the integration of tourism and media, this paper proposes research on the integration of tourism and its practice, leadership, and creative business based on smart city weather information. Based on this research, a systematic investigation and evaluation of smart city tourism competition models are conducted to accurately measure and influence the growth and competitiveness of smart cities, build smart tourism cities, and bring health benefits. Build China’s smart tourism city and enhance the international competitiveness of China’s tourism industry. Second, develop a measurement process. As for the evaluation criteria of tourism competitiveness of smart tourism cities, this paper mainly adopts the methods of single index evaluation and expert experience scoring. Select single indicators, especially quantitative indicators, and evaluate about relevant national, local, and industrial standard values. For qualitative indicators, based on the determination of relevant weights, five grades I, II, III, IV, and V are adopted, with a total score of 100, and the corresponding scores of the five grades are ≤50, 50–59, 60–69, 70–89, and ≥90, so as to determine the evaluation standard of smart Tourism city. The research shows that the research on the integration of tourism industry and cultural and creative industry based on smart city weather data is effective.

Health-related quality of life in patients with alopecia areata: Results of a Japanese survey with norm-based comparisons.

Alopecia areata (AA) is a non‐scarring hair loss disorder affecting approximately 2% of the global population. AA is reported to have a significant negative impact on the emotional and psychological well‐being of the patients. This study aimed to evaluate the health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) of Japanese patients with AA in comparison to the Japanese population norms (national standard values for Japanese) using Short Form Health Survey 36 Item Version 2.0 (SF‐36v2). The study also aimed to access the negative effect of AA on patients’ daily lives and the proportion of patients having anxiety and/or depression. This cross‐sectional, non‐interventional web‐based survey study included 400 participants aged 17–84 years currently suffering from medically diagnosed AA. The assessment tools integrated in the online questionnaire included SF‐36v2, the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). All outcome measures from the tools were evaluated across the study population. SF‐36v2 subscale scores for patients with AA revealed lower scores specifically for mental health (45.7 ± 10.1 points), social functioning (45.8 ± 10.9 points), vitality (46.2 ± 9.8 points), and role emotional (46.9 ± 11.6 points) as compared to the Japanese population norms of 50 ± 10 points each. The DLQI questionnaire‐based analysis indicated that 32.1% of respondents showed a moderate to extremely large effect on their lives; and HADS‐A (anxiety) and HADS‐D (depression) scores categorized 46.0% and 41.8% respondents as doubtful‐to‐definite cases, respectively. Multivariate linear regression revealed that hair loss range, age, comorbidities, and depression significantly worsened DLQI scores. In conclusion, the results of this survey demonstrated that a significant decrease in the HRQoL scores was observed in Japanese patients with AA in comparison with the national norms. Hence, emphasis on mental health is crucial for AA management.

Seasonal trend and source identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons associated with fine particulate matters (PM2.5) in Isfahan City, Iran, using diagnostic ratio and PMF model.

Particulate matters (PMs) and their associated chemical compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are important factors to evaluate air pollution and its health impacts particularly in developing countries. Source identification of these compounds can be used for air quality management. The aim of this study was to identify the sources of PM2.5-bound PAHs in Isfahan city, a metropolitan and industrialized area in central Iran. The PM2.5 samples were collected at 50 sites during 1year. Source identification and apportionment of particle-bound PAHs were carried out using diagnostic ratios (DRs) of PAHs and positive matrix factorization (PMF) model. The results showed that the concentrations of PM2.5 ranged from 8 to 291μg/m3 with an average of 60.2 ± 53.9μg/m3, whereas the sum of concentrations of the 19 PAH compounds (ƩPAHs) ranged from 0.3 to 61.4ng/m3 with an average of 4.65 ± 8.54ng/m3. The PAH compounds showed their highest and lowest concentrations occurred in cold and warm seasons, respectively. The mean concentration of benzo[a]pyrene (1.357ngm-3) in December-January, when inversion occured, was higher than the Iranian national standard value showing the risk of exposure to PM2.5-bound PAHs. Applying DRs suggested that the sources of the PAHs were mainly from fuel combustion. The main sources identified by the PMF model were gasoline combustion (23.8 to 33.1%) followed by diesel combustion (20.6 to 24.8%), natural gas combustion (9.5 to 28.4%), evaporative-uncombusted (9.5 to 23.0%), industrial activities (8.4 to 13.5%), and unknown sources (2.8 to 15.7%). It is concluded that transportation, industrial activities, and combustion of natural gas (both in residential-commercial and industrial sectors) as the main sources of PAHs in PM2.5 should be managed in the metropolitan area, particularly in cold seasons.

Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy Is Beneficial for the Health-Related Quality of Life of Older Patients with Primary Aldosteronism

Objective: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LADX) improves hypertension in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA). However, the antihypertensive impact of LADX appears restricted in older patients with PA. In this study, we evaluated the impact of LADX in older patients focusing on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: A total of 156 patients with PA who underwent LADX in a single institution were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. The patients were divided into 2 groups, with a boundary of 60 years. The HRQoL was evaluated using the Medical Outcomes Study’s 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey version 2 (SF-36v2) questionnaire before and after LADX. Demographics, clinical features, antihypertensive drugs before and after surgery, and perioperative evaluation were recorded. We compared all scale scores and summed scores between groups. Multivariate regression models were used to determine the associations between various covariables and the HRQoL. Results: In the older PA patients, most subscales of HRQoL at baseline were lower than the national standard values. The antihypertensive drug-free rate by LADX was only 21% in older patients, compared to 58% in younger patients. However, a significant improvement in mental HRQoL was observed after LADX (p = 0.002). The much preoperative antihypertensive drugs, lower preoperative potassium level, and smaller degree of comorbidities were predictors of improved mental HRQoL by LADX on multivariate analyses. Conclusion: The older PA patients showed lower mental HRQOL than the national standard populations. Although antihypertensive effects were limited for these patients, LADX was beneficial as PA treatment via improvement of mental HRQoL.

Determination of Cocoa Powder Quality Produced by Small-Medium Enterprise Using Six Sigma Analysis

Cocoa powder now has become a common craft product of small-medium processing enterprises (SME) in Indonesia. Small-medium enterprises developprocessing sequence in smaller quantity compared to big company, nonetheless it must follow the national cocoa powder standard of SNI 3737:2009. The aim ofthis experiment was to evaluate the SME cocoa process production performance through Six Sigma analysis of the product to comply the standard requirements.The cocoa powder product was evaluated using three critical to quality (CTQ) parameters involving water content, color, and fineness. National standard determinedthe maximum water content value is 5%, the color is brown or Agtron number 65 and minimum fineness percentage of particle (75 µm) must be 99.5%. This resultexplain the stability process of SME which is exceeding the control limit value of non conformity product. Its process capability showing the Sigma value of2.6 with defect per million value was 126,667. The CTQ parameters which contribute to the high non-conformity are fineness 78.95% and color 21.05%. The roughcocoa powder or fineness affects the highest non-conformity related to the high fat content in cocoa cake as input process and can be revised by upgrading thepressing machine performance.

Heavy Rainfall Events Following the Dry Season Elevate Metal Contamination in Mining-Impacted Rivers: A Case Study of Wenyu River, Qinling, China.

Heavy metal pollution of a mining-impacted river-the Wenyu River-and a short section of the river it joins, the Luo River, were investigated after heavy rainfall following a dry season in March 2015 and during a normal flow season in May 2015. Water samples were collected during these two periods, and sediment samples were obtained in May as the rain washed out the sediments in March. The results showed the following: (1) The Wenyu River was severely polluted by acid mine drainage from an open-pit molybdenum (Mo) mine, and the major pollutants in the water according to Chinese national standard values were acid (pH), sulfate, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni, and Cd. The major pollutants in the sediment were Cu, Zn, and Cd, as indicated by the geoaccumulation index and potential ecological risk index. (2) The major pollutants in the water were naturally attenuated along the river and met the national standard values after joining the Luo River, except Mn in both water samples and Cd in the samples after rain in March. The major pollutants in the sediments showed an increasing tendency along the Wenyu River and Luo River. (3) The heavy rainfall following the prolonged dry season increased acid and heavy metal contamination in the river, which might be attributed to the dissolution of efflorescent salts and the weathering and erosion of mining residues. Thus, the first heavy rain following a dry season should receive particular attention from mining enterprises and regulators. Several mitigation options and recommendations are also discussed.

Health-related quality of life in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with sofosbuvir-based treatment at 1-year post-sustained virological response

PurposeLong-term effects on patient health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) are unknown. We assessed the impact of DAA-mediated HCV clearance on HRQoL from DAA initiation to 1 year after confirmed sustained virological response at 24 weeks post-treatment (SVR24).MethodsHRQoL was evaluated using the eight-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-8). Chronic HCV-infected patients were treated for 12 weeks with sofosbuvir-based DAAs. SF-8 was administered at baseline, treatment cessation, SVR24, and 1-year post-SVR24.ResultsA total of 109 chronic HCV-infected patients were enrolled. The average SF-8 scores were higher than the Japanese national standard values for bodily pain (BP) and mental health at baseline and for general health at 1-year post-SVR24. None of the SF-8 scores differed significantly between baseline and 1-year post-SVR24. Regarding age, sex, liver status, and treatment regimen, the SF-8 scores at 1-year post-SVR24 were affected by only age; individuals aged < 65 years had significantly higher physical component score (PCS), physical functioning, role physical, and BP scores than older individuals. In the multivariable analysis, only age of ≥ 65 years was significantly associated with influencing PCS at 1-year post-SVR24. However, no significant factors were identified for mental component score.ConclusionUpon long-term assessment, although more factors trended higher than national standard values at 1-year post-SVR24 than at baseline, there were no significant changes within factors. As PCS tended to be associated with age, patients aged ≥ 65 years should be carefully monitored for PCS.