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Physical Treatments (physical + treatment)
Selected AbstractsFate of Pesticides in the Environment and its BioremediationENGINEERING IN LIFE SCIENCES (ELECTRONIC), Issue 6 2005M. Gavrilescu Abstract The present paper is an overview of the presence and fate of pesticides as persistent organic pollutants in the environment as well as of the potential for their detoxification, also combined with chemical and physical treatment. It contains information gathered from a range of currently available sources. The fate of pesticides in the environment is analyzed considering the processes that determine their persistence and mobility, grouped into transport, transfer and transformation processes. Few pesticide characteristics such as persistence, mobility and biodegradability are emphasized. The fate of a pesticide and the potential for its persistence and mobility from the site of application are considered to be affected by the chemical and physical properties of the pesticide, site characteristics such as soil and groundwater individuality, climate and local weather conditions, biological population, and the handling practices of the pesticide user. Bioremediation, as one of the most environmentally-sound and cost-effective methods for the decontamination and detoxification of a pesticide-contaminated environment is discussed especially considering the factors affecting the biodegradability of pesticides such as biological factors and the characteristics of the chemical compounds. In situ and ex situ bioremediation as possible types of bioremediation activities are weighted up. Also, the paper includes some considerations for developing strategies regarding the choice of bioremediation technology, as well as advantages and disadvantages of the bioremediation of environmental components polluted with pesticides. [source] An analysis of the skin care patient mix attending a primary care-based nurse-led NHS Walk-in CentreBRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2005S.J. Ersser Summary Background, NHS Walk-in Centres (WiCs) are a new and expanding point of nurse-led primary care access for patients requiring skin care. Little is known about the dermatology case profile of such patients. Objectives, To investigate the skin care patient mix attending a WiC and the feasibility and usefulness of retrieving data from the NHS Clinical Assessment System (CAS), as used by NHS Direct. Methods, Patients over 2 years of age presenting to a WiC in southern England with a nurse-assessed skin condition were recruited over a 12-week period (n = 233). A data set was extracted from CAS and analysed using Excel. Results, Of the total 31 591 patients attending the WiC in the first 2 years, 21% had a skin-related problem. During the 12-week study period, 88 of 233 eligible patients (38%) consented to participate. The typical patient profile was of female patients, 17,35 years (27%) attending during the week before 9 a.m. (35%) or after 5 p.m. (27%) from the locality (72%). CAS employs generic algorithms to specify clinical problems (e.g. rash) rather than medical diagnoses. Most patients presented with a rash (89%). No physical treatment was required in 77% of patients, although this was advised for 46%; 49% were advised to seek help but not return to the WiC; 16% were recommended to contact their general practitioner. There were practical difficulties accessing data from CAS software for research due to research governance requirements. Conclusions, A significant number of patients with dermatological conditions could be seeking primary care through new NHS WiCs. Detailed dermatological appraisal of the patient mix is difficult due to the system of clinical categorization. There is scope to investigate further the nature of dermatological need and the patient education given. CAS is a cumbersome data extraction tool for research. [source] Influence of chitosan characteristics on polymer properties.POLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2003I: Crystallographic properties Abstract The properties of chitosan depend on several parameters including its origin (shrimp, squid, fungi etc), characteristics (mol fraction of N -acetylation; molecular weight) and treatments used to condition it (dissolving, precipitation, drying). These parameters can influence the material's sorption properties for metal ions. It has been suggested that the changes in sorption properties are related to the crystallinity of the material. The present work focuses on the study of the crystallographic properties of samples prepared from shrimp, squid and fungi sources, with different characteristics and conditioned by several physical treatments (dissolving, reprecipitation and drying, including oven-drying, freeze-drying), prior to subsequent studies of their sorption properties for platinum (discussed in Part II of this manuscript). © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Application of tropical legumes for pig feedANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 4 2007Apichai MEKBUNGWAN ABSTRACT Raw legume seeds are important source of protein and other nutrients for monogastric animals. However, these legume seeds include many kinds of anti-nutritive factors (ANF) such as trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitors, lectins and tannins. Although these ANF vary by species, cultivation areas and harvesting methods, they play a role in decreasing the utilization of nutrients. The pig is a monogastric animal which is slightly tolerant to the ANF in raw legume seed. Nevertheless, the optimal use of legume seed as a pig feed necessitates a lowering of the toxicity in the raw seed until it is appropriate for incorporation in the feed. There are many methods to improve the utilization of nutrients in legume seed, such as breeding improvement, physical treatments (decortications, dehulling, milling and others), heat treatments (toasting, boiling, extrusion, streaming or autoclave), chelating substances for binding toxics, radiation and soaking. The choice of the treatment depends on the availability of facilities and economic considerations. This article reviews and discusses the nutrients in legume seeds and might offer an important information on legume seeds for pig feed to nutritionists. [source] Chromoblastomycosis: clinical presentation and managementCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 8 2009M. Ameen Summary Chromoblastomycosis is an important subcutaneous mycotic infection that is endemic worldwide but more common in the tropics. It is caused by the traumatic inoculation of the skin with pigmented saprophytic moulds, and the principal infective species are Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Cladophialophora carrionii. Although chromoblastomycosis is not known to be fatal, it is characteristically chronic, and can be complicated by lymphatic damage and neoplastic transformation. It is one of the more difficult-to-treat mycoses, and a variety of antifungal regimens often combined with various physical treatments can be used. [source] Assessment of quality of life in adults receiving long-term growth hormone replacement compared to control subjectsCLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 1 2003I. A. Malik Summary objective There are few studies of quality of life (QOL) in adults with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) compared to matched control populations without GHD. These have shown impairments in a variety of QOL measures, which improve but do not normalize after short-term replacement with GH. There is little information on QOL in long-term treated GHD patients compared with controls without GHD. patients and methods A total of 120 adults with GHD who had received GH replacement for at least 1 year were identified from the neuroendocrine clinic. Patients were asked to complete eight QOL questionnaires and an Energy Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results were compared with 83 control subjects without GHD from the local population who agreed to complete seven of the QOL questionnaires (excluding Disease Impact scale) and the energy VAS. The eight questionnaires were a combination of generic and disease-specific questionnaires used to assess health related QOL, namely: Short Form-36 (SF-36), Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), Disease Impact, Life Fulfilment and Satisfaction scales, Mental Fatigue Questionnaire (MFQ) and Self Esteem scale, Hospital Anxiety Depression (HAD) scale and QOL-AGHDA (assessment of GHD in adults). results Eighty-nine patients returned questionnaires and 85 (71%) had complete data for analysis. The mean (SD) duration of GH replacement was 36·0 ± 26·4 (range 13,159) months. Mean age was 43·9 ± 15·8 years (37 males) in treated GHD patients compared to a mean age 41·7 ± 10·5 years (32 males) in the controls. Mean IGF-1 levels were 22·5 ± 13·6 nmol/l in the GHD patients and the mean dose of GH replacement was 1·2 ± 0·4 IU daily. Analysis of the QOL questionnaires from the GH treated patients revealed highly significant impairments in all measures (most P , 0·0001, except life fulfilment-material, P = 0·33) compared to the control population. conclusions This large population with treated GH deficiency have significant impairments in multiple aspects of QOL despite replacement with GH and other pituitary hormones for at least 1 year (mean 3 years). It is likely therefore that other factors in addition to GH deficiency must influence QOL in these patients. Further strategies to improve QOL in these individuals should therefore be considered, e.g. psychological support and treatments and physical treatments (such as exercise programmes). [source] | |||||||||||||