Prevalence of alcohol among nonfatally injured road accident casualties in two level III trauma centers in northern Ghana

Background: Alcohol use is pervasive among motorists on the road in Ghana; however, we do not know the extent to which this behavior is implicated in road accidents in this country.

Objectives: The main objective of this research was to establish the prevalence of alcohol in the blood of nonfatally injured casualties in the emergency departments (EDs) in northern Ghana.

Method: Participants were injured road traffic crash victims, namely, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and drivers seeking treatment at an ED. The study sites were 2 level III trauma centers located in Wa and Bolgatanga. Participants were screened for alcohol followed by breath tests for positive participants using breathalyzers.

Results: Two hundred and sixty-two accident victims visited EDs, 58% of whom were in Wa. Among the victims, 41% were hospitalized and 57% experienced slight injuries. The vast majority (76%) of the casualties were motorcyclists, 13% were pedestrians, 8% were cyclists, and 2% were drivers. Casualties who had detectable alcohol in their blood were predominantly vulnerable road users. In all, 34% of participants had detectable blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) and the mean BAC for all casualties who tested positive and could give definitive BACs was 0.2265 (226 mg/dl). The prevalence of alcohol use was 53% among cyclists, 34% among motorcyclists, 21% among pedestrians, and 17% among drivers. Male casualties were more likely to test positive for alcohol than females. In addition, the prevalence of alcohol was significantly higher among injured casualties in Bolgatanga compared to Wa.

Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of alcohol use among nonfatally injured casualties in northern Ghana and injury severity increased with BAC. AUDIT screening in the hospital, alcohol consumption guideline, road safety education with an emphasis on minimizing or eliminating alcohol consumption, and enhanced enforcement of the BAC limit among motorists are recommended.     

污水处理移动床生物膜反应器悬浮载体研究进展

介绍了移动床生物膜反应器(MBBR)中悬浮载体的种类和特性,讨论了对其性能的影响因素,总结了当前悬浮载体改性技术及性能评价的方法,并对后续研究提出了建议。     

SMBBR-AF-SMBBR组合工艺处理高氨氮农药废水

采用特异性移动床生物膜反应器(SMBBR)和厌氧生物滤池(AF)组合工艺处理高氨氮农药废水。考察了HRT、pH和DO等工艺条件对SMBBR-AF-SMBBR组合工艺运行稳定期COD和氨氮去除率的影响。试验结果表明,在进水COD为2 408~7 440 mg/L、ρ(NH_4~+-N)为160.21~433.84 mg/L、TN为208.27~537.65 mg/L、HRT为8d、pH为8.0、DO为4 mg/L的条件下,处理后出水平均COD为342 mg/L,COD去除率达92.3%;ρ(NH_4~+-N)小于4.0mg/L,氨氮平均去除率为89.2%;TN小于50 mg/L,平均TN去除达83.0%。出水各指标均优于原A2O工艺出水。     

Validation of the Polish version of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) in an elderly population (60–70 years old)

Purpose. To assess the reliability and validity of the Polish version of the 36-point World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) in an elderly population. Method. One thousand randomly selected individuals, aged 60–70 years, living in south-eastern Poland were assessed using the Polish version of the WHODAS 2.0. Results. The analysis confirmed the high reliability and validity of the tool. Cronbach’s α index was 0.89. The tool had high stability, and the correlation between test and retest results was high. The relevance of the domain selection was high or very high. A factor analysis confirmed the relevance of assigning questions to domains. High theoretical relevance was also demonstrated. Statistically significant differences between those who were and were not suffering from health problems were observed. An analysis of the internal structure of the WHODAS 2.0 revealed strong correlations between the components of each domain and the final result. Conclusion. The Polish version of the WHODAS 2.0 showed high reliability and validity; thus, it can be used to assess health, functioning and disability in the elderly population of Poland.     

EGSB出水回流对EGSB—SBR工艺处理果汁废水的影响

采用EGSB—SBR工艺处理实际果汁废水(COD 2 608~6 500 mg/L,p H 5.0~7.0)。在EGSB反应器成功启动及驯化完成的情况下,连续运行49 d。实验结果表明:第25天起,控制EGSB回流比为3.00∶1,EGSB反应器可在无须添加Na HCO3的条件下稳定运行,从而降低了废水处理成本;第25天起,平均进水COD,BOD5,SS分别为5 968,2 130,1 020 mg/L,平均出水COD,BOD5,SS分别降至131,11,50 mg/L,平均COD,BOD5,SS去除率分别为98%,99%,95%;组合工艺对该实际果汁废水具有良好的处理效果。     

丙烯腈生产废水中聚合物的资源化利用

以丙烯腈生产废水中的丙烯腈低聚物为原料制备聚丙烯酰胺。通过正交实验考察了水解反应条件和交联反应条件对反应的影响。FTIR表征结果显示,丙烯腈低聚物中的氰基已完全水解为酰胺基,产物聚丙烯酰胺中含有酰胺基和羧基。实验结果表明,在自来水加入量100 m L、水解反应温度95℃、m(Na OH)∶m(丙烯腈低聚物)=2.0、水解反应时间3 h的最佳水解反应条件,交联反应温度60℃、质量分数37%~40%的甲醛加入量6 m L、交联反应时间2 h的最佳交联反应条件下,处理20 g丙烯腈低聚物,可得到产物聚丙烯酰胺14.50 g,聚丙烯酰胺的水解度为21.1%、相对分子质量为2.7×106。产品性能满足Q/SH 0046—2007《钻井液用聚丙烯酰胺技术要求》中部分水解聚丙烯酰胺的性能要求。     

我国腈纶废水物化预处理方法的研究进展

结合我国腈纶废水的特征,系统归纳了近年来我国腈纶废水常用物化预处理方法的研究进展。物化预处理方法包括内电解法、混凝法、Fenton氧化法、电解法、臭氧氧化法、光催化氧化法、微波法等。这些方法普遍存在高成本、高能耗、实际运行费用大等问题。对未来物化预处理方法的研究方向提出了建议。最后指出,腈纶废水的处理应朝着节能高效和资源化的方向发展,推动我国腈纶废水处理技术的不断进步和完善。     

纳米铁氧化物吸附处理重金属废水的研究进展

概述了用于吸附重金属的主要纳米铁氧化物的种类及其吸附效果,介绍了常见的纳米铁氧化物制备方法及改性方法,讨论了影响纳米铁氧化物吸附重金属的主要因素,并对纳米铁氧化物在水环境保护领域中的研究方向提出了展望:如发展绿色、高效的纳米铁氧化物制备工艺,探讨纳米铁氧化物结构调控和表面功能化对其吸附性能的影响等。     

Ex situ collections and their potential for the restoration of extinct plants

The alarming current and predicted species extinction rates have galvanized conservationists in their efforts to avoid future biodiversity losses, but for species extinct in the wild, few options exist. We posed the questions, can these species be restored, and, if so, what role can ex situ plant collections (i.e., botanic gardens, germplasm banks, herbaria) play in the recovery of plant genetic diversity? We reviewed the relevant literature to assess the feasibility of recovering lost plant genetic diversity with using ex situ material and the probability of survival of subsequent translocations. Thirteen attempts to recover species extinct in the wild were found, most of which used material preserved in botanic gardens (12) and seed banks (2). One case of a locally extirpated population was recovered from herbarium material. Eight (60%) of these cases were successful or partially successful translocations of the focal species or population; the other 5 failed or it was too early to determine the outcome. Limiting factors of the use of ex situ source material for the restoration of plant genetic diversity in the wild include the scarcity of source material, low viability and reduced longevity of the material, low genetic variation, lack of evolution (especially for material stored in germplasm banks and herbaria), and socioeconomic factors. However, modern collecting practices present opportunities for plant conservation, such as improved collecting protocols and improved cultivation and storage conditions. Our findings suggest that all types of ex situ collections may contribute effectively to plant species conservation if their use is informed by a thorough understanding of the aforementioned problems. We conclude that the recovery of plant species currently classified as extinct in the wild is not 100% successful, and the possibility of successful reintroduction should not be used to justify insufficient in situ conservation.     

采用电芬顿-磁固定化菌株耦合体系治理苯酚废水的研究

为实现对苯酚废水治理工艺的优化,针对传统包埋法制备固定化细胞的工艺方法进行改进,选用磁性纳米颗粒制备磁固定化细胞,将其与电芬顿法结合构建耦合体系,利用耦合协同作用实现催化剂的重复利用,并依托微生物的良好降解性能与稳定性提高苯酚降解率,进一步实现对苯酚废水治理工艺的系统优化。