Thermal Inactivation of Hepatitis A Virus,Noroviruses, and Simian Rotavirus in Cows' Milk

Food and Environmental Virology - Consumption of raw or unpasteurized milk is a risk for the consumers because indirect contaminations such as fecal-cross-contamination could occur and determine...     

The Effectiveness of Activated Sludge Procedure and UV-C 254 in Norovirus Inactivation in a Tunisian Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant

The molecular detection of Norovirus GI and Norovirus GII in the Tunisian industrial wastewater treatment plant of Charguia I was conducted to test the eff     

Provision of safe domestic water for the promotion and protection of public health: a case study of the city of Beirut,Lebanon

Securing adequate safe drinking water and proper sanitation is a major challenge facing the developing world. The “Water for Life Decade” emphasizes the importance of upgrading national water quality and sanitation services. This study assessed the domestic water profile in the city of Beirut. Samples were collected from three types of household water sources (municipality, private wells, and vended water bottles) and assessed for their physiochemical and microbiological profile. At the same time, a cross-sectional survey assessing water consumption patterns and the prevalence of water-borne diseases was conducted. The results showed a deficient water quality profile in all three water sources. The measured physiochemical and bacteriological parameters reflected the high frequency of water-borne diseases. Action to secure a safe domestic water supply is essential. The plan should guarantee the protection of water sources, ensure sufficient treatment of domestic water and upgrade the national program for potable water quality control. Periodic quality monitoring and legislating the chaotic water-vending sector are indispensable. Additionally, the deterioration of private well sources by sea and wastewater infiltration necessitates the enforcement of legislation associated with the use and management of private wells. Consumer awareness and active contributions to promote and protect public health are important.     

企业文化与企业安全文化建设水平互动效应研究

为提高企业安全文化建设水平,基于人类协同国际环形和企业安全文化建设水平评价指标设计调查问卷,以赛轮金宇股份有限公司为研究对象,对其企业文化和企业安全文化建设水平进行相关性分析和多元逐步回归分析,探索二者的互动效应,从企业文化角度发掘安全文化建设重点。结果表明,自我实现文化、亲和文化、传统文化、成就文化与企业安全文化建设水平高度正相关,逃避文化则呈现高度负相关,其相关系数（绝对值）均在0.9以上;同时,多元逐步回归分析中,以上5个文化规则均进入回归方程,其标准化回归系数β分别为:0.395、0.182、0.169、0.129、-0.145。因此,这5种文化规则对企业安全文化建设水平具有很高的预测力,是企业安全文化建设的重点所在。     

Spectroscopic studies and biological evaluation of some transition metal complexes of a novel Schiff base ligands derived from 5-arylazo-salicyladehyde and o-amino phenol

Synthesis and characterization of Cu(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) Schiff bases complexes resulted from the condensation of salicylaldehyde derivatives with o-amino phenol were discussed using elemental analysis (carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen), molar conductance, magnetic measurements, mass spectra, and electronic spectra. The essential bands of infrared, ¹HNMR, and UV-Vis spectra as well as thermogravimetric analysis corresponding to the active groups within the three ligands and their complexes were interpreted. The dehydration and decomposition processes of the [Cu(H₂L₁)(H₂O)](OAc)₂, [Ni(H₂L₁)(H₂O)]SO₄ · H₂O, [Zn(H₂L₁)(H₂O)]SO₄ · H₂O, [Cu(H₂L₂)(H₂O)](OAc)₂, [Ni(H₂L₂)(H₂O)]SO₄ · H₂O, [Zn(H₂L₂)(H₂O)]SO₄ · 2H₂O, [Cu(H₂L₃)(H₂O)](OAc)₂ · H₂O, [Ni(H₂L₃)(H₂O)]SO₄ · 2H₂O, [Zn(H₂L₃)(H₂O)]SO₄ complexes were studied thermodynamically using the integral method applying the Coats–Redfern and Horowitz–Metzger equations and the thermodynamic parameters were calculated. It was found from the elemental analysis and the thermal studies, that the ligand behaves as tridentate ligand forming chelates with 1 : 1 (metal : ligand) stoichiometrically. The molar conductance measurements of the complexes in dimethyl sulfoxide solvent indicate that the complexes have an electrolytic nature. The biological activities of the three ligands in comparison with metal(II) complexes were studied against different Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria.     

Synthesis and pharmacological properties of certain analogs of pilocarpine

The synthesis of 4‐(4'‐pyrimidinylmethyl)oxacyclohexan‐2‐one (2a) and 4‐(4'‐pyrimidinylmethyl)oxacycloheptan‐2‐one (3a) were achieved through the Michael addition of the anion derived from 4‐methylpyrimidine with oxacyclyo‐3‐hexen‐2‐one and oxacyclo‐3‐hepten‐2‐one respectively. These compounds 2a and 3a and their quaternary methiodide salts lack cholinomimetic activity.     

The assessment of the malignant mesothelioma cases and environmental asbestos exposure in Sivas province, Turkey

One of the most significant diseases related to environmental asbestos exposure is malignant mesothelioma (MM). Sivas province is located in the Central Anatolia where asbestos exposure is common. We aimed to study clinical, demographical and epidemiologic features of the patients with MM in Sivas, along with the history of asbestos exposure. In total, 219 patients with MM who were diagnosed in our hospital between 1993 and 2010 were retrospectively analyzed in terms of demographical and clinical features. Rock, soil and house plaster samples were taken from the habitats of those patients and were evaluated with optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction methods. The age of the patients ranged between 18 and 85 years. The male-to-female ratio was 1.4:1. Most of the patients confirmed an asbestos exposure history. The most frequent symptoms of the patients were chest pain (60 %) and dyspnea (50 %). The gap between the start of first symptoms and the diagnosis date was approximately 4 months in average. The plaster materials used in most of the houses were made up of mainly carbonate and silicate minerals and some chrysotile. Ophiolitic units contained fibrous minerals such as serpentine (clino + orthochrysotile) chiefly and pectolite, brucite, hydrotalcite and tremolite/actinolite in smaller amounts. MM is not primarily related to occupational asbestos exposure in our region, and hence, environmental asbestos exposure may be indicted. Yet, single or combined roles and/or interactions of other fibrous and non-fibrous minerals in the etiology of MM are not yet fully understood and remain to be investigated.     

Cost analysis of alternative methods for wastewater handling in small communities

Wastewater collection and treatment is quite important for sustainable management. It would be uneconomical and impractical to provide sewer systems and separate wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) for small communities. The decision process in wastewater planning is rather important in terms of comparing the alternatives considered. The two important points in the management of wastewater at rural areas not connected to a sewer system are to develop an optimized operation strategy and to make sure that the complete system is environmentally and economically sustainable. In some regions, package treatment could be an alternative solution. However, in cases where there is an existing large WWTP, a cluster system, where sewage generated by small communities could be transported via conveyors to a centralized WWTP, could be employed. In this study, the wastewater treatment and disposal problems in small communities were addressed and an alternative wastewater handling scenario was proposed. Additionally, three wastewater handling scenarios were compared. As a case study, Gebze villages were selected.     

利用彗星实验检测丙烯酰胺对小鼠两种细胞的DNA损伤和修复

为了研究丙烯酰胺致小鼠睾丸细胞和外周血淋巴细胞DNA的损伤及修复情况,同时比较这两种细胞对丙烯酰胺的敏感性,将雄性昆明种小鼠一次性腹腔注射丙烯酰胺(50mg·kg-1(bw)),在暴露后第1、2、4、6、8、10、12d,分别对其睾丸组织细胞和外周血淋巴细胞DNA损伤进行彗星实验分析.结果表明,暴露结束后每个时间点小鼠睾丸组织细胞、外周血淋巴细胞DNA的迁移率均显著高于阴性对照组,随时间推移两种细胞DNA迁移距离逐渐降低,同一时间点睾丸组织细胞DNA损伤较外周血淋巴细胞DNA损伤更为严重,两者差异显著(p<0.05).以上结果表明,睾丸组织和外周血淋巴细胞可能是丙烯酰胺的作用位点;机体对丙烯酰胺造成的遗传损伤有一定的修复能力;与淋巴细胞相比,睾丸细胞对丙烯酰胺导致的遗传损伤更为敏感.     

Variation of Metals in Bed Sediments of Qaraaoun Reservoir, Lebanon

The Qaraaoun Reservoir (impoundment of the River Litani) is the only artificial surface water body in the country, Lebanon. Earlier study on the water quality of the Qaraaoun Reservoir identified three water quality zoning with a central distinct zone suitable for multipurpose water usage. The objective of this study was to extend the earlier work by considering the total metal content of reservoir bed sediments and hence to evaluate factors that control metal deposition or capture. Water samples were collected from 15 sampling sites and sediment samples were simultaneously collected from 9 sites. Water parameters analyzed were pH, Eh, DO and temperature. Sediment samples were dried and sieved and sediment < 75 μ m was retained for analysis. Sediments were subjected to a stepwise heating process with aqua regia to extract the metals, and their content in sediments determined by ICP-MS. The sediment data revealed higher metal contents where the river entered the reservoir which matched higher concentrations of water parameters at the influx site. Regression analysis of total metals in sediments with distance from the river Litani influx point to the dam revealed a log trend for Fe, Cr and Ni, whereas, the concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb were better described by a polynomial regression. Three sediment zones were identified: entrance, oxidation (central) and reducing (near dam) zones. Sediment contents of Zn, Cu and Pb correlated with organic content, whereas sediment Cr and Ni were associated with iron. It was concluded that sediments act as a sink for metals and the deposition of metals is primarily related to sediment organic content and the level of dissolved oxygen in water.