Life of patients with cerebellar ataxia: A systematic review

Objectives: Conduct a literature search for scientific tests concerning treatment combined with well-being in cerebellar ataxias using electronic data sources. Methods: A search was conducted organized by scientific tests worried about the treatment allied to well-being in cerebellar ataxias using the electronic data sources PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cinahl and Pedro, and listings of recommendations of articles, from 1980 to December 2011, including in English and Dutch. Results: Information suggests that physical treatment, when included in occupational treatment, may improve international practical reputation, just as treatment at work alone may decrease signs of anxiety (grade 3). Conclusion: We have found some care for performing physical and work treatment, but other studies are necessary to create medical technique suggestions.

Short investigation on occurrence and removal of semivolatiles during wastewater treatment processes

The food industry wastewater is known to present a high organic matter content, due to specific raw materials and processing activities. Even if these compounds are not directly toxic to the environment, high concentrations in effluents could represent a source of pollution as discharges of high biological oxygen demand may impact receiving river's ecosystems. Identifying the main organic contaminants in wastewater samples represents the first step in establishing the optimum treatment method. The sample analysis for the non-target compounds through the GC-MS technique highlights, along with other analytical parameters, the efficiency of the main physical and biological treatment steps of the middle-size Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). Long-chain fatty acids and their esters were the main abundant classes of non-target identified compounds. The highest intensity detection signal was reached by n-hexadecanoic acid or palmitic acid, a component of palm oil, after the physical treatment processes with dissolved air flotation, and by 1-octadecanol after biological treatment.

Effectiveness of Physical and Psychological Treatment for Cancer-Related Fatigue: Systematic Review

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Fatigue is one of the most common side effects of people with cancer. The range of people with cancer who experience fatigue is 70-80%, when undergoing cancer treatment and during the phase before and after treatment. This systematic review aims to identify fatigue management with non-pharmacological intervention. The journals selected from 2015 to 2020 in an international database: Pubmed, SAGE journals, Microsoft Academic, and Science Direct. The database searched using the keywords "exercise treatment" OR "psychological treatment," AND "fatigue" OR "cancer-related fatigue," AND "during cancer treatment" OR "after cancer treatment." Assessment of Critical quality appraisal uses tools from the JBI (Joanna Briggs Institute) critical assessment checklist. The method of analysis used the descriptive method. The results of the Systematic review found 13 journals that met the inclusion criteria, the total sample was 1365 respondents with an average age of 56.85, and the consequences of female respondents were 857 respondents, and male respondents were 464 respondents. Physical treatment and psychological treatment can reduce cancer fatigue before and after treatment. The interventions given both physical treatment and psychological treatment have their benefits and vary in their effectiveness.

Research Trends on the Application of Electrolyzed Water in Food Preservation and Sanitation

Electrolyzed water (EW) has been proposed as a novel promising sanitizer and cleaner in recent years. It is an effective antimicrobial and antibiofilm agent that has several advantages of being on the spot, environmentally friendly, cheap, and safe for human beings. Therefore, EW has been applied widely in various fields, including agriculture, food sanitation, livestock management, medical disinfection, clinical, and other fields using antibacterial technology. Currently, EW has potential significance for high-risk settings in hospitals and other clinical facilities. The research focus has been shifted toward the application of slightly acidic EW as more effective with some supplemental chemical and physical treatment methods such as ultraviolet radiations and ultrasound. This review article summarizes the possible mechanism of action and highlights the latest research studies in antimicrobial applications.

Biomedical PEVA Nanocomposite with Dual Clay Nanofiller: Cytotoxicity, Mechanical Properties, and Biostability

Poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) (PEVA) nanocomposite incorporating dual clay nanofiller (DCN) of surface modified montmorillonite (S-MMT) and bentonite (Bent) was studied for biomedical applications. In order to overcome agglomeration of the DCN, the S-MMT and Bent were subjected to a physical treatment prior to being mixed with the copolymer to form nanocomposite material. The S-MMT and Bent were physically treated to become S-MMT(P) and Bent(pH-s), respectively, that could be more readily dispersed in the copolymer matrix due to increments in their basal spacing and loosening of their tactoid structure. The biocompatibility of both nanofillers was assessed through a fibroblast cell cytotoxicity assay. The mechanical properties of the neat PEVA, PEVA nanocomposites, and PEVA-DCN nanocomposites were evaluated using a tensile test for determining the best S-MMT(P):Bent(pH-s) ratio. The results were supported by morphological studies by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Biostability evaluation of the samples was conducted by comparing the ambient tensile test data with the in vitro tensile test data (after being immersed in simulated body fluid at 37 °C for 3 months). The results were supported by surface degradation analysis. Our results indicate that the cytotoxicity level of both nanofillers reduced upon the physical treatment process, making them safe to be used in low concentration as dual nanofillers in the PEVA-DCN nanocomposite. The results of tensile testing, SEM, and TEM proved that the ratio of 4:1 (S-MMT(P):Bent(pH-s)) provides a greater enhancement in the mechanical properties of the PEVA matrix. The biostability assessment indicated that the PEVA-DCN nanocomposite can achieve much better retention in tensile strength after being subjected to the simulated physiological fluid for 3 months with less surface degradation effect. These findings signify the potential of the S-MMT(P)/Bent(pH-s) as a reinforcing DCN, with simultaneous function as biostabilizing agent to the PEVA copolymer for implant application.

A Consolidated Method for Selective Isolation of Actinomycetes Based on Choice of Substrate

Actinomycetes are known as filamentous, Gram positive bacteria. They form the majority of the microbial load in various niches; soils, composts, etc. The study aimed to evaluate the method of isolating slow growing actinomycetes from four different sources: garden soil, cow dung manure compost, floral waste compost, and floral waste vermicompost. In this study, an integrated method consisting of physical and chemical pretreatment of the sample and the use of selective media was used to isolate actinomycetes. Physical treatment includes air drying, sun drying, dry heating in an oven, and moist heat treatment, whereas chemical treatment includes enrichment of the sample with CaCO3 followed by plating on actinomycetes-specific media with the incorporation of antibacterial and antifungal antibiotics. The actinomycetes count on the plate was reported in CFU/gm of dry wt. Morphological and microscopic characteristics of purified isolates were noted. The results were compared, and it was found that the pretreatment method of a particular sample depends on the choice of substrate. Overall, physical treatment followed by chemical enrichment showed relatively higher counts on the plate and better results. Here we also found the dominance of fluorescent Pseudomonas sp. in case samples from vermicompost. The study can be of great importance in isolating novel and rare genera of actinomycetes. These methods can help speed up the isolation and screening of novel actinomycetes which will ultimately be important for the discovery of antibiotics and other industrially vital bioactive compounds.

Thermovision assessment of temperature changes in selected body areas after short-wave diathermy treatment

The aim of this study is to provide the thermal imaging assessment of local and general surface temperature changes after short-wave diathermy treatment. The study group consisted of 26 women aged 19–24. The correct functioning of the thermoregulation system was determined by means of cold pressor and orthostatic tests. The subjects underwent short-wave diathermy treatment in the area of the right knee joint, and the body’s response was determined by thermovision using a ThermaCAM P640 thermal imaging camera manufactured by FLIR. Curves were recorded in a digital form (images with a resolution of 640 × 480 pixels) and analyzed with ThermaCAM ReporterTM software. In people with a properly functioning thermoregulation system, the short-wave diathermy treatment statistically significantly increased the body surface temperature on the posterior surface of the knee joint. On the front side, the surface temperature decreased. There were no changes in surface temperature in the other areas of the body studied. The results of thermal imaging studies confirmed the local nature of the action of short-wave diathermy. The recommendation to use a physical procedure should be preceded by an assessment of the body’s thermoregulation system level of function. Reactions to the prescribed physical treatment may be different in people with a disturbed autonomic system.

The Accelerator Driven Systems, a 21st Century Option for Closing Nuclear Fuel Cycles and Transmuting Minor Actinides

Closing the nuclear fuel cycle and transmuting Minor Actinides (M.As) can be considered as an application of the duty of care principlel principle which says that, “before the final disposal of any waste, any possible chemical and/or physical treatment has to be applied in order to reduce the waste’s toxicity, provided the treatment does not convey unacceptable risks or unacceptable costs”. Forty years of complex research and development has shown that Accelerator Driven Systems could provide a solution to the challenge posed by spent nuclear fuels, by enabling the ability to considerably decrease their radiotoxicity lifetime burden and volume. In particular, a multilateral strategy of treatment of the MAs could be a commendable solution for both the countries phasing out the exploitation of nuclear energy and for those pursuing and developing this exploitation. The pre-industrial assessment of the technical and financial feasibility for industrialization is the next step. This applies to the four R&D and Demonstration building blocks: advanced separation, MAs’ loaded fuel fabrication, dedicated transmuters demonstration (MYRRHA) and provision for MAs’ fuel loaded processing. A global vision of the process leading to a sustainable option is proposed.

Trends in microbial degradation and bioremediation of emerging contaminants

Modernization and modern ways of living demands more improved products from pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food processing industries. Moreover, industries like pesticides, fertilizers, dyeing, paints, detergent etc., also needs improvised products as per demand. As the new product emerges, the pollutants from these industries also constitute new type of danger to the environment and serious health risks to the living organisms. These emerging contaminants (ECs) are from different category of sources such as personal care products (PCPs), pharmaceuticals (Phcs), endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), etc. These ECs can easily escape from the conventional water treatment and eventually get discharged in to the surface water and thus enters in to the ground water, soil, sediments, and also into the oceans. When these contaminants emerge we also require progress in tremendous process for preventing these hazardous chemicals by effective removal and treatment. For the past 50 years, both developed and developing countries are working on this treatment process and found that Microbial degradation and bioremediation are very useful for effective treatment to prevent their emissions. This treatment can be designed for any sort of ECs since the microbial members are so versatile to redesign their metabolic pathways when subject to exposure. However, implementing bioremediation is not alone efficient to degrade ECs and hence, combination of bioremediation, nanotechnology and physical treatment method will also provide sustainable, potent and fast degradation process. In this Book Chapter, we discuss in detail about the ECs, sources of microbial degradation process and its usefulness in the bioremediation of these ECs.

Adsorption of reactive yellow BF-3R dye by CTABr modified zeolite NaY

Textile industries generate effluents composed of organic salts and complexes from dyes not fixed on fabrics, or not degraded by the inefficiency of conventional treatment processes, which represents a high potential for environmental impact due to inadequate disposal of the generated effluent. Zeolites are porous materials that have a three-dimensional structure containing tetrahedrals of AlO4 e SiO4 which can be modified to improve its properties. The adsorption process using zeolites as adsorbents can be considered an excellent economic physical treatment to solve or minimize such a problem. This work presents an experimental study focusing on the preparation and characterization of zeolite NaY and modified with organic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTABr) intended to be used as adsorbent in the process of removing yellow dye BF-3R in dye-water system batch system. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Infrared spectroscopy (IR) and thermogravimetry (TG). The effect of process parameter such as pH was studied. Results revealed that even though the modified cetyltrimethylammonium bromide organic surfactant (CTABr) did not cause alterations on the zeolite NaY structure. The IR results revealed that CTABr was successfully incorporated to zeolite NaY structure. The best conditions were established with respect to pH to saturate the available sites located on the zeolite NaY and NaY_CTABr surface. The maximum adsorption capacities were 3.35 and mg/g for dye 5.35 using as-synthesized zeolite NaY and CTABr modified zeolite NaY. Modified zeolites are excellent adsorbents for removing reactive dyes from industrial wastewater.