Objective: Viral pharyngitis, commonly known as a sore throat, is a widespread condition affecting people of all ages globally. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a medical device containing the combined ...Objective: Viral pharyngitis, commonly known as a sore throat, is a widespread condition affecting people of all ages globally. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a medical device containing the combined drugs of natural essential oils (CDNEO) formulation in managing throat pain in patients with acute viral pharyngitis. With the growing resistance to traditional antibacterial treatments, essential oils have attracted interest for their potential analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. Results: The study involved 81 patients randomly divided into two groups: those taking a medical device containing combined drugs of natural essential oils (CDNEO) and those taking a placebo. A questionnaire was used to assess throat pain among the participants, with 45 receiving the CDNEO and 36 the placebo. The CDNEO group experienced a significant reduction in throat pain, with the average VAS score decreasing from 5.36 to 1.09, compared to the placebo group, which saw a decrease from 4.97 to 2.19. This difference, with p Conclusion: By using a double-blind research method, it was possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the oils more objectively, since there was also a control placebo group. The study shows that CDNEO significantly reduces throat pain and decreases the need for additional pain relief medication in patients with acute viral pharyngitis. The findings suggest that natural essential oils could serve as an alternative treatment for pharyngitis, particularly in efforts to minimize NSAID use and combat antibiotic resistance.展开更多
<span style="font-family:Verdana;">Rural communities in sub</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">-</span></span>...<span style="font-family:Verdana;">Rural communities in sub</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">-</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Saharan Africa (SSA) are always faced with the challenge of securing safe water for beneficial uses. Most communities lack a centralized water supply system and, thus, each residence utilizes the treatment method that they can afford. This study evaluated three treatment methods for drinking water in the Njala University and Mokonde communities in southern Sierra Leone. In the perceived natural treatment, residents in the Mokonde community believe that groundwater has been purified by the soil media and, hence, does not require further treatment. In the conventional treatment, the Njala University Water Works use sand filtration and chlorine disinfection to treat water from the Taia River. The third treatment method, first flush diversion, was introduced by Njala University researchers in 2014. We studied the populations of coliform bacteria and </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">E. coli</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> in untreated and treated water samples to determine if each of the treatment methods supported the beneficial use of drinking. This study concludes that the natural filtration does not remove pathogens in the well water. Even though the first flush and conventional treatments were efficient in reducing microbial populations in the water, the World Health Organization’s 100% removal guideline was not achieved most of the time. Therefore, all three treatment methods did not support the beneficial use of drinking. Further treatment was needed to render the water potable.展开更多
The concentration of total nitrogen(TN) is reported to vary between 20 and 35 mg/L in domestic wastewater. In raw wastewater, ammonia nitrogen eNHt4-NT is the main nitrogen form, accounting for 70%e82% of the TN conce...The concentration of total nitrogen(TN) is reported to vary between 20 and 35 mg/L in domestic wastewater. In raw wastewater, ammonia nitrogen eNHt4-NT is the main nitrogen form, accounting for 70%e82% of the TN concentration. Organic nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen eNOà2-NT,and nitrate nitrogen eNOà3-NT are present as well. For years, due to the lack of regulatory limits on nitrogen concentration in surface waters,nitrogen from secondary effluent has posed a significant threat to the health of aquatic ecosystems. Researchers have made substantial efforts to reduce the nitrogen concentration in secondary effluent. As a kind of advanced wastewater treatment technology, the subsurface infiltration(SI)system has been widely used, owing to its advantages, which include low operation cost, easy maintenance, and low energy consumption. This review discusses the fate of various forms of nitrogen in SI treatment, including organic nitrogen, NHt4-N, NOà2-N, and NOà3-N. Major biological processes involved in nitrogen removal and the main factors influencing its transformation are suggested. Finally, it is shown that ammonification followed by nitrification-denitrification plays a major role in nitrogen removal. Further research needs to focus on the emission characteristics of gaseous nitrogen(generated from the nitrification, denitrification, and completely autotrophic nitrogen-removal over nitrite(CANON) processes) with respect to their greenhouse effects.展开更多
To develop a sound post-treatment process for anaerobically-digested strong wastewater,a novel natural treatment system comprising two units is put forward.The first unit,a trickling filter,provides for further reduct...To develop a sound post-treatment process for anaerobically-digested strong wastewater,a novel natural treatment system comprising two units is put forward.The first unit,a trickling filter,provides for further reduction of biochemical oxygen demand and adjustable nitrification.The subsequent soil–plant unit aims at removing and recovering the nutrients nitrogen（N）,phosphorus（P）and potassium（K）.As a lab-scale feasibility study,a soil column test was conducted,in which black soil and valuable Kentucky bluegrass were integrated to treat artificial nutrient-enriched wastewater.After a long-term operation,the nitrification function was well established in the top layers,despite the need for an improved denitrification process prior to discharge.P and K were retained by the soil through distinct mechanisms.Since they either partially or totally remained in plant-available forms in the soil,indirect nutrient reuse could be achieved.As for Kentucky bluegrass,it displayed better growth status when receiving wastewater,with direct recovery of 8%,6% and 14% of input N,P and K,respectively.Furthermore,the indispensable role of Kentucky bluegrass for better treatment performance was proved,as it enhanced the cell-specific nitrification potential of the soil nitrifying microorganisms inhabiting the rhizosphere.After further upgrade,the proposed system is expected to become a new solution for strong wastewater pollution.展开更多
文摘Objective: Viral pharyngitis, commonly known as a sore throat, is a widespread condition affecting people of all ages globally. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a medical device containing the combined drugs of natural essential oils (CDNEO) formulation in managing throat pain in patients with acute viral pharyngitis. With the growing resistance to traditional antibacterial treatments, essential oils have attracted interest for their potential analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. Results: The study involved 81 patients randomly divided into two groups: those taking a medical device containing combined drugs of natural essential oils (CDNEO) and those taking a placebo. A questionnaire was used to assess throat pain among the participants, with 45 receiving the CDNEO and 36 the placebo. The CDNEO group experienced a significant reduction in throat pain, with the average VAS score decreasing from 5.36 to 1.09, compared to the placebo group, which saw a decrease from 4.97 to 2.19. This difference, with p Conclusion: By using a double-blind research method, it was possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the oils more objectively, since there was also a control placebo group. The study shows that CDNEO significantly reduces throat pain and decreases the need for additional pain relief medication in patients with acute viral pharyngitis. The findings suggest that natural essential oils could serve as an alternative treatment for pharyngitis, particularly in efforts to minimize NSAID use and combat antibiotic resistance.
文摘<span style="font-family:Verdana;">Rural communities in sub</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">-</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Saharan Africa (SSA) are always faced with the challenge of securing safe water for beneficial uses. Most communities lack a centralized water supply system and, thus, each residence utilizes the treatment method that they can afford. This study evaluated three treatment methods for drinking water in the Njala University and Mokonde communities in southern Sierra Leone. In the perceived natural treatment, residents in the Mokonde community believe that groundwater has been purified by the soil media and, hence, does not require further treatment. In the conventional treatment, the Njala University Water Works use sand filtration and chlorine disinfection to treat water from the Taia River. The third treatment method, first flush diversion, was introduced by Njala University researchers in 2014. We studied the populations of coliform bacteria and </span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">E. coli</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> in untreated and treated water samples to determine if each of the treatment methods supported the beneficial use of drinking. This study concludes that the natural filtration does not remove pathogens in the well water. Even though the first flush and conventional treatments were efficient in reducing microbial populations in the water, the World Health Organization’s 100% removal guideline was not achieved most of the time. Therefore, all three treatment methods did not support the beneficial use of drinking. Further treatment was needed to render the water potable.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grants No.41571455 and 51578115)the Basic Science Research Fund of Northeastern University(Grant No.N160104004)
文摘The concentration of total nitrogen(TN) is reported to vary between 20 and 35 mg/L in domestic wastewater. In raw wastewater, ammonia nitrogen eNHt4-NT is the main nitrogen form, accounting for 70%e82% of the TN concentration. Organic nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen eNOà2-NT,and nitrate nitrogen eNOà3-NT are present as well. For years, due to the lack of regulatory limits on nitrogen concentration in surface waters,nitrogen from secondary effluent has posed a significant threat to the health of aquatic ecosystems. Researchers have made substantial efforts to reduce the nitrogen concentration in secondary effluent. As a kind of advanced wastewater treatment technology, the subsurface infiltration(SI)system has been widely used, owing to its advantages, which include low operation cost, easy maintenance, and low energy consumption. This review discusses the fate of various forms of nitrogen in SI treatment, including organic nitrogen, NHt4-N, NOà2-N, and NOà3-N. Major biological processes involved in nitrogen removal and the main factors influencing its transformation are suggested. Finally, it is shown that ammonification followed by nitrification-denitrification plays a major role in nitrogen removal. Further research needs to focus on the emission characteristics of gaseous nitrogen(generated from the nitrification, denitrification, and completely autotrophic nitrogen-removal over nitrite(CANON) processes) with respect to their greenhouse effects.
基金greatly supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science(JSPS)KAKENHI Grant Number 26303012
文摘To develop a sound post-treatment process for anaerobically-digested strong wastewater,a novel natural treatment system comprising two units is put forward.The first unit,a trickling filter,provides for further reduction of biochemical oxygen demand and adjustable nitrification.The subsequent soil–plant unit aims at removing and recovering the nutrients nitrogen（N）,phosphorus（P）and potassium（K）.As a lab-scale feasibility study,a soil column test was conducted,in which black soil and valuable Kentucky bluegrass were integrated to treat artificial nutrient-enriched wastewater.After a long-term operation,the nitrification function was well established in the top layers,despite the need for an improved denitrification process prior to discharge.P and K were retained by the soil through distinct mechanisms.Since they either partially or totally remained in plant-available forms in the soil,indirect nutrient reuse could be achieved.As for Kentucky bluegrass,it displayed better growth status when receiving wastewater,with direct recovery of 8%,6% and 14% of input N,P and K,respectively.Furthermore,the indispensable role of Kentucky bluegrass for better treatment performance was proved,as it enhanced the cell-specific nitrification potential of the soil nitrifying microorganisms inhabiting the rhizosphere.After further upgrade,the proposed system is expected to become a new solution for strong wastewater pollution.
