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The emergency room (ER) represents the main system entry for crises-based health care visits. It is estimated that 2% to 10% of children visiting the ER are victims of child abuse and neglect (CAN). Therefore, ER personnel may be the first hospital contact and opportunity for CAN victims to be recognised. Early diagnosis of CAN is important, as without early identification and intervention, about one in three children will suffer subsequent abuse. This educational paper provides the reader with an up-to-date and in-depth overview of the current screening methods for CAN at the ER. Conclusion: We believe that a combined approach, using a checklist with risk factors for CAN, a structured clinical assessment and inspection of the undressed patient (called ‘top–toe’ inspection) and a system of standard referral of all children from parents who attend the ER because of alcohol or drugs intoxication, severe psychiatric disorders or with injuries due to intimate partner violence, is the most promising procedure for the early diagnosis of CAN in the ER setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Flexible sensors for the detection of ethanol at room temperature have been developed by depositing sensitive layers consisting of ITO nanopowder dispersed into poly-diallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDDAC), on the top of interdigitated electrodes based on conductive carbon nanotubes, previously printed onto flexible glossy paper substrates. The morphology and the microstructure of the interdigitated electrodes together with organic–inorganic sensing layer have been investigated by means of SEM, XRD and FT-IR. The electrical behaviour of the developed sensors at room temperature in response to low ethanol concentrations has been discussed as object of our research. The good ethanol sensing properties exhibited at room temperature by the composite film was supposed to originate from the electrostatic interaction occurring between the positively charged PDDAC polyelectrolyte and negatively charged ITO particles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The purpose of the present work was to evaluate the possibility of converting recycled paper sludge (RPS), an industrial residue stream with strong environmental impact, into valuable products. The approach used was based on the enzymatic conversion of major sludge components (cellulose and xylan) and the simultaneous (simultaneous saccharification and fermentation—SSF) or sequential (separate hydrolysis and fermentation—SHF) fermentation of the resulting sugars to ethanol. In the enzymatic hydrolysis step using Celluclast® 1.5L supplemented with Novozym® 188, a degree of saccharification of 100% was achieved. In relation to ethanol production using the yeast Pichia stipitis CBS 5773, SHF and SSF process efficiencies were compared. A slightly higher conversion yield was attained on SHF, corresponding to an ethanol concentration of 19.6gL−1, but 179h were needed. The SSF process was completed after 48h of incubation allowing the production of 18.6gL−1 of ethanol from 178.6gL−1 of dried RPS, corresponding to an overall conversion yield of 51% of the available carbohydrates on the initial substrate. These results demonstrate that the biological conversion of sludge to ethanol is efficient even with no pre-treatment or substrate supplementation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Presents an analysis of recent papers in hypertension. "Appropriate Follow-Up of Patients With Hypertension"; "Light to Moderate Alcohol Consumption Is Associated With Reduced Cardiovascular Mortality in Hypertensive Men"; "Home Blood Pressure Measurement Predicts Cardiovascular Risk Better Than Office Blood Pressure Measurement."

The cultivation conditions for Rhizopus oryzae grown in synthetic medium and paper pulp spent sulfite liquor (SSL) were investigated to achieve high biomass and ethanol yields using shake flasks and bioreactors. The fungus assimilated the hexoses glucose, mannose and galactose, and the pentoses xylose and arabinose as well as acetic acid which are present in SSL. The assimilation of hexoses was faster than pentoses during cultivation in a synthetic medium. However, all sugars were assimilated concomitantly during growth in SSL supplemented with ammonium, magnesium, calcium, phosphate, sulfate and trace amounts of some other metal ions (SSL-S). The medium composition had an important influence on biomass yield. The highest biomass yields, viz. 0.18 and 0.43 g biomass/g sugar were obtained, when the cells were cultivated in shake flasks with a synthetic medium containing glucose as carbon and energy source and SSL-S, respectively. The corresponding yields in a bioreactor with more efficient aeration were 0.22 and 0.55 g/g. In addition to the biomass, ethanol, lactic acid, and glycerol were important extracellular metabolites of the cultivation with maximum yields of 0.37, 0.30 and 0.09 g/g, respectively. When the source of sugars in the medium was exhausted, the fungus consumed the metabolites produced, such that the liquid medium was depleted of potential oxidizable nutrients. In general, there was a direct competition between lactic acid and ethanol among the metabolites. Poor medium compositions and cultivation conditions resulted in higher yields of lactic acid, whereas the ethanol and biomass yields were higher in rich media. SSL-S supported good growth of mycelium and a high ethanol yield. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Conversion of paper sludge to ethanol was investigated with the objective of operating under conditions approaching those expected of an industrial process. Major components of the bleached Kraft sludge studied were glucan (62 wt.%, dry basis), xylan (11.5%), and minerals (17%). Complete recovery of glucose during compositional analysis required two acid hydrolysis treatments rather than one. To avoid the difficulty of mixing unreacted paper sludge, a semicontinuous solids-fed laboratory bioreactor system was developed. The system featured feeding at 12-h intervals, a residence time of 4 days, and cellulase loading of 15 to 20 FPU/g cellulose. Sludge was converted to ethanol using simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) featuring a ß-glucosidase-supplemented commercial cellulase preparation and glucose fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiea. SSF was carried out for a period of 4 months in a first-generation system, resulting in an average ethanol concentration of 35 g/L. However, steady state was not achieved and operational difficulties were encountered. These difficulties were avoided in a retrofitted design that was operated for two 1-month runs, achieving steady state with good material balance closure. Run 1 with the retrofitted reactor produced 50 g/L ethanol at a cellulose conversion of 74%. Run 2 produced 42 g/L ethanol at a conversion of 92%. For run 2, the ethanol yield was 0.466 g ethanol/g glucose equivalent fermented and >94% of the xylan fed to the reactor was solubilized to a mixture of xylan oligomers and xylose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper chromatograms of ether and ethanol extracts of cells of the three algal species: Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus quaddricauda and Chlamydomonas reinhardi were tested on agar plates with the bacteria Bacillus subtilis. Inhibition zones were found at the starting line of the paper chromatograms as well as at the solvent front. The inhibition zone at the starting line only occurred after illumination and was due to a light-induced transformation of chlorophyllides. The inhibition zones at the solvent front were caused by two different kinds of substances. The first substance was, like chlorophyllides, a derivative of chlorophylls and only showed inhibiting action after illumination. The second substance had no relation to plant pigments. In extracts from Chlamydomonas it acted only after illumination, but in extracts from Chlorella and Scenedesmus it produced inhibition zones both in the light and the dark. By extraction of culture solutions from the three algal species chlorophyllides were found in the extracts which produced substances inhibiting the growth of Bacillus subtilis both in dark and light. It is suggested that chlorophyllides play a part as an antibacterial substance in natural waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and purpose: The purpose of this scientific paper is to review the current knowledge of the effects of red wine on human health, particularly with regard to cardiovascular disease. State of Knowledge: Since the 1990s, red wine has gained its status as a health-promoting alcohol through the French Paradox - when drunk in moderate amounts, it protects against cardiovascular disease. The authors have collected scientific papers on the health effects of alcohol, red wine and resveratrol-a polyphenol that is the main component with healthpromoting effects of wine. On their basis, they analyzed the assumptions of the positive effects of wine reaching inconclusive conclusions. Summary: Despite the fact that both ethanol and resveratrol have a positive effect in in vitro studies, in population studies their effect is much less significant, either because the negative behavioral-health effects in the case of ethanol are omitted or the actual effective doses of resveratrol are omitted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been increasing interest in using of web-based surveys--rather than paper based surveys--for collecting data on alcohol and other drug use in middle and high schools in the US. However, prior research has indicated that respondent confidentiality is an underlying concern with online data collection especially when computer-assisted surveys are administered in group settings such as computer labs and classrooms. Using a sample of 341 high school students, we conducted a study comparing alcohol risk behavior prevalence rates from the web-based surveys with paper-form version of the same survey. The online surveys used in the study implemented several programming safeguards to enhance privacy. The goal of our study was to see if the risk-behavior items--when transitioned to an online format with these additional safeguards--would provide prevalence estimates that are comparable to its paper form version. Results showed that overall alcohol prevalence rates did not vary significantly between the two conditions. However, there was a significant interaction between gender and survey mode. Females reported lower mean risk indicator rates compared to males, possibly indicating stronger privacy concerns among the former group. The results suggest that online survey administration may require targeted efforts to help alleviate confidentiality concerns among adolescent girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work focuses on the optimization of a photocatalyst formulation for the selective oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde. VOx/TiO2catalysts at different vanadium loading were studied in a gas–solid photocatalytic fluidized bed reactor at high illumination efficiency, in which the bed is constituted by photocatalyst diluted with α-Al2O3or silica gel. Photocatalytic tests showed the selective formation of acetaldehyde, with ethylene and carbon dioxide as by-products. Selectivity is influenced by the vanadium loading. For ethanol inlet concentration of 0.2 vol%, maximum conversion and acetaldehyde selectivity of 73% and 97%, respectively, were obtained at 100 °C on catalyst at nominal 5 wt% V2O5content (53% of surface monolayer) mixed with α-Al2O3. Selective sites were related to surface polymeric vanadates possessing Ti–O–V and V–O–V functionalities while the photoactivity appeared correlated with the catalyst equivalent band gap energy. Increasing the ethanol inlet concentration to 1 vol% and diluting the catalyst with silica gel, total ethanol conversion with about 97% selectivity to acetaldehyde was achieved with a photoreactivity of 0.34 mol mirradiated−3s−1. This is three times higher than reported for other photoreactors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO2catalysts of anatase, rutile and brookite phase were prepared at low temperature and tested for carrying out the photocatalytic partial oxidation of 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol to 4-methoxybenzaldehyde (p-anisaldehyde) in organic-free water suspensions. Traces of 4-methoxybenzoic acid and open-ring products were the only by-products present, CO2being the other main oxidation product. Rutile exhibited the highest yield to p-anisaldehyde (62% mol) at a rate of the same order of magnitude of that showed by the other samples. Commercial rutile and anatase photocatalysts were also used for the sake of comparison. The samples have been characterised by an in situATR-FTIR investigation carried out in conditions simulating the photoreaction ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a research conducted in order to examine the antifungal activity of products commonly used in Archives in order to prevent damage caused by microorganisms. These products must fulfill the following three criteria. Firstly, they must not be an occupational hazard. Secondly, they must not have any detrimental effect on the documents and thirdly, they must be able to control bacterial and fungal contamination. The research revealed that a solution of water and alcohol in the proportion 30:70 would be fruitful in controlling the most frequently isolated fungal development in sampled archives.

Presents a study involving patients suffering from gut fermentation. Symptoms associated with gut fermentation; Ability of patient to produce trace level of blood ethyl alcohol from small test of sugar given orally; Potential benefits of nystatin and amphotericin in treating the condition.

The use of alcohol has been proposed as an option for hand hygiene. A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the clinical evidence supporting the use of alcohol-based solutions in hospitals as an option for hand hygiene. Studies published between January 1992 and April 2002 in English and Thai, related to the effectiveness of alcohol-based solutions, were reviewed. The databases searched included Medline, DARE, CINAHL and Dissertation Abstracts International. All studies were assessed as having adequate methodological quality. Results of this systematic review supported that alcohol-based hand rubbing removes microorganisms effectively, requires less time and irritates hands less often than does handwashing with soap or other antiseptic agents and water. Furthermore, the availability of bedside alcohol-based solutions increases compliance with hand hygiene among health care workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cu(II) and Bi(III)-based MOFs are synthesized and used for CO 2 electroconversion. • The MOF-based GDEs give mainly alcohols (methanol and ethanol) and formic acid. • Reaction selectivity can be controlled by Cu/Bi loading and current density applied. • The synergy of Cu/Bi in CO 2 conversion is related with enhanced binding energies. • The materials remain pseudo-stable after five hours of operation. This work assesses the performance of Cu(II) and Bi(III)-based metal-organic framework (HKUST-1 and CAU-17, respectively) blends into the electroreduction of CO 2 to alcohols in a filter-press electrochemical cell. The bimetallic materials are supported onto porous carbon paper to form gas diffusion electrodes with a favorable continuous electrochemical conversion of CO 2 to methanol and ethanol, together with formic acid and gas-phase products (i.e. hydrogen, carbon monoxide and ethylene) in a 0.5 M KHCO 3 aqueous solution. The maximum reaction rates and faradaic efficiencies for CO 2 conversion to methanol and ethanol are r CH3OH =29.7 μmol·m−2·s-1 (FE = 8.6%) and r C2H5OH =48.8 μmol·m−2·s-1 (FE = 28.3%), respectively, at j = 20 mA·cm−2 which enhanced the values obtained at homometallic Cu and Bi-based materials independently. This denotes a synergic effect of Cu and Bi-based MOFs, associated with a favored interplay between the actives sites and reaction intermediates, prompting methanol formation and C C coupling reaction to ethanol. The results also show that reaction selectivity to produce alcohols can be controlled by Cu/Bi loading in the electrode surface and current density applied to the system. A 12% bismuth content seems to be the optimum for the production of alcohols (FE alcohols = 36.9%, S alcohols = 0.32). Regarding the current density, CO 2 reduction is more selective to methanol with a j =10 mA·cm−2 (FE CH3OH = 18.2%), while at j = 20 mA·cm−2, ethanol becomes the dominant CO 2 reduction alcohol (FE C2H5OH = 28.3%). The performance of the Cu/Bi-MOFs remains also pseudo-stable after 5 h of operation denoting the potential of the mixed metal-organic systems for the utilization of CO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]