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Oxidized carbon foam (oxidized CF) was prepared by using a facile chemical oxidation treatment at relatively low temperature of 450 °C and applied to capture uranyl cation [U(VI)] from aqueous solutions. The effects of pH, contact time, initial U(VI) concentration, and temperature on the U(VI) absorption performance of oxidized CF were investigated by batch experiments. The oxidized CF was illustrated to exhibit fast sorption kinetics (92% removal within 15 min and 98% removal in 2 h) and high sorption capacity (305.77 mg g-1 at pH 5) toward U(VI). Integrated analyses combining energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were applied on the U(VI)-loaded oxidized CF, showing the introduction of carboxyl groups as U(VI) sorption sites on the surface of CF after oxidation treatment. Furthermore, extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy was employed to identify the binding modes of U(VI) indicating that each UO22+ cation is coordinated with one or two carboxyl groups on the equatorial plane. Notably, the low content of U(VI) in wastewater can be efficiently immobilized by the oxidized CF, and the immobilized U(VI) can be further concentrated and converted into Na2U2O7 or U3O8 by a simple sintering step. These findings presented in this work suggest the potential of using oxidized CF for further treatment of low concentration wastewater containing U(VI).

To estimate the prevalence and distribution of tooth wear among groups of adolescents and adults in Shanghai, China through an epidemiological survey, and explore the associated factors.Multistage, stratified, constant volume and cluster sampling methods were used in an epidemiological survey conducted in Shanghai in 2014. The basic erosive wear examination (BEWE) index was used to screen for tooth wear in different age groups: 12 years, 15 years, 18 to 35 years, 36 to 49 years and 50 to 74 years. A previously published questionnaire collected information including dietary habits, oral hygiene habits and general conditions.This survey reports the results for 1806 participants in Shanghai. The prevalence of tooth wear was 59.7% in adolescents (BEWE ≥ 1) and 93.1% in adults (BEWE ≥ 2). The prevalence and severity of disease increased with age (P0.01). The teeth most susceptible to wear were the central incisors and first molars. Multivariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) results showed that soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, pickled vegetables and hard food, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), xerostomia and poor tooth brushing habits were statistically correlated with tooth wear in different age groups.The prevalence of tooth wear appears to be high in adolescents and adults in Shanghai. Frequent consumption of soft or alcoholic drinks, GERD, xerostomia and poor tooth brushing habits were positively associated with tooth wear in different age groups.

Objectives To compare the prevalence of chronic periodontitis between men who had semen abnormalities and those who had normozoospermia through a case-control study. Materials and methods Male patients who visited the assisted reproduction clinic of a large general hospital and were diagnosed with semen abnormalities were included in the case group. The control group was composed of patients of the same clinic with normozoospermia. The semen analysis included sperm concentration, count and progressive and total motility, which were measured in the laboratory. A questionnaire and clinical periodontal examination were conducted for all participants. Logistic regression was performed to explore the relationship between chronic periodontitis and male infertility. Results A total of 192 participants were included: 63 participants (32.8%) had some type of semen abnormality (case group), while 129 participants (67.2%) had normozoospermia (control group). The case group had a significantly higher prevalence of moderate/severe periodontitis than the control group (33.3% vs. 17.8%, P=0.012). The logistic regression showed that participants who had moderate/severe periodontitis had a greater chance of having semen abnormalities after adjusting for other confounding factors (OR=3.377, P=0.005). Conclusions Periodontitis is associated with semen abnormalities and sperm motility in men.

Amidoxime-functionalized ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers (UHMWPEF-AO) were used to absorb uranium U(VI) from aqueous solutions. In this paper, we study effects of pH, initial U(VI) concentration, contact time, and temperature on U(VI) adsorption by UHMWPEF-AO. The adsorption process agrees well with pseudo-second-order and Langmuir model. UHMWPEF-AO exhibits excellent adsorptive performance for U(VI) with a maximum adsorption capacity of 176.12 mg/g at pH 4 and 298 K. The structures of UHMWPEF-AO and U(VI)-loaded UHMWPEF-AO are characterized by FT-IR and nano-CT. U(VI)-loaded UHMWPEF-AO is sintered after adsorption process to recycle absorbed U(VI). Powders collected after sintering process are examined by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. These results indicate that UHMWPEF-AO is a promising candidate to remove U(VI) from uranium aqueous solutions.

To investigate the influence of chronic prostatitis on premature ejaculation (PE) and erectile dysfunction (ED) and the correlation of chronic prostatitis with PE and ED.We adopted NIH-CPSI, CISFPE and IIEF-5, interviewed 623 patients with chronic prostatitis, and recorded their scores on the above systems.The incidence of PE was 39.0% and the rates of the mild, moderate and severe types were 26.2%, 12.0% and 0.8%, respectively. It developed mostly among the younger patients, accounting for 42.9% (103/240), 37.0% (95/257) and 35.7% (45/126) in the 18-30, 30-40 and 40-57 yr age groups, respectively. The incidence of ED was 16.9% and the rates of the mild, moderate and severe types were 14.9%, 1.0% and 1.0%, respectively. It occurred mostly among the older patients, accounting for 13.8% (33/240), 11.3% (29/257) and 34.1% (43/126) in the 18-30, 30-40 and 40-57 yr age groups, respectively. Analyses revealed no significant correlation among the scores on NIH-CPSI, CISFPE and IIEF-5.There is a high incidence of PE and ED among patients with chronic prostatitis, but without significant correlation between the severity of chronic prostatitis and that of PE and ED.