Biosorption of uranium in a continuous flow packed bed column using Cystoseira indica biomass

Uranium [2] biosorption from aqueous solution by Cystoseira indica biomass was studied in a packed bed column. The uptake capacity of uranium was investigated by natural and different pretreated biomasses. Results showed 0.1 M CaCl[2] solution at pH=4, used as pretreatment, increased the uptake capacity more than 30% [371.39 mg/g]. Cations concentration measurement in the effluent solution, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence analyses on biosorbents proved that ion exchange is the main biosorption mechanism. The elution efficiency for uranium desorption was determined for various chemical agents in a batch system. Among these eluants, 0.1 M HCl exhibited elution efficiency greater than 78%. Also, biomass regeneration by 0.1 M HCl was studied in a continuous system. The obtained results confirmed that reusability of this biomass is conceivable. Thus, Cystoseira indica can be used in the packed bed column as a potential biosorbent for treatment of uranium polluted aqueous solutions

Ultrasonography of the painful hip in children

Fifty patients [aged 20 months to 12 years] presenting to the Orthopedic and Pediatric Clinics with a painful hip were reviewed. All patients were apyrexial with normal ESR, blood count and normal radiographic appearance of the hips. Effusion in 28 hips was diagnosed by ultrasound when a side difference of 2 mm or more in the distance between the femoral neck and the echogenic anterior capsule was measured on the anterior scan. At the time of the first US examination, the average anterior capsule distance [ACD] of the affected and unaffected hips was 8.5 mm and 4.8 mm, respectively. The management protocol was determined according to the US findings upon presentation. All patients were followed up by ultrasound until disappearance of the hip effusion, the latter persisted for an average of 9.3 days. Ultrasound was recommended as the main imaging technique in the diagnosis and follow up of the painful hip in children as it allows for the first time an objective assessment of the condition assisting greatly in its management. Furthermore, it may help select cases requiring hospital treatment leading to obvious financial savings

Does routine sonography of the neonate hips induce over treatment? A suggestion for a new treatment protocol of dysplastic hips

Two groups of dysplastic hips diagnosed by ultrasound were statistically assessed. The treatment protocol in group A was based only on ultrasound examination as advocated by Graf. Most dysplastic hips in group B [86.9%] were not treated and showed spontaneous maturation. In their series, there was evident difference in the behavior of clinically stable and unstable hips. Ultrasonic examination alone did not give a convincing high correlation with the final outcome of dysplastic hips in either group A [r = 0.37, r = 0.41] or group B [r = 0.36], whereas, the clinical assessment gave a fairly good correlation in group B [r = 0.61]. A combination of both ultrasound and clinical examination in describing protocols for treatment of dysplastic hips was suggested in a modified classification of hips at birth