Passive membrane sampler for assessing VOCs contamination in unsaturated and saturated media.

Passive sampling (PS) is a method employed to detect volatile organic compounds in groundwater and soil gas. This study attempted to manufacture a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) dialysis passive sampler for potential application in detecting trichloroethylene (TCE) in aqueous and gaseous phases. The equilibrium time of the passive sampler was initially determined, followed by multilayer passive sampling in a three-dimensional sandbox to construct a tomography of TCE vapor spatial distribution in the vadose zone above the saturated water level. The results indicated that an equilibrium time period of >10 d was required in the aqueous phase containing TCE concentrations ranging from 3 to 25 mg L-1, while an equilibrium time period of >12 d was necessary for TCE vapor concentrations ranging from 2.6-26 mg L-1. Therefore, a 14 d of equilibrium time was suggested for application of this passive sampler in detecting vapor and aqueous phase TCE. After collection of the passive samples from the three-dimensional sandbox, a three dimensional visualization was created, and it was demonstrated to be a reasonable way to simulate a three dimensional TCE distribution. It was confirmed that the passive sampler developed in this study is effective for assessing TCE contamination in the subsurface.

[Improving the Follow-Up Completion Rate of Community-Dwelling Individuals Who Screened Positive for Colorectal Cancer].

BACKGROUND & PROBLEMS: Early screening and early treatment of colorectal cancer increases the 5-year-survival rate of early stage cancer by 90%. However, a lack of knowledge regarding screening opportunities among community residents affects their willingness to seek medical help and delays treatment. The World Health Organization estimated that deaths from colorectal cancer in the next 20 years will increase from 8.2 million people to 13 million people annually. However, systemic screening and follow-up services will promote early detection and treatment and should effectively decrease colorectal cancer-related mortality. PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to increase the follow-up completion rate of community participants who tested positive during a screening for colorectal cancer. RESOLUTIONS: The resolution measure produced stool occult blood screening education leaflets, promoted health lectures on the topic of cancer screening, planned a training course for cancer-prevention education, constructed a participant tracking and notification system in the outpatient information system for positive participants, set up a procedure for positive participant follow-up, and designed a cooperative model for community health promotion. RESULTS: The follow-up completion rate of participants who tested positive during colorectal cancer screen tests increased to 74.1%, and the accuracy rate of colorectal screening knowledge rose to 93.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of the project increased the follow-up effectiveness of participants who tested positive during the screening. We hope that medical facilities cooperate with communities in order to facilitate health promotion and increase the number of residents with correct cancer-prevention concepts.

Effective removal of Aroclor 1254 and hexachlorobenzene in river sediments by coupling in situ phase-inversion emulsification with biological reductive dechlorination.

River sediment contamination is a critical environmental problem. Concentrations of certain hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) in sediments in Taiwan are ranked at the top in the world. In this study, we proposed a novel in situ phase-inversion emulsification and biological reductive dechlorination (ISPIE/BiRD) method that integrates (1) heating contaminated sediments by hot water-in-oil emulsion to increase the contact between hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs), to accelerate the mass transfer between two phases, and to select heat-tolerant hydrogen-producing bacteria, (2) ISPIE forming oil-in-water emulsion to enhance recovery of HOCs by pushing cool water and nutrient buffer through the sediment column, and (3) subsequent BiRD using residual emulsion in sediment. Aroclor 1254 and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were selected due to significantly higher human health and ecological risks in sediments. Batch biological dechlorination tests were conducted using an L9(34) orthogonal table according to the Taguchi method. The results showed that significant controlling factors for biological dechlorination were temperature and emulsion concentration. A single operation of ISPIE can achieve the removal of Aroclor 1254 and HCB at as high as 58.2% and 56.5%, respectively. Column study on BiRD further removed about 30% of the residual Aroclor 1254 and HCB at the upper and middle sections of the sediment cores in 35 days. These results supported that ISPIE/BiRD is feasible for HOC-contaminated sediments remediation.

ACE I/D, ACTN3 R577X, PPARD T294C and PPARGC1A Gly482Ser polymorphisms and physical fitness in Taiwanese late adolescent girls.

Physical performance of youth is influenced by various factors, including body composition, biological maturity status, level of habitual physical activity, and muscular strength. Muscular strength has been largely attributed to genetic effects. To exclude possible confounding effects from various acquired factors, this study examined the relationships between polymorphisms of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), α-actinin-3 (ACTN3), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARD), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PPARGC1A) genes and performance as measured by six fitness tests (handgrip strength of dominant hand, 30- and 60-s sit-ups, standing long jump, 60-m dash, and 800-m run) in 170 sedentary adolescent girls with the adjustment of anthropometric characteristics. We found that subjects with the ACE DD genotype were significantly heavier than those with I allele, while those with the ACTN3 RR genotype had higher fat-free mass percentage (FFM%) than those with the XX genotype. In addition, those with the PPARD TT genotype were significantly taller, heavier, and had a greater FFM than those with the CC genotype. Subjects with the ACE DD, ACTN3 RR and PPARD TC genotype had better performance in handgrip strength, 30- and 60-s sit-up tests, and standing long jump, respectively, when individual gene was analyzed independently after adjusting anthropometric characteristics. In the gene combination analysis, subjects with ACE DD, ACTN3 RR and PPARD TT genotype had significantly greater performance in handgrip strength. Overall, the results indicate that the genes studied have a modest influence on individual performance as assessed by specific fitness and strength tests in female late adolescents.