Fuel properties and incineration behavior of poultry litter blended with sweet sorghum bagasse and pyrolysis oil.

The incineration of poultry litter (PL) effectively reduces the volume of waste in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of "affordable and clean energy". However, mono-incineration is associated with considerable challenges due to the varying moisture, structural and chemical composition and low energy yield. The aim of the present work was to investigate the influence of sweet sorghum bagasse (SS) and pyrolysis oil (PO) on improving the fuel properties of PL and mitigating ash related burdens during incineration. The different biomass feedstocks were produced by combining PL with SS at 0.0% (T0), 25% (T1), 50% (T2), 75% (T3) and compared with 100% SS (T4). In order to achieve high energy potential and low ash deposition, the parallel samples were additionally mixed with 10% PO to improve the energy value. The experimental results show that increasing the proportion of SS and adding PO to the mixtures increases the volatile matter and decreases the moisture and ash content. The addition of PO also increases the carbon and hydrogen content. The use of SS and PO thus increased the values of the ignitability index and apparently also the flammability by 30.0%-49.4% compared to pure PL. SS and PO shifted the HHV of the starting material from 16.90 to 18.78 MJ kg-1. In addition, SS + PO improved the flame volume and red color intensity of the PL blends based on the image analysis method. However, the presence of SS and PO did not sufficiently improve the ash-related index values, which requires further investigation.

A techno-sustainable bio-waste management strategy for closing chickpea yield gap.

Sustainable development goals imply environmentally sound management of all wastes to minimize the waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse. In particular, the poultry industry produces nutrient-rich waste that requires proper management.Additionally, the recycling of bio-wastes in agricultural lands is still a key technology for the sustainable use of nutrients as a renewable fertilizer. Currently, there are very few studies on the utilization of agro-industrial bio-wastes, such as poultry abattoir sludge (PAS), for crop cultivation in soils containing low organic matter and high pH. In this context, it is necessary to make a more particular assessment of poultry industry-oriented and locally available nutrient-rich organic wastes for nodulation, physiological adaptation, and crop yield. Considering the scarcity of the literature in this field, the present study aimed to fulfill the apparent gap by focusing on the applicability of recycled PAS to low fertility soil in the growth of chickpea selected as a model legume, thereby contributing to the development of an agricultural and sustainable industrial management strategy for the relevant sectors. In this study, leaf chlorophyll content and nodule color were also investigated by the image analysis methodology to describe the effects of bio-waste on closing chickpea yield gap in a marginal land with high soil pH and low organic matter. Two-year consecutive field experiments were carried out to explore the effect of the PAS with the application rates of 25 kg N ha-1 (T2), 50 kg N ha-1 (T3), and 100 kg N ha-1 (T4) along with unamended (T0) and fertilized control (T1). The results indicated that the PAS treatments significantly differed in chlorophyll content, nodulation parameters, and biomass and grain yields. The chlorophyll content was correlated (r = 0.910) with the red color value (RGB color model) of nodule image analysis in the response to bio-waste. Based on the two-year average, it was concluded that chickpea yield could be increased 45% by amending with the PAS (T3). The present study clearly demonstrated that the image analysis could be a useful digital tool for the evaluation of chlorophyll content, nitrogen fixation efficiency, and forecasting biomass and grain yields of chickpea. The results also confirmed that the PAS application to low fertility soil could prominently contribute to establish sustainable waste management and crop production alternatives for closing chickpea yield gap.

Impact of Chronic Rheumatic Valve Diseases on Large Vessels.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF STUDY: Rheumatic valvular heart disease, which remains a common health problem in developing countries, has numerous consequences on the heart chambers and circulation. The study aim was to investigate the effects of chronic rheumatic valve disease on the diameters of the descending aorta (DA) and inferior vena cava (IVC). METHODS: A total of 88 patients with echocardiographically documented rheumatic valvular heart disease and 112 healthy controls were enrolled into the study. All patients underwent detailed echocardiographic examinations, while their height and body weight were recorded and adjusted to their body surface area. RESULTS: The most common involvement was mitral valve disease, followed by aortic valve disease and tricuspid valve disease. The mean diameter of the DA (indexed to BSA) was 1.79 ± 0.49 cm for patients and 1.53 ± 0.41 for controls (p <0.001). The mean diameter of the IVC (indexed to BSA) was 1.69 ± 0.73 for patients and 1.38 ± 0.35 cm for controls (p <0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between mitral valve mean gradient and IVC diameter (p = 0.01, r = 0.18). There were also strong associations between the mitral valve area and the diameters of the DA (p = 0.001, r = -0.239) and IVC (p <0.001, r = -0.246). CONCLUSION: Rheumatic valve disease, especially mitral stenosis, was closely related to remodeling of the great vessels.

Pulmonary Balloon Valvuloplasty during Pregnancy.

Women with valvular heart disease have an increased risk of adverse outcomes in pregnancy; however, with appropriate evaluation and treatment, most women can successfully bear healthy children. During pregnancy, pulmonary stenosis is generally well tolerated in the absence of other haemodynamically significant lesions. We present a case of a multiparous woman,who is pregnant with her sixth child, with a severe pulmonary stenosis. She presented with exertional chest pain and dyspnea. She was managed successfully with balloon valvuloplasty.

[Echocardiography-guided pericardiocentesis with the apical approach]. / Ekokardiyografi rehberliginde apikal yaklasimla perikardiyosentez.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate our experience with echocardiography-guided pericardiocentesis with the apical approach for pericardial effusions. STUDY DESIGN: We evaluated 32 pericardiocenteses performed under echocardiography guidance and with the apical approach in 29 patients (15 men, 14 women; mean age 49 years; range 18 to 72 years). Indications were diagnostic purpose, pericardial tamponade, or symptomatic pericardial effusion. Procedural success, the amount of drainage, and complications were assessed. RESULTS: Common causes of pericardial effusion were malignancy (n=6), postpericardiotomy syndrome (n=5), idiopathic (n=5), chronic renal disease (n=4), and myocardial infarction (n=3). The amount of drainage was 120 ml to 2,200 ml and the duration of pericardial catheter placement in the pericardial space was 24 to 144 hours. Mortality did not occur. Echocardiographic control showed residual effusion in the lateral wall in one case, which required repositioning of the pericardial catheter for complete removal. The procedure failed in one patient due to insufficient drainage caused by multiple septations and fibrinous fluid in the pericardial space. The success rate of the procedures was 96.9%. Four cases developed hemopneumothorax requiring tube drainage, vasovagal reaction, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, and frequent ventricular extrasystoles, respectively. Apical puncture was repeated in two cases due to erroneous left ventricular puncture and pleural catheter placement, respectively. CONCLUSION: Echocardiography-guided pericardiocentesis with the apical approach is readily performed bedside without the need for catheterization laboratory, with a high success rate and low complication rate. It should be considered especially in cases in which anterior pericardial collection is more prominent where it will reduce unnecessary surgical interventions.