bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the impact of traditional septic tank soakaway systems on water quality in Ireland
Authors: Keegan Mary , Kilroy Kate , Nolan Daniel , Dubber Donata , Johnston Paul M. , Misstear Bruce D. R. , O'Flaherty Vincent , Barrett Maria , Gill Laurence W.
Published: August 2014

One of the key threats to groundwater and surface water quality in Ireland is the impact of poorly designed, constructed or maintained on-site wastewater treatment systems. An extensive study was carried out to quantify the impact of existing sites on water quality. Six existing sites, consisting of a traditional septic tank and soakaway system, located in various ranges of subsoil permeabilities were identified and monitored to determine how well they function under varying subsoil and weather conditions. The preliminary results of the chemical and microbiological pollutant attenuation in the subsoil of the systems have been assessed and treatment performance evaluated, as well as impact on local surface water and groundwater quality. The source of any faecal contamination detected in groundwater, nearby surface water and effluent samples was confirmed by microbial source tracking. From this, it can be seen that the transport and treatment of percolate vary greatly depending on the permeability and composition of the subsoil.
Characterization of water pollution in drainage networks using continuous monitoring data in the Citadel area of Hue City, Vietnam
Authors: Nagano Y. , Teraguchi T. , Lieu P. K. , Furumai H.
Published: August 2014

In the Citadel area of Hue City, drainage systems that include canals and ponds are considerable sources of fecal contaminants to inundated water during the rainy season because canals and ponds receive untreated wastewater. It is important to investigate the characteristics of hydraulics and water pollution in canals and ponds. At the canals and ponds, water sampling was conducted during dry and wet weather periods in order to evaluate fecal contamination and to investigate changes in water pollution caused by runoff inflow. Inundated water was also collected from streets during heavy rainfall. At the canals and ponds, concentrations of Escherichia coli and total coliform exceeded the Vietnamese regulation values for surface water in 23 and 24 out of 27 samples (85 and 89%), respectively. The water samples were categorized based on the characteristics of water pollution using cluster analysis. In the rainy season, continuous monitoring was conducted at the canals and ponds using water depth and electrical conductivity (EC) sensors to investigate the dynamic relationship between water level and water pollution. It is suggested that in the canals, high EC meant water stagnation and low EC signified river water inflow. Therefore, EC might be a good indicator of water flow change in canals.
Development of a geographic information system-based decision support toolset to assess the feasibility of on-site wastewater treatment and disposal options in low permeability subsoils
Authors: Dubber Donata , Pilla Francesco , Smyth David , Qazi Nadeem , McCarthy Tim , Gill Laurence W.
Published: August 2014

Traditional on-site wastewater treatment systems have proven to be unsuitable in areas of low permeability subsoils, representing a risk to human health and the environment. With large areas being covered by low permeability tills, Ireland needs to consider alternative treatment and disposal options to be able to allow further development in these areas and to deal with polluting legacy sites. The paper describes the development and structure of a geographic information system (GIS)-based decision support toolset to evaluate possible alternative strategies for these sites. The programme takes as its initial input the location of an existing house located in an area of low permeability subsoils. Through a series of interconnected GIS geoprocesses the model outputs appropriate solutions for a site, ranking them in terms of environmental sustainability and cost. However, the final decisions are still dependent on on-site constraints so that each solution is accompanied by an alert message that provides additional information for the user to refine the output list according to the available local site-specific information.
Simple design criteria and efficiency of hydrodynamic vortex separators
Authors: Gronowska-Szneler M. A. , Sawicki J. M.
Published: August 2014

Vortex separators still draw attention from specialists investigating the process of removing particles suspended in liquids. The devices are locally applied for waste water treatment in different systems – from storm waste water sewerage to water circulation in fish ponds. However, the methods for separator design presented in the literature are questionable. The paper presents two simple and functional criteria that were employed to construct a laboratory test stand. The test results gave positive feedback on the efficiency of vortex separators.
Vacuum evaporation treatment of digestate: full exploitation of cogeneration heat to process the whole digestate production
Authors: Guercini S. , Castelli G. , Rumor C.
Published: August 2014

Vacuum evaporation represents an interesting and innovative solution for managing animal waste surpluses in areas with high livestock density. To reduce operational costs, a key factor is the availability of an inexpensive source of heat, such as that coming from an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant. The aim of this study was to test vacuum evaporation for the treatment of cattle slurry digestate focusing on heat exploitation. Tests were performed with a pilot plant fed with the digestate from a full-scale AD plant. The results were used to evaluate if and how cogeneration heat can support both the AD plant and the subsequent evaporation of the whole daily digestate production in a full-scale plant. The concentrate obtained (12% total solids) represents 40–50% of the influent. The heat requirement is 0.44 kWh/kg condensate. Heat power availability exceeding the needs of the digestor ranges from 325 (in winter) to 585 kW (in summer) versus the 382 kW required for processing the whole digestate production. To by-pass fluctuations, we propose to use the heat coming from the cogenerator directly in the evaporator, tempering the digestor with the latent heat of distillation vapor.
Aqueous phototransformation of bisphenol S: the competitive radical-attack pathway to p-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid
Authors: Wang Xiaowen , Ma Jiahai , Wang Zhenpeng , Guo Rongrong , Hu Xuefeng
Published: August 2014

The kinetics, environmental influencing factors, products and reaction mechanism of aqueous phototransformation of bisphenol S (BPS), as an alternative to bisphenol A, which is of environmental concern, were investigated. p-Hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid, as the major transformation product was confirmed by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry, electrospray ionization, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance and fluorescence spectrum analysis. A reaction pathway was proposed based on the reactive oxygen species related results by electron paramagnetic resonance and radical traps. The competition of the excited state of BPS between transferring electron to O2 to •O2- and directly oxidizing H2O to •OH was revealed.
Cloud point extraction–flame atomic absorption spectrometry method for preconcentration and determination of trace cadmium in water samples
Authors: Ning Jinyan , Jiao Yang , Zhao Jiao , Meng Lifen , Yang Yaling
Published: August 2014

A method based on cloud point extraction (CPE) separation/preconcentration of trace cadmium (Cd) as a prior step to its determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry has been developed. Cadmium reacted with 8-hydroxyquinoline to form hydrophobic chelates, which were extracted into the micelles of nonionic surfactant oligoethylene glycol monoalkyl ether (Genapol X-080) in an alkaline medium. Octanol was used to depress the cloud point of Genapol X-080 in the extraction process. The chemical variables that affect the CPE, such as pH of complexation reaction, amount of chelating agent, Genapol X-080 and octanol were evaluated and optimized. Under optimized conditions, linearity was obeyed in the range of 10–500 μg/L, with the correlation coefficient of 0.9993. For 5 mL of sample solution, the enhancement factor was about 20. The limit of detection and limit of quantification of the method were 0.21 and 0.63 μg/L, respectively. The relative standard deviations (n = 6) was 3.2% for a solution containing 100 μg/L of Cd. The accuracy of the preconcentration system was evaluated by recovery measurements on spiked water samples. Recoveries of spiked samples varied in the range of 94.1–103.8%.
Hydrodynamic evaluation of a full-scale facultative pond by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and field measurements
Authors: Passos Ricardo Gomes , von Sperling Marcos , Ribeiro Thiago Bressani
Published: August 2014

Knowledge of the hydraulic behaviour is very important in the characterization of a stabilization pond, since pond hydrodynamics plays a fundamental role in treatment efficiency. An advanced hydrodynamics characterization may be achieved by carrying out measurements with tracers, dyes and drogues or using mathematical simulation employing computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The current study involved experimental determinations and mathematical simulations of a full-scale facultative pond in Brazil. A 3D CFD model showed major flow lines, degree of dispersion, dead zones and short circuit regions in the pond. Drogue tracking, wind measurements and dye dispersion were also used in order to obtain information about the actual flow in the pond and as a means of assessing the performance of the CFD model. The drogue, designed and built as part of this research, and which included a geographical positioning system (GPS), presented very satisfactory results. The CFD modelling has proven to be very useful in the evaluation of the hydrodynamic conditions of the facultative pond. A virtual tracer test allowed an estimation of the real mean hydraulic retention time and mixing conditions in the pond. The computational model in CFD corresponded well to what was verified in the field.
Visualized study on the interaction between single bubbles and curved solid surface in flotation separation process
Authors: Yang Liwei , Zhao Yue , Yang Jingjing , Li Yanpeng , Meng Qinglong
Published: August 2014

The present study has been devoted to bubble–curved solid surface interaction in water, which is critical to the separation of suspended particles by air flotation. For this purpose, two particular stages of the interaction (collision and attachment) have been examined visually using high-speed photography in a laboratory-scale flotation column. The effects of the surface material and surfactant concentration on these two stages have been also studied quantitatively. The considered solid materials are the cleaned glass as hydrophilic surface and Teflon as hydrophobic surface. The experimental results show that the presence of surfactant significantly affects the collision and rebound process of a gas bubble, while there is no obvious effect of the surface material on the rebound process. An increase in surfactant concentration has been observed to suppress the rebound number and maximal distance of the bubble from the surface. Moreover, the three-phase contact time of the bubble is a strong function of the surfactant concentration and surface hydrophobicity as well as of the bubble diameter. Another important finding is that the bubble attachment is only observed at the hydrophobic Teflon surface below the surfactant CMC (critical micelle concentration). Results of this study are relevant for deep understanding of the attachment mechanism and to determine the proper conditions for a selective flotation process.
Retainment of the antimicrobial agent triclosan in a septic tank
Authors: Kirjanova Ala , Rimeika Mindaugas , Vollertsen Jes , Nielsen Asbjørn Haaning
Published: August 2014

Laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the fate of the antimicrobial agent triclosan (TCS) in a conventional septic tank. The main mechanism of TCS removal from wastewater was identified to be rapid TCS sorption to suspended particles followed by settling of these particles to the bottom of the septic tank. Sorption to particles was completed within minutes while the settling took several days. Therefore, in a septic tank the removal of TCS from wastewater is mainly determined by the removal of suspended particles by sedimentation. Over 5 days of hydraulic residence time the initial dissolved TCS concentration of 100 μg L−1 was reduced by 87 ± 8%. During the first 24 hours, 66–86% of all removed TCS was retained, whereas during the remainder of the experiment a slight but steady decrease in TCS concentration was observed. This was most likely caused by TCS diffusion and its subsequent sorption onto the septic sludge.
Migration and transformation behavior of volatile phenol in the vadose zone
Authors: Chen Zifang , Zhao Yongsheng , Bai Jing , Li Hui , Zhou Rui , Hong Mei
Published: August 2014

Research on the migration and transformation of phenol with space and temporal variability in the vadose zone is hindered by monitoring technology in field experiments. Four column experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of porous media size, volatilization, biological effects, and oxidation on the transport of phenol in the vadose zone. The initial inflow phenol concentration of each column was 500 mg/L, and the final outflow concentrations were 0, 348, 240, and 365 mg/L, More than 90% of reduction of phenol concentration occurred at the top of the simulation column. Results show that volatilization and oxidation are the main factors that could lead to the decrease of phenol concentration in an open system. However, these two processes cannot be accurately separated. The migration rate of phenol was larger in coarse sands (6.06 cm/d) than in fine sands (4.55 cm/d). Phenol biodegradation did not occur under experimental conditions. However, mercury (as biological inhibitor) could react with phenol to generate a mercury–phenol complex, which could lead to the reduction of phenol concentration to 21.6% in the simulation experiment.
A novel control strategy for efficient biological phosphorus removal with carbon-limited wastewaters
Authors: Guerrero Javier , Guisasola Albert , Baeza Juan A.
Published: August 2014

This work shows the development and the in silico evaluation of a novel control strategy aiming at successful biological phosphorus removal in a wastewater treatment plant operating in an A2/O configuration with carbon-limited influent. The principle of this novel approach is that the phosphorus in the effluent can be controlled with the nitrate setpoint in the anoxic reactor as manipulated variable. The theoretical background behind this control strategy is that reducing nitrate entrance to the anoxic reactor would result in more organic matter available for biological phosphorus removal. Thus, phosphorus removal would be enhanced at the expense of increasing nitrate in the effluent (but always below legal limits). The work shows the control development, tuning and performance in comparison to open-loop conditions and to two other conventional control strategies for phosphorus removal based on organic matter and metal addition. It is shown that the novel proposed strategy achieves positive nutrient removal results with similar operational costs to the other control strategies and open-loop operation.
N2O emissions from secondary clarifiers and their contribution to the total emissions of the WWTP
Authors: Mikola Anna , Heinonen Mari , Kosonen Heta , Leppänen Maarit , Rantanen Pirjo , Vahala Riku
Published: August 2014

Recent studies have indicated that the emissions of nitrous oxide, N2O, constitute a major part of the carbon footprint of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Denitrification occurring in the secondary clarifier basins has been observed by many researchers, but until now N2O emissions from secondary clarifiers have not been widely reported. The objective of this study was to measure the N2O emissions from secondary clarifiers and weigh the portion they could represent of the overall emissions at WWTPs. Online measurements over several days were carried out at four different municipal WWTPs in Finland in cold weather conditions (March) and in warm weather conditions (June–July). An attempt was made to define the conditions in which N2O emissions from secondary clarifiers may occur. It was evidenced that large amounts of N2O can be emitted from the secondary clarifiers, and that the emissions have long-term variation. It was assumed that part of the N2O released in secondary clarification was originally formed in the activated sludge basin. The emissions from secondary clarification thus seem to be dependent on conditions of the nitrification and denitrification accomplished in the denitrification–nitrification process and on the amount of sludge stored in the secondary clarifiers.
Simultaneous autotrophic denitrification and nitrification in a low-oxygen reaction environment
Authors: Ramanathan Ganapathy , Sales Christopher M. , Shieh Wen K.
Published: August 2014

The occurrence of autotrophic denitrification and nitrification activities by ammonia-oxidising bacteria and nitrite-oxidising bacteria is studied in a bioreactor system operable at low-dissolved oxygen (DO) and at variable oxygen influx rates. At a loading of 3.6 mg NH4+–N/h into the bioreactor, simultaneous autotrophic denitrification and nitrification contributed to NH4+–N removal over oxygen influxes of 2–14 mg O2/h and DO <0.5 mg/L. The maximum autotrophic denitrification (or total-N removal) rates were achieved in a narrow oxygen influx band of 3–5 mg O2/h, where it accounted for up to 36% of NH4+–N removal. At oxygen influx >16 mg O2/h and DO >2 mg/L, autotrophic denitrification ceases and roughly 90% of feed NH4+–N is oxidised to NOX−–N. The stability of total effluent chemical oxygen demand (COD) over the range of oxygen influxes tested confirms the absence of heterotrophic denitrification in the bioreactor. The long solids residence time of the stable biomass zone (21 days) led to production of effluent COD as a result of cell decay, and thus effluent COD was used to calculate more accurately the mean cell residence time.
Evaluation of non-thermal effects by microwave irradiation in hydrolysis of waste-activated sludge
Authors: Byun I. G. , Lee J. H. , Lee J. M. , Lim J. S. , Park T. J.
Published: August 2014

The activation energy (Ea) for waste-activated sludge (WAS) hydrolysis was compared between microwave irradiation (MW) and conventional heating (CH) methods to evaluate the non-thermal effect of MW. The microwave-assisted hydrolysis of WAS was assumed to follow the first-order kinetics on the basis of volatile suspended solids (VSS) conversion to soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) for different initial VSS concentrations. By comparing the VSS decrement and the SCOD increment between MW and CH at different absolute temperatures of 323, 348 and 373 K, the average ratio of VSS conversion to SCOD was determined to range from 1.42 to 1.64 g SCOD/g VSS. These results corresponded to the theoretical value of 1.69 g SCOD/g VSS based on the assumption that the molecular formula of sludge was C10H19O3N. Consequently, the Ea of the MW-assisted WAS hydrolysis was much lower than that of CH for the same temperature conditions. The non-thermal effect of MW in the hydrolysis of WAS could be identified with the lower Ea than that of CH.
Point-of-Care Blood Glucose Meter Accuracy in the Hospital Setting
Authors: Klonoff David C.
Published: August 2014

In Brief

Point-of-care (POC) tests provide analytical information that can be used to make decisions at patients' bedside, as opposed to laboratory tests that must be run at a central laboratory. POC testing is a widely used tool to enable immediate determination of glucose levels in hospitalized patients and facilitate rapid treatment decisions in response to fluctuations in glycemia. Accurate POC glucose testing requires attention to various factors before, during, and after performance of tests. These include 1) proper preparation of test sites to avoid preanalytical errors, 2) proper identification of tested patients whose physiological status permits sampled capillary specimens to correlate with central venous blood glucose levels to avoid analytical errors, and 3) proper documentation of the fidelity of meter results with the medical record to avoid postanalytical errors.
Algebraic approach to non-separable two-dimensional Schrödinger equation: Ground states for polynomial and Morse-like potentials
Authors: Tichý Vladimír , Skála Lubomír , Hudec René
Published: August 2014

This paper presents a direct algebraic method of searching for analytic solutions of the two-dimensional time-independent Schrödinger equation that is impossible to separate into two one-dimensional ones. As examples, two-dimensional polynomial and Morse-like potentials are discussed. Analytic formulas for the ground state wave functions and the corresponding energies are presented. These results cannot be obtained by another known method.
Sensitive quantification of mitochondrial mutation using new Taqman probes
Authors: Truong Hue , Nguyen Van-Anh , Nguyen Hong-Loan , Pham Van-Anh , Phan Tuan-Nghia
Published: August 2014

The A3243G mitochondrial mutation is the major cause of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS). The severity of the disease is correlated with the heteroplasmy level of the mutation. Here we describe for the first time the validation of a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay with Taqman locked nucleic acid (LNA) fluorescent (FAM for mutant, HEX for wild type) probes for quantification of heteroplasmy levels in a total of 18 family members from 5 Vietnamese MELAS patients carrying A3243G. Almost no background of FAM signals was detected in normal samples, indicating that the probes were allele-specific. Standard curves indicate sensitive detection at 0.1% mutants and high reliability with R2 > 0.985. The correlation line between measured % mutant and expected % mutant was highly reliable, with a slope of 0.993 and R2 of 0.998. All positive A3243G mutant samples pre-screened by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) were confirmed, and their heteroplasmy levels quantified to be from 3.68 to 80.85%. The heteroplasmy levels in patients were higher than in their family members and generally correlated well with the severity of their clinical symptoms. Overall, this work is the first demonstration of the application of LNA probes for sensitive and highly reliable quantification of heteroplasmy levels in human mitochondria.
Nonlinear optical properties of Au-nanoparticles conjugated with lipoic acid in water
Authors: Trejo-Durán M. , Cornejo-Monroy D. , Alvarado-Méndez E. , Olivares-Vargas A. , Castaño V. M.
Published: August 2014

Gold nanoparticles were chemically conjugated with lipoic acid to control their optical properties. Z-scan and other optical techniques were used to characterize the non-linear behavior of the resulting nanostructured materials. The results show that the nonlinearity is of thermal origin, which can be controlled by the use of lipoic acid as well as other organic molecules conjugated onto metal nanoparticles. In particular, the presence of lipoic acid increases n2, θ and dn/dt.
Surface characterization by structure function analysis
Authors: Kreis T. , Burke J. , Bergmann R. B.
Published: August 2014

The structure function is a tool for characterizing technical surfaces which exhibits a number of advantages over Fourier-based analysis methods. So it is optimally suited for analyzing the height distributions of surfaces measured by full-field non-contacting methods. After the definition of line- and area-structure function and offering effective procedures for their calculation this tutorial paper presents examples using simulated and measured data of machined surfaces as well as optical components. Comparisons with the results of Fourier-based evaluations clearly prove the advantages of structure function analysis.
WC is better than BMI as a predictor of diabetes and pre diabetes in Hindu priests of India
Authors: Sharma Booloo , Sarmah Devajit
Published: August 2014

Background & Objective: Over a period of time great emphasis has been made to prevent diabetes and its complications, and BMI have evolved into a reliable indicator for predicting the incidence of diabetes mellitus. But for a common man BMI is difficult to understand and calculate and there is a need for a more easily acceptable, understandable and measurable parameter as a predictor for diabetes risks. WC is one such parameter and the study tries to establish a correlation between (WC) and FBS with an aim to establish WC as a predictor of diabetes risks. Methods: From our ongoing diabetes screening study 220 Hindu priests were selected. This includes 55 newly diagnosed diabetes, 55 newly diagnosed pre-diabetes and 110 age matched controls. BMI, WC and FBS were calculated. A statistical correlation was established between BMI and FBS and between WC and FBS. The upper limit above which the risk association became statistically significant (P < 0.005) with pre-diabetes and diabetes were considered to be the cutoff for normal values. Results & Conclusion: The WC was 31.77 ± 2.63, 35.82 ± 1.04 and 41.07 ± 2.24 inches in controls, pre-diabetes and diabetes respectively. A statistically significant difference (P < 0.005) for WC was found between controls and pre-diabetes and diabetes. Normal cut off for waist circumference among the Hindu priest is <35 inches or <90 centimeters. Also, statistically significant correlation was established between BMI and FBS and between WC and FBS however, correlation between WC and FBS is better than the former. WC more or less correlates with the pant/pyjama/trouser size, and almost everybody is aware of their pant size. Since WC is a more understandable term for the layman and which can be measured and tracked by the layman themselves, WC could be used as a better and more beneficial predictor of diabetes risk. Simply monitoring the pant size can make the layman understand when to ring the alarm and take medical attention or modify lifestyles.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v6i1.10097 Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.6(1) 2015 91-94
Tubercular mastitis - A case report with uncommon presentation
Authors: Aggarwal Prerna , Sharma Sushmita , Singh Pradeep , Kaur Maninder , Manhas Ashwini , Bala Manju
Published: August 2014

Tuberculosis of the breast is significant due to its rare occurrence and mistaken identity with breast cancer and pyogenic breast abscess. It typically affects young lactating multiparous women and can present either as an abscess or as a unilateral, painless breast mass. A case of 22 year unmarried female presented with discharge breast and a small abscess. Radiological and cytological methods remained nonspecific and tubercular mastitis was diagnosed on Zeihl Neelsen staining and culture for Mycobacteria. A multifaceted approach is needed to reach the correct diagnosis. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v6i1.10143 Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.6(1) 2015 119-121
Post traumatic anterior angulation of the distal tibia following malunion: A case report of management in a resource constrained setting
Authors: Dim EM , Itie JC , Inyang UC , Nwashindi A , Ugbeye ME , Dim UM
Published: August 2014

Fractures of the shaft of the tibia and fibula are common. Complications are minimal following careful application of principles during treatment by the Orthopaedic Surgeon. However, in our environment, not all patients present to the Orthopaedic Surgeon as they opt for some form of unconventional treatment, usually with the traditional bone setters. Such treatments sometimes lead to clinically unacceptable outcomes. This is a case report of a 42-year old female Nigerian with a 4-year history of post traumatic anterior angulation of the distal right tibia with severely contracted Achilles tendon following traditional bone setter’s treatment for open fractures of the distal tibia and fibula. There was 7 cm of right lower limb shortening and 45 degrees anterior angulation of a tibial malunion. She had a two- stage operation to correct the deformities. Patient achieved a plantigrade foot and fracture union without limb length discrepancy. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v6i1.10198   Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.6(1) 2015 108-111
Dietary factors and breast cancer: A case control study from rural India
Authors: Mohite VR , Pratinidhi AK , Mohite RV
Published: August 2014

Background: Diet, a modifiable risk factor for breast cancer is estimated approximately one-third of cases could be prevented by dietary modification. Objectives: To identify possible dietary risk factors of breast cancer among newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer and to determine the strength of association of the risk factors and cancer of breast. Methods: A hospital based case- control study was conducted in Satara district, India during year 2009 to 2011 among newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer and matched controls. The total number of 217 breast cancer cases and equal number of controls age, religion and residence matched were enrolled by purposive sampling technique from selected hospitals of the study area. The data was collected individually by employing pre-tested questionnaire utilizing interview method. Descriptive statistics, Odd’s ratio and chi-square test was used to find out the strength of association and statistically significant differences. Results: Maximum, 31.80% breast cancer cases were in age group 40-49 yrs with lowest age at diagnosis of disease was 25 years. Max, 63.59%, 71.42% and 56.68% breast cancer cases were housewives, literate and from upper economic class respectively. The risk of developing breast cancer as indicated by odd’s ratio was 2.38 times higher in overweight women, 2.1 times in women consuming non-vegetarian diet, 3.9 times with women consuming extra fat in diet and 13.5 times in women with having excess salt in their diet. Conclusion: The dietary risk factors such as non-vegetarian diet, excess fat and salt in diet and overweight was strongly associated with breast cancer. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v6i1.10285 Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.6(1) 2015 55-60
Millimeter wave therapy for abdominal incision wound: A clinical study
Authors: Pradhan Meena , Shao Yong , Luo Yun Peng
Published: August 2014

Background: This case-control study, conducted in 2012, was performed to determine if MMWT, a non invasive therapeutic treatment modality, could reduce postoperative pain and infection in patients who had abdominal sections. Methods: The study group (30 patients) incision sites were exposed to MMWT within 24 hour of cesarean and the control group (90 patients) was not exposed to MMWT. Millimeter wave apparatus with intensity of 38 GHz and power flux output density of 40 mW/cm2 was used for subjecting the cesarean incision site to MMWT. The first exposure to MMWT was done for 30 minutes within 24 hour of cesarean section. In total, they were exposed for 30 minutes daily for 3 days. Wound healing was assessed every day. Results: Pain intensity score in the exposure group reduced significantly compared to the control group. The mean pain intensity score of the study group on the 3rd postoperative day was 3.3±1.8 (95% CI 2.6-3.9) compared to 4.2±1.6 (95% CI 3.8-4.5) of the control group (P< 0.01). Pain reduction rate on day 3 was significantly higher than day 1 in the study group compared to the control group (P = 0.0024). Routine white blood cell (WBC) count was significantly lower in the MMWT treated patients (11.3±1.8×109; 95% CI 10.6-12) compared to the control group (12.3±2.9×109; 95% CI 11.7-12.9)(P<0.03). Conclusions: The results of our study verified that MMWT can relieve post operative pain, decrease post operative morbidities, enhance early mobilization, and can serve as an alternative tool to suppress pain and cure infection. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v6i1.10311 Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.6(1) 2015 43-48
Strategic therapeutic approaches to overcome emerging dual SRC/ABL kinase inhibitors resistances in chronic phase Ph positive chronic myeloid leukemia
Authors: Rana Rajat , Das Soumadip , Swami Aravinda , Pon Doreen , Ramesh S , Kumar Sappa Dilip
Published: August 2014

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a haematopoietic neoplasm with clinically distinct phases and BCR⁄ABL1 oncogene. Imatinib mesylate, a potent inhibitor of BCR-ABL was highly effective in CML but later in-vitro derived cell line with resistance namely BCR-ABL duplication point mutation, P loop mutation, T315I mutation, C helix, SH2 domain, activation loop, C terminal lobe, SRC family kinase activation led to development of Nilotinib. Although it has potential drug targets as BCR-ABL kinase, KIT, PDGFR but has no role in overcoming in Src family kinase. It prompted strategic rational drug design of Dual Src Family Kinase/Abl Inhibitor Dasatinib, active against 15 clinically significant Imatinib resistant BCR-ABL mutations but inactive against T315I mutation. The propensity of Ph+ CML to develop novel mechanism of resistance led designing of rational therapeutic approaches to eradicate minutest residual diseases along with long term resistance risk. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v6i1.10454 Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.6(1) 2015 8-15
Intermittent delta waves mimicking inferior myocardial infarction
Authors: Yontar Osman Can , Tenekecioglu Erhan , Karaagac Kermal , Tutuncu Ahmet
Published: August 2014

Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is recognized with existence of delta waves and a short PR interval on electrocardiogram. Delta waves may appear positive or negative deviated on different derivations corresponding to the location of accessory pathway. In some cases, delta waves mimic Q waves which should be distinguished by physicians. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v6i1.10802 Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.6(1) 2015 115-116
Intravenous magnesium sulphate as an adjuvant in acute severe asthma refractory to conventional therapy
Authors: Sahoo Aswini Kumar , Mohapatra SC
Published: August 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v6i1.9609 Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.6(1) 2015 134-135
Diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative consultation of ovarian neoplasms
Authors: Avesi L , Kayani N , Hassan S , Shahid R
Published: August 2014

Introduction: Ovarian neoplasm’s are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in women. Frozen section is widely used in the intra-operative assessment of patients with ovarian tumors to provide guidance for an appropriate surgical management. It is crucial to know intra-operatively, the exact nature of the tumor to determine the extent of surgery. It is in these situations where the Intraoperative frozen section technique plays its role in making this distinction. Methodology: Females of all ages undergoing planned surgeries for ovarian tumors at Aga Khan Hospital or outside referrals with request for intra operative diagnosis was included. Age of the patient, duration of the lesion and clinical impression were recorded and frozen section was performed. Results: Thirty four cases of ovarian tumors received for frozen section were included in this study. The calculated sensitivity was94.4%, specificity was 93.8%, positive predictive value was 94.4% and negative predictive value was 93.8%. Conclusion: This study shows that frozen section is a highly sensitive and specific method for the rapid diagnosis of ovarian tumors. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v6i1.10798 Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.6(1) 2015 77-80
The Reform in Evaluation System as a Tool of Quality Improvement in Institute of Engineering
Authors: Pahari Bharat Raj
Published: August 2014

The present day notion is such that technology and technical education is treated as backbone of economy. Earlier understanding of education producing wisdom and building elite society has been changed; education is taken as the means of increasing productivity. This has demanded the quality engineering education that produces human resource capable enough to cope the growing need of the market and yield product of consumers' satisfaction. Institute of Engineering has established as an icon of quality engineering education in Nepal is putting its efforts in increasing its quality in the changing context. Though it is continuous process, IOE has applied some corrective measures to attain effective and efficient output in the institution. This paper is an attempt to shed light on the improvements in the evaluation system (examination) of IOE and analysis of the exam results. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jie.v10i1.10872 Journal of the Institute of Engineering, Vol. 10, No. 1, 2014, pp. 1–13
Karnali Cable-Stayed Bridge: Development of Finite Element Model and Free Vibration Analysis
Authors: Shrestha Bipin
Published: August 2014

This paper describes an analytical investigation on Karnali cable stayed bridge across the Karnali River. The primary objective of the investigation is to develop a three dimensional finite element model capable of representing essential feature of the long span cable-stayed bridge. Various parametric studies on the simple cable-stayed bridge model are performed before the actual development of a complex three dimensional model. Deformed equilibrium configuration due to the dead load is calculated using the cable tension and applied dead loads. Importance of incorporating large displacement geometric nonlinearity during the dead load deformed equilibrium configuration is analyzed .Starting from the deformed equilibrium configuration; modal analysis of the bridge is carried out. Different observed modes are classified based on the dominant modal components. Comparisons of the global modal behavior using the two separate models utilizing different cable modeling techniques are made. Parametric study on effect of cable local vibration and the modeling of deck concrete of the composite deck on overall global modal characteristics is presented.  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jie.v10i1.10873Journal of the Institute of Engineering, Vol. 10, No. 1, 2014 pp. 14-24
A Note on Feasibility and Optimality of Transportation Problem
Authors: Adhikari Purnima , Thapa Gyan Bahadur
Published: August 2014

Transportation problem is one of the predominant areas of operations research, widely used as a decision making tool in engineering, business management and many other fields. In this paper, we present a brief literature review of transportation problem with its mathematical models in balanced and unbalanced cases. We report the basic feasible solution and hence the methods to attain optimal solution of the balanced transportation problem. Finally, we describe the primal-dual case of the problem with counter examples. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jie.v10i1.10879Journal of the Institute of Engineering, Vol. 10, No. 1, 2014, pp. 59–68
Ocular morbidity in hearing impaired school children in Eastern Nepal
Authors: Dhungana AP
Published: August 2014

Background: The association between deafness and ocular problems is well established; however the nature and prevalence of these problems are diverse across the globe. Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the nature and prevalence of ophthalmologic abnormalities in deaf students and offer treatment to those with remediable conditions. Method: Eighty seven deaf students aged between six and 25 years were examined in a school for the deaf. The study was cross-sectional and descriptive in nature. The research proforma was developed to collect the data. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Results: Twenty-three (26.43%) had some form of ophthalmologic abnormality. Some had anterior segment abnormalities such as corneal opacities (1.14%) and conjunctivitis (4.59%) while others had posterior segment abnormalities like optic atrophy (1.14%), and Ushers syndrome (1.14%). Refractive error was the most common (14.94%). Conclusion: Since these deaf students use their sight to compensate for the deafness, routine ophthalmologic examination should be carried out on them so that ophthalmologic abnormalities are detected early and treatment offered for remediable diseasesDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jkmc.v3i1.10916Journal of Kathmandu Medical College, Vol. 3, No. 1, Issue 7, Jan.-Mar., 2014, Page: 4-7
Bacteriology of urinary tract infection in pediatric patients at KIST Medical College Teaching Hospital
Authors: Raghubanshi Birendra Raj , Shrestha Devendra , Chaudhary Mahesh , Karki Bal Man Singh , Dhakal Ajaya Kumar
Published: August 2014

Background: Urinary tract infection is common in children and is an important cause of morbidity. Urinary tract infection at young age can lead to renal injury and scarring, and ultimately lead to end stage renal disease in adulthood. Objectives: The purpose of study was to identify the different species of microorganisms, along with their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern, causing urinary tract infection in paediatric patients presenting with urinary tract infection at KIST Medical College, Imadol, Lalitpur, Nepal. Methods: This retrospective study examined microbiological and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern for urine samples collected at KIST Medical College, Imadol, Lalitpur from December 2010 to November 2013. A urine sample was included in our dataset if it demonstrated pure growth of a single organism and accompanying antimicrobial susceptibility and subject demographic data were available. Results: Escherichia coli was the most common organism isolated, followed by Klebsiella species, Staphylococcus species and then by Proteus species, Enterococcus species and Citrobacter species being equal in number. Microorganisms were most susceptible to amikacin and nitrofurantoin and most resistant to ampicillin and nalidixic acid. Conclusion: Though various microorganisms are responsible for urinary tract infection in children, Escherichia coli is the most common causative agent. Antimicrobial resistance has already emerged against many antibiotics, making empiric treatment of these infections challenging. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jkmc.v3i1.10919Journal of Kathmandu Medical CollegeVol. 3, No. 1, Issue 7, Jan.-Mar., 2014, Page: 21-25
Acardiac twins: A Case Report
Authors: Thapa Babita , Thapa Meena , Manandhar Rosina
Published: August 2014

Acardiac anomaly is a rare complication of multiple pregnancy. We report a case at Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital. A 23-year-old multigravida was diagnosed on ultrasonography as having monochorionic monoamniotic twin pregnancy with polyhydramnios and one malformed dead foetus at 18 weeks of gestation. Hence, induction of labor was considered at 36 weeks of gestation. She delivered a macerated male (twin A). Twin B was acardiac with the upper portion consisting of a soft globular mass, the head and upper extremities were absent. The placenta was single. Autopsy revealed absence of heart in twin B. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jkmc.v3i1.10922  Journal of Kathmandu Medical College Vol. 3, No. 1, Issue 7, Jan.-Mar., 2014, Page: 34-37
Laparoscopic retrieval of displaced copper T: Two case reports
Authors: Bajracharya Anu , Shah Rachana
Published: August 2014

Intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) is a widely accepted contraceptive method because of its safety, economic quality, efficiency and reversibility. However, it may cause serious complications like bleeding, uterine perforation and migration to abdominopelvic cavity with perforation or adhesion to adjacent organs or omentum. We report two cases of uterine perforation with copper T insertion that were displaced in the pelvic cavity. In both the cases, IUCD was located by using plain X-rays of abdomen, ultrasonography, and hysteroscopy and finally laparoscopy was performed to identify the location and then remove the IUCD. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jkmc.v3i1.10923  Journal of Kathmandu Medical College Vol. 3, No. 1, Issue 7, Jan.-Mar., 2014, Page: 38-40
Doctor of Pharmacy internship module in pediatrics at a Teaching Hospital in Lalitpur, Nepal- A preliminary report
Authors: Dhakal Ajya Kumar , Ravi Shankar P , Shrestha Devendra
Published: August 2014

Doctor of Pharmacy is a relatively new academic course in Nepal. The course is divided into two phases. The first phase includes first and second academic year with two semesters in each year and second phase has mandatory hospital internship in different clinical departments for 12 month during third year. Doctor of pharmacy is the highest degree offered in clinical and hospital pharmacy and aims to produce professionals well versed in pharmacotherapy. We developed an internship training module for these students in paediatrics and believe that such module will help in production of trained pharmacy manpower and assist other clinical departments to develop internship training modules for doctor of pharmacy students. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jkmc.v3i1.10924Journal of Kathmandu Medical CollegeVol. 3, No. 1, Issue 7, Jan.-Mar., 2014, Page: 41-45
Body Image and Dieting Attitudes: Among Preadolescents
Authors: Bernier Crystal D. , Kozyrskyj Anita L. , Benoit Cecilia , Becker Allan B. , Marchessault Gail
Published: August 2014

Purpose: Differences in body image and dieting concerns were assessed in preadolescent boys and girls across the body mass index (BMI) spectrum. The hypothesis was that girls would express more concern with body size, report more dieting, and receive more advice than boys.

Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, ageappropriate figure drawings, the Children's Eating Attitudes Test (ChEAT), the Restraint Scale, and the Body Esteem Scale were administered to participants in the Study of Asthma, Genes and Environment, Manitoba. Responses were compared between genders and correlated with BMI percentiles.

Results: A total of 565 10- and 11-year-old children (321 boys) completed questionnaires. Overall, 39% of participants wanted to be thinner, and no significant gender differences based on weight were found. However, the use of figure drawings indicated that girls desired greater changes in body size (p=0.006). Girls had higher Restraint Scale scores (p=0.003), but no statistically significant differences were found in self-reported dieting, ChEAT, or Body Esteem Scale scores. Approximately 25% of children reported receiving frequent weight-related advice. Girls did not report this more often than did boys. Children in the lowest BMI percentile desired the greatest change in body shape and had the highest Restraint Scale scores.

Conclusions: Key gender differences underline the importance of understanding children's attitudes toward body image, weight, and dieting.
Exploring Implementation of the Ontario School Food and Beverage Policy at the Secondary-School Level: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Vine Michelle M. , Elliott Susan J. , Raine Kim D.
Published: August 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the implementation of the Ontario School Food and Beverage Policy (P/PM 150) from the perspective of secondary-school students.

Methods: This research, informed by the ANGELO framework, undertook three focus groups with secondary students (n = 20) in 2 school boards representing both high- and low-income neighbourhoods in fall 2012. Focus groups were transcribed verbatim for subsequent analysis. Key themes were generated deductively from the research objectives and inductively as they emerged from transcripts.

Results: Perceived impacts of P/PM 150 included high-priced policy-compliant food for sale, lower revenue generation, and food purchased off-campus. Limited designated eating spaces, proximity to external, nonpolicy-compliant food, and time constraints acted as key local level barriers to healthy eating.

Conclusions: Pricing strategies are needed to ensure that all students have access to nutritious food, particularly in the context of vulnerable populations. Recognition of the context and culture in which school nutrition policies are being implemented is essential. Future research to explore the role of public health dietitians in school nutrition policy initiatives and how to leverage local resources and stakeholder support in low income, rural and remote populations is needed.