Microplastics in German paper mills' wastewater and process water treatment plants: Investigation of sources, removal rates, and emissions.

Although the paper industry processes polymeric materials and discharges large amounts of wastewater, no research on microplastics in the wastewater from paper mills has been published to date. This study is the first to investigate this issue. The wastewater treatment plants of twelve representatively selected German paper mills were investigated using an analysis protocol based on µ-Raman spectroscopy.

Single-fibre coating and additive manufacturing of multifunctional papers.

Paper-based materials with precisely designed wettabilities show great potential for fluid transport control, separation, and sensing. To tune the wettability of paper, paper sheets are usually modified after the paper manufacturing process. This limits the complexity of the local wettability design.

Nanoscale pores introduced into paper mesoporous silica coatings using sol-gel chemistry.

Mesopores, with diameters between 2 and 50 nm, not only increase the specific surface area, but also generate hierarchically porous materials with specific properties such as capillary fluid transport, ion specific pore accessibility, or size exclusion. Paper is a strongly hierarchical, porous material with specific properties, such as capillary force-driven fluid transport. However, paper fibers change their morphology during the initial step of wood disintegration.

Reducing Fluoroquinolone Use and Clostridioides difficile Infections in Community Nursing Homes Through Hospital-Nursing Home Collaboration.

Objective: Nursing homes (NHs) are an important target for antibiotic stewardship (AS). We describe a collaborative model to reduce Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs) in NHs through optimization of antibiotic use including a reduction in high-risk antibiotics such as fluoroquinolones.

Design: Quasi-experimental, pre- and post-intervention study.

Idiopathic Splenic Artery Pseudoaneurysm Rupture as an Uncommon Cause of Hemorrhagic Shock.

Splenic artery pseudoaneurysms are infrequently encountered but critical to recognize. Limited literature to date describes associations with pancreatitis, trauma, and rarely peptic ulcer disease. Hemorrhage and abdominal pain are the most common manifestations.

A modern series of percutaneous intracavitary instillation of amphotericin B for the treatment of severe hemoptysis from pulmonary aspergilloma.

Background: Pulmonary aspergillomas may cause life-threatening hemoptysis. The treatment of this condition is problematic because poor pulmonary function often precludes definitive surgical resection.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients hospitalized at our institution for hemoptysis associated with an aspergilloma over an 8-year period and who underwent percutaneous intracavitary instillation of amphotericin B (ICAB).

An unusual pediatric case of chronic constipation and rectosigmoid prolapse diagnosed by video defecography.

Rectal prolapse is a relatively common, benign condition in the pediatric population. Conservative management usually results in resolution of the problem. Persistent rectal prolapse with chronic constipation suggests more serious underlying pathologic condition that may be challenging to diagnose.

Diagnosing water content in paper by terahertz radiation.

We explore the application of terahertz spectroscopic techniques for the remote determination of the water content of paper. The aim is the development of a rapid diagnostic imaging tool applicable in paper fabrication processes. THz radiation offers a high sensitivity for water, a good spatial resolution, and insensitivity to scattering at the paper surface.

The utility of the chest radiograph in diagnosing exacerbations of pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Background And Objective: To quantify the CXR using a profusion of small lung opacities score in patients with pulmonary exacerbation of sarcoidosis. In particular, the study sought to determine whether the CXR changes were a reliable indicator of disease exacerbation.

Methods: The study recruited patients with an exacerbation of pulmonary sarcoidosis, who were attending a university medical centre sarcoidosis clinic.

Comparison of the endocrine effects of treated wastewaters from different paper mills by use of an in-vitro test with modified yeast cells.

As opposed to effluents from chemical pulp production, very little is known about the endocrine potential of papermaking effluents. To evaluate the endocrine potential of biologically treated effluents from the main grades produced in Germany (fine, graphic and packaging papers), 16 samples were studied by means of the Recombinant Yeast Estrogen Assay (R-YEA). 10 samples were tested positive; seven of them were effluents from recovered paper processing mills.

Effluent-free papermaking: industrial experiences and latest developments in the German paper industry.

Thanks to multiple recirculation of process water, the German paper industry has succeeded in decreasing the specific fresh water demand from an average of 50 m3/t thirty years ago to 13 m3/t today. Although the increasing closure of white water loops creates many problems, it is bound to be part of the German paper industry's ongoing development. For a few years, in the production of packaging paper, two paper mills have been running with a totally closed water system including different process water treatment plants as 'kidneys'.

The "fairy ring": a new radiographic finding in sarcoidosis.

A patient who had the "fairy ring" finding shows another new radiographic presentation of pulmonary sarcoidosis that clinicians can add to the list of signs of the disease.

"Tower vertebra": a new observation in sickle cell disease.

Background: Skeletal abnormalities are common in sickle cell anemia. Ischemia, infarction, and growth disturbance of the thoracic and lumbar vertebral bodies are among the most common abnormalities, and can suggest the diagnosis radiographically.

Design And Patients: We recently encountered two adult patients in whom vertebrae had grown abnormally in height adjacent to infarcted short vertebrae.

Symptomatic spinal calcinosis in systemic sclerosis (scleroderma).

Two patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis and spinal calcification, involving the lumbar spine in one and the cervical spine in the other, are described. Computed tomography-guided aspiration of the calcific masses was performed, and material aspirated from one patient was shown to be apatite, Ca5(PO4)3OH. One patient showed improvement following lumbar laminotomy, hemilaminectomy, and diskectomy.

Is there an anatomic explanation for chest pain in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis?

Background: Chest pain (CP), its cause unknown, is a common and often prominent symptom of sarcoidosis.

Methods: We determined the frequency and character of CP in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis and examined its relationship with (1) length of time since diagnosis, (2) roentgenograhic stage, and (3) radiographic abnormalities on spiral chest computed tomography (CT).

Results: Twenty-two patients were studied: 14 of 22 patients (64%) had CP, with 4 of 14 (29%) identifying pain as their primary symptom.

Endobronchial cockroach: an unusual foreign body aspiration.

Foreign-body aspiration is a frequent and potentially lethal occurrence in children. It is associated with a variety of symptoms including choking, coughing, and wheezing. These symptoms differ in severity and are sometimes absent, and chest radiograph findings are often nonspecific.

Intracranial placement of a nasotracheal tube after facial fracture: a rare complication.

Extensive facial trauma is often associated with fractures to the skull base, cribriform plate, and sphenoid sinus. Attempted intubation of patients with facial trauma may result in intracranial penetration and placement of nasogastric or nasotracheal tubes into the brain. Such a complication carries significant morbidity and mortality.

Translational injuries in posterior elbow dislocation.

We describe a new plain radiographic finding in posterior elbow dislocation: a defect in the nonarticular posterior surface of the capitellum caused by impaction of the radial head during dislocation. The defect was visible on a lateral view unobscured by overlying bony structures in the unreduced state and confirmed on both an axial view after reduction and by magnetic resonance imaging. We propose that this lesion is analogous to the Hill-Sachs/Bankart lesion complex seen in translational glenohumeral injury.

Multicentric Castleman's disease: imaging findings.

Multicentric Castleman's disease is an unusual lymphoproliferative lesion typically associated with systemic manifestations and specific histopathology. We describe two cases of pathologically proven multicentric Castleman's disease along with radiographic and ultrasonographic findings.

Pseudostripe sign in lobar collapse.

The stripe sign in perfusion lung scanning refers to an area of focal hypoperfusion that fails to extend to the pleural surface, leaving a peripheral rim of perfused parenchyma. Although experimental evidence suggests that the stripe sign is caused by central pulmonary emphysema, we report a case of an identical perfusion defect related to a completely collapsed left lower lobe. This etiology should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the stripe sign.

Pseudo fracture of a defibrillating lead.

Routine follow-up chest X ray of several patients with the Endotak transvenous pacing lead suggested fracture of the conductor at the distal end of the proximal defibrillating coil. Electrical evaluation of these patients' leads demonstrated them to be working normally. Multiple x-ray views of a new undamaged lead demonstrated that in some projection the Endotak lead may appear fractured in spite of normal continuity of the conductors.

Multiple symmetrical lipomatosis: computed tomographic appearance.

In a case of localized multiple symmetrical lipomatosis (Madelung's disease), we examined the cervical fat accumulation by computed tomography. We describe the radiographic features of this process and briefly review the pathophysiology of this rare disorder.