Heavy metals remediation through bio-solidification: Potential application in environmental geotechnics.

Heavy metals are pervasive pollutants found in water, soil, and solid wastes. Bio-solidification offers an environmentally friendly approach to immobilize heavy metal ions using two types of bacteria: urease-producing bacteria (UPB) and phosphatase-producing bacteria (PPB). UPB, exemplified by Sporosarcina pasteurii, secretes urease to hydrolyze urea and generate CO ions, while PPB, like Bacillus subtilis, produces alkaline phosphatase to hydrolyze organophosphate monoester (ROP) and produce PO ions.

Degradation of Typical Reverse Sand-Mudstone Interbedded Bank Slope Based on Multi-Source Field Experiments.

The bank slopes in the Three Gorges Reservoir area (TGRA) have experienced obvious deterioration under the action of the periodic fluctuations in the reservoir water level. Generally, laboratory tests have been used to reveal the evolution trend of the slope banks. However, this method has a certain degree of cross-scale problem, especially for the mechanical state in a complex environment.

Perception of Patient Safety and the Reporting System Between Medical Staffs and Patients in China: A Cross-Sectional Online Study.

Objective: This study aimed to understand the perception of patient safety and the reporting system in public in China, and make further recommendations for the optimization of the reporting system of patient safety.

Methods: The following data were collected through an online questionnaire from medical staffs and patients: recognition of patient safety, comments on patient participation, comments on spontaneous reports, attitudes toward the principles of spontaneous reports, and willingness to participate. This information was presented with frequency and percentage with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Development and preliminary verification of the evaluation system for clinical practice guidelines in China.

Objective: Clinical practice guidelines can improve healthcare processes and patient outcomes; however, the quality of these guidelines varies greatly in China. The aim of this study was to construct a comprehensive instrument for the appraisal of clinical practice guidelines in China (AGREE-CHINA), and to validate its reliability as a tool for helping potential guideline users in assessing guideline quality.

Methods: First, an interdisciplinary working group was established for developing the methods.

[Effect of wintergreen oil on in vitro transdermal permeation of osthole and geniposide].

The aim of this study was to investigate the transdermal penetration enhancement effect of wintergreen oil and its action mechanisms. The in vitro transdermal tests were carried out to study the transdermal penetration enhancement effect of wintergreen oil by using osthole and geniposide as the lipophilic and hydriphilic model drugs. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was used to investigate the effect of wintergreen oil on the molecular structure of rat stratum corneum, and the scanning electron microscope was employed to observe the change of rat skin surface after treatment by the oil.

[Prevalence of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment among adults aged 50 years or above in Shuangcheng City of Heilongjiang Province: the China Nine-Province Survey].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment among adults aged 50 years or above in Shuangcheng City of Heilongjiang Province, China.

Methods: It was a population-based cross-section study. Geographically defined cluster sampling was used in randomly selecting 5 841 individuals aged 50 years or above in 28 basic sample units in Shuangcheng City from September to December 2006.

[Prevalence of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment among adults aged 50 years or above in Yangxi County of Guangdong Province: the China Nine-Province Survey].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment among adults aged 50 years or above in Yangxi County of Guangdong Province, China.

Methods: It was a population-based cross-section study.Geographically defined cluster sampling was used in randomly selecting 5 531 individuals aged 50 years or above in Yangxi County from September 2006 to January 2007.

[Prevalence and causes of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment among adults aged 50 years or above in Luxi County of Yunnan Province: the China Nine-Province survey].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and causes of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment among adults aged ≥ 50 years in Luxi County of Yunnan Province, China.

Methods: It was a population-based cross-section study. Geographically defined cluster sampling was used in randomly selecting 5575 individuals aged ≥ 50 years in Luxi County.

[Prevalence and causes of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment among adults aged 50 years or above in Changji City of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region: the China Nine-Province survey].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and causes of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment among adults aged ≥ 50 years in Changji City of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.

Methods: It was a population-based cross-section study.Geographically defined cluster sampling was used in randomly selecting 5714 individuals aged ≥ 50 years in Changji City.

[Prevalence and causes of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment among adults aged 50 years or above in Longyao County of Hebei Province:the China Nine-Province survey].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and causes of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment among adults aged ≥ 50 years in Longyao County, Hebei Province, China.

Methods: It was a population-based cross-section study.Geographically defined cluster sampling was used in randomly selecting 5527 individuals aged ≥ 50 years in Longyao County.

[Prevalence and causes of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment among adults aged 50 years or above in Yongchuan District of Chongqing City: the China Nine-Province survey].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and causes of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment among adults aged 50 years or above in Yongchuan of Chongqing City, China.

Methods: It was a population-based cross-section study.Geographically defined cluster sampling was used in randomly selecting 5663 individuals aged ≥ 50 years in Yongchuan District.

[Prevalence and surgery status of cataract among adults aged 50 years or above in Qidong City of Jiangsu Province: the China Nine-Province Survey].

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of cataract, the rate of cataract surgical coverage rate,and the rate of cataract-blindness social burden among older adults aged 50 years or above in Qidong City of Jiangsu Province, China, in 2006.

Methods: Cluster sampling was used in randomly selected 5662 individuals aged 50 years or above in 16 clusters in Qidong City. 5141 individuals received visual acuity and eye examination from September to December 2006.

[Prevalence and surgery status of cataract among adults aged 50 years or above in the Shunyi district of Beijing: the China Nine-Province Survey].

Objective: To assess the prevalence of cataract, the outcomes of cataract surgery, the rate of cataract surgical coverage, and the rate of cataract blindness social burden.

Methods: Cluster sampling was used in 5118 randomly selected individuals aged > or = 50 years in the Shunyi district of Beijing from April to August 2006. All individuals were received visual acuity and eye examination, including the evaluation of lens status and cataract surgical status by slit lamp biomicroscopy.

[Prevalence of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment among adults aged 50 years or above in Qidong City of Jiangsu Province: the China Nine-Province Survey].

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of blindness and low vision among older adults aged > or = 50 years in Qidong City of Jiangsu Province, China, in 2006.

Methods: Cluster sampling was used in randomly selecting 5662 individuals aged > or = 50 years from September to December 2006 in 16 clusters in Qidong City. The survey was preceded by a pilot study where operational methods were refined and quality assurance evaluation was carried out.

[Prevalence of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment among adults aged 50 years or above in the Shunyi District of Beijing: the China Nine-Province Survey].

Unlabelled: OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence of blindness and moderate and severe visual impairment among adults aged 50 years or above in the Shunyi district of Beijing,China.

Methods: It was a population-based cross-section study. Geographically defined cluster sampling was used in 5840 randomly selected individuals aged > or = 50 years in 28 clusters in the Shunyi district from April to August 2006.