Preferential Halogenation of Algal Organic Matter by Iodine over Chlorine and Bromine: Formation of Disinfection Byproducts and Correlation with Toxicity of Disinfected Waters.

The increasing occurrence of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in surface waters may increase the input of algal organic matter (AOM) in drinking water. The formation of halogenated disinfection byproducts (DBPs) during combined chlorination and chloramination of AOM and natural organic matter (NOM) in the presence of bromide and iodide and haloform formation during halogenation of model compounds were studied. Results indicated that haloform/halogen consumption ratios of halogens reacting with amino acids (representing proteins present in AOM) follow the order iodine > bromine > chlorine, with ratios for iodine generally 1-2 orders of magnitude greater than those for chlorine (0.

Fate and transport of estrogenic compounds in an integrated swine manure treatment systems combining algal-bacterial bioreactor and hydrothermal processes for improved water quality.

An integrated manure treatment system, including a mixed algal-bacterial bioreactor (MABB) and hydrothermal processing of biomass solids, was found to remove 76.4-97.0% of the total estrogenic hormones (estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3)) from the liquid portion of animal manure (LPAM).

Risk Factors for Early Recurrence After Transforaminal Endoscopic Lumbar Disc Decompression.

Background: Transforaminal endoscopic lumbar disc decompression (TELD) has emerged as a treatment alternative to open lumbar discectomy, but rates of herniated lumbar disc (HLD) recurrence after TELD are higher by comparison.

Objectives: We conducted this study to identify factors correlating with early HLD recurrence after TELD.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Synthesis and properties of siloxane-containing hybrid hydrogels: optical transmittance, oxygen permeability and equilibrium water content.

Siloxane-containing hybrid hydrogels, coupled with optical transparency and moderate water content, have the advantage of a high oxygen permeability which gives rise to useful characteristics for extended wear contact lenses. To synthesize these hybrid hydrogels, free radical copolymerization of hydrophobic TRIS monomer/PDMS macromer with a hydrophilic monomer in a confined mold was studied. It proved that microphase separation of the resulting hybrid hydrogels, caused by inherent incompatibility between hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers, could be controlled by either the hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance or molecular weight of PDMS macromer in the formulations, resulting in high optical transmittance (> 90%) at 400 nm.