41 research outputs found
An integrated spatial snap-shot monitoring method for identifying seasonal changes and spatial changes in surface water quality
No full textSummaryIntegrated catchment-scale management approaches in large catchments are often hindered due to the poor understanding of the spatially and seasonally variable pathways of pollutants. High-frequency monitoring of water quality at random locations in a catchment is resource intensive and challenging. A simplified catchment-scale monitoring approach is developed in this study, for the preliminary identification of water quality changes – Integrated spatial snap-shot monitoring (ISSM). This multi-parameter monitoring approach is applied using the isotopes of water (δ18O-H2O and δD) and nitrate (δ15N-NO3− and δ18O-NO3−) together with the fluxes of nitrate and other solutes, which are used as chemical markers. This method involves selection of few sampling stations, which are identified as the hotspots of water quality changes within the catchment. The study was conducted in the peri-alpine Thur catchment in Switzerland, with two snap-shot campaigns (representative of two widely varying hydrological conditions), in summer 2012 (low flow) and spring 2013 (high flow). Significant spatial (varying with elevation) and seasonal changes in the sources of water were observed between the two seasons. A spatial variation of the sources of nitrate and the solute loads was observed, in tandem with the land use changes in the Thur catchment. There is a seasonal shift in the sources of nitrate, it varies from a strong treated waste water signature during the low flow season to a mixture of other sources (like soil nitrogen derived from agriculture), in the high flow season. This demonstrates the influence of other sources that override the influence of waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) during high flow in the Thur River and its tributaries. This method is expected to be a cost-effective alternative, providing snap-shots, that can help in the preliminary identification of the pathways of solutes and their seasonal/spatial changes in catchments
A Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Honey Dates Amla Mix in Improving Hemoglobin Level among Adolescent Girls with Anemia in a Selected School at Coimbatore
No full textAnemia is a most common health problem in India. Adolescent girls are a sizable segment of the Indian population and constitute a vulnerable group.
The present study was done to evaluate the effectiveness of honey dates amla mix in improving hemoglobin level among adolescent girls with anemia in Govt. High School at Vazhukuparai. The aim of the study was to improve the hemoglobin level by honey dates amla mix intervention.
The objectives of the study include;
1. To assess the hemoglobin level among adolescent girls with anemia.
2. To evaluate the effectiveness of honey dates amla mix in improving hemoglobin level among adolescent girls with anemia.
3. To determine the association between the hemoglobin level with their selected demographic variables.
The research design adopted to this study was a pre- experimental design. The conceptual framework for this study was based on the basis of Ernestine Wiedenbach Prescriptive Theory (1968). The study was conducted in Govt. High School,
Vazhukkuparai and 30 samples were selected by using simple random sampling technique. The demographic variables were assessed by using self administered questionnaire and the hemoglobin level was assessed by using Sahli’s method before
and after intervention. The intervention of daily prepared mix of fresh medium sized amla 10gm, 5 seedless dates, 10ml honey was given to adolescent girls daily for 30 days between breakfast and lunch. The collected data were analyzed by using both descriptive and inferential statistical methods.
The study findings revealed that Honey Dates Amla Mix is an effective intervention to improve the hemoglobin level among adolescent girls with anemia
Etiology and Treatment of Hypogonadism in Adolescents
No full textAdequate functioning at all levels of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis is necessary for normal gonadal development and subsequent sex steroid production. Deficiencies at any level of the axis can lead to a hypogonadal state. The causes of hypogonadism are heterogeneous and may involve any level of the reproductive system. This review discusses various causes of hypogonadism, describes the evaluation of hypogonadal states, and outlines treatment options for the induction of puberty in affected adolescents. Whereas some conditions are clearly delineated, the exact etiology and underlying pathogenesis of many disorders is unknown
Effect of river restoration and hydrological changes on surface water quality: river reach-scale to catchment-scale study
No full textThèse de doctorat : Université de Neuchâtel, 2015La restauration des rivières est considérée comme méthode permettant d'agir sur la protection contre les crues, la reconstruction d'habitats naturels et l'amélioration de la qualité des eaux de surface. En général, les projets de restauration visent à atteindre plus d'un des objectifs précités du fait de leur connexité. L'effet de la restauration d'une rivière sur la qualité de l'eau reste relativement peu étudié. La première partie de cette thèse est vouée à l'analyse de différents cas d'études de restauration de rivière réalisés dans plusieurs pays. Nous sélectionnons et analysons des cas d'études pour lesquels la qualité de l'eau était le principal objectif visé par la restauration, pour quatre pays sur trois continents. Ces cas d'études montrent que pour atteindre un objectif de bonne qualité de l'eau au sein des rivières restaurées, il est souvent nécessaire de combiner aux mesures de restauration une amélioration (ou une installation) des infrastructures (tels que les stations d'épuration et bassins d'orage). Dans l'ensemble des études de restauration, le suivi post-restauration n'est pas souvent mené du fait d'un manque de fonds pour mener un suivi pre-restauration d'une part et d'un manque de protocole et d'indicateurs bien définis pour le contrôle de la qualité de l'eau d'autre part. L'un des buts principaux de cette thèse est de définir un jeu de paramètres afin d'offrir des indicateurs clés de la qualité de l'eau pour le suivi pre et post restauration. Dans la seconde partie de cette thèse, un suivi à haute fréquence d'un grand nombre de paramètres a été réalisé afin d'identifier les paramètres clés et les processus bio-géochimiques qui affectent leurs cycles diurne au cours de trois saisons. Le fonctionnement de l'écosystème en rivière et la théorie selon laquelle la capacité d'assimilation des nutriments des rivières est étudié et testée pour plusieurs conditions hydrologiques. Nous montrons que les cycles diurnes du pH et de l'oxygène dissout (DO) sont dépendants des processus biologiques, principalement la photosynthèse et la respiration, en rivière. Pendant la période de basses eaux, en automne, nous avons observé une réduction du carbone organique dissous (DOC), pendant la nuit, et des nitrates, juste avant le lever du jour, à l'aval des biefs restaurés. Ceci est attribué à des processus biologiques supposés être accentués par une augmentation de la diversité des habitats post-restauration. Par ailleurs, suite à un évènement orageux d'été, nous avons pu observer une augmentation des nitrates et une accumulation du chlore à l'exutoire du bassin versant suivi par une dilution retardée comparée aux effets de dilution immédiats observés quant à eux le long du reste de la rivière. Cet évènement orageux a aussi causé une diminution du DOC par dilution le long de toute la rivière. L'observation de la diminution de la variabilité diurne du DO dans les parties chenalisées de la rivière pendant l'évènement orageux est un indicateur d'une augmentation du taux de renouvellement de la turbidité qui affecte le modèle de production-respiration - mais qui n'affecte pas la variabilité diurne de la partie restaurée. Un plus long bief restauré et un suivi pre-restauration sont recommandés pour les projets futurs. Dans la dernière partie de cette thèse, nous employons une démarche à l'échelle du bassin versant afin d'identifier les chemins de transferts des solutés. La méthode simplifiée intitulée "Integrated Spatial Snap-shot Method" (ISSM) ou Méthode d'Aperçu Spatialement Intégrée, implique l'identification d'un nombre réduit ( Im ersten Teil dieser Doktorarbeit werden verschiedene Revitalisierungsprojekte, welche prioritär eine Verbesserung der Wasserqualität anstrebten, untersucht. Dabei werden Projekte aus vier Ländern dreier Kontinente berücksichtigt. Die Auswertung verdeutlicht, dass Revitalisierungsmassnahmen alleine nicht ausreichen, um die Wasserqualität zu verbessern. Zusätzliche Aufwertungen der Infrastruktur, wie beispielsweise durch Kläranlagen oder Kanalisationen, sind hierbei notwendig, um eine gute Wasserqualität zu erreichen. Häufig ist es aufgrund fehlender Kontrollen, welche vor Beginn bzw. nach Beendigung der Revitalisierung, durchgeführt werden, unmöglich festzustellen, ob das Projekt eine Verbesserung der Wasserqualität bewirkt hat. Die mangelnden Kontrollen sind, zum einen, auf ein streng limitiertes Budget, zum anderen, auf unzureichende Vorgaben bezüglich notwendiger Vor- und Nachuntersuchungen zurückzuführen. Ein wichtiges Anliegen dieser Doktorarbeit ist daher die Identifikation von chemischen Parametern, welche als Indikator der Wasserqualität dienen können. Durch Vorgabe dieser Indikatoren sollen Vor- und Nachuntersuchungen stark vereinfacht und kosteneffizienter gestaltet werden. Anhand von Vergleichsstudien an einem Feldstandort in der Nordost-Schweiz werden im zweiten Teil dieser Doktorarbeit chemische Indikatoren identifiziert. Zusätzlich werden die Auswirkungen bio-geochemische Prozesse auf die täglichen Schwankungen der zuvor genannten chemischen Indikatoren untersucht. Daten wurden hierbei während dreier verschiedener Jahreszeiten über einen Zeitraum von ca. zwei Jahren erhoben und ausgewertet. Hierbei liegt das Augenmerk der Datenauswertung auf der Funktionsfähigkeit der Flussökosysteme. Des Weiteren wird anhand verschiedener hydrogeologischer Szenarien untersucht, inwiefern Flussrevitalisierungen die Verfügbarkeit von Nährstoffen verbessern. Die Daten verdeutlichen, dass tägliche Schwankungen im pH-Wert und der Konzentration gelösten Sauerstoffs auf biologische Prozesse, d.h. Photosynthese und Respiration, zurückzuführen sind. Bei Daten der Probennahmen im Herbst zeigen sich im unterstromigen Bereich des revitalisierten Abschnittes am Feldstandort nachts und im Morgengrauen jeweils niedrigere Konzentrationen gelösten organischen Kohlenstoffs und Nitrat. Es wird vermutet, dass dies durch eine höhere biologische Aktivität, welche nach Flussrevitalisierungen erwartet wird, bedingt ist. Ein anderes Bild zeigt sich während eines Starkregenereignisses im Sommer. Hier werden am Abstrom des Einzugsgebietes erhöhte Konzentrationen an Nitrat und Chlorid gemessen. Dabei wird hier eine verzögerte Verdünnung der Konzentrationen beobachtet, die sich stark von der sofortigen Konzentrationsverringerung in den anderen Messstationen unterscheidet. Das Starkregenereignis führt zu einer Reduktion der Konzentrationen an gelöstem organischen Kohlenstoff im gesamten Untersuchungsbereich des Flusses. Weiter zeigt sich eine Veränderung in den täglichen Schwankungen des gelösten Sauerstoffs, jedoch ausschliesslich im kanalisierten, nicht revitalisierten, Bereich des Flusses. Diese Verringerung der täglichen Schwankungen im gelösten Sauerstoff ist auf die hohe Trübung zurückzuführen, welche die biologische Aktivität, z.B. die Respiration, beeinträchtigt. Für zukünftige Forschungsprojekte wäre es empfehlenswert bereits vor der Revitalisierung detaillierte Untersuchungen der Wasserchemie durchzuführen. Zusätzlich wäre es hilfreich für die Untersuchungen nach der Revitalisierung über einen möglichst langen revitalisierten Abschnitt zu verfügen. Im letzten Teil dieser Doktorarbeit wird ein Vorgehen vorgeschlagen, mit welchem innerhalb eines Einzugsgebietes die Fliesspfade verschiedener gelöster Stoffe nachvollzogen werden können. Hierbei werden mit der neu entwickelten ISSM-Methode („Integrated Spatial Snap-shot“) im Einzugsgebiet eine geringe Anzahl repräsentativer Knotenpunkte für die Untersuchung der gelösten Stoffe identifiziert. Anhand dieser werden dann die Stoffflüsse bei unterschiedlichen Abflussszenarien und zu unterschiedlichen Jahreszeiten untersucht. Diese Methode wurde an verschiedenen Feldstandorten angewandt. So wurden Hotspots chemischer Indikatorspezies und deren jahreszeitlichen Schwankungen anhand der Konzentrationen gelöster Stoffe und deren Durchflussmenge sowie der Wasserstoff-/Sauerstoff- und Stickstoff-Isotopenverteilung untersucht. Es zeigt sich, dass sich diese Methode auf Einzugsgebiete mit unterschiedlichsten Topographien übertragen lässt. Auf diese Weise lassen sich in ersten Voruntersuchungen potentielle Standorte für Flussrevitalisierungen auch innerhalb grosser Einzugsgebiete identifizieren
Water quality deterioration as a driver for river restoration: a review of case studies from Asia, Europe and North America
No full textRiver restoration projects are carried out actively in several countries as an alternative flood protection measure, and also to improve/restore water quality and habitat diversity. The implication of various river restoration measures on water quality is seldom studied. In this review, case studies of restoration projects that aimed at water quality improvement were selected from four industrialized countries in three continents. The water quality concerns and the systematic development of legislative policies towards better water quality management in the different countries considered were assessed. The best management practices for river restoration with respect to water quality amelioration were evaluated with the perspective of the case studies selected. In the various case studies discussed, a combination of different restoration measures were implemented in tandem. The restoration measures were adapted to suit the local conditions and problems. A pre- and post-restoration investigation of the main success indicators was found to be an important criterion for the evaluation of the outcome of restoration projects. Successful restoration projects were found to focus on reduction of pollutant/nutrient input to the rivers, in addition to the implementation of suitable restoration measures. This has been achieved by public infrastructure development (like installation of storm water controls and sewage treatment plants). This review is aimed to act as an inventory for future restoration projects with water quality amelioration as their main target
Pituitary Hormone Dysfunction After Proton Beam Radiation Therapy in Children with Brain Tumors
No full textObjective: To characterize endocrine dysfunction in pediatric patients with brain tumors who received proton beam (PB) radiation therapy and to compare those treated with PB radiotherapy only versus combined conventional and PB irradiation.
Methods: A retrospective review of medical records of patients ≤18 years of age who received PB radiation therapy for a brain tumor between 2000 and 2008 was performed. Variables analyzed included patient demographics, tumor type, therapeutic modalities, radiation doses, and types and timing of endocrine dysfunction.
Results: Thirty-eight patients were identified, of whom 31 (19 boys and 12 girls; mean age, 11.9 ± 3.3 years) had undergone endocrine evaluation. Of these patients, 19 received PB radiotherapy only and 12 received conventional plus PB irradiation. Before irradiation, a cranial surgical procedure was performed in 28 study subjects, and 22 received chemotherapy. The mean duration of follow-up after radiation therapy was 1.8 ± 0.8 years. Nine patients (47%) in the PB only group and 4 (33%) in the conventional plus PB group developed endocrine dysfunction (no significant difference) after cranial irradiation. Children with endocrine sequelae treated with PB irradiation alone received fewer cobalt gray equivalents than those treated with conventional plus PB irradiation (5,384 ± 268 versus 5,775 ± 226, respectively; P<.02), and pituitary hormone deficiencies were detected later during follow-up in those who received PB radiotherapy only versus conventional plus PB irradiation (1.17 ± 0.4 years versus 0.33 ± 0.11 year, respectively; P<.01).
Conclusion: A high rate of endocrine sequelae was seen in our study. Children with brain tumors treated with conventional plus PB irradiation developed endocrine dysfunction faster and received a higher radiation dose than those receiving PB radiotherapy only. Prior surgical treatment and chemotherapy were additional risk factors. Large prospective studies are needed to evaluate further the incidence of endocrine sequelae after PB irradiation in children
An Observational study on Siddha Diagnostic Tools including Line of Treatment and Dietary Regimen of Kaba Gunmam (Gastric Ulcer)
No full textThe author was interested to select this topic because now a days most of the people with Gastric ulcer are developing more complications, prevalence of gastric ulcer increases every year due to our lifestyle changes, unhealthy diet so author decided to select this topic and discussed with guide and got the information about the disease. Then this topic is submitted to the screening committee members and got approved from IEC committee members . The aim of this study is to evaluate the significance of the disease Gastric ulcer with help of siddha parameters Ennvagai thervu, manikadai nool and yaakkai Elakkanam.
Gastric ulcer is quoted in the yugi vaidhya chinthamani. It is one of the Gunma disease characterized Abdominal Pain, Vomiting, early satiety, Indigestion, early, weight loss, heaviness of head, constipation.
The author had collected review of literature, definition, aetiology and classification regarding the disease from various books.
From the observational study, In O.P.D 80 cases were observed as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria and the informed consent were observed from the patients.
Case sheet proforma were maintained for 80 cases author took the study in her OPD under the guidance of her department faculty. Laboratory investigations also were carried out during the study.
Ennvagai Thaervu, manikkadai nool, jothidam and panchapatchi sasthiram were focused in the study.
In this study, following data were observed and discussed for the 80 cases.
Among 80 cases, 100% had Abdominal pain, 70% had early satiety, 83.75% had Vomiting, 28.75% had burning sensation, 73.75% had kabhapitha Naadi, 52.5% had Maapadithal in Naa. 66.25% had muthu in neikkuri. 37,5% had 8 fbs and 31% had 9 ½ in manikadai nool. 58.75% had Elansivappu in Vizhi, 67.5% had Normal in malam. 70% had ila manjal niram, 62% had nurai absent and 94% had enjal absent in urine. 52% had Vaadhapitha dhegi and 32% had Pithavaadha dhegi.
CONCLUSION:
The disease Kaba Gunmam was taken for clinical study from Yugi vaithiya chinthamani - 800. The study on kaba gunmam were carried out in this dissertation and observe the changes in udal thadhukkal and uyir thadhukkal. the changes in the udal thadhukkal and uyir thadhukkal were assessed by Siddha parameters such as ennvagai thervugal and Manikkadai nool.
From this study Kaba Gunmam (Gastric ulcer) cases were examined through siddha diagnostic parameters Enn vagai thervu, manikadai nool, jothidam and panchapatchi sasthiram and also with the help of modern diagnosis through Lab investigations and special investigations like endoscopy. Above methods are used to collect data and from the data collection the author concluded that through the siddha diagnostic parameters, naadi, neiikuri, manikadai nool and panjapatchi saasthiram are mainly used for the conformation of Kaba gunmam (Gastric ulcer). The results obtained from this study may be correlated with the gastric ulcer. In would be helpful in future studies with more number of cases, diagnosing a case is much more important to choose the way of treatment
