Evolution of physico-chemical properties of Dicranopteris linearis-derived activated carbon under various physical activation atmospheres.

This work emphasizes the effect of the physical activation using CO2 and steam agents on the physicochemical properties of activated carbon produced from Dicranopteris linearis (D. linearis), a fern species widely distributed across tropic and subtropic ecoregions. The D. linearis-derived chars produced under pyrolysis at 400 °C for 1 h were activated in various CO2-steam proportions. As revealed by the IR and Raman spectra, the structure of the activated chars was heavily dependent on the relative proportion of CO2 and steam. The total specific surface area (SSA) of the activated chars proportionally increased with the increase in steam proportion and was comparable to the values of commercial activated char products. Specifically, the activation under CO2- and steam-saturated conditions has correspondingly resulted in SSA increasing from 89 to 653 m2g-1 and from 89 to 1015 m2g-1. Steam also enhanced the development of mesoporous structures of the D. linearis-derived char products, thereby extending their potential applications, particularly for industries that require high rigidity in the product such as pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors.

Trends in chlamydia positivity among heterosexual patients from the Victorian Primary Care Network for Sentinel Surveillance, 2007-2011.

OBJECTIVE: To describe trends in chlamydia positivity from 2007 to 2011 among heterosexual people tested for chlamydia at selected clinics that provide services to people at high risk in Victoria, Australia. DESIGN: The Victorian Primary Care Network for Sentinel Surveillance is a prospective system that collates pathology results from laboratories and demographic and behavioural data from a questionnaire. SETTING: Two sexual health clinics and six other primary care clinics that target young people and women at high risk. PARTICIPANTS: All clients tested for chlamydia at sentinel clinics. Individuals aged less than 16 years, sex workers, or those reporting any same-sex sexual partners in the past 12 months were excluded from the analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Chlamydia positivity trends were assessed using three-level random-effects Poisson regression, with clinic and subject treated as nested random factors. Models were offset for total number of tests and adjusted for relevant covariates. RESULTS: Between 2007 and 2011, chlamydia positivity among 31 682 tests in women increased from 5.1% to 6.3%, and positivity among 23 771 tests in men increased from 7.4% to 8.2%. Adjusting for age, country of birth, number of sex partners, condom use, and presence of symptoms, chlamydia positivity increased between 2007 and 2011 significantly among women (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.29; 95% CI, 1.11-1.50) and non-significantly among men (IRR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.92-1.23). Over time, a decrease in reported inconsistent condom use was also observed in both men and women; however, men became more likely to report more than one partner in the past year. CONCLUSION: We identified a concerning increase in chlamydia positivity over time, particularly among young women.

Self-reported recent testing and diagnosis for sexually transmitted infections among regular ecstasy users in Australia, 2011-2012.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest that people who consume alcohol and drugs are at increased risk of sexually transmitted infections (STI). We examined the prevalence and predictors of self-reported STI testing and diagnosis among self-reported regular ecstasy users (REU). METHODS: Nine hundred and fifty-five REUs from the 2011 and 2012 Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System were included in the analysis. Bivariate and multivariate Poisson regression were used to identify predictors of recent STI testing, and logistic regression was used to identify predictors of recent STI diagnosis. RESULTS: Forty-four per cent of REUs reported having a recent STI test, and 5% reported a recent diagnosis. Of the 421 REUs who reported a recent test, 10% reported a recent STI diagnosis. In multivariate analysis, REUs were more likely to report a recent STI test if they were female versus male [risk ratio (RR) = 1.56; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.36-1.80], aged 25-29 years versus 16-19 years (RR = 1.34; 95% CI = 1.05-1.72), or reported ≥2 casual sex partners versus no casual partners (RR = 1.48; 95% CI = 1.01-2.14). REUs reporting cannabis use in the past six months were 0.78 times less likely to report a recent STI test (95% CI = 0.66-0.94). There were no significant predictors associated with STI diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Encouragingly, REUs who reported having multiple casual partners in the past six months were more likely to report a recent test. However, younger REUs aged 16-19 years were least likely to test, suggesting health promotion needs to be directed to this age group. Further research is required to explain the lower testing among cannabis users.