[The clinical value of using a distant-image screen for reading and learning].

Objective: To investigate the effect and comfort of using a distant-image screen for reading and learning. Methods: It was a prospective cross-over study. Thirty-nine volunteers, including 13 males and 26 females, aged (26.4±4.5) years (20 to 37 years), were recruited from Beijing Tongren Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University in July 2021. The volunteers read the digital correction table printed on paper and displayed on a distant-image screen in a random order and rest in an interval of 2 hours. Reading speed, efficiency and accuracy of using the two devices were recorded, and the changes of logMAR vision, diopter, flicker fusion frequency and visual fatigue score after reading were calculated. Comparison of the quantitative data was performed using the paired t-test. Results: The speed, accuracy and efficiency were (41.2±11.6) digit groups/min, 80.7%±13.3% and (32.4±7.4) digit groups/min in reading on paper, (41.7±11.1) digit groups/min, 76.4%±12.6% and (31.1±6.4) digit groups/min in reading from screen, respectively. There was no significant difference in reading speed (t=-0.462, P=0.648) and reading efficiency (t=1.954, P=0.058), but there was significant difference in reading accuracy (t= 2.226, P=0.032). The logMAR visual acuity of right eye and left eye decreased by 0.014±0.032 and 0.013±0.050 after reading on paper, but increased by 0.007±0.033 and 0.007±0.036 after reading from screen, respectively. The difference was significant (right eye, t=2.592, P=0.013; left eye, t =2.154, P=0.038). The myopia degree of right eye and left eye increased by (0.07±0.29) D and (0.06±0.24) D after reading on paper, and increased by (0.01±0.29) D and (0.02±0.28) D after reading from screen, respectively. The flicker fusion frequency decreased by (0.1±1.0) Hz after reading on paper, but increased by (0.3±1.2) Hz after reading from screen. There was no significant difference (P>0.05). The subjective scale score of visual fatigue increased in both groups, with no statistically significant difference (t=1.165, P=0.251). Conclusion: The use of a distant-image screen for reading and learning does not affect the reading efficiency or increase the visual fatigue, and can avoid the decline of visual acuity caused by near viewing compared with using the printed matter.

Partitioning and source diagnostics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in rivers in Tianjin, China.

Water, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and sediment samples were collected from ten rivers in Tianjin and analyzed for 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), particulate organic carbon (POC) in SPM and total organic carbon (TOC) in sediment. The behavior and fate of PAHs influenced by these parameters were examined. Generally, organic carbon was the primary factor controlling the behavior of the 16 PAH species. Partitioning of PAHs between SPM and water phase was studied, and K(OC) for some PAH species were found to be significantly higher than the predicted values. The source of PAHs contamination was diagnosed by using PAH isomer ratios. Coal combustion was identified to be a long-term and prevailing contamination source for sediment, while sewage/wastewater source could reasonably explain a short-term PAHs contamination of SPM.

Geostatistical analysis and kriging of Hexachlorocyclohexane residues in topsoil from Tianjin, China.

A previously published data set of HCH isomer concentrations in topsoil samples from Tianjin, China, was subjected to geospatial analysis. Semivariograms were calculated and modeled using geostatistical techniques. Parameters of semivariogram models were analyzed and compared for four HCH isomers. Two-dimensional ordinary block kriging was applied to HCH isomers data set for mapping purposes. Dot maps and gray-scaled raster maps of HCH concentrations were presented based on kriging results. The appropriateness of the kriging procedure for mapping purposes was evaluated based on the kriging errors and kriging variances. It was found that ordinary block kriging can be applied to interpolate HCH concentrations in Tianjin topsoil with acceptable accuracy for mapping purposes.

Contamination of rivers in Tianjin, China by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Tianjin urban/industrial complex is highly polluted by some persistent organic pollutants. In this study, the levels of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were tested in sediment, water, and suspended particulate matter (SPM) samples in 10 rivers in Tianjin. The total concentration of 16 PAHs varied from 0.787 to 1943 microg/g dry weight in sediment, from 45.81 to 1272 ng/L in water, and from 0.938 to 64.2 microg/g dry weight in SPM. The levels of PAHs in these media are high in comparison with values reported from other river and marine systems. Variability of total concentrations of PAHs in sediment, water, and SPM from nine different rivers is consistent with each other. No obvious trends of total PAHs concentration variations were found between upstream and downstream sediment, water, and SPM samples for most rivers, which indicate local inputs and disturbances along these rivers. The spatial distributions of three-phase PAHs are very similar to each other, and they are also similar to those found in topsoil. However, their chemical profiles are significantly different from that of topsoil. The change of profiles is consistent with the different aqueous transport capability of 16 PAHs. Low molecular weight PAHs predomination suggests a relatively recent local source and coal combustion source of PAHs in the study area.

Residues of hexachlorocyclohexane isomers and their distribution characteristics in soils in the Tianjin area, China.

Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) has a history of use in China. This paper presents the results of an investigation of HCH residue isomers and their distribution characteristics in soils near Tianjin, China. One hundred eighty-eight soil samples were collected from the Tianjin area. Four HCH isomers-alpha-HCH, beta-HCH, gamma-HCH, and delta-HCH-were detected using gas chromatography for all samples. Concentrations of the sum HCH ranged from 1.3 to 1095 ng g(-1), among which beta-HCH accounted for 52.5%. In addition, residues of HCH within Tianjin's urban areas were found to be higher. No significant differences were found between the residues of HCH in soils from waste irrigation areas and those in other areas. Total organic carbon content was determined to impact the residue levels of HCH in soils, while pH value and clay content were not related to concentrations of HCH. In general, all HCH isomers in soil samples had abnormally high residue levels, possibly the result of continuous use of HCH in this area.

Sample purification for analysis of organochlorine pesticides in sediment and fish muscle.

The methods of sample purification for determinations of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in sediment and fish muscle were investigated in this study. A two-step procedure with preliminary cleanup and florisil column fraction was adopted. The working conditions of florisil column were firstly optimized. As to preliminary cleanup, liquid-liquid extraction by mixture of dimethyl formamide (DMF) and hexane and sulphonation by concentrated sulfuric acid were applied respectively and compared for the studied samples. The results indicated that liquid-liquid distribution could effectively separate lipids from fish muscle extracts, while failed in elimination of chlorophyll extracted from the relicts of hydrophytes in the sediment sample. In view of the sample appearance and clarity of gas chromatogram, sulphonation was more suitable to purify the sediment sample, however, the recoveries of the spiked standards were poor. The use of eluting solvent with stronger polarity could improve the corresponding recoveries significantly. Due to complete loss of Dieldrin, Endrin, and Endrin aldehyde after sulphonation, this pretreatment was improper to the three components. Sulfur, as the particular disturbing element in sediment, could be removed sufficiently by addition of activated copper powder. The relevant detection limits of the selected methods for OCPs in the studied substrates were also provided.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in agricultural soil and vegetables from Tianjin.

Several types of vegetables were collected from two contaminated sites in Tianjin, China. The bulk soil and the rhizosphere soil samples were also collected from the same plots. Sixteen PAHs in the samples were measured. The total concentrations of PAH16 in the bulk soil from the two sites were 1.08 and 6.25 microg/g, respectively, with similar pattern. The concentrations of PAH16 and individual compounds in the rhizosphere were significantly higher than those in the bulk soil with mean values of 2.25 and 7.82 microg/g for the two sites, respectively. The contents of both total and dissolved organic matter in the rhizosphere were also higher than those in the bulk soil. Almost all PAH compounds studied were detected in both roots and aerial parts of the vegetables studied. Abundance of higher molecular weight PAHs in vegetable, however, was lower than that in soil. Concentrations of PAH16 in vegetable were higher than those reported in the literature for other areas. It appears that agricultural soils and vegetables in Tianjin, especially those from the site located immediately next to an urban district and irrigated with wastewater for several decades, are severely contaminated by PAHs. Among the eight types of vegetable studied, the highest concentration of PAHs was found in cauliflower. By average, the concentration of PAH16 in the aerial part of vegetables was 6.5 times higher as that in vegetable root, suggesting that foliar uptake is the primary transfer pathway of PAHs from environment to vegetables.

Level and distribution of DDT in surface soils from Tianjin, China.

One hundred and eighty eight surface soil samples were collected from the Tianjin area to study the contamination of DDT and its metabolites. Measurements were taken for p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDD and o,p'-DDT for all samples. The results indicated that p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE were the predominant contaminant compounds in the surface soil samples, with mean concentrations of 27.5 and 18.8 ng g(-1) respectively. No significant differences in DDT concentrations were found between the soils from wastewater treated irrigated areas and other areas, suggesting that wastewater irrigation is not an important source of DDT in the area. However, the spatial distribution of soil DDTs levels in the area did correlate well with early direct application rates of pesticides. In addition, both pH level and organic carbon content are also known factors affecting the level of DDT and its metabolites. Although it was assumed that the use of these chemicals was banned in the early 1980s, the current concentration levels appear to be too high to be mere residuals after 20 years degradation.