Animal husbandry and manure treatment have been specifically documented as significant sources of methane, ammonia, nitrous oxide, and particulate matter. Although volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are also produced, much less information exists concerning their impact. We report on chemical ionization mass spectrometry and photo-acoustic spectroscopy measurements of mixing ratios of VOCs over a 2-wk measurement period in a large cowshed at the Federal Agricultural Research Centre (FAL) in Mariensee, Germany. The high time resolution of these measurements enables insight into the sources of the emissions in a typical livestock management setting. During feeding hours and solid manure removal, large mixing ratio spikes of several VOCs were observed and correlated with simultaneous methane, carbon dioxide, and ammonia level enhancements. The subsequent decay of cowshed concentration due to passive cowshed ventilation was used to model emission rates, which were dominated by ethanol and acetic acid, followed by methanol. Correlations of VOC mixing ratios with methane or ammonia were also used to calculate cowshed emission factors and to estimate potential nationwide VOC emissions from dairy cows. The results ranged from around 0.1 Gg carbon per year (1 Gg = 10(9) g) for nonanal and dimethylsulfide, several Gg carbon per year for volatile fatty acids and methanol, to over 10 Gg carbon per year of emitted ethanol. While some estimates were not consistent between the two extrapolation methods, the results indicate that animal husbandry VOC emissions are dominated by oxygenated compounds and may be a nationally but not globally significant emission to the atmosphere.
In the last three decades, different test methods have been used to assess the level of protection provided by various textile materials against liquid pesticide penetration. Of these, the ISO 6350/EN368 gutter test is currently used to screen garment materials for certification of type 6 personal protective equipment (PPE) in Europe. The atomizer test method developed in Germany is used to evaluate the performance of PPE marketed there. In addition, a pipette method is being proposed as an American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) test method in the United States. This study compares the three test methods and determines the suitability of these methods for screening protective clothing materials against liquid pesticides. Six fabrics selected to represent the woven and nonwoven fabrics used while handling and spraying pesticides are contaminated with dilute pesticide formulations following the three test methods. Repellency, pesticide retention, and penetration characteristics of the test materials are measured. The results indicate that the evaluation of fabric performance is affected by the test method.
Background: Plaque psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting the skin and impacting quality of life. Tildrakizumab (TIL) is an IL-23 inhibitor licensed for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Regulatory approval of medicinal products is based on safety and efficacy data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which impose stringent selection criteria. Long-term non-interventional studies (NIS) are needed to establish effectiveness and safety in daily practice bridging the gap between RCTs and the real-world setting.Objectives: This analysis of the NIS TILOT seeks to evaluate effectiveness and safety of TIL in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in a real-world setting.Secondary objectives include the assessment of the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), treatment satisfaction and course of scalp and nail disease using Physician Global Assessment (PGA).Methods: Interim analysis at 52 weeks (W) of the ongoing non-interventional, prospective, long-term multicentre study TILOT.
Results:The effectiveness analysis included 412 patients. The mean [standard deviation, SD] Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score was 16.0 [9.1] at baseline improving by 82.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 78.9-86.0) to 2.1 [2.9] at W52. The proportion of patients achieving PASI scores of <3 and <5 increased over time peaking at 74.6% (95% CI, 69.3-79.4) and 88.4% (95% CI, 84.3-91.8) at W52. Scalp-PGA and nail-PGA improved by 79.8% (95% CI, 75.6-84.0) and 72.7% (95% CI, 63.9-81.6), respectively. DLQI of 0/1 was achieved by 48.2% (95% CI, 42.3-54.2). Nine out of 10 physicians and patients expressed a high level of treatment satisfaction. No new safety signals were observed.
Conclusions:This prospective cohort study demonstrates a high degree of effectiveness and a reassuring safety profile of TIL in a real-world setting over 52 weeks.Patients with scalp and nail involvement or pruritus showed marked improvements.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.