Preparation and use of maize tassels’ activated carbon for the adsorption of phenolic compounds in environmental waste water samples

The determination and remediation of three phenolic compounds bisphenol A (BPA), ortho-nitrophenol (o-NTP), parachlorophenol (PCP) in wastewater is reported. The analysis of these molecules in wastewater was done using gas chromatography (GC) × GC time-of-flight mass spectrometry while activated carbon derived from maize tassel was used as an adsorbent. During the experimental procedures, the effect of various parameters such as initial concentration, pH of sample solution, eluent volume, and sample volume on the removal efficiency with respect to the three phenolic compounds was studied. The results showed that maize tassel produced activated carbon (MTAC) cartridge packed solid-phase extraction (SPE) system was able to remove the phenolic compounds effectively (90.84–98.49 %, 80.75–97.11 %, and 78.27–97.08 % for BPA, o-NTP, and PCP, respectively) . The MTAC cartridge packed SPE sorbent performance was compared to commercially produced C18 SPE cartridges and found to be comparable. All the parameters investigated were found to have a notable influence on the adsorption efficiency of the phenolic compounds from wastewaters at different magnitudes

Calcium magnesium acetate and urea advanced reburning for NO control with simultaneous SO2 reduction

Calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) shows potential as a reductant for simultaneous NOx and SOx removal from coal-fired combustion plant. The performance of urea co-injection with CMA on NO reduction in an ‘advanced reburn’ (AR) configuration has been investigated with a view to optimization of the process in a pulverized coal fired furnace operating at 80kW. The impact on SO2 reduction has also been investigated. Urea/CMA solution was sprayed into the reburn zone of the furnace using twin-fluid atomisers over a range of reductant/NO stoichiometric ratios (NSR). The influence on NO reductions of primary zone stoichiometry (1) was investigated for a range of CMA reburn feed rates (Rff) and reburn zone stoichiometry (2). In addition the effect of temperature on the SNCR performance of urea was investigated. Optimum process conditions were categorized either by maximizing NO and SO2 reductions (Modes A and B respectively) or maximizing reductant utilisation efficiencies (Modes C and D). NO control was best performed at 1=1.05 but SO2 reductions were greatest at more fuel lean primary zone conditions (1=1.15). Highest NO reductions of 85% under AR-rich conditions were achieved under Mode A, but were only slightly higher compared with reductions of 79% under Mode B where SO2 reductions were optimized at 85%. N-utilization was also at an acceptable level of 25% compared to the maximum utilization efficiency which was obtained at NSR = 1.5 of 30% for the same conditions of stoichiometry operating in Mode C. Operation at this lower level of reburn (9.6%) could significantly reduce the consumption of CMA with some impact on NO reduction (73%). SO2 removal performance would be compromised severely with reductions lowered from 75% at Mode A to 35% at Mode C. Optimizing Ca utilisation (Mode D) resulted in poor NO and SO2 reductions, at 61% and 22% respectively and can be discounted as a viable option. The technique offers flexibility of operation depending on the emission control requirements

Anesthetic implications for coexisting cardiac capillary hemangioma and multiple coronary artery to pulmonary artery fistulas

Abnormalities of the coronary vascular branches and cardiac hemangiomas represent together unusual clinical entities, with an incidence difficult to establish for the former as the vast majority of the patients with these anomalous vascular connections are usually asymptomatic and 2.8% for the latter. Symptomatic patients may develop dyspnea on exertion or chest pain secondary to a “coronary steal” phenomenon as part of the underlying pathophysiology of the disease. The authors report a case of a patient with concomitant cardiac capillary hemangioma with multiple coronary to pulmonary artery fistula connections that was successfully treated with surgical resection of the tumor and ligation of the fistula tracts. A comprehensive and balanced anesthesia management aimed to preserve tight hemodynamic stability to avoid increased myocardial demand and worsening of the coronary steal becomes essential in these patients

Founder mutations in the ATP6V1B1 geneexplain most cypriot cases of distal renal tubular acidosis: First prenatal diagnosis

Aims: To investigate clinically and genetically all the distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) cases in Cyprus, to study one more family from Greece and to perform the first dRTA prenatal diagnosis. We also tried to find any association with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) onset and particular mutations. Methods: Nine dRTA families from Cyprus and one from Greece were analyzed for mutations in ATP6V1B1 gene by DNA resequencing and PCR-RFLPs. Clinical diagnosis was performed by standard criteria. Prenatal diagnosis was performed for one Cypriot family. Results: Results show that 7/9 dRTA cases in Cyprus are caused by 229+1G>T and R157C founder mutations in ATP6V1B1 gene. 229+1G>T mutation was estimated to be older than 400 years. No genotype- phenotype correlation was found with SNHL. A known (L81P) and a novel mutation (912delT) were found in the Greek family. Prenatal diagnosis was performed for one Cypriot family, after parents' demand, showing that the embryo was a heterozygous carrier. Conclusion: Existence of only two ATP6V1B1 mutations in the Cypriot population is a diagnostic advantage. The age of onset of SNHL varies in our patients and probably is not related to ATP6V1B1 genotypes. Effective therapy for most of the syndrome symptoms is not satisfactory for some parents who choose prenatal diagnosis to ensure their child's health. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel

Feasibility of transoral robotic-assisted high-resolution microendoscopic imaging of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Transoral robotic-assisted oncologic surgery of the head and neck offers promising functional results. Nonetheless, the efficacy of oncologic surgery remains critically dependent on obtaining negative margins. We aimed to integrate a miniaturized high-resolution fiber-optic microendoscope (HRME), which provides real-time histological assessment, with the da Vinci robotic system (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA). Methods: Three patients undergoing transoral robotic surgery (TORS) were prospectively enrolled in this study. Optical imaging of the oropharynx was performed intraoperatively with the robotic-assisted HRME. Results: All patients underwent the procedure successfully with no complications. The HRME was successfully integrated with the da Vinci robotic system. Several sites of the oropharynx and associated malignancy were imaged, which correlated with the standard histopathological analysis. Conclusion: Transoral robotic-assisted HRME imaging of the oropharynx is a safe and technically feasible approach, providing a real-time histological assessment and may serve as a valuable aid in oncologic surgery