Pressure effect in ethanol steam reforming via dense Pd-based membranes

The ethanol steam reforming reaction has been performed in a membrane reactor consisting of a Pd–Ag tube (wall thickness 150 micrometers) filled with a Ru-based catalyst. The experiments have permitted to characterize the Pd–Ag permeator in terms of both hydrogen permeability and yield of the steam reforming reaction at temperature of 400 and 450 ◦C in the pressure range 100–800 kPa. The permeation tests exhibited hydrogen permeability values in agreement with the literature and the complete hydrogen selectivity. In the reaction tests, water/ethanol mixtures of molar ratio 10/1 and flow rates of 5, 10 and 15 g h−1 have been fed in the lumen side of the membrane tube while the permeated hydrogen has been collected in the shell side by a nitrogen sweep stream. At 450 ◦C with a reaction pressure of about 400 kPa and a water/ethanol feed flow rate of 5 g h−1, maximum values of hydrogen yield (5.5) and hydrogen recovery factor (close to 100) have been measured. The hydrogen yield reduces at lower temperatures and pressures as well as when larger water/ethanol flow rates are fed (10 and 15 g h−1). Finally, a simulation code based on a simplified reaction kinetics has been developed: the comparison with the results of the tests permitted to determine the parameters of such a kinetics. A model analysis of the membrane reformer aimed at verifying the influence of the main operating parameters has been carried out, too

Holmes tremor in association with bilateral hypertrophic olivary degeneration and palatal tremor: chronological considerations. Case report Tremor de Holmes em associação com degeneração olivar hipertrófica bilateral e tremor palatal: considerações cronológicas. Relato de caso

Hypertrophic olivary degeneration (HOD) is a rare type of neuronal degeneration involving the dento-rubro-olivary pathway and presents clinically as palatal tremor. We present a 48 year old male patient who developed Holmes' tremor and bilateral HOD five months after brainstem hemorrhage. The severe rest tremor was refractory to pharmacotherapy and botulinum toxin injections, but was markedly reduced after thalamotomy. Magnetic resonance imaging permitted visualization of HOD, which appeared as a characteristic high signal intensity in the inferior olivary nuclei on T2- and proton-density-weighted images. Enlargement of the inferior olivary nuclei was also noted. Palatal tremor was absent in that moment and appears about two months later. The delayed-onset between insult and tremor following structural lesions of the brain suggest that compensatory or secondary changes in nervous system function must contribute to tremor genesis. The literature and imaging findings of this uncommon condition are reviewed.<br>Degeneração olivar hipertrófica (DOH) é um tipo raro de degeneração neuronal envolvendo o trato dento-rubro-olivar e se apresenta clinicamente como tremor palatal. Relatamos o caso de um homem de 48 anos que desenvolveu tremor de Holmes e DOH bilateral cinco meses após hemorragia em tronco encefálico. O intenso tremor de repouso foi refratário a farmacoterapia e injeções de toxina botulínica, mas foi enormemente reduzido após talamotomia. Ressonância magnética permitiu a visualização da DOH, que apareceu como um sinal intenso característico na oliva inferior em imagens ponderadas em T2 e densidade de prótons. Aumento do complexo olivar inferior também foi percebido. O tremor palatal era ausente naquele momento e apareceu cerca de dois meses depois. O início tardio do tremor após a lesão estrutural sugere que alterações compensatórias ou secundárias no sistema nervoso devem contribuir para a gênese do tremor. A literatura e os achados radiológicos dessa patologia incomum são revisados

Assessing the cardiology community position on transradial intervention and the use of bivalirudin in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing invasive management: results of an EAPCI survey.

AIMS: Our aim was to report on a survey initiated by the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) collecting the opinion of the cardiology community on the invasive management of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), before and after the MATRIX trial presentation at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 2015 Scientific Sessions. METHODS AND RESULTS: A web-based survey was distributed to all individuals registered on the EuroIntervention mailing list (n=15,200). A total of 572 and 763 physicians responded to the pre- and post-ACC survey, respectively. The radial approach emerged as the preferable access site for ACS patients undergoing invasive management with roughly every other responder interpreting the evidence for mortality benefit as definitive and calling for a guidelines upgrade to class I. The most frequently preferred anticoagulant in ACS patients remains unfractionated heparin (UFH), due to higher costs and greater perceived thrombotic risks associated with bivalirudin. However, more than a quarter of participants declared the use of bivalirudin would increase after MATRIX. CONCLUSIONS: The MATRIX trial reinforced the evidence for a causal association between bleeding and mortality and triggered consensus on the superiority of the radial versus femoral approach. The belief that bivalirudin mitigates bleeding risk is common, but UFH still remains the preferred anticoagulant based on lower costs and thrombotic risks