Copper removal from industrial wastewaters by means of electrostatic shielding

Electrostatic shielding zones made of electrode graphite powder were used as a new type of ionic and electronic currentsinks. Because of the local elimination of the applied electric field, voltage and current within the zones, ions are led insidethem and accumulate there. We implemented the current sinks in electrodialysis of a simulated copper plating rinse watercontaining 100 mg L-1 Cu2+ ions and electrodeionization of a 0.001 M CuSO4 solution with simultaneous electrochemicalregeneration of the used ion exchange resin beds and obtained pure water with a Cu2+ ion concentration of less than 0.12 mgL-1 at a flow rate of 1.29x10-4 L s-1 diluate stream and a current density of 2 mA cm-2

Impaired wound healing secondary to bevacizumab

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/150555/1/iwj13139_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/150555/2/iwj13139.pd

Photovoltaic Power Plants as a Source of Electromagnetic Interference to Metallic Agricultural Pipelines

AbstractThe electromagnetic interference of power lines to nearby metallic pipelines has been a subject of research for many decades. Usually attention was given to gas or oil pipelines that shared the same rights-off-way with a power line for large distances. However, the recent advancement of renewable energy sources and specifically Photovoltaic (PV) power, due to generous incentives provided in many countries, has resulted in installations of large PV power stations even in agricultural areas. This brought up cases where such power stations in the MWp level, typically connected in medium voltage through buried cables, are located in the vicinity of metallic irrigation pipelines. Under certain conditions, these situations may result in induced voltages and currents on the pipeline that can pose threats to operating personnel. This work presents an analysis of the problems through a quasi-real case study adapted from a real case of a PV power station. The calculation methodology involves a hybrid method that is used in a way to reduced computational time. Results are presented both for normal operating conditions and faults in the power station and may be useful for both agriculture professionals and engineers

Properties and characterization of biodiesel from selected microalgea stains

The demand for alternative fuels has increased in the past several years[1]. Biofuels are gaining importance as significant substitutes for the depleting fossil fuels. The fact that biofuels are renewable fuels with very low emissions of CO2 in the lifecycle offers them a competitive advantage[2]. However, the first produced biodiesel derived from edible oil seed crops (first generation feedstocks), lurking a serious risk of disturbing the overall worldwide balance of food reserves and safety. The second generation feedstocks for biodiesel production obtained from non-edible oil seed crops, waste cooking oil, animal fats, etc., but these feedstocks are not sufficient to cover the present energy needs. Recent focus is on microalgae as the third generation feedstock[3]. Mi l d t t f l d b t th i lt ( ) b kih(l ) df h Microalgae do not compete for land, but they can grow in salty sea), brackish (lagoons) and fresh (lakes) water. Moreover, microalgae have high photosynthetic efficiency using solar energy, water and carbon dioxide to produce higher quantities of biomass than other feedstocks. In the present research work, two indigenous fresh water (ChlorF1, ChlorF2) and two marine (ChlorM1, ChlorM2) Chlorophyte strains have been cultivated successfully under laboratory conditions using commercial fertilizer (Nutrileaf 30-10-10, initial concentration=70 g/m3) as nutrient source. The produced biodiesel from the microalgae biomass achieved a range of 2.2 - 10.6% total lipid content and an unsaturated FAME content between 48 mol% and 59 mol%. The iodine value, the cetane number, the cold filter plugging point (CFPP) and the oxidative stability of the ultimate biodiesels were determined, based on the compositions of the four (4) microalgae strains and compared with the specifications in the EU and US standards, EN 14214 and ASTM D6751 respectively

Pamidronic acid and cabergoline as effective long-term therapy in a 12-year-old girl with extended facial polyostotic fibrous dysplasia, prolactinoma and acromegaly in McCune-Albright syndrome: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>McCune-Albright syndrome is a complex inborn disorder due to early embryonal postzygotic somatic activating mutations in the <it>GNAS</it>1 gene. The phenotype is very heterogeneous and includes polyostotic fibrous dysplasia, typically involving the facial skull, numerous café-au-lait spots and autonomous hyperfunctions of several endocrine systems, leading to hyperthyroidism, hypercortisolism, precocious puberty and acromegaly.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>Here, we describe a 12-year-old Caucasian girl with severe facial involvement of fibrous dysplasia, along with massive acromegaly due to growth hormone excess and precocious puberty, with a prolactinoma. Our patient was treated with a bisphosphonate and the prolactin antagonist, cabergoline, resulting in the inhibition of fibrous dysplasia and involution of both the prolactinoma and growth hormone excess. During a follow-up of more than two years, no severe side effects were noted.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Treatment with bisphosphonates in combination with cabergoline is a suitable option in patients with McCune-Albright syndrome, especially in order to circumvent surgical interventions in patients suffering from polyostotic fibrous dysplasia involving the skull base.</p

Adjustment of Insulin Pump Settings in Type 1 Diabetes Management: Advisor Pro Device Compared to Physicians’ Recommendations

Aims: To compare insulin dose adjustments made by physicians to those made by an artificial intelligence-based decision support system, the Advisor Pro, in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) using an insulin pump and self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG). Methods: This was a multinational, non-interventional study surveying 17 physicians from 11 countries. Each physician was asked to provide insulin dose adjustments for the settings of the pump including basal rate, carbohydrate-to-insulin ratios (CRs), and correction factors (CFs) for 15 data sets of pumps and SMBG of people with T1D (mean age 18.4 ± 4.8 years; eight females; mean glycated hemoglobin 8.2% ± 1.4% [66 ± 11mmol/mol]). The recommendations were compared among the physicians and between the physicians and the Advisor Pro. The study endpoint was the percentage of comparison points for which there was an agreement on the direction of insulin dose adjustments. Results: The percentage (mean ± SD) of agreement among the physicians on the direction of insulin pump dose adjustments was 51.8% ± 9.2%, 54.2% ± 6.4%, and 49.8% ± 11.6% for the basal, CR, and CF, respectively. The automated recommendations of the Advisor Pro on the direction of insulin dose adjustments were comparable)49.5% ± 6.4%, 55.3% ± 8.7%, and 47.6% ± 14.4% for the basal rate, CR, and CF, respectively(and noninferior to those provided by physicians. The mean absolute difference in magnitude of change between physicians was 17.1% ± 13.1%, 14.6% ± 8.4%, and 23.9% ± 18.6% for the basal, CR, and CF, respectively, and comparable to the Advisor Pro 11.7% ± 9.7%, 10.1% ± 4.5%, and 25.5% ± 19.5%, respectively, significant for basal and CR. Conclusions: Considerable differences in the recommendations for changes in insulin dosing were observed among physicians. Since automated recommendations by the Advisor Pro were similar to those given by physicians, it could be considered a useful tool to manage T1D

Identification of TPM2 and CNN1 as Novel Prognostic Markers in Functionally Characterized Human Colon Cancer-Associated Stromal Cells

Stromal infiltration is associated with poor prognosis in human colon cancers. However, the high heterogeneity of human tumor-associated stromal cells (TASCs) hampers a clear identification of specific markers of prognostic relevance. To address these issues, we established short-term cultures of TASCs and matched healthy mucosa-associated stromal cells (MASCs) from human primary colon cancers and, upon characterization of their phenotypic and functional profiles in vitro and in vivo, we identified differentially expressed markers by proteomic analysis and evaluated their prognostic significance. TASCs were characterized by higher proliferation and differentiation potential, and enhanced expression of mesenchymal stem cell markers, as compared to MASCs. TASC triggered epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in tumor cells in vitro and promoted their metastatic spread in vivo, as assessed in an orthotopic mouse model. Proteomic analysis of matched TASCs and MASCs identified a panel of markers preferentially expressed in TASCs. The expression of genes encoding two of them, calponin 1 (CNN1) and tropomyosin beta chain isoform 2 (TPM2), was significantly associated with poor outcome in independent databases and outperformed the prognostic significance of currently proposed TASC markers. The newly identified markers may improve prognostication of primary colon cancers and identification of patients at risk