Techno-economic and uncertainty analysis of Biomass to Liquid (BTL) systems for transport fuel production

This work examines the technical and economic feasibility of Biomass-To-Liquid (BTL) processes for the manufacture of liquid hydrocarbon fuels. Six BTL systems are modelled and evaluated which are based on pressurised oxygen gasification of woody biomass, and specifically on circulating fluidised bed and entrained flow gasification systems. Three fuel synthesis technologies are considered: Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, methanol conversion followed by Methanol to Gasoline (MTG) and the Topsoe Integrated Gasoline (TIGAS) synthesis. Published modelling studies of BTL systems based on gasification have only used deterministic estimates of fuel production costs to assess economic viability without accounting for uncertainties of their model parameters. Unlike other studies, the present techno-economic assessment examines and quantifies the effect of uncertainty of key parameters on the fuel production costs. The results of this analysis show that there is a realistic chance (8–14%) of concepts based on Fischer-Tropsch synthesis meeting the cost of conventional fuels; that this probability could be increased to 50% with moderate tax incentives (an 8% reduction in the tax rate); but that deterministic estimates may be systematically underestimating likely production costs. The overall energy efficiency and production costs of the BTL designs evaluated range from 37.9% to 47.6% LHV and €17.88–25.41 per GJ of produced fuels, respectively. The BTL concept with the lowest production costs incorporates CFB gasification and FT synthesis. The model deterministic estimates of production costs of this design indicate that a BTL process is not yet competitive with conventional refineries since the biofuel production costs are approximately 8% higher than current market prices. Large scale biofuel production may be possible in the long term through subsidies, crude oil price rises and legislation

Interleukin-6 blockade for prophylaxis and management of immune-related adverse events in cancer immunotherapy

Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have activity across many tumor types, but activation of the immune system may also lead to significant, often steroid-refractory immune-related adverse events (irAEs). We sought to determine the activity of tocilizumab, an anti-interleukin-6 receptor monoclonal antibody, in treatment or prevention of auto-immune irAE in ICI-treated patients. Methods Institutional databases from 2 melanoma centers were reviewed for patients treated with ICIs and tocilizumab. Longitudinal assessment of C-reactive protein (CRP) and assessment of clinical improvement or prevention of flare of pre-existing auto-immune conditions were utilised to evaluate the benefit of tocilizumab. Results Twenty-two patients were identified. Two were treated prophylactically. Twenty were treated for management of irAEs. Median time to irAE onset from ICI start was 48 days (range 8–786) and from irAE onset to tocilizumab 32 days (range 1–192). Median time to irAE resolution from tocilizumab was 6.5 days (range 1–93). Clinical improvement/benefit was demonstrated in 21/22 patients. Median CRP prior to ICI administration was 32 mg/l (range 0.3–99), at the onset of irAE 49.5 mg/L (range 0.3–251, P = 0.047) and after tocilizumab 18 mg/L (range 0.3–18, P = 0.0011). Tocilizumab was well tolerated with self-limiting and transient toxicities in 11 (50%) patients. From start of ICI, median progression-free survival was 6 months (range 3.9–18.8) and median overall survival was not reached. Conclusions Tocilizumab was a well-tolerated and effective steroid-sparing treatment for both management of irAEs, as well as prevention of flare of pre-existing auto-immune disorders. Prospective trials to evaluate its efficacy and impact on cancer outcomes compared with standard strategies are required

Dissolved organic matter cycling in eastern Mediterranean rivers experiencing multiple pressures. The case of the trans-boundary Evros River

The objective of our study was to provide a comprehensive evaluation on C, N, P cycling in medium sized Mediterranean rivers, such as the Evros, experiencing multiple pressures (intensive agriculture, industrial activities, population density). Our work aims also to contribute to the development of integrated management policies. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) cycling were investigated, during a one-year study. It was shown that the organic component of N and P was comparable to those of large Mediterranean rivers (Rhone, Po). In the lower parts of the river where all point and non-point inputs converge, the high inorganic N input favour elevated assimilation rates by phytoplankton and result in increased chl-a concentrations and autochthonous dissolved organic matter (DOM) production during the dry season with limited water flow. Moreover, carbohydrate distribution revealed that there is a constant background of soil derived mono-saccharides on top of which are superimposed impulses of poly-saccharides during blooms. During the dry season, inorganic nutrients and DOM are trapped in the lower parts of the river, whereas during high flow conditions DOM is flushed towards the sea and organic nitrogen forms can become an important TDN constituent (at least 40%) transported to shelf waters. The co-existence of terrigenous material with autochthonous and some anthropogenic is supported by the relatively low DOC:DON and DOC:DOP ratios, the positive correlation of DOC vs chl-a and the decoupling between DOC and DON. Overall, this study showed that in medium size Mediterranean rivers, such as the Evros, intensive agriculture and pollution sources in combination with water management practices and climatic variability are important factors determining C, N, P dynamics and export to coastal seas. Also, it highlights the importance of the organic fraction of N and P when considering management practices

Which are the best practices for MSc programmes in Sustainable Agriculture?

Programmes of education for sustainable development are important to reformulate and revise educa tional programmes in Sustainable Agriculture. Higher education institutes emerge as learning places to integrate sustainable development into the educational system, through graduation and MSc pro grammes, to provide a more effective response to the higher environmental and agriculture concerns. The aim of this study was to identify the best practices to be included in a MSc programme of education for sustainable development in agriculture based on a questionnaire prepared and distributed to agrarian sciences experts. The questionnaires were developed in order to define the fundamental competences/ expertise, to identify the best practices and the methods of training/learning that should be taken in consideration in a MSc programme in Sustainable Agriculture. The results showed that the fundamental expertise of MSc programmes should be based on knowledge transfer of agricultural measures to mitigate the impact of climate change on agricultural systems. MSc programmes in Sustainable Agri culture should include interdisciplinary courses related to sustainability and agro-environmental tech nologies, such as Precision Agriculture, and incorporate adaptive and mitigate practices as those used in the Circular Economy strategy. Traditional face-to-face training methods are considered the most important forms of training/learning in a MSc programme in Sustainable Agriculture. However, due to COVID-19 pandemic, online learning methods, traditionally considered not suitable for MSc programme in Sustainable Agriculture, became important by providing online education. Information and commu nication technology and technological tools showed to be important skills to effectively implement online learning and to improve the efficient access and use of up-to-date information of the agricultural sector

Training and Learning Needs for MSc Programs in Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable agriculture is urgently needed to promote conservation and sustainable resources use in an equitable manner through integrated management of land, water, energy and biodiversity. In this way, education in agriculture emerges as a crucial tool for preparing agricultural technicians, researchers and farmers for productive contributions. Higher education institutions arise with an important mission of education in the context of social transformation and to integrate sustainable development into the educational system as a scientific subject. The aim of this study was to identify the training and learning needs to be included in a MSc program in sustainable agriculture. It was based on a questionnaire prepared and distributed to academics’ experts in Agrarian Sciences in Greece, Italy and Portugal. Technologies, legislation, management and business, local community leadership and marketing were the training needs considered very important expertise’s in sustainable agriculture. Traditional face-to-face learning, experienced farmers as mentors and knowledge sharing mechanisms were rated as very applicable and important. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, online learning methods, which were not considered suitable for a MSc program in sustainable agriculture, became important by providing online education. Information and communication technology and technological tools showed to be important skills for sustainable agricultural practices to effectively implement online learning and to improve the efficient access, exposure and use of up-to-date information of the agricultural sector and awareness of sustainable agricultural practices

Low-energy peak structure in strong-field ionization by mid-infrared laser-pulses: two-dimensional focusing by the atomic potential

We analyze the formation of the low-energy structure (LES) in above-threshold ionization spectra first observed by Quan et al.\ \cite{quan09} and Blaga et al.\ \cite{blaga09} using both quasi-classical and quantum approaches. We show this structure to be largely classical in origin resulting from a two-dimensional focusing in the energy-angular momentum plane of the strong-field dynamics in the presence of the atomic potential. The peak at low energy is strongly correlated with high angular momenta of the photoelectrons. Quantum simulations confirm this scenario. Resulting parameter dependences agree with experimental findings \cite{quan09,blaga09} and, in part, with other simulations \cite{liu10,yan10,kast11}.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figure

Развитие гибких навыков при обучении английскому языку: миф или реальность

Статья посвящена вопросу поиска эффективных методик по развитию гибких навыков при обучении студентов английскому языку в техническом вузе. Рассматривается понятие «гибкие навыки» и приводится их классификация. Представлен перечень гибких навыков, актуальный для развития при обучении английскому языку. Раскрывается потенциал дисциплины «Английский язык» для развития гибких навыков

Parameter selection for and implementation of a web-based decision-support tool to predict extubation outcome in premature infants

BACKGROUND: Approximately 30% of intubated preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) will fail attempted extubation, requiring reintubation and mechanical ventilation. Although ventilator technology and monitoring of premature infants have improved over time, optimal extubation remains challenging. Furthermore, extubation decisions for premature infants require complex informational processing, techniques implicitly learned through clinical practice. Computer-aided decision-support tools would benefit inexperienced clinicians, especially during peak neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) census. METHODS: A five-step procedure was developed to identify predictive variables. Clinical expert (CE) thought processes comprised one model. Variables from that model were used to develop two mathematical models for the decision-support tool: an artificial neural network (ANN) and a multivariate logistic regression model (MLR). The ranking of the variables in the three models was compared using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. The best performing model was used in a web-based decision-support tool with a user interface implemented in Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and the mathematical model employing the ANN. RESULTS: CEs identified 51 potentially predictive variables for extubation decisions for an infant on mechanical ventilation. Comparisons of the three models showed a significant difference between the ANN and the CE (p = 0.0006). Of the original 51 potentially predictive variables, the 13 most predictive variables were used to develop an ANN as a web-based decision-tool. The ANN processes user-provided data and returns the prediction 0–1 score and a novelty index. The user then selects the most appropriate threshold for categorizing the prediction as a success or failure. Furthermore, the novelty index, indicating the similarity of the test case to the training case, allows the user to assess the confidence level of the prediction with regard to how much the new data differ from the data originally used for the development of the prediction tool. CONCLUSION: State-of-the-art, machine-learning methods can be employed for the development of sophisticated tools to aid clinicians' decisions. We identified numerous variables considered relevant for extubation decisions for mechanically ventilated premature infants with RDS. We then developed a web-based decision-support tool for clinicians which can be made widely available and potentially improve patient care world wide

Investigating H2O contents in clinopyroxene from explosive versus effusive eruption products from Merapi volcano, Indonesia

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The 2010 eruption of Merapi produced pyroclastic deposits and lava flows that are compositionally very similar, raising the question as to the underlying reason of the differences in eruptive styles between the various phases of the 2010 eruptive events. To test whether primary magmatic volatile content is the reason for the different eruption styles, we analyzed magmatic water contents in nominally anhydrous clinopyroxene crystals contained in lava and ash from the 2010 eruptive events. We utilized two analytical approaches: (i) Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of fresh clinopyroxene from the ash and lava samples and (ii) FTIR analysis of clinopyroxene both prior to and after experimental re-hydration. By employing calculated partition coefficients, we determined the magmatic water content of the magma from which the various crystals grew. The magmatic water content determined from the unmodified clinopyroxenes from lava samples yield a range of 0.35 wt.% to 2.02 wt.% H&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;O, whereas magmatic water contents determined from untreated clinopyroxene contained in the ash samples range between 0.04 and 3.25 wt.%, with two outliers at 4.62 and 5.19 and wt.%, respectively. In contrast, for the rehydrated crystals the range for lava derived clinopyroxene crystals is between 1.94 and 2.19 wt.% and for ash between 1.74 and 2.66 wt.%, with two crystals at extreme values of 0.85 and 3.20 wt.%. We interpret these results to indicate that crystals from different populations are present in the 2010 eruptive products, with the dominant group reflecting relatively low magmatic H&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;O contents (around 2 wt.%) due to storage in shallow magma reservoirs and pockets at high levels within the Merapi plumbing systems (e.g. top 3 km). The overall higher H&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;O range and the occasionally more extreme values recorded in clinopyroxenes from ash deposits may then represent the presence of a crystal population that last equilibrated at deeper levels and at higher water contents, i.e. these crystals derive from the replenishing magma that activated the shallow portion of the plumbing system during the 2010 events. While this is work in progress, our results so far seem to suggest that the pyroclastic deposits of the 2010 Merapi eruption may contain a higher fraction of clinopyroxene derived from &amp;amp;#8216;deeper magma&amp;amp;#8217; with higher H&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;O contents then what we have detected in associated lavas.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt; </jats:p