80 research outputs found
Property Impacts on Performance of CO2 Pipeline Transport
AbstractCarbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is one of the most potential technologies to mitigate climate change. Usingpipelinesto transport CO2 from emission sources to storage sitesis one of common and mature technologies. The design and operation of pipeline transport process requires careful considerations of thermo-physical properties.This paper studied the impact of properties, including density, viscosity, thermal conductivity and heat capacity, onthe performance of CO2 pipeline transport. The pressure loss and temperature dropin steady state were calculated by using homogenous friction model and Sukhof temperature drop theory, respectively. The results of sensitivity study show thatover-estimating density and viscosity increases the pressure loss while under-estimating of density and viscosity decreases it. Over-estimating density and heat capacity leads to lower temperature drop while under-estimating of density and heat capacity result in higher temperature drop.This study suggests that the accuracy of property models for example, more accurate density model, should be developed for the CO2 transport design
A critical review on production, modification and utilization of biochar
There has been an increased interest in the production of sustainable biochar in the past years, as biochar shows versatile physicochemical properties and, can have a wide applicability in diverse fields. Comprehensive studies have been made to characterize biochar produced from various biomass materials, using different production technologies and under different process conditions. However, research is still lacking in correlating biochar properties needed for certain applications with (i) feedstock, (ii) biochar production processes and conditions and (iii) biochar upgrading and modification strategies. To produce biochar with desired properties, there is a great need to establish and clarify such correlations, which can guide the selection of feedstock, tuning and optimization of the production process and more efficient utilization of biochar. On the other hand, further elucidation of these correlations is also important for biochar-stakeholder and end-users for predicting physiochemical properties of biochar from certain feedstock and production conditions, assessing potential effects of biochar utilization and clearly address needs towards biochar critical properties. This review summarizes a wide range of literature on the impact of feedstocks and production processes and reactions conditions on the biochar properties and the most important biochar properties required for the different potential applications. Based on collected data, recommendations are provided for mapping out biochar production for different biochar applications. Knowledge gaps and perspectives for future research have also been identified regarding the characterization and production of biochar.acceptedVersio
Health-related quality of life in patients with advanced melanoma treated with ipilimumab: prognostic implications and changes during treatment
Background: We have previously reported that the safety and efficacy of ipilimumab in real-world patients with metastatic melanoma were comparable to clinical trials. Few studies have explored health-related quality of life (HRQL) in real-world populations receiving checkpoint inhibitors. This study reports HRQL in real-world patients receiving ipilimumab and assesses the prognostic value of patient-reported outcome measures.
Patients and methods: Ipi4 (NCT02068196) was a prospective, multicentre, interventional phase IV trial. Real-world patients (N = 151) with metastatic melanoma were treated with ipilimumab 3 mg/kg intravenously as labelled. HRQL was assessed by the European Organisation of Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire at baseline and after 10-12 weeks.
Results: The European Organisation of Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire was completed by 93% (141/151 patients) at baseline, and by 82% at 10-12 weeks. Poor performance status and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) were associated with worse baseline HRQL. Clinically relevant and statistically significant deteriorations in HRQL from baseline to weeks 10-12 were reported (P <0.05). Baseline physical functioning [hazard ratio (HR) 1.96, P = 0.016], role functioning (HR 2.15, P <0.001), fatigue (HR 1.60, P = 0.030), and appetite loss (HR 1.76, P = 0.012) were associated with poorer overall survival independent of performance status, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and CRP. We further developed a prognostic model, combining HRQL outcomes with performance status, LDH, and CRP. This model identified three groups with large and statistically significant differences in survival.
Conclusions: Systemic inflammation is associated with impaired HRQL. During treatment with ipilimumab, HRQL deteriorated significantly. Combining HRQL outcomes with objective risk factors provided additional prognostic information that may aid clinical decision making.publishedVersio
Ipilimumab in a real-world population: A prospective Phase IV trial with long-term follow-up
Ipilimumab was the first treatment that improved survival in advanced melanoma. Efficacy and toxicity in a real-world setting may differ from clinical trials, due to more liberal eligibility criteria and less intensive monitoring. Moreover, high costs and lack of biomarkers have raised cost-benefit concerns about ipilimumab in national healthcare systems and limited its use. Here, we report the prospective, interventional study, Ipi4 (NCT02068196), which aimed to investigate the toxicity and efficacy of ipilimumab in a real-world population with advanced melanoma. This national, multicentre, phase IV trial included 151 patients. Patients received ipilimumab 3 mg/kg intravenously and were followed for at least 5 years or until death. Treatment interruption or cessation occurred in 38%, most frequently due to disease progression (19%). Treatment-associated grade 3 to 4 toxicity was observed in 28% of patients, and immune-related toxicity in 56%. The overall response rate was 9%. Median overall survival was 12.1 months (95% CI: 8.3-15.9); and progression-free survival 2.7 months (95% CI: 2.6-2.8). After 5 years, 20% of patients were alive. In a landmark analysis from 6 months, improved survival was associated with objective response (HR 0.16, P = .001) and stable disease (HR 0.49, P = .005) compared to progressive disease. Poor performance status, elevated lactate dehydrogenase and C-reactive protein were identified as biomarkers. This prospective trial represents the longest reported follow-up of a real-world melanoma population treated with ipilimumab. Results indicate safety and efficacy comparable to phase III trials and suggest that the use of ipilimumab can be based on current cost-benefit estimates.publishedVersio
Reporting randomised clinical trials of analgesics after traumatic or orthopaedic surgery is inadequate: a systematic review
Background Several randomised clinical trials (RCTs) of analgesics in postoperative pain after traumatic or orthopaedic surgery (TOS) have been published, but no studies have assessed the quality of these reports. We aimed to examine the quality of reporting RCTs on analgesics for postoperative pain after TOS. Methods Reports of RCTs assessing analgesics in postoperative pain after TOS were systematically searched from electronic databases. The quality of reports was assessed using the CONSORT checklist (scoring range from 0 to 22). The quality was considered poor when scoring was 12 or lesser. The publication year and the impact factor of journals were recorded. Results A total of 92 reports of RCTs were identified and 69 (75%) scored 12 or lesser in CONSORT checklist (range 5-17). The mean (SD) CONSORT score of all reports was 10.6 (2.7). Missing CONSORT items included primary and secondary outcome measures (11%), the specific objectives and hypothesis definition (12%), the sample size calculation (12%), the dates defining the periods of recruitment (12%), the discussion of external validity of findings (14%), the allocation sequence generation (24%), and the interpretation of potential bias or imprecision of results (25%). There was a little improvement in CONSORT scores over time (r = 0.62; p < 0.001) and with impact factor of journals (r = 0.30; p < 0.001). Conclusion Quality of reporting RCTs on analgesics after TOS is poor. Reporting of those RCTs should be improved according to methodological standard checklists in the next years
Power cycles with ammonia-water mixtures as working fluid
It is of great interest to improve the efficiency of powergenerating processes, i.e. to convert more of the energy in theheat source to power. This is favorable from an environmentalpoint of view and can also be an economic advantage. To use anammonia-water mixture instead of water as working fluid is apossible way to improve the efficiency of steam turbineprocesses. This thesis includes studies of power cycles withammonia-water mixtures as working fluid utilizing differentkinds of heat sources for power and heat generation. Thethermophysical properties of the mixture are also studied. Theyplay an important role in the calculations of the processperformance and for the design of its components, such as heatexchangers. The studies concern thermodynamic simula-tions ofprocesses in applications suitable for Swedish conditions.Available correla-tions for the thermophysical properties arecompared and their influence on simula-tions and heat exchangerarea predictions is investigated. Measurements of ammonia-watermixture viscosities using a vibrating wire viscometer are alsodescribed. The studies performed show that power cycles withammonia-water mixtures as the working fluid are well suited forutilization of waste heat from industry and from gas engines.The ammonia-water power cycles can give up to 32 % more powerin the industrial waste heat application and up to 54 % morepower in the gas engine bottoming cycle application compared toa conventional Rankine steam cycle. However, ammonia-waterpower cycles in small direct-fired biomass-fueled cogene-rationplants do not show better performance than a conventionalRankine steam cycle. When different correlations for the thermodynamic propertiesare used in simulations of a simple ammonia-water power cyclethe difference in efficiency is not larger than 4 %,corresponding to about 1.3 percentage points. The differencesin saturation properties between the correlations are, however,considerable at high pressures, high temperatures and high massfractions of ammonia. The use of different correlations for thethermodynamic and transport properties causes a noticeabledifference in the predicted heat exchanger areas required fordifferent processes. Keywords:ammonia-water mixture, cogeneration,correlation, direct-fired power cycle, gas engine, Kalinacycle, power cycle, thermophysical properties, waste heatNR 2014080
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Control4Reuse is aimed at research and development of technologies for managing water resources. The optimization of water treatment and reclamation systems has been integrated as a sustainable solution to improve the reuse of this valuable water resource. The focus is on the reuse of wastewater (WW) in specific agricultural and industrial sectors. From a technological point of view, the scope of the project is based on a system monitoring and control framework, with specific activities of monitoring and integrating sensor information/data, mathematical modelling of processes and designing advanced control strategies. [More](http://www.waterjpi.eu/joint-calls/joint-call-2017-ic4water/booklet/control4reuse-1/control4reuse
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