Carbon sequestration potential of altered mafic reservoirs

Porous basaltic aquifers are currently being considered as a key geologic carbon storage host due to its widespread distribution and high reactivity. The co-injection of CO2 and groundwater into basaltic reservoirs has the potential to mineralize this gas into solid phases within years, thanks to the release of divalent cations. Many natural basalts, however, contain substantial alteration minerals. Here we explore the potential of basalt alteration minerals to provide the Ca to fix injected CO2 within calcite and/or aragonite. Preliminary results suggest that altered basaltic rocks can provide this Ca as efficiently as fresh basalts at 25 and 100 °C. Further experimental work is ongoing to confirm these findings at different temperatures and as a function of injected fluid chemistry

Evaluation and refinement of thermodynamic databases for mineral carbonation

Thermodynamic models are often used to quantify fluid-rock interactions. The validity of such models critically depends on the accuracy of the thermodynamic database used. This study evaluated the quality of existing PHREEQC databases (phreeqc.dat, llnl.dat, and core10.dat) through the analysis of mineral saturation states for various carbonates, sulfur-containing minerals, silicates, and hydroxides. The comparison between data from available equilibrated dissolution-precipitation experiments and predicted saturation states reveals: i) systematic deviations when using phreeqc.dat at temperatures higher than ~ 90 °C; ii) a lack of direct solubility measurements of numerous sulfide and silicate minerals; iii) systematic solubility underestimates for kaolinite and brucite. To address these issues the carbfix.dat database was created based on the core10.dat database, revising several mineral solubilities and aqueous species stabilities to improve our ability to model fluid-rock interactions during basalt-hosted mineral carbonation efforts

Data for: Experimental study on mafic rock dissolution rates within CO2-seawater-rock systems

Complementary dat

Data for: Experimental study on mafic rock dissolution rates within CO2-seawater-rock systems

Complementary dat

Factors Associated with Risk of Perinatal Depressive Symptoms Among Puerto Rican Women with Hyperglycemia

OBJECTIVES: Rates of perinatal depression and pregnancy hyperglycemia are higher in Hispanic women as compared to non-Hispanic white women. In turn, depressive symptoms may reduce a woman\u27s ability to engage in lifestyle changes that could reduce their subsequent diabetes risk. METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis using data from Estudio Parto to evaluate sociodemographic, behavioral, psychosocial, and medical factors associated with perinatal depressive symptoms. Estudio Parto was a randomized controlled trial conducted in Western Massachusetts from 2013 to 17. Eligible participants had pregnancy hyperglycemia. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was administered at 24-28 weeks gestation and at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months postpartum. An EPDS cutpoint of 10 or greater defined the presence of depressive symptoms. RESULTS: In this sample of Puerto Rican women with pregnancy hyperglycemia, 32% and 27% showed prenatal and postpartum depressive symptoms, respectively. Among participants, 35.5% were diagnosed with GDM, 44.3% with isolated hyperglycemia, and 20.2% with impaired glucose tolerance. In multivariable models, being unmarried (OR 3.87; 95% CI 1.51-9.94), prenatal substance use (smoking or alcohol consumption; OR 2.96; 95% CI 1.41-6.18), and maternal age (1.11 for each year; 95% CI 1.04-1.18) were associated with higher odds of prenatal depressive symptoms. None of the risk factors were associated with subsequent postpartum depression in adjusted analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Identifying factors associated with prenatal and postpartum depression in Puerto Rican women with pregnancy hyperglycemia can inform targeted lifestyle interventions in this at-risk group, increase the likely adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors, and thereby work to address health disparities. CLINICALTRIALS: gov NCT01679210; date of registration 08/07/2012

MEDICAL SCIENCE. GISSI-2: A factorial randomised trial of alteplase versus streptokinase and heparin versus no heparin among 12 490 patients with acute myocardial infarction

A multicentre, randomised, open trial with a 2 x 2 factorial design was conducted to compare the benefits and risks of two thrombolytic agents, streptokinase (SK, 1\ub75 MU infused intravenously over 30-60 min) and alteplase (tPA, 100 mg infused intravenously over 3 h) in patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted to coronary care units within 6 h from onset of symptoms. The patients were also randomised to receive heparin (12 500 U subcutaneously twice daily until discharge from hospital, starting 12 h after beginning the tPA or SK infusion) or usual therapy. All patients without specific contraindications were given atenolol (5-10 mg iv) and aspirin (300-325 mg a day). The end-point of the study was the combined estimate of death plus severe left ventricular damage. 12 490 patients were randomised to four treatment groups (SK alone, SK plus heparin, tPA alone, tPA plus heparin). No specific differences between the two thrombolytic agents were detected as regards the combined end-point (tPA 23\ub71%; SK 22\ub75%; relative risk 1\ub704, 95% Cl 0\ub795-1\ub713), nor after the addition of heparin to the aspirin treatment (hep 22\ub77%, no hep 22\ub79%; RR 0\ub799, 95% Cl 0\ub791-1\ub708). The outcome of patients allocated to the four treatment groups was similar with respect to baseline risk factors such as age, Killip class, hours from onset of symptoms, and site and type of infarct. The rates of major in-hospital cardiac complications (reinfarction, post-infarction angina) were also similar. The incidence of major bleeds was significantly higher in SK and heparin treated patients (respectively, tPA 0\ub75%, SK 1\ub70%, RR 0\ub757, 95% Cl 0\ub738-0\ub785; hep 1\ub70%, no hep 0\ub76%, RR 1\ub764, 95% Cl 1\ub709-2\ub745), whereas the overall incidence of stroke was similar in all groups. SK and tPA appear equally effective and safe for use in routine conditions of care, in all infarct patients who have no contraindications, with or without post-thrombolytic heparin treatment. The 8\ub78% hospital mortality of the study population (compared with approximately 13% in the control cohort of the GISSI-1 trial) indicates the beneficial impact of the proven acute treatments for AMI. \ua9 1990