8 research outputs found
Fuel additive technology - NOx reduction, combustion efficiency and fly ash improvement for coal fired power stations
Fuel additive technology is based on the use of a solid, fuel additive (iron, aluminium, calcium and silicon based oxides), to reduce NOx emission, improve the quality of fly ash and result in 1-3% coal savings for pulverised coal combustion. The findings in this study have been mainly based on extensive experimentation on 100 kWth down fired-combustion test facility (CTF) and partially on a commercial 260 tons/h steam producing water tube pf boiler. International Innovative Technologies (IIT) developed this additive based technology for the combined effect of reducing NOx from the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels (mainly coal) and more specifically to improve the combustion process of fossil fuels resulting in an ash by product with improved loss on ignition and lower carbon content. The improvement in the combustion thermal efficiency of the commercial 260 tons/h steam producing boiler has been calculated as per the direct calculation method of EN BS12952-15:2003 standard. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
Sorption Properties of Cation-Exchanged Heulandite
Samples collected from the Aurangabad District, Maharashtra, India were characterized by XRD, IR, TGA and DTA methods, and by chemical analysis, as calcium-rich heulandite. Samples of potassium heulandite (K-Heu) and hydrogen heulandite (H-Heu) were prepared by ion exchange, their thermal stabilities being confirmed by XRD, IR, TGA and DTA methods. Water sorption studies were carried out at five different temperatures on the parent material (P-Heu) and on K-Heu and H-Heu. Different sorption models were tested on the data obtained and the corresponding results are reported
Mortality from esophagectomy for esophageal cancer across low, middle, and high-income countries: An international cohort study.
BACKGROUND
No evidence currently exists characterising global outcomes following major cancer surgery, including esophageal cancer. Therefore, this study aimed to characterise impact of high income countries (HIC) versus low and middle income countries (LMIC) on the outcomes following esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.
METHOD
This international multi-center prospective study across 137 hospitals in 41 countries included patients who underwent an esophagectomy for esophageal cancer, with 90-day follow-up. The main explanatory variable was country income, defined according to the World Bank Data classification. The primary outcome was 90-day postoperative mortality, and secondary outcomes were composite leaks (anastomotic leak or conduit necrosis) and major complications (Clavien-Dindo Grade III - V). Multivariable generalized estimating equation models were used to produce adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).
RESULTS
Between April 2018 to December 2018, 2247 patients were included. Patients from HIC were more significantly older, with higher ASA grade, and more advanced tumors. Patients from LMIC had almost three-fold increase in 90-day mortality, compared to HIC (9.4% vs 3.7%, p < 0.001). On adjusted analysis, LMIC were independently associated with higher 90-day mortality (OR: 2.31, CI: 1.17-4.55, p = 0.015). However, LMIC were not independently associated with higher rates of anastomotic leaks (OR: 1.06, CI: 0.57-1.99, p = 0.9) or major complications (OR: 0.85, CI: 0.54-1.32, p = 0.5), compared to HIC.
CONCLUSION
Resections in LMIC were independently associated with higher 90-day postoperative mortality, likely reflecting a failure to rescue of these patients following esophagectomy, despite similar composite anastomotic leaks and major complication rates to HIC. These findings warrant further research, to identify potential issues and solutions to improve global outcomes following esophagectomy for cancer