Current status and future development of solvent-based carbon capture

Solvent-based carbon capture is the most commercially-ready technology for economically and sustainably reaching carbon emission reduction targets in the power sector. Globally, the technology has been deployed to deal with flue gases from large scale power plants and different carbon-intensive industries. The success of the technology is due to significant R&D activities on the process development and decades of industrial experience on acid gas removal processes from gaseous mixtures. In this paper, current status of PCC based on chemical absorption—commercial deployment and demonstration projects, analysis of different solvents and process configurations—is reviewed. Although some successes have been recorded in developing this technology, its commercialization has been generally slow as evidenced in the cancellation of high profile projects across the world. This is partly due to the huge cost burden of the technology and unpredictable government policies. Different research directions, namely new process development involving process intensification, new solvent development and a combination of both, are discussed in this paper as possible pathways for reducing the huge cost of the technology

Biological variation of thrombin generation on <scp>ST</scp> Genesia

We previously reported on the biological variation of the thrombingeneration assay (TGA) with and without thrombomodulin (TM) usinga calibrated automated thrombogram (CAT) system.1Recently, the STGenesia (Diagnostica Stago, Asnières sur Seine, France), a fully auto-mated thrombin generation system, was launched with the aim ofstandardizing TGA by reducing inter-experiment and inter-laboratoryvariation. This study therefore aimed to determine the biological vari-ation of TGA on this automated platform.Important information on the whole coagulation process isnot provided in routine hemostasis tests based on optical ormechanical detection of clot formation, (i.e., prothrombin timeand activated partial thromboplastin time) but deserves to beinvestigated to fine-tune the identification of coagulopathies andhemorrhagic status.2Thrombin generation depicts thrombin gen-eration and inactivation using a fluorogenic substrate. In addingsoluble TM to the testing mixture, the endogenous protein Cpathway is also investigated. Thrombin generation has beenlargelyusedintheresearchsettingbuthasgainedinterestinaclinical context, like in hemophilia A, or to assess inherited oracquired coagulopathies.3,4Three different determinants are responsible for the total variabil-ity of a parameter in an individual over time: (i) pre-analytical variation,(ii) analytical variation, and (iii) biological variation. Biological variationconsists of both within-subject variation (CVI; fluctuation of a valuearound a subject homeostatic setting point) and between-subject vari-ation (CVG; difference in homeostatic setting points between differentsubjects).Few studies report on the biological variation of thrombin genera-tion. This type of study helps laboratories to define reference changevalues (RCV) which may support the interpretation of serial measure-ments at the individual level. In addition, biological variation of aparameter can aid in setting analytical specification goals, now recom-mended by the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Labo-ratory Medicine (EFLM)

Predicting development of hepatocellular carcinoma among patients with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 2

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Progressive familial inrahepatic cholestasis type 2 (PFIC2) is an autosomal recessive disorder with defective bile salt export pump (BESP) which results in cholestatic liver disease in 15% - hepatocellular carinoma (HCC). As intra-hepatocytic bile accumulation is considered to be the driver of oncogenesis in PFIC2, we hypothesized that risk of HCC would correlate to capability of BESP. METHODS From two participating centers, sixty-two childeren with PFIC2 were identiefied, of which seven who developed HCC were included. Clinical, genetic, histological information was collected and 3D homology modelling was done to determine the severity of structural alterations in BSEP. Functional ability of BSEP was assessed by the clinical response to medical therapy and severity of structural change in the BESP as assesed by 3D homology modelling. RESULTS PFIC2 was diagnosed at a mean of 3.7 months (1-10months) and HCC was discovered 52 months later (11-150months). At diagnosis BESP was absent in 85% (6 of 7) while one had canalicular localization. The diagnosis features of HCC were elevated AFP in 71% (5 àf 7) and ultrasound characteristics in 85% (6 of 7). Functional ability of BSEP was related in 28% (2 to 7). These both demonstrated clinical response to medical therapy and had mild structural alteration of BSEP on 3D modelling CONCLUSIONS There is a high incidence of HCC in PFIC2, and can occur in presence of normal AFP. The functional capability of BSEP can be predicted by structural modelling and does not correlate to risk of oncogenesis

Permanent access to the portal system for cellular transplantation using an implantable port device.

A novel application of the implantable Port-a-Cath (PAC) system is described in the context of cellular transplantation. A silicone catheter was inserted in a collateral branch of the portal vein and connected to a port device positioned subcutaneously on the left thoracic cage. This permanent vascular access allowed iterative intraportal infusions of allogenic hepatocytes without the need of repeated transhepatic catheterization of the portal vein. Using this technique, repeated infusions of cryopreserved and / or fresh hepatocytes were successfully carried out in 3 children with inborn errors of liver metabolism, with the aim of progressively providing a sufficient mass of transplanted liver cells to stabilize the metabolic condition of the patients. We suggest that this technique might also be valuable in pancreatic islet cell transplantation

Liver cell transplantation for Crigler-Najjar syndrome type I: Update and perspectives

Liver cell transplantation is an attractive technique to treat liver-based inborn errors of metabolism. The feasibility and efficacy of the procedure has been demonstrated, leading to medium term partial metabolic control of various diseases. Crigler-Najjar is the paradigm of such diseases in that the host liver is lacking one function with an otherwise normal parenchyma. The patient is at permanent risk for irreversible brain damage. The goal of liver cell transplantation is to reduce serum bilirubin levels within safe limits and to alleviate phototherapy requirements to improve quality of life. Preliminary data on Gunn rats, the rodent model of the disease, were encouraging and have led to successful clinical trials. Herein we report on two additional patients and describe the current limits of the technique in terms of durability of the response as compared to alternative therapeutic procedures. We discuss the future developments of the technique and new emerging perspectives

A dynamic simulation model of land-use, population, and rural livelihoods in the central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

The dynamic interactions between society and land resources have to be taken into account when planning and managing natural resources. A computer model, using STELLA software, was developed through active participation of purposively selected farm households from different wealth groups, age groups and gender within a rural community and some members of Kebelle council. The aim of the modeling was to study the perceived changes in land-use, population and livelihoods over the next 30 years and to improve our understanding of the interactions among them. The modeling output is characterized by rapid population growth, declining farm size and household incomes, deteriorating woody vegetation cover and worsening land degradation if current conditions remain. However, through integrated intervention strategies (including forest increase, micro-finance, family planning, health and education) the woody vegetation cover is likely to increase in the landscape, population growth is likely to slow down and households’ income is likely to improve. A validation assessment of the simulation model based on historical data on land-use and population from 1973 to 2006 showed that the model is relatively robust. We conclude that as a supporting tool, the simulation model can contribute to the decision making process