Prediction of emissions and profits from a biomass, tyre, and coal fired co-gasification CHP plant using artificial neural network: Nigerian and South African perspectives

Abstract : The local sourcing of feedstock for energy generation will reduce costs in the power plant, and promote energy sustainability. Most times, potential investors in this area show interest about understanding the profitability of the business because, the information boosts the confidence of the investors in the project, and gives them the opportunity of making a short and long term plans about the business. The emissions arising from the energy plant is an important aspect of the venture that requires proper attention, otherwise the costs of emission control may consume a greater part of the profit, hence rendering the business un-viable. Nigeria and South Africa (SA) have abundant biomass (e.g. corn cob, sugarcane bagasse, & pine saw dust) coal and tyre that can be used as fuel in an energy plant. A 10 MW CHP plant was fired with coal and biomass, and tyre obtained from Nigeria and South Africa (SA) respectively, at ratios of 1:1, 3:2, and 4:1 to study the emissions and profits in the plant. An empirical model was employed to estimate the annual amount of feedstock and feed rate required for the plant, after which, an artificial neural network (ANN); LevenbergMarquardt algorithm was used to predict the emissions and profits in the plant for 20-year- investment period with feedstock costing (WFC) and without feedstock costing (WOFC). The profit obtained from the South African feedstock, WFC and WOFC; produced about 45.18 % and 36.83 % ($3,900,000.07 and$3,179,184.49) higher profits than the Nigerian feedstock, but the CO, NOX, & SO2 emissions from Nigerian feedstock were lower than that of SA. The findings from this study could be used as a platform for decision making by potential investors and stake-holders, and further research and development in the area

Blood Derived Amyloid Biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease Prevention.

BACKGROUND: Reliable, widely accessible and affordable biomarkers for predicting Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain pathology status are a necessity to aid development of prevention strategies in cognitively healthy at-risk older adults, at the right timepoint. Measurements of the key neuropathological hallmark beta-amyloid (Aβ) by PET neuroimaging or cerebrospinal fluid measures reflect its accumulation in the brain, yet recent methodological advancements now enable blood-based measures reflecting cerebral amyloid burden. OBJECTIVES: The current study validated the capacity of plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 measured using six different assays to predict amyloid positivity in a subgroup of cognitively unimpaired (CU) participants in the ADNI study and assessed its ability to discriminate CU from AD cases. We also explored economic viability of using two different plasma amyloid assays for pre-screening in AD prevention trials and as routine clinical diagnostic tool, versus amyloid PET alone. DESIGN: A cross-sectional analysis of plasma and brain amyloid data, including comparative cost analysis of the plasma biomarkers in relation to brain amyloid PET. SETTING: Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). PARTICIPANTS: ADNI participants consisting of 115 CU, mild cognitive impairment and AD cases who had plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 measured with six platforms. MEASUREMENTS: Plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 was measured via six different platforms: three immunoassays (Roche, Quanterix and ADx Neurosciences) and three mass spectrometry (MS) based assays (WashU, Shimadzu and Gothenburg). Aβ-PET imaging was conducted within three months of plasma sampling using [18F]florbetapir. RESULTS: There was a weak to moderate correlation of plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio between platforms. The MS-based WashU test had the highest capacity to discriminate between CU and AD (area under the curve, AUC = 0.734, 95% CI: 0.613-0.854; P = 0.008). Within the CU group, the WashU plasma amyloid test had the best discriminative capacity to distinguish Aβ+ from Aβ- (AUC = 0.753, 95% CI: 0.601-0.905; P = 0.003) closely followed by the immunoassay from Roche (AUC = 0.737, 95% CI: 0.597-0.877; P = 0.006). The exploratory economic analyses showed that the use of Roche or WashU plasma amyloid assay as a pre-screening tool prior to Aβ-PET scans for clinical trial recruitment significantly reduced total screening cost (saving up to $5882 per recruited patient) expected in an AD prevention trial. CONCLUSIONS: With few available treatment strategies, dementia prevention is a global priority. CU individuals at risk for AD are the target population for dementia prevention but have been poorly studied. Our findings confirming diagnostic value of ultrasensitive immunoassays and high-performance immunoprecipitation coupled with MS for measurement of plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 to detect PET amyloid positivity in CU participants allude to potential clinical utility of this biomarker. Plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 could be optimal for pre-selecting at-risk candidates for more invasive and expensive investigations across AD prevention clinical trials and clinical care for a rapidly ageing population

Alzheimer's disease pathology explains association between dementia with Lewy bodies and APOE-ε4/TOMM40 long poly-T repeat allele variants.

Introduction: The role of TOMM40-APOE 19q13.3 region variants is well documented in Alzheimer's disease (AD) but remains contentious in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD). Methods: We dissected genetic profiles within the TOMM40-APOE region in 451 individuals from four European brain banks, including DLB and PDD cases with/without neuropathological evidence of AD-related pathology and healthy controls. Results: TOMM40-L/APOE-ε4 alleles were associated with DLB (OR TOMM40 -L = 3.61; P value = 3.23 × 10-9; OR APOE -ε4 = 3.75; P value = 4.90 × 10-10) and earlier age at onset of DLB (HR TOMM40 -L = 1.33, P value = .031; HR APOE -ε4 = 1.46, P value = .004), but not with PDD. The TOMM40-L/APOE-ε4 effect was most pronounced in DLB individuals with concomitant AD pathology (OR TOMM40 -L = 4.40, P value = 1.15 × 10-6; OR APOE -ε4 = 5.65, P value = 2.97 × 10-8) but was not significant in DLB without AD. Meta-analyses combining all APOE-ε4 data in DLB confirmed our findings (ORDLB = 2.93, P value = 3.78 × 10-99; ORDLB+AD = 5.36, P value = 1.56 × 10-47). Discussion: APOE-ε4/TOMM40-L alleles increase susceptibility and risk of earlier DLB onset, an effect explained by concomitant AD-related pathology. These findings have important implications in future drug discovery and development efforts in DLB

Prostate cancer disparities in Black men of African descent: a comparative literature review of prostate cancer burden among Black men in the United States, Caribbean, United Kingdom, and West Africa

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>African American men have the highest prostate cancer morbidity and mortality rates than any other racial or ethnic group in the US. Although the overall incidence of and mortality from prostate cancer has been declining in White men since 1991, the decline in African American men lags behind White men. Of particular concern is the growing literature on the disproportionate burden of prostate cancer among other Black men of West African ancestry in the Caribbean Islands, United Kingdom and West Africa. This higher incidence of prostate cancer observed in populations of African descent may be attributed to the fact that these populations share ancestral genetic factors. To better understand the burden of prostate cancer among men of West African Ancestry, we conducted a review of the literature on prostate cancer incidence, prevalence, and mortality in the countries connected by the Transatlantic Slave Trade.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Several published studies indicate high prostate cancer burden in Nigeria and Ghana. There was no published literature for the countries Benin, Gambia and Senegal that met our review criteria. Prostate cancer morbidity and/or mortality data from the Caribbean Islands and the United Kingdom also provided comparable or worse prostate cancer burden to that of US Blacks.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The growing literature on the disproportionate burden of prostate cancer among other Black men of West African ancestry follows the path of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. To better understand and address the global prostate cancer disparities seen in Black men of West African ancestry, future studies should explore the genetic and environmental risk factors for prostate cancer among this group.</p

Clinical reporting following the quantification of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease: An international overview

Introduction: The current practice of quantifying cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers as an aid in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) varies from center to center. For a same biochemical profile, interpretation and reporting of results may differ, which can lead to misunderstandings and raises questions about the commutability of tests. Methods: We obtained a description of (pre-)analytical protocols and sample reports from 40 centers worldwide. A consensus approach allowed us to propose harmonized comments corresponding to the different CSF biomarker profiles observed in patients. Results: The (pre-)analytical procedures were similar between centers. There was considerable heterogeneity in cutoff definitions and report comments. We therefore identified and selected by consensus the most accurate and informative comments regarding the interpretation of CSF biomarkers in the context of AD diagnosis. Discussion: This is the first time that harmonized reports are proposed across worldwide specialized laboratories involved in the biochemical diagnosis of AD

Deployment of Antepsin (Sucralfate) as Corrosion Inhibitor of Mild Steel in H2SO4 Medium: Chemical and Electrochemical Studies

This study presents the deployment of antepsin (sucralfate) as corrosion inhibitor of mild steel in H2SO4 medium. Chemical (gravimetric) and electrochemical (potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) techniques were used in the corrosion control investigation. The antepsin drug was characterized by gas chromatography mass spectrophotometer (GCMS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Effects of inhibitor concentration, temperature and time on weight loss, corrosion rate, inhibition efficiency and degree of surface coverage were examined. Thermodynamic and adsorption properties of the corrosion inhibition process were determined. Inhibition efficiency was optimized using central composite design tool of Design Expert software version 12. Potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were employed to determine the type and effectiveness of the inhibitor. As a confirmatory test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to examine the surface morphology of the mild steel samples. Analysis of the results showed that major constituents of antepsin include tetradecanoate, metronidazole, hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester and 11-octadecenoic acid. The predominant functional groups include; C=O stretch, C-H bend and symmetric and asymmetric =C-O-C. Adsorption of the molecules of antepsin on the surface of the mild steel was spontaneous and occurred in agreement with physical adsorption. A quadratic model adequately described the relationship between inhibition efficiency and corrosion control variables of concentration of the inhibitor, temperature and time. Optimum inhibition efficiency of antepsin was obtained as 86.75%. Chemical and electrochemical results agreed that antepsin is suitable for corrosion control of mild steel in H2SO4 solution. Antepsin acted as mixed-type inhibitor (controlled both cathodic and anodic reactions)

Cortisol hypersecretion and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Morning cortisol levels have been reported to be elevated among patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD); yet no meta-analysis has been conducted to confirm the existence and magnitude of this association. It also remains unclear whether hypercortisolism is a risk factor for AD. Methods PubMed, EMBASE, and PsycINFO were systematically searched for eligible studies. Cross-sectional data were pooled using random-effects meta-analyses; the differences in morning cortisol levels between patients and cognitively normal controls were quantified. Longitudinal studies were qualitatively synthesised due to methodological heterogeneity. Results 17,245 participants from 57 cross-sectional studies and 19 prospective cohort studies were included. Compared with cognitively normal controls, AD patients had moderately increased morning cortisol in blood (g = 0.422, P < 0.001; I2 = 48.5 %), saliva (g = 0.540, P < 0.001; I2 = 13.6 %), and cerebrospinal fluids (g = 0.565, P = 0.003; I2 = 75.3 %). A moderate elevation of morning cortisol was also detected in cerebrospinal fluids from patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) versus controls (g = 0.309, P = 0.001; I2 = 0.0 %). Cohort studies suggested that higher morning cortisol may accelerate cognitive decline in MCI or mild AD patients, but the results in cognitively healthy adults were inconsistent. Conclusions Morning cortisol was confirmed to be moderately elevated in AD patients and may have diagnostic and prognostic values for AD

Honey Attenuates the Detrimental Effects of Nicotine on Testicular Functions in Nicotine Treated Wistar Rats

Summary: Effect of honey on reproductive functions of male rats exposed to nicotine was examined in this study. Thirty-two adult male wistar rats (n=8/Group) were grouped as Control (distilled water), Nicotine (1.0mg/kg bwt), Honey (100mg/kg bwt) and Nicotine with Honey. The animals were orally treated for 35 days consecutively. Epididymis sperm motility, viability, morphology and counts were estimated, serum Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Leutinizing Hormone (LH) and Testosterone were assayed using ELISA method and testicular histology were also assessed. Significant reduction in percentage sperm motility, viability, morphology and counts were observed in nicotine group (p&lt;0.05) compared to control. Serum FSH, LH and testosterone levels were significantly reduced in nicotine group(p&lt;0.05) when compared with the control. There was significant improvement in sperm motility, viability, morphology, counts, FSH, LH and Testosterone in group co-treated with nicotine and honey (p&lt;0.05) relative to nicotine group. Also, the degenerative seminiferous tubule architecture due to nicotine was improved by honey. In conclusion, honey may suppress nicotine toxic effect on reproductive functions in male Wistar rats.Keywords: Nicotine, Honey, FSH, LH, Testosterone, Rats

Strategy or symptom: semantic clustering and risk of Alzheimer's disease-related impairment

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, impacting global cognitive performance, including episodic memory. Semantic clustering is a learning strategy involving grouping words of similar meaning and can improve episodic memory performance, e.g., list learning. As the APOE ε4 allele is the most validated genetic risk factor for AD, we predicted that its presence would be associated with poorer list learning performance, and we hypothesized that semantic clustering moderates or mediates this association. The sample comprised 699 healthy older adults participating in the CHARIOT PRO Main Study, 169 of whom were APOE ε4 carriers. Participants' ability to form groups of related stimuli (assessed via a categorization task, CAT), and their use of semantic clustering during list learning, were investigated using the Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (NAB). CAT scores predicted the use of semantic clustering in, and performance on, the list learning task. CAT scores were not significantly lower in APOE ε4 carriers, suggesting that the ability to categorize was preserved. However, APOE ε4 carriers made less use of semantic clustering in list learning. Semantic clustering use partially mediated the relationship between CAT scores and list learning performance, and, in women only, moderated the impact of APOE ε4 on list learning performance. The results suggest that better categorization ability is associated with greater use of mnemonic strategies and better performance on memory tasks regardless of genetic risk, but that APOE ε4 carriers make less use of such strategies. Furthermore, female APOE ε4 carriers may benefit more than their non-carriers from using semantic clustering to aid list learning. Thus, semantic clustering may be a contributing factor of their "cognitive reserve", compensating for potential deficits in episodic memory

Cortisol, Amyloid- , and Reserve Predicts Alzheimer's disease progression for cognitively normal older adults

Elevated cortisol as a measure of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis hyperactivity has emerged as a predictor of clinical progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), in conjunction with amyloid-β (Aβ) abnormalities. Yet factors exist which have the propensity to delay AD symptomatic expression in the face of an AD-type biomarker-based pathological profile. This study sought to determine whether abnormal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ and elevated cortisol levels are associated with clinical transition to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD in cognitively normal (CN) individuals, and if this association is modified by reserve proxies. Data from 91 CN individuals participating in the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) with available morning CSF cortisol and Aβ42 were evaluated. Reserve was modelled as a latent composite score of standardized intracranial volume and lifetime experience proxies. Cox regressions were used to test associations between baseline CSF cortisol/Aβ42, reserve score and AD progression; adjusting for age, sex, apolipoprotein E genotype, and depressive symptoms. Individuals with elevated cortisol + abnormal Aβ42 levels at baseline showed highest risk of clinical progression. After a median of 84 months follow-up, significant cortisol/Aβ/ reserve interaction for clinical progression was noted (adjusted HR = 0.15, p < 0.001), suggesting a moderating effect of reserve on the association between cortisol/Aβ+ and clinical progression. Our findings indicate that cortisol hypersecretion accelerates clinical progression in CN individuals presenting with pathological Aβ42. High reserve reduces the associated AD progression risk in these high-risk individuals