Activated Carbon-based Carbon Dioxide Adsorption Process

This process uses activated carbon to adsorb 65 tonnes of CO2 from a coal-fired power plant per day using activated carbon sorbents at 93% purity using a two-stage adsorption process that uses vacuum-swing adsorption. The flue gas first is pressurized and dehydrated using cooling and chilled water. The stream is then sent into a packed activated carbon column at 1.11 bar until CO2 saturation, upon which the column is depressurized to 0.5 bar and the CO2 is desorbed. The gas is then sent into a second adsorption stage at 1 bar until CO2 saturation, and desorbed at 0.52 bar. The resulting CO2-rich stream is then sold and transported by pipeline for enhanced oil recovery at $20/tonne CO2. The total cost of the process, per tonne CO2 captured, is$28.16, beating out previously done economic analyses of activated carbon-based CO2 capture processes

Engineered nanotherapeutics for pulmonary aerosol delivery

Despite centuries of use and widespread application, aerosol delivery of therapeutics remains limited to a small subset of diseases and active pharmaceutical ingredients, mainly restricted to small molecule delivery for asthma management. Respiratory diseases which would benefit from direct and localized treatment span a much larger landscape; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lower respiratory infections, and lung cancers alone globally contribute 7.8 million annual deaths, with a reported 117 million pulmonary cases (~37% of population, 2012) and over $88 billion in health care costs in the US[1, 2]. To expand the application of aerosol delivery, novel approaches are needed. To address this need, we have explored various applications of nanoparticle immune engineering for respiratory therapeutics[3]. Incorrect immune responses lie at the heart of most respiratory diseases and advances in these therapeutic areas requires consideration of the unique environment. Notably, the lung has an abundance of antigen presenting cells (APCs), such as macrophages and dendritic cells (DC), which phagocytose foreign materials at the air-lung interface. There are a number of lung-specific APC populations[4, 5]. Some subsets are well understood, however, other specialized subsets have only recently been identified due to historic challenges in differentiating these populations[6, 7]. Thus, there are many remaining questions as to the division of labor between these cells, their significance in different disease conditions, and their interactions with other adjacent cell populations at the mucosal interface[8]. Advancing this understanding is critical to develop new therapeutics; APCs are poised as the gatekeepers to lung regulation and lung DC-subset specifically are likely cellular targets for therapeutic intervention[9]. In order to better understand how these lung innate immune cells respond to inhaled particle therapeutics, we have developed sets of engineered particles with defined physical properties that originate at the molecular level. We have developed a series of metal organic framework (MOF) nanoparticle carriers with independently tunable particle size and internal porosity, enabling systematic investigation of the effect of particle pore structure on cellular interactions. These UIO-66 MOF derivatives have not only been optimized as pulmonary aerosol carriers but provide critical insight on the role of internal particle porosity following cellular internalization. To further modulate the lung immune environment and evaluate the role of ligand surface density on immune-modulation, we simultaneously developed a series of degradable polymeric nanoparticle carriers with controlled surface densities of two Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), corresponding to TLR-4, and CpG oligodeoxynucleotide, corresponding to TLR-9[10]. Our in vitro results with murine bone marrow derived macrophages and in vivo studies following a direct instillation to murine airways both support a trade-off between particle dosage and optimal surface density; proinflammatory cytokine production was driven by the distribution of the adjuvant dose to a maximal number of innate cells, whereas the upregulation of costimulatory molecules on individual cells required an optimal density of TLR ligand on the particle surface. Taken together, results from these two sets of particle types demonstrate that both particle porosity and ligand surface density are critical parameters for tight control of immune stimulation and association with lung APCs and provide a foundation to build pathogen mimicking particle (PMP) vaccines and immunostimulatory therapeutics. References: 1. WHO: World Health Organization 2012. 2. NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 2012. 3. Moon, J. J.; Huang, B.; Irvine, D. J., Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) 2012, 24 (28), 3724-46. 4. Guilliams, M.; Lambrecht, B. N.; Hammad, H., Mucosal Immunol 2013, 6 (3), 464-73. 5. Kopf, M.; Schneider, C.; Nobs, S. P., Nat Immunol 2015, 16 (1), 36-44. 6. Blank, F.; Stumbles, P. A.; Seydoux, E.; Holt, P. G.; Fink, A.; Rothen-Rutishauser, B.; Strickland, D. H.; von Garnier, C., Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2013, 49 (1), 67-77. 7. Fytianos, K.; Drasler, B.; Blank, F.; von Garnier, C.; Seydoux, E.; Rodriguez-Lorenzo, L.; Petri-Fink, A.; Rothen-Rutishauser, B., Nanomedicine (Lond) 2016, 11 (18), 2457-2469. 8. Hasenberg, M.; Stegemann-Koniszewski, S.; Gunzer, M., Immunol Rev 2013, 25 (1), 189-214. 9. Zhao, L.; Seth, A.; Wibowo, N.; Zhao, C. X.; Mitter, N.; Yu, C.; Middelberg, A. P., Vaccine 2014, 32 (3), 327-37. 10. Noble, J.; Zimmerman, A.; Fromen, C. A., ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2017, 3 (4), 560-571

Check the gap: Facemask performance and exhaled aerosol distributions around the wearer.

Current facemask research focuses on material characterization and efficiency; however, facemasks are often not tested such that aerosol distributions are evaluated from the gaps in the sides, bottom, and nose areas. Poor evaluation methods could lead to misinformation on optimal facemasks use; a high-throughput, reproducible method which illuminates the issue of fit influencing aerosol transmission is needed. To this end, we have created an in vitro model to quantify particle transmission by mimicking exhalation aerosols in a 3D printed face-nose-mouth replica via a nebulizer and quantifying particle counts using a hand-held particle counter. A sewn, sewn with pipe cleaner nose piece, and sewn with a coffee filter facemask were used to evaluate current common homemade sewn facemask designs, benchmarked against industry standard surgical, N95 respirator tightly fit, and N95 respirator loosely fit facemasks. All facemasks have significantly reduced particle counts in front of the facemask, but the side and top of the facemask showed increases in particle counts over the no facemask condition at that same position, suggesting that some proportion of aerosols are being redirected to these gaps. An altered size distribution of aerosols that escape at the vulnerable positions was observed; escaped particles have larger count median diameters, with a decreased ratio of smaller to larger particles, possibly due to hygroscopic growth or aggregation. Of the homemade sewn facemasks, the facemask with a coffee filter insert performed the best at reducing escaped aerosols, with increased efficiency also observed for sewn masks with a pipe cleaner nose piece. Importantly, there were minimal differences between facemasks at increasing distances, which supports that social distance is a critical element in reducing aerosol transmission. This work brings to light the importance of quantifying particle count in positions other than directly in front of the facemask and identifies areas of research to be explored

Break-induced replication requires all essential DNA replication factors except those specific for pre-RC assembly

Break-induced replication (BIR) is an efficient homologous recombination (HR) pathway employed to repair a DNA double-strand break (DSB) when homology is restricted to one end. All three major replicative DNA polymerases are required for BIR, including the otherwise nonessential Pol32 subunit. Here we show that BIR requires the replicative DNA helicase (Cdc45, the GINS, and Mcm2–7 proteins) as well as Cdt1. In contrast, both subunits of origin recognition complex (ORC) and Cdc6, which are required to create a prereplication complex (pre-RC), are dispensable. The Cdc7 kinase, required for both initiation of DNA replication and post-replication repair (PRR), is also required for BIR. Ubiquitination and sumoylation of the DNA processivity clamp PCNA play modest roles; in contrast, PCNA alleles that suppress pol32Δ's cold sensitivity fail to suppress its role in BIR, and are by themselves dominant inhibitors of BIR. These results suggest that origin-independent BIR involves cross-talk between normal DNA replication factors and PRR

Does Lower Extremity Fracture Fixation Technique Influence Neurologic Outcomes in Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury? The EAST Brain vs. Bone Multicenter Trial

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine whether lower extremity fracture fixation technique and timing (≤24 vs. \u3e24 hours) impact neurologic outcomes in TBI patients. METHODS A prospective observational study was conducted across 30 trauma centers. Inclusion criteria were age 18 years and older, head Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score of \u3e2, and a diaphyseal femur or tibia fracture requiring external fixation (Ex-Fix), intramedullary nailing (IMN), or open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). The analysis was conducted using analysis of variamce, Kruskal-Wallis, and multivariable regression models. Neurologic outcomes were measured by discharge Ranchos Los Amigos Revised Scale (RLAS-R). RESULTS Of the 520 patients enrolled, 358 underwent Ex-Fix, IMN, or ORIF as definitive management. Head AIS was similar among cohorts. The Ex-Fix group experienced more severe lower extremity injuries (AIS score, 4–5) compared with the IMN group (16% vs. 3%, p = 0.01) but not the ORIF group (16% vs. 6%, p = 0.1). Time to operative intervention varied between the cohorts with the longest time to intervention for the IMN group (median hours: Ex-Fix, 15 [8–24] vs. ORIF, 26 [12–85] vs. IMN, 31 [12–70]; p \u3c 0.001). The discharge RLAS-R score distribution was similar across the groups. After adjusting for confounders, neither method nor timing of lower extremity fixation influenced the discharge RLAS-R. Instead, increasing age and head AIS score were associated with a lower discharge RLAS-R score (odds ratio [OR], 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.002–1.03 and OR, 2.37; 95% CI, 1.75–3.22), and a higher Glasgow Coma Scale motor score on admission (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.73–0.97) was associated with higher RLAS-R score at discharge. CONCLUSION Neurologic outcomes in TBI are impacted by severity of the head injury and not the fracture fixation technique or timing. Therefore, the strategy of definitive fixation of lower extremity fractures should be dictated by patient physiology and the anatomy of the injured extremity and not by the concern for worsening neurologic outcomes in TBI patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level III

Does Lower Extremity Fracture Fixation Technique Influence Neurologic Outcomes in Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury? The EAST Brain vs. Bone Multicenter Trial

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine whether lower extremity fracture fixation technique and timing (≤24 vs. \u3e24 hours) impact neurologic outcomes in TBI patients. METHODS A prospective observational study was conducted across 30 trauma centers. Inclusion criteria were age 18 years and older, head Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score of \u3e2, and a diaphyseal femur or tibia fracture requiring external fixation (Ex-Fix), intramedullary nailing (IMN), or open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). The analysis was conducted using analysis of variamce, Kruskal-Wallis, and multivariable regression models. Neurologic outcomes were measured by discharge Ranchos Los Amigos Revised Scale (RLAS-R). RESULTS Of the 520 patients enrolled, 358 underwent Ex-Fix, IMN, or ORIF as definitive management. Head AIS was similar among cohorts. The Ex-Fix group experienced more severe lower extremity injuries (AIS score, 4–5) compared with the IMN group (16% vs. 3%, p = 0.01) but not the ORIF group (16% vs. 6%, p = 0.1). Time to operative intervention varied between the cohorts with the longest time to intervention for the IMN group (median hours: Ex-Fix, 15 [8–24] vs. ORIF, 26 [12–85] vs. IMN, 31 [12–70]; p \u3c 0.001). The discharge RLAS-R score distribution was similar across the groups. After adjusting for confounders, neither method nor timing of lower extremity fixation influenced the discharge RLAS-R. Instead, increasing age and head AIS score were associated with a lower discharge RLAS-R score (odds ratio [OR], 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.002–1.03 and OR, 2.37; 95% CI, 1.75–3.22), and a higher Glasgow Coma Scale motor score on admission (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.73–0.97) was associated with higher RLAS-R score at discharge. CONCLUSION Neurologic outcomes in TBI are impacted by severity of the head injury and not the fracture fixation technique or timing. Therefore, the strategy of definitive fixation of lower extremity fractures should be dictated by patient physiology and the anatomy of the injured extremity and not by the concern for worsening neurologic outcomes in TBI patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level III

Overview of the DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys

The DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys (http://legacysurvey.org/) are a combination of three public projects (the Dark Energy Camera Legacy Survey, the Beijing–Arizona Sky Survey, and the Mayall z-band Legacy Survey) that will jointly image ≈14,000 deg2 of the extragalactic sky visible from the northern hemisphere in three optical bands (g, r, and z) using telescopes at the Kitt Peak National Observatory and the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory. The combined survey footprint is split into two contiguous areas by the Galactic plane. The optical imaging is conducted using a unique strategy of dynamically adjusting the exposure times and pointing selection during observing that results in a survey of nearly uniform depth. In addition to calibrated images, the project is delivering a catalog, constructed by using a probabilistic inference-based approach to estimate source shapes and brightnesses. The catalog includes photometry from the grz optical bands and from four mid-infrared bands (at 3.4, 4.6, 12, and 22 μm) observed by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer satellite during its full operational lifetime. The project plans two public data releases each year. All the software used to generate the catalogs is also released with the data. This paper provides an overview of the Legacy Surveys project