Long-Term Risks and Short-Term Regulations: Modeling the Transition from Enhanced Oil Recovery to Geologic Carbon Sequestration

Recent policy debates suggest that geologic carbon sequestration (GS) likely will play an important role in a carbon-constrained future. As GS evolves from the analogous technologies and practices of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations to a long-term, dedicated emissions mitigation option, regulations must evolve simultaneously to manage the risks associated with underground migration and surface tresspass of carbon dioxide (CO2). In this paper, we develop a basic engineering-economic model of four illustrative strategies available to a sophisticated site operator to better understand key deployment pathways in the transition from EOR to GS operations. All of these strategies focus on whether or not a sophisticated site operator would store CO2 in a geologic formation. We evaluate these strategies based on illustrative scenarios of (a) oil and CO2 prices; (b) leakage estimates; and (c) transportation, injection, and monitoring costs, as obtained from our understanding of the literature. Major results reveal that CO2 storage in depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs after oil recovery is associated with the greatest net revenues (i.e., the “most-preferred” strategy) under a range of scenarios. This finding ultimately suggests that GS regulatory design should anticipate the use of the potentially leakiest, or “worst,” sites first.carbon sequestration, enhanced oil recovery, leakage, regulatory design, risk management

Performance of an Uplink OFDMA System Using Subcarrier Allocation

OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) suffers from destruction of orthogonility if a channel betweenthe mobile user and a base station is rapidly time varying. This channel between the mobile user and a base station is called an Uplink-OFDMA. The OFDMA uplink resource allocation undergoes from Inter carrier interference (ICI), multiuser interference (MUI) if a nearby subcarrier is assigned to different user, high peak to average power ratio (PAPR) and high bit error rate (BER).This results in performance degradation. In order to provide a significant improvement in performance, a practical OFDMA system detection is required. The proposed system consists of a new sub-carrier allocation method using a successive interfer ence cancelation (SIC) detector at the receiver side. The proposed system is designed and simulated using MATLAB tool. Simulation results show that the proposed subcarrier allocation and ―Interleaved Aǁ allocation method has an average Bit errorprobability of 10 -0.5 and 10-0.2 respectively. Thus Average Bit error probability of around 32% is reduced compared to the ―Interleaved Aǁallocation method. Further, simulations also demonstrate a gradual decrease in MUI power from -15db to -20db for interleaved al location and subcarrier allocation method respectively

Highly active iridium(I) complexes for the selective hydrogenation of carbon-carbon multiple bonds

New iridium(I) complexes, bearing a bulky NHC/phosphine ligand combination, have been established as extremely efficient hydrogenation catalysts that can be used at low catalyst loadings, and are compatible with functional groups which are often sensitive to more routinely employed hydrogenation methods

BIO-PROSPECTING THE IN-VITRO ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI-CANCER ACTIVITIES OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES SYNTHESIZED FROM THE LEAVES OF SYZYGIUM SAMARANGENSE

Objective: Green nanotechnology involves the tailoring of nanoparticles through a reliable and eco-friendly process making it suitable for a desired application. The current study is focussed on the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using aqueous extract of Syzygium samarangense (Java Apple) leaves and to investigate their total antioxidant capacity (TAC), free radical scavenging activity and the anticancer activity.Methods: The crude leaf extracts of S. samarangense was used to synthesize the AgNPs from 1 mM silver nitrate solution and the formation of AgNPs was confirmed by UV-Visible spectrophotometer, FT-IR and FESEM techniques. The TAC was determined by phosphomolybdenum method whereas the free radical scavenging activity was studied by H2O2 method. Cytotoxic activity was performed by MTT assay using the AgNPs against A549 cell lines.Results: Biosynthesis of AgNPs was visually confirmed by observing the colour change from pale yellow to dark brown. UV-Visible spectral analysis showed silver Surface Plasmon Resonance band at 425 nm and the FT-IR peaks showed the presence of proteins and phenolic groups that are responsible for the stabilization of AgNPs. FESEM image showed the presence of AgNPs that were spherical shaped and poly dispersed. The efficiency of AgNPs as a source of good antioxidant and as a potential free radical scavenger was confirmed from the results of TAC and H2O2 assay. Further these nanoparticles showed reduced viability and increased cytotoxicity on A549 cell line in a dose dependent manner.Conclusion: The present investigation suggests an impressive method for the biological reduction of silver to silver nanoparticles that can be fabricated into many valuable and replaceable therapeutic agents in the treatment of various lethal diseases.Â

ANTI-PROLIFERATIVE AND APOPTOTIC ACTIVITIES OF SYZYGIUM SAMARANGENSE (WAX APPLE) FRUITS EXTRACT AGAINST HUMAN A549 LUNG CANCER CELL LINES

Objective: Medicinal plants have been in use from time immemorial and their utility has been expanding step by step in the present world. The intention of the present study was to check the anti-proliferative and apoptotic activity of Syzygium samarangense fruits methanolic extract against of A549 cell lines.Methods: The methanol extract at different concentrations were tested against A549 human lung cancer cell lines for cell viability or cytotoxicity by MTT assay and the hallmark of the apoptosis was analyzed by DNA fragmentation method. The morphological changes resulted due to apoptosis were investigated by Propidium Iodide (PI) staining technique.Results: The results showed that the tested extracts showed strong and decreased cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. IC50 value represented that the anti-proliferative activity was found with a minimum concentration of 21.86μg/ml. The presence of ladders of DNA fragments in the DNA fragmentation assay indicates a biochemical hallmark of intrinsic apoptotic cell death. Altered cell morphology after treatment with the extract demonstrated that cells experienced apoptosis.Conclusion: The present findings encourage further for the isolation and identifying, of active components present in S. samarangense fruit pulps to understand the mechanism of action in vivo that can make an allowance for developing chemotherapeutic agent against cancer.Â

Clinical vignette: Burkitts lymphoma mimicking ovarian cancer\u27

Case presentation: A 50 year-old Asian woman presented with four days of abdominal discomfort and progressive distention. She had no significant past medical history and did not consume alcohol. Her physical examination was remarkable for normal vital signs and a distended, non-tender abdomen with a fluid wave but without hepatosplenomegaly. Complete blood count and liver tests were normal. Abdominal ultrasound revealed ascites and an echogenic liver consistent with hepatic steatosis or cirrhosis, which was initially suspected. Viral hepatitis studies, human immunodeficiency virus antibody, ceruloplasmin, anti mitochondrial antibody, alpha-1 antitrypsin, anti-smith antibody and antinuclear antibodies were negative. CA-125 was markedly elevated at 301 U/ml (normal \u3c 22). Transvaginal ultrasonography revealed normal ovaries. Ascitic fluid examination revealed 42,900 total nucleated cells/cu mm of which 88 % were mononuclear cells, 5 % neutrophils and 7 % lymphocytes. Further analysis of showed abnormal B-cells expressing CD 19, CD 20, CD 10, FMC 7, and CD 45; FISH analysis showed MYC/IgH fusion associated with translocation of t (8;14) (q24;q32) characteristic of Burkitts lymphoma. Her serum LDH was 910 U/L (normal 82 — 310). Serum uric acid was normal. Computerized tomographic scanning failed to reveal hepatic or pulmonary involvement. Bone marrow biopsy and lumbar puncture were both negative for Burkitt\u27s involvement. She was treated with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin dexamethaosone, rituximab and methotrexate. Discussion: This woman presented with malignant ascites, the most common cause of which is ovarian cancer. This was initially assumed to be the diagnosis because of her elevated CA-125. The correct diagnosis was established by careful pathologic evaluation of ascitic fluid, showing monomorphic medium sized cells with basophilic cytoplasm and a high proliferation fraction with Ki-67 fraction approaching 100%. Translocation of the cmyc gene on chromosome 8 is characteristic of Burkitt\u27s lymphoma. Burkitt\u27s lymphoma is rare, constituting less than 1% of B-cell lymphomas. It is more common in males and usually presents with masses and tumor lysis syndrome. Less commonly it may present with ascites. This form may have a rapidly progressive course with bowel obstruction and/or gastrointestinal bleeding. We are aware of only one previous case of Burkitt\u27s lymphoma presenting with ascites and an elevated CA-125. Conclusions: This case illustrates a rare cause of malignant ascites, masquerading as ovarian cancer. Careful cytologic analysis of ascetic fluid cells led to the correct diagnosis.\u2

Successful orthotopic liver transplantation in an adult patient with sickle cell disease and review of the literature

Sickle cell disease can lead to hepatic complications ranging from acute hepatic crises to chronic liver disease including intrahepatic cholestasis, and iron overload. Although uncommon, intrahepatic cholestasis may be severe and medical treatment of this complication is often ineffective. We report a case of a 37 year-old male patient with sickle cell anemia, who developed liver failure and underwent successful orthotopic liver transplantation. Both pre and post-operatively, he was maintained on red cell transfusions. He remains stable with improved liver function 42 months post transplant. The role for orthotopic liver transplantation is not well defined in patients with sickle cell disease, and the experience remains limited. Although considerable challenges of post-transplant graft complications remain, orthotopic liver transplantation should be considered as a treatment option for sickle cell disease patients with end-stage liver disease who have progressed despite conventional medical therapy. An extended period of red cell transfusion support may lessen the post-operative complications

Neuro-motor development in offspring of mothers with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and those of mothers without Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether Gestational Diabetes Mellitus was associated with higher risk of neuro-motor developmental delay or psychosocial problems in the offspring at 3-5 yr of age, and to determine the other risk factors associated with it. METHODS: A historical cohort study was carried out on children born to women who were screened for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus at a Secondary care hospital in Southern India between March 2011 and February 2013. The children who participated were divided into the exposed group (born to GDM mothers, n=96) and unexposed group(born to non GDM mothers, n=102). They were all assessed for neuro-motor developmental delay using Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3 and for psychosocial problem by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Various other factors including antenatal, intrapartum, childhood and anthropometric risk factors for developmental delay were assessed using multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence (95% CI) of overall psychosocial problems among the study participants who were exposed to GDM was found to be 7.3 (3.6-14.9) per 100 children and among those unexposed was 4.9 (2. 1-11.5) per 100 children with an RR of 1.22 and a 95% CI of 0.74 – 2.01 and the excess risk of 22% observed in the exposed group was not statistically significant. However, significantly higher odds of fine motor domain delay (OR=2.22 (95%CI 1.09-5.95), p-value= 0.020) and problem solving domain delay (OR = 2.60 (95%CI 1.19-5.69), p-value=0.014) in children born of a GDM complicated pregnancy. Significantly higher odds of neuro-motor developmental delay was seen in children born to teenage mothers (OR = 6.98 (95% CI 1.14-42.82), p-value=0.036, and those born to mothers who had high risk pregnancies (OR = 3.55 (1.53 – 8.19), p-value = 0.003) CONCLUSION: Although increased odds of problem solving delay in offsprings of GDM mothers has not been identified in earlier studies, the association of fine motor delay with GDM in mothers is a recurrent finding in studies done over many years. Children of teenage mothers and women with high risk pregnancies have higher risk of having neuromotor developmental delay

Laser Based Vibration Sensor Through Mobile

Machine condition monitoring has gained momentum over the years and becoming an essential component in the today’s industrial units. A cost-effective machine condition monitoring system is need of the hour for predictive maintenance. The paper presents the design and implementation using vibration sensor, and also this system operated through smart phones. Vibration analysis plays a major role in detecting machine defects and developing flaws before the equipment fails and potentially damages. The concept of this project was to detect faulty equipment in industry machine so that before damaging the whole machine faulty equipment can be replace and improve the durability of machine

Naturalistic observation for understanding users: How technology professionals use and communicate information

This study examines how design engineers and technical professionals (hereafter referred to as engineers) in innovative high‐tech firms in the U.S. and India communicate and use information in their daily work activities including research, development, and management. By observing engineers in the workplace, it extends our understanding of the engineering workplace, and the information environment in the workplace. This study will provide information useful for improving communication and information methods for accessing information and communicating in the workplace, which will ultimately lead to better job performance, facilitate innovation, and encourage economic growth. This poster focuses on the methodology the researchers used to gather data for the study. Researchers conducted a series of daylong workplace observations with 108 engineers engaged in product design and testing in four U.S. and two India based firms. Using naturalistic observation provided researchers with the ability to see engineers in their workplace carrying out their daily work rather than depending on self‐reported data which may be incomplete. The poster focuses on the naturalistic observation method, how it was employed, and lessons learned in conducting the work in the U.S. and India