Ethylene to Linear, Alpha Olefins (1-Hexene & 1-Octene)

A chemical plant was theoretically designed to produce approximately 100 MMlbs/yr of linear alpha olefins (LAOs). 1-hexene and 1-octene were the products of the trimerization and tetramerization reactions as mentioned in the patent (US 8,076,523 B2). Based on the patent, a continuous homogeneous liquid reaction was carried out in a 30,000 gallon CSTR using a chromium based catalyst, with an activator and varying ligands for both the trimerization and tetramerization reactions. Plant calculations were performed, and the plant design simulation was completed on ASPEN PLUS®. The designed plant had the flexibility to switch between a 40:60% and 60:40% 1-hexene:1- octene by varying the amount of catalyst fed to the system. Product purity was 99.9% for 1- hexene and 99.0% for 1-octene, as required by the market. The plant despite its significant upfront capital investments ($43M) was estimated to be a profitable business venture with an IRR of 19$7.8M, assuming the plant is in operation for 15 years. Based on the economic potential of this process, the design group recommends construction of this plant with recommendations

Evaluation of Osteoporosis in Hemophilic Arthropathy Patients: Correlation with Disease Severity and Serum Trace Minerals

Objective. To find out the presence of osteoporosis in hemophilic arthropathy patients and its correlation with clinical severity and serum levels of magnesium, copper, and zinc. Methods. Joint score, functional assessment score, bone densitometry, and serum magnesium, copper and zinc were done in twenty male hemophilic arthropathy patients and twenty controls. Results. There was highly significant lower Z scores of lumbar spine and neck of femur in patients versus controls (P<0.011). Z score of neck of femur correlated negatively with total joint score (P=0.013) and functional assessment score (P=0.011). Serum levels of copper and zinc correlated positively with Z score of neck of femur (P=0.004, P=0.001, resp.). Conclusion. Osteoporosis represents a frequent concomitant observation in hemophiliacs. Screening of young hemophiliacs for osteoporosis is recommended with measuring serum levels of magnesium, copper, and zinc for better management of the disease

Periodontal microbiota in a cohort of Egyptian patients with rheumatoid arthritis and their relation to serum and gingival anticitrullinated peptide protein antibodies and different disease parameters

Objective The possibility of infectious trigger at the gingival site in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was reported in previous studies. The aim of our study is to determine the organisms causing periodontitis (PD) in a cohort of Egyptian patients with RA and their relation to serum and gingival anticitrullinated peptide protein antibodies (ACPA) level and other disease parameters. Patients and methods A prospective cohort study was conducted on 100 consecutive Egyptian patients with RA. Disease activity was assessed by applying disease activity score-28, and functional status was measured using health assessment questionnaire. Dental examination, serum rheumatoid factor, ACPA in serum and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), and radiograph of the hands were done for all patients. GCF culture was performed for all cases with PD for Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), and Prevotella intermedia (Pi). Results Of the 100 patients, 66 patients had PD; of them, GCF culture was performed, and Pg, Aa, and Pi were found in 60.6, 15.2, and 30.3% of patients with RA with PD, respectively. Gingival ACPA showed significant higher level with Pg than Pi cases (P=0.047). No statistically significant difference was detected on comparing Pg with Aa or Aa with Pi. Aa-positive cases were associated with significantly higher level of C-reactive protein than Pi-positive cases (P=0.029), whereas no statistical significant difference was detected between Pg- and Aa-positive or Pi-positive cases. Conclusion Our findings support the relationship between PD and infectious trigger at the gingival site and RA. Pg is the most prevalent periodontal microbiota in our cohort of patients with RA with PD that is associated with significant higher level of gingival ACPA. None of the detected organisms correlated with the degree of RA activity or other disease parameters, apart from significantly higher C-reactive protein level with Aa

Ewing’s Sarcoma Presenting as Hip Monoarthritis in a Spondyloarthritis Patient

Seronegative spondyloarthritis (SpA) and Ewing’s sarcoma (ES) are common disorders affecting young males. A great challenge is to diagnose both diseases in the same patient. Here we describe a case of a young male patient having SpA, who developed ES that presented as monoarthritis of left hip which was misdiagnosed twice; first as peripheral manifestation of SpA and second as septic arthritis; before the correct diagnosis was reached.A 17 year-old boy presented with inflammatory low back pain of gradual onset lasting for 4 months and knee arthralgias. Examination revealed the presence of localized tenderness over both SIJs and limited lumbar flexion. Plain x-ray showed bilateral grade 2 sacroiliitis and he was Rheumatoid factor negative. The diagnosis of seronegative SpA was made based on fulfillment of the Association of Spondyloarthritis International Society classification criteria for axial SpA. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and sulphasalazine were prescribed resulting in rapid improvement of back pain and knee arthralgia. Four months later, the patient had increased severity of his back pain with pain at the left hip region associated with painful limited internal hip rotation. The diagnosis of left hip arthritis associated with SpA was made without requesting imaging study at that time. The dose of NSAIDs was increased and a low dose steroid was added.Few days later, the general condition of the patient deteriorated with the development of night fever, poor night sleep and poor appetite. On presentation, the patient looked very ill with fever. Hip examination revealed marked painful limited hip movement with flexion deformity. New investigations revealed an ESR of 110 mm/hr, and a CRP of 88 mg/L. There was normochromic normocytic anemia (HB: 9g/dl) and leucocytosis (WBC: 13.300/µL). The diagnosis initially considered was acute septic arthritis. Left hip arthrocentesis failed to aspirate any fluid and ultrasound revealed the absence of joint effusion. A multislice computerized tomography (CT) revealed the presence of a destructive osseous lesion targeting the left pubic bone and the left acetabulum with intra-articular extension into the left hip joint causing bony erosion of the medial aspect of the left femoral head. An MRI showed intra-pelvic extension with enlarged iliac lymph nodes. A biopsy was obtained from the mass. Histopathology revealed a malignant round-cell tumor consistent with ES. The patient was referred for chemotherapy and we knew that he was started on a combination of drugs for a short time before he died. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report in literature of ES in SpA patient and the second report of ES presenting as hip monoarthritis

Osteopontin, osteoprotegerin and musculoskeletal ultrasound findings in first-degree relatives of rheumatoid arthritis: potential markers of preclinical disease

Abstract Background First-degree relatives (FDRs) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are known to have increased risk of developing the disease. The detection of altered bone metabolism in FDRs could be a predictor of the disease. Musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) is known for its ability to detect subclinical joint inflammation in RA, but changes in FDRs are not yet described. We aimed to study serum Osteopontin (OPN) and Osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels in FDRs of RA patients as markers of altered bone metabolism in relation to clinical, laboratory and musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) findings. Methods Fifty-five individuals were included, 20 had definite RA, 25 were first degree relatives (FDRs) of RA patients, and 10 healthy controls. Clinical evaluation for joint swelling/tenderness was performed for all. ESR, CRP, rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-citrullinated antibodies (ACPA), OPN, OPG, and Musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) by the US7 score were evaluated. Results Osteoprotegerin was significantly higher in RA (143.89 pg/ml ± 365.47) than in FDRs (22.23 pg/ml ± 65.73; p = 0.009) and controls (6.20 pg/ml ± 12.43; p = 0.003). OPN was also higher in RA (3.66 ng/ml ± 4.20) than in FDRs (1.97 ng/ml ± 1.04) and controls (2.81 ng/ml ± 1.31), though not significant (p = 0.102). Eight of 25 FDRs (32%) had arthralgia without clinical arthritis and 17/25 (68%) were asymptomatic. FDRs with arthralgia had significantly higher ESR and CRP levels than asymptomatic FDRs (9.82 mm/h ± 4.13; p = 0.003, and 3.93 mg/l ± 3.58; p = 0.003). Osteoprotegerin was higher in FDRs than in controls, and also in those with arthralgia (51.55 pg/ml ± 114.68) than in those without (8.44 pg/ml ± 9.67), though without significant difference. OPN was higher in FDRs with arthralgia (2.09 ng/ml ± 1.19) than in asymptomatic (1.70 ng/ml ± 0.55), also without significant difference. Pathologic findings by US7 were detected in 10/25 (40%) FDRs, of which three (12%) had arthralgia and seven (28%) were asymptomatic. Conclusions The raised OPG and lower OPN in FDRs than in controls reflect an altered bone metabolism which could precede clinical disease phase. OPN and OPG could serve as markers of altered preclinical bone metabolism in FDRs of RA. US7 score might be a useful screening tool to identify ‘at-risk’ individuals

Commercial-Scale Biodiesel Production from Algae

This article evaluates pathways to cost-effective production of biofuels at a commercial scale. A thermodynamic cultivation model was simulated using Aspen Plus V7.3.1 and used to predict the area required for algae growth. This model was combined with the most promising commercial-scale methods to harvest algae and extract the oil. Conversion experiments were conducted using oil extracted from <i>Nannochloropsis salina</i> algae, which was grown in salt water by Solix Biofuels. Glycerolysis was performed to reduce the free fatty-acid content of the oils. Transesterification was then carried out using a solid catalyst. Rate constants were regressed to adapt kinetic models to the rate data, which allowed the glycerolysis/transesterification process to be simulated using Aspen Plus V7.3.1. Cost estimates from the Aspen Process Economic Analyzer (APEA) were combined with industrial quotes and literature data. A cash flow analysis was performed for the entire carbon sequestration-to-biodiesel production train, yielding a biodiesel selling price of $4.34/gal. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was performed to examine the impact of various costing parameters on the viability of the process. These analyses show that the current bottlenecks for the large-scale production of biodiesel are cultivation techniques and extraction operations

The clinical musculoskeletal ultrasonography: Egyptian guidelines for structured musculoskeletal ultrasound scanning and reporting

Abstract Background The aim of this work is to set up the standards for performing musculoskeletal ultrasound scans and reporting as an additional procedure in the rheumatology setting. We used two rounds of the Delphi approach to get the consensus on a musculoskeletal ultrasound reporting. Results Fifteen expert panels had completed the two rounds of surveys. After the end of round two, eighteen recommendations distributed upon eight domains were released. The percentage of the agreement on the recommendations was 93.3 to 100 %. All eighteen key questions were answered at the end of the second round with agreement. Conclusion A musculoskeletal ultrasound report template has been developed by this study, based on outcomes of a Delphi process, by an international participants’ panel. All domains met the 80% voting threshold set in this work. The reporting template can be used for both clinical research as well as standard practice to provide guidance and standardize the musculoskeletal ultrasound reporting