Sour compression process for the removal of SOx and NOx from oxyfuel-derived CO2

AbstractCoal-fired power stations under oxyfuel combustion produce a raw CO2 product which contains impurities such as water, oxygen, nitrogen and argon from excess oxygen and air leakages. There are also acid gases present, such as SO3, SO2, HCl and NOX produced as by-products of combustion. These acidic impurities will need to be removed from the CO2 stream before it is introduced into the pipeline to prevent corrosion and comply with possible regulations. There may also be stringent requirements on purity, particularly for applications such as enhanced oil recovery. A novel compression method of producing NOx-free, SO2free CO2 was proposed in GHGT-8 [1–6] where SO2 and NOx are removed as H2SO4 and HNO3respectively by compression and water contact of the flue gas. At GHGT-9, initial experimental results were presented using actual fluegas via a sidestream from Doosan Babcock’s 160 kW coal-fired oxyfuel rig, showing the feasibility of the process eliminating 99% SOx and 90% NOx compounds. In this paper, we report on the effects of pressure, temperature, residence time and presence of water in a laboratory scale apparatus using synthetic flue gas

A Turtle Population Study in an Isolated Urban Wetland Complex in Ontario Reveals a Few Surprises

We report on the results of the first mark–recapture survey of freshwater turtles in an isolated urban wetland complex in one of Canada’s fastest growing municipalities. Although we found turtles in every surveyed wetland, the density and assemblage of turtles in smaller wetlands were significantly different than in larger wetland bodies. We also documented two species of turtles that were thought to be absent from this wetland complex, the Northern Map turtle and Eastern Musk turtle. We noted that a wetland that was bisected by a high-traffic road showed a male-skewed sex ratio in the population of Midland Painted turtles but not in the population of Eastern Snapping turtles. As a whole, the sex ratios inside the wetland complex were not skewed. These results reinforce the conclusions of a previous study of a single wetland within this same complex that had found a correlation between road mortality and a male-skewed sex ratio in Midland painted turtles. We discuss population sources and sinks within the complex and the importance of protecting the overland corridors that support the safe turtle movements within this provincially significant wetland complex.York University Librarie

Dissecting static and dynamic functional connectivity: Example from the autism spectrum

The ability to measure the intrinsic functional architecture of the brain has grown exponentially over the last 2 decades. Measures of intrinsic connectivity within the brain, typically measured using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have evolved from primarily “static” approaches, to include dynamic measures of functional connectivity. Measures of dynamic functional connectivity expand the assumptions to allow brain regions to have temporally different patterns of communication between different regions. That is, connections within the brain can differentially fire between different regions at different times, and these differences can be quantified. Applying approaches that measure the dynamic characteristics of functional brain connectivity have been fruitful in identifying differences during brain development and psychopathology. We provide a brief overview of static and dynamic measures of functional connectivity and illustrate the synergy in applying these approaches to identify both age-related differences in children and differences between typically developing children and children with autistic symptoms

Correlation of Clinical Symptoms with Temporal and Frontoparietal Lobe Response During an Auditory \u27Odball\u27 Task of Chronic and First Episode Schizophrenia Patients (N=190)

The disorder of schizophrenia is defined by the presence of positive and negative clinical symptoms. One of the hallmark positive symptoms is the presence of auditory hallucinations which have previously been studied to involve bilateral temporal lobe anamolies. Our study seeks to further define and potentially quantify these anamolies in temporal lobe response by looking at the correlation of clinical symptoms with temporal lobe activation. To accomplish this task we have subjected 22 first episode and 64 chronic patients along with 104 matched healthy controls to a functional MRI scan while undergoing an auditory oddball\u27 task. Analysis of this data is unique in the use of independent component analysis (ICA) via Matlab toolbox (GIFT). Results showed expected positive activation patterns for temporal lobe activity across all participants but revealed no statistically significant differences within patient populations (first episode (FE) vs. chronic) or between patients and matched healthy controls. We observed strong correlation coefficients for both patient groups as positive symptoms were negatively correlated to temporal lobe response (FE rho = -0.31, chronic rho = -0.20). Negative symptoms were positively correlated but only statistically significant for first episode patients (rho = +0.23). This data is consistent with other studies involving EEG recordings of P300 amplitude response. Finally, in analyzing frontoparietal (FP) lobe activation we showed statistically signficant activation differences between patients and controls. This result could potentially be used as a future diagnostic test. In addition, we uncovered another point of asymmetry in first episode patients whose right FP lobe showed a nearly two-fold correlation coefficient value versus the left FP lobe for negative symptoms. This unique asymmetry could offer a new area of focus for future researchers into the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.\u2

Investigating strength and range of motion of the hip complex in ice hockey athletes

CONTEXT: Ice hockey athletes frequently injure the hip complex via a non-contact mechanism. We investigated patterns of strength and range of motion (ROM) to establish major differences compared to soccer athletes. Soccer athletes were compared to ice hockey athletes due to similarities between the two sports with regards to the intermittent nature and high number of lower limb injuries. OBJECTIVE: To compare the differences in ROM and strength of the hip for both the dominant (Dom) and non-dominant (Ndom) limb in ice hockey and soccer athletes. DESIGN: Case control study. SETTING: Bilateral ROM in hip flexion in sitting (FS) and lying (FL), extension, abduction, adduction, and internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER) was measured using a goniometer and assessed for strength using a hand held dynamometer on both the Dom and Ndom limbs. Participants. Twenty four male, active, uninjured NCAA division III ice hockey (16) and soccer (8) athletes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: ROM and strength for hip FS, FL extension, abduction, adduction, IR and ER. A mixed model ANOVA was used to investigate interactions and main effects. RESULTS: Ice hockey athletes exhibited greater hip adduction ROM compared to soccer athletes in the Dom leg (both p=0.002) and when both limbs were combined (p = 0.010). Ice hockey athletes had less ROM in ER (p = 0.042) than soccer athletes. Ice hockey athletes displayed less strength in adduction in their Ndom leg compared to their Dom leg (p=0.02) along with less adduction than soccer players in their Ndom leg (p=0.40). Ice hockey athletes displayed less strength in hip adduction (p=0.030), FS (p=0.023) and FL (p=0.030) than soccer athletes. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that ice hockey athletes may present an 'at risk' profile for non-contact hip injuries, in comparison with soccer athletes with regards to strength and ROM of the hip

Flexible Ablators Char Depths LHMEL Test Results

Char and pyrolysis zone depths give physical evidence of peak temperature reached in depth: The pyrolyzing material acts as a temperature indicator within its characteristic thermal decomposition range. A matrix of novel flexible ablators were laser tested in one component of material screening for NASA Entry, Descent and Landing research for future Mars missions. LHMEL tests were run both on virgin materials, and on previously charred materials for a dual pulse simulation of the heating due to aerocapture followed by atmospheric entry. The test models were machined to expose the cross-sections. Char measurements were made at three locations near the center of the exposed area. Data are presented showing the char depths developed in these flexible materials, grouped by reinforcing fiber and pyrolyzing material type

Developmental Changes in Dynamic Functional Connectivity From Childhood Into Adolescence

The longitudinal study of typical neurodevelopment is key for understanding deviations due to specific factors, such as psychopathology. However, research utilizing repeated measurements remains scarce. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have traditionally examined connectivity as ‘static’ during the measurement period. In contrast, dynamic approaches offer a more comprehensive representation of functional connectivity by allowing for different connectivity configurations (time varying connectivity) throughout the scanning session. Our objective was to characterize the longitudinal developmental changes in dynamic functional connectivity in a population-based pediatric sample. Resting-state MRI data were acquired at the ages of 10 (range 8-to-12, n = 3,327) and 14 (range 13-to-15, n = 2,404) years old using a single, study-dedicated 3 Tesla scanner. A fully-automated spatially constrained group-independent component analysis (ICA) was applied to decompose multi-subject resting-state data into functionally homogeneous regions. Dynamic functional network connectivity (FNC) between all ICA time courses were computed using a tapered sliding window approach. We used a k-means algorithm to cluster the resulting dynamic FNC windows from each scan session into five dynamic states. We examined age and sex associations using linear mixed-effects models. First, independent from the dynamic states, we found a general increase in the temporal variability of the connections between intrinsic connectivity networks with increasing age. Second, when examining the clusters of dynamic FNC windows, we observed that the time spent in less modularized states, with low intra- and inter-network connectivity, decreased with age. Third, the number of transitions between states also decreased with age. Finally, compared to boys, girls showed a more mature pattern of dynamic brain connectivity, indicated by more time spent in a highly modularized state, less time spent in specific states that are frequently observed at a younger age, and a lower number of transitions between states. This longitudinal population-based study demonstrates age-related maturation in dynamic intrinsic neural activity from childhood into adolescence and offers a meaningful baseline for comparison with deviations from typical development. Given that several behavioral and cognitive processes also show marked changes through childhood and adolescence, dynamic functional connectivity should also be explored as a potential neurobiological determinant of such changes

CD5 Expression by Dendritic Cells Directs T Cell Immunity and Sustains Immunotherapy Responses

The induction of proinflammatory T cells by dendritic cell (DC) subtypes is critical for antitumor responses and effective immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. Here, we show that human CD1c+CD5+ DCs are reduced in melanoma-affected lymph nodes, with CD5 expression on DCs correlating with patient survival. Activating CD5 on DCs enhanced T cell priming and improved survival after ICB therapy. CD5+ DC numbers increased during ICB therapy, and low interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations promoted their de novo differentiation. Mechanistically, CD5 expression by DCs was required to generate optimally protective CD5hi T helper and CD8+ T cells; further, deletion of CD5 from T cells dampened tumor elimination in response to ICB therapy in vivo. Thus, CD5+ DCs are an essential component of optimal ICB therapy