Exploratory study of atmospheric methane enhancements derived from natural gas use in the Houston urban area

Publication date: March 2018
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 176
Author(s): Nancy P. Sanchez, Chuantao Zheng, Weilin Ye, Beata Czader, Daniel S. Cohan, Frank K. Tittel, Robert J. Griffin
The extensive use of natural gas (NG) in urban areas for heating and cooking and as a vehicular fuel is associated with potentially significant emissions of methane (CH4) to the atmosphere. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas that influences the chemistry of the atmosphere, can be emitted from different sources including leakage from NG infrastructure, transportation activities, end-use uncombusted NG, landfills and livestock. Although significant CH4 leakage associated with aging local NG distribution systems in the U.S. has been reported, further investigation is required to study the role of this infrastructure component and other NG-related sources in atmospheric CH4 enhancements in urban centers. In this study, neighborhood-scale mobile-based monitoring of potential CH4 emissions associated with NG in the Greater Houston area (GHA) is reported. A novel dual-gas 3.337 μm interband cascade laser-based sensor system was developed and mobile-mode deployed for simultaneous CH4 and ethane (C2H6) monitoring during a period of over 14 days, corresponding to ∼ 90 h of effective data collection during summer 2016. The sampling campaign covered ∼250 exclusive road miles and was primarily concentrated on eight residential zones with distinct infrastructure age and NG usage levels. A moderate number of elevated CH4 concentration events (37 episodes) with mixing ratios not exceeding 3.60 ppmv and associated with atmospheric background enhancements below 1.21 ppmv were observed during the field campaign. Source discrimination analyses based on the covariance between CH4 and C2H6 levels indicated the predominance of thermogenic sources (e.g., NG) in the elevated CH4 concentration episodes. The volumetric fraction of C2H6 in the sources associated with the thermogenic CH4 spikes varied between 2.7 and 5.9%, concurring with the C2H6 content in NG distributed in the GHA. Isolated CH4 peak events with significantly higher C2H6 enhancements (∼11%) were observed at industrial areas and locations with high density of petroleum and gas pipelines in the GHA, indicating potential variability in Houston's thermogenic CH4 sources.



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Detection of nuclear testing from surface concentration measurements: Analysis of radioxenon from the February 2013 underground test in North Korea

Publication date: March 2018
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 176
Author(s): R.J. Kurzeja, R.L. Buckley, D.W. Werth, S.R. Chiswell
A method is outlined and tested to detect low level nuclear or chemical sources from time series of concentration measurements. The method uses a mesoscale atmospheric model to simulate the concentration signature from a known or suspected source at a receptor which is then regressed successively against segments of the measurement series to create time series of metrics that measure the goodness of fit between the signatures and the measurement segments. The method was applied to radioxenon data from the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) collection site in Ussuriysk, Russia (RN58) after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) underground nuclear test on February 12, 2013 near Punggye. The metrics were found to be a good screening tool to locate data segments with a strong likelihood of origin from Punggye, especially when multiplied together to a determine the joint probability. Metrics from RN58 were also used to find the probability that activity measured in February and April of 2013 originated from the Feb 12 test. A detailed analysis of an RN58 data segment from April 3/4, 2013 was also carried out for a grid of source locations around Punggye and identified Punggye as the most likely point of origin. Thus, the results support the strong possibility that radioxenon was emitted from the test site at various times in April and was detected intermittently at RN58, depending on the wind direction. The method does not locate unsuspected sources, but instead, evaluates the probability of a source at a specified location. However, it can be extended to include a set of suspected sources. Extension of the method to higher resolution data sets, arbitrary sampling, and time-varying sources is discussed along with a path to evaluate uncertainty in the calculated probabilities.



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Removal of lead and cadmium from aqueous solutions by using 4-amino-3-hydroxynaphthalene sulfonic acid-doped polypyrrole films

Abstract

Water pollution by heavy metals is a great health concern worldwide. Lead and cadmium are among the most toxic heavy metals because they are dangerous for the human and aquatic lives. In this work, the removal of lead and cadmium from aqueous solutions has been studied using electrosynthesized 4-amino-3-hydroxynaphthalene-1-sulfonic acid-doped polypyrrole (AHNSA-PPy) films as a new adsorbent. Two distinct methods, including the immersion method, based on the Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ spontaneous removal by impregnation of the polymer in the solution, and the electro-elimination method, consisting of removal of Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ ions from the solution by applying a small electrical current (5 mA) to the polymer film, were developed: the evolution of Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ concentrations with time was monitored by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The effect of pH on the adsorption and electro-elimination of Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ using the AHNSA-PPy film was investigated and optimized, showing that the ionic adsorption and electro-elimination processes were highly pH-dependent. The kinetics of Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ adsorption and electro-elimination were found to follow second-order curves. The maximum adsorption capacity values of the AHNSA-PPy film were 64.0 and 50.4 mg/g, respectively, for Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺. The removal efficiency values were, respectively, for Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺, 80 and 63% by the immersion method, and 93 and 85% by the electro-elimination method. Application of both methods to Senegal natural waters, fortified with Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺, led to removal efficiency values of, respectively for Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺, 76–77 and 58–59% by the immersion method, and of 82–90 and 80–83%, by the electro-elimination method.

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BRCA1 mutation spectrum, functions and therapeutic strategies: The story so far

Publication date: Available online 8 January 2018
Source:Current Problems in Cancer
Author(s): Babita Sharma, Raman Preet Kaur, Sonali Raut, Anjana Munshi




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Adipocytokines and Breast Cancer

Publication date: Available online 8 January 2018
Source:Current Problems in Cancer
Author(s): Jiajia Li, Xianghui Han
A substantial number of studies have revealed that a growing list of cancers might be influenced by obesity. In this regard, one of the most prominent and well characterized cancers is breast cancer, the leading cause of cancer death among women. Obesity is associated with an increased risk for the occurrence and development of breast cancer particular in postmenopausal women. Moreover, the relationship between adiposity and breast cancer risk is complex, with associations that differ depending on when body size is assessed (e.g., pre- versus postmenopausal obesity) and when breast cancer is diagnosed (i.e., pre- versus postmenopausal disease). Obesity is mainly due to excessive fat accumulation in the regional tissue. Adipocytes in obese individuals produce endocrine, inflammatory, and angiogenic factors to affect adjacent breast cancer cells. Adipocytokines, are biologically active polypeptides that are produced either exclusively or substantially by adipocytes, play a critical and complex role, and act by endocrine, paracrine, and autocrine pathways in the malignant progression of breast cancer. Furthermore, the increased levels of leptin, resistin and decreased adiponectin secretion are directly associated with breast cancer development. And there are also many studies indicating that adipocytokines could mediate the survival, growth, invasion, and metastasis of breast cancer cells by different cellular and molecular mechanisms to reduce the survival time and prompt the malignancy. In present review, we discuss the correlations between several adipocytokines and breast cancer cells in obesity as well as the underlying signaling pathways to provide the novel ideas for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.



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Drug Development and Clinical Trial Design in Pancreatico-biliary malignancies

Publication date: Available online 8 January 2018
Source:Current Problems in Cancer
Author(s): Jennifer Harrington, Louise Carter, Bristi Basu, Natalie Cook
Pancreatico-biliary tumours arise from the pancreas, bile duct and Ampulla of Vater. Despite their close anatomical location, they have different aetiology and biology. However, they uniformly share a poor prognosis, with no major improvements observed in overall survival over decades, even in the face of progress in diagnostic imaging, surgical techniques and advances in systemic and loco-regional radiation therapies. To date, cytotoxic treatment has been associated with modest benefits in the advanced disease setting, and survival for patients with stage IV disease has not exceeded a year. Therefore, there is a pressing need to identify better treatments which may impact more significantly. . Frequently, encouraging signals of potential efficacy for novel agents in early phase clinical trials have been followed by disappointing failures in larger Phase III trials [1,2] , raising the valid question of how drug development can be optimised for patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma and biliary tract malignancies (P-B tumours).In this paper we summarise the current therapeutic options for these patients and their limitations. The biological context of these cancers is reviewed, highlighting features that may make them resistant to standard chemotherapeutics and could be potential therapeutic targets. We discuss the role of early phase clinical trials, defined as Phase I and non-randomised Phase 2 trials, within the clinical context and current therapeutic landscape of P-B tumours and postulate how translational studies and trial design may enable better realisation of emerging targets together with a proposed model for future patient management. A detailed summary of current Phase I clinical trials in P-B tumours is provided.



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Primary Hepatic Marginal zone Lymphoma: A rare coincidence

Publication date: Available online 8 January 2018
Source:Current Problems in Cancer
Author(s): Soumya Surath Panda, Manas Baisakh, Adyakinkar Panda, Hemlata Das
Primary hepatic lymphoma (PHL) is an extremely rare disease and is often misdiagnosed. The optimal therapy is still unclear and the outcomes are uncertain. Among PHLs, a primary hepatic low-grade marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) is still rarer. The present study reports the case of an elderly female diagnosed with primary hepatic lymphoma (MALT lymphoma) and treated with single agent rituximab. After 18 months, she had a progressive disease and developed Waldenstorms Macroglobulinemia concomitantly. To date, the patient has received two cycles of the RCOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone) regimen and patient′s condition is presently stable. This case is reported for its rarity and to convey the importance of the meticulous examination of the tissue. Diagnosis of this condition is important, because the disease is treatable.



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Towards an international language for Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis (IAD): design and evaluation of psychometric properties of the Ghent Global IAD Categorisation Tool (GLOBIAD) in 30 countries

Summary

Background

Incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) is a specific type of irritant contact dermatitis with different levels of severity. An internationally accepted instrument to assess the severity of IAD in adults with established diagnostic accuracy, agreement, and reliability is needed to support clinical practice and research.

Objectives

To design and psychometrically evaluate the Ghent Global IAD Categorisation Tool (GLOBIAD).

Methods

The design was based on expert consultation using a three-round Delphi procedure with 34 experts from 13 countries. The instrument was tested using IAD photographs reflecting different severity levels in a sample of 823 health professionals in 30 countries. Measures for diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity and specificity), agreement, inter-rater reliability (multi-rater Fleiss kappa), and intra-rater reliability (Cohen's Kappa) were assessed.

Results

The GLOBIAD consists of two categories according to the presence of persistent redness (Cat.1) and skin loss (Cat.2), both subdivided based on the presence of clinical signs of infection. The agreement for differentiating between Cat.1 and Cat.2 was 0.86 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.86-0.87], with a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 84%. The overall agreement was 0.55 (95%CI 0.55-0.56). The Fleiss Kappa for differentiating between Cat.1 and Cat.2 was 0.65 (95%CI 0.65-0.65). The overall Fleiss Kappa was 0.41 (95%CI 0.41-0.41). The Cohen's Kappa for differentiating between Cat.1 and Cat.2 was 0.76 (95%CI 0.75-0.77). The overall Cohen's Kappa was 0.61 (95%CI 0.59-0.62).

Conclusions

The development of the GLOBIAD is a major step forward towards a better systematic assessment of IAD in clinical practice and research worldwide. Further validation is however needed.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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Scholar : Obstructive sleep apnea - νέα αποτελέσματα

Predictors of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Consecutive Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

RP Pedrosa, C Maki-Nunes, T Midlej-Brito, HF Lopes… - Metabolic Syndrome and …, 2018

Abstract Background: Recent evidence suggests that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is
common in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and may contribute to metabolic
deregulation, inflammation, and atherosclerosis in these patients. In clinical practice,

Altered Regional Brain Cortical Thickness in Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea

PM Macey, JP Prasad, RA Ma, R Kumar, MF Philby… - Frontiers in Neurology, 2018

Rationale: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects 2-5% of all children, and is associated with
cognitive and behavioral deficits, resulting in poor school performance. These psychological
deficits may arise from brain injury, as seen in preliminary findings of lower gray matter

Publication trends and levels of evidence in obstructive sleep apnea literature

CJ Gouveia, S Zaghi, M Awad, M Camacho, SYC Liu… - The Laryngoscope, 2017

Methods Review of OSA research articles from 2006, 2011, and 2016 in four leading
medical sleep and otolaryngology journals. Level of evidence was graded, and study
characteristics were measured. Results Seven hundred eight total articles were reviewed.

Cerebral blood flow, oxygen metabolism and lactate during hypoxia in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

MLF Jensen, MB Vestergaard, P Tønnesen… - Sleep, 2018

Study objectives Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with increased risk of stroke
but the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. We suspect that the normal
cerebrovascular response to hypoxia is disturbed in patients with OSA. Methods Global

… IL-6 levels in obese children and adolescents with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus/impaired glucose tolerance and their association with obstructive sleep apnea

S Shalitin, V Deutsch, R Tauman - Journal of Endocrinological Investigation, 2018

Abstract Purpose Obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and obstructive sleep apnea
(OSA) are associated with chronic low-grade inflammation. Iron metabolism is linked with
insulin-resistant states and with OSA in adults. The association of body iron status with

Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children with Elevated Blood Pressure

J Hinkle, HV Connolly, HR Adams, MB Lande - Journal of the American Society of …, 2018

Abstract The objective was to determine the prevalence of habitual snoring and obstructive
sleep apnea (OSA) in a cohort of children referred for elevated BP, and to determine the
association between OSA and blood pressure elevation, learning difficulties, and behavioral

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome

SLS Melo, Z Li, K Kamburoğlu, Y Shigeta, T Ogawa… - Maxillofacial Cone Beam …, 2018

Abstract Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) describes a group of disorders characterized by
a disturbance in normal respiratory pattern during sleep. Those related to increased upper
airway resistance include snoring, respiratory effort related arousals (RERA), upper airway

Intraoral Orthosis for Mandibular Advancement for Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

J Smith - US Patent 20,170,360,595, 2017

Abstract: Provided herein is an intraoral orthosis to remedy snoring and/or sleep apnoea via
a mandibular advancing action during sleep. Maxilla and mandibular retainers fit the teeth
and are coupled with a pair of side retention straps to advance the lower jaw to prevent

Serum Romo1 is significantly associated with disease severity in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

L Ye, Y Qian, Q Li, S Fang, Z Yang, Y Tan, W Gu - Sleep and Breathing, 2018

Abstract Purpose We aim to evaluate reactive oxygen species modulator 1 (Romo1) levels
in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and analyze its possible relationships to OSAS
severity, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Additionally, we also

Different polysomnographic patterns in military veterans with obstructive sleep apnea in those with and without post-traumatic stress disorder

F Rezaeitalab, N Mokhber, Y Ravanshad, S Saberi… - Sleep and Breathing, 2018

Abstract Introduction and objectives Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent disorder
among military veterans. The goal of this study is to compare the polysomnographic patterns
of OSA in military veterans who have a history of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with

 

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Scholar : ΜΑΣΤΟΕΙΔΙΤΙΣ - νέα αποτελέσμ

[HTML] Systematic approach by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in cochlear implantation candidates in Suez Canal University Hospital

AS Al-Rawy, M al-Shatouri, M El Tabbakh, AA Gad - The Egyptian Journal of …, 2018

… The IAC was atretic (<2.8 mm) in 1 ear (1.7%) and duplicated in another ear (1.7%) with a
horizontal bony septum detected by CT. Mastoiditis was found in 3 ears (5.2%) and otomastoiditis
in 10 ears (17.2%). Two stenotic external ears (diameter <4 mm) (3.4%) …

Lemierre's syndrome: a pain in the neck with far-reaching consequences

TJ Stubington, P James - BMJ Case Reports, 2018

… throat with isolates from individuals with Lemierre's syndrome found no significant
difference.5 Lemierre included in his original definition other primary sources of infection resulting
in septic emboli and infective metastases including otitis media, mastoiditis, appendicitis and …

Bacterial Infections of the Central Nervous System

R Suthar, N Sankhyan - The Indian Journal of Pediatrics, 2018

… Bacterial invasion from contiguous foci (otitis media, sinusitis, mastoiditis) can occur and most
frequent organisms are streptococcus species, staphylococcus or can be polymicrobial (anaerobes
and gram-negative organisms) … Otitis media and mastoiditis Middle ear …

Temporal Bone

MS Mehr, A Ruprecht, K Kamburoğlu - Maxillofacial Cone Beam Computed …, 2018

In comparison to traditional medical computed tomography (CT) systems,
dental cone bean computed tomography (CBCT) units offer reduced effective
radiation doses, shorter acquisition scan times, easier.

[HTML] Guidelines for the Antibiotic Use in Adults with Acute Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

YK Yoon, CS Park, JW Kim, K Hwang, SY Lee, TH Kim… - Infection & Chemotherapy, 2017

KoreaMed Synapse …

Risk factors of sensorineural hearing loss in patients with unilateral safe chronic suppurative otitis media

AEA Singer, OGAN Awad, RMA El-Kader… - American Journal of …, 2018

Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is the major cause of hearing impairment, especially
conductive hearing loss. Few patients also had sensorineural compon.

[PDF] Antibiotic use and bacterial complications following upper respiratory tract infections: a population based study

I Eriksson

… Results The utilization of respiratory tract antibiotics decreased by 22% from 2006 to 2015 but
no increased trend for mastoiditis (p=0.0933), peritonsillitis (p=0.0544), invasive group A
streptococcal disease (p=0.3991), orbital abscess (p=0.9637), extra- and subdural abscess (p …

[PDF] Successful treatment in a patient with sudden cardiac arrest due to anomalous left coronary artery arising from pulmonary artery

L ZHOU, X LI, M QI, A WANG

… basal ganglia had disappeared, the bilateral gyrus swelling had significantly improved, the
morphology and size of the arachnoid cyst at the left temporal pole were basically unchanged,
the bilateral sinus inflammation had improved, and the bilateral mastoiditis was slightly …

[PDF] Direct and Indirect Impact of 13-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13) on Invasive Pneumococcal Disease (IPD) Among Children and Adults in the US

M Farley, T Pilishvili, R Gierke, W Schaffner, A Thomas…

… For PCV13 ST, the types of IPD were pneumonia (n = 39), mastoiditis (n = 15), bacteremia (n =
15), meningitis (n = 12) and other sites of infec- tion (n = 9). Whereas the numbers of yearly cases
were similar for ST3 (12, 10, 13) and ST19A (8, 10, 6), the numbers for 19F …

Plexus and peripheral nerve metastasis

KG Gwathmey - Handbook of Clinical Neurology, 2018

Cancer in the form of solid tumors, leukemia, and lymphoma can infiltrate and metastasize
to the peripheral nervous system, including the cranial nerves, nerve.

 

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