bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A new type 1 diabetes susceptibility locus containing the catalase gene (chromosome 11p13) in a Russian population
Authors: Chistiakov D. A. , Savost'anov K. V. , Turakulov R. I. , Titovich E. V. , Zilberman L. I. , Kuraeva T. L. , Dedov I. I. , Nosikov V. V. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractBackgroundOxidative stress is involved in the origin of type 1 diabetes. Low efficiency of the scavenging antioxidant system has been shown to be related to the pathogenesis of the disease. This, therefore suggests that genes encoding catalase and other antioxidant enzymes may implicate in the development of type 1 diabetes.MethodsNine microsatellite markers that cover about 10 megabases around the catalase (CAT) gene on chromosome 11p13 were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fluorescence‐based genotyping on an automatic DNA sequencer. We also evaluated three single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) within genes encoding catalase (T1667T and C(−262)T dimorphism) and ETS homologous factor (EHF) (C255T SNP) using a PCR‐restriction fragment‐length polymorphism approach. Multipont linkage analysis in 37 affected sibling pairs was performed using GENEHUNTER 2.1. We examined the markers for association with the disease by transmission disequilibrium tests in 57 discordant sibling pairs and by a case–control study in 258 unrelated healthy donors and 247 affected patients.ResultsWe obtained close‐to‐suggestive evidence of linkage to type I diabetes, with the maximum linkage peak between markers D11S907 and D11S2008. Analysis of three SNPs at theCATandEHFgene located within the region of maximum linkage showed that T1667T and C(−262)T markers of theCATgene are strongly associated with the disease.ConclusionOur findings support evidence of a new putative type 1 diabetes susceptibility locus on chromosome 11p13 and suggest that theCATgene may play a role in conferring susceptibility to the disorder in Russian patients. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inhibition of Notch signaling biases rat thymocyte development towards the NK cell lineage
Authors: van den Brandt Jens , Voss Katrin , Schott Melanie , Hünig Thomas , Wolfe Michael S. , Reichardt Holger M. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractNotch receptors are involved in directing the choice between alternative cell fates in developmental scenarios such as thymopoiesis. By pharmacological interference in rat fetal thymus organ culture we show that inhibition of Notch signaling arrests T cell development at an early double‐negative stage and is accompanied by a dramatic increase in the number of NK cells. These cells show an activated phenotype, lack recombination of the TCRβ gene locus and express perforin. Similarly, in thymic lobes reconstituted with fetal liver cells, progenitors predominantly develop into NK cells both after pharmacological interference of Notch and after treatment with a recombinant rat Notch1/Fc chimera. Collectively, this identifies the lineage decision of NK/T precursor cells as an important site of Notch action in rat thymocytes.
Supercritical fluid process for removal of polychlorodibenzodioxin and dibenzofuran from fly ash
Authors: Gdbarra P. , Cogollo A. , Recasens F. , Fernandez‐Escobar I. , Abad E. , Bayona J. M. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractA process is proposed for the decontamination of fly ash from an urban solid‐waste incineration facility (USWI), where the target contaminants are polychlorodibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs), a class of highly toxic tricyclo‐polychlorinated organics. In general, the ash waste requires inertization and disposal into a controlled landfill. Here, we propose an inertization process based on the reduction of the PCDDs and PCDFs content before dumping. Inertization is brought about by extraction with a solvent consisting of supercritical carbon dioxide modified with a co‐solvent (10% toluene). The plant would run in semibatch mode, with continuous flow of fluid through a packed bed of fly ash. Then, carbon dioxide and the co‐solvent would be separated and recycled. Favorable extraction conditions were found in the laboratory at 300 bar and 60°C. Under these conditions, the removal efficiency of native PCDDs and PCDFs is around 50% refereed to the extraction of the same sample using the EPA method 1613 (Soxhlet extraction with toluene). A techno‐economic appraisal of a treatment facility is presented for a medium sized incineration plant (50,000 ton urban waste yearly) producing 1,500 ton of fly ash/y. The ash production would be inertised in a specially designed supercritical fluid (SCF) extraction unit, located on‐site at the incineration facility.
The GSA dry scrubbing technology for retrofit applications
Authors: Felsvang Karsten , Olsen Peter Bo , Jensen Flemming , Olsen John , Kumar Sam 
Published: April 2004

AbstractCompliance with new legislation in Europe and United States requires retrofitting of scrubbing technology on a large number of existing waste‐to‐energy plants to control emissions of acid gases, dioxins/furans and heavy metals, especially mercury.This paper describes the gas suspension absorber (GSA) dry scrubbing technology developed by FLS miljø a/s, Denmark. GSA is a new generation of the semi‐dry technology utilizing a circulating fluidized bed as absorber for acid gases, dioxin and heavy metals. The paper describes the GSA technology and focuses on the GSA as retrofit technology for waste‐to‐energy plants. The advantages of retrofitting the GSA upstream of an existing electrostatic precipitator are highlighted.A description of the operating experience with GSA technology for waste‐to‐energy plants and performance test results for particulate, acid gases, dioxins and mercury removal from several European waste‐to‐energy plants is given in this paper.
Generation and disposal of petroleum processing waste that contains mercury
Authors: Wilhelm S. Mark 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThe origins and fate of mercury found in hydrocarbons are discussed from the perspective of waste minimization, treatment and disposal. Mercury is a common and naturally occurring component of petroleum. Petroleum processing often is accompanied by generation of waste streams that contain some mercury. These waste streams become problematic when the mercury concentration in process feeds exceeds a few ppb because of the highly toxic nature of mercury.Waste is minimized by mercury removal systems that are now prevalent for many processes, but the main incentive to employ such systems is to protect equipment and catalysts. The removal systems have varied waste disposal consequences depending on their chemical properties and process location. Absent mercury removal systems, mercury contamination results in sludge, sediments, contaminated treatment fluids and a variety of other waste streams that must be carefully controlled, segregated and treated for disposal.Waste containing mercury is characterized by chemical analysis that is capable of speciating the various forms of mercury and mercury compounds so as to be able to select treatment and disposal options. In many locations where the mercury concentration in process feeds is high, treatment systems for mercury are not readily available resulting in storage of toxic material for long periods of time. Both chemical and thermal treatment systems are commercially available, but access to cost effective treatment is extremely limited in the petroleum industry.
Biofiltration of asphalt emissions: Full‐scale operation treating off‐gases from polymer‐modified asphalt production
Authors: Cook Lawrence L. , Apel William A. , Gostomski Peter A. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractIn response to complaints from nearby residents, a biofilter was designed, installed, and tested for treating odors in one of three odorous emission streams from an asphalt plant producing polymer‐modified asphalt. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) was determined to be the most prevalent gaseous reduced sulfur compound and was detected in the emission stream only when polymer material was being added to raw asphalt. Emission stream H2S concentrations we requite variable, ranging from 16 to approximately 30,000 ppm (v/v) and considered the likely compound contributing most to the plant's odor complaints.The biofilter was effective in controlling odor from the production process and removed an overall average of 65% of the H2S during polymer addition, and for H2S concentrations less than 400 ppmv, re m oval averaged 98%. These removal efficiencies reflect data from the biofilter operating at 2.5‐minute empty bed residence time in 1996 and a 6.1‐minute empty bed residence time in 1997.The biofilter's bed became increasingly acidified during the plant's 1997 operating season producing a pH gradient through the bed ranging from a high of 6.6 to a low of 3.1. The bed medium moisture content remained constant at about 60% (wet weight basis), but changes were observed in the water potential: no correlation to performance was determined. Changes in the microbial community reflected the bed acidification trend, with acidophiles becoming gene rally more numerous in the bed's deeper portions and in the mid to late season when the bed was most acidified. Bed acidification did not impact the biofilter's H2S removal efficiency.Nearby residents we resurveyed and roughly half of the respondents indicated that the odor conditions had improved, one‐third felt odor conditions were unchanged and the remaining 15% felt odor conditions were worse despite the fact that only one of three of the plant's odorous emission streams were treated by the biofilter. Plans are to implement biofiltration for odor control at all of the facility's emission points.
Case study: Biofiltration of styrene and butylacetate at a dashboard manufacturer
Authors: McGrath Michael S. , Nieuwland Jan‐Carel , van Lith Chris 
Published: April 2004

AbstractHolzindustie Bruchsal (HIB) was required to treat moderate levels of styrene emissions from their plastic dashboard manufacturing process. After evaluating many types of control technologies, HIB decided to install a Bioton biofiltration system from Monsanto Enviro‐Chem Systems Inc. (MEC). After the installation of the Bioton biofilter, HIB and MEC learned that large amounts of butylacetate were also present in the off‐gas stream. The presence of butylacetate was found to have inhibitory effects on the removal of styrene. Therefore, MEC performed a series of pilot and laboratory studies to determine if a bacteria strain could be identified that would be capable of removing styrene in the presence of butylacetate. It was found that a specific bacteria strain was capable of achieving high levels of styrene removal without inhibition from butylacetate in laboratory and pilot testing. This strain was inoculated into the full scale system. After acclimation, the full scale inoculation produced a consortium of bacteria that biologically removed the styrene from the dashboard manufacturing process in the presence of butylacetate.
Simple plant‐based design strategies for volatile organic pollutants
Authors: Narayanan Muralidharan , Erickson Larry E. , Davis Lawrence C. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractVegetation which enhances in‐situ biodegradation of organic compounds can play a key role in the bioremediation of such contaminants in polluted soils and groundwater. Plants may act directly on some contaminants by degrading them, but their main effect is to enhance microbial populations in the rhizosphere. Microbially mediated transformations are thus indirectly facilitated by root exudates which nourish the indigenous microorganisms. Plants may also be viewed as a solar driven pump‐and‐treat system which can contain a plume and reduce the spread of contaminated water.Laboratory investigations carried out in a growth chamber with alfalfa plants provide evidence for the (microbially mediated) biodegradation of organic compounds such as toluene, phenol and TCE. Alfalfa plants tolerate concentrations of these organics in contaminated water up to 100 mg/L. They facilitate transfer of the contaminants from the saturated to the vadose zone. For volatile organic compounds such as TCE, vegetation provides a controlled release of compounds and hence assures dilution of the TCE evapotranspired into the atmosphere from contaminated soils. Using a range of calculated plausible scenarios, it is shown that intermedia transfer caused by volatilization associated with plants is most unlikely to lead to exceedance of standards for gas phase contamination, for most volatile contaminants. Possible action level exceedances might occur with highly toxic substances including vinyl chloride and carbon tetrachloride, if they are present in ground water at levels above kilogram amounts in a single plume of a few hectares, and released by vigorously growing plants under hot dry conditions. In formation needed for the calculation and design of plant‐based bioremediation systems for typical sites is discussed in this paper.
Process system optimization for life cycle improvement
Authors: Marano John J. , Rogers Shelby 
Published: April 2004

AbstractLife Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an analytic tool for quantifying the environmental impacts of all processes used in converting raw materials into a final product. The LCA consists of three parts. Life cycle inventory quantifies all material and energy use, and environmental emissions for the entire product life cycle, while impact assessment evaluates actual and potential environmental and human health consequences of the activities identified in the inventory phase. Most importantly, life cycle improvement aims at reducing the risk of these consequences occurring to make the product more benign. When the LCA is performed in conjunction with a technoeconomic analysis, the total economic and environmental benefits and short comings of a product or process can be quantified. A methodology has been developed incorporating process performance, economics, and life cycle inventory data to synthesize process systems, which meet life cycle impact‐improvement targets at least cost. The method relies on a systematic description of the product life cycle and utilizes successive Linear Programming to formulate and optimize the non‐linear, constrained problem which results. The practicality and power of this approach have been demonstrated by examining options for the reduction of emissions of the greenhouse gas CO2 from petroleum‐based fuels.
Odor control in semiconductor manufacturing facilities
Authors: Muller Christopher O. , Joyce Charles Thane , Poppre Michael N. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThroughout the semiconductor industry, the need for controlled atmospheres ‐ free from contaminant gases ‐ for manufacturing processes is no longer just a worrisome concern ‐ it has become a critical reality. Manufacturers have now fully recognized the fact that sensitive electronic components and electrical equipment will be damaged if they are exposed to airborne chemical contamination. More importantly, however, is the recognition that the health and safety of workers can be seriously compromised by over exposure to these same contaminants ‐ many of which are toxic to humans.The total organic chemical concentrations in recirculated air are relatively high in semiconductor clean rooms when comp a red to outdoor or supply air. Low ‐ level exposures to a variety of toxic materials commonly occur from minor leaks and spills as well. Thus, the combined effects of chemical exposures, whether additive or synergistic, are very important. The work ‐ loss rates reported by this industry support many workers' assertions that occupational exposures to chemicals, gases, and other toxic materials commonly occur.Whereas subjective odor measurements are commonly used to initiate many indoor air quality (IAQ) investigations in commercial buildings, this same subjective criteria is many times used as the basis for initiating an evacuation in semiconductor manufacturing facilities. Because of the toxic and hazardous nature of many of the chemicals used in these operations, the detection of even the slightest odor, whether it comes from a leaking process line or a truck parked at the loading dock, may be enough to shut down a manufacturing facility for fear of worker safety.This paper presents odor control issues in semiconductor manufacturing operations from the perspective of employee safety and health, design engineering, and the selection and application of one type of odor control system.
Life cycle assessment: An international experience
Authors: Curran Mary Ann 
Published: April 2004

AbstractLife Cycle Assessment (LCA) is used to evaluate environmental burdens associated with a product, process or activity by identifying and quantifying relevant inputs and outputs of the defined system and evaluating their potential impacts. This article outlines the four components that comprise LCA (goal definition, inventory, impact assessment and interpretation) and addresses various applications of LCA within industry and government. Included are references to several resources that may be used to better understand and apply LCA, such as books, journals, software programs and internet websites.
The use of life cycle analysis within the U.S. department of energy
Authors: Curlee T. Randall , Yuracko Katherine L. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThe U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) decisions regarding D&D, waste management, and the selection of technologies for R, D&D are extremely complex. Historically, DOE decisions were based primarily on meeting near‐term goals. There is evidence that some of those decisions were not optimal in terms of minimizing costs or in terms of minimizing overall environmental and health impacts. Fortunately, DOE is currently embracing the principles of life cycle analysis (LCA) in its decision‐making. The results indicate that DOE is making better decisions since implementing the principles of LCA. This paper discusses LCA from the perspective of DOE and reviews several specific examples of the use of LCA by DOE.
In‐Situ ozonation of contaminated groundwater
Authors: Nimmer Michael A. , Wayner Brian D. , Allen Morr A. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThis paper presents case studies in the application of insitu ozone sparging to remediate petroleum contaminated groundwater. This technology was developed and installed due to shortcomings with other conventional remedial technologies evaluated for groundwater remediation. The main objective of this study was to develop a system to supply ozone to the groundwater aquifer and to evaluate the system performance in the field. Three different applications were evaluated for this study, all containing petroleum‐contaminated groundwater.The ozone sparging system consists of an air compressor, ozone generator, a programmable logic controller, and associated gauges and controls. The mixture of air and ozone is injected into the groundwater aquifer through microporous sparge points contained in various sparge well designs.The initial results from the three applications demonstrated that ozone sparging is a viable alternative to remediate petroleum ‐contaminated groundwater. Significant reductions in petroleum constituents we re observed shortly after system start‐up at all sites. During the one to two years operation at the three sites, a number of maintenance items we re identified; these items we re addressed by modifications to the system design and operation. A long‐term evaluation of the system operation has not yet been performed.
Conversion of soil remediating incinerators into industrial waste incinerators
Authors: Acharya Prakash , Hay George H. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractSoil Remediating Incinerators (SRIs) in the United States (US) were primarily deployed at United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Superfund sites and sometimes at commercial sites in the last two decades. The remediation of these sites by incineration seemed to peak in the late 1980's and early 1990's. The decline in the use of these incinerators is due to changing economics (price per ton of soil processed), challenges in the system permitting and siting, competing technologies (such as high capacity direct and indirect‐fired Thermal Desorption Systems), and the incorrect public perception that these systems endanger human health and pollute the environment. Many of these sophisticated, well‐proven transportable units are currently idle while applications for them are being sought. Since the domestic market has changed, leading companies have started converting these units into Indus trial Waste Incinerators (IWIs) for international deployment.The primary issues for conversion are economic, regulatory and technical. The economic aspects include country‐specific project financing issues and the sometimes high costs of retrofitting existing systems. Regulatory issues include stack gas, ash and wastewater discharge criteria. Some Asian and Latin American countries have more stringent criteria than those in the US, requiring expensive upgrade of air pollution controls. The technical challenges of waste preparation and feed systems for multiple‐feed IWIs are significantly greater than those of single feed soil remediation systems. The waste feeds for IWIs are typically received in bulk shipments, tankers and drums; their physical proper ties present a variety of material handling challenges; and their compositions represent a wide range of complex waste profiles that further complicate meeting stringent discharge criteria. These issues, opportunities and challenges associated with conversion are discussed in this paper. Available data on the feed characteristics and performance of IWIs are also presented.
Membrane separation in solvent lube dewaxing
Authors: Gould Ronald M. , White Lloyd S. , Wildemuth Craig R. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractExxon Mobil Corporation and W.R. Grace have developed an enhanced process for recovering solvents used in the refining of lubricants. The membrane‐based process provides higher yields of lube oil, while simultaneously consuming less energy, decreasing cooling water use, and potentially reducing the level of volatile organic emissions from the dewaxing operation. The yield increase equates to a process savings, for a typical commercial plant, of about 2 million barrels of crude oil per year. By recovering and recycling the dewaxing solvent while bypassing the energy intensive parts of the plant, a single facility could reduce fuel oil consumption by 36,000 barrels/year, and greenhouse gas emissions by about 20,000 tons/year for each plant. The same plant would reduce cooling water use by nearly 4 million gallons/day, and, the release of dewaxing solvents, which are volatile organic materials, could be decreased by 50–200 tons/year per plant depending on the mechanical condition of its equipment. This technology was first implemented commercially at Exxon Mobil's Beaumont, Texas, Refinery. It can be easily retrofitted into existing plants or incorporated into new plant designs, and is currently available for license as the trademarked process MAX‐DEWAX®.
Polymeric composite ultrafiltration membranes for non‐aqueous applications
Authors: Peinemann K.‐V. , Ebert K. , Hicke H.‐G. , Scharnagl N. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractChemically and thermally resistant membranes suitable for the separation of low molecular weight substances from organic solvents were developed. Porous membranes from polyacrylonitrile and polyamideimide were optimized for this application. Cellulose ethers, like hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) and polyether‐block‐polyamides, were used as selective coatings. Special attention was paid to the separation of edible oil/solvent mixtures. Composite membranes with 99% oil retention could be prepared with HPMC as selective layer.