Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of ethanol produced via fermentation of sugars derived from shrub willow (Salix ssp.) hot water extraction in the Northeast United States.

BACKGROUND: The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been on the rise for more than a century. Bioenergy crops are seen by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as an essential part of the solution to addressing climate change. To understand the potential impact of shrub willow (Salix spp.) crop in the northeast United States, effective and transparent life cycle assessment of these systems needs to occur. RESULTS: Here we show, ethanol produced from the fermentation of sugars from hot water extract of willow grown on cropland can sequester 0.012 ± 0.003 kg CO2eq MJ-1 for a supply system incorporating summer harvest and storage. Despite decreases in soil organic carbon when willow is instead grown on grassland, the produced fuel still can provide significant climate benefits compared to gasoline. CONCLUSIONS: Shrub willow converted to ethanol can be a carbon negative source of transportation fuel when the electricity and heat required for the conversion process are generated from renewable biomass. The sequestration of carbon in the belowground portion of the plants is essential for the negative GHG balance for cropland and low GHG emissions in grassland.

Psychological and social impacts of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in the home.

BACKGROUND: The majority of cardiac arrests occur in the home. The placement of AEDs in the homes of at-risk patients may save lives through early defibrillation. However, the impact of having an AED in the home on psychological outcomes and quality-of-life is unknown. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research was to determine whether training in the use of and possessing an automated external defibrillator (AED) has an effect on a patient at risk's quality of life. METHODS: We investigated the psychological consequences of AED training and possession of such a device for patients who recently experienced an acute ischemic event. One hundred fifty eight patients and their family members were assigned at random to receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training (N=66) or AED/CPR training and possession of the device after training (N=92). We measured quality of life using the Short-Form (SF-36) survey and a 9-item survey we developed specifically for this study to measure differences in social activities and worries about being left alone. Participants answered these questions at enrollment, 2 weeks, 3 months, and 3 months after enrollment. RESULTS: Patients in the AED group reported lower (worse) scores on most SF-36 subscales at all periods, particularly in those subscales relating to social functioning. The differences were most often small and probably not clinically meaningful. The social activities/worry scales also favored the CPR group at all periods, but with no significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians counselling patients about AEDs should be aware of the potential effects the device may have on a patient's social functioning.

Particle properties of sugar maple hemicellulose hydrolysate and its influence on growth and metabolic behavior of Pichia stipitis.

In this study the influence of the insoluble solids in nano-filtrated sugar maple hemicellulosic hydrolysate on the metabolic behavior of Pichia stiptis was investigated. The particle properties of hemicellulosic hydrolysate were analyzed. Phosphoric acid and ammonium (PA) were applied to remove the particles. The metabolic behavior and growth property of P. stipitis in particle--removed hydrolysate was measured. Results demonstrated that the average particle size and zeta potential of the untreated hydrolysate were 2266.9±78.2 nm and -6.09±0.49 mV. Xylose consumption and ethanol production rate were significantly decreased when particle content is greater than 1.63 g/L. Because the majority of particles (34 g/L) were removed from hydrolysates by phosphoric acid and ammonium treatment, the fermentability of the hydrolysate was significantly improved. These results indicated particles play an important role in hydrolysate inhibition effect.

Water-based woody biorefinery.

The conversion of biomass into chemicals and energy is essential in order to sustain our present way of life. Fossil fuels are currently the predominant energy source, but fossil deposits are limited and not renewable. Biomass is a reliable potential source of materials, chemicals and energy that can be replenished to keep pace with our needs. A biorefinery is a concept for the collection of processes used to convert biomass into materials, chemicals and energy. The biorefinery is a "catch and release" method for using carbon that is beneficial to both the environment and the economy. In this study, we discuss three elements of a wood-based biorefinery, as proposed by the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF): hot-water extraction, hydrolysis, and membrane separation/concentration. Hemicelluloses are the most easily separable main component of woody biomass and thus form the bulk of the extracts obtained by hot-water extraction of woody biomass. Hot-water extraction is an important step in the processes of woody biomass and product generation, replacing alternative costly pre-treatment methods. The hydrolysis of hemicelluloses produces 5-carbon sugars (mainly xylose), 6-carbon sugars (mainly glucose and mannose), and acetic acid. The use of nano-filtration membranes is an efficient technology that can be employed to fractionate hot-water extracts and wood hydrolysate. The residual solid mass after hot-water extraction has a higher energy content and contains fewer easily degradable components. This allows for more efficient subsequent processing to convert cellulose and lignin into conventional products.

Quantitative analysis of sugars in wood hydrolyzates with 1H NMR during the autohydrolysis of hardwoods.

The focus of this work was to determine the utility of (1)H NMR spectroscopy in the quantification of sugars resulting from the solubilization of hemicelluloses during the autohydrolysis of hardwoods and the use of this technique to evaluate the kinetics of this process over a range of temperatures and times. Yields of residual xylan, xylooligomers, xylose, glucose, and the degraded products of sugars, i.e., furfural and HMF (5-hydroxymethyl furfural), were determined. The monosaccharide and oligomer contents were quantified with a recently developed high resolution (1)H NMR spectroscopic analysis. This method provided precise measurement of the residual xylan and cellulose remaining in the extracted wood samples and xylose and glucose in the hydrolyzates. NMR was found to exhibit good repeatability and provided carbohydrate compositional results comparable to published methods for sugar maple and aspen woods.

Thrombolysis after acute myocardial infarction.

Preview Physicians know that thrombolysis has marked benefits in patients with certain classic findings after acute myocardial infarction. However, some do not realize that thrombolysis has relatively limited risks and can be administered to many more patients than it is at present. The authors review current indications and contraindications and summarize results of major clinical studies that compare currently available thrombolytic agents.

Adjuvants to thrombolysis after acute myocardial infarction.

Preview In patients who have experienced myocardial infarction, re-occlusion of the affected vessel is disappointingly common. A variety of agents, strategies, and combination approaches have been tried as adjuncts to thrombolysis in an effort to improve left ventricular function, morbidity, and mortality in these patients. The authors summarize findings of these clinical trials, some of which are still under way.