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1.
Environ Sci Technol ; 57(29): 10708-10720, 2023 07 25.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37437161

RESUMO

Particulate matter air pollution is a leading cause of global mortality, particularly in Asia and Africa. Addressing the high and wide-ranging air pollution levels requires ambient monitoring, but many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remain scarcely monitored. To address these data gaps, recent studies have utilized low-cost sensors. These sensors have varied performance, and little literature exists about sensor intercomparison in Africa. By colocating 2 QuantAQ Modulair-PM, 2 PurpleAir PA-II SD, and 16 Clarity Node-S Generation II monitors with a reference-grade Teledyne monitor in Accra, Ghana, we present the first intercomparisons of different brands of low-cost sensors in Africa, demonstrating that each type of low-cost sensor PM2.5 is strongly correlated with reference PM2.5, but biased high for ambient mixture of sources found in Accra. When compared to a reference monitor, the QuantAQ Modulair-PM has the lowest mean absolute error at 3.04 µg/m3, followed by PurpleAir PA-II (4.54 µg/m3) and Clarity Node-S (13.68 µg/m3). We also compare the usage of 4 statistical or machine learning models (Multiple Linear Regression, Random Forest, Gaussian Mixture Regression, and XGBoost) to correct low-cost sensors data, and find that XGBoost performs the best in testing (R2: 0.97, 0.94, 0.96; mean absolute error: 0.56, 0.80, and 0.68 µg/m3 for PurpleAir PA-II, Clarity Node-S, and Modulair-PM, respectively), but tree-based models do not perform well when correcting data outside the range of the colocation training. Therefore, we used Gaussian Mixture Regression to correct data from the network of 17 Clarity Node-S monitors deployed around Accra, Ghana, from 2018 to 2021. We find that the network daily average PM2.5 concentration in Accra is 23.4 µg/m3, which is 1.6 times the World Health Organization Daily PM2.5 guideline of 15 µg/m3. While this level is lower than those seen in some larger African cities (such as Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo), mitigation strategies should be developed soon to prevent further impairment to air quality as Accra, and Ghana as a whole, rapidly grow.


Assuntos
Poluentes Atmosféricos , Poluição do Ar , Poluentes Atmosféricos/análise , Gana , Monitoramento Ambiental , República Democrática do Congo , Material Particulado/análise , Poluição do Ar/análise
2.
J Environ Sci (China) ; 127: 234-250, 2023 May.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36522056

RESUMO

Organophosphates (OPs) are an integral part of modern agriculture; however, due to overexploitation, OPs pesticides residues are leaching and accumulating in the soil, and groundwater contaminated terrestrial and aquatic food webs. Acute exposure to OPs could produce toxicity in insects, plants, animals, and humans. OPs are known for covalent inhibition of acetylcholinesterase enzyme in pests and terrestrial/aquatic organisms, leading to nervous, respiratory, reproductive, and hepatic abnormalities. OPs pesticides also disrupt the growth-promoting machinery in plants by inhibiting key enzymes, permeability, and trans-cuticular diffusion, which is crucial for plant growth. Excessive use of OPs, directly/indirectly affecting human/environmental health, raise a thoughtful global concern. Developing a safe, reliable, economical, and eco-friendly methods for removing OPs pesticides from the environment is thus necessary. Bioremediation techniques coupled with microbes or microbial-biocatalysts are emerging as promising antidotes for OPs pesticides. Here, we comprehensively review the current scenario of OPs pollution, their toxicity (at a molecular level), and the recent advancements in biotechnology (modified biocatalytic systems) for detection, decontamination, and bioremediation of OP-pesticides in polluted environments. Furthermore, the review focuses on onsite applications of OPs degrading enzymes (immobilizations/biosensors/others), and it also highlights remaining challenges with future approaches.


Assuntos
Inseticidas , Praguicidas , Animais , Humanos , Biodegradação Ambiental , Acetilcolinesterase , Compostos Organofosforados/química , Praguicidas/toxicidade , Praguicidas/química , Organofosfatos
3.
Mol Biol Rep ; 49(4): 2579-2589, 2022 Apr.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34914086

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: The plant growth is influenced by multiple interactions with biotic (microbial) and abiotic components in their surroundings. These microbial interactions have both positive and negative effects on plant. Plant growth promoting bacterial (PGPR) interaction could result in positive growth under normal as well as in stress conditions. METHODS: Here, we have screened two PGPR's and determined their potential in induction of specific gene in host plant to overcome the adverse effect of biotic stress caused by Magnaporthe grisea, a fungal pathogen that cause blast in rice. We demonstrated the glucanase protein mode of action by performing comparative modeling and molecular docking of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) ligand with the protein. Besides, molecular dynamic simulations have been performed to understand the behavior of the glucanase-GTP complex. RESULTS: The results clearly showed that selected PGPR was better able to induce modification in host plant at morphological, biochemical, physiological and molecular level by activating the expression of ß-1,3-glucanases gene in infected host plant. The docking results indicated that Tyr75, Arg256, Gly258, and Ser223 of glucanase formed four crucial hydrogen bonds with the GTP, while, only Val220 found to form hydrophobic contact with ligand. CONCLUSIONS: The PGPR able to induce ß-1,3-glucanases gene in host plant upon pathogenic interaction and ß-1,3-glucanases form complex with GTP by hydrophilic interaction for induction of defense cascade for acquiring resistance against Magnaporthe grisea.


Assuntos
Magnaporthe , Oryza , Antifúngicos/metabolismo , Antifúngicos/farmacologia , Bactérias , Guanosina Trifosfato/metabolismo , Guanosina Trifosfato/farmacologia , Ligantes , Magnaporthe/metabolismo , Simulação de Acoplamento Molecular , Simulação de Dinâmica Molecular , Oryza/genética , Doenças das Plantas/microbiologia
4.
J Food Sci Technol ; 59(12): 4723-4730, 2022 Dec.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36276520

RESUMO

The influence of particle size and solvent flow rate on the kinetics of oil extraction from soybean (eight fractions from 0.433 to 0.122 mm) was studied using hexane, simulating commercial percolation type extractor. The reduction in particle size from 0.433 mm to 0.141 mm showed an increase in the oil yield. However, further reduction to 0.129 mm and 0.122 mm affected the yield due to bed compaction, reducing porosity and contact area. The yield (21.5%) of the ground mass was similar to the major mass fractions (0.239-0.353 mm). The rate of extraction increased drastically with the solvent flow rate. The highest flow rate (9.67 mL/min) exhibited the highest mass transfer coefficient (km) 1.62 × 10-3 s-1 and the diffusion coefficient (De) 1.77 × 10-12 m2/s. At 7.33 mL/min, the yield and the rate of extraction were optimal and no potential benefits were obtained at higher flow rates. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-022-05554-6.

5.
J Food Sci Technol ; 56(8): 3900-3909, 2019 Aug.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31413415

RESUMO

The physicochemical properties of four rice varieties representing high amylose (Jyothi and IR64), intermediate amylose (Taraori Basmati) and waxy (Agonibora) were evaluated to understand their influence on milling. Based on the grain dimensions, Jyothi and Agonibora were classified as long and medium, IR64 as long and slender, and Basmati as extra-long and slender. The head rice yield (HRY) was higher with abrasive milling (61-75%) compared to friction milling (10-60%) although it required longer milling duration. Lower grain thickness, hardness and, amylose and higher bran fat content reduced the friction milling duration while these properties prolonged the duration in abrasive milling. Agonibora variety with low amylose content and high-fat content exhibited the highest HRY in both the types of milling. The study revealed that the selection of milling process should be made with due importance to grain geometry as well as its chemical properties.

6.
J Food Sci Technol ; 56(4): 2093-2104, 2019 Apr.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30996443

RESUMO

Moringa seed protein isolate (MPI) was prepared by aqueous salt extraction followed by watering-out to precipitate proteins. Extraction and precipitation steps were optimized to achieve maximum MPI yield. Besides, MPI was characterized based on its composition and functional properties. Among the multiple salts examined, Na2SO4 (69.9%), KCl (66.2%), NaCl (65.4%), and NaBr (63.5%) displayed better protein extractability as well as higher MPI yield (~ 52%) with a protein content of > 90% d.b. However, NaCl was preferred considering its wider acceptance. Based on response surface methodology analysis, solvent-to-flour ratio, 22:1 (v/w), NaCl concentration, 0.4 M and temperature, 55 °C were found optimal for maximum protein extractability of 70.3%. Subsequent watering-out resulted in a maximum MPI yield of 56% (protein basis). MPI contained all the protein subunits (6.5, 14, 29 kDa) present in its source. It also scored over commercial soy protein isolate in many of the functional properties.

7.
BMC Biotechnol ; 18(1): 9, 2018 02 13.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29439688

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: The aromatic residues of xylanase enzyme, W187, Y124, W144, Y128 and W63 of substrate binding pocket from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens were investigated for their role in substrate binding by homology modelling and sequence analysis. These residues are highly conserved and play an important role in substrate binding through steric hindrance. The substitution of these residues with alanine allows the enzyme to accommodate nonspecific substrates. RESULTS: Wild type and mutated genes were cloned and overexpressed in BL21. Optimum pH and temperature of rBAxn exhibited pH 9.0 and 50 °C respectively and it was stable up to 215 h. Along with the physical properties of rBAxn, kinetic parameters (Km 19.34 ± 0.72 mg/ml; kcat 6449.12 ± 155.37 min- 1 and kcat/Km 333.83 ± 6.78 ml min- 1 mg- 1) were also compared with engineered enzymes. Out of five mutations, W63A, Y128A and W144A lost almost 90% activity and Y124A and W187A retained almost 40-45% xylanase activity. CONCLUSIONS: The site-specific single mutation, led to alteration in substrate specificity from xylan to CMC while in case of double mutant the substrate specificity was altered from xylan to CMC, FP and avicel, indicating the role of aromatic residues on substrate binding, catalytic process and overall catalytic efficiency.


Assuntos
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens/enzimologia , Endo-1,4-beta-Xilanases/genética , Endo-1,4-beta-Xilanases/metabolismo , Substituição de Aminoácidos , Bacillus amyloliquefaciens/genética , Sítios de Ligação , Celulose/metabolismo , Clonagem Molecular , Detergentes/química , Endo-1,4-beta-Xilanases/química , Endo-1,4-beta-Xilanases/isolamento & purificação , Estabilidade Enzimática , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Cinética , Metais/química , Mutagênese Sítio-Dirigida , Proteínas Recombinantes/química , Proteínas Recombinantes/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes/isolamento & purificação , Proteínas Recombinantes/metabolismo , Especificidade por Substrato , Xilanos/metabolismo
8.
Environ Sci Technol ; 52(22): 13647-13656, 2018 11 20.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30373367

RESUMO

Cookstove emissions are a major global source of black carbon but their impact on climate is uncertain because of limited understanding of their optical properties. We measured optical properties of fresh aerosol emissions from 32 different stove/fuel combinations, ranging from simple open fires to high-performing forced-draft stoves. Stoves were tested in the laboratory using the firepower sweep protocol, which measures emissions across the entire range of functional firepower. There is large variability in measured optical properties across the entire range of firepower. This variability is strongly correlated with black carbon-to-particulate matter mass ratio (BC/PM). In comparison, stove type, fuel, and operational metrics were poor predictors of optical properties. We developed parametrizations of the mass absorption cross-section, the absorption angstrom exponent, and the single scattering albedo of fresh emissions as a function of BC/PM. These parametrizations, derived from laboratory data, also reproduce previously reported field measurements of optical properties of real-world cooking emissions. We combined our new parametrizations of intensive optical properties with published emissions data to estimate the direct radiative effect of emissions for different stove technologies. Our data suggest that so-called "improved" stove reduce CO2 equivalent emission (i.e., climate benefits) by 20-30% compared to traditional stoves.


Assuntos
Poluentes Atmosféricos , Utensílios Domésticos , Aerossóis , Clima , Culinária , Material Particulado
9.
Environ Sci Technol ; 52(21): 12915-12925, 2018 11 06.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30256618

RESUMO

We used site-level methane (CH4) emissions data from over 1000 natural gas (NG) production sites in eight basins, including 92 new site-level CH4 measurements in the Uinta, northeastern Marcellus, and Denver-Julesburg basins, to investigate CH4 emissions characteristics and develop a new national CH4 emission estimate for the NG production sector. The distribution of site-level emissions is highly skewed, with the top 5% of sites accounting for 50% of cumulative emissions. High emitting sites are predominantly also high producing (>10 Mcfd). However, low NG production sites emit a larger fraction of their CH4 production. When combined with activity data, we predict that this creates substantial variability in the basin-level CH4 emissions which, as a fraction of basin-level CH4 production, range from 0.90% for the Appalachian and Greater Green River to >4.5% in the San Juan and San Joaquin. This suggests that much of the basin-level differences in production-normalized CH4 emissions reported by aircraft studies can be explained by differences in site size and distribution of site-level production rates. We estimate that NG production sites emit total CH4 emissions of 830 Mg/h (95% CI: 530-1200), 63% of which come from the sites producing <100 Mcfd that account for only 10% of total NG production. Our total CH4 emissions estimate is 2.3 times higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's estimate and likely attributable to the disproportionate influence of high emitting sites.


Assuntos
Poluentes Atmosféricos , Gás Natural , Região dos Apalaches , Metano , Estados Unidos , United States Environmental Protection Agency
10.
Indoor Air ; 28(6): 936-949, 2018 11.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30099773

RESUMO

Emissions from solid-fuel cookstoves have been linked to indoor and outdoor air pollution, climate forcing, and human disease. Although task-based laboratory protocols, such as the Water Boiling Test (WBT), overestimate the ability of improved stoves to lower emissions, WBT emissions data are commonly used to benchmark cookstove performance, estimate indoor and outdoor air pollution concentrations, estimate impacts of stove intervention projects, and select stoves for large-scale control trials. Multiple-firepower testing has been proposed as an alternative to the WBT and is the basis for a new standardized protocol (ISO 19867-1:2018); however, data are needed to assess the value of this approach. In this work, we (a) developed a Firepower Sweep Test [FST], (b) compared emissions from the FST, WBT, and in-home cooking, and (c) quantified the relationship between firepower and emissions using correlation analysis and linear model selection. Twenty-three stove-fuel combinations were evaluated. The FST reproduced the range of PM2.5 and CO emissions observed in the field, including high emissions events not typically observed under the WBT. Firepower was modestly correlated with emissions, although the relationship varied between stove-fuel combinations. Our results justify incorporating multiple-firepower testing into laboratory-based protocols but demonstrate that firepower alone cannot explain the observed variability in cookstove emissions.


Assuntos
Poluição do Ar em Ambientes Fechados/análise , Monóxido de Carbono/análise , Culinária , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos , Incêndios , Monitoramento Ambiental/normas , Tamanho da Partícula
11.
J Food Sci Technol ; 55(6): 2259-2269, 2018 Jun.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29892126

RESUMO

The nutritional composition of bran from four rice varieties namely, Jyothi/IR64, Basmati and Agonibora representing high amylose, intermediate amylose and waxy, respectively were evaluated with friction and abrasive mills at different degrees of milling (DOM). Fat and protein content of the bran inversely correlated to amylose content of rice variety. The fat and fibre contents reduced with increased DOM due to increasing starch influx from the endosperm. Abrasive milling produced bran with higher protein content and total dietary fibre, resulting in superior quality bran, while friction milling led to higher fat. Agonibora bran was found to be superior in terms of nutritional quality. Industrial milling resulted in higher protein content in bran, and Jyothi variety had a better amino acid profile.

12.
Am J Gastroenterol ; 112(7): 1103-1110, 2017 Jul.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28440305

RESUMO

OBJECTIVES: The International Ascites Club (IAC) recently defined Stage 1 acute kidney injury (AKI) for cirrhosis as an acute increase in serum creatinine (SCr) by ≥0.3 mg/dl or by ≥50% in <48 h from a stable value within 3 months. The baseline SCr may influence AKI risk and patient outcomes. The objective of this study is to determine in cirrhosis whether the baseline SCr has any effect on the in-hospital AKI course and patient survival. METHODS: North American Consortium for the Study of End-Stage Liver Disease is a consortium of tertiary-care hepatology centers prospectively enroling non-elective cirrhotic inpatients. Patients with different baseline SCr levels (≤0.5, 0.51-1.0, 1.01-1.5, >1.5 mg/dl) were evaluated for the development of AKI, and compared for AKI outcomes and 30-day survival. RESULTS: 653 hospitalized cirrhotics (56.7±10years, 64% men, 30% with infection) were included. The incidence of AKI was 47% of enrolled patients. Patients with higher baseline SCr were more likely to develop AKI, with significantly higher delta and peak SCr (P<0.001) than the other groups, more likely to have a progressive AKI course (P<0.0001), associated with a significantly reduced 30-day survival (P<0.0001). Multivariate logistic regression showed that the delta SCr during an AKI episode to be the strongest factor impacting AKI outcomes and survival (P<0.001), with a delta SCr of 0.70 mg/dl having a 68% sensitivity and 80% specificity for predicting 30-day mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Admitted cirrhotic patients with higher baseline SCr are at higher risk for in-hospital development of AKI, and more likely to have AKI progression with reduced survival. Therefore, such patients should be closely monitored and treated promptly for their AKI.


Assuntos
Injúria Renal Aguda/sangue , Injúria Renal Aguda/etiologia , Creatinina/sangue , Cirrose Hepática/sangue , Cirrose Hepática/complicações , Biomarcadores/sangue , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fatores de Risco , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Taxa de Sobrevida
13.
Am J Gastroenterol ; 112(9): 1389-1396, 2017 Sep.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28440304

RESUMO

OBJECTIVES: Acute liver failure (ALF) is classically defined by coagulopathy and hepatic encephalopathy (HE); however, acute liver injury (ALI), i.e., severe acute hepatocyte necrosis without HE, has not been carefully defined nor studied. Our aim is to describe the clinical course of specifically defined ALI, including the risk and clinical predictors of poor outcomes, namely progression to ALF, the need for liver transplantation (LT) and death. METHODS: 386 subjects prospectively enrolled in the Acute Liver Failure Study Group registry between 1 September 2008 through 25 October 2013, met criteria for ALI: International Normalized Ratio (INR)≥2.0 and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)≥10 × elevated (irrespective of bilirubin level) for acetaminophen (N-acetyl-p-aminophenol, APAP) ALI, or INR≥2.0, ALT≥10x elevated, and bilirubin≥3.0 mg/dl for non-APAP ALI, both groups without any discernible HE. Subjects who progressed to poor outcomes (ALF, death, LT) were compared, by univariate analysis, with those who recovered. A model to predict poor outcome was developed using the random forest (RF) procedure. RESULTS: Progression to a poor outcome occurred in 90/386 (23%), primarily in non-APAP (71/179, 40%) vs. only 14/194 (7.2%) in APAP patients comprising 52% of all cases (13 cases did not have an etiology assigned; 5 of whom had a poor outcome). Of 82 variables entered into the RF procedure: etiology, bilirubin, INR, APAP level and duration of jaundice were the most predictive of progression to ALF, LT, or death. CONCLUSIONS: A majority of ALI cases are due to APAP, 93% of whom will improve rapidly and fully recover, while non-APAP patients have a far greater risk of poor outcome and should be targeted for early referral to a liver transplant center.


Assuntos
Sistemas de Notificação de Reações Adversas a Medicamentos/estatística & dados numéricos , Doença Hepática Induzida por Substâncias e Drogas/epidemiologia , Sistema de Registros , Adulto , Alanina Transaminase/sangue , Doença Hepática Induzida por Substâncias e Drogas/sangue , Doença Hepática Induzida por Substâncias e Drogas/complicações , Interpretação Estatística de Dados , Feminino , Encefalopatia Hepática/complicações , Humanos , Coeficiente Internacional Normatizado , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prognóstico , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Estados Unidos/epidemiologia
15.
Reumatismo ; 69(2): 47-58, 2017 Aug 03.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28776358

RESUMO

The aim was to study the prevalence of comorbidities in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in everyday clinical practice and their association with disease-specific and demographic factors. The multi-center study recruited 3,247 (at 14 centers, and 265) were excluded due to incomplete data. The number of subjects considered for the analysis was 2982. The mean (±standard deviation) age was 48.98±12.64 years and the male-to-female ratio was 1:5. The data was collected based on a pre-structured pro forma by trained clinical research associates through interview and verification of charts and reports available in the patient records. The following comorbidities were studied: cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, thyroid disease, psychiatric diseases like depression, and pulmonary disease. Hypertension (20.7%), diabetes mellitus (14.4%) and thyroid disease (18.3%) were the most prevalent comorbidities. Hypercholesterolemia (5.3%), pulmonary diseases (2.1%), cardiovascular diseases (0.2%) and depression (0.03%) were prevalent in ≤5% of the study population. The overall presence of comorbidity increased with age and reduced with the duration of illness prior (DOIP). The age, gender, and DOIP differed significantly between groups with and without hypercholesterolemia. Females had a statistically increased prevalence of thyroid disease. The prevalence of comorbidities in RA patients from south India is around 40% and the incidence of comorbidity increased with age. As per the literature evidence, the prevalence in the current study subjects was higher when compared to prevalence of similar diseases occurring in the general south Indian population.


Assuntos
Artrite Reumatoide/epidemiologia , Doenças Cardiovasculares/epidemiologia , Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiologia , Transtornos Psicóticos/epidemiologia , Doenças da Glândula Tireoide/epidemiologia , Adulto , Comorbidade , Feminino , Humanos , Hipercolesterolemia/epidemiologia , Hipertensão/epidemiologia , Incidência , Índia/epidemiologia , Pneumopatias/epidemiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prevalência , Fatores de Risco
16.
Am J Transplant ; 16(1): 137-42, 2016 Jan.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26561981

RESUMO

Allocation policies for liver transplantation underwent significant changes in June 2013 with the introduction of Share 35. We aimed to examine the effect of Share 35 on regional variation in posttransplant outcomes. We examined two patient groups from the United Network for Organ Sharing dataset; a pre-Share 35 group composed of patients transplanted between June 17, 2012, and June 17, 2013 (n = 5523), and a post-Share group composed of patients transplanted between June 18, 2013, and June 18, 2014 (n = 5815). We used Kaplan-Meier and Cox multivariable analyses to compare survival. There were significant increases in allocation Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores, laboratory MELD scores, and proportions of patients in the intensive care unit and on mechanical, ventilated, or organ-perfusion support at transplant post-Share 35. We also observed a significant increase in donor risk index in this group. We found no difference on a national level in survival between patients transplanted pre-Share 35 and post-Share 35 (p = 0.987). Regionally, however, posttransplantation survival was significantly worse in the post-Share 35 patients in regions 4 and 10 (p = 0.008 and p = 0.04), with no significant differences in the remaining regions. These results suggest that Share 35 has been associated with transplanting "sicker patients" with higher MELD scores, and although no difference in survival is observed on a national level, outcomes appear to be concerning in some regions.


Assuntos
Rejeição de Enxerto/prevenção & controle , Falência Hepática/cirurgia , Transplante de Fígado , Formulação de Políticas , Guias de Prática Clínica como Assunto/normas , Alocação de Recursos/métodos , Obtenção de Tecidos e Órgãos/normas , Feminino , Rejeição de Enxerto/epidemiologia , Sobrevivência de Enxerto , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Doadores de Tecidos , Listas de Espera
17.
Environ Sci Technol ; 50(4): 2099-107, 2016 Feb 16.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26824407

RESUMO

There is a need for continued assessment of methane (CH4) emissions associated with natural gas (NG) production, especially as recent advancements in horizontal drilling combined with staged hydraulic fracturing technologies have dramatically increased NG production (we refer to these wells as "unconventional" NG wells). In this study, we measured facility-level CH4 emissions rates from the NG production sector in the Marcellus region, and compared CH4 emissions between unconventional NG (UNG) well pad sites and the relatively smaller and older "conventional" NG (CvNG) sites that consist of wells drilled vertically into permeable geologic formations. A top-down tracer-flux CH4 measurement approach utilizing mobile downwind intercepts of CH4, ethane, and tracer (nitrous oxide and acetylene) plumes was performed at 18 CvNG sites (19 individual wells) and 17 UNG sites (88 individual wells). The 17 UNG sites included four sites undergoing completion flowback (FB). The mean facility-level CH4 emission rate among UNG well pad sites in routine production (18.8 kg/h (95% confidence interval (CI) on the mean of 12.0-26.8 kg/h)) was 23 times greater than the mean CH4 emissions from CvNG sites. These differences were attributed, in part, to the large size (based on number of wells and ancillary NG production equipment) and the significantly higher production rate of UNG sites. However, CvNG sites generally had much higher production-normalized CH4 emission rates (median: 11%; range: 0.35-91%) compared to UNG sites (median: 0.13%, range: 0.01-1.2%), likely resulting from a greater prevalence of avoidable process operating conditions (e.g., unresolved equipment maintenance issues). At the regional scale, we estimate that total annual CH4 emissions from 88 500 combined CvNG well pads in Pennsylvania and West Virginia (660 Gg (95% CI: 500 to 800 Gg)) exceeded that from 3390 UNG well pads by 170 Gg, reflecting the large number of CvNG wells and the comparably large fraction of CH4 lost per unit production. The new emissions data suggest that the recently instituted Pennsylvania CH4 emissions inventory substantially underestimates measured facility-level CH4 emissions by >10-40 times for five UNG sites in this study.


Assuntos
Poluentes Atmosféricos/análise , Metano/análise , Campos de Petróleo e Gás , Indústria de Petróleo e Gás , Etano/análise , Gás Natural , Óxido Nitroso/análise , Pennsylvania , West Virginia
18.
Environ Sci Technol ; 50(4): 2075-81, 2016 Feb 16.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26764563

RESUMO

Approximately 150 billion cubic meters (BCM) of natural gas is flared and vented in the world annually, emitting greenhouse gases and other pollutants with no energy benefit. About 7 BCM per year is flared in the United States, and half is from North Dakota alone. There are few emission measurements from associated gas flares and limited black carbon (BC) emission factors have been previously reported from the field. Emission plumes from 26 individual flares in the Bakken formation in North Dakota were sampled. Methane, carbon dioxide, and BC were measured simultaneously, allowing the calculation of BC mass emission factors using the carbon balance method. Particle optical absorption was measured using a three-wavelength particle soot absorption photometer (PSAP) and BC particle number and mass concentrations were measured with a single particle soot photometer. The BC emission factors varied over 2 orders of magnitude, with an average and uncertainty range of 0.14 ± 0.12 g/kg hydrocarbons in associated gas and a median of 0.07 g/kg which represents a lower bound on these measurements. An estimation of the BC emission factor derived from PSAP absorption provides an upper bound at 3.1 g/kg. These results are lower than previous estimations and laboratory measurements. The BC mass absorption cross section was 16 ± 12 m(2)/g BC at 530 nm. The average absorption Ångström exponent was 1.2 ± 0.8, suggesting that most of the light absorbing aerosol measured was black carbon and the contribution of light absorbing organic carbon was small.


Assuntos
Poluentes Atmosféricos/análise , Gás Natural , Indústria de Petróleo e Gás , Fuligem/análise , Aerossóis/análise , Carbono/análise , Dióxido de Carbono/análise , Gases , Metano/análise , North Dakota
19.
ScientificWorldJournal ; 2016: 8658760, 2016.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26881273

RESUMO

Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is a network which formed with a maximum number of sensor nodes which are positioned in an application environment to monitor the physical entities in a target area, for example, temperature monitoring environment, water level, monitoring pressure, and health care, and various military applications. Mostly sensor nodes are equipped with self-supported battery power through which they can perform adequate operations and communication among neighboring nodes. Maximizing the lifetime of the Wireless Sensor networks, energy conservation measures are essential for improving the performance of WSNs. This paper proposes an Enhanced PSO-Based Clustering Energy Optimization (EPSO-CEO) algorithm for Wireless Sensor Network in which clustering and clustering head selection are done by using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm with respect to minimizing the power consumption in WSN. The performance metrics are evaluated and results are compared with competitive clustering algorithm to validate the reduction in energy consumption.

20.
Environ Sci Technol ; 49(5): 3252-61, 2015 Mar 03.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25668051

RESUMO

Equipment- and site-level methane emissions from 45 compressor stations in the transmission and storage (T&S) sector of the US natural gas system were measured, including 25 sites required to report under the EPA greenhouse gas reporting program (GHGRP). Direct measurements of fugitive and vented sources were combined with AP-42-based exhaust emission factors (for operating reciprocating engines and turbines) to produce a study onsite estimate. Site-level methane emissions were also concurrently measured with downwind-tracer-flux techniques. At most sites, these two independent estimates agreed within experimental uncertainty. Site-level methane emissions varied from 2-880 SCFM. Compressor vents, leaky isolation valves, reciprocating engine exhaust, and equipment leaks were major sources, and substantial emissions were observed at both operating and standby compressor stations. The site-level methane emission rates were highly skewed; the highest emitting 10% of sites (including two superemitters) contributed 50% of the aggregate methane emissions, while the lowest emitting 50% of sites contributed less than 10% of the aggregate emissions. Excluding the two superemitters, study-average methane emissions from compressor housings and noncompressor sources are comparable to or lower than the corresponding effective emission factors used in the EPA greenhouse gas inventory. If the two superemitters are included in the analysis, then the average emission factors based on this study could exceed the EPA greenhouse gas inventory emission factors, which highlights the potentially important contribution of superemitters to national emissions. However, quantification of their influence requires knowledge of the magnitude and frequency of superemitters across the entire T&S sector. Only 38% of the methane emissions measured by the comprehensive onsite measurements were reportable under the new EPA GHGRP because of a combination of inaccurate emission factors for leakers and exhaust methane, and various exclusions. The bias is even larger if one accounts for the superemitters, which were not captured by the onsite measurements. The magnitude of the bias varied from site to site by site type and operating state. Therefore, while the GHGRP is a valuable new source of emissions information, care must be taken when incorporating these data into emission inventories. The value of the GHGRP can be increased by requiring more direct measurements of emissions (as opposed to using counts and emission factors), eliminating exclusions such as rod-packing vents on pressurized reciprocating compressors in standby mode under Subpart-W, and using more appropriate emission factors for exhaust methane from reciprocating engines under Subpart-C.


Assuntos
Poluentes Atmosféricos/análise , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos , Indústrias Extrativas e de Processamento/instrumentação , Metano/análise , Gás Natural/análise , United States Environmental Protection Agency/normas , Poluentes Atmosféricos/normas , Monitoramento Ambiental/legislação & jurisprudência , Monitoramento Ambiental/normas , Indústrias Extrativas e de Processamento/normas , Estados Unidos
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