Data-driven models applying in household hazardous waste: Amount prediction and classification in Shanghai

Precisely predicting the amount of household hazardous waste (HHW) and classifying it intelligently is crucial for effective city management. Although data-driven models have the potential to address these problems, there have been few studies utilizing this approach for HHW prediction and classification due to the scarcity of available data. To address this, the current study employed the prophet model to forecast HHW quantities based on the Integration of Two Networks systems in Shanghai. HHW classification was performed using HVGGNet structures, which were based on VGG and transfer learning. To expedite the process of finding the optimal global learning rate, the method of cyclical learning rate was adopted, thus avoiding the need for repeated testing. Results showed that the average rate of HHW generation was 0.1 g/person/day, with the most significant waste categories being fluorescent lamps (30.6 %), paint barrels (26.1 %), medicine (26.2 %), battery (15.8 %), thermometer (0.03 %), and others (1.22 %). Recovering rare earth element (18.85 kg), Cd (3064.10 kg), Hg (15643.43 kg), Zn (14239.07 kg), Ag (11805.81 kg), Ni (4956.64 kg) and Li (1081.45 kg) from HHW can help avoid groundwater pollution, soil contamination and air pollution. HVGGNet-11 demonstrated 90.5 % precision and was deemed most suitable for HHW sorting. Furthermore, the prophet model predicted that HHW in Shanghai would increase from 794.43 t in 2020 to 2049.67 t in 2025.

Agglomeration-influenced transformation of heavy metals in gas-solid phases during simulated sewage sludge co-incineration: Effects of phosphorus and operating temperature

Phosphorus and operating temperature not only affect the agglomeration behavior but also the transformation and migration of heavy metals. Accordingly, this study examined the effect of temperature and phosphorus in a fluidized bed combustion process to understand the emission and distribution of heavy metals by both experimental and thermodynamic calculations. The experimental results indicated that the sodium-phosphate reactions occur before the sodium-silicate reaction in the solid phase when the ratio of P/Na was 1/2. A low-melting-point sodium phosphate component, such as NaPO_3, leads to easier particle agglomeration than Na₂O-SiO₂. In terms of the emissions of heavy metals, Pb and Cd show a similar trend: both the amount of emission smaller than that without adding phosphorus and the amount of emission share an upward trend with the operating time increased during MSS fluidized bed combustion. However, with the presence of phosphorus, the emission of Cr shows slightly decreased, and then sharply dropped, after that, increasing with operating time increased. Generally speaking, the maximum amount of Pb and Cd emitted was at 900 °C, followed by 800 °C and 700 °C. The higher temperature would promote the volatilization of Pb and Cd to emit. On the other hand, Cr emitted at the beginning tended to increase but later decreases when the temperatures were 700 and 900 °C, which may be due to the emission of Cr being influenced by the different affinities of both Al and Cr, reacting with Na in a fluidized bed incinerator. As for the distribution of heavy metals in the solid phase, a higher concentration of heavy metals was found in both the coarsest and finest particles during the process of agglomeration/defluidization.

Deep learning hybrid predictions for the amount of municipal solid waste: A case study in Shanghai

It is crucial to precisely estimate the municipal solid waste (MSW) amount for its sustainable management. Owing to learning complicated and abstract features between the factors and target, deep learning has recently emerged as one of the useful tools with potential to predict the MSW amount. Therefore, this study aimed to design an MSW amount predicted system in Shanghai, consisting of Attention (A), one-dimensional convolutional neural network (C), and long short-term memory (L), to investigate the relationship between exogenous series (24 socioeconomics factors and past MSW amount) and target (MSW amount). The role of Attention, 1D-CNN, LSTM played on the MSW predicted amount also have investigated. The results show that attention is crucial for decoding the encoding information, which would improve performance between predicted and known MSW amount (R² in A-L-C, L-A-C, L-C-A was 89.45%, 90.77%, and 95.31%, respectively.). CNN modules appear to be positioned similarly across the MSW predicted system. Finally, R² in L-A-C, A-L-C, and A-C-L was 85.44%, 91.61%, and 89.45%, which suggested that LSTM as an intermediary between CNN and Attention modules seems a wise measure to predict the MSW amount based on the correlation efficiency. In addition, some socioeconomic factors including the average number of people in households and budget revenue may be chosen for the decision-making of MSW management in Shanghai city in the future, according to the weight of neurons in fully connected layers by the visual technology.

Influence of different fluidization and gasification parameters on syngas composition and heavy metal retention in a two-stage fluidized bed gasification process

Herein, we investigated the influence of gasification and fluidization parameters on the H2 content of syngas and the retention of heavy metals (Cu and Pb) in a bed material during a two-stage fluidized bed gasification process. The results indicated that a temperature of 900 °C in both stages resulted in the highest H2 content (32.4 mol%) in syngas. When different equivalence ratios (ERs) were investigated, it was found that the highest H2 content in syngas (25.4 mol%) was achieved at an ER of 0.3. A particle size of 0.46 mm in the fluidized bed led to an increase in the H2 content of syngas. Moreover, increasing the operating gas velocity led to an increase in the H2 content of syngas. The heavy metal concentration in the bed material was the highest at 500 °C. When the influences of different particle sizes and operating gas velocities were compared, it was observed that a particle size of 0.46 mm and gas velocity of 1.5 U/Umf resulted in increased heavy metal concentrations in the bed material, which indicates that the reduction in the particle size and the increase in the operating gas velocity enhanced gasification and improved the retention of heavy metals.

Variations in the Course of the Carotid Arteries in Patients with Retropharyngeal Parathyroid Adenomas

The carotid arteries, classically described as taking a relatively straight course through the neck, deviate medially in a minority of patients. At the extreme, the internal carotid arteries may "kiss" in the midline, coming extremely close to the pharyngeal wall. In this clinical report, we describe 5 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, all with ectopic retropharyngeal parathyroid adenomas but all with varying carotid artery anatomy. We describe these variations using a previously developed clinical grading system that highlights 1) the relationship between carotid artery location and risk of injury during pharyngeal procedures and 2) the importance of universal, objective criteria to classify carotid anatomy. Radiologists should be familiar with variations in carotid anatomy and communicate them to the operative team.

Sequential extraction for heavy metal distribution of bottom ash from fluidized bed co-combusted phosphorus-rich sludge under the agglomeration/defluidization process

Agglomeration that occurs during municipal sewage sludge (MSS) fluidized bed co-combustion might affect heavy metal distribution and the transformation of bottom ash. A study on the mobility and speciation of heavy metals that accompanies agglomeration behavior and phosphorus addition should be examined during MSS co-combustion. Meanwhile, the aim of this study was to evaluate the total content and speciation of heavy metals during the MSS fluidized bed co-combustion by the chemical sequential extraction procedure (SEP). The risk assessment code (RAC) and individual contamination factor (ICF) are calculated to evaluate the mobility of heavy metals and their environmental risks in agglomerates. Moreover, identification of agglomerates is established by both characterization (scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) and thermodynamic simulation (HSC chemistry software). The experimental results indicated that P and Na would form the lower melting-point compounds such as NaPO₃ and Na₂O in the bottom ash, which promoted agglomeration during MSS fluidized bed co-combustion. According to the simulation, Na and P have a stronger affinity than Si and Cr, and this reaction is not only influenced by particle agglomeration, but also by heavy metal distribution during modified MSS co-combustion. Nevertheless, the results of ICFs and RACs obtained from the SEP indicated that for heavy metals trapped in agglomerates, a weaker binding such as physical covering by eutectics might be considered as the dominant reaction compared with chemical binding to form a metal complex.

Design of catalysts comprising a nickel core and ceria shell for hydrogen production from plastic waste gasification: an integrated test for anti-coking and catalytic performance

A novel core–shell catalyst with high coking resistance ability was applied for hydrogen production from plastic waste.

Experimental investigation of synthetic gas composition in a two-stage fluidized bed gasification process: effect of activated carbon as bed material

In this study, a two-stage fluidized bed gasifier was used to investigate the effect of the equivalence ratio (ER) and steam/biomass ratio (S/B) on the synthetic gas distribution while activated carbon (AC) was added as the bed material in secondary gasifier (Stage II). The experimental results showed that when the empty bed (without the bed material) was used for the Stage II reaction, the hydrogen (H₂) content in the synthetic gas emitted from the Stage II reactor was 2-3 mol% higher than that from the first-stage gasifier (Stage I). It was supposed that using the Stage II reactor prolongs the reaction time and thereby increases the H₂ production. Besides, when the AC was added in the Stage II gasifier, the H₂ concentration, the total gas yield, and gas heating value reached their maximum (30 mol%) when ER and S/B were 0.3 and 1.5, respectively.

Catalytic upgrading of syngas from fluidized bed air gasification of sawdust

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of various gasification temperatures in a fluidized bed gasifier on biomass-derived products and to evaluate the efficiency of syngas upgraded by a secondary catalytic reactor. The results indicated that biomass vaporization was clearly affected by gasification temperature, resulting in the obtained products having different composition ratios. Additionally, the hydrogen promotion ratios were found to be strongly dependent on the condensable products, indicating that the products were upgraded via the use of a catalyst in the secondary reactor. If biomass vaporized at suitable gasification temperatures can produce a large amount of condensable products, the products could be effectively upgraded for hydrogen production by the secondary catalytic reactor under very mild conditions (250°C). Overall, the process not only upgraded hydrogen production, but also degraded contaminants; therefore, its implementation should reduce the cost of operation and pollution control in the biomass-to-energy industry.

Evaluating the potential of CNT-supported Co catalyst used for gas pollution removal in the incineration flue gas

This study investigated the use of Cu/Al(2)O(3), Co/Al(2)O(3), Fe/Al(2)O(3), and Ni/Al(2)O(3) catalysts for the growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). These CNTs were used as support for Co catalyst preparation and Co/CNT catalysts were applied to a catalytic reaction to remove BTEX, PAHs, SO(2), NO, and CO simultaneously in a pilot-scale incineration system. The analyzed results of EDS and XRD showed low metal content and good dispersion characteristics of the Al(2)O(3)-supported catalysts by excess-solution impregnation. FESEM analyzed results showed that the CNTs that were synthesized from Co, Fe, and Ni catalysts had a diameter of 20nm, whereas those synthesized from Cu/Al(2)O(3) had a diameter of 50nm. Pilot-scale test results demonstrated that the Co/CNT catalyst effectively removed air pollutants in the catalytic reaction and that there was no obvious deactivation by Pb, water vapor, and coke deposited in the process. The thermal stabilization at 250 degrees C and hydrophobicity properties of CNTs enhanced the application of CNT catalysts in flue gas.

The prospect and development of incinerators for municipal solid waste treatment and characteristics of their pollutants in Taiwan

Taiwan is a small, densely populated island with unique experiences in the construction and operation of incinerators. In such a small area, Taiwan has built 22 incinerators over a short span of time, combusting large amount of municipal solid waste as much as 23,250 tons per day. This study focuses on the history of construction and development of incinerators in Taiwan as well as the characteristics of pollutants, such as heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and Hg), acid gases (NO _x , SO _x , CO, and HCl), and dioxins emitted from the incinerators. Furthermore, the study also covers the generation and composition of municipal solid waste (MSW), and the production of energy in Taiwan. According to Taiwan's data on pollutant emissions, the emission level of pollutants is under control and meets the stringent regulations of Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration (TEPA). Researches have shown that using air pollution control devices (APCDs) in the operation of incinerators provides effective measures for air pollutant control in Taiwan. The main advantage of using incinerators is the generation of electricity (waste-to-energy) during the incineration of municipal solid waste, producing energy that can be consumed by the general public and the industry. Taiwan's extensive experience in incinerator construction and operation may serve as an example for developing countries in devising waste treatment technology, energy recovery, and the control of contagious viral diseases.

Biodegradable polymeric microspheres for nalbuphine prodrug controlled delivery: in vitro characterization and in vivo pharmacokinetic studies

The objective of this work was to study the in vitro characteristics as well as in vivo pharmacokinetic performance of a series nalbuphine (NA) prodrug-loaded microspheres. An oil-in-water solvent evaporation method was used to incorporate the various NA prodrugs into poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA)-based microspheres. The morphology of microspheres under the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a spherical shape with smooth surface. Drug release rates for the microspheres were found to be a function of prodrug hydrophilicity, with higher drug release rates for microspheres loaded with more hydrophilic prodrugs. The release profiles fit well to the Baker and Lonsdale's spherical matrix model, suggesting the drug release from microspheres was consistent with a diffusion mechanism. The in vivo pharmacokinetic studies after s.c. injection of microspheres into rabbits showed sustained plasma NA-time profiles, with approximately 104.7, 67.2, and 41.0% relative bioavailability for microspheres loaded with nalbuphine propionate (NAP), nalbuphine pivalate (NPI), and nalbuphine decanoate (NDE), respectively. The in vitro release characteristics correlated well with the in vivo pharmacokinetic profiles. The results indicated that the prodrug hydrophilicity had significant effects on the in vitro as well as in vivo drug release kinetics. The present study demonstrates the feasibility of using biodegradable polymeric microspheres for controlled delivery of NA prodrugs.

Catalytic nucleophilic acyl substitution of anhydrides by amphoteric vanadyl triflate

[reaction--see text] Among four vanadyl species examined, vanadyl triflate was the most efficient catalyst to facilitate nucleophilic acyl substitution of anhydrides with a myriad array of alcohols, amines, and thiols in high yields and high chemoselectivity. By using mixed-anhydride technique, one can achieve oleate and peptide syntheses. In marked contrast to common metal triflates, the amphoteric character of the V=O unit in vanadyl species was proven to be responsible for the catalytic profile in this process.

Catalytic asymmetric coupling of 2-naphthols by chiral tridentate oxovanadium (IV) complexes

A series of chiral oxovanadium(IV) complexes derived from tridentate N-3,5-substituted and N-3,4-benzo- and N-5,6-benzo-salicylidene-alpha-amino acids can serve as efficient catalysts for the enantioselective oxidative couplings of various 3-, 6-, and 7-substituted 2-naphthols under O(2). The best scenario involves the use of a vanadyl complex arising from 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde and valine (or phenylalanine) in CCl(4), leading to BINOLs in good yields (75-100%) and with enantioselectivities of up to 68%.

Effect of hydroxyzine on the transport of etoposide in rat small intestine

Etoposide, an anti-neoplastic agent and a substrate of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), exhibits variable oral bioavailability. P-gp, the multidrug resistance gene (mdr1) product, has been considered as an absorption barrier against intestinal drug absorption. Terfenadine, an antihistamine, has been shown to be a P-gp inhibitor. The current study was designed to assess the effect of hydroxyzine, an antihistamine, on the transport of etoposide in the small intestine. Everted rat gut sacs were used to determine the absorption and exsorption of etoposide under different conditions, as rhodamine 123 was chosen to evaluate the role of P-gp in the drug interaction. The results showed that the transport of etoposide was significantly increased from the luminal site to the serosal site in the jejunum by 2- and 4-fold after 90 min in the presence of hydroxyzine and quinidine, respectively. A similar trend was observed in the ileal sacs. This in vitro exsorption study also demonstrated that hydroxyzine could reduce the efflux of etoposide to the luminal site in either jejunum or ileum. The effect of hydroxyzine on the pharmacokinetics of etoposide differed by the in vivo route of administration, thus assuming clinical importance for chemotherapeutic treatment.

Incidental renal cell carcinoma: pathologic features and survival rate

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to compare outcomes in patients with symptomatic and incidental renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

METHODS

From October 1982 to December 1996, 200 patients with RCC were enrolled in this study. Their medical records were reviewed for symptoms, tumor stage, and lymph node and metastatic status. Symptomatic and incidental RCCs were compared by the overall survival rate of patients. The survival rate was determined by the Kaplan Meier method. Log rank testing was used to analyze the statistical difference in the survival period between both groups.

RESULTS

The proportion of incidental RCC was 21% (42/200). The majority of cases (73.8%) were diagnosed primarily by abdominal ultrasonography. Incidental RCCs were smaller in size than symptomatic RCCs (5.1 +/- 2.0 cm vs. 7.5 +/- 1.8 cm, p = 0.001). Incidental RCCs were of a lower stage, and patients with incidental RCCs had significantly longer overall survival rates than those with symptomatic RCCs (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Ultrasonography is a useful tool for the detection of incidental RCC. Improvement in the overall survival rate of incidental RCC patients suggests that when these tumors are identified earlier, treatment results are better.

Intracellular glutathione content of urothelial cancer in correlation to chemotherapy response

We evaluated the possible correlation between intracellular glutathione (GSH) and drug sensitivity of urothelial cancer. Tissue GSH content of surgical specimens from 20 patients with urothelial cancer was assayed with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). GSH levels of cancer tissue (7.887 +/- 6.176 microM/mg protein) were significantly higher than GSH levels of normal mucosa (1.345 +/- 1.252 microM/mg). All patients having measurable lesions were then treated with methotrexate, epirubicin and cisplatin (MEC). These patients were classified into three groups according to clinical response criteria. GSH content in cancer tissue from four patients with complete response was 0.804 +/- 1.183 microM/mg protein. However, the cancer cells from patients with partial response and non-response contained a significantly higher level of GSH (6.295 +/- 2.459 (n = 8) and 12.955 +/- 6.141 microM/mg protein (n = 8), respectively). Intracellular glutathione content may play an important role in intrinsic resistance of urothelial cancer to MEC chemotherapy. It might be potentially used to predict drug sensitivity in urothelial cancer patients before starting chemotherapy.

The clinical experience of gaseous retroperitoneoscopic and gasless retroperitoneoscopy-assisted unroofing of renal cyst

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to compare the application of gaseous retroperitoneoscopic (GR) and gasless retroperitoneoscopy-assisted (GLRA) unroofing of renal cysts.

METHODS

Fourteen patients with symptomatic simple renal cysts had undergone unroofing of the cyst with GR in seven cases and GLRA in seven others. Three trocars (10 mm, 10 mm and 5 mm) were inserted in the GR procedure. A 3 cm flank muscle-split incision was made and retroperitoneoscopy was performed through the same incision in the GLRA procedure. Then, the cyst was unroofed.

RESULTS

The mean operative time was 104.3 minutes in the GR group and 52.1 minutes in the GLRA group, respectively (p = 0.001). The mean requirement of postoperative meperidine hydrochloride injection was 21.4 mg in the GR group and 71.4 mg in the GLRA group, respectively (p = 0.017). In the GR group, the mean postoperative stay was 3.7 days, and the time needed for return to normal activity was 7 days. In the GLRA group, the mean postoperative stay was 4.6 days, and the time needed for return to normal activity was 8 days.

CONCLUSIONS

GR and GLRA techniques for unroofing of renal cysts are safe, effective and minimally invasive. GLRA is easy to perform and a more time-saving procedure when compared to GR, however, the patients of GLRA suffered more postoperative pain than after GR. GLRA is recommended in patients who had received retroperitoneal surgery or who have multiple renal cysts.

Vitamin E protection of cell morphology under oxidative stress is related to cytoskeletal proteins in rat hepatocytes

A significant change in cell morphology was observed in hepatocytes treated with t-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BH). This morphological change of multiple bleb formation on cell plasma membranes was related to cell damage, and the subsequent rupture of these blebs resulted in cell death. In cells incubated with alpha-tocopherol before t-BH treatment, bleb formation was significantly inhibited. Using fluorescence microscopy, actin organization was shown to be related to alpha-tocopherol status as demonstrated by early changes in the actin network of cells in the absence of alpha-tocopherol. Results from SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis further indicated that, under oxidative stress, actin molecules (45 kDa) decreased in amount and were accompanied by the formation of high molecular weight molecules. In the presence of the thiol reducing agent, dithiothreitol, both the decrease in monomeric actin and formation of high molecular weight molecules disappeared. The loss of actin showed a time-dependent response and could be observed after 15 min with t-BH treatment either in the presence or absence of alpha-tocopherol; however the extent was much more significant in cells with no alpha-tocopherol. Depletion of total membrane protein thiols was also related to vitamin E and was greater in cells with no alpha-tocopherol. The amount of cell damage, as determined by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage in cells with t-BH treatment over 120 min was decreased in the presence of alpha-tocopherol compared with the rapid increase of LDH leakage in the absence of alpha-tocopherol. These results indicate that vitamin E protection of cell morphology under oxidative stress is related to actin, with thiol groups in actin probably playing a key role.

Vitamin E protection of cell morphology and protein thiols in rat hepatocytes treated with tert-butyl hydroperoxide

Effects of vitamin E on cell morphology and cellular protein thiols under oxidative stress was investigated in cultured rat hepatocytes with different vitamin E status. Hepatocytes were incubated in the presence or absence of 100 microM alpha-tocopherol succinate for 24 h then treated with 1.5 mM t-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BH) for different time intervals. Lipid peroxidation, as determined by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, was completely inhibited over 60 min of treatment in cells incubated with alpha-tocopherol. The change of cell morphology, as determined by surface blebs formation, was correlated with cellular vitamin E status. Surface blebs were formed in 25.1 +/- 5.2 min in the presence of alpha-tocopherol in contrast to 11.1 +/- 2.9 min in its absence. In cells with alpha-tocopherol, surface blebs were induced even though lipid peroxidation was inhibited. Comparing the depletion of membrane protein thiols with t-BH treatment, twice as many (40%) thiols were lost over 60 min in the absence of alpha-tocopherol whereas 20% were lost in the presence of alpha-tocopherol. In addition, the extent of thiol modification of carbonic anhydrase III, as determined by combining isoelectric focusing analysis with immunoblotting, further demonstrated that alpha-tocopherol helps maintain protein thiols in the reduced state. Results indicate that vitamin E protects cell morphology and prevents the loss of protein thiols with t-BH treatment, and on cell morphology protection is associated with protein thiols rather than membrane lipids.