Postnatal management of prenatally diagnosed abdominal masses and anomalies

Rapid advancement in fetal diagnostic imaging has increased our ability to diagnose a multitude of anomalies in the prenatal period. The purpose of this chapter is to review our current understanding of prenatally diagnosed intra-abdominal lesions, and describe the current guidelines for the postnatal management and subsequent outcome for these lesions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The anaerobic biodegradability of municipal sludge and fat, oil, and grease at mesophilic conditions.

The anaerobic biodegradability of municipal primary and secondary sludge with increasing levels of partially dewatered fat, oil, and grease (FOG) was assessed using a mixed methanogenic culture at 35 "C. Under batch conditions with an acclimated and enriched microbial population, the sludge loading was 3 kg volatile solids/m3 and the highest FOG loading tested was 1.5 kg volatile solids/m3, resulting in a methane yield of 245 mL methane/g sludge volatile solids added at 35 degrees C and 1010 mL methane/g FOG volatile solids added at 35 degrees C. Under semicontinuous feeding conditions, the sludge and sludge plus FOG loading tested were 3 and 3.75 kg volatile solids/m3-d, respectively. Within 23 days of operation, the volatile fatty acid concentrations were reduced below 200 mg chemical oxygen demand/L (187 mg/L as acetic acid). Enhancement of sludge digestion was observed in those reactors where codigestion of sludge and FOG took place, which was attributed to a higher level of microbial activity maintained in these reactors as a result of FOG degradation. The results of this study demonstrate that beneficial use of FOG through codigestion with municipal sludge is feasible.     

The acceptability of CO2 capture and storage (CCS) in Europe: An assessment of the key determining factors: Part 1. Scientific,technical and economic dimensions

The ACCSEPT project, which ran from January 2006 to December 2007, identified and analysed the main factors which have been influencing the emergence of CO₂ capture and geological storage (CCS) within the European Union (EU). The key clusters of factors concern science and technology, law and regulation, economics, and social acceptance. These factors have been analysed through interviews, a large-scale questionnaire conducted in 2006, and discussions in two stakeholder workshops (2006 and 2007). In Part I of this paper, we aim to distil the key messages and findings with regards to scientific, technical, legal and economic issues. There are no compelling scientific, technical, legal, or economic reasons why CCS could not be widely deployed in the forthcoming decades as part of a package of climate change mitigation options. In order to facilitate this deployment, governments at both the EU and Member State levels have an important role to play, in particular in establishing a robust and transparent legal framework (e.g. governing long-term environmental liability) and a strong policy framework providing sufficient and long-term incentives for CCS and CO₂ transportation networks.     

Advanced paternal age,infertility, and reproductive risks: A review of the literature

Advanced paternal age (APA) is associated with infertility and other reproductive risks. Studies looking at APA and outcomes have used different paternal age cut-offs, which has complicated systematic evaluations of reproductive risk associated with paternal aging. This review of the literature suggests that the impact of paternal aging on adverse reproductive outcomes is small, but significant. Studies suggest the incidence of paternal age effect disorders attributed to de novo autosomal dominant mutations is less than 0.5%. Other risks associated with APA include infertility, miscarriage, birth defects, poor neurodevelopmental outcomes, and childhood cancer. Although the increasing prevalence of APA has mirrored the rise in maternal age, this topic has not received similar attention. In this review, we summarize the available literature on the reproductive risks associated with APA to provide a framework for comprehensive genetic counseling and evidence-based management of APA pregnancies.     

Improved VOC bioremediation using a fluidized bed peat bioreactor

A gas–solid fluidized bed bioreactor was successfully used to treat air contaminated with a volatile organic compound (VOC). A bioreactor containing both a fluidized and packed bed of moist peat granules removed ethanol, a representative VOC, from an air stream. The fluidized bed operation mode of the bioreactor outperformed the packed bed mode. The maximum elimination capacity (EC) of ethanol in the fluidized mode was 1520 g m⁻³ h⁻¹, with removal efficiencies ranging between 45 and 100%, at loadings up to 3400 g m⁻³ h⁻¹. Maximum EC was 530 g m⁻³ h⁻¹ in the packed bed mode. Removal efficiency in the fluidized bioreactor was best at the lowest velocity, where the bubbling bed fluidization regime predominated. As gas velocity increased, the size and amount of large bubbles (slugs) increased and removal efficiency decreased while elimination capacity increased.     

Intertemporal and intergenerational pareto efficiency revisited

This paper demonstrates that Bishop's formulation deviates in a fundamental way from our model and, in so doing, Bishop has assumed the problem away. Bishop utilizes a utility function that is too general to discriminate the time pattern of consumption from that of production. Hence, the intertemporal nature of the goods that we analyzed cannot be captured by Bishop's representation. Furthermore, we show that current benefit cost methods that discount the benefit stream of a public asset are Pareto intertemporally inefficient.