Prenatal diagnosis of atelosteogenesis type I at 21 weeks' gestation

We describe prenatal diagnosis in a male fetus at 21 weeks of gestation with atelosteogenesis type I (AO I). Fetal ultrasonography (US) revealed absent or deficient ossification of the posterior neural arches of the thoracic spine, humeri, radii, ulnae, fibulae, and short tubular bones other than the distal phalanges, in addition to extremely short, thick femora. Fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using an ultrafast imaging sequence depicted dysmorphic features, pulmonary hypoplasia, and large cisterna magna. Postmortem radiographs warranted a diagnosis of AO I. Autopsy corroborated not only pulmonary hypoplasia but also laryngeal stenosis. The chondro-osseous histological findings were consistent with those of AO I. Meticulous evaluation using fetal US and MRI permits a definitive prenatal diagnosis of AO I to be made. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The photolysis of organic substances under atmospheric conditions with a cylindrical photoreactor using ethyl nitrite and nitrogen dioxide

The first-order rate constants of 8 organic substances were measured using the ethyl nitrite and nitrogen dioxide photolyses and their relative rates with respect to n-hexane rate constant were calculated. These were compared with literature data. Relatively small photolysis rates of alkane and aromatics were shown for our photosystems and the alkenes were rapidly photolyzed. For mixed photooxidation reactions of various organics, it would be reasonable for organics of the group classified by their molecular structures to be discussed on their reactivities with OH radicals.     

Combustible and incombustible speciation of Cl and S in various components of municipal solid waste

Chlorine (Cl) and sulfur (S) in municipal solid waste (MSW) are important reactive elements during combustion. They generate the acidic pollutants HCl and SOx, and, furthermore, produce and suppress organic chlorinated compounds. Nevertheless, few practical reports about Cl and S content in MSW have been published. In combustion and recycling processes, both combustible Cl and S, and incombustible Cl and S species are equally important. This paper presents the results of a comprehensive study about combustible and incombustible Cl and S in MSW components, including kitchen garbage, paper, textiles, wood and leaves, plastics and small chips. By integrating this collected data with data about MSW composition, not only the overall content of Cl and S in MSW, but also the origins of both combustible and incombustible Cl and S were estimated. The average Cl content in bulk MSW was 3.7 g/kg of raw MSW, of which 2.7 and 1.0 g/kg were combustible and incombustible, respectively. The Cl contribution from plastics was 76% and 27% with respect to combustible and incombustible states. The average S content in bulk MSW was 0.81 g/kg of raw MSW, of which 0.46 g/kg was combustible and 0.35 g/kg was incombustible. Combustible S was mainly due to synthetic textiles, while incombustible S was primarily from paper.     

Alkaline hydrothermal treatment of brominated high impact polystyrene (HIPS-Br) for bromine and bromine-free plastic recovery

A method to recover both Br and Br-free plastic from brominated flame retardant high impact polystyrene (HIPS-Br) was proposed. HIPS-Br containing 15% Br was treated in autoclave at 280 degrees C using water or KOH solution of various amounts and concentrations. Hydrothermal treatment (30 ml water) leads to 90% debromination of 1g HIPS-Br but plastic is strongly degraded and could not be recovered. Alkaline hydrothermal treatment (45 ml or 60 ml KOH 1M) showed similar debromination for up to 12 g HIPS-Br and plastic was recovered as pellets with molecular weight distribution close to that of the initial material. Debromination occurs at melt plastic/KOH solution interface when liquid/vapour equilibrium is attained inside autoclave (280 degrees C and 7 MPa in our experimental conditions) and depends on the plastic amount/KOH volume ratio. The antimony oxide synergist from HIPS-Br remains in recovered plastic during treatment. A pictorial imagination of the proposed debromination process is presented.     

Photoreduction of Cr(VI) in wastewater by anodic nanoporous Nb2O5 formed at high anodizing voltage and electrolyte temperature

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this study, nanoporous anodic film was produced by anodization of niobium, Nb in a fluoride ethylene glycol electrolyte. The effect of anodization...