Pulsed processing by cold plasma, applied to industrial emission control.

A promising pollution control technology is cold plasma driven chemical processing. The plasma is a pulsed electric gas discharge inside a near atmospheric-pressure-temperature reactor. The system is energized by a continuous stream of very short high-voltage pulses.

In silico ecotoxicity assessment of pharmaceutical residues in wastewater following oxidative treatment.

Advanced oxidation processes such as thermal plasma activation and UV-C/HO treatment are considered as applications for the degradation of pharmaceutical residues in wastewater complementary to conventional wastewater treatment. It is supposed that direct oxidative treatment can lower the toxicity of hospital sewage water (HSW). The aim of this study was to predict the ecotoxicity for three aquatic species before and after oxidative treatment of 10 quantified pharmaceuticals in hospital sewage water.

Preparation of Free-Surface Hyperbolic Water Vortices.

Free surface vortices are present in industry in flow regulation, energy dissipation, and energy generation. Although investigated extensively, detailed experimental data regarding free surface vortices are lacking, particularly regarding the turbulence at the interface. The present paper reports on a special type of free surface vortex first proposed by Walter Schauberger in the 1960s that has an oxygen volumetric mass transfer coefficient exceeding the value of similar systems.

Determination of cytotoxicity following oxidative treatment of pharmaceutical residues in wastewater.

Pharmaceutical residues are released in the aquatic environment due to incomplete removal from wastewater. With the presence of multiple chemicals in sewage waters, contaminants may adversely affect the effectiveness of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). In certain cases, discharged metabolites are transformed back into their pristine structure and become bioactive again.

Thermal plasma activation and UV/HO oxidative degradation of pharmaceutical residues.

The aquatic environment becomes increasingly contaminated by anthropogenic pollutants such as pharmaceutical residues. Due to poor biodegradation and continuous discharge of persistent compounds in sewage water samples, pharmaceutical residues might end up in surface waters when not removed. To minimize this pollution, onsite wastewater treatment techniques might complement conventional waste water treatment plants (WWTPs).

Oxidative degradation of cyclophosphamide using thermal plasma activation and UV/HO treatment in tap water.

There is a growing concern about pharmaceuticals entering the aquatic environment. Many of these compounds cannot be removed completely in sewage treatment plants. To remove these unwanted medicines from water, oxidative degradation techniques may complement the current purification steps.

Enhancing quality of life and mastery of informal caregivers of high-grade glioma patients: a randomized controlled trial.

High-grade gliomas (HGG) are serious primary brain tumors that may prevent the patient from functioning normally in social, emotional and cognitive respect. Often the partner's role will convert to that of informal caregiver. Consequently, they may experience significant stress and reductions in caregiver mastery, negatively affecting their health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

The association of the alpha-5 subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene with different aspects of smoking behavior.

Recent studies show that different aspects of smoking behavior are associated with the α-5 subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (CHRNA5) gene and the gene coding for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). This raises the question whether the amount of cigarettes smoked per day has a different genetic background than smoking initiation and what other smoking phenotypes may be relevant. The aim of this study was to replicate these associations in a large population-based sample.

Laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy for phenol and intermediate products in aqueous solutions degraded by pulsed corona discharges above water.

Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy is introduced as an in situ diagnostic for phenol and intermediate products in an aqueous solution degraded by corona discharges. The complications that are inherent in applying LIF as a diagnostic for aqueous solutions are experimentally examined. The LIF intensities of phenol and the intermediate products are measured as a function of time.