Safety and Efficacy of Flow Reversal in Acute and Elective Carotid Angioplasty and Stenting Using the Mo.Ma Device with Short-Term Follow-Up.

Objective: To determine the safety and efficacy of flow reversal following proximal flow arrest as an embolic protection strategy for carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) with short-term follow-up.

Method: We performed a retrospective review of our CAS database for patients who underwent stent-supported carotid revascularization in the setting of acute/subacute stroke or TIA. We reviewed clinical and radiographic data during a 36-month period.

Glycerol Dehydration to Acrolein Catalyzed by ZSM-5 Zeolite in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Medium.

Supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO ) has been used for the first time as a reaction medium for the dehydration of glycerol to acrolein catalyzed by a solid acid. Unprecedented catalyst stability over 528 hours of time-on-stream was achieved and the rate of coke deposition on the zeolite catalyst was the lowest among extensive previous studies, showing potential for industrial application. Coking pathways in SC-CO were also elucidated for future development.

A comparative review of petroleum-based and bio-based acrolein production.

Acrolein is an important chemical intermediate for many common industrial chemicals, leading to an array of useful end products. This paper reviews all the synthetic methods, including the former (aldol condensation) and contemporary (partial oxidation of propylene) manufacturing methods, the partial oxidation of propane, and most importantly, the bio-based glycerol-dehydration route. Emphasis is placed on the petroleum-based route from propylene and the bio-based route from glycerol, an abundantly available and relatively inexpensive raw material available from biodiesel production.

Thermal inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 when grown statically or continuously in a chemostat.

The objective of this study was to determine if survivor curves for heat-inactivated Escherichia coli O157:H7 were affected by the physiological state of the cells relative to growth conditions and pH of the heating menstruum. A comparison was made between the log-linear model and non-log-linear Weibull approach. Cells were grown statically in aerobic culture tubes or in an aerobic chemostat in tryptic soy broth (pH 7.

Influence of pyrolysis condition on switchgrass bio-oil yield and physicochemical properties.

The poor and inconsistent physicochemical properties of bio-oil are inhibiting its industrialized production. We investigated the variability in properties of switchgrass bio-oil produced at three pyrolysis temperatures (T=450, 500, and 550 degrees C) and three feedstock moisture contents (MC=5%, 10%, and 15%) in a 3x3 factorial experiment in order to exploit opportunities to improve bio-oil properties through optimization of pyrolysis parameters. Results showed that even with the single type of feedstock and pyrolysis system, the two main factors and their interaction caused large variations in bio-oil yield and most of the measured physicochemical properties.

Fast classification and compositional analysis of cornstover fractions using Fourier transform near-infrared techniques.

The objectives of this research were to determine the variation of chemical composition across botanical fractions of cornstover, and to probe the potential of Fourier transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) techniques in qualitatively classifying separated cornstover fractions and in quantitatively analyzing chemical compositions of cornstover by developing calibration models to predict chemical compositions of cornstover based on FT-NIR spectra. Large variations of cornstover chemical composition for wide calibration ranges, which is required by a reliable calibration model, were achieved by manually separating the cornstover samples into six botanical fractions, and their chemical compositions were determined by conventional wet chemical analyses, which proved that chemical composition varies significantly among different botanical fractions of cornstover. Different botanic fractions, having total saccharide content in descending order, are husk, sheath, pith, rind, leaf, and node.

Properties of medium density fiberboards made from renewable biomass.

The goal of this study was to determine the comparative properties of dry-formed medium density fiberboards (MDF) made from renewable biomass (wheat and soybean straw) and those from conventional soft wood fiber. The MDF properties evaluated were modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, internal bond strength, thickness swell, and screw holding capacity. The results show that MDF made from wheat straw fiber and soy straw fiber have weaker mechanical and water resistance properties than those made from softwood fiber.

Risk of malignancy in follicular neoplasms without nuclear atypia: statistical analysis of 397 thyroidectomies.

Objective: To determine how to triage patients with a follicular neoplasm (FN), without nuclear atypia reported by fine-needle aspiration, on the basis of risk factors.

Methods: The age, sex, tumor size, and cell type of 397 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for follicular carcinoma (FC) or follicular adenoma between 1991 and 2001 were analyzed statistically. The likelihood ratio and probability of FC for various combinations of tumor size, sex, and cell type were estimated with use of Bayes' theorem.

Behavioral risk factor and preventive health care practice survey of immigrants in the emergency department.

Objective: To compare the demographic profiles, behavioral risk factors, and preventive health care practices of adult immigrant and non-immigrant patients while considering the effects of various socioeconomic variables.

Methods: This was a prospective survey administered at a large urban emergency department in New York City. Study subjects were adult immigrant patients presenting in an eight-week period in 1998.