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At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Clinical experience with the isotopic cardiac pacemaker.

Clinical experience with isotopic pacemakers in 59 patients is compared with that in 77 control patients having conventional chemical battery-powered pulse generators. The review covers a 51/2-year period. Statistical analysis of the two series is impossible because of the numerous variables such as age, type of disease, number of controls, types of test and control pulse generators, dates of insertion, and protocol regulations. However, there were pulse generator failures in the control group, but not in the test group. Though not proven in this study, the isotopic cardiac pacer is likely to last longer than conventional chemical battery-powered units, and could provide lifetime pacing for many patients. The risk of carcinogenesis is minimal and seems negligible in older patients. The isotopic cardiac pacer, in spite of restrictions of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, should be considered for any patient with a life expectancy of 10 or more years. Paradoxically, it might be indicated in older rather than younger patients.

Adult↗

Clinical application of electronic bladder stimulation in paraplegics.

Ten patients have received bladder stimulators in a clinical trial to reduce urologic complications of neuropathic bladders. Preoperative evaluation and surgical techniques are discussed. Several patients void with the stimulator, and maintain low residual urine and a reduced incidence of infection. Two patients are total failures and 1 is in the early postoperative period. The physiological mechanisms involved are discussed. Additional investigation is needed for a means to deliver the stimulus to a more precise localization. Further clinical trials are warranted.

Adolescent↗

Using filtrate of waste biosolids to effectively produce bio-hydrogen by anaerobic fermentation.

Waste biosolids collected from sewage works is a biomass containing a vast amount of polysaccharides and proteins, and thus is considered a potential substrate for producing hydrogen using anaerobic fermentation. This work demonstrated, contrary to the common assumption, that the solids phase in waste activated biosolids presents extra nutrients for anaerobes; it in fact prohibits effective bio-hydrogen production. Using filtrate after removal of solids from biosolids produces more hydrogen than using the whole biosolids, with the former reaching a level an order of magnitude higher than the literature results.

Bacteria, Anaerobic↗

Progress in renewable energy.

This paper provides an overview of some of the key technological and market developments for leading renewable energy technologies--wind, wave and tidal, photovoltaics (PV) and biomass energy. Market growth, innovation and policy are closely interrelated in the development of renewables and the key issues in each area are explored for each of the main types of renewable energy technology. This enables the prospects for future development and cost reduction to be considered in detail. Key issues for policy are outlined.

Bioelectric Energy Sources↗

Artificial cells: prospects for biotechnology.

A variety of techniques can now be used to alter the genome of a cell. Although these techniques are very powerful, they have limitations related to cost and efficiency of scale. Artificial cells designed for specific applications combine properties of biological systems such as nanoscale efficiency, self-organization and adaptability at relatively low cost. Individual components needed for such structures have already been developed, and now the main challenge is to integrate them in functional microscopic compartments. It will then become possible to design and construct communities of artificial cells that can perform different tasks related to therapeutic and diagnostic applications.

Animals↗

The development of microfabricated biocatalytic fuel cells.

The production of electricity by biocatalytic fuel cells has been feasible for almost two decades and can produce electric power at a practical level. These fuel cells use immobilized microorganisms or enzymes as catalysts, and glucose as a fuel. A microfabricated enzyme battery has recently been made that is designed to function as a power supply for microsurgery robots or artificial organs.

Animals↗

Technical assessment of fuel cell operation on anaerobic digester gas at the Yonkers, NY, wastewater treatment plant.

This paper summarizes the results of a 2-year field test to assess the performance of a specially modified commercial phosphoric acid 200-kW fuel cell power plant to recover energy from anaerobic digester gas (ADG) which has been cleansed of contaminants (sulfur and halide compounds) using a patented gas pretreatment unit (GPU). Specific project goals include characterization of the fuel cell power plant emissions and verification of the GPU performance for removing sulfur contaminants. To remove halide contaminants from the ADG, a halide guard, consisting of a vessel with a metal oxide supported on alumina, was incorporated into the fuel cell reactant supply. This first-of-a-kind demonstration was conducted at the Yonkers, NY, wastewater treatment plant, a sewage processing facility owned and operated by Westchester County. Results have demonstrated that the ADG fuel cell power plant can produce electrical output levels close to full power (200 kW) with negligible air emissions of CO, NO(x), and SO(2). The GPU removed virtually 100% of H(2)S and 88% of organic sulfur, bringing the overall sulfur removal efficiency of the GPU to over 99%. The halide guard removed up to 96% of the halides exiting the GPU.

Bacteria, Anaerobic↗

Electroreduction of O(2) to water at 0.6 V (SHE) at pH 7 on the "wired" Pleurotus ostreatus laccase cathode.

O(2) was electroreduced to water at 0.6 V (SHE) near neutral pH on the "wired" Pleurotus ostreatus laccase cathode. We previously reported high-current density (5 mA cm(-2)), four-electron electroreduction of O(2) to water on a "wired" Coriolus hirsutus laccase electrode at +0.7 V (SHE) in pH 5 in citrate buffer. Since the enzyme was inhibited by chloride and because its activity declined steeply when the pH was raised to neutral, the rate of O(2) electroreduction in a physiological buffer solution was only approximately 1% of that at pH 5 in absence of chloride. Here we show that substitution of the C. hirsutus laccase by laccase from P. ostreatus allows the upward extension of the pH range of O(2) electroreduction. The current density of the electrode made with laccase from P. ostreatus in pH 7 citrate buffer was approximately 100 microA cm(-2) and at pH 7 and in phosphate buffered NaCl (PBS, 20 mM phosphate, 0.1 M NaCl) it still retained 6% of its maximal (1 mA cm(-2)) current density at pH 5 in citrate buffer. The electrocatalyst consisted of the crosslinked P. ostreatus laccase and the electron conducting redox polymer PVI-Os(dmebpy)(tpy)(2+/3+) [PVI=poly(N-vinyl imidazole) with about 1/5th of the rings complexed with (Os-dmebpy-tpy)(2+/3+); dmebpy=4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine; tpy=2,2',6',2"-terpyridine].

Bioelectric Energy Sources↗

Operational parameters affecting the performannce of a mediator-less microbial fuel cell.

A mediator-less microbial fuel cell was optimized in terms of various operating conditions. Current generation was dependent on several factors such as pH, resistance, electrolyte used, and dissolved oxygen concentration in the cathode compartment. The highest current was generated at pH 7. Under the operating conditions, the resistance was the rate-determining factor at over 500 omega. With resistance lower than 500 omega, proton transfer and dissolved oxygen (DO) supply limited the cathode reaction. A high strength buffer reduced the proton limitation to some extent. The DO concentration was around 6 mg l(-1) at the DO limited condition. The fact that oxygen limitation was observed at high DO concentration is believed to be due to the poor oxygen reducing activity of the electrode used, graphite. The current showed linear relationship with the fuel added at low concentration, and the electronic charge was well correlated with substrate concentration from up to 400 mg l(-1) of COD(cr). The microbial fuel cell might be used as a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) sensor.

Bioelectric Energy Sources↗

Palladium-bacterial cellulose membranes for fuel cells.

Bacterial cellulose is a versatile renewable biomaterial that can be used as a hydrophilic matrix for the incorporation of metals into thin, flexible, thermally stable membranes. In contrast to plant cellulose, we found it catalyzed the deposition of metals within its structure to generate a finely divided homogeneous catalyst layer. Experimental data suggested that bacterial cellulose possessed reducing groups capable of initiating the precipitation of palladium, gold, and silver from aqueous solution. Since the bacterial cellulose contained water equivalent to at least 200 times the dry weight of the cellulose, it was dried to a thin membranous structure suitable for the construction of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs). Results of our study with palladium-cellulose showed that it was capable of catalyzing the generation of hydrogen when incubated with sodium dithionite and generated an electrical current from hydrogen in an MEA containing native cellulose as the polyelectrolyte membrane (PEM). Advantages of using native and metallized bacterial cellulose membranes in an MEA over other PEMs such as Nafion 117 include its higher thermal stability to 130 degrees C and lower gas crossover.

Biocompatible Materials↗