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Colonization of near-patient surfaces in hospitals plays an important role as a source of healthcare-associated infections. Routine disinfection methods only result in short-term elimination of pathogens. To investigate the efficiency of a newly developed antimicrobial coating containing nanosilver in long-term reduction of bacterial burden in hospital surfaces to close the gap between routine disinfection cycles. In this prospective, double-blinded trial, frequently touched surfaces of a routinely used treatment room in an emergency unit of a level-I hospital were treated with a surface coating (nanosilver/DCOIT-coated surface, NCS) containing nanosilver particles and another organic biocidal agent (4,5-dichloro-2-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, DCOIT), whereas surfaces of another room were treated with a coating missing both the nanosilver- and DCOIT-containing ingredient and served as control. Bacterial contamination of the surfaces was examined using contact plates and liquid-based swabs daily for a total trial duration of 90 days. After incubation, total microbial counts and species were assessed. In a total of 2880 antimicrobial samples, a significant reduction of the overall bacterial load was observed in the NCS room (median: 0.31 cfu/cm2; interquartile range: 0.00–1.13) compared with the control coated surfaces (0.69 cfu/cm2; 0.06–2.00; P < 0.001). The nanosilver- and DCOIT-containing surface coating reduced the relative risk of a critical bacterial load (defined as >5 cfu/cm2) by 60% (odds ratio 0.38, P < 0.001). No significant difference in species distribution was detected between NCS and control group. Nanosilver-/DCOIT-containing surface coating has shown efficiency for sustainable reduction of bacterial load of frequently touched surfaces in a clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Demographic feature young age is a potential clozapine response predictor. • Clinical factors few negative symptoms and schizophrenia paranoid subtype are potential predictors. • Large clinical trials should be done to find response predictors. Clozapine (CLZ) is prescribed to (relatively) treatment-resistant patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Currently, it is unknown what factors predict response to CLZ. Therefore, we performed meta-analyses to identify predictors of CLZ response, hence aiming to facilitate timely and efficient prescribing of CLZ. A systematic search was performed in 'Pubmed' and 'Embase' until 1 January 2019. Articles were eligible if they provided data on predictors of CLZ response measured demographic and clinical factors at baseline or biochemical factors at follow-up in schizophrenia spectrum disorder patients. A total of 34 articles, total number of participants = 9386; N unique = 2094, were eligible. Factors significantly associated with better CLZ response were: lower age, lower PANSS negative score and paranoid schizophrenia subtype. The results of our meta-analyses suggest that three baseline demographic and clinical features are associated with better clozapine response, i.e. relatively young age, few negative symptoms and paranoid schizophrenia subtype. These variables may be taken into account by clinicians who consider treating a specific patient with CLZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This work presents the coupled measurements of droplet size distribution, droplet velocity distribution and droplet shape in a dimethyl ether (DME) spray with 6MPa and 8MPa injection pressures into a high pressure atmosphere with 2MPa. To investigate the influence of the spray characteristics on the auto-ignition characteristics of the spray, the auto-ignition delay time was measured. The comparison of the delay with the delay of gaseous DME free jets reveals the influence of atomization and evaporation on the auto-ignition delay time. The spray is analyzed by a shadow technique and digital image analysis with temporal and spatial resolution. The images are used to measure the spray characteristics, such as droplet velocity, droplet size and droplet shape. To study the auto-ignition of the DME spray, a high-speed video camera is applied. It was found that an increased injection pressure increases the spray angle in the high pressure atmosphere. Since the small droplets have a smaller momentum, only droplets with larger diameter are detected in greater distance from the nozzle outlet. With increased injection pressure, the droplet diameter distribution becomes more homogeneous. The correlations of droplet diameter and droplet velocity are presented as Joint Probability Density Functions (JPDF). Finally, the ignition delay times for different injection pressures are measured. They do not reveal influence of the injection pressure on the ignition delay time. Furthermore, the ignition delay time of the DME spray reveals no difference to the ignition delay time of gaseous DME free jets under identical conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A comparison of dual fluidized bed gasification of biomass with and without selective transport of CO2 from the gasification to the combustion reactor is presented. The dual fluidized bed technology provides the necessary heat for steam gasification by circulating hot bed material that is heated in a separate fluidized bed reactor by combustion of residual biomass char. The hydrogen content in producer gas of gasifiers based on this concept is about 40vol% (dry basis). Addition of carbonates to the bed material and adequate adjustment of operation temperatures in the reactors allow selective transport of CO2 (absorption enhanced reforming—AER concept). Thus, hydrogen contents of up to 75vol% (dry basis) can be achieved. Experimental data from a 120kWFuel input pilot plant as well as thermodynamic data are used to determine the mass- and energy-balances. Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and energy balances for both concepts are presented and discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In order for biochar (which is produced via waste wood pyrolysis) to be used in sustainable energy or material production, it is crucial to determine certain properties, such as its mechanical strength. Consequently, in this paper, municipal waste wood (MWW) 1 1 Municipal waste wood. and forestry residue biomass (FRB) 2 2 Forestry residue biomass. – as a point of reference – are examined in an autothermal pyrolysis unit. The mechanical strength of the biochar is analysed via an uniaxial compression experiment. The present paper proposes an advanced method to investigate the strength of pyrolysed biochar in a representative and comprehensive manner, since no standards are available in literature. It has been found that firstly, the mechanical biochar's strength decreases with increasing temperature, and secondly, that biochar prepared from FRB shows a higher breaking strength than biochar produced from MWW. Furthermore, an approximately linear progression between degree of pyrolysis and the mechanical strength is observable. Successful experiments on the gasification of MWW confirm the results obtained in this study. Additional allothermal pyrolysis experiments reveal higher strength values and reflect the more precise temperature adjustment. These results can be used as a point of reference in future research on alternative biogenic energy carriers and biochar products. • Lower mechanical strength with increasing pyrolysis temperature and waste wood usage. • Linear relationship between degree of pyrolysis and mechanical strength. • Pilot-scale experiments on waste wood gasification confirm obtained findings. • Higher mechanical strength with allothermal biochar pyrolysis. • Plot as basis for the switch from fresh wood to waste wood biochar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 3D Computational Particle Fluid Dynamic (CPFD) model is validated against experimental measurements in a lab-scale cold flow model of a Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB). The model prediction of pressure along the riser, downcomer and siphon as well as bed material circulation rates agree well with experimental measurements. Primary and secondary air feed positions were simulated by varying the positions along the height of the reactor to get optimum bed material circulation rate. The optimal ratio of the height of primary and secondary air feed positions to the total height of the riser are 0.125 and 0.375 respectively. The model is simulated for high-temperature conditions and for reacting flow including combustion reactions. At the high temperature and reaction conditions, the bed material circulation rate is decreased with the corresponding decrease in pressure drop throughout the CFB for the given air feed rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]