Overview of municipal sludge fluid bed incineration in North America--from green to greener--the Lakeview, the Duffin Creek and the Southerly experiences.

Thermal processes used in sludge disposal have become more attractive as process improvements have been introduced, such as power generation and efficient heat recovery. More and more utilities and agencies are reevaluating their sludge management practices to ensure that they are providing sustainable management solutions for their clients. The thermal process design approach to the disposal of sludge is not only designed to achieve stricter emission limits but also is more energy efficient compared to its predecessors. Increasing numbers of new plants are being built every year with more energy efficient heat recovery features such as air preheating and cogeneration with steam and electricity production. This paper presents an overview of fluid bed incineration in North America and its evolution over the last decades. Case studies of the last three newest and largest plants in North America are presented, including the Lakeview Plant, Duffin Creek Plant, both in Ontario, Canada and the Southerly Plant in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Biotechnology-based odour control: design criteria and performance data.

As neighbouring areas continue to encroach upon wastewater treatment plants, there is an increasing need for odour control to mitigate potential negative offsite odorous impacts. One technology that is gaining widespread acceptance is biotechnology, which utilises the inherent ability of certain microorganisms to biodegrade offensive odorous compounds. Two main advantages of this form of treatment over other odour control technologies include the absence of hazardous chemicals and relatively low operation and maintenance requirements. The purpose of this paper is to provide information related to odour control design criteria used in sizing/selecting biotechnology-based odour control technologies, and to provide odour removal performance data obtained from several different biotechnology-based odour control systems. CH2M HILL has collected biotechnology-based odour control performance data over the last several years in order to track the continued performance of various biofilters and biotowers over time. Specifically, odour removal performance data have been collected from soil-, organic- and inorganic-media biofilters and inert inorganic media biotowers. Results indicate that biotechnology-based odour control is a viable and consistent technology capable of achieving high removal performance for odour and hydrogen sulphide. It is anticipated that the information presented in this paper will be of interest to anyone involved with odour control technology evaluation/selection or design review.

Diagnostic accuracy of a stereotaxically guided vacuum-assisted large-core breast biopsy program in Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy rate associated with 11-gauge vacuum assisted large-core breast biopsy (VALCBB) at our institution. METHODS: 673 consecutive VALCBBs performed between September 1997 and March 2000 were evaluated. For most of the benign VALCBB specimens, accuracy was determined by the stability of the lesions on follow-up mammography. When possible, histological results of specimens obtained from VALCBB and of specimens obtained from surgical excision were compared. Modified accuracy rates were calculated. RESULTS: Of the 673 biopsies, 499 (74%) were benign; for the 315 benign lesions for which complete follow-up information was available, a greater than 99% modified accuracy rate was obtained. The modified accuracy rate for the 174 nonbenign lesions was 95%. Thus, VALCBB yielded an overall modified accuracy for both benign and nonbenign lesions of 97.9%. CONCLUSION: VALCBB provides accurate histological results for biopsy of suspicious lesions of the breast.

Vacuum-assisted large-core breast biopsy: complications and their incidence.

OBJECTIVE: To assess both the rate and types of complications associated with vacuum-assisted large-core breast biopsy (VALCBB) at our institution. METHODS: Three hundred and four VALCBBs performed in 297 patients between Sept. 18, 1997, and Mar. 30, 1999, were evaluated. Complications associated with VALCBB were assessed at the time of the procedure and in the post-procedure period. Adverse outcomes included pain, bleeding or bruising, and hematoma. Complications were also classified in terms of minor, significant, and major severity. RESULTS: VALCBB yielded non-minor (i.e., significant and major) complication rates of 3.9% during the procedure and 3.6% in the post-procedure period, with only 2 complications (vasovagal-induced seizure and migraine) that required treatment. CONCLUSION: With proper technique and patient preparation, VALCBB is a very safe procedure with a low complication rate.

Multiple pulmonary nodules as a manifestation of cat-scratch disease.

Cat-scratch disease is an unusual bacterial illness that only rarely shows pulmonary involvement. The authors describe a 19-year-old woman with chronic renal failure who presented with multiple pulmonary nodules, a previously undescribed manifestation of cat-scratch disease.

Focal pulmonary abnormalities: evaluation with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose PET scanning.

The authors assessed the role of positron emission tomography (PET) with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in differentiation of benign from malignant focal pulmonary abnormalities seen on chest radiographs. Fifty-one patients underwent FDG PET scanning. Focal abnormalities at radiography included solitary pulmonary nodules (n = 38), pulmonary masses (n = 5), and poorly marginated infiltrates or opacities (n = 8). Proof of diagnosis was obtained by means of transbronchial biopsy (n = 21), open lung biopsy (n = 14), percutaneous needle biopsy (n = 14), or cytologic evaluation of sputum (n = 1). A nodule in one patient had been radiographically stable for at least 8 years. Quantitative analysis was performed by calculation of a standardized uptake ratio (SUR). Thirty-three malignant lesions had a mean SUR (+/- 1 standard deviation) of 6.5 +/- 2.9. Eighteen benign lesions had a mean SUR of 1.7 +/- 1.2. For a benign lesion with SUR of 2.5 or less, specificity of FDG PET was 100%, while sensitivity was 89%. These results suggest that FDG PET is accurate in differentiation of benign from malignant focal pulmonary abnormalities.

Pulmonary edema as a radiologic manifestation of venous air embolism secondary to dental implant surgery.

Three serial cases of fatal venous air embolism were reported after mandibular prosthetic dental surgery. Initially attributed to anesthetic factors, the deaths resulted from intraosseous irrigation with coolant tap water and air. Pulmonary edema was seen on chest roentgenograms and might have suggested the cause of death.