Variability in the primary emissions and secondary gas and particle formation from vehicles using bioethanol mixtures.

Bioethanol for use in vehicles is becoming a substantial part of global energy infrastructure because it is renewable and some emissions are reduced. Carbon monoxide (CO) emissions and total hydrocarbons (THC) are reduced, but there is still controversy regarding emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), aldehydes, and ethanol; this may be a concern because all these compounds are precursors of ozone and secondary organic aerosol (SOA). The amount of emissions depends on the ethanol content, but it also may depend on the engine quality and ethanol origin. Thus, a photochemical chamber was used to study secondary gas and aerosol formation from two flex-fueled vehicles using different ethanol blends in gasoline. One vehicle and the fuel used were made in the United States, and the others were made in Brazil. Primary emissions of THC, CO, carbon dioxide (CO2), and nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHC) from both vehicles decreased as the amount of ethanol in gasoline increased. NOx emissions in the U.S. and Brazilian cars decreased with ethanol content. However, emissions of THC, CO, and NOx from the Brazilian car were markedly higher than those from the U.S. car, showing high variability between vehicle technologies. In the Brazilian car, formation of secondary nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3) was lower for higher ethanol content in the fuel. In the U.S. car, NO2 and O3 had a small increase. Secondary particle (particulate matter [PM]) formation in the chamber decreased for both vehicles as the fraction of ethanol in fuel increased, consistent with previous studies. Secondary to primary PM ratios for pure gasoline is 11, also consistent with previous studies. In addition, the time required to form secondary PM is longer for higher ethanol blends. These results indicate that using higher ethanol blends may have a positive impact on air quality. IMPLICATIONS: The use of bioethanol can significantly reduce petroleum use and greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Given the extent of its use, it is important to understand its effect on urban pollution. There is a controversy on whether there is a reduction or increase in PM emission when using ethanol blends. Primary emissions of THC, CO, CO2, NOx, and NMHC for both cars decreased as the fraction of ethanol in gasoline increased. Using a photochemical chamber, the authors have found a decrease in the formation of secondary particles and the time required to form secondary PM is longer when using higher ethanol blends.

Utilización del Intaglobin en sepsis grave en una unidad de cuidados intensivos

Se analizan los resultados obtenidos con el uso del concentrado de Gamma Globulina humana de producción Nacional por via endovenosa asociado al tratamiento de antibióticos en un grupo de 80 pacientes de ambos sexos ingresados en la unidad de cuidados intesivos portadores de sepsis grave de diversas localizaciones y causada por múltiples agentes etiológicos confirmados por estudios bacteriológicos. Se comparan los resultados del grupo de trabajo con un grupo de control de pacientes con similares características tratados con antibiótico y se concluye que la disminución de la mortalidad desde un 51 por ciento hasta un 36 por ciento y la erradicación de la Pseudomona Aeuroginosa en el 86 por ciento sin la aparición de reacciones graves en los pacientes tratados con Intaglobin constituye un elemento de mucho valor para recomendar su uso en este tipo de enfermedades.(AU)

Formación de polímeros durante la producción de albúmina terapéutica humana / Formation of polymers during the production of therapeutic human albumin

Se estudia mediante columnas de Sephadex G-200 el grado de polimerización de la albúmina. Se analizan la pasteurización y el alamcenaje del producto final como posibles fuentes de polimerización. El calentamiento de la solución de albúmina durante 10 horas a 60ºC para inactivar el virus de la hepatitis provoca un aumento, tanto de la forma dimérica como de la forma polimérica en el producto(AU)

Características de los lípidos y el colesterol durante el proceso de purificación de la albúmina y la gammaglobulina plasmática / Characteristics of lipids and cholesterol during the process of albumin and plasma gamma globulin purification

Se analizaron durante dos años los lotes de producción nacional de albúmina y gammaglobulina con respecto a la eliminación de los lípidos y el colesterol durante el fraccionamiento alcohólico. Los lípidos se distribuyen fundamentalmente en las pastas III, IV-1 y IV-4, mientras que el colesterol se encuentra principalmente en las pastas III y IV-1. Se discuten los problemas que causan la presencia de estas sustancias en el producto final(AU)