Improved speciation profiles and estimation methodology for VOCs emissions: A case study in two chemical plants in eastern China.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) poses a serious health risk through not only their own toxicity but also their role as precursors of ozone and secondary organic aerosols. The chemical industry, as one of the pillar industries in eastern China, is a key source of VOCs emissions. In this study, speciated VOCs emissions were measured in two chemical plants in eastern China. Oxygenated VOCs and aromatics were found to be the dominant species categories in both plants. The ozone formation potential (OFP) and secondary organic aerosol formation potential (SOAFP) of VOCs from dedicated resin production were both higher than general resin production. Three process-based models were used for the estimation of VOCs emissions from the two tested plants as a case study. The comparison between the emission factor model and the model with best available estimation methods (e.g., the measurement-based method, the mass balance method, the empirical formula method, and the correlation equation method) implied possible overestimation of the widely used emission factor model for the chemical industry. The probabilistic model developed in this study incorporated probability distribution of key parameters and proved to be a promising tool for emission inventory development and uncertainty analysis. The overall uncertainties of VOCs emissions based on the model were (-48%, +147%) and (-48%, +139%) for the two tested plants. In this study, the speciation profiles and estimation methodology for VOCs emissions from the chemical industry in China were both improved, which could benefit the accurate evaluation of the impacts of VOCs emissions.

[JI Laixi's experience of acupuncture and moxibustion for knee osteoarthritis].

In theory of TCM, the root cause of knee osteoarthritis (xibi) is the deficiency of liver and kidney, while the symptoms are involved with multiple damages of muscles, tendons and joints. The exogenous evil of wind, coldness, dampness and heat as well as the blood stasis usually block the meridians and collaterals, which cause the knee osteoarthritis. Professor JI Laixi selects acupoints based on syndrome differentiation, and treats both root cause and symptoms. He attaches importance to the ashi points, and takes pain as acupoints. He also treats the lower part of body using the upper acupoints, and treats knees through stimulating the low back. The basic acupoints include the affected Dubi (ST 35), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Liangqiu (ST 34), Xuehai (SP 10), Xixia point (extral) and ashi point in the knees and waist. Fengchi (GB 20) and Geshu (BL 17) are added for the symptom of wind; Guanyuan (CV 4) is added for the symptom of coldness; Zusanli (ST 36) is added for the symptom of dampness; Quchi (LI 11) is added for the symptom of heat; Fenglong (ST 40) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) are added for the symptom of phlegm-stasis; Ganshu (BL 18) and Shenshu (BL 23) are added for the deficiency of the liver and kidney. The technical combination of acupuncture, including needle-knife, fire needle, bloodletting, regular acupuncture, TDP, are applied to regulate the patients' deficiency and excess using the nine-six reinforcing and reducing methods, and pay high attention to the mind regulation. Using this method, the efficacy is significant.

Development of a micro-computed tomography-based image-guided conformal radiotherapy system for small animals.

PURPOSE: To report on the physical aspects of a system in which radiotherapy functionality was added to a micro-computed tomography (microCT) scanner, to evaluate the accuracy of this instrument, and to and demonstrate the application of this technology for irradiating tumors growing within the lungs of mice. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A GE eXplore RS120 microCT scanner was modified by the addition of a two-dimensional subject translation stage and a variable aperture collimator. Quality assurance protocols for these devices, including measurement of translation stage positioning accuracy, collimator aperture accuracy, and collimator alignment with the X-ray beam, were devised. Use of this system for image-guided radiotherapy was assessed by irradiation of a solid water phantom as well as of two mice bearing spontaneous MYC-induced lung tumors. Radiation damage was assessed ex vivo by immunohistochemical detection of gammaH2AX foci. RESULTS: The positioning error of the translation stage was found to be <0.05 mm, whereas after alignment of the collimator with the X-ray axis through adjustment of its displacement and rotation, the collimator aperture error was <0.1 mm measured at isocenter. Computed tomography image-guided treatment of a solid water phantom demonstrated target localization accuracy to within 0.1 mm. Gamma-H2AX foci were detected within irradiated lung tumors in mice, with contralateral lung tissue displaying background staining. CONCLUSIONS: Addition of radiotherapy functionality to a microCT scanner is an effective means of introducing image-guided radiation treatments into the preclinical setting. This approach has been shown to facilitate small-animal conformal radiotherapy while leveraging existing technology.