Environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation—CCS technology, better having it than not having it at all!

Abstract

Objective Six recent genome scans of different systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) multiplex family cohorts showed multiple putative susceptibility loci. In the present study, we examined 4 previously identified loci to replicate findings of significant linkage to 1q23 and 16q12, and to support findings of suggestive linkage to 14q21‐23 and 20p12 in a cohort of 115 multiethnic nuclear families containing 145 SLE‐affected sibpairs. Methods Model‐free, multipoint linkage analyses (SIBPAL2, SAGE version 4.0) and exclusion mapping (GeneHunter) were performed. Results Linkages to 1q23 (peak at D1S2675, mean allele sharing [MAS] 0.56; P = 0.003) and to 16q12 (peaks between D16S753 and D16S757, MAS 0.57; P = 0.003) were confirmed, but linkage evidence at 20p12 was weak and inconsistent (MAS 0.52–0.56; from P = 0.005 to P not significant). Evidence for linkage to 1q23 and 16q12 was stronger in 68 non‐Caucasian affected sibpairs than in 77 Caucasian affected sibpairs. Exclusion mapping ruled out linkage at 14q21‐23 (λs [sib recurrence risk or genotypic risk ratio] = 1.8). Because the pericentromeric region of chromosome 16 has been identified by genome scans in several autoimmune diseases, we postulated that it might harbor an autoimmune modifier gene. To explore this possibility, we tested for an interaction between 16q12 and 1q23, and between 16q12 and 20p12. Haplotype sharing at 1q23 increased concomitantly with increased haplotype sharing at 16q12 (P = 0.008 by nonparametric Jonckheere‐Terpstra exact statistical test). No evidence supporting an interaction between 16q12 and 20p12 was observed. Analysis of sibpairs sharing 2 alleles at 16q12 also showed increased allele sharing at 1q23 (MAS from 0.56 to 0.65). Conclusion These data support the presence of SLE susceptibility genes at 1q23 and 16q12, particularly in non‐Caucasians. The skewed distribution of haplotypes suggests that genetic interaction of these two loci may affect SLE susceptibility.

Innovative Internally Circulating Reactor Concept for Chemical Looping‐Based CO2 Capture Processes: Hydrodynamic Investigation

“…Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is increasingly seen as a potential environmentally sustainable way for reducing the anthropogenic CO 2 emissions especially from the energy and industrial sectors 1, 2. Chemical looping is an emerging technology with the potential to carry out CO 2 capture at low energy penalty 3.…”

Combined active solar and geothermal heating: A renewable and environmentally friendly energy source in pig houses

“…Moreover, urban areas have extended greatly over the past few decades. Consequently, the increased transportation, industrial infrastructure, and buildings often results in urban heat islands . Burning fossil fuels to obtain energy results in emissions of unwanted carbon dioxide into the atmosphere .…”

“…Consequently, the increased transportation, industrial infrastructure, and buildings often results in urban heat islands . Burning fossil fuels to obtain energy results in emissions of unwanted carbon dioxide into the atmosphere . Surface temperatures increase in response to the emission of greenhouse gases, resulting in global warming that is expected to lead to a mean temperature increase of 1.1°C–6.4°C by the end of the 21st century .…”

A Social Licence for Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage: How Engineers and Managers Describe Community Relations

“…The International Energy Agency (IEA) and other authorities state that CCS has an important role to play in contributing to global energy security and greenhouse gas emission reductions and in mitigating human effects on climate (Butt, Giddings, and Jones 2012;IEA 2009). This technology has been developed as a climate change mitigation option for fossil-fuelled power plants and other large industries that are significant generators of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) (GCCSI 2011).…”