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Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a nuclear factor mainly expressed in barrier epithelium, endothelial cells, and fibroblast reticular cells. Some inflammatory cells also express IL-33 under certain conditions. The important role of IL-33 in allergic reactions, helminth infection, cancer, tissue fibrosis, chronic inflammation, organ transplantation, and rheumatic immune diseases has been extensively studied in recent years. IL-33 primarily activates various circulating and tissue-resident immune cells, including mast cell, group 2 innate lymphoid cell (ILC2), regulatory T cell (Treg), T helper 2 cell (Th2), natural killer cell (NK cell), and macrophage. Therefore, IL-33 plays an immunomodulatory role and shows pleiotropic activity in different immune microenvironments. The IL-33/serum stimulation-2 (ST2) axis has been shown to have a detrimental effect on rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and other rheumatic diseases. Interestingly, IL-33 also plays a protective role in the repair of barrier epithelium and the activation of Tregs. Therefore, the role of IL-33/ST2 depends on the underlying pathological conditions in rheumatic diseases. This review focuses on the dual role of the IL-33/ST2 axis in rheumatic diseases.

Objective IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an immune-mediated multi-organ, chronic and progressive disease. Therefore, we conducted a study to investigate the susceptibility of COVID-19 in IgG4-RD patients in Hubei province, and to characterize the clinical manifestation of COVID-19 in IgG4-RD patients. Methods A follow-up system that includes over 200 IgG4-RD patients across the country during the past ten years. A total of ninety-one patients with IgG4-RD who live in Hubei, China were identified and responded to our survey. Medical history, clinical symptoms, laboratory tests, CT imaging, and treatment were obtained through a standardized data collection form, and then independently reviewed by two investigators. Results 2 of 91 cases were infected with COVID-19. Both of them were classified as moderate type. The symptoms such as fever and cough and radiologic features were similar to other COVID-19 patients. Neither of them episode recurrent of IgG4-RD nor progressed to severe or critical condition of COVID-19 under the condition of continuous oral low-dose of glucocorticoids. Besides, patient 2 took a long time for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid to turn negative. Conclusion IgG4-RD patients may belongs to the susceptible population of COVID-19 infection, and thus need more careful personal protection. Early identification and properly treatment are very important to prevent IgG4-RD patients with COVID-19 from progression to severe condition.

Although the toxicity of oil combustion emissions is a significant public health concern, few studies characterize the emissions from plant-scale utility boilers firing residual oil. This study remedies that deficiency by diluting, sampling, and monitoring stack emissions from a 432 gigajoules (GJ) front-fired fossil fuel steam generator burning residual oil. Over a 3-day test period, continuous CO2, SO2, and NOx emissions monitoring confirms a steady fuel feed rate, high combustion efficiency (3.4 kg of CO2/kg of fuel oil burned), and evidence of a nocturnal soot-blowing event. The utility boiler emits fine aerosol (PM2.5) at a rate of 53 ± 2 μg/kJ (2 g/kg of oil burned). Vesicular coarse particles composed of C and S and spherical Al silicates with V and Ni inclusions are identified in a cyclone rinse using scanning electron microscopy and backscatter analysis. Ion chromatography results establish that the fine aerosol is predominantly sulfate (44% ± 0.2%, w/w) which is likely coordinated to transition ...

The Hynol process is proposed to meet the demand for an economical process for methanol production with reduced CO2 emission. This new process consists of three reaction steps: (a) hydrogasification of biomass, (b) steam reforming of the produced gas with additional natural gas feedstock, and (c) methanol synthesis of the hydrogen and carbon monoxide produced during the previous two steps. The H2-rich gas remaining after methanol synthesis is recycled to gasify the biomass in an energy neutral reactor so that there is no need for an expensive oxygen plant as required by commercial steam gasifiers. Recycling gas allows the methanol synthesis reactor to perform at a relatively lower pressure than conventional while the plant still maintains high methanol yield. Energy recovery designed into the process minimizes heat loss and increases the process thermal efficiency. If the Hynol methanol is used as an alternative and more efficient automotive fuel, an overall 41% reduction in CO2 emission can be achieved compared to the use of conventional gasoline fuel. A preliminary economic estimate shows that the total capital investment for a Hynol plant is 40% lower than that for a conventional biomass gasification plant. The methanol production cost is $0.43/gal for a 1085 million gal/yr Hynol plant which is competitive with current U.S. methanol and equivalent gasoline prices. Process flowsheet and simulation data using biomass and natural gas as cofeedstocks are presented. The Hynol process can convert any condensed carbonaceous material, especially municipal solid waste (MSW), to produce methanol.

Research is underway to evaluate the Hydrocarb process for conversion of carbonaceous raw material to clean carbon and methanol products. These products are valuable in the market either as fuel or as chemical commodities. As fuel, methanol and carbon can be used economically, either independently or in slurry form, in efficient heat energies (turbines and internal combustion engines) for both mobile and stationary single and combined cycle power plants. When considering CO{sub 2} emission control in the utilization of fossil fuels, the copressing of those fossil fuels with biomass (which may include, wood, municipal solid waste and sewage sludge) is a viable mitigation approach. By coprocessing both types of feedstock to produce methanol and carbon while sequestering all or part of the carbon, a significant net CO{sub 2} reduction is achieved if the methanol is substituted for petroleum fuels in the transportation sector. The Hydrocarb process has the potential, if the R&D objectives are achieved, to produce alternative transportation fuel from indigenous resources at lower cost than any other biomass conversion process. These comparisons suggest the resulting fuel can significantly displace gasoline at a competitive price while mitigating CO{sub 2} emissions and reducing ozone and other toxics in urban atmospheres.

Research is underway to evaluate the Hydrocarb process for conversion of carbonaceous raw material to clean carbon and methanol products. These products are valuable in the market either as fuel or as chemical commodities. As fuel, methanol and carbon can be used economically, either independently or in slurry form, in efficient heat energies (turbines and internal combustion engines) for both mobile and stationary single and combined cycle power plants. When considering CO{sub 2} emission control in the utilization of fossil fuels, the copressing of those fossil fuels with biomass (which may include, wood, municipal solid waste and sewage sludge) is a viable mitigation approach. By coprocessing both types of feedstock to produce methanol and carbon while sequestering all or part of the carbon, a significant net CO{sub 2} reduction is achieved if the methanol is substituted for petroleum fuels in the transportation sector. The Hydrocarb process has the potential, if the R&D objectives are achieved, to produce alternative transportation fuel from indigenous resources at lower cost than any other biomass conversion process. These comparisons suggest the resulting fuel can significantly displace gasoline at a competitive price while mitigating CO{sub 2} emissions and reducing ozone and other toxics in urban atmospheres.

The U.S. needs an alternative transportation fuel that can displace 30 percent of petroleum fuels by the year 2010, as called for by the Energy Policy Act (PL102-486). The Act, promulgated in October, 1992, seeks an alternative that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as improve the national economy by reducing oil imports. This paper examines the prospects for achieving those goals with alcohol fuels derived from biomass produced as short-rotation woody crops. Emphasis is on the Hydrocarb process, now under evaluation by the EPA for production of methanol from biomass and natural gas. Factors considered in this evaluation include: land requirements, feedstock costs, conversion yield of fuel per unit of biomass, cost per unit of fuel energy produced, and equivalent cost of gasoline displaced. The analysis indicates that a process such as Hydrocarb, that can leverage biomass with natural gas, should maximize petroleum displacement at least cost. Because of these advantages, it may also achieve greatest reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.

Research is underway to evaluate the Hydrocarb process for conversion of carbonaceous raw material to clean carbon and methanol products. These products are valuable in the market either as fuel or as chemical commodities. As fuel, methanol and carbon can be used economically, either independently or in slurry form, in efficient heat energies (turbines and internal combustion engines) for both mobile and stationary single and combined cycle power plants. When considering CO{sub 2} emission control in the utilization of fossil fuels, the copressing of those fossil fuels with biomass (which may include, wood, municipal solid waste and sewage sludge) is a viable mitigation approach. By coprocessing both types of feedstock to produce methanol and carbon while sequestering all or part of the carbon, a significant net CO{sub 2} reduction is achieved if the methanol is substituted for petroleum fuels in the transportation sector. The Hydrocarb process has the potential, if the R&D objectives are achieved, to produce alternative transportation fuel from indigenous resources at lower cost than any other biomass conversion process. These comparisons suggest the resulting fuel can significantly displace gasoline at a competitive price while mitigating CO{sub 2} emissions and reducing ozone and other toxics in urban atmospheres.

The Hynol process is proposed to meet the demand for an economical process for methanol production with reduced CO{sub 2} emission. This new process consists of three reaction steps: (a) hydrogasification of biomass, (b) steam reforming of the produced gas with additional natural gas feedstock, and (c) methanol synthesis of the hydrogen and carbon monoxide produced during the previous two steps. The H{sub 2}-rich gas remaining after methanol synthesis is recycled to gasify the biomass in an energy neutral reactor so that there is no need for an expensive oxygen plant as required by commercial steam gasifiers. Recycling gas allows the methanol synthesis reactor to perform at a relatively lower pressure than conventional while the plant still maintains high methanol yield. Energy recovery designed into the process minimizes heat loss and increases the process thermal efficiency. If the Hynol methanol is used as an alternative and more efficient automotive fuel, an overall 41% reduction in CO{sub 2} emission can be achieved compared to the use of conventional gasoline fuel. A preliminary economic estimate shows that the total capital investment for a Hynol plant is 40% lower than that for a conventional biomass gasification plant. The methanol production cost is $0.43/gal for a 1085 million gal/yr Hynol plant which is competitive with current U.S. methanol and equivalent gasoline prices. Process flowsheet and simulation data using biomass and natural gas as cofeedstocks are presented. The Hynol process can convert any condensed carbonaceous material, especially municipal solid waste (MSW), to produce methanol.

In support of studies for developing the coprocessing of fossil fuels with biomass by the Hydrocarb Process, experimental and process design data are reported. The experimental work includes the hydropryolysis of biomass and the thermal decomposition of methane in a tubular reactor. The rates of reaction and conversion were obtained at temperature and pressure conditions pertaining to a Hydrocarb Process design. A Process Simulation Computer Model was used to design the process and obtain complete energy and mass balances. Multiple feedstocks including biomass with natural gas and biomass with coal were evaluated. Additional feedstocks including green waste, sewage sludge and digester gas were also evaluated for a pilot plant unit.