Study of the salinity and pH dilution pattern of discharged brine of the Konarak desalination plant into the Chabahar bay: a case study

This research aims to study the salinity and pH dilution pattern of discharged brine of the Konarak desalination plant into the Chabahar bay, their relation on coastal environment, and type of its brine discharge. Due to the shallow water depth of the coast and type of brine discharge, evaluating the salinity and pH was done with a sampling of surface seawater. The type of brine disposal is a direct surface discharge of negatively buoyant flow in the coastal environment of Chabahar bay. The brine discharge mechanism is a shore-attached surface jet, which is most likely influenced by the cross-flow deflection, dynamic shoreline interaction, and more minor by bottom attachment factors. The laboratory simulations using actual brine and seawater and either satellite pictures support the finding dilution pattern. The zone of initial dilution is under 50 m which, in the long run, can affect the quality of water of intake seawater pool of the plant.

L-ARGININE AND L-GLUTAMIC ACID INCREASE THE CONTENT OF PROTEIN C IN THE EARLY STAGES OF ISOLATION FROM DONOR PLASMA

Current large-scale production of blood-derived pharmacological preparations is aimed at expanding the list of products and deeper extraction of target proteins especially at the pre-purification stage. In particular, this problem becomes critical for the isolation of proteins like protein C (PC), which is present in plasma in trace amounts. Aim. We aimed to improve the buffer composition to minimize the interaction of PC with other proteins and lipids that are inevitably present in the stock material. Methods. The content of protein C in plasma and its derivatives was assessed by the amidolytic activity to the chromogenic substrate S2366. A decrease in homologous impurities and plasma enrichment with protein C was provided by selective bulk adsorption on DEAE-cellulose. Results. Here we describe that an equimolar mixture of two amino acids (L-arginine and L-glutamic acid) essentially increased the content of protein C at the stage of cryo-depleted plasma pre-purification, including initial dilution and subsequent enrichment of plasma with protein C due to selective bulk adsorption on DEAE- cellulose. Additionally, it was revealed that solutions of these amino acids, when combined, inhibit the induced amidolytic activity of protein C and increase its solubility (in contrast to other plasma proteases). Conclusion. Pre-adding of a mixture of amino acids L-arginine and L-glutamic acid to cryo-depleted plasma significantly optimizes the pre-purification stage of protein C, providing a 5-fold increase in its yield after elution from DEAE-cellulose.

RAPID DESENSITIZATION WITH INTRAVENOUS INSULIN IN A PATIENT WITH DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS AND INSULIN ALLERGY

Objective: We report a case of insulin desensitization in a patient with known allergy to multiple insulin preparations who presented with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Methods: Clinical and laboratory data, and desensitization protocols are presented. Results: A 65-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes and a documented insulin allergy presented with severe DKA. She was managed initially with intravenous (IV) fluids, sodium bicarbonate, and hemodialysis. An intradermal skin test was positive for 0.01 units/mL of human regular insulin. A rapid desensitization protocol for IV human regular insulin was initiated after pretreatment with methylprednisolone, ranitidine, montelukast, and cetirizine. An initial dilution of 1 unit of insulin in 100,000 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride was started at 5 mL/hour IV. The dilution was increased at 60-minute intervals to 1 unit/10,000 mL, 1 unit/1,000 mL, 1 unit/100 mL, 1 unit/10 mL, then 1 unit/1 mL. The dose was then increased from 1 to 7 units/hour (0.1 units/kg body weight/hour). The anion gap closed after 24 hours, and overlapping desensitization was started for subcutaneous (SC) human regular insulin starting with 0.00001 units with a gradual increase to 7 units before meals and 6 units at bedtime over 5 days. There were no anaphylactic reactions to IV or SC insulin. She was discharged with human regular insulin SC 4 times daily, oral montelukast, cetirizine, diphenhydramine as needed, and an epinephrine pen. No allergic reactions were reported at follow-up visits. Conclusion: Rapid insulin desensitization is possible to allow treatment of DKA with human regular insulin IV in patients with known insulin allergy.

Multigene Genetic-Programming-Based Models for Initial Dilution of Laterally Confined Vertical Buoyant Jets

A new approach based on the multigene genetic-programming (MGGP) technique is proposed to predict initial dilution of vertical buoyant jets subjected to lateral confinement. The models are trained and tested using experimental data, and the good matches demonstrate the generalization and predictive capabilities of the evolved MGGP-based models. The best Pareto-optimal MGGP-based model is also compared with the model evolved using a single-gene genetic-programming (SGGP) algorithm and an existing regression-based empirical equation. The comparisons reveal the superiority of the MGGP-based model. This study confirms that the MGGP technique is promising in evolving an explicit, accurate, and compact model, and the developed models can be employed to estimate effectively and efficiently the dilution properties of a laterally confined vertical buoyant jet.

An Improved Integral Model for a Non-Buoyant Turbulent Jet in Wave Environment

The integral model developed by Chin (1988) for modelling a non-buoyant turbulent jet in wave environment is improved by introducing two new parameters, i.e., the jet spreading rate c1 and the shortening rate pe. The parameter c1 is used to simplify the model by explicitly describing the radial velocity and scalar profiles under the assumption of “instantaneous” Gaussian distribution. By doing so, the governing equations can be easily solved by simultaneously integrating the conservation laws of momentum and scalars across the jet cross-section. The parameter pe is used to shorten the initial length of zone of flow establishment (ZFE), so as to more accurately account for the wave effect on the jet initial dilution near the jet nozzle. The parameters are calibrated by the particle image velocimetry (PIV)-measured data from three groups of jet experiments, i.e., the group of vertical jet towards the wave direction (vertical jet), the group of horizontal jet along the wave direction (co-wave jet) and the group of horizontal jet opposing to the wave direction (op-wave jet). The results show that both parameters are well related to the ratio of jet and wave characteristic velocities in the same group, but it is not able to be generalized among different groups. Under the same wave condition, the value of c1 in the vertical jet is larger than that of the horizontal jets; while the value of pe in the vertical jet is smaller than that of the horizontal jets, which indicates that the jet has a faster decay rate of centerline velocity and a wider width of jet cross-section profile in the near field when it is vertically discharged into the wave environment. With the well-calibrated parameters, the improved model can achieve a higher accuracy than the original model developed by Chin (1988).

Dredging-induced turbid plumes affect bio-irrigation and biogeochemistry in sediments inhabited by Lanice conchilega (Pallas, 1766)

Building man-made structures in coastal seas are often preceded by dredging operations, inducing turbid plumes of suspended sediment. To study the effects of such high-concentration sediment plumes on the suspension-feeding polychaete Lanice conchilega, a laboratory experiment was performed, in which individuals of L. conchilega were exposed to natural seawater with a suspended sediment concentration (SSC) of ∼ 0.3 g l−1 and treatments with elevated SSC of 5 and 1 g l−1, representing concentrations in a dredging plume at the moment of sediment release and after initial dilution, respectively. We measured clearance rates of sediment particles, biogeochemical fluxes, and bio-irrigation. While clearance rates and nitrite efflux significantly increased in both treatments with elevated SSC compared with the control, bio-irrigation increased at 1 g l−1 but was lowest at 5 g l−1. It is suggested that piston pumping is intensified under intermediate concentrations to remove sediment, but ceases under high concentrations are due to sediment ingestion. By transporting oxygen into the sediment, bio-irrigation enhances aerobic microbial processes, among which nitrification. We conclude that short-term extreme suspended sediment concentrations can have a significant impact on the biogeochemistry of the seabed through changes in behaviour of L. conchilega.

Modeling the Transport and Fate of Sediments Released from Marine Construction Projects in the Coastal Waters of British Columbia, Canada

Major marine construction projects, resulting in the release of sediments, are subject to environmental assessment and other regulatory approval processes. An important tool used for this is the development of specialized numerical methods for these marine activities. An integrated set of numerical methods addresses four distinct topics: (1) The near-field release and mixing of suspended sediments into the water column (i.e., the initial dilution zone); (2) the transport of the suspended sediments under the influence of complex ocean currents in the far-field; (3) the settling of the transported suspended sediments onto the seabed; and (4) the potential for resuspension of the deposited sediments due to sporadic occurrences of unusually large near-bottom currents. A review of projects subjected to environmental assessment in the coastal waters of British Columbia, from the year 2006 to 2017, is presented to illustrate the numerical models being used and their ongoing development. Improvements include higher resolution model grids to better represent the near-field, the depiction of particle size dependent vertical settling rates and the computation of resuspension of initially deposited sediments, especially in relation to temporary subsea piles of sediments arising from trenching for marine pipelines. The ongoing challenges for this numerical modeling application area are also identified.

Modeling the Transport and Fate of Sediments Released from Marine Construction Projects in the Coastal Waters of British Columbia, Canada

Major marine construction projects, resulting in the release of sediments, are subject to environmental assessment and other regulatory approval processes. An important tool used for this is the development of specialized numerical methods for these marine activities. An integrated set of numerical methods addresses four distinct topics: the near-field release and mixing of suspended sediments into the water column (i.e. the initial dilution zone); the transport of the suspended sediments under the influence of complex ocean currents in the far-field; the settling of the transported suspended sediments onto the seabed; and the potential for resuspension of the deposited sediments due to sporadic occurrences of unusually large near-bottom currents. A review of projects subjected to environmental assessment in the coastal waters of British Columbia from the year 2006 to 2017, is presented to illustrate the numerical models being used and their ongoing development. Improvements include higher resolution model grids to better represent the near-field, the depiction of particle size dependent vertical settling rates and the computation of resuspension of initially deposited sediments, especially in relation to temporary subsea piles of sediments arising from trenching for marine pipelines. The ongoing challenges for this numerical modeling application area are also identified.