Rare Earth Elements Around the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, UAE

© 2020, International Association for Mathematical Geosciences. Rare earth element (REE) contamination has major consequences for the environment and humans. Some forms of REEs have more serious environmental impacts than others. It is thus crucial to monitor their levels in areas where they are expected to be released. Concentrations of 13 REEs (La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu) around the Barakah nuclear power plant (NPP) area, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), were measured. Shore, soil, and marine samples were collected. REE concentrations were measured using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. On average, REE concentrations were highest in the soil samples, followed by the marine samples and then the shore samples. La and Nd were the most abundant REEs in the soil, marine, and shore. The average (La/Yb)n ratios for shore, soil, and marine samples were 8.96, 9.75, and 9.39, respectively. The REE concentrations were strongly positively correlated with Al2O3 values, suggesting low mobility of the REEs in the Barakah NPP area. Light REEs (LREEs) were more enriched than heavy REEs (HREEs). The shore samples have minor enrichments in La and Tm. Otherwise, based on enrichment factors that do not exceed 1.2 and geoaccumulation indices that were all below zero, the Barakah NPP area was considered uncontaminated with REEs. This area was not polluted according to the pollution load indices (0.67, 0.52, and 0.17 for shore, soil, and marine sediments, respectively). The spatial distribution maps show the highest concentrations of REEs in the south area of the Barakah NPP. Overall, the Barakah NPP area does not have any alarming REE concentrations, and the baseline values were provided as a reference for future comparisons

Distribution of heavy metals around the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates

© 2017, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. Inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy was used to measure the concentrations of heavy metals in 58 samples collected from the Barakah nuclear power plant (BNPP) area, UAE. The grain size distribution was symmetric, but the samples ranged from fine to coarse sand. The inverse relationship between grain size and heavy metal contaminations was validated. The pre-operational average heavy metal contaminations around the BNPP were 0.03, 0.40, 1.2, 2.05, 1.66, 1.6, 5.9, 7.3, 7, 8.8, 60, and 2521 ppm for Cd, Mo, Co, Cu, Pb, As, Zn, Ni, V, Cr, Mn, and Fe, respectively. The spatial distribution was more compact in the south compared to the north, with less severe contaminations in the east and west. The negative geoaccumulation indices suggest an uncontaminated area, and the BNPP has minor enrichments. All concentrations were significantly below the safe limits set by the Dutch guidelines. The levels of heavy metals reported in the UAE were lower than levels reported in countries around the world

Structural Analysis and Activity Correlation of Amphiphilic Cyclic Antimicrobial Peptides Derived from the [W\u3csub\u3e4\u3c/sub\u3eR\u3csub\u3e4\u3c/sub\u3e] Scaffold

In our ongoing quest to design effective antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), this study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms governing cyclic amphiphilic AMPs and their interactions with membranes. The objective was to discern the nature of these interactions and understand how peptide sequence and structure influence antimicrobial activity. We introduced modifications into the established cyclic AMP peptide, [W4R4], incorporating an extra aromatic hydrophobic residue (W), a positively charged residue (R), or the unique 2,5-diketopiperazine (DKP). This study systematically explored the structure–activity relationships (SARs) of a series of cyclic peptides derived from the [W4R4] scaffold, including the first synthesis and evaluation of [W4R4(DKP)]. Structural, dynamic, hydrophobic, and membrane-binding properties of four cyclic peptides ([W4R4], [W5R4], [W4R5], [W4R4(DKP)]) were explored using molecular dynamics simulations within a DOPC/DOPG lipid bilayer that mimics the bacterial membrane. The results revealed distinct SARs linking antimicrobial activity to parameters such as conformational plasticity, immersion depth in the bilayer, and population of the membrane binding mode. Notably, [W4R5] exhibited an optimal “activity/binding to the bacterial membrane” pattern. This multidisciplinary approach efficiently decoded finely regulated SAR profiles, laying a foundation for the rational design of novel antimicrobial peptides

Comparison of minimally invasive surgical approaches for hysterectomy at a community hospital: robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy, laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy and laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy

The study reported here compares outcomes of three approaches to minimally invasive hysterectomy for benign indications, namely, robotic-assisted laparoscopic (RALH), laparoscopic-assisted vaginal (LAVH) and laparoscopic supracervical (LSH) hysterectomy. The total patient cohort comprised the first 237 patients undergoing robotic surgeries at our hospital between August 2007 and June 2009; the last 100 patients undergoing LAVH by the same surgeons between July 2006 and February 2008 and 165 patients undergoing LAVHs performed by nine surgeons between January 2008 and June 2009; 87 patients undergoing LSH by the same nine surgeons between January 2008 and June 2009. Among the RALH patients were cases of greater complexity: (1) higher prevalence of prior abdominopelvic surgery than that found among LAVH patients; (2) an increased number of procedures for endometriosis and pelvic reconstruction. Uterine weights also were greater in RALH patients [207.4 vs. 149.6 (LAVH; P < 0.001) and 141.1 g (LSH; P = 0.005)]. Despite case complexity, operative time was significantly lower in RALH than in LAVH (89.9 vs. 124.8 min, P < 0.001) and similar to that in LSH (89.6 min). Estimated blood loss was greater in LAVH (167.9 ml) than in RALH (59.0 ml, P < 0.001) or LSH (65.7 ml, P < 0.001). Length of hospital stay was shorter for RALH than for LAVH or LSH. Conversion and complication rates were low and similar across procedures. Multivariable regression indicated that LAVH, obesity, uterine weight ≥250 g and older age predicted significantly longer operative time. The learning curve for RALH demonstrated improved operative time over the case series. Our findings show the benefits of RALH over LAVH. Outcomes in RALH can be as good as or better than those in LSH, suggesting the latter should be the choice primarily for women desiring cervix-sparing surgery

Multivariate Analysis of Agronomic Traits in Newly Developed Maize Hybrids Grown under Different Agro-Environments

Developing high-yielding maize hybrids is essential under the fast-growing global population and abrupt global climate change. Planting density is one of the imperative components for enhancing maize productivity. This study assessed newly developed maize hybrids under three planting densities on two sowing dates. The evaluated hybrids were 40 maize genotypes comprised of 36 F1-developed hybrids and 4 commercial high-yielding check hybrids. The developed hybrids were generated from selected maize inbred lines according to their adaptive traits to high planting density, such as prolificacy, erect leaves, short plants, early silking, anthesis-silking interval, and small tassel size. The applied planting densities were high, intermediate, and low, with 95,000, 75,000, and 55,000 plants/ha, respectively, under timely and late sowing. The high planting density displayed the uppermost grain yield compared with the intermediate and low densities at both sowing dates. The developed hybrid G36 exhibited the highest agronomic performance under high planting density at timely and late sowing. Additionally, G38, G16, G37, G23, G5, G31, G18, G7, G2, G20, G29, and G17 displayed high agronomic traits at both sowing dates. Joint regression and AMMI analyses revealed significant genotype, agro-environment, and genotype &times; agro-environment interaction effects for grain yield. The AMMI biplot displayed that G39 was closest to the ideal stable hybrid, and the hybrids G36, G18, G38, G17, G2, and G37 were considered desirable stable hybrids. Moreover, the GGE biplot indicated that a high planting density at an optimal sowing date could be considered a representative environment for discriminating high-yielding maize hybrids. The designated promising hybrids are recommended for further inclusion in maize breeding due to their stability and high yields

Air-classified faba bean protein concentrate is efficiently utilized as a dietary protein source by post-smolt Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

High-quality sources of protein for the formulation of feeds of carnivorous fish species such as Atlantic salmon are currently being sought. In an earlier screening trial we evaluated for the first time in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) the applicability of air-classified faba bean (Vicia faba) protein concentrate (BPC) inclusions in combination with soy protein concentrate (SPC) and fishmeal (FM) using parr as a model. Based on the results in parr in freshwater, the present study tested the hypothesis that BPC can effectively replace SPC and/or FM as a dietary protein source in post-smolt Atlantic salmon in seawater. The trial was designed to test nine different combinations of BPC, SPC and FM around the ideal mixture proportions modelled from data on parr (20% BPC, 46% SPC and 34% FM as percent of the total dietary protein). Somatic, physiological, biochemical and molecular parameters were assessed to determine fish performance. On average, fish grew from ~1.28kg to 2.80kg over the course of the 17week trial. Results demonstrated that a mixture of BPC, SPC and FM (208gkg&minus;1, 193gkg&minus;1and 85gkg&minus;1, respectively) resulted in the highest weight gain of post-smolts without significantly altering the FCR. Specifically, fish fed the highest inclusion of BPC and lowest level of FM had final weights on average 0.24kg more than those with the lowest inclusion of BPC and highest FM. Improved weight gain was not achieved at the expense of poorer FCR, which was lower in fish fed diets with higher content of BPC and lower FM. The highest level of inclusion of BPC tested herein (~21% of feed) could replace up to 8.5% FM (from 17% to 8.5% of feed) and 10% SPC (from 29% to 19% of feed), resulting in the largest improvement in weight gain. There were no biologically significant or physiologically important effects on nutrient digestibility, enteritis scores or hepatic gene expression of dietary BPC

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr as a model to predict the optimum inclusion of air classified faba bean protein concentrate in feeds for seawater salmon

Acknowledgements This research and CdS was funded by the UK Technology Strategy Board (TSB) Sustainable Protein Production initiative (project no. 101096). We gratefully acknowledge the staff of the EWOS Innovation Dirdal research facility, in particular Jannicke Vigen for management and conduct of the growth trial and Ann Gunn Brådli for assistance with laboratory analyses. We also thank Kevin Mackenzie and Gillian Milne (Microscopy and Histology Facility, University of Aberdeen, UK) for assistance with histological techniques and microscopy.Peer reviewedPostprin