²¹⁰Pb- ²²⁶Ra chronology reveals rapid growth rate of Madrepora oculata and Lophelia pertusa on world's largest cold-water coral reef

Here we show the use of the 210Pb- 226Ra excess method to determine the growth rate of two corals from the world's largest known cold-water coral reef, Røst Reef, north of the Arctic circle off Norway. Colonies of each of the two species that build the reef, Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata, were collected alive at 350 m depth using a submersible. Pb and Ra isotopes were measured along the major growth axis of both specimens using low level alpha and gamma spectrometry and trace element compositions were studied. 210Pb and 226Ra differ in the way they are incorporated into coral skeletons. Hence, to assess growth rates, we considered the exponential decrease of initially incorporated 210Pb, as well as the increase in 210Pb from the decay of 226Ra and contamination with 210Pb associated with Mn-Fe coatings that we were unable to remove completely from the oldest parts of the skeletons. 226Ra activity was similar in both coral species, so, assuming constant uptake of 210Pb through time, we used the 210Pb- 226Ra chronology to calculate growth rates. The 45.5 cm long branch of M. oculata was 31 yr with an average linear growth rate of 14.4 ± 1.1 mm yr -1 (2.6 polyps per year). Despite cleaning, a correction for Mn-Fe oxide contamination was required for the oldest part of the colony; this correction corroborated our radiocarbon date of 40 yr and a mean growth rate of 2 polyps yr -1. This rate is similar to the one obtained in aquarium experiments under optimal growth conditions. For the 80 cm-long L. pertusa colony, metal-oxide contamination remained in both the middle and basal part of the coral skeleton despite cleaning, inhibiting similar age and growth rate estimates. The youngest part of the colony was free of metal oxides and this 15 cm section had an estimated a growth rate of 8 mm yr -1, with high uncertainty (∼1 polyp every two to three years). We are less certain of this 210Pb growth rate estimate which is within the lowermost ranges of previous growth rate estimates. We show that 210Pb- 226Ra dating can be successfully applied to determine the age and growth rate of framework-forming cold-water corals if Mn-Fe oxide deposits can be removed. Where metal oxides can be removed, large M. oculata and L. pertusa skeletons provide archives for studies of intermediate water masses with an up to annual time resolution and spanning over many decades. © 2012 Author(s)

A Thermodynamic Approach to Predict the Metallic and Oxide Phases Precipitations in Nuclear Waste Glass Melts

AbstractAmong the large number of matrixes explored as hosts for high-level nuclear wastes, conditioning of fission products and minor actinides into a homogeneous borosilicate glass is the most promising technique already implemented at the industrial scale. The advantage of this vitrification process is the volume reduction of the high level waste coming from the spent fuel reprocessing and its stability for the long-term storage. Nevertheless, some fission products are poorly soluble in molten glasses:•Platinoids (Pd, Ru, Rh) which precipitate as (Pd-Te, Ru-Rh) metallic particles and (Rh,Ru)O2 oxide phases with acicular or polyhedral shapes during the vitrification process.•Molybdenum oxide (MoO3) which can form complex molybdates.In order to point out the chemical interactions between the glass and these precipitated phases issuing from the calcinated waste, a thermodynamic approach is developed using the Calphad method. The objective of this work is to calculate thermodynamic properties for complex fission product systems in order to predict the precipitation of platinoids or molybdate phases.This thermodynamic database is being developed on the Mo-Pd-Rh-Ru-Se-Te-O complex system. This flexible tool enables to predict phase diagrams, composition and relative stability of the metallic or oxide precipitated phases as a function of both temperature and oxygen potential in the glass melt

Determinación de agua en alcoholes usando como reactivo un tiocianocomplejo del cobalto

En el presente trabajo se propone un método cuantitativopara la determinación de agua en etanol, basado en las variaciones de intensidad del color azul que presentan las soluciones hidroalcohólicas del complejo tetratiocianocobaltato(II) de potasio.El compuesto de coordinación se prepara triturando intimamente en un mortero cantidades estequiométricas desulfato de cobalto(II) y tiocianato de potasio. El complejoobtenido se extrae con etanol, y el sulfato de potasioremanente es insoluble en este medio. El extracto alcohólicofiltrado se evapora lentamente y los cristales azulesobtenidos se mantienen en desecador conteniendo ácido sulfúrico.El objetivo del presente trabajo es desarrollar un métodocuantitativo usando la espectrofotometría molecular, para determinar la concentración de agua en alcoholes hidratados.Esta técnica es de aplicación a limitadas cantidades de agua en alcohol etílico (3,6 -11,2 %) pues a mayores concentracionesde agua en la solución complejo-etanol, se descompone el complejo, liberando el ión cobalto(II) que colorea de rosado la solución

XBP-1 regulates signal transduction, transcription factors and bone marrow colonization in B cells

XBP-1, a transcription factor that drives the unfolded protein response (UPR), is activated in B cells when they differentiate to plasma cells. Here, we show that in the B cells, whose capacity to secrete IgM has been eliminated, XBP-1 is induced normally on induction of differentiation, suggesting that activation of XBP-1 in B cells is a differentiation-dependent event, but not the result of a UPR caused by the abundant synthesis of secreted IgM. Without XBP-1, B cells fail to signal effectively through the B-cell receptor. The signalling defects lead to aberrant expression of the plasma cell transcription factors IRF4 and Blimp-1, and altered levels of activation-induced cytidine deaminase and sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor. Using XBP-1-deficient/Blimp-1-GFP transgenic mice, we find that XBP-1-deficient B cells form antibody-secreting plasmablasts in response to initial immunization; however, these plasmablasts respond ineffectively to CXCL12. They fail to colonize the bone marrow and do not sustain antibody production. These findings define the role of XBP-1 in normal plasma cell development and have implications for management of B-cell malignancies

Capturing systematically users' experience of evaluation tools for integrated AMU and AMR surveillance

Tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a goal for many countries. Integrated surveillance of antimicrobial use (AMU) and resistance is a prerequisite for effective risk mitigation. Regular evaluation of any surveillance is needed to ensure its effectiveness and efficiency. The question is how to evaluate specifically integrated surveillance for AMU and AMR. In an international network called CoEvalAMR, we have developed guidelines for selection of the most appropriate tools for such an evaluation. Moreover, we have assessed different evaluation tools as examples using a country case format and a methodology with a focus on the user's experience. This paper describes the updated methodology, which consists of a brief introduction to the case and to the tool separately. Moreover, there are 12 functional aspects and nine content themes which should be scored using a 4-tiered scale. Additionally, four Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) questions should be addressed. Results are illustrated using radar diagrams. An example of application of the updated methodology is given using the ECoSur evaluation tool. No tool can cover all evaluation aspects comprehensively in a user-friendly manner, so the choice of tool must be based upon the specific evaluation purpose. Moreover, adequate resources, time and training are needed to obtain useful outputs from the evaluation. Our updated methodology can be used by tool users to share their experience with available tools, and hereby assist other users in identifying the most suited tool for their evaluation purpose. Additionally, tool developers can get valuable information for further improvements of their tool