Hydrochemistry and stable isotopes as tools for understanding the sustainability of minewater geothermal energy production from a ‘standing column’ heat pump system : Markham Colliery, Bolsover, Derbyshire, UK

The abandoned workings of the former Markham Colliery are still in the process of flooding. They are being exploited, via a‘standing column’heat pump arrangement in Markham No. 3 shaft, to produce thermal energy.From 2012, water was pumped from 235 m below ground level in the shaft at c. 15 °C and 2–3 l/s, through shell and tube heat exchangers coupled to a 20 kW heat pump, to supply space heating to commercial offices.The thermally spent (cool) water was returned to the same shaft at c. 250 m bgl at around 12 °C. The minewater contained iron, c. 6000 mg/l chloride, and was highly reducing. Avoiding contact with oxygen was effective in preventing problems with ochre scaling. In January 2015, taking advantage of rising water levels, the pump was repositioned at 170 m bgl, and the reinjection diffuser at 153 m bgl. Since then, both iron concentration and salinity have fallen significantly, suggesting stratification in the shaft. Stable isotope data from sampling in 2015 generally show little variation. Sulphate δ34S exhibits values typical for British Coal Measures (c. +5‰),whilstδ18O/δ2H indicate influence of fresh meteoric waters. Chloride and sodium concentrations have gradually increased since May 2015, possibly indicating a renewed influence of deeper, more saline, waters and reflecting the gradual rise of mine water in the shaft. Further monitoring of mine water chemistry and isotopic compositionis required to better assess the sustainability of the Markham heat pump scheme and advise on optimal management of this mine water resource

A Model for the Analysis of Caries Occurrence in Primary Molar Tooth Surfaces

Recently methods of caries quantification in the primary dentition have moved away from summary ‘whole mouth’ measures at the individual level to methods based on generalised linear modelling (GLM) approaches or survival analysis approaches. However, GLM approaches based on logistic transformation fail to take into account the time-dependent process of tooth/surface survival to caries. There may also be practical difficulties associated with casting parametric survival-based approaches in a complex multilevel hierarchy and the selection of an optimal survival distribution, while non-parametric survival methods are not generally suitable for the assessment of supplementary information recorded on study participants. In the current investigation, a hybrid semi-parametric approach comprising elements of survival-based and GLM methodologies suitable for modelling of caries occurrence within fixed time periods is assessed, using an illustrative multilevel data set of caries occurrence in primary molars from a cohort study, with clustering of data assumed to occur at surface and tooth levels. Inferences of parameter significance were found to be consistent with previous parametric survival-based analyses of the same data set, with gender, socio-economic status, fluoridation status, tooth location, surface type and fluoridation status-surface type interaction significantly associated with caries occurrence. The appropriateness of the hierarchical structure facilitated by the hybrid approach was also confirmed. Hence the hybrid approach is proposed as a more appropriate alternative to primary caries modelling than non-parametric survival methods or other GLM-based models, and as a practical alternative to more rigorous survival-based methods unlikely to be fully accessible to most researchers

On uniformization of Burnside's curve y2=x5−xy^2=x^5-x

Main objects of uniformization of the curve $y^2=x^5-x$ are studied: its Burnside's parametrization, corresponding Schwarz's equation, and accessory parameters. As a result we obtain the first examples of solvable Fuchsian equations on torus and exhibit number-theoretic integer $q$-series for uniformizing functions, relevant modular forms, and analytic series for holomorphic Abelian integrals. A conjecture of Whittaker for hyperelliptic curves and its hypergeometric reducibility are discussed. We also consider the conversion between Burnside's and Whittaker's uniformizations.Comment: Final version. LaTeX, 23 pages, 1 figure. The handbook for elliptic functions has been moved to arXiv:0808.348

A Feasibility Study of Quantifying Longitudinal Brain Changes in Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Encephalitis Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Stereology.

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether it is feasible to quantify acute change in temporal lobe volume and total oedema volumes in herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis as a preliminary to a trial of corticosteroid therapy. METHODS: The study analysed serially acquired magnetic resonance images (MRI), of patients with acute HSV encephalitis who had neuroimaging repeated within four weeks of the first scan. We performed volumetric measurements of the left and right temporal lobes and of cerebral oedema visible on T2 weighted Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) images using stereology in conjunction with point counting. RESULTS: Temporal lobe volumes increased on average by 1.6% (standard deviation (SD 11%) in five patients who had not received corticosteroid therapy and decreased in two patients who had received corticosteroids by 8.5%. FLAIR hyperintensity volumes increased by 9% in patients not receiving treatment with corticosteroids and decreased by 29% in the two patients that had received corticosteroids. CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown it is feasible to quantify acute change in temporal lobe and total oedema volumes in HSV encephalitis and suggests a potential resolution of swelling in response to corticosteroid therapy. These techniques could be used as part of a randomized control trial to investigate the efficacy of corticosteroids for treating HSV encephalitis in conjunction with assessing clinical outcomes and could be of potential value in helping to predict the clinical outcomes of patients with HSV encephalitis

Coupled CO2-leakage and in situ fluid-mineral reactions in a natural CO2 reservoir, Green River, Utah

Spectroscopic studies and atomistic simulations of (hydr)oxide surfaces, which show that some aqueous cations bind to two or four surface oxygen atoms, have increased interest in multi-dentate surface complexation models (SCMs) [1-3]. However, it remains unclear how the (fitted) values of intrinsic equilibrium constants K int/m (referenced to infinite dilution) for δ-dentate M surface-binding reactions (δ >1) depend on the choice of concentration scale. In existing SCM codes, a surface complex may be treated in scales of either: molarity/molality ([]); site coverage fraction (Θ); surface mole fraction (x); molecular surface density (Γ, in mol•m-2); or relative density Γ/Γo (o, where Γo = 2 •10-5 mol•m-2 is the reference adsorbed density [4]). Our aim was to investigate, for ‘denticities’ 1≤ δ ≤4, how to convert the K int,δ values fitted for a given titration data set (the same solid concentration cS, specific surface area As, and monolayer site density ΓC) between different concentration scales. For single-site monodentate surface binding reactions, K int/m expressed in all concentration scales ([], Θ, x, Γ, o) reduce to the same value K M int,1. For the binding with δ≤2, conversion factors from xKM int,δ to ΘKM int,δ are about δ. From []KM int,δ to any other scale, they involve (csAsΓx)δ-1 which is ca. 10-5 for δ = 2 or 10-15 for δ = 4 at typical cS = 1 g•dm-3, As = 10 m2g-1, and ΓC = 10-6 mol•m-2. Conversions of K/int from [], Θ and x scales into the Γ scale involve (ΓC)1-δ, which has a value ranging from 10/5 to 10/18 at 10-6 < ΓC < 10-5 mol•m-2. The K/int conversions from [], Θ and x to the o scale include (Γo/ΓC)δ-1 which vanishes if ΓC = Γo (then oKM int,δ = xKM int,δ). Our findings show that the use of published KM int,δ (δ ≥ 2) in SCMs may lead to erroneous results, if concentration scales are not precisely defined both in the original fitting and in the subsequent application. At trace ion concentrations, using formally monodentate surface species would be safe especially on ‘strong’ sites, for which the density is typically adjusted to reproduce multi-site isotherms. Our results from comparative fitting of KM/int,δ with SCM codes using different scales show the magnitudes of ‘denticity effects’; we discuss ways to correct for these effects in re-using, comparing or correlating values of KM/int,δ. In a further thermodynamic treatment, e.g. deriving the entropy effect of the adsorption reaction from KM/int,δ fitted for different temperatures, the constants must first be made dimensionless and independent of δ and ΓC by converting them into the (o) scale.http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2010.04.036University of Tennessee; Oak Ridge National Laborator

Combining ground stability investigation with exploratory drilling for mine water geothermal energy development. Lessons from exploration and monitoring

Mine water geothermal's potential for decarbonisation of heating and cooling in the UK has led to increased national interest and development of new projects. In this study, mine water geothermal exploration has been coupled with ground investigation techniques to assess ground stability alongside seasonal mine water hydrogeology and geochemistry. Drilling operations in late 2020 at Dollar Colliery, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, encountered mined coal seams with varying conditions (void, intact, waste, etc.), reflecting different techniques used throughout a protracted mining history. We found that time and resources spent grouting casing through worked mine seams (ensuring hydraulic separation) can be saved by accessing deeper seams where those above are unworked. Continued assessment of existing water discharges and completion of boreholes with slotted liners into mined coal seams and fractured roof strata allowed chemical and water level changes to be monitored across a 1-year period. Mine water heads and mine discharge flow rates vary seasonally and are elevated between late autumn and early spring. The mine water has a low dissolved solute content. Dissolved sulphate- 34 S isotope data suggest increased pyrite oxidation during lower water levels. These findings can inform future building decisions, whereby housing developments on site could use the mine water for heating. Thematic collection: This article is part of the Early Career Research collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/topic/collections/early-career-research Supplementary material: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.2218880

Pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol-/cannabidiolic acid-rich hemp oil in juvenile cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis)

IntroductionCannabinoids are increasingly popular in human and veterinary medicine and have been studied as an alternative treatment for a wide range of disorders. The goal of this study was to perform a pharmacokinetic analysis of oral cannabidiol (CBD)-/cannabidiolic acid (CBDA)-rich hemp oil (CBD/ArHO) in juvenile cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis).MethodsAfter a 2 mg/kg CBD/ArHO pilot study, 4 and 8 mg/kg direct-to-mouth CBD/ArHO were administered (n = 4 per dose) once daily for 14 days and blood was collected at 0-, 0.5-, 1-, 2-, 4-, 8-, 12-, and 24-h, and on Days 7 and 14, to quantify serum cannabinoid concentrations by high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Serum biochemistries and complete blood counts were performed on Days 0, 1, and 14.ResultsThe maximum mean serum concentration (Cmax) of CBDA was 28.6–36.2 times that of CBD at 4 and 8 mg/kg. At 8 mg/kg, the Cmax of CBD was 1.4 times higher (p = 0.0721), and CBDA was significantly 1.8 times higher (p = 0.0361), than at 4 mg/kg. The maximum mean serum concentration of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was 4.80 ng/mL at 8 mg/kg. Changes in serum biochemistries and complete blood counts over time were not clinically significant.DiscussionGiven the low serum CBD concentrations, the doses and frequency used in this study may be insufficient for a therapeutic effect of CBD in particular; therefore, clinical studies are needed to determine the therapeutic dose of CBD and CBDA for macaques, which may differ based on the disorder targeted

An active vesicle priming machinery suppresses axon regeneration upon adult CNS injury

Axons in the adult mammalian central nervous system fail to regenerate after spinal cord injury. Neurons lose their capacity to regenerate during development, but the intracellular processes underlying this loss are unclear. We found that critical components of the presynaptic active zone prevent axon regeneration in adult mice. Transcriptomic analysis combined with live-cell imaging revealed that adult primary sensory neurons downregulate molecular constituents of the synapse as they acquire the ability to rapidly grow their axons. Pharmacogenetic reduction of neuronal excitability stimulated axon regeneration after adult spinal cord injury. Genetic gain- and loss-of-function experiments uncovered that essential synaptic vesicle priming proteins of the presynaptic active zone, but not clostridial-toxin-sensitive VAMP-family SNARE proteins, inhibit axon regeneration. Systemic administration of Baclofen reduced voltage-dependent Ca2+ influx in primary sensory neurons and promoted their regeneration after spinal cord injury. These findings indicate that functional presynaptic active zones constitute a major barrier to axon regeneration