The Effect of the Bentonite Clay Constituents in a Flocculent of FeCl3 and CaMg.2(OH)2 during AMD Treatment Ntwampe OI1, Waanders FB2 and Bunt JR2

Abstract: Two sets of experiments were conducted by pouring 200 mL of the acid mine drainage (AMD) decant from Krugersdorp (South Africa) into five 500 mL beakers (mixing) and Erlenmeyer flasks (shaking) and dosed with 20- 60 mL of FeCl3, Fe2(SO4)3, CaMg.2(OH)2 and a combination of FeCl3 with CaMg.2(OH)2 (af-PFCl) respectively. The samples were placed in a flocculator and a shaker and stirred at 250 rpm for 2 minutes respectively, settled for 1 hour and the pH, conductivity and turbidity were measured. A third similar set of experiments was conducted without mixing settled for 1 hour and the same measurement taken. The fourth and fifth sets of experiments were conducted with CaMg.2(OH)2 and afPFCl flocculent respectively. The novelty of this study is to determine the turbidity removal efficiency using FeCl3 and CaMg.2(OH)2 in a form of unprocessed polymers. The results showed that the pH and residual turbidity in the samples with Fe3+ salts, CaMg.2(OH)2 is relatively identical to those in the samples with af-PFCl dosages. The turbidity removal efficiencies exhibited by the Fe salts, CaMg.2(OH)2 and af-PFCl were optimal. The pH and residual turbidity in the AMD samples with mixing, shaking and without mixing indicate that destabilization-hydrolysis is influenced by the physico-chemical properties of the solution, whereas mechanical agitation mainly disperses the reagent(s). Optimal turbidity removal of the samples without mixing also indicates that perikinetic flocculation is a predominant process during aggregation/flocs formation

Meniscus-derived matrix scafolds promote the integrative repair of meniscal defects

Meniscal tears have a poor healing capacity, and damage to the meniscus is associated with significant pain, disability, and progressive degenerative changes in the knee joint that lead to osteoarthritis. Therefore, strategies to promote meniscus repair and improve meniscus function are needed. The objective of this study was to generate porcine meniscus-derived matrix (MDM) scaffolds and test their effectiveness in promoting meniscus repair via migration of endogenous meniscus cells from the surrounding meniscus or exogenously seeded human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Both endogenous meniscal cells and MSCs infiltrated the MDM scaffolds. In the absence of exogenous cells, the 8% MDM scaffolds promoted the integrative repair of an in vitro meniscal defect. Dehydrothermal crosslinking and concentration of the MDM influenced the biochemical content and shear strength of repair, demonstrating that the MDM can be tailored to promote tissue repair. These findings indicate that native meniscus cells can enhance meniscus healing if a scaffold is provided that promotes cellular infiltration and tissue growth. The high affinity of cells for the MDM and the ability to remodel the scaffold reveals the potential of MDM to integrate with native meniscal tissue to promote long-term repair without necessarily requiring exogenous cells

Mesozoic-Cenozoic evolution of the Xining-Minhe and Dangchang basins, northeastern Tibetan Plateau: Magnetostratigraphic and biostratigraphic results

Accurate stratigraphic ages are crucial to understanding the deformation history of the Tibetan Plateau prior to and during the Indo-Asian collision. Efforts to quantify Mesozoic-Cenozoic ages are hindered by limited fossils and a paucity of volcanic horizons and regionally correlative strata. Magnetostratigraphic and biostratigraphic results from the Xining-Minhe-Longzhong basin complex and Dangchang basin provide an improved chronology of nonmarine basin development over a large region of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau (34–37°N, 101–105°E). Analyses of 171 magnetostratigraphic levels and 24 palynological assemblages (\u3e120 species) indicate Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous to mid-Tertiary deposition. Although magnetic polarity zonation is incomplete, independent palynological age control partially restricts possible correlations to the Geomagnetic Polarity Timescale. The sediment accumulation record, basin provenance, structural geology, and published thermochronological data support a history of Jurassic exhumation, Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous fault-related basin initiation, and Cretaceous-Paleogene reduced accumulation. These patterns, which are compatible with Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous extension and Cretaceous-Paleogene postrift thermal subsidence, were disrupted at about 40–30 Ma, when shortening related to the Indo-Asian collision induced localized range uplift, vertical axis rotation, and amplified subsidence

Human phosphodiesterase 4D7 (PDE4D7) expression is increased in TMPRSS2-ERG positive primary prostate cancer and independently adds to a reduced risk of post-surgical disease progression

background: There is an acute need to uncover biomarkers that reflect the molecular pathologies, underpinning prostate cancer progression and poor patient outcome. We have previously demonstrated that in prostate cancer cell lines PDE4D7 is downregulated in advanced cases of the disease. To investigate further the prognostic power of PDE4D7 expression during prostate cancer progression and assess how downregulation of this PDE isoform may affect disease outcome, we have examined PDE4D7 expression in physiologically relevant primary human samples. methods: About 1405 patient samples across 8 publically available qPCR, Affymetrix Exon 1.0 ST arrays and RNA sequencing data sets were screened for PDE4D7 expression. The TMPRSS2-ERG gene rearrangement status of patient samples was determined by transformation of the exon array and RNA seq expression data to robust z-scores followed by the application of a threshold >3 to define a positive TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion event in a tumour sample. results: We demonstrate that PDE4D7 expression positively correlates with primary tumour development. We also show a positive association with the highly prostate cancer-specific gene rearrangement between TMPRSS2 and the ETS transcription factor family member ERG. In addition, we find that in primary TMPRSS2-ERG-positive tumours PDE4D7 expression is significantly positively correlated with low-grade disease and a reduced likelihood of progression after primary treatment. Conversely, PDE4D7 transcript levels become significantly decreased in castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). conclusions: We further characterise and add physiological relevance to PDE4D7 as a novel marker that is associated with the development and progression of prostate tumours. We propose that the assessment of PDE4D7 levels may provide a novel, independent predictor of post-surgical disease progression

A novel chromatographic method allows online reanalyses in proteomic investigations and acquiring more information from biological samples

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Hypomagnesemia in persons with type 1 diabetes:associations with clinical parameters and oxidative stress

Background: Among persons with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) low concentrations of magnesium have been reported. Previous (small) studies also suggested a relation of hypomagnesemia with (poor) glycaemic control and complications. We aimed to investigate the magnitude of hypomagnesemia and the associations between magnesium with parameters of routine T1DM care in a population of unselected outpatients. Methods: As part of a prospective cohort study, initially designed to measure quality of life and oxidative stress, data from 207 patients with a mean age of 45 [standard deviation (SD) 12] years, 58% male, diabetes duration 22 [interquartile range (IQR) 16, 31] years and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) of 60 (SD 11) mmol/mol [7.6 (SD 1.0)%] were examined. Hypomagnesemia was defined as a concentration below Results: Mean magnesium concentration was 0.78 (SD 0.05) mmol/l. A deficiency was present in 4.3% of participants. Among these persons, mean concentration was 0.66 (SD 0.03) mmol/l. There was no correlation between magnesium and HbA1c at baseline (r = -0.014, p = 0.843). In multivariable analysis, free thiols (reflecting the degree of oxidative stress) were significantly and negatively associated with magnesium concentrations. Conclusion: In this cohort of T1DM outpatients, the presence of hypomagnesemia was infrequent and, if present, relative mild. Magnesium was not associated with glycaemic control nor with presence of micro- and macrovascular complications. Although these results need confirmation, in particular the negative association of magnesium with free thiols, this suggests that hypomagnesemia is not a relevant topic in routine care for people with T1DM

Hypomagnesaemia and its determinants in a contemporary primary care cohort of persons with type 2 diabetes

AIMS: Among persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) hypomagnesaemia has been reported in 14-48% of patients. This may be of significance given the emerging associations of hypomagnesaemia with glucometabolic disturbances and possibly even complications. We assessed the prevalence of hypomagnesaemia and its determinants, in a well-defined cohort of persons with T2DM treated in primary care. METHODS: Observational cohort study among persons with T2DM treated in primary care in the Northeast of the Netherlands. Magnesium was measured using a colorimetric endpoint assay (Roche). Hypomagnesaemia was defined as a serum magnesium level <0.70 mmol/L. Pearson correlations were performed to correlate variables with serum magnesium. Next, a stepwise backward regression model was made. RESULTS: Data of 929 persons (55% male) with a mean age of 65 (± 10) years, diabetes duration 6.5 [3.0-10.1] years, and HbA1c concentration 6.7 (± 0.7)% (50 (± 9) mmol/mol) were analysed. Serum magnesium was 0.79 (± 0.08) mmol/L. The percentage of persons with magnesium deficiency was 9.6%. Age, diabetes duration, BMI, HbA1c, use of metformin, sulfonylurea derivatives, and DPP4 inhibitors were negatively associated with magnesium concentrations. In contrast, LDL cholesterol and serum creatinine were positively associated serum magnesium. CONCLUSIONS: Hypomagnesaemia was present in 9.6% of T2DM patients treated in primary care. This percentage is remarkably lower than reported previously, possibly due to the unselected nature of our population. Concerning T2DM-related factors, only BMI, HbA1c and the use of metformin, sulfonylurea derivatives and DPP4 inhibitors correlated negatively with magnesium concentrations

Sigma-phase in Fe-Cr and Fe-V alloy systems and its physical properties

A review is presented on physical properties of the sigma-phase in Fe-Cr and Fe-V alloy systems as revealed both with experimental -- mostly with the Mossbauer spectroscopy -- and theoretical methods. In particular, the following questions relevant to the issue have been addressed: identification of sigma and determination of its structural properties, kinetics of alpha-to-sigma and sigma-to-alpha phase transformations, Debye temperature and Fe-partial phonon density of states, Curie temperature and magnetization, hyperfine fields, isomer shifts and electric field gradients.Comment: 26 pages, 23 figures and 83 reference