1985 annual site environmental report for Argonne National Laboratory

This is one in a series of annual reports prepared to provide DOE, environmental agencies, and the public with information on the level of radioactive and chemical pollutants in the environment and on the amounts of such substances, if any, added to the environment as a result of Argonne operations. Included in this report are the results of measurements obtained in 1985 for a number of radionuclides in air, surface water, ground water, soil, grass, bottom sediment, and milk; for a variety of chemical constituents in surface and subsurface water; and for the external penetrating radiation dose

Separating Instability from Aggregation Propensity in γS-Crystallin Variants

AbstractMolecular dynamics (MD) simulations, circular dichroism (CD), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements were used to investigate the aggregation propensity of the eye-lens protein γS-crystallin. The wild-type protein was investigated along with the cataract-related G18V variant and the symmetry-related G106V variant. The MD simulations suggest that local sequence differences result in dramatic differences in dynamics and hydration between these two apparently similar point mutations. This finding is supported by the experimental measurements, which show that although both variants appear to be mostly folded at room temperature, both display increased aggregation propensity. Although the disease-related G18V variant is not the most strongly destabilized, it aggregates more readily than either the wild-type or the G106V variant. These results indicate that γS-crystallin provides an excellent model system for investigating the role of dynamics and hydration in aggregation by locally unfolded proteins

Endodontic Periapical Disease: A Virus-Based Perspective

There is a need for updating the current treatment modalities for periapical lesions of endodontic origin to reflect the contributions and potential morbidity from herpesvirus infection. Herpesviruses, particularly human cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus, play an important role in the symptomatic periapical lesion. Indeed, periapical lesions may remain stable and silent until they become symptomatic, possibly triggered by the activation of latent herpesviruses within the lesion itself. Given the potential for grave systemic conditions associated with herpesvirus infection, early detection and treatment decisions for periapical lesions by the dentist may positively affect a patient’s overall health; especially for the immunocompromised patient

Application of Argonne's Glass Furnace Model to Longhor Glass Corporation Oxy-Fuel Furnace for the Production of Amber Glass.

The objective of this project is to apply the Argonne National Laboratory's Glass Furnace Model (GFM) to the Longhorn oxy-fuel furnace to improve energy efficiency and to investigate the transport of gases released from the batch/melt into the exhaust. The model will make preliminary estimates of the local concentrations of water, carbon dioxide, elemental oxygen, and other subspecies in the entire combustion space as well as the concentration of these species in the furnace exhaust gas. This information, along with the computed temperature distribution in the combustion space may give indications on possible locations of crown corrosion. An investigation into the optimization of the furnace will be performed by varying several key parameters such as the burner firing pattern, exhaust number/size, and the boost usage (amount and distribution). Results from these parametric studies will be analyzed to determine more efficient methods of operating the furnace that reduce crown corrosion. Finally, computed results from the GFM will be qualitatively correlated to measured values, thus augmenting the validation of the GFM

Radionuclides in liquid effluents from Argonne National Laboratory: an example of monitoring for a multidisciplinary nuclear laboratory. [Pu, Np]

The environmental monitoring program conducted by Argonne National Laboratory for radionuclides in effluent and surface water is described and the results for the past six years are summarized. Small amounts of several radionuclides have been present in Argonne waste water, and are consequently detectable in the stream that receives this water. The most abundant of these is hydrogen-3, whose average concentration in the stream during this period was about 3000 pCi/l, equivalent to 0.1% of the drinking water standard. The distribution of plutonium and neptunium between stream water and particulate matter was studied. Plutonium tends to be relatively insoluble and become associated with the sediment, while most of the neptunium is in solution. This difference in behavior should be taken into account in designing environmental sampling and analytical programs and in dosimetric evaluation of effluent releases