An Ecological and Conservation Perspective on Advances in the Applied Virology of Zoonoses

The aim of this manuscript is to describe how modern advances in our knowledge of viruses and viral evolution can be applied to the fields of disease ecology and conservation. We review recent progress in virology and provide examples of how it is informing both empirical research in field ecology and applied conservation. We include a discussion of needed breakthroughs and ways to bridge communication gaps between the field and the lab. In an effort to foster this interdisciplinary effort, we have also included a table that lists the definitions of key terms. The importance of understanding the dynamics of zoonotic pathogens in their reservoir hosts is emphasized as a tool to both assess risk factors for spillover and to test hypotheses related to treatment and/or intervention strategies. In conclusion, we highlight the need for smart surveillance, viral discovery efforts and predictive modeling. A shift towards a predictive approach is necessary in today’s globalized society because, as the 2009 H1N1 pandemic demonstrated, identification post-emergence is often too late to prevent global spread. Integrating molecular virology and ecological techniques will allow for earlier recognition of potentially dangerous pathogens, ideally before they jump from wildlife reservoirs into human or livestock populations and cause serious public health or conservation issues

Oxidation Behavior of Welded Zry-3, Zry-4, and Zr–1Nb Tubes

The Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) facility is a research reactor designed to simulate rapid transients to test new fuel designs. TREAT\u27s cladding is exposed to unique conditions compared to normal water reactors. These conditions include: exposure to air at high temperatures (≥600 °C), rapid heating (≈700 °C/s), and cladding geometry that includes chamfers and welds. This work investigates the effects of chamfering and welding on the oxidation behavior of zirconium alloys (Zircaloy-3, Zircaloy-4, and Zr–1Nb). Tube specimens were examined under isothermal and transient conditions in dry and humid air. The effect of weld type (tungsten inert gas or electron beam), the number of welds, and alloying elements are compared. Thermogravimetric analysis was used to collect mass gain data during isothermal oxidation and the data was used to quantify the oxidation rate constant and the activation energy of oxidation. Oxide behavior in the weld region, chamfered region, and bulk tube was measured and compared. The microstructure and secondary phase precipitates in EBW tubes before and after breakaway were characterized. The electron beam welded Zr–1Nb specimen was found to have the most favorable oxidation behavior under both isothermal and transient conditions. Zry-4 oxidized the most readily and was the most affected by mechanical deformation

Decontamination of groundwater using membrane-assisted solvent extraction

This report describes the development of a new process to remove volatile organic compounds at dilute concentrations (VOCs) from groundwater was recently begun at Argonne. This process consists of membrane-assisted solvent extraction and membrane-assisted distillation stripping (MASX/MADS). The use of membranes is the solvent extraction and distillation stripping units improves mass transfer by increasing the interfacial surface area, thus allowing the process to be performed efficiently at high throughputs. The thermodynamics of the separation process and regions of applicability of this process are discussed

Decontamination of groundwater using membrane-assisted solvent extraction

This report describes the development of a new process to remove volatile organic compounds at dilute concentrations (VOCs) from groundwater was recently begun at Argonne. This process consists of membrane-assisted solvent extraction and membrane-assisted distillation stripping (MASX/MADS). The use of membranes is the solvent extraction and distillation stripping units improves mass transfer by increasing the interfacial surface area, thus allowing the process to be performed efficiently at high throughputs. The thermodynamics of the separation process and regions of applicability of this process are discussed

Optimization of magnetite carrier precipitation process for transuranic waste reduction

Transuranic (TRU) waste that is being generated at Argonne National Laboratory has a TRU activity ranging from 10{sup 2} to 10{sup 7} nCi/g with a wide variety of chemical compositions. Currently, the waste is stored in highly acidic solutions that must be neutralized for intermediate storage. A magnetite carrier precipitation process has been adapted to concentrate TRU isotopes in a noncorrosive solid phase. In this paper, the authors report the results of a series of laboratory tests done to optimize the process. The parameters they optimized included (1) magnetite concentration used to precipitate the TRUs from solution, (2) formation of magnetite (in situ or ex situ), (3) processing pH, and (4) temperature and mixing time of the carrier precipitation. They also studied the effects of anions, cations, and complexing agents in the waste solutions on the carrier precipitation and the effect of magnetite solids loading on the filtration equipment. An overview is given of the planned full-scale process, which will be operated in a glovebox

The use of a centrifugal contactor for component concentration by solvent extraction

Theoretical and experimental work was undertaken to explore the use of the Argonne design centrifugal contactor as a concentrating device for metal ions in solutions such as transuranic-containing waste streams and contaminated groundwater. First, the theoretical basis for operating the contactor as a concentrator was developed. Then, the ability of the contactor to act as a concentrating device was experimentally demonstrated with neodymium over a wide range of organic-to-aqueous (O/A) flow ratios (0.01 to 33). These data were also used to derive a correlation for the effect of O/A flow ratio on extraction efficiency

TRUEX processing of plutonium analytical solutions at Argonne National Laboratory

The TRUEX (TRansUranic EXtraction) solvent extraction process was developed at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) for the Department of Energy. A TRUEX demonstration completed at ANL involved the processing of analytical and experimental waste generated there and at the New Brunswick Laboratory. A 20-stage centrifugal contactor was used to recover plutonium, americium, and uranium from the waste. Approximately 84 g of plutonium, 18 g of uranium, and 0.2 g of americium were recovered from about 118 liters of solution during four process runs. Alpha decontamination factors as high as 65,000 were attained, which was especially important because it allowed the disposal of the process raffinate as a low-level waste. The recovered plutonium and uranium were converted to oxide; the recovered americium solution was concentrated by evaporation to approximately 100 ml. The flowsheet and operational procedures were modified to overcome process difficulties. These difficulties included the presence of complexants in the feed, solvent degradation, plutonium precipitation, and inadequate decontamination factors during startup. This paper will discuss details of the experimental effort

Predictive Power of Air Travel and Socio-Economic Data for Early Pandemic Spread

Controlling the pandemic spread of newly emerging diseases requires rapid, targeted allocation of limited resources among nations. Critical, early control steps would be greatly enhanced if the key risk factors can be identified that accurately predict early disease spread immediately after emergence.Here, we examine the role of travel, trade, and national healthcare resources in predicting the emergence and initial spread of 2009 A/H1N1 influenza. We find that incorporating national healthcare resource data into our analyses allowed a much greater capacity to predict the international spread of this virus. In countries with lower healthcare resources, the reporting of 2009 A/H1N1 cases was significantly delayed, likely reflecting a lower capacity for testing and reporting, as well as other socio-political issues. We also report substantial international trade in live swine and poultry in the decade preceding the pandemic which may have contributed to the emergence and mixed genotype of this pandemic strain. However, the lack of knowledge of recent evolution of each H1N1 viral gene segment precludes the use of this approach to determine viral origins.We conclude that strategies to prevent pandemic influenza virus emergence and spread in the future should include: 1) enhanced surveillance for strains resulting from reassortment in traded livestock; 2) rapid deployment of control measures in the initial spreading phase to countries where travel data predict the pathogen will reach and to countries where lower healthcare resources will likely cause delays in reporting. Our results highlight the benefits, for all parties, when higher income countries provide additional healthcare resources for lower income countries, particularly those that have high air traffic volumes. In particular, international authorities should prioritize aid to those poorest countries where both the risk of emerging infectious diseases and air traffic volume is highest. This strategy will result in earlier detection of pathogens and a reduction in the impact of future pandemics

Multiple spillovers from humans and onward transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer.

Many animal species are susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and could act as reservoirs; however, transmission in free-living animals has not been documented. White-tailed deer, the predominant cervid in North America, are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and experimentally infected fawns can transmit the virus. To test the hypothesis that SARS-CoV-2 is circulating in deer, 283 retropharyngeal lymph node (RPLN) samples collected from 151 free-living and 132 captive deer in Iowa from April 2020 through January of 2021 were assayed for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Ninety-four of the 283 (33.2%) deer samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA as assessed by RT-PCR. Notably, following the November 2020 peak of human cases in Iowa, and coinciding with the onset of winter and the peak deer hunting season, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in 80 of 97 (82.5%) RPLN samples collected over a 7-wk period. Whole genome sequencing of all 94 positive RPLN samples identified 12 SARS-CoV-2 lineages, with B.1.2 (n = 51; 54.5%) and B.1.311 (n = 19; 20%) accounting for ∼75% of all samples. The geographic distribution and nesting of clusters of deer and human lineages strongly suggest multiple human-to-deer transmission events followed by subsequent deer-to-deer spread. These discoveries have important implications for the long-term persistence of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Our findings highlight an urgent need for a robust and proactive "One Health" approach to obtain enhanced understanding of the ecology, molecular evolution, and dissemination of SARS-CoV-2