Bayesian methods for the combination of core sampling data with historical models for tank characterization

A wide variety of information is available on the contents of the nuclear waste tanks at the Hanford site. This report describes an attempt to combine several sources of information using a Bayesian statistical approach. This methodology allows the combination of multiple disparate information sources. After each source of information is summarized in terms of a probability distribution function (pdf), Bayes` theorem is applied to combine them. This approach has been applied to characterizing tanks B-110, B-111, and B-201. These tanks were chosen for their simple waste matrices: B-110 and B-111 contain mostly 2C waste, and B-201 contains mostly 224 waste. Additionally,, the results of this analysis axe used to make predictions for tank T-111 (which contains both 2C and 224 waste). These predictions are compared to the estimates based on core samples from tank T-111

Tank characterization report for single-shell Tank B-201

The purpose of this report is to characterize the waste in single shell Tank B-201. Characterization includes the determination of the physical, chemical (e.g., concentrations of elements and organic species), and radiological properties of the waste. These determinations are made using analytical results from B-201 core samples as well as historical information about the tank. The main objective is to determine average waste properties: but in some cases, concentrations of analytes as a function of depth were also determined. This report also consolidates the available historical information regarding Tank B-201, arranges the analytical information from the recent core sampling in a useful format, and provides an interpretation of the data within the context of what is known about the tank

Hanford Waste Tank Grouping Study

This letter report discusses the progress and accomplishments of the Tank Grouping Study in FY96. Forty-one single-shell tanks (SSTs) were included in the FY95. In FY96, technical enhancements were also made to data transformations and tank grouping methods. The first focus of the FY96 effort was a general tank grouping study in which the 41 SSTs were grouped into classes with similar waste properties. The second FY96 focus was a demonstration of how multivariate statistical methods can be used to help resolve tank safety issues

Historical Tank Content Estimate (HTCE) and sampling estimate comparisons

There has been a substantial effort over the years to characterize the waste content in Hanford`s waste tanks. This characterization is vital to future efforts to retrieve, pretreat, and dispose of the waste in the proper manner. The present study is being conducted to help escalate this effort. This study compares estimates from two independent tank characterization approaches. One approach is based on tank sampling while the other is based on historical records. In order to statistically compare the two independent approaches, quantified variabilities (or uncertainty estimates) around the estimates of the mean concentrations are required. For the sampling-based estimates, the uncertainty estimates are provided in the Tank Characterization Reports (TCR`s). However, the historically based estimates are determined from a model, and therefore possess no quantified variabilities. Steps must be taken to provide quantified variabilities for these estimates. These steps involve a parameter influence study (factorial experiment study) and an uncertainty analysis (Monte Carlo study) of the Historical Tank Content Estimate (HTCE). The purpose of the factorial experiment is to identify in the Hanford Defined Wastes (HDW) model which parameters, as they vary, have the largest effect on the HTCE. The results of this study provide the proper input parameters for the Monte Carlo study. The two estimates (HTCE and sampling-based) can then be compared. The purpose of the Monte Carlo study is to provide estimates of variability around the estimate derived the historical records

The macrolide clarithromycin inhibits experimental posttransplant bronchiolitis obliterans

Chronic allograft dysfunction in form of bronchiolitis obliterans is the most important hurdle to improved longterm survival after clinical lung transplantation to date. Recently, it was observed that the progression of bronchiolitis obliterans in lung transplant recipients might be inhibited by macrolide antibiotics. The authors therefore tested whether macrolide therapy can attenuate fibrous obliteration of airways in an animal model of bronchiolitis obliterans. Rats with heterotopic tracheal allografts were treated intraperitoneally with clarithromycin and compared to untreated transplanted animals with respect to allograft histology and expression of selected cytokines. At day 21 after transplantation, the tracheal allografts of treated animals were free of fibrous material or partially occluded dependent of clarithromycin dosage. Untreated animals had completely obliterated allografts. In treated animals, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) was down-regulated early (5 days) and late (21 days) post transplant, whereas interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) expression was decreased only early after transplantation. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) expression was not affected. Therapy with low-dose macrolides in post-transplant obliterative bronchiolitis is based on their immunomodulatory rather than antimicrobial properties. In the setting of lung transplantation, macrolides primarily act as modulators of the early inflammatory response to stressed, damaged, or infected cells

Methodology for uncertainty estimation of Hanford tank chemical and radionuclide inventories and concentrations

The exact physical and chemical nature of 55 million gallons of toxic waste held in 177 underground waste tanks at the Hanford Site is not known with sufficient detail to support the safety, retrieval, and immobilization missions presented to Hanford. The Hanford Best Basis team has made point estimates of the inventories in each tank. The purpose of this study is to estimate probability distributions for each of the 71 analytes and 177 tanks that the Hanford Best Basis team has made point estimates for. This will enable uncertainty intervals to be calculated for the Best Basis inventories and should facilitate the safety, retrieval, and immobilization missions. Section 2 of this document describes the overall approach used to estimate tank inventory uncertainties. Three major components are considered in this approach: chemical concentration, density, and waste volume. Section 2 also describes the two different methods used to evaluate the tank wastes in terms of sludges and in terms of supernatant or saltcakes. Sections 3 and 4 describe in detail the methodology to assess the probability distributions for each of the three components, as well as the data sources for implementation. The conclusions are given in Section 5

Hanford single-shell tank grouping study

A tank grouping study has been conducted to find Hanford single-shell tanks with similar waste properties. The limited sampling resources of the characterization program could be allocated more effectively by having a better understanding of the groups of tanks that have similar waste types. If meaningful groups of tanks can be identified, tank sampling requirements may be reduced, and the uncertainty of the characterization estimates may be narrowed. This tank grouping study considers the analytical sampling information and the historical information that is available for all single-shell tanks. The two primary sources of historical characterization estimates and information come from the Historical Tank Content Estimate (HTCE) Model and the Sort on Radioactive Waste Tanks (SORWT) Model. The sampling and historical information are used together to come up with meaningful groups of similar tanks. Based on the results of analyses presented in this report, credible tank grouping looks very promising. Some groups defined using historical information (HTCE and SORWT) correspond well with those based on analytical data alone

Extracorporeal photopheresis in a rat model of pulmonary fibrosis

Extracorporeal photopheresis has anti-inflammatory properties. The development of pulmonary fibrosis includes inflammatory episodes. This study evaluates effects of extracorporeal photopheresis in experimental pulmonary fibrosis. The bleomycin model of pulmonary fibrosis was used. Two groups of 4 rats received intratracheal bleomycin to induce fibrosis. The treatment group received infusions of photochemically treated leukocytes harvested from syngeneic animals. All animals were sacrificed at day 21 after fibrosis induction and analyzed with respect to lung histology and hydroxyproline content, cellular composition of bronchoalveolar lavages, serum and lavage concentrations of transforming growth factor-beta, interferon-gamma, and interleukin-10, and expression of selected genes in the lung. Interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-beta protein concentrations increased in the plasma of treated animals, whereas the interferon-gamma protein concentration was higher in bronchoalveolar lavages. Interferon-gamma gene expression was up-regulated in the lung tissue of treated animals. No significant differences between treated and untreated animals were found with respect to hydroxyproline, histology, and lavage cell count. To conclude, extracorporeal photopheresis has positive molecular effects but does not attenuate experimental lung fibrosis with respect to histology, hydroxyproline, and lavage cell count in the applied treatment regimen. Further investigations of extracorporeal photopheresis in experimental pulmonary fibrosis are justified